A/N: Holllaaaaa! I'm baaaaack! Hihi! Updates will be every week depending on my schedule. Syempre kapag maluwag, alams na. Hahahahaha. Pag tight, edi tight. XD Sorry sa matagal na delay. Hopefully hindi na ulit ako sumabit sa paga-update. Baka kasi iwan n'yo na ako, eh. Joke! XDD Anyway, here's Lhia! Enjoy, guys! <3
Tell me what y'all think. VOTE. COMMENT. Stay happy, be happy. Mwa!
-HR <3
Ninety Three
Singapore Negotiations
(Lhia's POV)
"Wuhooooo! Hellooo my beloved fans!"
My mother. Is. A Demented. Being.
"Mom. Get off of there."
"No, baby girl, you get on here. We're leaving!"
I sighed. The jet's engine went off. Umakyat si April sa stairway dala ang mga gamit ko. Sumunod ako sa kanya. Sinalubong agad ako ng yakap ng nanay kong may tama sa utak. As in bear hug. If I didn't need this effin' jet I wouldn't want to meet my mother in this ecstatic state of hers. Masyadong hyper.
"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!"
Naalarma ako sa tili ni April. Agad akong kumalas kay Mommy at tumakbo sa kinaroroonan niya just as the jet is beginning to roar back into life again.
At nadatnan ko si Zane na nakaupo sa loob ng isang bag at hinahabol ang hininga niya. What the hell? "Leche, Zane, anong ginagawa mo dito?"
"Eh iiwan mo'ko eh!" hingal na sabi niya. "Grabe ah. Ang hirap huminga sa loob ng bag."
"Aba natural, tanga! Paano ka nagkasya d'yan?"
He grinned sheepishly. "Ehe-he. Di ko rin alam eh."
Magte-take off na ang jet. Di ko naman pwedeng ipahinto pa 'to para lang itapon si Zane pabalik ng runway. I sighed at hinila si Zane patayo gamit ang tenga niya. But he dared not to say anything. Bumaling ako sa nanay kong kumikinang ang mata. "This is Zane, Mom."
"Patingin, patingin. Ang gwapuuuu naman! Kailan ba siya maa-adopt, ha, Lhia? Kailan, kailan?" atat na tanong ni Mommy habang pinipisil-pisil ang pisngi ni Zane na tawa lang ng tawa, obviously enjoying the attention.
"May gusot pa sa papeles. Pinapa-asikaso ko na sa abogado. Anyway, maupo na kayo. Take off na oh."
Thankfully masunurin naman sila. Inokupa nilang dalawa yung seat sa may kaliwa, magkaharap sila at nagkukulitan. Kami ni April sa may bandang unahan. Hinintay kong makapag-take off ang jet bago ko i-open ang cell phone.
Calls, obviously. Mostly from Yuri, Kent and Suzy.
Ang may alam lang ng reason ko sa pag-alis ay sina b1, ate Nice, peke, aids man, at Keisha. I haven't thought about telling Kent about this because I think I'm the wrong person to break the news to him. So I didn't said anything.
And Yuri... well be damned. Hangga't hindi niya inaamin sa aking nakabuntis siya, totoo man o hindi, walang pag-uusapan. But I did have someone investigate on that. Langya naman kasi, mangangabayo na lang hindi pa ayusin. Nagtanim pa ng halaman, ang tanga-tanga talaga.
Hindi ko pinansin ang mga tawag, I only called Quinn's family's informant sa Singapore. I made him handle the issue. Bribe who he thinks is needed to be bribed, I don't care. I want Ralph's mother to be released.
"Ni hao ma, Quinn xiao jie."
"Yeah, hello, Mr. Wang. I boarded the jet, in three hours or sooner I'll land to Singapore. How is the negotiation going?"
"Miss Elsa is free from jail, bie dan xin, xiao jie. But Yu Fei and his family is not convinced about your existence, they want proof."
I rolled my eyes. Yeah like I'll made up my existence. "Don't they know how to use internet to verify my credentials?"
"Forgive foolish people, xiao jie. Dui bu qui."
"No it's fine. Proof is what they want, proof is what I'll give."
"Very well then. I'll arrange your car and you will be brought directly to Raffles Hotel where I had Miss Elsa stay. May I know what your plans are, xiao jie?"
"None of the moment. The sooner the issue is done, I will get back to the Philippines. I am with my brother and my mother."
I heard him gasp. Malamang dahil nalaman niyang kasama ko nanay kong monggoloyd. "You are with Quinn Taitai?"
"Yeaaaah. She has the jet I'm flying in, I had to call her from France so I can use the jet for a day or two. It doesn't bother her as far as travelling is concerned."
"Ah shi. I recall Taitai as a free spirited one. She enjoys travelling very much."
