Kabanata 33
Dapat
I called Jeni because of what happened. Naikuwento ko ang offer na ibinigay sa akin at mukhang natuwa naman siya. She wasn't also expecting it and so do I. Balak ko sanang magkita kami kaso naalala ko na nasa Baguio pala siya para sa trabaho. I texted my one of my friend to meet me on my restaurant. Wala akong balak na lumabas ngayon dahil pinag-iisipan ko pa kung kukunin ko ang offer.
Technically, I would say yes but on the contrary, something's bothering me. Hindi ko nga lang alam kung ano iyon.
"You look stressed." Puna sa akin ni Ruth nang maupo siya sa aking tapat. I stared at her face and noticed that she's still wearing her hair net. May namumuong pawis sa kaniyang noo na agad rin niyang pinahid.
"You're busy?" tanong ko. Nakonsensya nang bahagya dahil mukhang naabala ko pa.
She smirked. "Uh, yeah if you haven't noticed, I'm still wearing my hair net." I can hint the sarcasm in her voice. Typical Ruth.
I chuckled. "Sorry, I'm just bothered." Sabi ko sa kaniya.
Umayos siya ng upo at agad na nagtawag sa isa aking tauhan. She ordered her usual dessert from here.
Sa limang taong magkaibigan kami ay kilala ko na si Ruth. She's one of my classmates way back in college. Nagsimula kaming maging magkaibigan noong year end na namin as sophomores. We were partners for the papers. Palagay ko ay naging walang kwenta ako dahil sobrang problemado ako noon dahil sa pag-alis ni Helion. One month wasn't enough to absorb what's happening. Pero si Ruth, sinabi niya na naiintindihan niya ako. She said I was so inlove with Helion base on how I look at him. Ni hindi ko na nga napapansin na may mga matang grabe kung makatingin sa amin noon. Ruth and I became close even more when we were on our third year. We were block mates.
Naging magkaibigan din sila ni Jeni and we bonded together. Ruth have friends too. Naging kaibigan na rin namin hanggang sa magtapos kami ng kolehiyo. Doon ko na din nabuksan ang isip ko sa maraming bagay. I thought my world was just only spinning around me and my family. Dumagdag si Helion at ang banda ngunit unti-unti ring umalis. With Ruth and our other friends, I became more interactive. That's when I know that there's more beyond looking over for myself and dreams.
"What do you want to talk about, Raya? Business?" Iniusog niya ang inuupuan bago itinuon ang pansin sa akin.
"Purely business and I need your opinion. I know Phaedra's good at this but I can't contact her." Sabi ko sa kaniya, tunog problemado.
"That sounded so serious, my friend."
"I got an offer!" I blurted out. Muntik niya nang maibuga ang kakanguya niya lang na laman ng halo-halo.
"O-offer? Modeling?"
"Nope. A catering service for a family party." Sabi ko.
"And then? What's in it for me? Why would you need my help with that?"
"I'm asking for opinion. I wanted to say yes but something's bothering me. Hindi ko nga lang alam kung ano yun, Ruth."
"Hmm, maybe you're just stressed. Sino ba yung nag-offer sa'yo? Is it a wealthy family?"
"I don't know if you've heard of them or know them but they're Creights. I met Mr. Adam Creight and his wife, Alysson. Kasama yung kanilang mga anak."
"What.the.hell? Creight? Owner of one of the biggest jewelry company in Asia?" aniya. Hindi ko alam ang aking isasagot dahil hindi ko naman alam na ganoon pala ang business ng mag-asawa at ng kanilang pamilya.
"Gosh, that's like once in a blue moon for you, Raya! Creight family is one of the most influential family in the country. Hindi lang jewelry company ang hawak nila maging mga mining corps at hospitals. I'm so proud of you, Raya!" nakangiti niyang sabi. Tumango ako. I know, it's a great opportunity at hindi ko dapat palagpasin iyon. This might be a big break for me.
"Kung ako sa'yo ay dapat mo ng tanggapin iyon. Kung tatanungin si Phaedra ay alam kong papayag din iyon. Don't worry about the situation, okay? If you want, I can help."
"With the catering?"
Tumango siya. "I'm your friend, Raya. Alam kong bothered ka rin dahil sa mga staffs mo. I could lend you some of my staffs to help. Tutulong rin ako at si Phaedra."
"Thank you, Ruth. Jeni would be glad to be here with us but she's still in Baguio. Alam kong pareho ang isasagot niyo sa akin."
"Ano ka ba, it's worth talking with you. Masarap talaga ang halo-halo mo dito." Komento niya.
Ruth owns a restaurant at a nearby hotel. Pamilya niya ang may-ari ng hotel kaya naman pinayagan siyang magput-up doon ng sariling restaurant para makatulong. She's also good in business but I can say that Phaedra's much more reliable. Phaedra took up business management before switching into Culinary arts. Kahit labag iyon sa kaniyang mga magulang ay ipinagpatuloy niya dahil iyon ang gusto niyang gawin.
Ruth took her time talking to me. Bandang alas kuwatro na nang magpaalam siya sa akin. I stayed in my restaurant while still monitoring the sales and the service of my employees. Bandang alas diyes nang magsara na kami. Three of my employees were still with me while were packing up. Nang masigurong ayos na ang lahat ay hinayaan ko na silang makaalis.
I went to my car and settled myself in. Hindi na traffic sa mga oras na ito dahil kanina pa natapos ang office hours. I would probably be home before eleven. Nasanay na nga si Tita dahil gabi na ako kung umuwi at hindi ko na siya naikakamusta tungkol sa bistro. Gusto ko ring ibalita sa kaniya ang offer na naibigay sa akin. I'm sure she'll be glad to hear it.
