Chapter II

“So? Mr. Lorenzo..”

“It’s Benécito Lorenzo and I’m not gonna waste my time so let’s go to the best part.”

“Rosalía Quiava, you are now officially a slave to Dimitri Guidottí” he said with formality and sarcasm.

“What the fuck?” I annoyingly answer.

He smirked at my remark.

“Anong slave-slave pinagsasabi mo? At anong kinalaman ko kay Dimitri Guidottí?” Naiirita na talaga ako.

He chuckled. “Feisty. I like that. No wonder he come up with all this favors and treats. Anyway, all your debts from all different people, has been paid already. From local bank loans to small time business loans. Lahat ng mga pinagkakautangan mo ay bayad na. You need to resign as the current Youth Ambassador of this Barangay and you only have two weeks to pack all your things and settle all matters because you’ll fly to Milan this coming October 4th.” He informed.

Teka! Di ako maka sunod! Ano daaaw?!

“All legal matters regarding your resignation have been settled already and all your papers needed going to Milan is all set. All you need to do is make up an excuse to all the people who is close to you why you’ll go abroad.” Litanya ni Benecito.

What the actual fuck?! I can’t decipher all this information.

I mean what is this? Nasa isang Reality TV show ba ako ngayon? Baka biglang lumabas sila Jose ng Eat Bulaga at may pamigay palang Grocery, Gift packs o kaya naman Bahay at Lupa?

Benecito must have notice my confusion. I think I held my breath for a minute. I don’t understand.

“Direct orders from Mr. Dimitri Guidottí.” He said again.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

I silently screamed inside!

WHAT THE FUCK?!?!

I can’t contain myself and my stomach hurt.

Parang nag hyperacidity ako bigla or nagka alta- pression na ako?!

“Rosalia, rose? Rosa? Miss? I know this are all too much but you have no choice” he said as if it’s the easiest thing to say as of the moment.

He rose from his seat and tucked his jacket.

“See you when I see you.” Akma na siyang tatalikod ng may maalala.

“Hmm oh bago ko makalimutan..,” marunong pala itong magtagalog?!

“Someone will remind you from time to time about this ... matter and I suggest that wag mong subukang tumakas or mag plot ng iyong pagtakas or whatever you’re planning after knowing all this because, he is everywhere. Good day Madmoseille”

At lumabas na ito sa Silid.

Rosalia is in total shock. Nakatingin lang sya sa papalayong bulto ni Mr. Lorenzo.

She was holding her phone the whole time and di na niya namalayang, mamasa masa na ang kanyang mga palad.

Biglang tumunog ang cellphobe niya, indication na may new message siya.

She looked at her phone and it was an unknown number. She doesn’t have the energy to open the message and her state of mind as of the moment is bamboozled.

2 days had passed since her encounter with Mr. Lorenzo and tama nga ito, may nag memessage sa kanya 24/7, reminding her of the things she should do.

She can’t understand why all of a sudden, her life changed so drastically. Noong nakaraan lang iniisip niya paano makakabayad sa lahat ng problema niya tapos ngayon in an instant, bayad lahat ang problema niya pero siya, ang kapalit.

Pakiramdam niya, gamit na gamit ang kanyang buong pagkatao.

And Dimitri Quidottí? Who the fuck he thinks he is?!

Bakit may mga ganitong drama?? Anong gusto nitong mangyari?

Minsan sa gabi di siya makatulog. She couldn’t think of things through. And of course, naisipan niyang dumulog sa mga awtoridad pero bago pa siya maka punta sa police station, may tumawag sa kanyang unknown number and told her it’s going to be a waste of time if magsusumbong siya sa mga kinuukulan.

Gusto niyang mag amok! Marami lang siyanh utang pero kahit kailan di siya naging masamang tao! HAHA

Paano pala kung trip lang ito tapos ginagamit lang ang pangalan ni Dimitri? Edi na human-trafficked siya doon kung saan man siya dadalhin.

Napatawa siya. Napalatak nalang niya ang sikat na chorus ni Juan Karlos “nakakaputanginaaaaa!”

“Potangina talaga” she thought sarcastically.

Habang nag mumuni-muni siya sa opisina niya, biglang sumulpot si Madi at mukhang takang- taka.

May dala itong papel.

“You’re resigning?!” Halos pabulyaw na tanong nito.

Nagulat siya sa nakita. Who the fuck made this? At teka??

It’s only two days!

Agad-agad, ura- urada talaga ang mga nangyayari.

She looked at Madi and she looks confused and pissed off.

“Care to explain Honorable?!” She said in a very stern voice.

She heaved a sigh.

“I’m sorry. I got accepted on a job I was applying abroad. It’s urgent.”

Di makapaniwala si Madi sa narinig. “You got accepted?! My god! This is New Zealand, right?!”

Biglang nagbago ang mood nito. Madi knew her endeavors in life and going to New Zealand and find a stable job is not new to her friend. Alam ng kaibigan niya na pangarap niya ito.

“Well, It’s an agency base in New Zealand pero sa Italy ako maassign” pagrarason niya.

“Kailan mo planong sabihin sa akin? Sa amin ha? God Lia?! I AM SO HAPPY FOR U!!!” Masigla nitong tugon sa kanya. Madi hugged her and she hugged her back. Kung alam lang ni Madi ang totoo.

“Pinapatawag ka ng punong barangay. Hmm nagulat siya sa balita mong mag reresign ka na. This letter was sent by the DILG.” Sabi ni Madi.

Hmm .. totoo pala talagang sila na ang umsikaso sa mga bagay bagay. Ano ba ang halaga niya kay Dimitri Guidotti at ganito nalang ang mga nangyayari sa kanya.

“I’ll just talk to him. Susunod ako sayo. I just need to do things muna” saad niya kay Madi.

And by that, iniwan na siya ni Madi. She finally decided, tatrabahuin niya ang kanyang pormal na pamamaalam sa mga taong malapit sa kanya.

She got all her stuffs and called her staff for an urgent meeting later that afternoon. She bid her goodbye to Madi and made sure to text her kung may mga kailangan pa ba ito sa kanyang opisina.

Kinakabahan siya, lalo na kung paano siya hihingi ng permiso sa mga magulang niya na mawawala siya ng ilang buwan o taon o kung makakabalik pa siya.

Oo, magaling siyang mag sinungaling. Totoong damdamin nga niya sa mga taong nanakit at nanggamit sa kanya di niya maipakita. Pero iba itong kasinungalingag gagawin niya.

She sigh in frustration.

Ngayon palang, sinumpa na niya na the moment she will step her foot in Italy at makikita niya ng harap-harapan si Dimitri ay sasakalin niya ito, babalatan ng buhay at ipapakain sa great white shark!

“Humanda ka sa akin damuho ka.”