"Woah! You look like a teenage daydreamer," komento ni Jeremiah nang nakalapit ako sa kanya.
After four hours of waiting, dumating na rin siya. 'Di ko nga alam kung makakahabol pa ba ako. It's past three in the afternoon. Plus biyahe pa namin papuntang bahay-ampunan.
"Oh thank you," I replied. "How was the school?"
"Same old thing. Nothing's new." He shrugged. Nakapatong ang braso niya sa ibabaw ng pintuan ng kanyang sasakyan.
"Tara na ba? Late na tayo."
"Okay!"
Tumulak na kami bago pa man kami magabihan sa daan. Habang nasa biyahe kwentuhan lang kami kung anong ganap sa araw niya ngayon. Sabi niya may nakilala raw siyang "new face" and it meant new girl.
"Is she nice to you?" I asked him.
"Everyone is nice to me. Guwapo ako eh," he bragged.
"Kahit kailan talaga." Umiling nalang ako. "Then? Naglalaro ka pa ba ng volleyball?"
"Yup. Minsan nalang."
Sa Bohol kasi 'yon lang ang inaatupag niya— ang paglala
Thank you for your time.Eh? Was that a compliment?It was past six in the evening when Jeremiah and I bid our goodbyes to the sisters and children. I fought the urge to stay and spend more time with Israel because I could not do it. May trabaho pa ako bukas."You okay? You seem silent," aniya."I'm fine. Ikaw ba?"I was fine now that I left Israel knowing she would be safe there. Hindi ko pa alam kung kailan ulit kami magkikita but surely we would."I'm more concerned of you. You talked to Hans, didn't you?""Paano mo nalaman?""I was watching you the whole time.""You're being creepy again." I rolled my eyes."Ganu'n? 'Di ba pwedeng curious lang ako sa pinag-usapan niyo? Who knows Hans might have bad intention?""He wants to offer me a job.""What job?"
Dumating ang kanyang order kaya natigil 'yong usapan namin. Kahit papaano ay nakahinga ako nang maluwag. He ordered a black coffee. 'Di bagay sa kulay ng balat niya.He was about to sip a coffee when I asked him."What about me reconsidering your job offer?"'Di siya natuloy sa pag-inom. He brought down his mug and turned to me with his deep brown eyes."What made you change your mind?""I was thinking I need a part time job. Kung meron lang naman at kung puwede pa. By any chance?"He relaxed on his seat. An impressed smile appeared beside his lips."Are you free tomorrow?" He asked instead."No. May trabaho pa ako.""When will you be available?""I guess Saturday. How about that?"He nodded. "Meet me this Saturday, eight in the morning. My secretary will contact you so she will inform you where we will meet."Kumuha ako ng calling card at binigay 'yon sa kanya. For sure wala siyang contact informati
Nag-resign ako sa dati kong trabaho tulad ng gustong mangyari ni Hans. I underwent training before he charged me as the new chef to his new restaurant in Manila.Sobrang bilis ng pangyayari. Parang kahapon lang nagtatrabaho pa ako sa isang fast food chain, ngayon nasa restaurant na talaga. Malakihan pa!"I'm Sheika Fernando. Nice to meet you all," pakilala ko sa lahat bilang isa sa mga chefs dito sa resto ni Hans. "I hope we can get along well. Our mission is to give our customers the service they can't find from other restaurants."Mabuti nalang maraming option ang kursong kinuha ko. It was helpful. I was an instant chef in this restaurant.Nagsimula na kaming magtrabaho. This wasn't the usual job I got used to but somehow it didn't give me any regret. Mas malaki ang sahod dito. Sobra pa sa perang kailangan ko.My goal was to buy a land property first before I would design my own house. B
Hans went home and saw Jans busy typing on his laptop. His younger brother glanced at him and continued what he was doing. "I heard you hired a new chef in our restaurant?" Jans told him. "You heard it right." "But why? Didn't you like Chef Vito already?" Hindi kaagad nakasagot si Hans. It was probably because he could not tell Jans what his reasons were why he wanted to hire Sheika. No, he wasn't attracted. Probably he was just challenged. She has been rejecting him for few times without a hint of regret in her eyes. That was bold of her. Ang daming gustong pumasok sa kompanya niya pero ang babaeng 'to mas mabilis pa sa alas kwatro kung maka-reject. Recalling what happened, Hans overheard Sheika's conversation with the staff. He thought she desperately needed a job so he told his secretary to offer Sheika a job. But to his amusement, she was conceited. Scammer pala,
