Chapter 6: First Encounter

It’s past 10 o'clock in the evening and Keilah Olivarez dropped by the famous club bar to drown herself with drinks. After the incident which occurred last week, the owner still managed to keep his bar club open to give access to those organizations who trade illegal businesses in their private rooms. Keilah who couldn't get over the news she heard from her ruthless grandmother came by to reflect on what she did, and the fact that she nearly killed the old woman really distracts her mind. “Another glass of vodka martini please,” she couldn't stop herself from drinking too much. Gusto niya kalimutan ang nangyari kanina at isipin na panaginip lamang lahat ng iyon.

The bartender mixed the drinks again, but he paused when a hand stopped him. Bahagya itong napa-angat ng tingin at nakita ang kanyang kasamahan, “You're doing it wrong, can't you see that she's a lady? You're supposed to have it light, she has low alcohol tolerance.” The man gave way to his coworker and made him mix the drinks.

Pasimpleng nakatingin lamang ito sa dalagang halos isubsob na ang mukha sa bar counter. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang nangyari ngunit sinundan lamang niya ito gamit ang mobile phone niya na connected sa tracking device. “I don't know what has gotten into you but you really look like a mess,” bulong ng binata sa kanyang sarili.

Tuluyan namang nahihilo si Keilah dahil sa dalawang baso ng alak na naubos nito. Nawawalan siya ng balanse kung kaya ay pasimple na lamang niyang niyuko ang ulo, gusto niyang lugmukin ang sarili ng alak kung kaya ay pinipili niyang manatili muna sa bar imbes na mag biyahe mag isa pauwi.

“Here's your vodka martini, ma’am.” He placed the glass of liquor in front of her, Keilah gently lifted her head and held the drink. She glanced at the face of the man and stared at him for a second, the bartender noticed her so he gazed at her direction and saw Keilah’s drowsy looks. “How can I help you, ma’am? Do you need anything else?” he asked and she gave him a smirk.

She takes a gulp of her drink before turning her eyes back at him, “What’s your name? You seem unfamiliar to me, and you prepared my drink so well that it nearly made me forget my identity.” The woman cracked a laugh and continued to finish her glass. The bartender smirks at her and takes the empty glass from her grip, alam niya kasing may balak pa itong mag order ulit.

“My name’s Kiefer, and I’ve been working here as my part time job.” The man introduced himself and Keilah nodded her head, she began to feel so dizzy that her sight became blurry. The man who identified himself as Kiefer the bartender glanced at his wrist watch and whispered to himself, “I probably should go home to have a good nap, damn this is exhausting.”

“I think I had enough to drink,” The woman who probably heard him looks so tipsy already. She took cash on her wallet and placed it on the bar counter, “Here’s my payment, sir. Thanks for your service.” She was about to stand up but her knees were so fragile that she nearly fell from the stool.

“Oh crap,” she cussed and helped herself to stand up straight. Kiefer the bartender came to her seat and assisted her, he told his coworker to overtake his place at the counter to entertain the other customers.

So far, no men dared to come nearby. Maybe because the woman’s clothes are not fitting to be in such a place. Yet her porcelain skin still reflects, and the man who assisted her wants to get rid of her from the place. “Let me assist you,” he whispered to her and Keilah simply nodded her head since she couldn't even lift herself up to walk.

“Hey, hon! Who is she?” Kiefer the bartender paused for a moment when he encountered the same woman he flirted with way back when he was dealing with some tasks.

“Hestia?” He mentioned her name and this time, the woman smiled. She can't believe that he is able to recall her name. He placed his eyes to Keilah who was half-asleep beside him, “One of my knocked down customers.”

“I see, do you need my help?” Hestia looks so worried while gazing at the drunk lady. But the man simply smiled at her and shook his head, “No, it’s alright. Go and enjoy the party, I’ll just assist her to her car.”

They left the place and went to the parking lot. “Hey, where’s your car?” The man whispered and tried to lift up the lady’s body, however, she was about to snooze herself and couldn't even answer his questions so he's got no choice but to take her keys and carry him in his arms in a bridal style. “Hindi pa nga tayo kasal pero pinapasakit mo na ang ulo ko, Keilah Olivarez.”

Obviously, Rogue Chavez who took the name Kiefer the bartender began to feel annoyed that he’s starting to breath in and out due to frustration. “I can't believe I’m going to file a marriage contract with you,” he proceeded to search for her car while still carrying her in his arms.

He pressed the car key beeper and eventually found her Porsche car in the middle of the parking lot. Rogue opened the front seat and let Keilah sit there, she began to groan in pain when she felt her head spinning even more. “Tss, ayan kasi. Sige inom pa, ang lakas mong uminom,” Rogue proceeds to grumble and ends up sitting in the driver’s seat.

