His Girl Friday 2

Chapter 23: Rescue Team

Chapter 23: Rescue Team

Sahara: WHY IS THERE

Sahara: A FOOD DELIVERY???

Sahara: HERE?????

Apollo: Breakfast mo

Apollo: You're welcome

Sahara: Thank you

Sahara: Grrrrrrr!!!!

***

Hindi ko na mabilang kung ilang beses na akong tinulungan ni Apollo sa mga kamalasan ko sa buhay. Simula noong unang araw na lumipat kami sa Hermosa dati ni Mama, nasundan noong naging kami na, at hanggang ngayon ay tinutulungan niya ako. Kahit limang taon na ang nakalipas noong iniwan ko siya.

Kahit ano pang masasakit na salita o kahit gaano kalalim at puno ng bubog ang history naming dalawa, hindi siya nagdadalawang isip para tulungan ako hanggang ngayon.

And now, I'm here at Apollo's condominium in BGC.

"Pinuno ko na po 'yung ref tsaka pantry, Ma'am," sabi ng caretaker na sumalubong sa akin sa lobby kanina, si Ate Lani.

Oh, wow.

"Hindi po kayo magugutom dito, Ma'am," biro pa nito. "Tsaka lahat po ng kailangan niyo, binili ko na po. May pang personal hygiene po tsaka pang-laundry. Alam niyo naman po kung nasaan ang washing machine?"

"Yes po."

"Kung may kailangan pa po kayo, i-text niyo lang po ako. Sinulat ko na po 'yung number, nandiyan po sa may dining table."

Naglakad ako papunta sa dining table para makita ang pad paper na sinulatan niya, pero isang makapal na white envelope. I felt my heart dropped when I realized what was inside.

Napatingin ako kay kay Ate Lani. "Ate, ano po itong envelope dito sa mesa?"

Ngumiti ito sa akin matapos itabi ang maleta ko sa foyer. "'Yan po 'yung pera na pina-withdraw ni Sir Apollo, 'yung ipapahiram niya daw po sa inyo."

My jaw dropped. "What?"

No, he did not just...

Pero parang hindi napapansin ni Ate Lani ang gulat at panic na nararamdaman ko. Patuloy lang ito sa pagsasalita. "Wala pong bawas 'yan, Ma'am. Pero pakibilang na lang din po para sigurado kayong buo 'yan, bago po ako umalis."

Napatingin ulit ako sa envelope, takot abutin ito at buksan. "H-How much?" I found myself asking her.

I almost dropped to the floor when she answered. "Fifty thousand po."

***

The loud bang of the door slamming shut woke me up from my deep, deep slumber.

After crying under the shower and eating the hot meal Ate Lani prepared and left for me, I laid back on the couch and instantly crashed. I was out like a light.

Maybe it's from the exhaustion of driving from Hermosa to Manila, the stress brought by the forced confrontation with Dash, and the heartbreak of being essentially homeless after building myself up five years ago—only for me to crash and burn.

Who would have thought? Five years later, I'd turn into a charity case my ex-boyfriend couldn't shake.

Not wanting to face my problems yet, I tried going back to sleep. But the persistent loud noises from the foyer kept me from sleeping.

"Honey, I'm hooome!" somebody shouted, a woman's loud voice.

I froze for a beat.

Shit. Does Apollo have someone in his life? I thought wala siyang time to date?