Chapter Text
Money is the anthem of success.
The love for money is what grants people the power to control the entire human race. Wealth is the power that unlocks the world’s finest treasures that you could ever find, and the reward is the beacon that changes the design of fate forever.
Money is the reason we exist. It is thicker than the blood shed of each unfortunate soul that was sacrificed. Wealth is the second greatest thing after a god, or perhaps money is the second coming of Christ that makes the world bend down on its knees and speak in tongues. Money is the epitome of beauty and perfection next to holiness that washes away the sins of mankind—the divine intervention of the hopeless case.
And when the world caves in, when the entire human race has been wiped out, money remains its status. The devil on every bank note has the last laugh. Money is the last man standing—the Alpha and the Omega; the beginning and the end.
That is why people worship money, regardless if it is stained with dried blood or fresh out of a duffel bag wrapped in rubber bands. It is never-ending; everlasting. Because money is god—an all powerful being and almighty. That’s what most people believe in, especially the self proclaimed righteous people who hold their strings tightly as they govern the hundred islands of the Philippines like a Marionette doll in their hands.
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Diliman
August 1986
After the former dictator was ousted from office and the success of EDSA People Power Revolution, the Philippines faces a new horizon with a new leader on their hands. Though the aftermath was severe and there is no guarantee that everything will fall into place after 6 months of rehabilitation, the people are still holding onto their faith that the economy will rise once again.
Pero para sa mga katulad ni Jay, unti-unti nang nauubos ang pasensya nito dahil maraming araw na ang nagdaan at nasayang ay hindi pa rin sumisilip ang kaunlarang ipinangako sa kanila at sa inang bayan. Impatience is Jay’s second nature—it is his most toxic trait ever. But no one can deny the truth about the slow progress of attempts to put the country right back on track. Siguro sa iba ay masyadong mabilis ang anim na buwang paglilinis ng kalat na iniwan ng malupit na diktador, pero para kay Jay ay masyado na itong mahaba para gumawa ng paraan upang umasenso ang bayan at makita ang progresibo nito.
Or maybe, Jay expected too much from the new government. Ika nga ni Jay, lahat sila ay pare-parehong mga hayop na nakaupo sa pwesto at ginagawang extension ng Manila Zoo ang tatlong sangay ng pamahalaan.
Walang kinikilingan si Jay. Hindi siya sumasamba sa diyos-diyosang mga pulitiko sa gobyerno na walang ibang ginawa kundi ang magparami ng yaman at magpalaki ng bayag. He was in the streets of EDSA when the devil of a dictator was ousted. He had a contribution to that, and tears were shed with an overflowing pride when they knew that evil has finally defeated. Kasama niya ang mga tropahan niya sa kolehiyo na nag-ingay at nakiisa sa kapayapaan at kalayaan ng mamamayang pilipino. Isa siya sa mga nanindigan dahil mahal niya ang lupang sinilangan.
Mahal ni Jay ang kanyang bayan, pero hindi niya alam kung mahal din ba siya nito pabalik. Siguro ay may natitira pang amor ang lupang inaapakan niya sa kanya dahil hindi naman siya makakaahon—kahit papaano—sa buhay kung hindi siya biniyayaan ng libreng edukasyon sa Unibersidad ng Pilipinas bilang iskolar ng bayan. Isang malaking karangalan ang makapasok sa prestihiyosong unibersidad na ito, at alam niyang dito mabubuo ang kanyang pangarap na makapagtapos at maging isang matagumpay na abogado.
Pero hindi porket libre at sagot ng gobyerno ang edukasyon ni Jay ay wala na siyang problemang pinansyal. Kinailangan niyang sumidline upang matustusan niya ang kanyang sarili matapos piliing makipagsapalaran sa Maynila upang mag-aral. Dalawang taon mula noong nilisan niya ang probinsya ng Nueva Ecija upang tuparin ang kanyang mga pangarap. Hamak na magsasaka lamang ang parehong magulang ni Jay, at hindi nakapagtapos ng pag-aaral. Tanging grade 6 lamang ang natapos ng kanyang mga magulang, at tsaka ito sumabak at nagpursigi sa bukid. Nag-iisang anak lamang si Jay, at isang malaking kasinungalingan kapag sinabing hindi nalungkot ang mga magulang ni Jay nang malaman nilang nakapasa ito sa UP. Masaya sila sa balitang tutungtong ng kolehiyo ang anak nila, pero kaakibat nito ang lungkot dahil alam nilang lilisanin ng binata ang probinsya, at matagal na panahon pa bago muli silang magkitang pamilya.