“Argh, sakit.” Keilah cried and touched the back of her head. Pasimple namang napapasulyap sa kanya si Rogue at inis na napapamura habang hindi alam ang gagawin.

He began to drive the car and he didn't know where to go. Out of annoyance, he poked her cheek harder using his pointy finger and heard her groan, “Will you wake up? Saan bahay niyo?” he twitched his lips and glared at her when she didn't respond.

“Hoy!”

Mahahalata na ang inis sa kanyang mukha, ngunit bahagya na lamang siyang napabuga ng hininga. “Ano ba naman ‘tong pinasok mo, Rogue?” bulong niya sa sarili at binagalan ang pagpapatakbo ng kotse. “Then I guess I have no choice but to leave her in a nearby hotel.” He thought it was a good idea so he drove back to the left road and came to the Marriott South Hotel.

He checked in and received the key, he searched for the room while carrying her in his arms. He finds it quite embarrassing because a lot of people were looking at him with judgment. “Room 98,” he slowly opened the doorknob and entered the room. The space is good and there is one bed near the glass window. Rogue was about to place the drunk woman to the bed but he literally stopped halfway and cussed from the top of his lungs when Keilah struggled in his grip and threw up. She chucked up on his chest and he dropped her on the floor with an angry stare. “What the hell?!”

Keilah roused from her drowsiness and rolled on the mat and put up on the pain she felt when her butt kissed the ground. Rogue on the other hand felt so pissed that he badly want to punch the wall, irita siyang napatingin sa babaeng iniinda ang sakit habang pagulong-gulong sa sahig. Sunod-sunod na lang siyang napamura at inis na hinawi ang buhok niya. Keilah stained his uniform and he has no choice but to take it off.

Rogue turned on the air conditioner and took a bath towel from the bed and went his way to the shower room. He can’t stay any longer, he knows that it's not the perfect time for them to see each other. Masisira ang plano niya kapag namukhaan siya ng dalaga. He showered for five minutes and dried himself. Sinuot naman niya ang black pants niya at tinignan muli ang dalaga na nakatulog sa lapag. “You gave me a tiring night, I can't believe I’m actually doing this for you.”

He let go of a sigh and didn't bother to place her in the bed, instead he threw a pillow on her face and covered her with a blanket. “I need to go, maaga pa ako bukas sa interview.” Rogue took her upper garb and left the hotel without any shirt on. Pinag titinginan siya dahil naka topless lamang siyang lumabas ngunit hindi na niya pinansin ang mga ito, nag commute lamang siya pabalik sa workplace at pumunta sa parking lot para kunin ang kotse niya.

—------

Keilah woke up feeling a sudden back pain, she could still feel her head spinning and she groaned the moment the light from the window greeted her sight. She feels nauseous and due to body fatigue, her body feels so stiff. She got up from the floor and wandered her eyes around to see the entire room, “Saan ako?”

Out of confusion, she tried to remember what happened last night. “Shit, anong nangyari kagabi?” Kahit anong gawin niya ay wala siyang masyadong maalala, tila malabo ito sa memorya niya. “What time is it?” She glanced at her wrist watch and her eyes rounded in surprise the moment she realized it’s already 9 o'clock in the morning.

The cold atmosphere made her feel chills down her spine, nilalamig siya dahil sa lakas ng aircon. Tumayo siya at pinatay ito, nahihilo pa rin siya kung kaya ay naupo siya sa kama at binaling ang tingin sa glass window. “Saan ako?” muli niyang tanong at hinanap ang phone. “I need to call my secretary.”

“What just happened last night? You seriously met Keilah Olivarez and brought her to the hotel?” Kouen’s teasing voice tickles his ear over the phone. Naaasar naman si Rogue na tumingin sa kaibigan, he has no choice but to tell him what went on last night. He is expecting his buddy to tease him all day long and he is immune to that, he simply bites his lower lip and glances at the main entrance of Meadowview Hospital before walking inside.

“Will you stop mentioning her name? Nasa hospital na ako, baka may makarinig.”

Kouen laughed at him and faced the camera with a teasing grin. “You didn't do something with her, right?”

“Like what?”

“You know–” Kouen couldn't continue his words when Rogue glared at him. “I was just kidding, of course nothing happened between the two of you last night, kalma ka nga.” Masungit itong nag salita at ininom ang frappe na kaka-order niya.

“I’ll talk to you later, focus lang ako sa interview.” He hung up and walked to the hospital’s counter table and asked for assistance. “Good day, may I know where the interview room is? I am one of the applicants.” The nurse who was assigned at the counter looked at him, probably examining him. Rogue looks so different because of his hairstyle and outfit, even the way he speaks sounds different, mukhang sineryoso niya talaga ang advise ng kaibigan, kailangan naman niya talagang mag ayos para hindi siya makilala.

