Chapter 05

Lauren was so focused on her work that she didn’t mind what was happening around her. 

The moment she looked at the entrance, shock was written on Lauren's face. It was Hazel. Greeting the other guest as she entered the venue. 

Lauren was nervous as hell! If her sister knows that she’s there, Hazel for sure would do anything to embarrass her. It’s because she loves seeing her have a hard time.

They didn’t know that she was working and even if she was working or not… they don’t care. They assume that she’s living her best life, partying… going somewhere… and creating problems. But it is still different if her sister finds out that she’s working there.

Sigurado siya na kapag nakita siya ni Hazel sa mga oras na ‘yon, sasabihin niya ito sa magulang nila at kapag nagkataon ay baka mawawalan pa siya ng trabaho. Like what she did a few years ago. 

Lauren quickly retreated, and because she was in a panic, she didn't notice the person at her back. She almost lost her balance, but that person was quick enough to catch her.

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And since Kaizer kept talking to his friends, he didn't notice Lauren in front and bumped into her. She almost fell, but luckily, he was flexible enough to hold the girl in her waist. He was displeased. 

Ang ibang guest ay nabaling na rin ang atensyon sa kanya. 

What a scene!

‘It can't be…

She can't afford to offend anyone. Why of all time, her sister is showing up now?'

The girl looked at him. "S-sorry Sir. I didn't mean to—" Before she could finish what she was going to say, she cut her off.

He felt the girl was trembling. Maybe she's scared that he would scold her. He calmed himself and said, "You can leave." 

Napatango na lang siya at nagmamadaling umalis sa lugar na 'yon.

She's a little bit familiar to him, but he shrugged off that thought and then walked away. His friends attempted to stop him, but they didn't succeed.

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Hinihingal si Lauren ng makabalik sa staff room. Napahawak na lang siya sa kanyang dibdib dahil sa kaba. Ang bilis ng tibok ng puso niya ng mga oras na 'yon. 

The man a while ago was displeased, she knew it based on his voice. He just keeps an emotionless face and pretends it’s fine.

“Eh, are you okay?" nag-aalala na tanong ni Nicole. Sinundan niya agad ang kaibigan ng makita itong nagmamadaling umalis. Napansin niya rin na parang may kakaiba sa kilos nito.

“I... I almost got in trouble and offended someone." 

Halata ang takot sa mukha ni Lauren. Naalala ni Lauren ang mga bagay na ginagawa sa kanya ni Stella kapag nagkakamali siya sa pinapagawa nito.

“You don't look very well. Mas mabuti sigurong umuwi ka na muna.”

“I… I’m fine. Kailangan ko lang magpahinga sandali.”

Umiiling na tumingin si Nicole sa kaibigan. 

“Hindi ka okay sa paningin ko. Kita mo nga nanginginig ‘yang mga kamay mo. Lalo ka lang hindi makakapag-trabaho ng ayos niyan. Magpaalam ka na lang muna kay Manager Sam." 

Hindi na tumutol pa si Lauren. Mabuti na siguro 'yon kaysa makita pa siya ng kapatid niya roon. Kung sakali ay lalong hindi niya alam ang gagawin. Galit pa naman ito sa kanya.

Nagpalit na siya agad ng damit at nagtungo sa office para magpaalam. Dinahilan na lang niya na mayroong family emergency kaya siya uuwi. Nagpapasalamat siya at pinayagan siya ng manager nila. Bukod sa kanya ay pumasok rin ang ibang staff na day-off sana ngayon, kaya naman kahit umuwi siya ay hindi maapektuhan ang daloy ng trabaho. Napunan naman nila ang shortage ng staff sa araw na iyon.

Mabuti na lang talaga at medyo madilim sa lugar niya kanina. Siguradong hindi siya namukhaan ng lalaki. Sa presensya pa lang nito, alam mong hindi mo kakayanin kapag napunta ka sa bad side niya.

Pinagdarasal niya na lang na hindi niya na ulit makita ang lalaking 'yon, kung sino man siya.

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Nang makalabas si Lauren sa club ay pinili niyang maglakad-lakad muna.

Dumiretso siya sa isang fast food chain para kumain. Paniguradong wala na naman siyang madadatnan na pagkain mamaya kung sa bahay pa siya kakain.

She often buys and eats food outside. Her father is rather busy for him to notice that she's not eating in that house nor she's receiving fair treatment. O baka naman ay alam niya ang nangyayari ngunit pinipiling hindi bigyan ng pansin.