Pangako ni Jay sa kanyang magulang na babalik siyang may diploma sa kamay bilang karangalan sa magandang pagpapalaki sa kanya ng kanyang mga magulang. Ipinangako rin ni Jay na ibabalik niya ang kabutihang loob na ginawa ng kanyang magulang, at lahat ng sakripisyong inalay nila sa kanya.
Pero sa ngayon, malayo pa ang lalakbayin ni Jay. Ilang tasang kanin pa ang kakainin ni Jay bago pa maganap ang lahat ng ito.
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The indistinct chatter of the cafeteria outside the university premises grows louder as students come in quickly to get in line at the counter and have their orders taken as soon as they get to the front. For today’s menu: tapsilog, kalderetang baka, pinakbet with fried fish on the side, fried pork chop with free soup, and bopis.
Jay is stuck in between the noise and is one step closer to crashing out. It overwhelms him every time he takes too many orders from rowdy college students who can't make up their minds on what to eat for lunch. Ang iba ay nakikipagsiksikan pa sa counter na nauuwi sa away kaya kinailangan pa ni Jay na awatin ang mga ito bago pa sumiklab ng mas malaking gulo sa loob ng karinderya.
Kung hindi sobrang bagal umorder, pabago-bago pa ang isip ng kapwa niyang estudyante. Minsan ay iniisip na lamang ni Jay na kaya matagal umorder ang estudyante ay dahil hindi talaga nila gusto ang nasa menu. Kung tutuusin, naiintindihan niya ang dilemma ng mga estudyante sa pagpili ng kung ano ang kakainin ngayong pananghalian dahil lahat ng pagkain na niluluto ng karinderya na ito ay hindi naman masarap o pasado sa panlasa ni Jay. Tinitiis na lamang niya kumbaga ang pagkain sa karinderya dahil libre ang pagkain niya dito bilang part-timer. So, there’s no room for him to make such complaints.
“I’ll have the Kalderetang Baka, and one bottle of Sarsi.” Order ng isang kolehiyala habang malagkit ang titig nito kay Jay. Ito ang isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit laging matagal at mahaba ang pila sa karinderya. Karamihan sa mga customer ay mga kolehiyala na nais makita si Jay sa malapitan. Hindi naman ipinagkakaila ng binata na mayroon siyang kagwapuhang taglay na gusto ng mga kababaihan, at ng ibang mga kalalakihan. Matangkad, matipuno, moreno, at matangos ang ilong ni Jay. Marami ang pumupuri sa kanya at inihahalintulad siya kay Albert Martinez, at isang karangalan iyon kay Jay kahit sa tingin niya ay hindi naman magkakalapit ang mukha nilang dalawa.
Jay became a microcelebrity inside the school grounds since he started working as a cashier in the cafeteria in 1984—blockbuster at patok sa takilya ang tinaguriang matinee idol ng Nena’s Eatery. Paying less than fifteen pesos for a meal is equivalent to having a personal meet and greet with the hottest star in the showbiz industry who is none other than Jay Luis Jacinto from the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy.
“That’ll be seven pesos and fifty cents in total.” Pagkwenta ni Jay sa order ng kolehiyala, at tila nagmistulang kawawang tuta ang dalaga nang marinig niya kung magkano ang pagkaing babayaran niya.
“Can’t I have a discount? I always eat naman here, eh.” The girl shows a slight pout towards Jay who is still trying to convince him to give her a discount by making up lies. The fact is this is her first time eating in a non airconditioned diner, and swore herself not to for some reason. Kaya alam ni Jay na nagsisinungaling lamang ang babaeng umoorder dahil isang superpower ni Jay ang kumilala at tandaan ang mukha ng tao. And this angelic face is in fact a new character in his play.
“I’m sorry, miss. We don’t do discounts. In fact, seven-fifty is already a student-friendly price.” Jay pauses as he takes a quick look at the poor girl. Halatang laki sa layaw ang dalaga dahil sa pananamit at itsura nito: makinis ang balat, mestiza, balingkinitan ang katawan, matangkad, at may kolorete pa sa mukha. Hindi maipagkakaila ni Jay na maganda ang dalagang nasa harapan niya ngayon.
