Chapter 5
I was quiet the whole time. Hindi ako makasabay. Hindi 'ko maintindihan kung anong pinag-uusapan nila. When there's a foreigner who speaks English ay doon lang ako nakakasagot ng maayos. Parang pinagsisihan ko na ngayon kung bakit hindi ako nag-aral kahit papaano ng Nihongo. I really feel like an outsider but I have to go with it kahit ano mang mangyari.
A Mercondia never backed out. Puwera na lang kung pamilya ang usapan.
Nang matira naman kaming dalawa sa round table, napansin ko naman na panay ang tingin niya sa kanyang phone sabay iiling ang ulo niya. I don't wanna be so nosy pero hindi ko rin malalaman kung anong nagyayari if I don't ask. And it's my job to know what's going on about him.
"Sir... is there a problem?"
Nilingon niya ako saka siya nagpakwalan ng malalim na hininga. Inilingan niya ako sakay niya pinasok ang kanyang phone sa bulsa ng slacks niya.
"Nothing. Not a big deal."
"Oh, okay. I just thought I'd asked," ngiwi ko pa.
"No, that's fine. My friend bailed on me," he said. "I thought he'll be coming to Tokyo but I just received a message earlier that they won't be going here. They went back to Las Vegas because they thought his wife is pregnant."
"Oh... I see. Why would they do that though?"
"I don't know, he never told me. I don't know if you know him but his family is a well-known billionaire as well. His name is Devin Carrington and his wife, Celyne. Have you heard of them before?"
My face lights up when that name made a little bob in my head. "Yes... but not personally. I just knew him and his father. And if I'm not mistaken, he just got married last year, right?"
"Right. And I missed to go to their wedding because at that moment, I was still looking for a nanny," pagkuwento pa nito. Parang slight kasalanan ko pang late akong dumating dito ngayon at hindi siya nakadalo sa kasal ng kaibigan niya. "Maybe he's just doing the same thing. Anyway, do you want anything to drink?"
Umiling naman ako. "No, thanks, sir. I do think I need to stay conscious because you know... I can't get you out of my sight."
"Sure," he said and nodded his head. "If you'll excuse me, I'm just going to the restroom."
"Gusto mo ba samahan kita, sir?"
He narrowed his eyes, already questioning me with that kind of look. "What did you just say?"
Agad naman akong umiling at napangiwi ko. "Nothing, sir. Enjoy your restroom break."
Nginisihan na lamang niya at sabay iling ng ulo. I watched him leave the room until he vanished from my view. Natuon na lang din naman ang atensyon ko sa buffet table. Pasimple akong naglakad sa direksyon kung nasaan ang mga pagkain. When no one seems to bother my action dahil busy ang lahat sa kakausap sa ibang tao, I finally had the opportunity to have a feast.
I took a small plate and then put some bite size of chocolates and then some cookies. Lumipad din naman ang tingin ko sa slice sausages. Nanlaki pa ang mata ko dahil hiniwa-hiwa nila ito into dice at may toothpick na nakatusok dito para mabilis kunin at makain. I put five pieces on my plate and then I went to the side where expensive wines and alcohol are free to serve. I just grabbed the apple juice and I went back to the stool round table then I started munching every bits of it.
Mayamaya lamang ay may isang foreigner na lumapit sa akin. I think she's in her forty's na but she has no white hairs, creases on her forehead, or she even had healthy short hair which far from what I have. She's using her money so damn right.
"Excuse me," she said. "Are you with Mr. Hu? If I'm not mistaken both of you went here together, right?"
I nodded and smiled politely. "Yes ma'am, I'm with him."
"Yes, I thought so. Are you his girlfriend, fiancée, or his wife?"
Nanigas naman ang katawan ko sa tanong niya. Hindi ko alam kung paano sasagutin. She would definitely be shocked if I told that I'm his nanny.
"You must be his girlfriend," she said, and when her eyes landed on my hand. "You still got no ring so I supposed you guys are just in a relationship but good for you both. Mr. Hu is a very passionate and hardworking person so he deserves all the love in the world."
"Yeah, I agree," ngiwi ko pa kasi hindi ko na talaga alam kung anong gagawin ko. Hindi ko tuloy matapos ang pagkain ko sa dice sausages.
"You're such a lovely girl," she said then tapped my hand. "I wonder why he's with you tonight. You're a lucky girl. No, I mean, he's lucky for having you."
I giggled. "Thanks... I'm sorry, I didn't get your name. Mine would be Seilaverne."
"Oh, dear. I'm sorry. I'm Luzia. Mr. Hu and I work together last year so I' happy to see him tonight with someone special." Then a moment later, someone caught her attention. "If you'll excuse me, Seilaverne."
"Sure, go on," ngiti ko pa.
When she left, it was relieved. It was awkward though. Nang samahan niya ang ilang mga business people ay inubos ko na ang laman ng plato ko. I took my glass of apple juice but I've already drink it all and when I was about to turn around and move, may nakabungguan ako and what happened made my soul left out of my body.
