Chasing Fate [On-Going]

Chapter One

"Fuck, my neck hurts," bulong ko habang minamasahe at iniikot ang leeg ko. It's been a long day of filming for my upcoming travel vlogs and exhausted feels like and understatement at this point. Kagagaling ko sa Isla de Fuego kung saan kinuha ako para i-promote ang tourist attractions sa isla. I've been there for two weeks.

Pagpasok ko sa bahay, basta ko na lang tinapon sa sahig ang bag ko at inilapang ang mga electronic equipments sa coffee table. It felt like I was already dragging my body to move as I walked toward my room. I took a hot shower to relax my tensed muscles. I was planning to go to sleep immediately, but my rumbling stomach wouldn't let me.

Nakatapis ako ng tuwalya nang magtungo sa kusina at nakahawak ng isang face towel. The house feels so quiet, then I remembered— Nanay Fe, my house helper already left. Ang huling sabi niya ay may susunod na lang daw na papalit sa kaniya. I wonder who could it be.

As I entered the kitchen, a woman whose back is facing mine is cleaning the sink. Nakatali ang mahabang kulot na buhok niya at nakasuot siya ng cotton shorts at spaghetti strap na pantaas. I raked my eyes on her back, up and down.

Tumikhim ako para kunin ang atensiyon niya, pero hindi ko inaasahang magulat siya. "Ay, gago ka!" she yelled as she faced me.

"Mabait ako," I countered, amused by her reaction.

"S-Sir Jackson? Kayo po si Jackson?" she asked.

"Yes, and you are?"

"Nessa. Nessa Fate po. Anak ako ni 'Nay Fe, ako na po ang papalit sa kaniya."

I nodded. "Nice to finally meet you, Nessa. 'Nay told me a lot of stories about you."

She awkwardly laughed. "Hindi naman po siguro totoo 'yan."

"Yeah," I replied, but what I said was true.

Her Nanay already told me a lot of stories about her when she was little, but I did not expect to meet her.

"Is Nanay Fe really ready to settle down?"

"May naipon na po siya. Magtatayo yata ulit ng tindahan sa amin?"

"Honestly, I wasn't ready to let her go."

"Matagal na po siyang nagtatrabaho rito," she said, bitterness is evident in her tone. "At least ngayon may oras na siya para sa mga kapatid ko at alagaan si Tatay."

"What's wrong with your Tatay?"

She only smiled at me. "Sir, ano po'ng iluluto kong ulam?"

Maybe she wasn't ready for that question. I guess I was sticking my nose into her business, huh? Kakikilala ko pa lang naman sa kaniya.

"Ano pa ba'ng mayroon?"

"Kakabili ko lang po ng grocery kahapon, kaya kahit ano po."

"Seafood?"

"Alimasag?"

"Alima-what?"

"Uhm, ano po... Crabs."

I nodded. "Yeah, that. Sige, iyon na lang."

"Sige po, puwede ka nang magpahinga."

"Huwag, bata pa ako at virgin."

Tumaas ang kilay niya. "Po?"

I chuckled. Ang cute ng anak ni 'Nay Fe kapag nagugulat. "Wala. Ang sabi ko, galingan mong magluto."

I left her in the kitchen, still looking shocked about my statement. Maybe, that's not her type of humor? I went to the living room to fix my things. I checked the videos I took on the island and planned how to edit them.