When Luxury Makes You SIck

092306
English 11 - R17
Ms. Iriz Anjelica Astillero
When Luxury Makes You Sick

“I could stay awake just to hear you breathing; watch you smile while you are sleeping...” Ugh! It’s the alarm again. I could have snoozed my phone for the third time if not for fear of waking my roommates.

My head went blank. I looked to my left and saw my roommate curling up on her blanket. I looked straight at the ceiling which I could almost touch with my hands; I saw nothing but pale white paint pure as a clean sheet of paper. It’s dull. It bores me. I closed my eyes, I really wanted to go back to my dreams so that I could escape this annoying feeling but my phone under my pillow vibrated.

1 New Message Received. It was my mom.

“Gcng k na b anak? I’ll call you later ha. Wag silent ang phone.”

It was my mom. She texted again like every other schooldays- reminding me of stuffs I usually ask her to like exams, assignments to be brought for submission and even org meetings for the day. It was the usual routine but my eyes widened when I saw the time on the upper left corner of my handy. It’s 7:45 in the morning and my class starts at 8: 30. I hurriedly went down. Took a bath. Brushed my teeth. Fixed myself and rushed to school.

It was a boring day. Nothing special. I wanted to go home.

Well, at least my 5-minute walk from the school isn’t that boring. It’s funny how I walked from the gate 3 pedestrian exit back to My Place. I was intently looking at its detail from afar. The terraces design of its facade gave it a classy and unique look compared to the buildings around the area. And what made it more outstanding among the rest was its yellow and blue paint which was very inviting. Very happy it seems.

Questions ran through my head. Why is that I would ever feel bored in a place like this? A place where everything is pretty and relaxing.

And now I’m standing outside this 7-storey building which earlier I was just looking from the overpass. From here, I can see our window on the fifth floor. I was staring at it from where I was till light from the afternoon sun flashed through the glass windows that hurt my eyes. I gently brushed my eyes and went on. Kuya Romar greeted me as soon as I approached the glass doors that he dutifully cleans every morning. I smiled as I pushed the cold silver-plated handle of the door. Too bad I forgot to swipe my VING card so the glass doors didn’t opened. Kuya Romar offered me help and swiped his own card. Now, that’s really techy how they are able to recognize a tenant and record his/her log in and log out time which at the end of the month will be used for our bills. And oh! Before I forgot, I’ve been here for a month now though it doesn’t seem because I’m still not used to having my VING card all the time.

I went in. The lobby was filled by fresh rose scent coming from the blue flower-filled china vase placed on a well-carved mahogany side table. To my right, there was a group of students gathered on the leather cushions on their laptops. They’re having fun but they don’t create unnecessary noises. I was tempted to say hi and make friends but I decided to just pass by.

I was heading for the elevator. On the hallways were some abstract paintings, colourful murals of teens living every day, dashing floor tiles, walls made of glass. Now that’s luxury, for me.

Ding. The elevator came. The silver-plated doors opened.

“Hi ma’am! Tataas ka po? (Going up?)” asked Ate Marissa. She is one of the chambermaids assigned on our floor. I smiled at her and went in. She swiped her yellow-blue VING card and pushed button 5. She was wearing pure white and yellow-blue chequered apron like everyone else. Beside her was a pail half full with water and a mop. On her left hand was the vacuum cleaner.

Ding. Elevator doors opened. She smiled at me indicating I can go out first, so I did. “Sige po ma’am. (Bye, ma’am.)” It was awkward being addressed that way. I watched as she turned left to the first corner. She’s gone. I’m all alone in this fully carpeted hallway. I can see myself on the mirrored walls.

I was alone but it didn’t felt that much. I know that somehow, someone is watching over me through the ACCTV cameras installed on every part of the building; somehow that feels awkward too. On the right side. On the left. There were ACCTV cameras and that really is very techy, I thought.

Sigh. I looked at myself on the mirror on the wall. Sigh. I walked along the hallway. Room 503. I pushed the door. It was locked. Again, I forgot to swipe my card. I placed my things on the carpeted floor and searched for the card that seems to open everything around here. I found it. I opened the door. No one was in. It was cold since the aircon doesn’t really go off even there was nobody inside. I went inside and placed my things on my desk. Everything was neat. Probably housekeeping again. I don’t know if I should be happy that I got nothing more to worry about my messy stuffs because way back home it’s all I ever wished for.

Sigh. I went to the kitchen. The marble lavatory was cold to touch. I turned the faucet on and washed my face with the cold water running through the spotless-clean faucet. I dried myself up and looked at myself on the mirror, again.

In a few hours, my roommates will be back from their classes. For now, the lights will beoff leaving only the light passing through the blinds to light up our cold dark room. In a few hours as well, someone’s going to knock on the door. Room Service. Either to deliver food or to collect our trash or laundries. Sigh.

I’m tired. I climbed up my bed. I closed my eyes.

The luxury that is in here... I wanna go home.