“But, I can make an exemption.” Jay lets out a smug look on his face as he leans closer to the girl and speaks a language that only the two of them can understand. See, the thing about Jay is that he has his way to a woman’s heart—even a man falls for his traps too.
It started when he first stepped into the world of nightlife with his friends during freshman year as they took a trip to Manila’s hottest nightclub, Stargazer. Jay has never seen anything like it before. He was in a daze and awe as the dancing shimmering lights from the disco ball welcomed him together with the blasting sound of Eurodisco tunes from the speakers. The guests—mostly college students their age from different colleges around the U-belt—filled the dancefloor with so much euphoria, like animals escaping their cage after getting locked up for a very long time.
And in disco houses like Stargazer, they have a wide space for casual flirting wherein Jay took his tournament and mastered the art of it—granting him the reward of losing his virginity at the ungodly hours of the night by a sophomore student from Ateneo. You can be with anyone whomever you like—man or a woman—there is no judgement to that. After all, it is the new age. Only the boomers and children from war are far more concerned about their children being homosexuals than becoming serial killers. The adults care more about traditions and passing on the legacy of a name tainted with blood. People like Jay just want to have a bit of a booze and get loose for the night. That is why nightclubs are an essential part of the Manila experience.
“What is it?” The girl gets curious as she slowly raises the ends of her lips that turned into a shy smile.
“I can give you something even better than what you ordered—”
“Hoy, Jay! Umayos ka nga!” Galit na sambit ni Aling Nena—ang may ari ng karinderya—kay Jay, at hinampas ang hawak nitong bagong hugas na sandok sa ulo ng binata para kunin ang atensyon nito. “Tingnan mo, ang haba na ng pila! Oras ng trabaho, tapos nakikipaglandian ka sa customer? Gawin mo ang trabaho mo, ijo!
“Opo, Aling Nena. Ginagawa ko naman ho ang trabaho ko. Inooffer ko nga po yung bestseller natin sa kanila, eh. ‘Di ba, miss?” Pagpapalusot ni Jay habang iniinda ang sakit na natamo niya mula sa paghataw ni Aling Nena sa kanya.
“Kunin mo na ang order nyan nang matapos ka dyan, at makapag-pananghalian ka na rin! Ang dami-dami mong sinasabi.” Huling paalala ni Aling Nena bago punasan ang sandok at kumuha ng kanin at ulam para ibigay ito sa customer. Wala nang ibang ginawa si Jay kundi singilin ng buo ang dalaga at humingi ng paumanhin. Wala nang nagawa ang dalaga kundi magbayad na lang.
Ilan pang mga customer ang sinubukang gawin ang ipinagbabawal na teknik para kunin ang loob ni Jay, at para mabigyan sila ng discount. Pero sa huli ay tinatawanan na lamang ito ni Jay dahil hindi naman ito umeepek, at kahit landiin ni Jay pabalik ang mga customer ay hindi niya pwedeng sirain ang araw ni Aling Nena dahil nakabantay ito sa kanya at inoobserbahan kung paano magtrabaho ang binata.
Simula noong pumasok bilang kahera ng karinderya si Jay ay mas lalong umasenso ang negosyo ni Aling Nena. Dumadami na ang mga estudyanteng kumakain sa kanyang karinderya, despite the food being unseasoned most of the time. And that is all thanks to Jay because seeing him leaning against the counter is already enough to make the girls and boys go full and request for another cup of rice.
Kaya hindi maitatanggi na may kaunting kayabangang taglay si Jay. Hindi naman niya kasalanan kung ipinanganak siyang may maganda at maamong mukha na swak sa panlasa ng masa.
And that is one thing that Jake Rafael Lopez from the College of Engineering hates the most about him.
Jake is a regular in Nena’s eatery. Unfortunately, this is the closest cafeteria to him and he couldn’t afford to go elsewhere and spend a lot of money in a fancier restaurant just for lunch. And unfortunately, for him, he already knew that a guy like Jay from the counter screams trouble. Even before Jay took his order for the first time when they were in freshman year, Jake knew deep in his gut that there is something mysterious about Jay that he cannot fully explain. Jake trusts his instincts, and he knew that playing one of Jay’s mini games was as bad as the cafeteria’s menu.
But despite what everyone says about how bad the food tastes, to him it is reasonable enough for its price. Masarap naman ang pagkain sa karinderya basta papasok ka lang ng gutom na gutom at wala ka nang ibang choice kundi tanggapin na lang ng dila mo. Pero may mga araw rin na masarap ang pagkain sa karinderya, lalo na kapag hindi mismong si Aling Nena ang nagluluto.