I gasped watching the red wine from the waiter's tray and it messes and stained my white dress. That scenario caught a lot of attention around. I heard all their gasped as if it would make a difference Agad namang pinulot ng waiter ang mga baso sa sahig at inayos. He then stood on his feet bowing his head so low and keep apologizing at me.
I was out of words. Putting-puti ang suot kong dress kaya kitang-kita ang pulang mantya na tumapon mula sa dibdib ko na tumuloy hanggang ibaba. When I look around, they were all looking at me like a disgrace.
A moment later, Luzia who talked to me earlier helped me washed the wine off of my dress but it's not coming off until I decided to excuse myself and walked out of the room.
It was humiliating and embarrassing. It's like a torment for me.
Pinipigilan ko lamang tumulo ang luha ko. Hindi naman masyadong mababaw ang luha ko para na lang bumigay but everyone's eye on me made me feel so humiliated. Nang makapasok ako sa restroom, agad akong tumapat sa salamin to look how mad the dress looks like with its red wine stained.
Bumunot ako ng mahabong rolyo ng tissue mula sa dispenser. Binasa ko iyon ng tubig saka ko pilit na kiniskis ang basang tissue sa mantsya ng dress ko. The stain doesn't totally comes off. Parang sinipsip na ng tela ang mantsya at wala nang pag-sa pang mawala 'yon.
I looked at myself in the mirror and my shoulder just dropped 'cause of hopelessness. Gusto kong maiyak na pero hindi ko magawang ibuhos. But to my worry, aside from messing this expensive dress ay mapagalitan ako ng boss ko. How should I know na para sa akin ang dress na 'to? He paid for it but he might give it to someone right after, right?
I feel like I'm dying inside. Ang bilis ng kabog ng dibdib ko. Mabilis ko namang binubot ang phone ko sa silver purse at denial ang numero ni Sasa. Wala pang ilang segundo ay sinagot na nito ang tawag.
"Lav?! Napatawag ka? Wait, teka lang! Silipin ko lang baka bulagain ako ng amo ko rito sa kusina," aniya at naghintay ako ng ilang segundo bago siya muling magsalita. "Hey, ito na ako. Pasensya na. Sobrang ngarag ako today. Anong balita, girl?"
"Remember I told you na nasa party ako tonight?"
"Yes! So, anong ganap?"
"It was a mess," sagot ko sa kanya sabay buntong-hininga. "A waiter spilled red wines on my dress and I can't leave the restroom now for looking like a peasant. I can't let them see me like this. Nakakainis!"
"Okay, calm down. Chill ka lang, girl."
"Pa'no ako makakapag-chill? I am embarrassed and humiliated."
"Siguro hindi naman sinasadya? Ano sa tingin mo?"
Napahugot ako ng malalim na hininga at pinakawalan din iyon. "I know I had my fault there dahil bigla bigla na lang din akong umiikot but that waiter should've—ayoko na. Ayoko nang manisi. I just want to leave this place at bumalik na lang sa hotel."
"Why don't you tell it to your boss? Kasama mo siya ngayon 'di ba?"
"Yes, but he's not there when it happened. Nagpunta siya ng restroom and I'm scared dahil itong dress na suot ko ay binili niya pa mismo sa akin. Ngayong araw din sa Chanel and you know how it costs? More than six hundred thousand yen kasama na ang mga accessories!"
"Wait, loading ako," ani Sasa. "Girl! That's too much! More than two hundred thousand naman 'yan sa pera natin. Ganyan ba yayamanin ang boss mo? Wow ha. Sana all!"
"No, hindi pa rin ko natutuwa. And I know you will feel this too kapag ikaw ang nasa sitwasyon ko," tugon ko. Gusto ko nang humagulgol pero hindi ko magawa. "Ano nang gagawin ko?"
"Sure ka na bang papagalitan ka niya o masyado ka lang assuming?" tanong pa nito sa akin. "You know, para sa kanila, wala lang 'yang ganyang kalaking halaga. You're just nanny, right? E, bakit kailangan ka pa niyang bilhan ng mga expensive items? Hmm... umamin ka Lav. Jowa mo ba ang boss mo?"
"Sasa! It's not the right time to make assumptions."
She chuckled. "Hinala ko lang naman. Ito naman, OA."
"I'm not OA. I'm mortified, okay?"
And then a moment later, I heard a knock on the door. Ladies can enter the restroom without knocking on the door but I eventually guessed who it was.
"Lav? Are you there?" he asked.
"Oooh, did someone call you love?"
"No, it's Lav. My name and it's... my boss. I'll call you later, okay?"
"Sure, balik work muna ako. Stay positive, babaita! Don't give up!" Sasa laughed then ended the call.
I took a deep breath and swallowed so hard that I barely speak a word again.
