Unruly Choice of Fate (COMPLETE)

36

"Are you a college student or what?" He asked in the middle of our walk.

Pansamantalang nawala ang bigat na nararamdaman ko dahil sa ordinaryong tanong niya. "Incoming grade twelve this school year. We will have our official class this coming Monday." Sabi ko.

Gulat na nilingon niya ako. "Really? You looked like a college student." Hindi makapaniwalang tinignan niya ako.

I smile seeing his shocked face. "I get that a lot." Nagkibit balikat ako. "Maybe because I'm tall? I don't know." I chuckled at myself.

"Hmm.. that too." He nods. "I actually thought that you were a foreigner at first glance, but then you spoke Tagalog so I'm kind of shocked."

"Napansin ko nga." Natawa ako ng maalala ang nangyari kanina. "Pasensya na talaga kanina. Hindi ko inaasahan na may matatamaan ako, pero hindi ko dapat ginawa iyon kahit ganon. I'm sorry." Nahihiyang tinignan ko siya.

"Don't worry about it and you also make it up to me by helping me out so... it's really fine." He smiled with assurance.

Nawala kahit papaano ang guilt na nararamdaman ko dahil sa ginawa ko kanina. Hindi ko naman sinasadya na ibuntong sa buhangin ang inis ko. Hindi ko rin kasi talaga mapigilan.

"Welcome to our hotel." Inilahad ni Nate sa akin ang harap ng hotel.

Namangha ako ng makita ito ng malapitan. It's like an ancient establishment, almost looks like a work in medieval period with a little touch of modernity. It looks old, classy, intricate, and very sophisticated. Parang nakakasilaw ang liwanag sa loob at napakalawak ng tanggapan nila. Puro mamahaling muwebles at materyales ang makikita sa bukana palang ng tanggapan.

"This hotel was established in 1965. It's kind of vintage and old but my Dad refused to change its structure because he believes that this can be our advantage over the other hotels out there. You see, this place has a unique look that differs from the other hotels that you could observe. This old structure makes our hotel one of the most prestigious hotels in Asia." He proudly said. "The structure, antique displays, and nostalgic feeling are like you went back to the past, which is also the reason why everything we have here is wood-made or antique. To maintain the senescent image of our Island hotel."

Namamangha na inilibot ko ang tingin sa paligid. Mataas ang kisame ng buong unang palapag at sobrang ganda. Isa isang ipinaliwanag ni Nate ang bawat parte ng hotel at ang mga kagamitan na ginamit rito. Namamangha ako sa tuwing sinasabi niya ang kumpletong detalye ng mga mwebles at kung saan ito binili. Alam na alam niya lahat.

"This is the hotel's greenhouse. Some of our dish ingredients are coming here." Tinuro niya ang hilera ng mga halaman. "Those are different herbs and spices such as rosemary and thyme which are best used for a flavorful steak."

Marami pa siyang itinuro na halaman sa akin at kung anong gamit no'n. Halos hindi na ako makapagsalita sa sobrang mangha dahil bukod sa alam niya ang lahat ng meron dito sa isla nila, namamangha din ako sa mga bagong impormasyon na sinasabi niya sa akin.

"We also have flowers for the hotel decoration and other kinds of stuff. Only those flowers that can bloom in summer and can survive the heat coming inside of the greenhouse. Although we can plant more types of flower, I refuse to do so, because it takes more effort to keep the other flowers alive." Iginiya niya ako palapit sa hanay ng mga bulaklak.

I ran my hands through the petals of the flowers. Napakaganda nilang tignan lalo na't magkakaiba ang kulay at maganda ang pagkakaayos ng bawat hanay base sa klase at kulay ng mga ito. Nanunuot sa sistema ko ang mabangong amoy ng bulaklak na ikinangiti ko.

"I'm glad that you look genuinely happy now." Biglang sinabi ni Nate.

Napalingon ako sa kaniya. "What do you mean?"