Chapter 6

SANYA

I was on a deep slumber when my mom just shouted loudly that my spirit woke up immediately.

"Sanya Anak, may katrabaho ka dito!"

Mabilis pa sa alas kwatro na tumayo ako mula sa pagkakahiga ko at tinakbo si mama sa labas ng bahay.

Sa ilalim ng puting ilaw, sa dilaw na buwan, ayon nasa harap ang boss ko ng isang itim na van habang kausap si mama.

After seconds, mama felt my presence and look at my direction. Napangiti ito. "Oh, eto na pala ang anak ko."

Lumapit siya sa akin. "Oh anak, pinapabalik ka daw ng boss mo sabi nitong katrabaho mo, kausapin mo muna."

Napairap ako sa kawalan. I suddenly look at his direksyon, na dapat di ko na lang ginawa.

Paano nalaman nito address ko? Katrabaho? grabe naman tong co-worker ko, mas mayaman pa sa OM namin.  

He's looking at me intently. I saw how his eyes roamed from my feet to head. I am flushed to my position and suddenly feel uncomfortable with the way he looked at me.

I'm wearing black short na di naman ganon kaikli at black sando na may pad sa loob kaya di na ako nag-suot ng brassiere. Hindi naman kapansin-pansin ang suot ko kaya bakit kung makatingin siya para n akong fashionista kung manamit?

Nagkibit balikat na lamang ako at dahan-dahan akong lumapit dito. "Hmm, may kailangan ka ba?"

He didn't answer me at nakatingin lang sa akin na para bang isa akong obra na ngayon lang niya nakita. Obra ng isang fashionista. Nice.

Well like duh, I know I'm pretty. Wag na ipahalata na masyadong nagagandahan sa akin.

Umismid ako dahil until now wala pa rin siyang imik. "Ehem." I fake cough para makuha ang atensyon niya at mukhang napansin naman niya. He formal his self saka umiling.

"D*mn, what a beauty."

Napakunot ako dahil may naulinagan akong boses mula sa kanya pero di ko narinig.

"Boss? Ano na? Nga-nga tayo dito, ganern?"

Tumingin siya muli sa akin. Now with his cold and blank expression.

"Report to work tomorrow. Same schedule." His only words before he even open the door of his car and close it. Wala pang isang minuto ay humaharurot na ito paalis.

Okay?

Di ko alam kung anong meron. Kung anong trip sa buhay ng boss ko na iyon?

Napailing ako sa naisip. Uso naman kasi ang teknolohiya. We have messenger. He can relay his message through my coach, or even text me!

Well, personally telling me to go and organize my clearance is not bad at all.

But very unusual. Very dramatic for a boss.

"Baliw talaga yun..." bulong ko saka napailing. Disappointed. "Tsk! Tsk! Sayang, gwapo sana!"

Napagdesisyunan ko na rin na pumasok sa loob ng bahay para ipagpatuloy ang naudlot kong tulog. Medyo nawala lang ang antok ko but after minutes of waiting, I finally drifted myself unto sleep until darkness took over me.

--

"Class dismissed." After the bell rung, the professor declared like it was the independence day, but for students.

Those words were always been the most awaited words for a student like me.

Inayos ko ang gamit ko saka sinipat ag wrist watch ko.

Great. 3:48 pm, early dismissal. How I love these times.

I grab my bag and stormed out of the room. Dederetso na ko agad ng site. Nagdala na lang din ako ng extrang damit in case na di ako papasukin dahil sa suot kong uniporme.

I wearing a skirt, colored black tapos white blouse na may necktie. But right now, naka-jacket akong malaki at naka-zipper ito kaya hindi halata yung blouse na may logo ng school.

The best thing today is that I wore sneakers instead of black shoes. Para at least ay mukha lang akong gagala sa luneta park.

Pagkasakay ko ng bus ay naghanap agad ako ng upuan. Fortunately ay may bakante pang mga upuan sa bandang likod. I sat beside a man with a black hoodie jacket. He is wearing a face mask and actually covered with the hood of his jacket kaya di mamukhaan ng maayos.

Delikado ito. Madalas ganto get up ng mga masasamang loob.

Don't get me wrong, okay? Hindi naman sa judgemental ako pero nag-iingat lang naman. We never know who are the people we will be able to be with in a place.

I roamed my eyes aroud the bus to see if there's any available seats but heaven's luck is not with me right now.

I just sit there silently. Medyo nilalayo ko ang sarili sa lalaki para di ko maagaw ang kanyang pansin. Pinatong ko ang aking bag sa hita ko at niyakap ito. I also decided not to use my phone and just grab coins on my pocket for my fare.

On the whole ride was a quiet one for me, except for the fact that the driver and its assistant shouting to get people.

"Jusko, ang traffic pa rin sa edsa." I murmured. Sinipat ko muli ang aking relong pambisig and see that it was 6:28 pm. Too early for the schedule 11pm.

Napabaling ako sa lalaking nasa tabi ko. Mukha naman siyang harmless dahil mula pa kanina ay tahimik lamang ito. Siguro naisip ko lang talaga yon dahil sapagka-judgemental ko. Bad, Sanya Lacson. Bad.

I yawned and suddenly feel the urge to take a nap while on the way to my work. Sinandal ko ang ulo ko sa sandalan and close my eyes. Hinapit ko pa lalo ang aking bag and let myself to be drifted in sleep.

"POEA! GALLERIA!"

"ORTIGAS ILALIM? WALA NA?!"

HA?

Galleria? Ortigas ilalim?

Bababaan ko yun ah.

Napamulat ako ng mata dahil sa arinig, I just felt myself hugging something—no, it's breathing and it has a hot surface!

Napatingin ako sa bagay na yakap-yakap ko, only to realize it was the man with a black hoodie jacket.

Nanlaki ang mata ko sa gulat. "Manyak—" before I even shout he already covered my mouth with his bare hands.

"Shut the f*ck up, will you?" A husky and a familiar voice said.

Napatingin ako rito, teka—

"S-Sir Jestin?"

Oh damn yes. The man beside me is no other than Jestin Klyde Cordova. It's Mr. Justin's brother!

Napailing ito. Hinapit niya ako saka nilapit ang bibig sa punong tenga ko. His hot breathe is lingering on my ear, tickles me that makes me feel uncomfortable and seduced!

"Don't you dare shout my name or we'll have a hard time." His voice sounds so authoritative. A sound of a leader that needs to be obeyed.

Napatigalgal ako saka dahan-dahang tumango sa kanyang sinabi.

Tumango ito. Muli niyang sinuot ang nakahubad na mask at binaba ang hood.

Paano na iyan? Lagpas na ako sa bababaan ko.

"Ah, sir I-I have to go—"

"Come with me. Ihahatid na lang kita sa site. Just come with me first."

I just nodded, hastily and not sure.

He is still my boss' brother anyway.

I don't have a choice at all. Lumagpas na ako sa bababaan.

More importantly, ayoko gumastos ng mahal sa pamasahe.

I sighed. Saan kaya to pupunta?