CLARISSE
I didnt take seriously what Ice just said over the phone. Like hello? Anong akala nya sakin, baliw na basta na lang susugod sa bahay nya sa Maynila just because I'm scared for his blackmail? No way! Neknek nya. FYI, nasa Ilocos ako at wala sa Maynila para mapuntahan sya agad no?
Kaya tulad ng nakagawian, I faced my workload for this day. After I had my breakfast (I made a new breakfast. I dont wanna eat the burned out pancakes.), I went to the study room so that I could start working.
Super engrossed na ako sa ginagawa kong templates nang magring ang cellphone ko. I rolled my eyes when I saw Ice's name registered on my phone's screen.
Of course, he called para ipilit na naman ang gusto nya. I pressed the accept button and answered the call.
"Ye---"
"It's 10:30. Where on earth are you?" Hindi pa ako tapos mag-hello ng magsalita sya na lalong nakadagdag sa inis ko.
"Oh... It is..." I said with amusement in my voice. Pero totoong nagulat ako. The last time i checked the time, 8:45 pa lang. And that was earlier before i get into the study room. Wow! Ganun kabilis ang oras?
"Oh it really is! And I said come at 10." Ice said mockingly. He impatiently lost his temper.
"Have you forgot that i'm here in Ilocos? Nababaliw ka na kung papapuntahin mo ako sa bahay mo dyan sa Manila." Nakakainis na din ha?
"That's what you get for not asking first. I'm here in Ilocos also. Just blocks away from you." I can imagine him grinning like a Chesire cat. Akala nya siguro, naisahan nya ako.
"Oh really? Then that's what you get as well for not telling me immediately. Busy ako, Ice. Next time na lang." Ibababa ko na sana ang cellphone ng marinig ko ang sinabi nya.
"You'll come here or I'll see you at the precint." Oh my lord! As in talaga. Inuubos ng ungas na to ang pasensya ko sa katawan.
But then again, wala nga naman akong karapatang tumanggi sa kondisyon nya. He already have my words and he kept his words for being the sponsor of our project. At marunong naman akong tumanaw ng utang na loob. O tama nga bang utang na loob na matatawag yun.. Haaaay!
"Fine! Give me your address..." I said surrendering. As if I have a choice. May dagdag na bonus naman e. I'll be seeing him. Hihihi.
Icr gave me his address and true to his words, ilang bahay nga lang ang pagitan nya sakin. But how come na hindi ko alam? Well, so dumb for me to ask. Malay ko naman sa residence ng subdivision na to.
I put all my papers in an envelope. I closed my laptop and put it in a bag. I grabbed my house keys together with my phone. Saka ko binitbit ang mga papeles at laptop palabas ng bahay. Hindi ko alam ang takbo ng utak ni Ice. Baka mamaya, gumana ang kakaibang trip nun sa buhay at hindi ako pauwiin agad. At least makakapagtrabaho pa rin ako.
I walked my way to his place. Nang nasa tapat na ako ng bahay niya, pinindot ko ang doorbell. But no one opened the door. Inulit ko ang pagpindot sa doorbell. Pero wala pa ring nagbubukas ng pinto. I tried once more... Wala pa rin! GRRRR!!! This is getting on my nerves! Baka naman wala sya sa bahay. Or worse, baka hindi sa kanya ang bahay na to! Waaahhh!!! Subukan nya lang talaga, makakatikim sya sakin.
Nang mainip na ako kakahintay sa labas, pinakialaman ko na ang doorknob at pinihit. It worked! Sus! Bukas naman pala naghintay pa ako. I just wished na bahay talaga ni Ice to. Dahil ayokong makasuhan ng tresspassing.
I pushed the door open... And HOLY FREAKING HOUSE!!! Or is it really a house??? Mas malala pa sa dinaanan ng ipo-ipo ang loob ng bahay. Everything is a mess! As in buong bahay! Parang bigla akong nanghina sa nakita kong trabaho. It's screaming 'clean up the mess, for goodness sake!' I tiptoed while making my way inside the house. Wala na akong madaanan sa sobrang dami ng kalat.
Inihagis ko ang basura na nasa couch at ipinatong ang mga dala ko. So i just wasted my energy carrying those heavy stuff sa pag-aakalang makakapagtrabaho ako dito. At nasaan na ba ang walang hiyang may-ari ng bahay? Just in time my phone beeps for the incoming text message. I saw Ice's name on my phone. Inis na binuksan ko ang message.
