Chapter 02

CHAPTER 02

“Ate, sobrang excited nyo po ‘no?”

Nilingon ko si Lia na nasa tabi ko. We’re inside the van right now heading to Casa Restaurant to meet Janice Ynes. 

“Huh?”

“Sabi ko po, mukhang ang saya nyo. Pangarap nyo po talaga ang makatrabaho ang mga Ynes, ate?”

I shook my head. “I’m not, Lia.”

“Sus, ate! ‘Wag ka na po mahiya. Kitang-kita na nga sa mukha mo, eh!” asar niya. “Aminin nyo na po kasi.”

I shook my head again but this time with a smile on my face. She really knows me. 

“Pero, ate, may question ako.”

“Go ahead.” 

“Bakit po gusto niyo silang makatrabaho?” inosente na tanong niya. “Is there something you want from them ba? May kasalanan ba sila sa iyo? O baka kilala nyo sila?”

Tinitigan ko siya sandali. Inobserbahan ko ang inosente na mukha niya. I know I can trust her but… this time I'll keep it to myself. Isa ito sa plano ko. No one will know my move. Not even my closest people. Even her and Mang Ador. I don't want to cause trouble with them. I don’t want to brag to anyone in my mess. 

Ako lang dapat, walang iba. 

“You know their family background, Lia. Of course anyone wants to work with them, sino ba naman ang hihindi, right?” I lied. Sorry, Lia. 

“Sabagay,” tatango-tango na sabi niya. “One of the famous families ang Ynes, of course it is a big opportunity to work with them. Sa totoo lang gusto ko rin magtrabaho sa kanila pero nahihiya ako.”

“Why?”

“Syempre, ate, kilalang tao sila. Hindi naman sila tatanggap ng kung sino-sino lang, ‘di ba?” she cutely pouts her lips..

I fix her cute bangs. “Well now, you’ll work with them.”

Ngumiti siya sa akin. “Oo nga!”

She can’t stop her mouth sharing how badly she wants to work with Ynes. Isa lang siya sa mga tao na nakita ko ng ganitong reaksiyon. Of course, who wouldn’t want to work with one of the well-known families in our country. 

All of them will but as for me, no. 

We have differences in why I want to work with them. At alam kong wala akong katulad na rason dahil ang mga rason nila ay kumita ng malaki. While me, I don't want money coming from them. I want something else. Not money, not fame, not anything else but for one. 

Mang Ador parks the van while me and Lia head towards the restaurant. 

“Reservation with who?” tanong ng waitress kay Lia.

“With Miss Janice Ynes.” sagot ni Lia. 

Tinignan ng babae ang hawak na list bago nanlaki ang mga mata at tinignan ako. I can see the admiration from her eyes and how she hangs open her mouth really makes me believe she’s one of my fans. 

“Miss HM–”

“Miss, nagmamadali kami.” singit ni Lia. “Nandito na ba si Miss Janice Ynes?”

“Y-yes, yes.” utal-utal na sabi ng waitress. “Follow me so I can lead you where she is.”

Every step I make, I can feel I am nearing my success. I can feel it. This is the way to finally reach my success in life. This is the reason why I make my name well-known. I want them to know my name and I want them not to forget it. Sisiguraduhin kong hinding-hindi nila malilimutan kung sino ako. 

“This way po.” Binuksan ng waitress ang isang pinto. “Naghihintay na po sa loob si Miss Ynes.”

“Thank you.” Si Lia. “Pasok na po tayo, ma’am.”

Tumango ako. Nauna ko na pumasok at sumunod si Lia. I can sense her from my behind. 

Nakakailang hakbang palang ako nang makita ko ang nakatalikod na babae at lalaki mula sa kung nasaan ako. They're both clinging to each other. I think that's Janice and her husband. Her husband's name is Leo Hernandez, son of one of the shareholders of their company. Hindi naman hahayaan ng pamilyang Ynez ang nag-iisang anak nila na mapunta s kung sino-sino lang. He needs to be wealthy and rich just like them. I think I encountered him before but I don't care.

