Sentidokomon

( Bato-Bato sa Langit Adventures…)

By Ate Syl – Aglantzia

 Myla is a typical Ilocana. She’s neither that pretty nor that ugly. She doesn’t look her age at 38, stands about 5′1″ on her shapely body with brown sleek skin. She seems to be taking life seriously here in Cyprus for the sake of her children. Like many of us, Sunday is a very special day for Myla. This is the only day where she could relax, unwind the pressures from work at her employer’s house. In short, this is the only day where she could walk free, simply just be by herself. After six long and laborious days in a week, Myla just can’t wait for Sunday to come. By Saturday afternoon she was already cramming to iron out the remaining washed clothes of her Dame Merin so that she can also iron hers, a set of light brown cotton top and trousers make her even look younger and smart. She would pair it with a choco brown sandals. But before she could finally rest to bed, she has to text Carla and Susan where and what time they would meet tomorrow morning. They need to pay 10 and 5 respectively for the pasa load that she passed on their mobile phones five days ago. And she also has to remind Vilma to bring the two pocketbooks that she borrowed t he previous Sunday.

Last Friday was payday (end of the month), Liza must have to pay the 100 that she loaned a month ago including the 10 o/o interest. And yes, she also has to check her two grown up children in the Philippines to know how they are doing. Myla, assured that she’ll send them PHP10,000 as soon as she collects her salary. As she closed her eyes for the night, her mobile phone rung. Joyce, who got a Bangladeshi boyfriend, was inviting her to her birthday party tomorrow at 4pm in her flat. She politely declined. She just wanted to avoid going to such gathering thinking that there maybe other male guests who just out hunting for a girlfriend. No, partying just doesn’t sink in to her systems. Wearing a brown fendi shades, a black D and G ( both cheapy imitations) hung on her right shoulder and shopping bag full of pocketbooks on the other hand, she greeted Gina already sitting on the bench waiting for bus 55 to arrive in ten minutes. Myla have not seen Gina’s close friend Lorna for sometime now, so she asked where she must have been. Mr. Sotiri, the dumped former boyfriend of Lorna, was a 68 year old taxi driver, and is now the current boyfriend of Bridget, another friends of theirs. Bridget must have thought that Mr. Sotiri was still seing Lorna while she’s at work, and so to revenge, she reported her to the immigration. Lorna is now in the Philippines since six months ago.

The church was almost full when Myla arrived. She preferred to stand at the back right end side of the pews so that she could easily sneak out anytime. She ran her eyes through the head sitted in front of her hoping to spot even one or two girls from among those who she needed to collect money from. “SIYA NA NAMAN”! the girl right to her blurted out as she saw the middle- aged short lady climbed up for the first reading. She almost could not be seen anymore as she stands behind the lectern and yet she’s always there every single Mass on every single Sunday. It’s always a delight to listen to Fr. Andrew. He tries to incorporate the gospel with the day – to – day life events in his homily. Just anyone could relate to what he is saying, then cracks his signature wacky giggle “hi.hi.hi..aha!”

Myla clinched her way out just before the final hymn was sung. Then she positioned herself at the corner after ordering a plate of pansit and a tin of coke at Philcy, at half past eleven for lunch and for a short rest of sort. She only had a cup of coffee this morning. Leafing through her notebook of accounts, there are still 3 girls to chase up on telecards for a total of 25 before she could call it a day. Later, she will be joining her cousin at the internet cafe for about an hour before heading straight to Solomous Square to get the 5:20 bus to Latsia. Mr. Christos opened after she rang the bell. His crimpy greying hair shows his age of 57. Dame Merin and daughter were out to a friend’s tea party. Myla headed to check if the kitchen needed some tidying before settling herself in her bedroom. Haayy!! Thank God it’s Sunday, she sighed as she flattened her back on the bed. Tomorrow will again be another day.