Steel Valencia, a 25-year old bachelor and the CEO of Valencia Fragrances, called me early in the morning. He was a bit mad, or OA na naman ako, but his voice sounded serious.
He wanted me to go to his office which is thirty minutes away from Manila. When I entered his office, nadatnan ko rin do'n si Carl so I sat beside him and whispered, "Anong meron?"
"Sa'n ka ba kasi nag-tour girl? 'Di ka rin macontact. Ang init tuloy ng ulo ni Sir Steel," bulong ni Carl.
"What time will you finish your chitchat so we know if we should move this meeting or not?" Steel–or Mr. Valencia for formality–scolded us.
"Proceed," taas-noong sagot ko. Duh, I'm not his employee. Ba't siya galit?
"We've been contacting you since Thursday. You were out of reach. Tuesday's the anniversary of our company and dad wants to meet everyone who's been a part of this year's success. And to inform you, Ms. Salazar, the posters were loved by our investors and it made them trust us more," tuloy-tuloy niyang sabi.
"It's not shocking at all, Mr. Valencia. Not just because I'm your model but also your photography team's really good. So bakit ka galit?" Humalukipkip ako at sumandal sa upuan. Tama naman 'di ba? Success tapos papalitan ng galit instead of thank you?
"It's a tradition of Valencia Group of Companies to have an out-of-country tour. We always, take note, always do it three days before our anniversary but because someone's out of reach, we weren't able to leave yesterday."
Ay, so kasalanan ko pa? Wow naman girl. "You could've left without me. That's better than pointing all the blame," I spoke in a serious but hurt tone.
"We don't do that here, Ms. Salazar. We don't leave incomplete. When we go abroad, we go as one."
"E 'di you go as one. Why are you dragging me here anyway? I'm sorry kung 'yan ang gusto mong marinig. But as far as I remember, we all have our own lives here. I'm sorry for all the employees na nainis kasi naudlot ang trip niyo. I'm sorry kung nasira ko ang tradition niyo, and I'm sorry if I failed you at some point. But like what I've said, may kanya-kanya tayong ganap sa buhay and I hope, with all the respect that remains in me, you understand that, Mr. Valencia."
Pagkasabi ko no'n ay nag-excuse na ako. Good thing, lilima lang kaming naroon – me, Carl, him, and the two other photographers.
I don't know what made me act like that. Nainis lang ako. If they want the trip that bad, e 'di sana umalis sila nang wala ako. I'm not even a part of their company to begin with.
Nakayuko lang ako sa manibela ng kotse ko when I heard a knock on the window. I thought it's him but thank goodness, it's Carl. Pinapasok ko siya sa passenger seat para makausap.
"I'm sorry Carly. I know I went overboard," sabi ko nang nakayuko pa rin.
"I understand you, Flamey girl. You've been doing things perfectly kaya I know na ayaw mong nasisisi but I also understand Steel. Alam mo bang kulang na lang e maghire 'yon ng private investigator just to find you? But since you told me na safe ka naman, hindi na niya ginawa."
I glanced at him. I didn't know. I didn't imagine that Steel would do that for someone na hindi niya empleyado.
"Gulat ka? Dapat lang girl. You know, if may choice lang si Steel, pauunahin na niya ang lahat para maiwan siyang naghihintay sa'yo but his Dad doesn't want that. He may be a strict boss but he also feels sad for his employees. Like you, Flamey, he also doesn't want to disappoint someone lalo na ang Dad niya."
"I didn't know Carly. Nadala lang ako and if I knew this earlier e 'di sana naintindihan ko," I said while trying to stop my tears. What have you done, Flame?
"I know, bruha. Huwag ka nang umiyak. Maybe you should call him pero for now, ihatid mo na 'ko. We need to prepare kasi flight na natin mamayang hapon. Okay na lahat. May passport and visa for New Zealand ka naman 'no?" he asked.
"Uhuh. Ashley and I applied for that kaso... yeah. I have," sagot ko. I didn't finish what I was about to say. Alam na ni Carl 'yon.
"Okay sige. Tara na girl, tapos kita na lang tayo later sa airport. Text ko details, alright? Tahan na Flamey. Bruha ampangit mo umiyak, kadiri!" sabi niya kaya natawa kami pareho.
Kumain muna ako before preparing. Masyado akong nagrush kanina kaya kahit gatas o tinapay ay wala akong nakain.
