ADARINA

CHAPTER 2

"Hey, Lanz, you said we are teammates, right?" I asked.

"Yup," he just nodded.

 "Am, would you mind to tell me the things or the responsibilities towards our work?" medyo nahihiya kong tanong pero keri na lang dahil siya naman ang nagsabi na magka-team kami eh, ‘di ba? 

Napangiti naman siya tapos he chuckled a little bit, "What so funny?" tanong kong bigla. 

"I knew it. You are not listening kanina while Ms. Aimee's discussing the distributions of work," he said na nakakainis ang pagtawa.

“Nang-aasar ka ba?” tanong ko tuloy sa kanya.

 “No, I am just telling the truth. Hindi ka nakinig kaya mo tinatanong and I really saw you kanina. You are actually thinking something or should I say someone?” tinaasan ko na naman siya ng kilay. 

“FC ka na ah!” sambit ko dito. 

“Hah FC?” pagtataka naman niyang tanong sa akin. 

“Oo, FC. Feeling Close,” sagot ko naman dito. 

Napatawa naman siya sa akin, “Sorry. Not familiar,” sagot naman niya sa akin. I just rolled my eyes then. Totoo naman kasi yung sinabi niya kanina na hindi ako nakikinig. May iniisip kasi ako kanina. Of course, none other than my Fraud.

"Yeah right. Pero pwede ba,  huwag ka nang tumawa diyan? Can you just tell me what will be my duties?" naiirita kong tanong sa kanya. 

“Okay, okay. I will. Just calm down," he said.

At ayun na nga, sinabi nga niya sa akin ang mga gagawin ko. Of course, gano’n na gano’n katulad nang sinabi ni Fraud sa akin.

"Ms. Aimee wants a group that is already on time, focused, and very presentable. I mean, always smiling para daw mas ganahan ang mga clients natin and costumers na mag-check-in dito sa hotel," umpisa niya. 

"Ah, just like what Fraud said," sagot ko bigla na kinatanong niya naman sa akin. 

"You know sir Fraud?" tanong nito sa akin.  

"Yeah. He's my ultimate crush," dire-diretso kong sabi without knowing na nasa likuran na pala namin si Fraud my love!

"Ada," Lanz said tapod ngumuso pa sa likuran ko. 

"What?" nagtatanong ko namang expression kasi hindi ko naman ma-gets kung ano yung tinuturo niya. "It's sir Fraud!" pabulong niyang sabi na hindi ko pa din naintindihan. 

"Hey Lanz, I don't understand you," I said.

Tapos ay may narinig kaming nagsalita, "Ahem, Ms. Torres," nagulat ako bigla sa boses na narinig ko kaya nanlaki ang dalawang mata ko habang umiikot para humarap sa nasa likuran ko.

Nang makaharap na ako ay, "Ahmmm, Fraud, I mean, yes---- sir?" nabubulol kong sagot. 

"Go to your respective areas now," mahinahon niyang command sa amin ni Lanz.

 Napasagot tuloy kami nito nang, "Y-Y-Yes sir. Yes," I said tapos hinatak ang kamay ni Lanz at mabilis na tumakbo para makalayo kay Fraud.

LANZ'S POV

I'm Lanz. Lanz Bran Qy. You can call me Lanz, Bran or Ran. But my most friends call me Lanz. My first name of course. I am a trainee at Le Gran Hotel where I met Adarina. Actually, she caught my eyes while Ms. Aimee, our team leader, discussing the distributions of our tasks. She seemed so quiet that time that's why I listened carefully to our team leader para i-explain sa kanya kasi feeling ko hindi siya nakikinig at tama naman ako.

Then after ko siyang makilala, vice versa, she told me about her huge secret crush on Mr. Fraud Ricon Sevilla, the assistant of the owner of the said hotel. Well, it was already given naman I guess because Mr. Sevilla was a good one kaya no doubt kung bakit magkakagusto sa kanya si Adarina.

Okay, well, let's go back to her. 

Adarina. A pretty name. Yeah. Wait, if you'll going to ask me if I have a crush on her, oh my gad! Of course, she's hot! But a big no. Why? Kasi I already have a girlfriend. I'm just curious about her that's why I make friends with her. That's it. 

"Oh my gad! Why you didn't tell me na nando’n na pala si Fraud?" she asked na halos mag-hysterical. 

Napatingin naman ako sa kanya, "I was making facial expressions kaya lang hindi mo naman na-gets. Iyan tuloy," I explained. 

Tumakbo kasi kami, "Sorry, hindi ko kasi talaga na-gets eh," she chuckled. 

