Sinubukan kong tumayo pero umikot lang ang paningin ko at para akong masusuka sa sobrang hilo. Kung may naka-sex lang ako iisipin ko talaga na buntis ako. Kaso wala. Virgin ako ng mga five years na.
My thermometer alarmed and when I looked at it. My temperature raised to 37.9 degree celsius. Okay. It's not that high. I can do this. Hindi ako pwedeng magkasakit ngayon dahil mamayang gabi na ang party. Kailangan kong asikasuhin ang lahat.
I went to the hotel and made sure that everything is perfect. Hindi ko hahayaan na pumalpak ako ngayon. This is my time to redeem myself.
"Hey, are you okay?" Gretchen asked me and held my arms. "Oh my gosh! You're sick!"
"Sinat lang to. Malayo sa bituka." She looks worried but at the same time alam niya kung gaano ka importante sa akin ang event na ito. I smiled at her. I'm really grateful that she's here to help me. Kahit buntis siya, talagang ginawa niya ang lahat ng maitutulong niya. She made this place the exactly what I imagined. "Don't worry about me, Gretch. I'm fine."
Nang makita ko na ayos na ang lahat I went to my own rented room at the hotel at doon na nagbihis. I wore my formal hotel uniform that we always use at this event. It's a plain dark blue formal dress with light blue long sleeves on the inside and a silver belt. I applied a light make-up at inilugay ko lang ang tuwid kong buhok na hanggang sa may collar bone.
The guests started to arrive at habang tumatagal lalong sumasama ang pakiramdam ko, uninom na din ako ng gamot pero mukhang walang epekto. Para akong pinagpapawisan ng malamig, pero kailangan ko parin ngumiti para sa mga bisita.
The program flowed smoothly. Klaus opened the event with a speech, kanina pa rin niya ako tinititigan kaya pinipilit ko talaga na huwag ipahalata na hindi maganda ang pakiramdam ko.
Nang makita ko na maayos na ang lahat. When I saw that everyone's enjoying the party, saka lang ako umupo sa gilid at nagpahinga. I saw Klaus talking to his guests, using his charming smile on them. He looks so dashing in his suit today.
"Kayla!" Tumingin ako kay Gerard na may malawak na ngiti at nakatingin sa akin. Agad akong tumayo at muntik na akong matumba dahil bigla akong nahilo. Kumunot ang noo ni Gerard. "Are you okay?"
I nodded my head and tried smile. "Yeah, it's just that theses shoes are killing me." Pabirong itinuro ko ang heels na soot ko. Natawa naman siya.
"I knew you'd be great at your work if you just put your mind through it." Napangiti ako. May dumaan na waiter sa gilid at nag offer sa amin ng champagne. Gerard took two glasses and offered me one. Kinuha ko naman iyon. "Let's cheers to your successful event."
I was about to drink form my champagne when someone grabbed it from my hand. Agad akong napatingin ka Klaus na inisang lagok lang ang laman ng baso ko.
"Niklaus!" Nagulat yata si Gerard sa ginawa ni Klaus pero nginitian lang siya ni Klaus.
"Gerard." Bati niya pagkatapos ay tumingin sa akin at ngumiti."You did great."
"I'm... glad you liked the party Mr. Driveo." Gerard looked awkward. It must've been because of the way Klaus acted towards me awhile ago. Para namang walang pakealam itong isa.
"Of course, I know it will be successful. I saw how dedicated Kaylareen was." Napangiti naman si Gerard dahil sa sinabi ni Klaus.
"Yeah, she just needed a little push." Hinawakan ako ni Gerard sa braso. Napansin ko na napatingin doon si Klaus, and somehow, I don't know why it feels wrong to be touched by another man in front of him.
Ginalaw ko ang braso ko at nagkunwari na inayos ang buhok ko upang bitawan ni Gerard. I smiled but it feels awkward.
Our attention was caught by a middle aged couple who were smiling their way to us. Agad silang binati ni Gerard habang nakatayo parin sa tabi ko si Klaus.
"Mr. Benson! Thank you for this wonderful party." Nakangiting sabi nang babae.
"Mr and Mrs Vogel! How have you been? Haven't seen you in a long time." They shake hands before Gerard called me. Naglakad naman ako palapit. "This is Kaylareen Vasquez, she was in charge of organizing the event."
"Thanks for doing a good job hija." Tumango naman ako sa kanila. Gerard put his hands around my shoulders, I looked at him and he just smiled at me.
"Ehem." We all looked at Klaus na ngayon ay nasa tabi ko na. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero parang may mali. The atmosphere around us suddenly felt heavy. "Tito, Tita."
"Klaus." Mr Vogel nodded his head, hindi naman siya pinansin nang asawa, ni hindi na niya ulit sinulyapan si Klaus. "Good to see you. Thanks for taking care of the company."
"Same here. Vacation looks good on the both of you." Ngumiti lamang si Mr Vogel at hindi na ulit nagsalita. In fact, no one said a word. Kahit maingay sa paligid pakiramdam ko ang tahimik parin.
Mabuti nalang biglang tumunog ang walkie talkie ko at tinawag ako ng assistant ko sa event na to kaya nasira ang katahimikan.
"Duty calls." Pabirong sabi ko. "Excuse me. Please enjoy the party."
Nakahinga ako ng maluwag ng makalayo sa kanila. Ang intense ng titigan nila, feeling ko pati si Gerard naramdaman yun. Lumingon ako bago habang papalayo, naglalakad na din palayo ang mag asawa habang naiwan naman si Gerard at Klaus. They both looked at me and I immediately looked away. I answered the radio and asked what's wrong. Kumunot ang noo ko.