Jake knows the notorious part-timer of the eatery well enough to hate him more than the unseasoned porkchop. Mayabang, mayabang, mayabang. Paulit-ulit na binubulong ng utak ni Jake sa tuwing oorder siya ng kanyang tanghalian sa karinderya, at nasasaktuhang si Jay ang kaherang kaharap niya na kukuha ng order.
“Aba! Ayos ng gupit mo, Poodle, ah. Naligo ka ba sa hair gel?” Jay immediately greets Jake when he steps in front of the counter to face him and tell him his order for today. His hair is now slicked back with a slight volume on top that goes down to the nape of his neck giving him a mullet. Inirapan na lamang siya ni Jake, at natawa naman si Jay sa kamalditahang asal na binigay sa kanya. Mahaba at kulot ang buhok ni Jake noong una nilang engkwentro sa karinderya. Tila walang preno ang bibig ni Jay dahil ang unang impresyon nito sa binata ay mukha siyang aso—poodle to be specific. Kaya simula noon ay binansagan na niya itong “poodle”, at doon nagsimulang kumulo ang dugoni Jake.
Sa tuwing magkukrus ang landas nilang dalawa sa karinderya ay palaging pinapansin ni Jay ang buhok ng binata. Maiintindihan pa ni Jay kung ang mahabang buhok ni Jake ay hindi nakaharang sa kanyang mukha, at dahil sa kulot ang binata ay nagmumukha na raw itong gusgusin. Niloloko pa nga noong minsan ni Jay si Jake na baka ito ang epekto ng hagupit ng kanyang kursong engineering sa puntong hindi na niya naaalagaan ang kanyang sarili.
“Oo. Ikaw, Jay, naligo ka na ba? Well, I doubt. Akala ko kasama sa menu ngayon yung paksiw na bangus. Amoy maasim kasi, eh. Ikaw lang pala ‘yon.” Ganito palagi ang eksena nilang dalawa sa karinderya: aasarin muna ni Jay si Jake, at tsaka naman siya iirapan nito pabalik habang nag-iisip ng kung ano ang magandang irebat laban kay Jay. Pero alam ni Jake sa kanyang sarili na kailanman ay hinding-hindi siya mananalo kay Jay dahil sadyang magaling si Jay sa pagsagad ng kanyang pasensya. Throwing playful banters towards Jake is Jay’s special talent, and it is one of the reasons why they have gotten so close immediately despite being on each other’s neck.
Inaamin ni Jake na nainis siya sa binata noon dahil akala mo kung sinong feeling close kung makipagburuan sa hindi niya kakilala. Nasaktuhan pa na noong panahong iyon ay gutom na gutom na si Jake, at wala na siya sa tamang ulirat para makipagtalastasan sa pilyong kahera ng karinderya. Jay was quick to apologise and understood why Jake was so hot-headed that day to the point that he almost started a fight. Ika nga nila, lokohin mo na ang lasing ‘wag lang ang taong wala pang kain. Jay clarified himself that it is his way of gaining friends, and by dropping playful remarks as a conversation starter is more effective than the traditional self-introduction that is awkwardly embarrassing in the first place.
And it has been like that ever since. Surprisingly, they formed a special bond even just for a fleeting moment inside the cafeteria and it became consistent. Jake doesn’t mind being playful with Jay even if it means that Jay would pick the hell out of his frizzy hair every chance that he gets. He takes the bait and he falls for his traps every time, at ngayon ay hindi na niya mawari kung saang kategorya ng buhay niya nabibilang si Jay.
Is he just an acquaintance? Maybe, but they have known each other for almost two years now and they see each other inside the cafeteria every time Jake walks in for lunch. It’s impossible for Jake to just see it as an acquaintance, and it’ll be a lie if one of them does not consider the other as someone significant in their daily routine. A good friend could be a perfect word to label their relationship. After all, they are from different colleges and it is not like this everyday wherein you get to have an organic encounter with a total stranger in a way you least expected. Meeting someone inside the old cafeteria and being friends with a part-timer is quite a story to tell though the cafeteria is not the best place to mingle—let alone find a lover.