Sheika's POVNight shift ako ngayon so I decided to visit Israel and spend my day with her. Noong huli kong bisita 'di kami masyadong nagkakasama kasi nandoon si Jeremiah. Mother Superior adviced me na huwag akong masyadong maglapit lapit kay Israel kapag may kasama ako para 'di nila maisipang magkamukha kami ng anak ko. Sumunod naman ako kasi para lang din 'yon sa bata."Nay, kailan niyo po ako iuuwi sa atin?" Tanong ni Israel nang nagkaroon kami ng private time para sa isa't isa."Ayaw mo na ba dito, 'nak?" Tanong ko at hinawi ang buhok niya."Gusto ko po dito, Nay, pero gusto ko pong kasama ka."Malungkot akong ngumiti. I also wanted to be with her. Kung kaya ko lang. Kung puwede lang. Kaso hindi pa ako handa."Tiis ka nalang muna dito, 'nak ha? Sorry if I have to leave you here."Nagbaba siya ng tingin. I felt a pang in my chest. Niyakap ko si Israel habang pinipigilan ang sariling umiyak.The truth was I was scared o
Nakapag in na ako sa machine na nagrerecord ng attendance namin. After that I proceeded to my locker and put my uniforms on. Nagtali ako ng buhok para maayos tignan at saka nagsuot ng toque. When I felt satisfied with myself, lumabas na ako at nagtungo sa kitchen. "Good evening, Chef," bati ni Alas. "Good evening, Alas. Nakapag-log out na ba si Chef Vito?" "Yes po, Chef." "Si Donny ba day off niya ngayon?" "Morning shift po, Chef. Bale lima pa rin tayo sa kusina." "That's good to hear. Shall we start na? What's our menu for today?" Maayos ang pakikitungo sa akin ng mga kasamahan ko. Masaya akong nagtatrabaho kasi hindi sila toxic. Wala rin akong nababalitaang may natanggal dito dahil sa personal issue. Nagtutulungan sila dito. Walang palamangan. It was past ten in the evening when we were done cooking. Sabado naman ngayon kaya maluwag ang schedule namin. Hindi kami gaano ka pagod lalo na't gabi ngayon. "Pahinga
"How long have you been donating in St. Claire?" Hans suddenly asked me.Nakaupo kami sa magkabilaang pinto sa backseat. I still wanted to give ourselves space as a sign of respect for him. Boss ko pa rin siya."For about three years," sabi ko.Magtatatlong taon na si Israel. Simula noong inuwi ko siya roon, tuloy tuloy ang bigayan ko. Even in those times I didn't have a job yet."You said you don't have a business. Is there any reason why you are supporting that orphanage financially?"I looked outside the window and watched the people patiently waiting for a bus or a cab to ride on. The night was dark yet the street was still busy.Gusto ko sanang i-dismiss ang topic na 'yon. Palagi nilang tinatanong kung bakit ako nagdo-donate sa bahay-ampunan gayong wala naman akong kinalaman doon. Napaisip ako. Did businessmen only donate to the orphanage because it was their obligation? Hindi ba sila nagdo-donate kasi may malasakit sila and not because
Hans' POV"Uuwi na ba tayo, Sir Hans, o may gagawin ka pa?" Mr. Ladesma asked, my driver."Just take me home, Manong," I replied and heaved a sigh.I didn't know what came into my mind why I offered her another favor. Was I being too nice to her? It was true that my people resided in a compound but to ask her if she would like to occupy the vacant property was another thing. I was being creepy again."Naku, Sir Hans mukhang malala na 'yan."I looked at Mr. Ladesma who looked back at me through the mirror.I remained silent on my seat. I could still feel her presence even if she was gone now. Her sweet scent filled the air that reminded me of a wild rose and lotus flower.She was like a wild rose full of prickles in order to defend herself. Nobody was able to touch her or they would bleed. Yet, she was also a lotus flower that came