Free spirited? Ligaw na kaluluwa kamo.
April arranged my schedule for the next day or two. Tapos tinawagan ko rin si b1 para sana ibilin sa kanyang pakainin si Honeydew. Well sorry, di pwedeng magsama ng labrador sa Singapore. Ang dyahe lang nu'n. May tumakas na ngang asong ulol na nagtago sa baggage ko eh.
"Ate, hindi pala ako nakapagdala ng damit, sha-shopping mo'ko?" speaking of the asong ulol.
"Hindi, dalawang araw na ganyan ang suot mo."
"Ate naman eh."
Ngumiti lang si April, senyales na aayusin niya 'yon. Napailing lang ako. The privilege of being a Quinn. Kailangan ko na talagang i-rush ang adoption papers ni Zane. I want him to be a proper Quinn. Four years later and he's still acting like he's going to starve eventually. I don't want him feeling like that.
"Ma'am, andito na po tayo."
"About time."
Kung pwede ko lang lagyan ng leash sa leeg sina Mommy at Zane ginawa ko na. Pagkababa na pagkababa nila ng jet, kung saan-saan sila nagpupupunta. Yung entourage na sumalubong sa'min mukha namang aliw na aliw sa dalawa. Seryoso? -__-
"Tantanan n'yo nga 'yan, mukha kayong monggoloyd."
"Ate, ate, tignan mo oh! Sirenang leon!"
"Bebeeeee gurrrlll! Look look! Ang puge oh! Wala lang mata!"
Haist. Ayoko na.
For a last minute rent, disente ang Avanza na napadala ni Mr. Wang sa amin. From Changi Airport diretso kami sa Beach Road where Raffles Hotel is located. The hotel's structure is classy yet historical. Parang pang-Intramuros lang ang datingan. Chos. xD
An old man of around forty's to fifty's stood in the foyer habang naghahakot ng gamit yung mga staff. Sinalubong niya kami and right then and there I realized it's Mr. Wang.
"Huan ying, huan ying, Quinn xiao jie, Quinn Taitai, Young Master Quinn. I am Mr. Wang. I am pleased to know that you arrived safely."
I only smiled and Mom took over the conversation being that mas kilala niya si Mr. Wang kesa sa'kin. I felt Zane nudged me. "Ano raw 'yun, Ate?"
"Wine-welcome niya tayo."
"Sikat ka rin dito, Te?"
"Hindi, baliw. May negosyo dito ang Daddy dati na pinapatakbo pa rin ng mga tao namin. Ewan, I'm not much into the family's business. Kumontak lang ako dito so I can fix things that is need fixing. So I'm here."
Tumango lang si Zane. Then Mr. Wang lead the way papasok ng hotel.
"Forgive me, xiao jie. May I know the name of the Young Master?"
"Zane. His name is Zane."
Nabaling ang atensyon ni Zane sa'kin mula sa pagtingin-tingin sa paligid. "Ha? Ano 'yon? Bakit? Anong meron?"
Muntanga.
"Young Master Zane." Then Mr. Wang nodded at him. Sa sobrang gulat ni Zane muntik siyang magtago sa likuran ko kung hindi lang nakuha ni Mommy ang kamay niya at ngumiti sa kanya. "Your wardrobe will be sent to your room later. I'm sorry for the inconvenience. My men is caught in traffic."
Tumingin sa akin si Zane na parang walang kaalam-alam sa nangyayari sa mundo niya. Aw, he looks like a lost puppy. I smiled at ginulo ang buhok niya bago bumaling kay Mr. Wang. "It's alright, we understand."
"I'll take you to your rooms."
Magkakatabi lang ang mga kwartong kinuha niya. Gusto ni Zane na mag-share kami pero sayang naman yung isa kaya hindi ako pumayag. Agad-agad nag-plano sila ni Mommy na maglibot habang nandito kami.
H'wag lang sanang maligaw 'yang dalawang yan.
"Take me to her, Mr. Wang."
"Of course, of course, xiao jie. I'll lead the way."
Kasama si April, sinundan namin si Mr. Wang hanggang sa fourth floor ng Hotel. He knocked on the door and it opened. Pumasok siya and opened the door for me. A lady, she had Kent's eyes and nose, her hair is black, skin fair, Ralph's lips and high cheekbones, she's standing there anticipating for something, probably me.
"Miss Elsa, this is Quinn xiao jie. Xiao jie, this is Miss Elsa Castañeda."
She looks like she's about to tear up. I offered a smile and a hand. "Lhia po. Lhia Quinn. Kamusta ho kayo?"
"Diyos ko." bulong niya, a single tear dropped from her eyes as she moved and hugged me. I tensed a little but the softness of the embrace reminded me that it's no harm so I relaxed. "Maraming maraming salamat. Malaking bagay ang ginawa mo."
