The Box

24. Pinoy in Canada

Upon entering the bathroom, Maia recalled the scene from a recent movie she and Chuck watched. The luxurious bathroom looked very modern. Maia looked around the bathroom. She started to feel anxious and slightly panicked when she could not find anything familiar. She was too shy to call on anyone for help, so she endured the cold water from the tap on the sink. She wasn't very comfortable not being able to shower since they left Manila so she quietly slipped out of the bedroom to look for something she could use in the bathroom.

"Ma'am Maia?" Jules appeared from the hallway near the kitchen. "Ano po ang kailangan nyo?"

"Nagt-Tagalog ka naman pala"

"Opo. Kapag kausap ko si Sir Chuck o kaya sina Senyora, nag-e-English po ako."

"Bawal bang magsalita ng Tagalog?"

"Hindi naman po ata. Nasanay nalang po ako kasi simula nung nag-trabaho ako kay Sir Chuck, English ang gamit ko. Bakit po kayo nandito? May kailangan po kayo?"

Maia was rather embarrassed by her predicament. "Naghahanap kasi ako ng tabo" she whispered.

"Ano po?"

"Tabo" Maia whispered again.

"Ah. Wala pong tabo dito sa bahay. Kung gusto nyo, bibigyan ko muna kayo ng plastic na lagayan ng pagkain"

Maia nodded and waited for Jules to return with the plastic tub. "Hindi po ba gumagana yung bidet sa banyo nyo?"

"Napaka-hightech kasi ng mga gamit dito..." Maia whispered.

Jules nodded. "Opo. Ang sabi po ni Sir Chuck noon, bagong renovate itong bahay nung umuwi sya sa Manila. Sa pagkakaalam ko, dati ata nilang kwartong magkapatid yung kwarto kung saan kayo natutulog. Yung kwartong tinutulugan ni Sir Chuck, yun yung guest room." Jules explained as she and Maia walked back to the bedroom.

"Jules?"

"Po?"

"Alam mo ba paano..." Maia mumbled.

"Ano po yun?"

"Alam mo ba paano paganahin yung shower?" Maia said in one breath that Jules strained to understand her.

After a moment, "Ah, opo." Jules said and walked toward the shower. "Sige po, pumasok na po kayo sa loob."

Maia hesitated.

"Wag na po kayong mahiya, pareho naman tayong babae e." Jules smiled. "At hindi ko rin po sasabihin kay Sir Chuck"

Maia nodded and removed her dressing robe. From outside the shower stall Jules instructed Maia on how to work the shower panel. Maia was able to take a very nice, relaxing warm shower. When she returned to the bedroom, she saw Jules preparing her bed.