"Now I see you smiling. Oh see? You're lovely kapag ngumiti ka," ngiti ko din sa kanya para naman mawala na ang pagka-hysterical niya. 

"Sira! Bola mo," she just said tapos we sited sa likod ng fountain ng hotel.

Napatawa naman ako dito, "Atleast I made you smile," sambit ko naman sa kanya. 

Tumingin naman siya tapos ngumiti, "Funny ka din ‘no? Nako. Magkakasundo tayo!" Sabay tawa. 

"Sabi ko naman sa’yo eh," I laughed with her also.

 "Adarina Seykie Parris Torres," she said while smiling tapos nakalahad pa ang kamay niya sa akin. 

Napa, "Huh?" tanong ko dito. 

"Adarina Seykie Parris Torres. That's my full name," ngiti pa din niya sa akin. 

Ngumiti naman ako then, "Lanz Bran Qy. That's mine," I said tapos nakipag-shake hands na sa kanya. And then nagngitian na kami.

"I guess magkakasundo talaga tayo, ano?" sabi niya na nakatingin sa akin. 

"It's not a guess anymore kasi I feel. I really feel na magkakasundo tayo," sagot ko naman sa kanya habang nakangiti rito.

Nang bigla na namang may marinig kaming dalawa, "Ehem.." sabay pa kaming napatingin ni Ada.

"Sir Fraud..." sabi ko sabay tayo. 

Hinila ko naman si Ada para mapatayo din at sabay kaming nag-greet, "Good morning, Sir," tumingin muna siya nang maigi sa amin bago nagsalita.

"Good morning. What are you doing here? It's already time for work," he said na kinatingin namin ni Ada sa isa’t isa tapos nagkapaan nang isasagot. Hindi din kasi namin alam kung ano pa ang ginagawa namin dito. Well I guess tumakbo kami kanina para makalayo sa kanya? Tama, right?

"Am, we're just discussing and clarifying our tasks, Sir," I said na tumigin kay Ada para um-oo na lang din siya. 

Tumingin naman siya sa akin at, "Y-Yeah. Yeah, Frau-- ah, Sir. We're here for some clarifications towards our tasks," pagsang-ayon niya sa sinabi kong dahilan. 

Tumitig na naman siya ulit sa amin bago nagsalita, "Okay. I get it. Well, I guess you're already done discussing and clarifying your tasks because you have a lot of work to do," maawtoridad niyang sagot pero hindi nakakatakot.

We both nodded. 

"Good. Uhm, go to your designated places now," 'yon lang tapos tumalikod na sa amin. 

Sinundan naman siya nang tingin ni Ada, "Grabe! He's so hot!" she said habang nakatitig sa nakatalikod na si Fraud. 

"Hey, halika na. Alam ko crush mo siya but we still have to do our tasks. Come on. Baka magalit pa sa atin si Ms. Aimee," hatak ko naman na sa kanya. Tumingin naman siya sa akin tapos ngumiti then tumingin ulit sa nakatalikod na si Fraud tapos nag-flying kiss. "Hay nako. Tama na 'yan," at tumalikod na nga kami. Sumunod na din naman na siya sa akin.

 "Tara na, partner," ngiti niyang sabi. 

"Gusto ko niyan," tawa ko naman na rito.

FRAUD'S POV

*Flashback*

"Fraud, kindly take good care of my daughter. She maybe a brat but she's so sweet and thoughtful," Mr. Lee said, the owner of the Le Gran Hotel.  We are sitting here at the meeting room where Mr. Lee talked to me a while ago.

"Can I count on you, Mr. Sevilla?" tanong nito. 

Tumingin naman ako at humarap dito and say, "I'm at your back, Sir," I widely said. 

He just smiled and say, "Thank you, Mr. Sevilla. I owe you this," he said then, "The meeting's adjourned," at lahat ay nagtayuan na at nag-alisan na sa pagkakaupo. Naiwan na lang akong mag-isa sa meeting room while thinking. Theamika's good girl naman daw. She's a brat but sweet and thoughtful. Just like Ada. I unexpectedly said on my mind. "What?" napabalikwas ako ng upo. Tapos napainom ng kape. Okay. You got me. I like Ada. I like her even before. But I know she's too young for me. She's 19 while I am 27. I know I am not that too old but I also know my limitations.

"Fraud?" nagulat pa ako nang biglang bumukas ang pinto ng meeting room at iluwa nito si sir Adam, Ada's dad. 

Napatingin naman ako dito, "Yes, Sir?" I asked. Pumasok naman siya. 

"Can we talk?" tanong nito. I just nodded. 

"Of course, Sir. What is it?"