I parked my car in the garage. Sarado lahat ng ilaw except for the dimlight on the doorstep and in the living room. Nang pumasok ako ay walang katao-tao sa sala. Maybe they're all asleep except for the housemaids. Kapag natutunugan nilang narito na ako ay may iisang lalabas para ipaghanda ako ng makakain.
"Good evening ma'am. Ipaghahanda ko po ba kayo ng makakain?"
"No need, Andy. Ipaghanda mo na lang ako ng gatas at sandwhich. Dalhin mo na lang sa taas dahil maliligo muna ako." Sabi ko. Atubili itong sumunod sa aking ini-utos bago ako pumanhik paitaas. Before I went inside my room, I visited Tita Rima. May kaunting ilaw na nagmumula sa lamp at nandoon siya at mahimbing na natutulog. There was a sweet music all over her room that made her fall asleep. Lumapit ako at inayos ang kaniyang kumot bago ko siya hinalikan sa noo.
I sneaked out immediately. Ayaw kong magising siya kaya naman umalis na lang ako kaagad. I took a hot bath to relax my body. Marami akong iniisip ngunit ni isa doon ay hindi ko mapagtuonan ng pansin. While I was thinking of a certain one, bigla na lang may susulpot na bago. That's what I hate about thinking too much. Nawawala ang atensyon mo sa isa dahil namomroblema ka sa isa.
Five years have passed but I'm still stuck in that memory. Kailanman ay hindi ko makalimutan iyon. Maybe I haven't really moved on from what happened.
Siguro nagkaroon nang kaunti pero ni minsan ay hindi ko naisip na maaaring hindi ko pa talaga iyon naiiwan. It's hard to let go of the happy memories. Nasanay ako. Naging masaya ngunit sa huli ay nasaktan. If I'm going to go back again and have the chance to change it, I won't. Masaya ako kahit nasaktan. Nakabangon kahit muntik nang hindi makatayo. Chances are important. So maybe, it was just my chance to fall in love and be hurt. Chance to learn how to stand on my own and be with who I want to be.
I woke up very early to prepare breakfast. Nagulat ako na wala si Tita sa bahay at nagjogging kasama yung mga kakilala namin sa subdivision. I found myself smiling at the thought that Tita's moving on and gettig back on track. Sa tagal namin sa subdivision ay hindi ko siya gaanong nakikita na lumalabas at sumasama sa mga Titas na nakatira dito. Seldom I see them walking in front trying to have a peek on our house. 'Yun pala ay gusto kaming makilala para naman maimbitahan sa iba't ibang activities ng subdivision. They have this organization just for the people living here.
Masaya ako kasi sa mga activities na iyon may mga for charity purposes. Dumadalo kami ni Tita para makatulong. We enjoyed the clean up drives and orphanage visitations. Kapag nakakaluwag ay sumasama ako sa hiking ng mga Titas of the subdivision. Kailanma'y hindi ko naramdaman ang pagod sa buong linggong trabaho.
Alas otso na nang makabalik si Tita sa bahay. She was all sweaty from all the jog. Kasama niya yung mga kasabay niya sa jogging at puro kuwentuhan na naman ang ganap sa bahay. Sabay kaming lahat kumain pero nauna akong natapos dahil kailangan ko pang pumasok sa trabaho.
"I'll be in my office if someone will look for me." Sabi ko kay Gina nang matapos ako sa kitchen. Tanghaling tapat na at hindi pa ako kumakain. I just cooked for a VIP meeting! Ang buong second floor ay napuno ng mga businessman na galing sa malapit na kompanya ng textiles. Sa paroo't parito ay nahilo ako kaya naman nang matapos ay agad akong pumanhik sa office.
Nagpahinga ako sa office.
Whenever I'm here, it's either I'll be sleeping, do paperworks or just browse the net for new recipes. I was busy browsing that found myself wandering on the showbiz news for updates about the newest trends but one thing caught my eye.
Namuo ang bigat sa aking dibdib nang matitigan ko ang litratong iyon na nasa aking screen. It's like pulling me back to the memories I've never forgotten. Napasandal ako sa aking upuan at mas tinitigan sila isa-isa. They've matured. Ang huli kong kita sa kanila ay noong three years pa kung saan aksidente kong nakabangga si Eion. They were famous in the Philippines. Mas laganap sa Maynila kung saan talaga sila nagsimula.
Their band name was in bold letters being the headline of the news. They went abroad for their world tour. Kung sa Pilipinas ay sumikat sila, mas naging tanyag sila sa iba't ibang bansa.
Nanggaling sila sa iba't ibang lahi kaya naman mas nakilala sila. They also came from influential families. Kahit hindi ko alam, dalawa o tatlo sa kanila ay nanggaling sa mga may-ari ng kompanya.
I read the news. May kung anong tumutulak sa akin para basahin iyon. More like I was really interested to read.
They are having their summer concert in the Philippines for their latest album that was launched last November. Nanggaling na sila sa America at Australia at ngayon naman ay sa Pilipinas. The more I read about the article the more I thought of what happened to them. Nasaan si Helion? Bakit wala na rin si Rogan? They were still four. May nadagdag na miyembro sa kanila.
I closed the news update app. Bumuntong-hininga ako at napahilot sa sentido. Ayaw ko ng isipin pa ang nangyari sa kanila pero hindi ko mapigilan. I am curious, alright! Gusto ko rin silang makita pero alam kong hindi pwede at hindi dapat. Ayaw ko ng balikan pa iyon. If we meet again then let it be. Kung pareho man kami ng nararamdaman na hindi na dapat makipagkita, ay naiintindihan ko naman iyon.
May kumatok sa pinto. I dropped my phone inside the compartment.
"Ma'am, kailangan po kayong makausap ni Mr. Chua."
Here we go again.