"Lav?" he called me once again.
"Yes, sir? I'm here..."
"Are you alone inside?" he asked.
"Yes," sagot ko muli sa kanya.
"Can I come to see you?"
"I don't know sir... I looked like a mess."
Saglit lang ay binuksan niya ang pinto at sinilip niya ang ulo niya ro'n. When he thinks that it's fine to walk inside the restroom, he goes right into my direction at pilit ko namang itinatago sa kanya iyong stains sa damit ko but it's reflecting into the mirror kaya walang kawala.
Dahan-dahan naman akong humarap sa kanya at napabuntong hininga na lang. I couldn't look him in the eye. Ayokong makita ang galit niyang mga tingin. He took an extra time for making me look presentable tapos gaganitohin ko lang ang binili niyang damit para sa akin. Mga ilang minuto rin kaming tahimik sa isa't isa nang naglakas loob na akong magsimulang magsalita.
"I'm sorry sir... I'm not—"
"Please don't,"
Hindi ko naipagpatuloy ang sinasabi ko nang kumuha si Trent ng tissue at binasa niya iyon. Just like what I did earlier, he tried to wash it off pero walang effect. Ang sunod naman niyang ginawa ay tinanggal niya ang suot niyang coat.
"Wear this," he demanded.
Umiling ako. "No, sir. It's fine..."
But he insisted. "Wear it."
"Okay, sir..." I was about to get it from his hands pero siya na mismo ang nagsuot ng coat sa akin. Isinarado naman niya ang butones sa harapan para hindi na makita ang mantya sa harapan. "Thank you, sir..."
"You'll be fine," he said. "Do you want to go back inside or do you want to go home?"
"No, sir. Please don't mind me."
"You're not comfortable," aniya.
"Okay lang po talaga..."
"I think we'll be leaving now."
Agad akong umiling at hinawakan ko siya sa kamay niya but when I realized that I shouldn't do that, inalis ko rin ang kamay ko. "No, sir. Just like what I said, don't mind me. You don't have to look after me. I should be with you all through the night so I'm not your responsibility. You're my responsibility and to take care of so please..."
"I'm also already bored so I think it's fine," he said.
Lumabas lang kami ng restroom nang bilang may pumasok na dalawang babae. Trent and I apologize for our inconvenience and then he just needs to look to say something to his colleagues and after a few minutes, we're already making our way to the elevator and then we walked out to the parking lot heading to his car.
Pinagbuksan niya pa ako ng sasakyan na akala mo ay jowa niya ako. I sit and settled inside. Saglit lang din ay pumasok na siya sa loob at niluwagan niya ang kanyang bowtie at hinayaang lumalaylay sa collar nito.
"Sir... I'm sorry..."
He lazily turned his head to me and sighed. "How many times do I need to say that you don't need you to apologize?"
Napakagat ako sa ibabang labi ko. "I think I should. Because of me, you had to cut your time to the event and—"
"No, you didn't," he said. "I also went to the event because I thought Devin would be there but he ditched me so that's it."
"I see..." I breathe out. "But the dress, sir..."
"There's completely nothing wrong with it," he said. "And you can keep the dress. I bought it for you."
"Lahat, sir?"
"Everything," sagot nito.
"Oh... okay, sir. Arigatou..."
He then started the car and drove out of the parking lot. Tahimik lamang ako sa biyahe. Hindi rin naman gano'n katagalan ang naging biyahe namin. Super bilis lang kaya nang makarating kami sa building at makatungtong sa floor kung nasaan ang unit namin ay sinundan ko lamang siya hangga't sa makarating siya sa kwarto niya.
He turned around, creasing his forehead and wonder plastered on his face.
"Do you want to come to my room? I'm going to change now."
I gasped. "Ay, sorry po." Napaatras ako nang ilang hakbang mula sa kanya at sa pinto. Umiling ako at yumuko.
"Take a rest, Lav."
"Same to you, sir," ngiti ko pa.
"Oyasuminasai," he nodded. He then shut the door in my face and before I could ever turned around to mind my own business, binuksan niya ang pinto at tinawag niya ang atensyon ko. "I hope you still enjoyed the event, Lav."
I nodded furiously. "Yes, sir. I did... thank you for inviting me."
"Sure... see you tomorrow morning."
And that he finally closes the door at nagmadali naman akong tumungo sa kwarto ko at napahiga na lamang sa kama habang ang tingin ay nasa kisame.
Shit just got real. Kabago-bago ko pa lamang, sobrang epic fail na nang mga nangyayari. I hope everything will get better next week! Hindi naman ako nawawalan ng pag-asa. I know there are still good things that will come on my way.
Nagsisimula pa lang din naman ako sa bagong buhay ko. I know things will get hard at some point but for sure, all of these sacrifices will be worth it in the end.
A Mercondia doesn't give up on things. Lumalaban at hindi nagpapatalo.
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Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoy this chapter!
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