One

Exelle

"Hey. It isn't hard to say, 'thank you beshie'. Tingnan mo nga oh. Tinulungan na kita. Oh. Ayan na," sabi ko kay Samara habang nakangiti ng mapang-asar. Nasa kabilang linya lang ito habang nakikipag-usap sa akin kung anong kulay at design daw ng damit ang gusto nitong ipatahing damit.

I did the finishing step for her dress by drawing a large ribbon on its waistline, tulad ng pagkakadescribe niya tungkol dito. "Hoy. Sam, bahay ang ginagawa ko, hindi damit. Walanghiya toh. Ginawa mo akong designer ng damit. Oh, ayan na. Isesend ko na lang ang picture sayo. Kaso mamaya na, huh. May board meeting pa ako. Alam mo naman na busy ako, eh." Sabi ko sa kanya na parang kaharap ko lang siya.

I heard her giggled and laughed. Loka-loka talaga tong babaeng toh. Iniisip ko tuloy kung pinagtitripan niya lang ako o hindi.

"Hoy, babaeng unggoy na galing pa sa planetang Pluto, baka naman pinagtitripan mo lang ako? Hoy, tandaan mo, busy akong baknita ka." Galit-galitan kong sabi sa kanya na ikinatigil ng tawa niya but still heard her giggled again.

"Hoy, gaga ka rin. Una sa lahat, hindi kita pinagtitripan. Pangalawa, kailangan ko ng damit para sa party mamaya kina Jules at Jilles. Alam mo naman ang kambal na yun di ba, ayaw nun ng cheap. Haha. And the third one, and the last one, hindi ako unggoy na galing sa Pluto. Sa ganda kong toh, pagkakamalan mo’kong alien. Palibhasa kasi hindi mo na ako nakikita ng personal kaya wala kang alam sa bagong beauty ng diyosang si Ako.” Lintaya niya mula sa kabilang linya, saka tumawa na ikinatawa ko na rin. "Umuwi ka na kaya rito sa Pinas ng makita ko kung ano ang pinagmamalaki mong kagandahan at lagi mong nilalait ang kagandahan ko. Miss na kita, Beshie ko."

Napatigil ako sa sinabi niya.

Sa totoo nga niyan, gusto ko nang umuwi, but I am afraid that something might happen if I did go back to the Philippines. Pero, oo nga naman. Ano naman ang ikinatatakot ko?

Ang baliw ko lang talaga siguro.

"Uyy, besh. Uwi na kasi dito. Miss ka na namin bwiset ka. Umalis ka lang dito seven years ago, allergy ka na agad sa Pilipinas. Ano yun SYA-AFPA?" Sabi niya ulit sakin.

"Teka ano yung SYA-AFPA?" Confuse kong tanong sa kanya.

"Edi, Seven years ago-away from Philippines-allergy. Charot. Joke lang." She responded then laughed at the same time. Yung tawa niyang parang kontrabida.

"Baliw." Pabalik na sabi ko sa rito, saka tumawa na rin. Bigla namang tumunog ang landline ng bahay. And if my guess is right, it might be my secretary.

"Uy, Sammie, mamaya na lang. May meeting pa nga ako di ba. Isesend ko na lang sayo ang pic ng damit. Mamaya na lang huh, bye-bye," sabi ko sa kanya saka ko siya binabaan ng tawag. She'll understand anyway.

I hurriedly picked the telephone and answered the call.

"Miss Kim," panimula ni Audrey mula sa kabilang linya, my secretary, "the meeting will start after thirty-five minutes."

I nodded although she can't see me. "Okay. I'll be there in ko in twenty minutes. Tell the board members." My eyes roamed on my wristwatch, checking what time is it already. I moved my eyes across the room and swept passed through the curtains, hanging on the window sill.

It’s a fine weather.

"Yes, Ma'am."

Binaba ko na ang telepono saka kinuha ang black briefcase na nakapatong sa ibabaw ng aking lamesa. Without any notice, may biglang nahulog mula sa lames ana nasagi siguro ng briefcase. Isang kumukinang na bagay. I picked it up and smiled seeing the fallen object and placed it on top of my palm, examining it with a sharp eye. Keeping the smile on my lips, I almost burst laughing. A bitter smile.

I put it on my pocket and then leave the room.

I drove using my own car papunta sa EXiellene Royale na kung saan ay sarili kong hotel na naipatayo ko mula sa sarili kong dugo at pawis. My very own hotel and resort I always dreamed of having. The only thing I have and owned now after my heartbreak seven years ago. The only thing that I can say mine for all these years.