Umupo muna siya sa harap ko at, "It's about my daughter, Ada," sir Adam said. 

"Am, what about her, Sir?" tanong ko dito. 

"I want to have her OJT here in this hotel. Would it be okay if I will ask you a little favor?" tanong niya sa akin na kinangiti ng labi ko pero hindi naman halata. 

"Am, yes Sir. What is it?" I asked him. 

"Is it okay if you'll be the one to handle her? Kasi aside from I know you already, alam ko namang hindi mo siya pababayaan especially sa mga responsibilities na dapat niyang matutunan. You know naman her. Kahit noong high school pa lang siya, dito na talaga niya gustong mag-train that's why I already gave my permission to her na dito siya mag- OJT. I know it's too much to ask for pero ikaw lang kasi ang alam kong makakatulong sa kanya. I've been working here for almost 20 years and I might say na sa lahat ng employee na nakilala ko, you're the only one who caught my trust," sir Adam said. I was actually overwhelmed hearing those words came from sir Adam.

Actually, I've been thinking if how will I ask his permission to woo his daughter. 

I really like Ada. Yeah. I really like her. I really like her since the very beginning. Since elementary, I guess? She's so cute kasi that time. I don't know if she still remembered our first meeting pero ako? I still remember. I was 18 years old back then when she's 10.

"Hi," bati niya sa akin while I am standing, staring at the guests.

"Hello," I said in return.

"I'm Adarina, ikaw ano'ng name mo?" she smiled at me while asking my name.

"Ah, I'm Fraud, but you can call me Ric," ngiti ko ring sagot dito.

"Nice meeting you, Fraud," at nakipagshakehands na ito sa akin.

"You have a beautiful name, Adarina," I said.

"Thank you, Fraud," nakangiti  pa rin niyang sagot sa akin.

That smile is very genuine.

I don't know but she definitely catch me off guard kahit na nasasagot ko nang maayos ang mga tanong niya, still, nagulat ako dahil may kakaiba akong naramdaman kaagad sa kanya.

"Am, Adarina," tawag ko sa kanya.

"Ada na lang, masyadong mahaba ang Adarina eh, and by the way, my parents used to call me Ada,"  wika niya sa akin, "Um, may sasabihin ka ba sa akin, Fraud?"

"H--Hah? Ano, um, how old are you?" hindi ko alam kung bakit ako nagkakandabulol.

"I'm already 10," she smiled again.

"10?" nagulat ako sa sagot niya. Hindi naman kasi halata na 10 pa lang siya. I thought she's just my age.

Well, hindi ko rin naman napansin, may katangkaran kasi siya kaya parang we're of the same age.

"Yes, 10 years old na ako, ikaw ba Fraud?" tanong din niya sa akin, "Siguro magkasing-edad lang tayo," she said.

"Um, actually no, I mean, I'm 18 already," sagot ko naman sa kanya.

Nagulat din siya sa sinabi ko, "18? Ay, mas matanda ka pala sa akin. I should respect you." she said, "I'm sorry po," she then said na kinatawa ko na rito, "Bakit po? Ano pong nakakatawa?" tanong niya sa akin.

"Hah, um, wala," sagot ko naman sa kanya, "You know what, okay lang sa akin na hindi ka na mag-use ng po and opo, kasi parang sobrang tanda ko naman na ata kapag gumamit ka pa no'n," I said.

"Hindi kaya, paggalang iyon, my Teacher once told me na we should always respect elder people," explain naman niya sa akin.

Napatawa tuloy ako nang malakas dito, "Your Teacher is definitely true, Ada, pero ako naman ang nagsasabi na huwag mo na akong po-po-in kasi hindi naman ako gano'n katanda just like other guests here," turan ko naman sa kanya.

Alam ko napaisip na siya sa sinabi ko kaya naman um-oo na lang siya.

At doon na nga nagsimula ang aming pagkakaibigan.

That night.

That one night pero mabilis ding natapos dahil ilang oras lang ay umuwi na rin sila.

*End of Flashback*

See that? You know that kind of attitude? ‘Yong tipong hindi siya mangingiming makipag-shake hands sa’ iyo or makipag-usap kahit na hindi ka niya ganoon kakilala.

Then she always smiles kahit hindi naman dapat. I mean, the way she smiles, it makes your day, whole day, rather, complete, ganoon. 

Ahh! She's so cute that time but today, she's not cute anymore.

 She's absolutely, fine, stunningly beautiful. Nothing has changed.

And the way she smiles, still, she makes my day complete.

 That's why I say yes to his father's favor, at para hindi mahalata na gusto ko siya, I assigned her sa reception.