It's the kitchen, may pumasok daw na lasing at nagwawala sa loob ng kusina. They already called for the guards. Agad akong tumakbo papunta ng kusina. There's a Japanese guy in his mid 40s at mukhang galit na galit siya.
"What the hell is wrong with this place?! You call this a five star hotel but you can't even give what I want! Idiots!" Itinumba niya ang isang troller na nasa gilid at nahulog ang mga laman non. He's also holding a knife. Nagkatinginan kami ni Alex na nasa kabilang parte nitong kusina.
"Bakla huhu." Mangiyak nitong sabi.
"Shut up!" Agad na itinokom ni Alex ang bibig niya. Napailing nalang ako.
Halos lahat ng nasa kitchen babae, konti lang ang lalaki, si Alex binabae pa, kaya naman nakita ko ang mga babaeng empleyado na nasa gilid at takot na takot habang ang ibang lalaki naman ay nasa harap nila. Kahit ang mga guards na nandoon walang magawa dahil unang una, may hawak na kutsilyo ang lalaki. Pangalawa, he's a guest of the party at alam nila na kapag may mangyaring masama sila parin ang malalagot. Huminga ako ng malalim.
I'm the manager of the party. So I want this to be successful. Hindi ko hahayaan na isang lasing na tao lamang ang sisira ng pinag hirapan ko. I took a step forward.
"Sir, we already told you. We only have the ingredients for the menu. It's the only available food for the party." Sabi ng head chef namin.
"Idiots!" May itinapon ulit ang lalaki.
"Sir!" I called his attention kaya naman napatingin siya sa akin. "I'm sorry, we will try to give you what you want. Calm down."
I tried to walk towards him when he didn't talk. Mukhang lasing lang talaga siya. How mang drinks have he had?
"Please. Give me the knife and we'll talk about it. We'll cook whatever food you want." Ibinaba niya ang kamay pero nanatiling hawak niya ang kutsilyo. At least kumalma na siya.
"I just want a ramen." Tumango ako. Malapit na ako sa kanya. I'm already two or three steps away.
"Yes sir, we'll try to make it for you."
"Try? Don't try! Cook it!" Biglang bumalik sa galit ang mukha niya, sa sobrang gulat ko hindi na ako makagalaw. He swung the knife on the air and aimed at at me. Wala na akong nagawa kundi ang mapapikit.
"Mr Kobayashi, I believe it's time for you to go." Agad kong binuksan ang mga mata ko nang marinig ang boses na iyon. It's Klaus and he is holding the wrist of the guy mid air. Masiyadong matangkad si Klaus kaya naman hindi mahirap sa kanya na gawin iyon.
"M-Mr Driveo... I-I just want these idiots to make me a—"
"You're drunk Mr Kobayashi. Go home." Klaus' voice is calm but commanding. Yung klase ng tono na sobrang bihira mo lang marinig sa kanya.
"But—"
"Leave." Mahina pero madiin ang pagkakaaabi niya. That's it. Yun na ang huling sinabi niya kaya dali-daling umalis si Mr Kobayashi.
Silence filled the place. No one dared to even move a muscle because of the scary atmosphere around Klaus. His eyes settled on me. Hind ko alam kung bakit ako kinakabahan pero bigla akong napalunok.
"Klaus—" Napatigil ako sa pagsalita nang pumikit siya at huminga ng malalim na parang nagpipigil ng galit. When he opened his eyes again he seemed calmed.
"Let's go." He grabbed my hand and dragged me out of the kitchen. Nang lumabas na kami ng event hall doon lang ako nakapag salita.
"Klaus wait! The event is still—"
"Shut up Kaye!" Nabigla ako sa klase ng pananalita niya sa akin kaya naman agad akong tumigil sa paglalakad at binawi ang kamay ko.
"Klaus. May trabaho pa ako." Napahilot ako sa sentido ko at napapikit. Nahihilo na din ako. "I have to go back."
"You're sick." I looked at him. Seryoso lang siya na nakatingin sa akin.
"Kaya ko." Tumalikod na ako pero muntik na akong matumba sa sobrang hilo mabuti nalang ay agad akong nasalo ni Klaus.
"Jesus Kaye! Why are you so stubborn?" Sinubukan kong tanggalin ang mga kamay ni Klaus sa balikat ko pero masiyado na akong nanghihina. Hindi na ako nakapalag nang buhatin ako ni Klaus.
"Yung party..." Nanghihinang sabi ko.
"The party's almost done. Alex can handle the rest of the evening." Hindi na ako nakapag salita. I'm too weak to even say a word. Naubos na yata ang natitira kong lakas.
Dahan-dahan kong binuksan ang mga mata ko nang maramdaman na isinakay niya ako sa kotse. Tumingin ako sa gilid nang sumakay si Klaus sa driver's seat. Tinanggal niya ang coat niya at ikinumot sa akin. He felt the top of my head with his hand.
"Fuck! You're burning! I knew you were sick." He took his phone and made a call. "Alex. Ikaw na ang bahala sa party. Kayla's hot—No, I mean she's literally hot. She has a fever... yes... yes... Thanks Alex. I owe you this one."
He stared at me for a bit before he shakes his head as he started the engine. "You're as stubborn as ever Kaye... but damn, you're so beautiful I can't even be mad at you."