"Hello, Flamey girl, where na you?" tanong ni Carl sa kabilang linya. He's been calling me pero masyado akong busy sa pagprepare ng gamit ko.
"Waiting for taxi, ikaw?"
"Nandito na. Sige ingat ha, dalian mo girl."
"How do you wait fast, bakla?" tanong ko saka tumawa.
"Makarating ka rito, sasabunutan kita sa kilay," sagot naman niya.
I ended the call nang may humintong black na kotse sa tapat ko. Nang maibaba ang bintana ng passenger seat, nakita ko siya. He's wearing a black turtle neck sweater. Ang cool and hot at the same time.
"Done fantasizing about me? Get in. Malelate tayo niyan if you keep staring at me like that," sabi niya bago isara ang bintana.
Sumakay ako sa backseat at napansing bahagyang sumulyap ang driver. "Hello kuya, I'm Flame Salazar," nakangiting sabi ko.
Sasagot pa sana ang driver nang biglang nagsalita si Steel ng "drive" na akala mo naman ay boss. Ay sabagay, he's the boss naman talaga.
Tahimik lang ang buong biyahe. Nakapikit lang din ako. Iniisip ko kung paano iapproach si Steel. He's mad, I could feel it from his cold voice. Nagalit din ako and fighting fire with fire isn't a good idea.
"Bruha, napakatagal mo naman. At oh, may service talaga ha? Haba ng hair, pasabunot nga," Carl whispered.
Nandito na kami ngayon sa airport and waiting for our flight to be called. "Manahimik ka nga, baka may makarinig sa'yo," sagot ko.
"Aba, kahit 'di nila marinig, aware sila. Ikaw ba naman may boss na isang pangalan lang laging sinasabi, hinahanap, at gustong makausap. Nako kung wala pang idea 'yang mga empleyado niya ay ewan ko na lang. Mga slow like turtle na lang siguro," sabi niya ulit.
Hindi ko na siya sinagot dahil tinawag na ang flight namin. My seat was near the window kaya sobrang tuwa ko nang naupo ako roon. But when the person next to me arrived, parang gusto ko na lang lumipad mag-isa.
Myghad, why is he sitting next to me? Bakit ganito jusko po. Flame 'wag kang lilingon. I said don't look at him! Mag-earphones ka. Make yourself busy, sabi ko sa sarili ko.
He silently sat beside me. Okay na rin siguro 'yong wala muna kaming pansinan. I forced myself to sleep as an escape for not talking to him. Nagising lang ako nang may tumatapik sa pisngi ko.
"Hey, I know sleeping on my shoulder feels good but you need to eat," sabi ng malambing na boses.
I opened my eyes and saw Steel staring at me. Dali-dali akong umayos ng pagkakaupo. Nakakahiya girl, ba't kay Steel pa sumandal e pwede namang sa bintana.
We ate silently. Again, no one dared to talk. Siguro ay nagpapakiramdaman na lang kami. He just talked when he had something to say pero kung about 'yon sa issue, wala. Me too, I don't want to think about it muna. I want to enjoy NZ.
Nang lumapag kami'y siya naman ang nakasandal sa balikat ko. I didn't know how to wake him up kaya hinintay ko na lang siyang kusang magising.
"You didn't wake me up, does that mean you want me to sleep more?" mapanuyang tanong niya.
"Nahihiya lang po ako Sir. But okay, since you're already awake, pwede ka nang umayos ng upo," seryosong sagot ko.
"But what if I want to sleep more?"
"Then sleep. Maiwan ka rito mag-isa," sabi ko bago tumayo. Narinig ko ang tawa niyang malakas. Nakakainis!
"Flamey girl, omy, ang ginaw dito!" tili ni Carl.
"Malamang, July ngayon. Mid Winter dito kaya charan, brace yourself bakla!" sagot ko pabalik. May mga van na sumundo sa'min patungo sa hotel. Roommates kami ni Carly, no'ng una'y ayaw pang pumayag ni Steel pero wala rin siyang nagawa. It's either Carl will stay with me or with him. Hahaha!
"Tulog na tayo bruha, maaga pa tayo bukas sa Sky Tower. Charge your cam's battery," bilin ni Carl bago matulog.
It's so cold here, dagdag pa ang coldness ni Steel. Bahala na nga, I want to enjoy first. Saka na 'yang issue na 'yan. Inayos ko muna ang isusuot ko bukas bago sundin ang sinabi ni Carl at natulog.