Pero sa kabila ng patuloy na pag krus ng landas nilang dalawa sa loob ng halos dalawang taon dito sa karinderya ni Aling Nena, kaya na bang buksan ni Jake ang kanyang sarili at makipagtelebabad kay Jay tungkol sa mga kaganapan niya sa buong maghapon?
Oo, siguro… Pwede… Hindi.
Hindi pa rin mawari ni Jake kung ano na ba sa buhay niya ang binata, pero isa lang ang alam niya kung saan siya sigurado: hindi na siya nauutal sa tuwing umoorder siya sa karinderya basta si Jay ang kaharap niyang kahera.
“Porkchop with barbeque sauce na may kasamang shredded cabbage on the side, isang extra java rice, isang platitong atchara, no free soup, at isang bote ng Royal na may kasamang baso with ice cubes.” Jay recites Jake’s full order before Jake could even speak. “Kabisado ko na ‘yan, pare.”
Jake lets out a chuckle, “Eh, paano kung sabihin ko sa ‘yong hindi ‘yon ang oorderin ko?”
“Sa tagal ko nang nagtatrabaho rito, ‘yang combo na ‘yan ang palagi mong inoorder. Kaya hindi mo ako maloloko. Pangalawa, hindi ka kumakain ng gulay gaya ng sinabi mo sa kaklase mo noong minsang umorder kayong dalawa ng sabay—pili lang ang mga kinakain mo. At pangatlo, hindi ka kumakain ng laman-loob, kaya ayaw mo sa bopis.”
“Ayos ah. Thesis defended.” Natutuwang sagot ni Jake at naglabas ng kinse pesos para iabot ito kay Jay bilang pambayad, pero agad siya nitong tinanggihan nang sabihan siya ni Jay ng:
“Sagot ko na ‘to. Hindi ka na mukhang gusgusin, eh.”
Himala. Wika ni Jake sa kanyang isip. Gusto na niya sanang irapang muli ang binata pero ayaw na niyang patagalin pa ang pakikipagtalastasan dahil alam niya na sa bawat pagmamaldita niya kay Jay ay magsisimula na naman sa pangangasar ang binata, at mas lalo lang hahaba ang usapan. At isa pa, gutom na si Jake. Baka mas lalong sumama pa ang timpla niya ngayong araw.
At himala nang biglang inilapag ni Jay ang dala niyang tray sa lamesa kung saang taimtim na kumakain mag-isa si Jake. Agad niyang hinila ang puting monoblock sa tapat ni Jake para umupo, at tsaka sinimulang kainin ang kanyang pananghalian ngayong araw.
“Gusto mo ba? Wala ‘to sa menu ngayon.” Jay offers his plate of Dinakdakan to the boy in front of him. Jake wanted to argue—now that food has already entered his system—on how and why the hell is Jay suddenly sitting in front of him eating his lunch. He wanted to ask if this was another one of Jay’s tactics to piss him off, but the sight of Dinakdakan just made him withdraw from the fight before it even started.
“Bakit mo ako sinasamahang kumain?” Jake suddenly asks after getting a piece of meat from Jay’s plate.
“Walang bakanteng upuan, eh. Tutal nandito ka naman, dito na ako umupo.”
“Aren’t employees supposed to eat doon sa pantry? You always eat there every lunch.”
“Weh? Paano mo nalaman na doon ako kumakain tuwing lunch?”
“Because… I don’t see you sitting here outside kapag kakain ka ng lunch? I don’t know. I mean, how was I supposed to know anyway? Kung wala ka sa cashier, you’re probably inside the kitchen doing whatever. This is the first time that I’m seeing you here eating lunch with me—Wait… Bakit ba ako nag-eexplain?” Jake was so quick to defend himself when he realised that he is starting another conversation with Jay again.
“Ayaw mo ba? I can look for another seat if you don’t want me here.”
“No, it’s okay. You can stay. Mag isa lang din naman ako ngayon. Suit yourself.” Jake lets out a small smile, reassuring Jay that it is okay for him to infiltrate his presence for as long as he is comfortable in eating his lunch.
And here they are, just two college kids who met at an unlikeliest time of their lives and never thought that their strings of fate would get entangled. They didn’t even have such a strong foundation for them to build a bridge and cross each other’s lives. But somehow, at some point, in one of the most glorious days that God had created, Jay and Jake find themselves inside the musty, hot, and tight spaced karinderya—enjoying their peace and quiet as they indulge themselves in their shared Dinakdakan as the world tries to get by and wait for one thing.