Kabanata 2

H******n niya ang kanyang anak sa noo at kumaway. Tipid namang tumango si Bullet at tumalikod na para pumasok sa classroom. She immediately turned into Bullet’s nanny. Tipid siyang ngumiti rito.

“Please take good care of Bullet,” she said. “Call me if anything happens, okay?”

Tumango ito. “No problem, Miss.”

Tinapik niya ang balikat nito at humugot ng malalim na hininga saka siya nagsimulang maglakad patungo sa kanyang sasakyan. May iilang bumati sa kanya na sinasagot niya lang ng ngiti.

As soon as she stepped inside her car, she immediately closed the door. Binaba niya ang kanyang suot na sunglasses at nilapag ito sa cup holder sa kanyang tabi. She started the engine of the car and maneuvered it out of the place.

“Good morning, Miss Farren!” the guard greeted her with a smile on his face.

Ngumiti lang siya rito at muling nagpatuloy sa pagmamaneho. Diretso lang ang kanyang daan patungo sa kanyang company. Kampante lamang siyang nagmamaneho habang panay ang tingin sa labas ng bintana.

Who would have thought that life is going to be good to her after those hellish times?

Sinong mag-aakalang maglalakad siya ngayon sa kompanyang siya ang nagmamay-ari?

Pagdating niya sa kanyang kompanya ay binati siya ng mga tauhan niya. Everyone is smiling from ear to ear as she walked past them. Tipid na ngiti lang ang sagot niya sa mga ito. She doesn’t want to be rude. Besides, they keep the company moving. Siya na lang itong nagpaplano at ang mga ito ang tumutupad. She have to be kind. 

She walked inside the elevator and no one dared to walk in with her. Minsan ay hindi niya ma-gets kung bakit ngunit nang tanungin niya ang kanyang sekretarya ay nasabi nitong ito ang nag-utos sa mga empleyadong h’wag sumabay sa kanya sa elevator. At ngayon ay nasanay na siya. 

Well, hindi naman sa nag-iinarte pero nakakaramdam talaga siya ng kasikipan lalo na't sobrang dami nila sa loob ng maliit na silid ng elevator. It's suffocating and she finds it hard to breathe. 

Lorraine pressed her office’s floor button and patiently waited for it to open. Nang bumukas ito ay agad siyang lumabas ng elevator. Sinalubong naman siya ng kanyang sekretarya na may ngiti sa labi.

“What do you want for your coffee?” Grace asked her.

Nanliit ang kanyang mga mata at ngumiti. “I want something bitter this time.”

“No sugar?”

“No sugar,” malumanay niyang sambit.

Matapos niyang sabihin ‘yon ay agad na nagpaalam ang kanyang sekretarya para ipagtimpla siya ng kape. Dumiretso naman siya sa loob ng kanyang opisina at nagtungo sa kanyang swivel chair. She took off her dark blue business suit. Sinabi niya ito sa rack at umupo sa swivel chair.

She opened her laptop and a smile lifted her lips. Kinuha niya ang kanyang phone at tinawagan ang kanyang matagal na kakilalang kaibigan. Nakilala niya ito nang nagsisimula pa lang ang kanyang negosyo.

“Did you reschedule the photo shoot?” she asked her friend.

“Yes, I did, Rain. I’m sorry for not telling you sooner. I got sting by some jelly fish while I was in Hawaii.”

She nodded her head kahit na hindi naman sila magkaharap. “I see. That’s why your social media is flooded. Hope you get better soon.”

“I will. Thank you so much, Rain.”

Lorraine hummed and the line went dead. Napatingin siya sa pinto ng kanyang opisina nang pumasok si Grace dala ang kanyang pinapatimplang kape. Ngumiti naman siya rito at tumayo saka siya naglakad patungong couch para roon magkape.

“Thank you,” she said. “How are things going on?”

“Everything’s according to plan,” sambit nito at ngumiti nang matamis sa kanya. “I have booked a flight bound to the Philippines and you’ll be leaving tomorrow in the morning.”

Inabot nito sa kanya ang kanyang plane ticket. Ngumiti siya rito nang matamis. “Thank you so much, Grace. I owe you a lot.”

“Just approve my vacation leave and you’re paid,” sambit ni Grace at mahinang natawa. “Anyways, I also have some good news for you.”

Umangat ang kanyang kilay. “Really? What is it?”

May kinuha ito mula sa likuran at binigay sa kanya. Tinanggap niya naman ito at tinignan. Mas lalong umangat ang kanyang kilay nang mabasa ang front page ng letter. She looked at secretary and found her smiling from ear to ear.

“It’s an invitation personally sent by Mr. Miller’s secretary for you,” saad ni Grace. “Since you’re one of the highest shareholders in their company and said it would be a pleasure to have you there to celebrate Mrs. And Mr. Miller’s fifth wedding anniversary.”

Umigting ang kanyang panga kasabay ng pagsilay ng malokong ngiti sa labi. Nagbaba siya ng tingin sa hawak niyang invitation letter at ngumisi sa kanyang sekretarya. “I would love that.”

Ngumiti rin ito. “I know you would. That’s why I immediately booked Lyla’s jewelry to make you the most fabulous jewelry you’d like to wear during the event. I also booked Miss Charity for a gown fitting once you arrived in the Philippines.”

“Thank you so much, Grace.” Kinindatan niya ito at ngumiti nang matamis. “That’s what I like about you.”

Nagkunwaring mag-flip hair si Grace sa kanya. “Anyways, I have to make some calls to cancel your meetings with them and reschedule it for the next month, I guess? How long do you plan to stay there?”

Nagkibit-balikat siya. “I don’t know. But anyways, you don’t have to reschedule or cancel any meetings. You should attend them and I’ll approve your vacation leave once I come back.”

Pabirong umirap sa kanya ang sekretarya. “Anyway. I’ll see myself outside. Just tell me if you ever need anything.”

Lorraine nodded her head. Nang makaalis si Grace ay agad siyang sumimsim sa kapeng pinagtimpla nito para sa kanya. And it was indeed bitter. But who cares? She loves the taste of the bitterness in her tongue.

Ganito kapait ang ipaparamdam niya sa kanila sa oras na bumalik siya ng Pinas.

Nagbaba siya ng tingin sa invitation letter na nasa center table. It’s an open opportunity to surprise them.

Pinulot niya ang invitation letter at ngumisi. “Babalik ako at sisingilin ko kayong lahat. The pain you caused me will be your greatest downfall. And I will make sure of that.”