Art of Serendipity

53

"Miss Vegas, do you have flight for tomorrow?" one of my fellow cabin crew asked.

We are pulling our small luggage while walking here in the immigration area in the airport. It is already late in the evening, pero kahit ganoon pa man, marami pa ring mga passengers na naghahabol ng flight papunta sa kung saan-saang lugar. My fellow cabin crews and I just arrived from Kalibo to here in Manila. Tatlo pa ang naging flight ko magmula pa kaninang nagsimula akong lumarga, all of those were domestic only. Thank, goodness.

I sighed heavily while surveying the people inside our headquarters. There are a lot of people here, with different level, different nationalities, and of course, different reason to live. I do not knownif I am just being crazy but sometimes I wish I knew how and what others are thinking, especially, of me. I always disregard the idea, though.

Months after my graduation as an Hotel Management student, Dad passed all of my mom's shares amd assests under my name including the La Vegas Hotels. La Vegas was originally named after mom's name because all of those were hers. She made it grew when she was still single, ang sabi sa akin ni Daddy ay noong nag-asawa na sila naisipan Mommy na palitan ang pangalan nito ng La Vegas, which became famous. Our parent company is the Acosta Group Inc. Doon si Dad at Ate Noreen nagtatrabaho ngayon. While me, hindi pa naman. I am focusing right now in the hotels before jumping into bigger opportunities like those.

Doon ko rin muna ginugol ang oras at panahon ko at nang masanay, I mastered how to manage my time effectively, three years after that, I tried my luck in Sky Air and gladly, I passed in just one try. The training was not easy, three months iyon dahil naghahabol sila ng mga cabin crews at sobrang hirap talaga ng training but it's so fulfilling to choose your dream over anything. The experience was incredibly challenging. But then, this my reward, indeed. I am so glad of what I have become.

Si Ate Noreen at Daddy ang madalas na nag-aasikaso sa Hotels kapag may lipad ako and most of the time talaga ay sila na ang gumagawa ng trabaho ko, hindi na kasi ako madalas umuuwi because of my hectic schedule, we almost live up above the clouds! I am just so grateful of Ate noreen necause she is always there.

Wearing our flight attendant uniform, a dark blue denim skirt ending right above our knees, a sky blue shirt, minus our jacket kung pupunta sa mga malalamig na lugar tulad ng Atlanta, o sa kung saan. Naka-stockings din ako at itong letseng heels na ito. I really hate heels, sobrang sakit sa paa!

I am still new here, I am just a year as an employee at unti-unti na rim akong nasasanay sa environment maliban na lang sa hilo ko at sa feet blisters ko. Kahit matagal-tagal na rin akong lumilipad ay hindi nawawala iyon. That was just one of the flight attendant's struggles. But that is okay. Ginusto ko 'to, ayaw kong pumasok sa isang malaking bagay na pagsisisihan ko rin sa huli. Ayaw ko na ulit. Not ever again.

I dialed Ate Noreen to pick me up and minutes after, she is already here.

"Hello, Ms. F.A. s***h hotelier s***h manager s***h my niece. I should bring a crown next time," bungad niya agad pagkapasok ko pa lang sa shotgun seat.

Isn't she exhausted? Anong oras na kaya! Her energy is on the highest level!

I rolled my eyes. "What crown are you talking about?"

"For Ms. Intergalactic Multitasker. Hindi ka ba napapagod, girl?" She laughed.

"Sort of... but they say, if you're enjoying what you are doing, then it's worth it." I shrugged. "I am so tired as hell!"

"Enjoying nga, it's so tiring naman. Ako kaya ang naaawa sa katawan mo." She turned the steering wheel to the right. "Aren't you going to focus on your hotel career na lang? Gosh, ako ang pinapagod mo kaya!"

"I will soon do that. For now, I still want to enjoy this dream of mine. Bata pa naman ako. I am also planning to focus on our business when I turn 30s or 40s, I said nang tinatanggal ko ang pusod ng buhok ko.

That was my ever plan. To resign as an aviation employee if I turn late 20s. Aminin ko man kasi sa hindi ay titoong nakakapagod ang ginagawa ko. There are times that I don't really eat anymore, and that sucks. Maganda pa rin na isa na lang ang kinakailangan kong gawin at pinakamaganda na ako mismo ang may hawak ng oras ko. So, I will stick to my plan.

"How about me? I'm still young too, but you are making me old na!" She winced. "Bata ka pa nga, but mind you, dear. Hindi ka na rin bumabata pa. I never heard this from you yet, but aren't you going to have a family of your own?"

My brows furrowed. Family? I haven't thought about that. Wala naman akong boyfriend and I don't have time for that. It requires a lot of time and there are important matters to consider.

"I have no plans. As you can see, I am so busy as hell," I answered her question. Gusto ko pa sanang umidlip kaso lang ay hindi ako hinahayaan ni Ate Noreen. She is keeping me awake!

"Sus, you have no plans or you are just keeping yourself busy for you to forget about your-"

"Shut the f*ck up," I cut her off. Ayaw kong ituloy nia pa ang mga sasabihin niya. "Why are you meddling about my life ba? While I am not like that with you! We are just the same, anyway! Wala ka rin namang boyfriend, 'no!"

"I don't have a boyfriend, but I have boylets." She snapped. Talagang proud pa siya sa kalandian niya. "Wala man akong boyfriend, I don't settle myself for that."

"Yeah, whatever…" I mumbled.

I rested my back at the backrest just to relax my head a bit, nahihilo na ako tapos pinapasakit pa ni Ate Noreen lalo ang ulo ko ngayon. She kept on bragging things that I already forgot. Suya yata 'tong hindi maka-move on, e. She is just getting nosy everytime. Makulit! Ayaw tumigil

Tama nga sila na mahirap magpakilala ng kung sino sa mga mahal mo sa buhay dahil when the time comes that you will go apart, ikaw ay naka-move on na, 'yong family mo ay hindi pa kaya imbes na maka-move on ka na ay marami pa silang sasabihin na magpapabalik ng lahat-lahat sa 'yo sa nakaraang matagal mo nang gustong kalimutan.

Inihatid niya ako sa bahay namin tsaka siya bumalik sa bahay nila Lola, her and my mom's mother. Nakakauwi naman na ako sa bahay namin ngayon dahil wala na rito si Tita Donna, pinaalis na ni dad. Dad really did everything to sue her out of our lives and thank God that it worked, hindi na kami nagsampa pa ng kaso laban sa tatay niya pero iyon ay kapalit ng pakikipaghiwalay ni Tita Donna kay Daddy. Thankfully, they annulled as what planned. Nagpagawa na lang kami ng isang kasunduan na hindi na sila pwedeng lumapit pa sa amin kahit kailan. Mukhang sinusunod naman ni Tita Donna so we are okay now. Our life just get better and better without that witch.

I took off my heels upon entering the house and ran to hug Nanay Luzon who was actually waiting for me inside. She was so shocked so I giggled a bit. Dalawang linggo na rin yata kaming hindi nagkikita because of my hectic schedule. I really missed her! Akala ko talaga na kapag naka-graduate na ako ay pa-chill chill na lang kaso ay hindi pala, dito pa lang pala nagsisimula ang tunay na laban.

~~~