Wala naman siyang ibang hinangad kung hindi ang maramdaman kung ano bang pakiramdam ng may kumpletong pamilya. 

She's craving warmth and love from her family. But with those things that happen, again and again, she gives up. This time, all she wants is to escape from them.

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Hindi pa tuluyang sumisikat ang araw nang magising si Lauren. She gets her phone that was lying in her side table and look at the time.

It is 5:38 in the morning. Still early for her to go to work. But instead of dillydallying, she chose to get ready for her work. 

It's Monday already and that means, she will be back to her work at Sky City Resort, but she will only be reporting today about her work in the club.

Mabilis lang na naligo at nag-ayos si Lauren. Naisip niyang sa cafeteria na lang ng resort siya kakain ng almusal. After getting ready, she leaves the house, then walks to the bus stop.

She's been in the company for almost three years now. She's always a hard-working employee and has been contributing greatly to the company. This time, Lauren thought about having a vacation. To give some time for herself and have peace of mind.

Luckily, it's still a month away before summer, which is the peak season for them. She's given a two weeks’ vacation leave, enough for her to relax.

She didn't wear her uniform since it's the first day of her vacation. She just needs to make a trip to the company for her work report. After that, she's free to go.

Lauren went to the cafeteria for breakfast. After buying a meal, she's looking for a table that doesn't have many people. Panigurado naman kasing puro chismis lang ang maririnig niya sa mga 'yon.

"Hey, Lauren!" she shifted her gaze toward the table near the entrance. Fortunately, Nicole was there, waving at her.

Except for Nicole, no one knows in her workplace that she's a family member of Anderson. Even her last name isn't Anderson. Her stepmother says that it's enough they accept her into their family, so why do they need to change her last name.

Iilan lang ang nakakaalam na illegitimate child siya, ang alam kasi ng iba ay kinupkop siya ng pamilya Anderson matapos mamatay ng nanay niya na siyang katulong ng mga ‘to noon. Kaya lagi niyang naririnig na napakaswerte niya dahil itinuturing siyang pamilya ng mga ‘to, kahit pa hindi gano’n katagal nagsilbi ang kanyang ina sa pamilya Anderson.

Sa kompanya naman ay hindi gano’n kataas ang posisyon niya. Isa lang siyang normal na empleyado.

Therefore, even though she would say to someone that she's the second daughter of the Anderson Family - the family known for their construction business and projects - they won't believe her.

"Oh, you're not in your uniform. Ngayon na ba start ng bakasyon mo?" tanong ni Nicole matapos makita ang bihis ng kaibigan.

"Yep, so hindi mo muna ako makikita. Dalawang linggo lang 'yon, huwag mo akong masyadong mami-miss." natatawang wika ni Lauren.

Napairap na lang si Nicole sa sinabi nito. "Alam mo ang kapal mo rin. Pasalubong ko ang 'wag mong kalilimutan." Natatawang saad nito sa kaibigan.

"As if naman sa ibang bansa ako magbabakasyon."

"Saan ka nga pala pupunta?" Nicole curiously asks.

"Last time, I impulsively joined in a raffle game and the winners got a chance to be invited to a party that was held on a cruise ship. Luckily, I'm one of those winners."

She's been searching for a good place to have a vacation. Then, she found information about the raffle game while scrolling in her social media account. She's really lucky. The day her vacation was approved, she got an email about her being one of those winners.

"Taray ng bakasyon ah, sa cruise ship."

"Swerte nga at sumakto sa araw ng bakasyon ko, iwas gastos!" komento nito.

"There she goes, my friend who loves money the most." Nicole humorously teases her friend. But she knew why her friend did that. She knew the reason why she was always saving money and working so hard.

Lauren shrugged her shoulders and said, "well, for me in this kind of situation, who am I to turn it down? Nakatipid na ko, nakapagbakasyon pa ako.”

For Lauren who lives in a big villa and almost becomes one of the young ladies there. She did experience luxuries but only in a short time. 

Growing up, everything she wants seems out of reach and now even what she needs, became luxury too.

After Lauren and Nicole's conversation, the two ladies went to their department head's office to report their work. When Lauren finished all her tasks at the company that day, she bid goodbye to Nicole.

The cruise will set sail this afternoon and she just needs to get her luggage at their house.

Lauren stretches her arms as she steps outside the company. She felt the sun's rays on her face.

‘What a great day to relax! I can finally take a leave from that house.'  Lauren thought.