From: Mr. Yelo
I hope you found my place. Anyway, I have to leave my house to fix something important. Ikaw na ang bahalang umayos sa bahay. Be back in a few. *wink*
Nag-init ng bongga ang ulo ko. So sinadya nya lahat to. May pa-wink wink pa! I started typing a message to him.
To: Mr. Yelo
Dont get surprised to see your house turned into ashes once you get back. You just ask the wrong person to clean up your mess. You should ask for your maid's service.
Then i pressed 'send' hard. I wonder kung bakit ganito kagulo ang bahay nya. Parang binagyo!
My phone beeps again.
From: Mr. Yelo
You're my 'all-around girl', remember? You can do it.
D**n!!! Inis na inihagis ko ang cellphone sa couch at nameywang habang inililibot ang paningin sa bonggang kalat.
Hmmmn... What to do with this? Sunugin ko na lang kaya ang buong bahay? Hindi pa ako mahirapan.
Haaay! Bahala na nga. Wag syang magreklamo kung hindi pulido ang trabaho ko. Since this is not really my forte. I just have to do this right away para matapos na. So that i can face my own work after.
I put my hair into a messy bun using my ponytail. Good thing, i wear comfortable outfit today. At least makakagalaw ako ng maayos.
I switch all the windows open, ready to clean the whole mess. I grabbed a garbage bag under the sink and put all the mess inside of it.
It took me hours bago pa ako na-satisfy sa paglilinis. Yes, the place is all clean. And no, Ice is not here yet.
Then I heard my parasites growling! Ookkaay! No chance at all. I need to raid the kitchen no matter what. And poor me, walang ready to eat foods. I still need to cook myself. But i can consider myself lucky when i saw some foods inside the fridge and the cabinets.
I grabbed some of it and started cooking. I just have to do it fast or else malilipasan na ako ng gutom. Just then i checked my wristwatch and found out that it's 12:30 already. Ganun ako katagal naglinis?
Mag-isa kong nilantakan ang wanton mami na niluto ko. Dahil sobrang pagod at gutom ako, super na-enjoy ko ang food.
I washed the dishes and it took me ages before I finished washing few pieces of utensils. I just wanna make sure that it's cleaned.
Then i walked back to the living room. And started working. Few more minutes, i felt my eyes heavy. Siguro dahil sa pagod. So i let myself lay down on the couch until i drifted to wonderland.
***
I am having a dream. Napunta daw ako sa isang lugar. Mabangong lugar. I tried to search where that scent came from. I tried the trees, the leaves, thr flowers. Pero hindi sa kanila nanggagaling ang mabangong amoy. So i just sniff more. Just then i heard chuckling. I looked around. Pero ako lang naman ang tao. Or so I thought. Cause a few seconds later, something caressed my hair.. Or it is someone?
Then the magic is gone when i opened my eyes. Panaginip lang pala lahat. Pero totoo ang naamoy ko. I immediately sat from the couch when i saw Ice staring at me. He's sitting at the one-seater sofa across mine.
"Did you chuckle?" He frowned and shook his head 'no'.
"Did you caressed my hair?" I asked again. And this time his frown grew deeper.
"No. You were dreaming." He said seriously. Yeah. Maybe I was.
"Whatever. Anyway, how'd you find my cleaning?" He looked around the house. As if checking it.
"Good..." I almost smiled. But he spoke again. "Just dont eat my stocks of wanton next time."
Ganun? May kadamutan din pala to!
"Sorry ha? Napagod kasi ako sa kakalinis ng unit. Sana kasi nag-hire ka na lang ng katulong. Hmp!" I said sarcastically.
"You can have anything. Except for wanton." I rolled my eyes what he said.
"Whatever. May ipapagawa ka pa ba? I still need to work." He just shook his head.
"You may go."
Ganun lang??? Wala man lang thank you or what??? Hmp!
I grabbed all my stuffs and walked outside the house. Just then i checked my phone. Andaming missed calls. Lahat galing kay Jake! Hala! Nakalimutan ko yung lunch datr namin! Oh my! Ganun pala kalalim ang naging tulog ko?
I started typing a message to him saying how sorry i am. I also ask to resched the date for me to make it up for him.
Wrong timing kasi tong si Ice e. May araw din sakin ang ungas na yan! Humanda sya.