Kabanata 6

PETER

I opened the door when I saw my Manang Kelly outside from one of the houses. Ngumiti siya at parang natuwa sa nakikita niya. Ngumiti rin ako sa kanya at kinuha ang mga bag sa likod ng kotse.

Pagkatapos kong kunin ang mga bag ay pumunta ako sa kanyang gawi.

"Magandang hapon Manang Kelly." Nag mano ako sa kanya at yumakap ng mahigpit.

"Itong batang ito talaga, ang gwapo at ang tangkad mo na." Tumingin siya sa mga mata ko ng diretso at yumakap muli.

She held out her and and touched my cheek. I felt her longing since she was alone and most of her family members are very far.

"Salamat at dumating rin yung pinakagwapo mong apo Nanay." Sabi ni Juan at nag posing na parang babae sa harap ni Manang.

"Heh! Kunin mo na ang mga gamit at ipasok mo sa loob . Miss ko na talaga yung alaga ko naku!"

Ngumiti ako, it's been so long since I've seen her. She was such a caring  woman.

"Kumain ka na anak? Halika at kumain ka muna sa loob."

Iginaya niya ako sa loob ng kanyang maliit na barong-barong. Nakahanda na ang ulam at kubyertos sa lamesa.

"Hoy ikaw na bata, kain ka na dito at magbihis ka." Agad na pumunta kami ni Yaya sa hapag upang kumain. Bumalik naman si Juan, nakabihis ng sando.

Pumunta ako sa kwarto. It was a small room with hard wood as the floor. Napaka presko ng hangin na dumaan mula sa bintana. The house was just a simple. It may not be made of cement pero makikita mo na maayos at matibay ang pagkagawa nito.

The room was just small so I have just a bed, table and a little children's closet. As a guy, I don't need much. I'm happily contented with whatever's there. Give me food, clothes and shelter then I'm good.

"Anak, maayos ka ba diyan?" I watched Yaya Kelly come out of the door. I was busy unpacking my clothes and books for school.

"Okay naman po Manang." I smiled at her.

I chuckled. She was our yaya that helped me move on. She'd always tell me to remember that mom's presence is still inside me and my siblings. But when she stumbbled on the floor, dad could not easily take the risk of hiring back Manang Kelly. So he built some houses for his retired men and housekeepers. It was sad for me and my siblings to never see her again. But we made some chances to visit her on her birthday.

I then started to get ready for my first day of work. Sana maayos ko na ang lahat ng mga gamit ko.

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I got up early for me to start work. My work on weekends are seven to four. Weekdays are six thirty to ten thirty.

Patapos na ako sa pagkain ng biglang sumulpot si Juan dala ang bag niya. "Yo bro, sabi ni Sir sa akin na ako na daw ang maghahatid sa'yo doon sa hotel." He said and I nodded. I can't believe that I will work under my dad and at the lowest position possible.

Matapos kong maghugas ng pinggan, I grabbed my bag and went straight out of the house. I didn't bother to wake up Manang Kelly baka maistorbo ko pa siya sa mahimbing niyang tulog. 

As I walked towards the car, nakita ko si Juan na naka shades while lowering the window. He popped his arm out and slightly lowered his shades to see me. Tss, parang gago lang.

"Let's rock n' roll mafren," sabi niya. I opened the passenger's seat and placed my bag beside me. Juan turned on the engine and it made a low purr.

Umabot ng isang oras papunta sa hotel. When we were about to approach the front, "Bro, dito mo nalang ako ipara."

"Huh? Ayaw mo na pumasok ang sasakyan?" Tanong ni Juan.

"No, I'm just a plain employee here." Paliwanag ko sa kanya. He gave a sly nod and just told me to text him when my shift is over.

Pumasok ako sa may main entrance, not sure kung saan ako dadaan.

Lumapit ako sa security guard at nagtanong, "Magandang umaga ho chief. Alam niyo po ba kung saan po yung nagmamanage ng reception?"

"Ah, ikaw yung bagong receptionist?" Tanong niya at tumango ako bilang pagsang-ayon sa kanya.

"Doon ka magtanong sa may reception at sumunod ka nalang sa direksyon nila." Sagot niya ng may pagka strikto.

Nagpasalamat ako sa kanya at tumuloy sa loob ng hotel. Pumunta ako sa receptionist upang magtanong sa kanila.

May isang lalaking naka pulang uniform ang nakita ko. Pumunta ako sa harap ng counter, "Sir, saan po ba yung HR office? Ako kasi yung bagong Front Office Associate."

Tinitigan gako ng lalaki. Tumayo lang ako ng matuwid hanggang sa bumalik yung tingin niya sa akin.

"Sure ka ba? Parang ang yaman naman mga damit mo at sapatos." Sabi niya. Lumaki ang mata ko sa mga sinabi niya. I forgot that I wore my new Vans shoes this morning.