"Wala hong problema. Maupo po kayo."
Iginiya ko siya sa may sofa. Agad na kumilos si April na maghanap ng maiinom when I glanced at her. Mr. Wang stood there, just simply overlooking.
Kumuha ako ng tissue sa box na nasa coffee table at iniabot sa kanya. Tahimik niyang pinunasan ang luha niya. Mga ilang sandali pa bago siya kumalma ng tuluyan at ngumiti sa akin. "Salamat, Lhia."
"Wala ho 'yon. Kung hindi n'yo ho mamasamain... gaano na kayo katagal sa Singapore?"
"Magwa-walang taon na rin. Nag-apply akong domestic helper."
I bit my lip. Alam kaya niyang may alam ako sa pag-iwan niya sa mga anak niya? Nanghihimasok ba ang tawag du'n kapag nagtanong? Curious lang naman eh. "Kaibigan po ako ni Keisha, asawa ng anak n'yo, si Ralph. Nagta-trabaho po sa kompanya namin si Ralph bilang myembro ng isang banda, which I think you are aware of."
A smile crossed her troubled face. "Nakikita ko siya sa TV tsaka sa internet."
Dahan-dahan akong tumango, pinag-iisipan ko kung babanggitin ko yung isa. Bahala na si batman. "Manager po ako ni Kent."
Biglang lumungkot ang mukha niya. She's close to crying again but she swallowed and forced a smile. "Si Kent? K-Kamusta na siya? Ang huling narinig ko eh ikinasal siya sa nobya niya do'n sa pinagta-trabahuhan niyang TV show sa States. Okay lang ba siya? Inaalagaan ba siya ng asawa niya? May problema kasi sa mood ang batang 'yon. Sana hindi sumasakit ang ulo mo sa kanya."
"Okay lang ho siya. Divorced na siya months ago. And as for me handling him, wala naman hong problema. Thing is... he doesn't know about this."
Ngumiti siya at tumango, seeming to be anticipating that. "I know. He's... he's one tough person to talk to. Alam ko 'yon."
Yeah. She really seems to know that Kent hates her. We really don't need to talk about this.
Bumaling ako kay Mr. Wang. "What else is the problem, Mr. Wang?"
"Her passports and other documents are with the Yu Fei's, her recent employers. They won't let it go unless you meet them."
"Who are this Yu Fei?"
"Just an ordinary household, xiao jie. No one big. But Miss Elsa's contract is still running so they actually have a hold on her. And Miss Elsa don't want to be working for them again. She told me they can be violent sometimes."
Napatingin ako sa katabi ko. "Violent?"
She nodded quietly. "Yes. Violent. I have the proofs of it kaya lang may hatak sila sa mga pulis kaya hindi ako makapagsumbong. Nung nagbanta akong aalis pabalik ng Pinas pinakulong nila ako. Dalawang linggo akong nakakulong bago nasabi sa akin ng kasamahan ko na natawagan niya ang manager ni Ralph at nakausap pati ang anak ko."
I sighed and nodded at Mr. Wang. "I'll see them now. Over dinner. Book in on a resto."
"Yes, xiao jie. Anything else?"
"None as of the moment. Just have someone follow my brother and my mother. They tend to get lost." Argh nasa lahi na ata namin ang walang sense of direction. Lichi.
Nang makaalis si Mr. Wang agad kong kinuha kay April ang phone ko. Tinawagan ko agad si Keisha na kanina pa ako binubulabog ng text. "Goodness! Akala ko nag-crash na 'yang sinakyan mo! Bakit hindi ka sumasagot?"
"Oh hello, Keisha, I'm fine thank you, how are you?"
"Tse. Ano nang balita?"
I glanced at Elsa na nakatingin lang sa akin but with a smile of anticipation. I smiled back at her. "I'm on it, found her. Where's aids man?"
"Tulog. May gig sila kagabi."
"Kumain kayo ng ilaw?"
"Lhia! H'wag kang magsimula!"
Masama bang magtanong?
"Wake him up. I'll put you in a loudspeaker, put me on too."
I press loudspeaker at ibinigay sa katabi ko ang phone. May shuffling sa kabilang linya. And then a groggy voice that sounded like Ralph spoke. "Hello?"
Wide-eyed, tumingin sa akin si Elsa. Tumango lang ako, urging her to talk. "H-Hello?"
Silence. Knowing aids man, nakanganga na 'yan kay Keisha. At since iyakin 'yan, malamang mangiyak-ngiyak na rin 'yan. Anuber. Sure ba silang lalaki 'yang si aids man?
"M...M-Mom? Ma?"