“Excuse me, Miss Janice Ynes.“

The attention of the two piqued towards me. Sabay silang lumingon sa akin nang kunin ni Lia ang attention nila. 

“You're here.” Tumayo si Janice at inalalayan siya ng asawa nya. “Hello, Miss HM.”

Ngumiti ako. "Hello, Miss Ynes."

She extended her hand to me. Nakipagkamayan ako sa kaniya.

"By the way, this is my husband, Leo.” She held onto her husband's right arm. “Say hi to her, babe.”

“Good day, Miss HM.” Nilahad din nito ang kamay sa akin. "Nice meeting you."

Tinanggap ko ang kamay niya. Nawala ang ngiti ko nang maramdaman ang kakaiba sa haplos nya sa kamay ko. I let it go after he released my hand. 

“Shall we proceed with our business?” I asked while smiling to both of them. 

We sat down and discussed what they want for their wedding day. Hindi rin napigilan ni Janice to share their love story to me. Though I don't care about their so-called love story, I let her spit her thoughts. 

“Really?” I fake my excitement. She's telling about how Leo asks her parents to court her. 

“Yes, brave man right?” Masaya na sabi ni Janice tapos ay yumapos sa asawa. “I didn't know he's that down to me. Well, I understand him. Ako na 'to, oh?”

“Babe, don't say that. Nakakahiya.” Bulong-bulong ni Leo sa kanya kahit dinig namin ni Lia. “Don't listen to her.”

Tumango lang ako habang nakangiti.

“Don't say that ka diyan. It's okay, babe. I love you.” She kisses him on the cheek.

“Love you, too.”

“You really love each other.” I uttered. “I can see that.”

“Really?” wika ni Janice.

I nod my head. “Yes.”

She giggled and whispered something to her husband. 

“Go on, babe. I'm sure she'll approve of it.” Dinig kong sabi ni Leo.

Taka na tinignan ko sila. They're whispering while I'm listing their plans they said a while ago on their wedding day.

“Miss HM.”

"Yes?"

“May isa pa sana akong favor?” tinignan ni Janice ang asawa bago nagsalita ulit. “Can we invite you to our wedding day?”

Tinignan ko sila pareho. 

Ngumiti ako. “Of course. It's my pleasure. Thank you.”

After a long discussion with them, they finalized what kind of setup and flowers they want for their wedding. And I got invited, too. It's two weeks from today. And I can't wait for that day. Sisimulan ko na ang plano ko sa araw ng kasal niya. 

“Ang bait ni Miss Janice ‘no, ate.” Sabi ni Lia habang pabalik na kami sa unit ko. “Tapos ang ganda niya pa. I can't believe I saw her nang malapitan. Dati nakikita ko lang siya sa TV, magazine at billboards pero ngayon nakita ko siya.”

Ngumiti lang ako kay Lia.

“Masaya ka rin ba, ate? Finally you met her.”

“I am.”

“Ako rin, ate! Looking forward to working with them.” Masaya na sabi niya. 

Hindi na rin ako makapaghintay, Lia. Hindi na ako makapaghintay na gawin ang mga plano ko.

Naramdaman ko ang pag-vibrate ng phone ko. I pick it up and see one notification from an unknown number. Binuksan ko ang message at binasa. 

09********* : You're pretty, HM. I hope to see you again at the next meeting. 

Sino naman 'to? Nag-text back ako at tinanong kung sino siya. Wala akong matandaan na ka-text or binigyan ko ng number ko. 

“Lia, may pinagbigyan ka ba ng number ko?” Tanong ko sa assistant ko.

“Number mo?” Napaisip siya. “Ay kanina, ma'am. Kay sir Leo po. Kinuha nya number mo for next schedule raw po. Bakit po?”

I shook my head. Agad din akong nakatanggap ng message from same number. 

09*********: It's me, Leo :)

While staring at his message, my lips slowly form a smile. 

Ngayon, alam ko na kung anong unang plano ko. 

I message him back and play what he wants to play. It's payback time. Thanks to this man. Mapapadali ang mga plano ko.