I jumped out of my car leaving it to Williams, the hotel's security guard, and hurriedly run through the door that automatically opens when I step in front of it. The three other guards greeted me 'good morning' and bow their heads showing respect to me.

I smiled.

I never told them to be more polite upon seeing me, but I think that was how Tita Titania told them na maging ganito sa akin, during their training days before officially started as a guard. Tita was the personnel incharge para sa mga applicant and in charge sa pagte-train ng mga bagong hired empolyees ng hotel. Well, dito nga lang siya sa New York naka-assign.

Kasi si Tita Annabelle ang incharge sa isang brach ng hotel sa Las Vegas at si Tita Raxielle together with Tito Benji ay sa nag-iisang resort ng EXiellene Royale, located in San Francisco, naman sila in charge. I called them Tito and Titas, though hindi ko naman talaga sila kamag-anak.

I walked past the other employees na walang sawa sa kakabati sakin ng magandang umaga, na nginingitian ko na lang, papunta sa conference room na located lang naman dito sa first-floor ng hotel.

And upon seeing the sight of a familiar two large and brown wooden door, nahagip din ng aking mata ang nakatayong pigura ni Audrey na mayroong hawak na mga folders.

I smiled at her when she smiled back at me.

"You're just in time, Miss. Here are the papers you told me to bring and give to you. It has all the information about the ratings of the EXiellene Royale in Jeju Island last three months just after its opening. And the ratings of the other branches of EX Royale here in the land of, America. And the last folder is the information about the next project construction for the second branch of EX Royale in Asia," she began talking and smile at the end.

"Land of America? I like it, though it sounded weird." I said squinting my eyes into a crescent and then let out a small laugh.

"Let’s go Miss," she said placing her hand on the doorknob. "Wait." I stop her saka may dinukot sa bulsa ko. I give it to her and smile. "Throw it, keep it or whatever. Just keep it out of my sight," I smile.

Sinilip niya kung ano ang binigay ko sa kanya saka tumingin sakin. She looks at me with confusion.

"A ring?"

I nodded at kusa ko nang binuksan ang pinto saka pumasok, leaving her standing behind.

.

"Last three months, we opened our new branch of EXiellene Royale at Jeju Island, South Korea. In which gain impact satisfaction from the people. Our first priority, is to especially satisfy and give the needs of the tourists, costumers and visitors of EXiellene Royale. And we did it, taking the risk of leaving America and built a new one to Asia." I speak infront of the others and show them the graph na nagpapakita ng tuloy-tuloy na pagtaas ng ratings ng EX Royale sa Jeju from the last three months.

They smile when they saw the results of taking the risk, we did last year.

"Congratulations everyone. I told you already that taking the risks isn't bad at all. So, for now, our next plan was to build a new hotel and resort in the Philippines."

They all opened the folders that Audrey gave to them. "As you can see, and for all we know, Philippines was known for having places that attracts foreign and local tourists to visit. It’s a best country to have a vacation, events and everything. Well, I'm not promoting the country just because I am a half Filipina," I smile, "but because it’s true. Am I right?"

After talking, they look at me, smiling and all nodded, agreeing to my words. "I guess you all agree, so, now let’s work on this next project."

"We were always been aware and ready to take the risks Ms. Kim. After all, it’s all what we do." Commented Mrs. Rosewell with a smile.

I smile back at her. She looks as young as me, pero mas matanda siya sakin ng five years. "That's right. We are entrepreneurs, and also a businessmen and businesswomen. We give what are the best for our customers, for our employees and to the clients. We aren't worried about ourselves to fall, because we always take responsibilities of the risk’s effects. We might expect for a higher profit, but we must and yet still think about the importance of the people involved in this business." I paused and look at them.

"Let’s work for the best result of this project. All I need now are your words for me to go and visits the place of the construction. Maybe, allowing me to go?"

They smile and some laugh. "You always ask for a permission to leave Ms. CEO. You never even change a bit." Mr. Mendrano.

"Uh-huh. You are the CEO, the owner of EXiellene Royale, yet you still respect our decisions. That’s a good habit that you have and must never forget." Sabi pa ni Mr. Smith.

"You are a really nice woman," puri pa sakin ni Mrs. Holland," So now, it’s already settled. Maybe I suggest you must leave early so you can examine and watch how everything works from the start. I suggest the day after tomorrow." Sabi ni Mrs. Holland giving an appreciation smile to me.

Then they all agreed and adjourn the meeting.

.

Tawa lang ako ng tawa, habang sigaw ng sigaw mula sa kabilang linya ng video call si Samara.

