Between Maybes

Chapter 1

"Hoy, Dodoy, ah. Sure ka ba na malaki ang sahod dito?" tanong ko kay Dodoy habang isinusuot ang uniform.

His real name is Albae, pero palayaw niya ang Dodoy.

"Ano ka ba? Wala ka bang tiwala sa akin, ha?" he said with crossed arms.

"Kung andito lang kayo para mag-chikahan, abay, umuwi na lang kayo," sabi ng isang matandang babae.

"Sorry po," sabay naming sabi ni Dodoy at agad na kumilos.

Nasa isang engrandeng hotel kami para magtrabaho. My best friend, Dodoy, told me that they needed workers because they were short on staff.

I took the tray of sparkling drinks at naglakad papunta sa mga guest.

"Excuse me po," mahina kong sabi as I walked through the grand ballroom.

Sobrang dami ng guest at sobrang yaman pa nila. They looked like they never stepped outside without a chauffeur.

Habang naglalakad ako, biglang may sumapid sa paa ko kasabay ng dahan-dahan kong pagtumba. My eyes widened as the tray flew into the air, and glasses shattered across the marble floor.

Red wine splashed all over the white suit of the man standing in front of me. Hindi ako agad makatayo, at napatingin ako sa mamahaling relo niyang kumikislap sa ilalim ng chandelier.

I slowly looked up.

Isang gwapo, matangkad, and annoyingly calm man was standing in front of me.

Agad akong tumayo at dali-daling pinunasan ang suit niya gamit ang uniform ko.

"P-Pasensya na po, sir," I nervously said habang dali-dali kong pinupunasan ang damit niya.

"May sumapid kasi sa akin eh. Di ko naman yun kasalanan-"

I stopped when I looked at his face.

He looked at me with a calm face. Before I could speak, I heard people whispering.

"Isn't he Gray Callister?" someone asked.

Another one gasped. "Wait... the Callister heir?"

I had heard about them before. The Callisters owned hotels, restaurants, and companies that stretched across the country. Their family appeared in magazines more often than celebrities did.

I quickly bowed.

"I'm so sorry!"

Before I could look up, he grabbed my wrist at agad akong dinala palayo.

Sobrang kabado ang puso ko. Ano kaya ang gagawin niya?

P-Papatayin niya kaya ako?

"T-Teka lang..." sabi ko while trying to pull my hand back.

He didn't say a single word. Instead, mas diniinan niya ang paghawak sa kamay ko.

"Nasasaktan ako. Ano ba?" sabi ko at agad na binawi ang kamay ko.

He stopped and looked at me.

Malayo na kami sa mga tao. It's just him and me.

"If you are mad because of your suit and your watch, babayaran ko na lang," galit kong sabi habang magkasalungat ang dalawa kong kilay.

I saw him smirk.

Aba, minamaliit niya ako.

"Magkano ba 'yan para mabayaran ko?" sabi ko habang pinagdidiinan ko siya ng tingin.

"Five million."

"Five million lang pala... F-Five million?!" gulat kong tanong sa kanya.

Ganyan ba talaga kamahal 'yan?

"Want me to spell it for you?" he said as he shoved his hands inside his pockets.

"Bakit naman ang mahal? Nambobola ka lang eh," I said as I poked his shoulder.

"Do you think I'm joking?" he said seriously, dahilan ng pagtigil ko sa pagsundot sa kanya at agad na inilagay sa likuran ko ang kamay ko.

"This suit was custom-made and cost P800,000. The watch got stained when the drinks fell on me. This was P4,200,000."

My jaw dropped and it felt like my soul left my body.

"So P800,000 plus P4,200,000..." he said as he looked at his suit and watch, then back at me.

"A total of P5,000,000."

Hindi ako makaimik. Gustuhin ko mang magsalita, pero parang umurong ang dila ko.

"Good thing it wasn't that expensive," he added.

I slowly looked at him, really looked at him.

Not that expensive?

I slowly reached into the pocket of my uniform and pulled out a crumpled twenty-peso bill. I stared at it, then at him.

"Can I pay in installments?"

He looked at me for several seconds, then looked away.

A second later, he cleared his throat.

"There's another way for you to pay it."

My face lit up as I looked at him.

"What kind of way?"

I saw his ears slightly turn pink.

How unusual.

"Be my girlfriend."

Agad naman akong nabilaukan sa sarili kong laway.

H-His girlfriend?!

"Y-Your what?!"

I heard him chuckle.

"Not a real one. A fake one."

Seryoso ko siyang tiningnan, then agad akong tumawa.

"Ang funny mo rin, no," I said, laughing as I held his shoulder.

"I'm serious."

Dahan-dahang nawala ang tawa ko at tumingin sa kanya.

"You've got to be kidding." I said as I slowly put down my hands.

"I'm not," he said calmly.

"It's a lot easier than working for years just to pay me just half of it," he added.

Agad naman akong napaisip.

Oo nga naman.

"If papayag ako, bayad na ba lahat ng utang ko?" I asked, he looked at me.

"All of it."

"Then it's a deal," I said.

He looked at me and smiled.

"Deal."