Chapter 2 - Dome

"So it's you, Ms. Terry Yoso. The one Gabriella recommended as someone who can take this job." said the lady caretaker who was sitting in front of me, then placed her hands on the wooden table between us. Her smile is as bright as this place.

I believe she's in her mid 60's. She looked neat with her white floral long sleeve and black slacks.

"Your name is as pretty as you. It also sounds mysterious. Interesting." she added.

I avoided her gaze due to guilt, and I heard her laugh, probably thinking I'm just shy.

To ease this feeling, I looked around here in her small office, and wherever I look, there are plants and colorful flowers that made the place refreshing to the eyes. I shivered a little even the heater in this place is on. Well, what do I expect? This place is in Tagaytay, one of the coldest cities in the Philippines.

Some strands of my long wig interrupted me from checking this place, and it was blocking my sight, so I tucked it behind my ear. What a great hassle this is!

My neck was also itchy because of the white turtleneck long sleeve blouse I was wearing, but I just tried to keep myself from scratching it. I might even get busted if I do. I'm also not comfortable in my knee-length black skirt. I'm not a hairy person, and my leg isn't muscular either, so it's even smoother than a woman if you look at it.

GABRIELLA! If I wasn't just really desperate to make money, I would never have agreed with this nonsense of hers! Of all the things she can ask me to do, she really made me disguise myself to be a woman?!

* * * "Are you out of your mind?! I don't like it! You know me, Gab. I hate women except you, and then you want to pretend to be one?"

"I just want to help you, Lester. You don't want me to lend you any amount. You also don't want to stay here. Then, I'll just help you land a job with high pay. Fortunately, I haven't thrown away this original wig yet. It's made of natural human hair."

She's really gone nuts.

"I know you just want to help me, but this is complete nonsense. Even you dress me up as a woman, someone will still know that I'm a man. My name is Lester, a male's name. This adam's apple..." I pointed to my bulging adam's apple. "... Even my voice and my identity documents are evidence that I was born as a male Gab."

Instead of agreeing with me, she beamed a smile. "Rest those worries! I'll take care of those. I'm very close to that caretaker lady who interviewed me, and she really seemed to trust others easily. She also gave me her number because she wants me to recommend an acquaintance for that job since I declined. She mentioned, she's in a hurry to hire someone because she needed to go home to their province and live there with her family. When I recommend you, she won't ask for your identity documents. Your adam's apple? That's too easy to hide! And your name? I have already in mind. Just trust me! Who else will work together but us cousins, right? "

"But-"

"350 dollars in a month, you'll still refuse? Where can you find such an easy job that pays that much? If you keep on refusing this, the caretaker might already hire someone else!"

* * *

"First of all, I'm Antonette."

I came back to myself when the interviewer spoke again.

"You can call me manang Tonet. Gabriella already mentioned that you have Traumatic Mutism, so you can't speak now, and because of that, I have nothing to ask."

(Traumatic mutism occurs when someone — usually a child — who is witnessed a traumatic event stops speaking.)

What a plausible made-up story! You have already beaten me from being deceptive. If I only knew you would do this to me, I shouldn't have taught you how to be cunning when we were young.

"She also explained your background to me. You are from a province so you can't show any papers, but you are very hard working. Well, the main thing here is that you are willing for this job." She stood up and held out her hand to me. "You're hired."

My eyes widened a little.

Am I hired right away? Immediately? Really? Seriously?

Although still confused, I stood up and shook her hand.

She's indeed as easy to trust as Gab said. That's why my insane cousin asked me to bring a suitcase with my belongings so that I wouldn't have to go back and forth. She knew very well that the caretaker would really hire me right away.

* * *

"These are the do's and don'ts in taking care of this resthouse." Manang Tonet handed me a paper while we are walking. We already left her office, and I'm following her while pulling the pink suitcase Gab gave me.

I read the instructions there in my mind.

1. Never neglect the garden of flowers, especially the hyacinths.

"I know caring for plants will be natural for you since you are from a province, so I know you won't have any problems," she commented, knowing I already read the first instruction.

2. Never change the furniture arrangement in the resthouse because the owner's daughter really hates that.

3. Always make the house clean and spotless.

After a short walk, we were now in front of a large steel door. There is no keyhole on that door. There is also a roof here for protection from the rain, but before we could get here, I saw this place we will enter. It was like a vast dome.

There was suddenly a beep sound, so I looked at Manang Tonet. There was a hand scanner there, and she took my hand then let the machine scan my handprint. "You can already access this place using your handprint since I already saved it."

Dope!

The door then opened, and I almost blurted a comment about how high-tech this place is, but fortunately, I could stop myself before doing so. That's close!

We went inside, and the door closed on its own.

I was immediately greeted by the fragrance of flowers, and when I looked around, my eyes gradually widened in admiration. I didn't think there will be such a place here in the Philippines.