This is a continuation of my previous post. I prefer to create a new title every chapter. I want to use the title 'G' for this story because it means a lot to me in this story but I was disappointed to know that it already exists and unless I create another title, this will not be published.

'Ako po si Ella'

'Nice name. Very unique (Im talking about her real name - not this Ella name that I just conjured from nowhere)'

'Bago pa sasakyan mo ah.'

'Opo. Wala pa po 1 year yung sasakyan since nabili ko.'

'Ano pala nangyari kanina sa enforcer at student permit mo?'
'Tsismoso ko no? Haha'

'Dapat daw po impound ako pero inexplain ko po na emergency yung nature kaya pinalusot ako.'
'Usually yung partner ko po ang nagddrive.'

Aray! Kahit kakakilala lang namin parang nasaktan agad ako na wala ako chance sa kanya. I didn't know how to respond. Nasabi ko na lang na 'Ok. Buti naman. If you need anything else, just let me know.'

The good thing about a neutral response like that is if she is really interested to talk, she can open up a new topic so the conversation will continue. I have already shared the pictures to her so theres really no reason for her to continue the exchange of thoughts. Pinigilan ko na din ang sarili ko na magstart pa ng bagong topic dahil nirerespeto ko naman yung relationship nya. Baka kasi yun yung mas mahinahon nya na paraan para sabihin sa akin na hanggang dun na lang ang usapan. At ganun nga ang nangyari, nakatulog na ako na nakatitig sa screen at nagaantay sa message na di dumating.

Next day, I woke up early and while having coffee, Ella came to mind. That was the first time since my previous relationship ended na hindi si X ang nasa isip ko paggising.

May something kay Ella na parang gusto ko pa sya makilala. Nakakacurious sya. Alam ko yung full name nya kaya sinearch ko sa google. Dahil napakaunique ng (real) name nya, nakita ko agad dun sa search hits kung ano ang dapat tingnan. Maayos na educational background. Nagaral sa isa sa pinakamagandang unibersidad. May disenteng trabaho as a fashion designer at freelance events coordinator. Kaya pala magaling sya manamit. Alam ko na sya yun kasi may picture din nya dun sa site na nakita ko. First time ko makita yung buong mukha nya at napakaganda talaga pero naisip ko din na baka hanggang tingin na lang ang kapalaran ko sa kanya.

Around 1pm, nagdecide na ako magbreak from work. I checked my phone and theres a Viber message from Ella

'Sir?'

'Hi. How can I help?' I replied

'I'd like to apologize po ulit sa accident kahapon. Nakwento ko po na emergency talaga yung nature kaya kahit nakastudent permit ako ay kinailangan ko lumabas mag-isa. May sakit po kasi yung younger brother ko at kailangan talaga ng medical attention. Katext ko po mom ko yesterday nung nabangga kita. Yung partner ko po ay nasa ibang bansa for work at ako na lang po inaasahan sa amin. May anak pa po ako na kailangan asikasuhin.'

I cant find the words to describe the feelings I had when I saw that message. Parang binato ako ng halo-halong emosyon - saya (dahil nagtext sya), gulat (dahil may anak na pala sya), lungkot (dahil sa sitwasyon nya), magkasamang saya at lungkot (dahil may partner nga sya pero malayo naman pala), nagduda pa ako (naisip ko na baka scammer to). Pero mas nagulat ako na nagshare sya ng ganun kapersonal na kwento sa isang tao na nakilala lang nya kahapon. Hindi ko na naman alam kung pano sasagot sa kanya.

'Sorry to hear that. Pano ako makakatulong Ella?' I replied

'Sir isa po akong fashion designer at events coordinator. Baka po meron kayong mga activities na pwede sa qualifications ko. Kailangan ko lang po talaga extra income para sa medical expenses ng brother ko.'

'Pasensya ka na Ella. Wala pa kasi upcoming activities ang company pero pwede kita ilagay sa list of services suppliers para sa mga next events.'

'Urgent lang po talaga Sir. Asap ko po kasi kailangan ng extra income. Kahit ano naman po work e kinakaya ko. Any work po Sir, pls.'

Her next few messages were very similar to the one above. She was basically asking (maybe even begging) for any job that would help her earn money. I was so confused. My mind was all over the place - I was thinking like a friend, charitable person, an adult film director and a sugar daddy when I read those messages.

'I understand your predicament Ella. Kaya lang wala talaga ako maiooffer na work for you sa ngayon. Sorry talaga.'

'Kung kailangan mo ng kausap, yan pwede ko ibigay sa yo.'

Nireplyan nya specifically yung last message ko. Sa Viber kasi db pwede magreply sa specific message.

'Sige po. Para gumaan din ang pakiramdam ko'
'Pagod na pagod na po kasi ako.'
'Andito nga po ako ngayon nakapark sa di ko alam na lugar at nanonood ng ulan'
'Di pa nga po ako kumakain.'

Yan ang mga sumunod na messages na natanggap ko galing sa kanya. Gusto ko man sya tawagan pero nasa conference call kasi ako nun. Hinahati ko ang atensyon ko sa pakikipagusap sa kanya at sa mga hinihingi ng clients sa akin.

'Pagsubok lang yan Ella. Boring naman ang buhay pag walang ganyan. Malalampasan mo din yan. Kapit lang' yan ang nareply ko sa kanya

'Wag naman po sana ganito. Sobra naman.'

To lighten her mood, I said. 'Sige ganito na lang. Pag may time ka at gusto mo din, treat kita. Coffee at kwentuhan'

It took a while before I heard from her. 'Pagisipan ko po'

Naisip ko, luminya na din naman ako e di ituloy ko na db.

'Alam mo ba natuwa ako nung binigay mo number mo saken'
'Kasi nacute-an ako sa yo at least nakuha ko number mo'
'Inamin ko talaga e no? Hahaha'
'Kaso di ko naman alam na di ka pala available'

She specifically replied to my last message

'What do you mean available po?'

'I mean may partner ka na pala' I replied

'Yes po but not married'
'Saka ikaw naman. Nacute-an ka na pala saken, kinuha mo pa 5k ko. Haha'

Two things came to my mind. One, at least her mood changed already. Somehow I was able to help her that way. And two, finally nawala yung 'po' kahit sa isang message lang nya.

From then on, our exchange of messages became regular. Our topics were mostly about getting to know each other - everything under the sun minus the sexual topics. Even if I want to veer towards that direction, I feel like it was inappropriate given her situation.

She would usually ask me about work and personal stuff and I would check on her brothers condition who was rapidly recuperating that time. She would also share stories about potential clients and events inquiring about her services. I was also checking on her availability from time to time so we can get together for coffee. Wala daw talaga sya time lately kasi dami inquiries sa work, nagaasikaso pa sya ng anak nya at kapatid nya. Nagaapologize naman sya everytime na di nya mapagbibigyan yung invitation ko.

Two weeks passed, nawawalan na din ako pagasa na matutuloy pa yun. I was also debating with myself regarding my motives but it always ends up as I am not doing anything wrong at this point. Bahala na muna kung san madala ng panahon. These were just harmless exchange of messages. The good thing was that I was starting to spend less time thinking about X because of her. Maybe somehow she just passed by to distract me and helped me get started to move on. If thats the case, I would still be grateful that I met her.

11am I received a message from her. 'On my way to meet a client. W...