And that's it. Elsa broke down in tears. "Ralph? God, anak... Miss ka na ni Mommy..."
ooOoo
I had no rest by the time na kumatok si Mr. Wang at paalalahanan akong nasa ibaba na ang kotse para dalhin ako sa restaurant na na-reserve niya. I insisted on having Elsa just in case may ma-miss akong details. Of course, April is also in tow.
Nasa labas pa rin hanggang ngayon yung dalawang monggoloyd. Hindi ko alam kung saan-saan sila nagpunta but I was informed na safe naman daw sila and so far, hindi pa sila naliligaw. Luckily nag-function ang utak ng nanay ko at bumili siya ng English-Mandarin na dictionary. Dahil hindi ko mai-imagine kung paano sila makikipag-usap sa mga utaw ditey sa Singapore.
Anyway we drove to Bayfront Avenue and entered a restaurant called Santi. Elsa was starstrucked tapos agad siyang nag-alangan dahil sa suot niya. Ngumiti lang ako sa kanya. "Sa Pilipinas, maraming kulang-kulang ang telang suot, minsan lampin, kapag kumakain. Kaya okay lang po 'yan."
And that made her laugh. Alam ko na kung saan nagmana si Kent. Madaling utuin sa isang simpleng joke. Peace yow.
My floral printed dress is top up with a business suit so that they can see that I mean business. Thanks to b1, tip numbah one niya 'yan kapag nasa business trip kami. Ngayon ko lang talaga na-realize. I really have no life. Puro work lang.
"This way, xiao jie." And Mr. Wang led us to a private dining room na malayo sa main dining set which is packed with people.
Sa mesa may dalawang tao nang nakaupo. Babae at lalaki. By the look in Elsa's face mukhang heto na nga 'yon. They both stood up nang makita si Mr. Wang. Mr. Wang pulled out a chair for me, April, and Elsa. I nodded at the two who just stands there awkwardly. Napabuntong hininga lang ako.
"I do not discuss business with an empty stomach. We're here to eat not just to discuss things so go ahead, sit down."
Thankfully umupo sila while murmuring a thank you in Mandarin. "Xiexie, xiao jie."
Umorder kami ng tahimik. I really didn't bother with the food, basta pang-laman tyan okay na 'yun. But I did recognized it as oyster tas parang in-escabeche lang. May soup rin na tinatawag nilang Melon soup na may fresh almonds. Duda ako sa kulay kaya pinipili ko lang kainin yung oyster. Kasalanan ko bang pihikan ako? Pilipino 'ko, iba panlasa ko.
"Forgive me for missing the introduction." Mr. Wang began nang makita niyang papatapos na kami halos. "Quinn xiao jie, meet Mr. and Mrs. Yu Fei. They understand English and they talk a bit of the language, you'll do."
"Thank you, Mr. Wang." Then I smiled at the two who smiled nervously at me. "Enjoyed your meal?"
"Y-Yes. Yes, xiexie. Xiexie." Sagot nung lalaki na halatang nagkakanda-bulol bulol na sa nerbyos. "A-Are you... you really the Young Mistress? Miss Quinn?"
"The only daughter. Do we have any issues with that?"
"N-No, no, of course none. It is just... I thought you would be an adult."
Mukha ba akong bata? Iuntog ko kaya 'to sa semento? "And I am not?"
"Of course, it's not what I mean, dui bu qui, xiao jie. You just... you look so young." Ah yun naman pala. Umayos ka.
"Everybody says the same thing. I'm twenty four." Hindi lang halata. Hmf! "Anyway, I will not bother you any longer. You probably have a lot of things to do." That being indicated, agad na iniabot ni April sa akin ang check book and pen. Naman! Automatic! Kaya lab na lab ko 'tong si April eh. Anywhooo, I scribbled numbers, signed it then rip it off saka iniabot sa kanila. "Two hundred thousand. No more, no less. Either this or a lawsuit."
Halos hindi na sila nag-dalawang isip. Mabilis pa sa alas kwatrong kinuha ng babae ang tseke. Actually hinablot lang niya. Namula ng konti yung lalaki. "I... I didn't thought you'd be so straightforward and—"
"Because I'm young and I look naive, is it? Sorry for not meeting your expectations. Anyway, I want Miss Castañeda's complete documents and her passport. Do you have it?"
"Of course, xiao jie." Saka siya naglabas ng isang envelope na agad kinuha ni April.
I handed it to Elsa para i-check niya. When she nodded for confirmation, I turned to the Yu Fei's at tumayo na. "I'll send one of my men to fetch the remaining luggages that Miss Elsa have in your home. We will fly tomorrow morning so I'm hoping you will give the luggages with no complaints."
They both eagerly nodded. I smiled. "Very good."
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