"Uyy. Ang ingay mo. Nakakabingi ka na, huh." Saway ko sa kanya habang tumatawa. Ngiting-ngiti ito at nagpipilit na pigilan ang pagsigaw niya. Pati si Audrey ay mahinang nakikitawa sa akin. Ang cute daw kasi ni Sam kapag tumitili.

"Eh, bakit ba? For a long time of waiting, sa wakas uuwi ka narin. Sa wakas! And I am really happy about that." Sabi pa nitong muli bago tumawa na parang kontrabida.

"Pero, paano kung-"

I know what she meant with her look and with the tone of her voice. I know that nais siyang tukuyin at alam ko rin kung 'sino' at 'ano'. Kaya’t inunahan ko siya ng tawa. Tawang mayroong tinatagong pait at sakit.

"What?" I asked her as if I really don’t know anything about what she meant and referring to. Umiling lang ito saka ngumiti ulit.

Nagkwentuhan lang kami buong free time naming dalawa na natigil lang ng ipaalala sa akin ni Audrey kung anong oras na. "Hey, Sammie. Mag-aayos na ako kasi maya-maya ay aalis na kami." Paalam ko sa kanya. She changed her smiling face into a poker one. So, I laugh one more time. "Hey. You're not happy to see me in person already?" I teased her as I asked her again.

Her face brightened and put back her smile that vanished a while ago. Gusto niya na talagang makita ako. Well, siya lang naman ang excited na makita ako eh.

She’s the only family and friend that I have and left to me. After the incident that happened seven years ago, I turned my back to all of the people who didn't saw me as a living person rather than a machine. I tried to forget all of them, and I successfully did. I left and I never regretted that I did it. But then after all of those things, Samara was the only person who didn't leave me alone in the dark and didn't forget me like what I did to others.

She's been a good friend to me, or more likely a sister to me.

"So, see you later." I finally said before she hangs the call down.

Well, I need to start packing, because soon, I'll be back to my old home.

***

Philippines, I'm home.

I started to walk habang hila-hila ang isang maletang kulay itim, na naglalaman ng mga gamit ko sa opisina, in which includes the paper works, mga damit ko at marami pang iba.

Actually, I am not planning to stay in here for too long, kasi marami pa akong mga dapat asikasuhin sa main branch ng EXiellene. I am more unto, personally serving the clients and working with the employees, hand-to-hand, but for now, it’s giving me a hard time. But still, I can manage.

"Hello, Sam, Nasaan ka na ba?" Tanong ko kay Samara sa kabilang linya. "Di ba sabi mo ikaw ang magsusundo sakin? Nasaan ka na ba, babae?"

"Uy sorry, Beshie. Hindi kita masusundo eh. Sorry talaga. Pero parating na diyan si manong. Kilala mo naman si manong Bert, di ba? Siya ang magsusundo sayo diyan. Tsaka nandiyan na yun."

Ay ganun, di niya ako masusundo?

Ibang klase talaga ang babaeng toh. "Okay. fine. Anong kulay ng van?"

"Malamang black and white. SUV siya na may plate number na B.Y 7K00." Sagot nito sakin mula sa kabilang linya. When I think about it, maaari naming maging pula o asul ang van at SUV, di ba? But I just kept it to myself.

Tumawa lang ako sa kanya habang siya naman yung paulit-ulit na nagsosorry mula sa kabilang linya. Ano namang problema kung di niya ako masundo, di ba?

"Nope. It’s okay. I got what I need. So, let’s--Oh, I'm sorry mister." Sabi ko bigla ng may mabangga akong lalaking naka- black leather jacket.

I look up and see two emerald eyes staring back at me that made me froze. I froze on my stand, not knowing what to do. A familiar stare that suddenly brought chills all over my body.

Its, him.

Parang bumalik bigla ang lahat ng ala-ala ko tungkol sa nakaraan naming dalawa. Yung sugat at sakit panahon lamang maaaring magpagaling. Ang lahat ng bagay na pilit kong ibinaon sa limot. Para bang niyanig ng mga matang ito ang aking mundo na walang magandang naidulot kung hindi ang paalalahanin sa akin ang tungkol sa nakaraan. I’m acting like a brave person kanina lang, tapos ngayon, pakiramdam ko’y nawala ang lahat ng inimbak kong tapang at lakas, sakali mang makaharap ko siyang muli.

"Xiellenna?" He whispers my name giving too much shiver in my whole spine. His voice.

I stare at him, looking into his eyes.

'Those hazel-colored eyes.'

Hindi ako sumagot. Nakatitig lang ako sa kanya, trying to hide my real emotions and search for another. Then finally I did.

"Do I know you?"