“May I know your name sir? May ID po ba kayo?” Rogue takes off his sunglasses and takes his ID card from his wallet and presents it to the lady. “My name’s Loki, Loki Hamsmith,” when the nurse confirmed his identity, she accompanied him to the room. Rogue smirks at the thought of having a new identity, Kouen Anderson, his best buddy was the one who processed everything and forged some of the documents such as his birth certificate and other papers to hide his real identity. It’s a tough job but they’ve studied and practiced it way back in their training days. Their company also provides backups and assistance in terms of difficult jobs.

“Good morning, doc. Mr Hamsmith would like to undergo the interview.” When they arrived at the place, the nurse opened the door for him and informed the interviewers. Siya na lamang ang hinihintay ng mga ito dahil late siyang dumating, kahit pagod ang mga Olivarez, kailangan nilang malaman kung sino ang taong nagngangalang Loki Hamsmith.

Sabay na tumayo ang tatlong doktor nang makita ang postura ng binata, mahahalata sa kanilang tingin ang pagkamangha. “Please have a seat, sir.” Kacie sounded so awestruck, Kaster on the other hand simply cleared his throat and sat on his spot. Khloe checked the profile of the applicant and went to her seat as well.

“My apology if I’m late,” Rogue positioned himself on the single couch before them. Khloe began to flip over the pages of the applicant’s profile, they are looking forward to this. Something’s in him that they are dying to know or witness. They knew that Rogue, as Loki Hamsmith, is a skilled doctor. “We can see that you are a busy man, we understand that.” Kacie began to scan his profile as well and prepare the questions ahead.

“So, let’s start. Good morning, Mr. Hamsmith, may I know how are you feeling today?”

“I feel great, thank you for asking.”

“Alright, can you tell more about yourself?” Kacie asked without averting her gazes from the file on her grip. Rogue smirks the moment he realizes that he has to answer them accurately based on the resume he submitted for the interview. He is sure that he memorized every detail that was put there.

“I live in Australia and worked there for 3 years. I decided to visit this country to explore more. It encouraged me even more to stay here for a while when I met this woman from Meadowview Hospital.” Rogue seems confident by his answers, yet he knows to himself that it is half-truth of his real reasons.

“Oh, so you decided to apply for this job because of that woman? Isn't it a bit off?” Karter asked while playing with his pen, Kacie looked at her brother. “Well, I’m just saying because isn't it a bit irrational?” he added and smirked.

“She must've been really special to you. Is that the only reason why you're interested in working in our hospital?” Kacie was expecting more of his answer, ayaw niya kasing ma-disqualified ito at alam niyang ang dalawang kasama niya ay hindi natutuwa sa unang sagot nito.

Rogue cleared his throat and responded, “I find this place unique, there might be other good hospitals out there but this one caught my attention the most. The fact that it was ranked to have the highest rate made me realize it's not just a simple workplace. I know that skillful health professionals stay here, and I want to overtake them.” His answer made their mouths gaped open, but Rogue’s teasing smirks couldn't be erased from his face.

“Or to compete with them in terms of knowledge and skills, I just love to challenge myself. My bad if I scared you,” he jokingly uttered which made the interviewers look at each other as they are talking in the way they look.

“Ah, how about your weaknesses? What are they?” Kacie quickly snapped and threw the next question.

Rogue smirks as if he laughed at the question inside his head. He doesn't have anything to lose. “... I dont have one.”

“So then why don't you talk about your strength?”

“Versatility,” he answered with a grin.

Khloe noticed that her sister couldn't give the follow up questions, so she decided to speak up. “What are your career goals? By the looks in your face, I am pretty sure you do have a few in your mind.”

The atmosphere suddenly shifted as if it began to feel cold. Seryosong naghihintay sa sagot ang mga interviewers habang natatawa naman si Rogue dahil nalilito siya kung sasabihin niya ba ang totoo sa part na ‘to. “Let me repeat the question again, what are your career goals?” Karter asserted.

‘Oh crap, are they trying to corner me? Hindi pa ako nakakapasok ah.’ Natatawa niyang isip at muling tinignan ang mga Olivarez.

“My objective is to get a job as a medical surgeon in Meadowview Hospital, and I’d love to step up even more to a higher position, particularly to be the hospital’s CEO.” He speaks confidently that it left the interviewers dumbfounded. Hindi nila alam kung nagbibiro lamang ito dahil sa mga ngisi nito sa labi.

“I’m sorry?” Karter couldn't process every word in his mind, the same thing goes with Kacie and Khloe.

“It's a half truth.”