Lumapit siya sa akin, "Huwag kang mag-alala, marami rin ako niyan. Binili ko pa sa may ukay yung mga Vans ko."

I smiled akwardly at him. I thought that I was gonna be busted for wearing expensive clothes and all.

"Halika at puntahan natin si Sir Sungit doon sa may likod." He said at naglakad kami patungo sa office nila.

There was a brief discussion on my job and that was to help people by providing their needs at their stay here in the hotel. After the brief discussion by the HR, he gave me my locker number, keys and two sets of uniforms.

We got out of the office and I smiled. This was it, I am finally going to work.

I heard my partner chuckled beside me, "Wow, parang masaya ka sa first day mo."

"Oo naman. Matagal ko pang gusto magtrabaho upang matulungan sina Manang." I replied and smiled trying to stay on the story. I know it was hard to lie but this stuff happens. I need to keep my identity a secret for them not to treat me like someone much more higher than them.

"Ah, mabuti naman kung ganoon. Pero warning lang ha. Yung manager natin eh sobrang strikto kung maka evaluate natin dito. Kaya, do our best lamang kami dito sa trabaho at huwag gumawa ng kalokohan sa mga guests natin." Dagdag pa niya.

Pumunta kami sa may mga locker namin at tinulungan niya ako sa pag-ayos doon.

"Okay. So malinis at maayos na ang lahat at ako nga pala si Kenneth. Ken nalang for short." He offered his hand and I gladly accepted it.

"Hindi pa naman start ng shift mo. Baka mga next two days ka na magreport dito. Klaro?"

"Yes sir."

"Sige at baka may pupuntahan ka pa ngayon. Sinabi na sa akin ng manager na part time ka lang rito at tatlong na oras lang yung shift mo."

"Oo eh. Naging part-time rin yung tatay ko dito sa hotel. Siya pa yung manager noon." Sagot ko. Ang hirap kasing magpalusot sa sitwasyon ngayon.

I nodded at nagpasalamat kay Ken. Naalala ko pala na kukunin ko yung mga libro doon sa may bookstore ng school. Tinawagan ko si Juan at matapos ang ilang minuto ay dumating na siya sa may eskinita sa sinabi ko.

I opened the shotgun seat and told him to go to school.

"Tinext rin kasi ako ni Kelsie na kukuha rin siya ng libro niya ngayon." Juan said. I nodded and then we left.

Pagdating namin sa school ay agad kaming pumunta sa may bookstore. Sinabi sakin ni Juan na di siya gusto magsalita ng ingles kaya ako na ang lumapit sa may Bookstore ng school.

"Miss, can I request to buy the items on this list?" Pormal kong sinabi sa babae sa counter. Ngumiti siya sa akin at kinuha yung listahan. It felt like she held my hand a little longer before I could retreat my hand from hers.

"Ok just wait and I'll get the books." she replied at nagtungo sa may likod.

"Hanep yung kagwapuhan mo pre." Sabi ni Juan.

Tumawa ako at lumingon sa dalawang babae at isang lalaking amerikano ang paparating sa aming gawi. Ang isang babae ay naka hoodie pero makikita pa rin yung mukha niya. She had almond shaped eyes, which made me look at her even more. She was beautiful, no doubt about that. She wasn't like those half foreign children na mukha talagang half foreigner. She had nice tan skin and was quite tall. She had a cute face and nice body figure. Dammit! I can't be serious. She was just too beautiful and she looks more filipino than foreign

"Halika na anak at pumunta muna tayo sa bahay ng kaibigan ko. You remember Aunt Cassie hindi ba?"

"Yes mom." She replied in a bored tone and walked straight away.

Nung umalis na sila ay tsaka na kumausap si Juan sa akin. "Ba't parang titig na titig ka do'n sa babae?"

I just shrugged at his question and waited. I can sense that he is smiling right now.

"Uy, parang may nagugustuhan na si Undong Peter." He said teasing me.

Hindi ko na siya pinansin. Pagkatapos ng ilang minuto ay bumalik na yung babae dala-dala yung mga libro namin.

"These are all the books that you have requested. Please inform us if there are any defects on your books and we will replace them with new ones okay?" The lady said with a big smile. I nodded as a response then paid the amount. I took some of the books with me since they were very many considering it was mine, Juan and Kelsie's.

"Juan, pakikuha yung ibang libro." pakiusap ko kay Juan. Pagkatapos niyang kinuha yung libro ay pumunta na kami sa exit at patungo sa may sasakyan.

Binuksan yung kotse at nilagay namin lahat ng libro sa may back seat. Hinihingal si Juan pagkatapos niyang nilagay yung mga libro.

I texted my twin to know where she went for she did not respond to my texts. Luckily she arrived at the parking lot just in time.

"Akala namin hindi ka na pupunta dito." I said to her. She carried a big eco bag on her shoulder while carrying a paper bag.

"Bumili kasi ako ng school supplies." She replied. She went inside the car and placed all of the things she brough on the back.