Art of Serendipity

54

"Diyos ko kang bata ka! Ayannah! 'Yong heels mo roon sa pinto, nakakalay!" Pinalo niya pa ng mahina ang braso ko na nakapulupot sa kaniya,

I chuckled. "I missed you, too, 'Nay!"

She laughed too and browsed my appearance. Naka-uniform pa rin naman ako na pang-flight attendant. "Hay na 'ko ka, talagang nagbunga ang pagiging gala mo, ano?" she said while gently arranging my neck tie a bit.

"Where do you want to go next, 'Nay?" masaya kong tanong.

Noong birthday niya kasi ay dinala ko siya sa Pampangga and her reaction was so priceless along the flight. Hindi ko maiwasang matawa habang nagse-serve dahil takot na takot siya. She is not used to it. Mabuti na lang at isinama ko na rin ang anak niya kung hindi ay baka nag-hysterical at nagsuka-suka na na si Nanay doon lalo na at wala ako sa tabi niya dahil sa trabaho. Nakasakay naman na siya sa eroplano noon pero matagal na iyon, ngayon na lang ulit siya nakasakay.

"Ano? Sasakay ulit tayo roon sa eroplano? Ayaw ko na, Aya. Ang taas-taas no'n! Hindi ko alam kung gegewang ba o ano! Baka sa matuluyan talaga ako sa langit, aba!" agad niyang reklamo.

"Shh!" saway ko sa kaniya dahil ayokong nagsasalita siya ng ganoon. "Why not? It's for free!"

Ngumiwi siya. "Ikaw na lang. Pasalubungan mo na lang ako."

I chuckled because of that. She is really scared! "Nasaan po si Daddy, 'Nay?"

"Nasa opisina, Aya. Puntahan mo na lang doon at kumain na kayo. Hinihintay ka niya kanina pa"

I nodded. I immediately went up to see my dad pero nagbihis na muna ako sa kwarto ko bago ako pumasok sa office niya. When I entered, I saw Dad wearing his specs while reading a document or something on the table.

He smiled immediately when he saw me. "Oh. Good evening, sweetie. How are you?"

I kissed his cheek amd hugged him a bit. After that, I sat in front of him. "I'm fine, Dad. Ikaw po? What are you reading? You should rest na po, it's late! Hindi ka pa nga po kumakain. Nandito naman po ako at si Ate Noreen," I said while browsing the folders that include the hotel's informations and recent transactions with other companies. Alam ko naman ito lahat kaya ayos lang kung ako na lang ang gagawa, kaysa naman kay Daddy na halos puti na ang buhok!

"You're busy, nak too. Kaya ko pa naman. Ano ka ba! Your dad is still young, 50s pa lang kaya ako," he joked. "Ikaw nga riyan, e. Dala-dalawa pa ang trabaho mo. Ikaw ang mas pagod na pagod sa ating dalawa."

Hindi ko alam kung anong meron at palaging ganito ang dahilan namin, na bata pa kami pero magkaiba kami ng priority ni Daddy.

"I can still manage these all even if I am tired, Dad," I reasoned out. "Did you drink your meds, huh?"

He nodded. "I am fine. C'mmon. Let's go downstairs and eat."

After the small talk with my dad in the dining area, we sleep. I slept peacefully because I cannot do this in the middle of work.

I just did my usual routine. I would go to work, madalas ay hindi na umuuwi dahil nasa ibang bansa or lugar, minsan naman ay sumisilip sa gawain ko sa Hotel lalo na kapag day off ko or kung day off mang matatawag iyon dahil hindi ko rin masyadong nae-enjoy ang day off na 'yon.

Ngayon lang talaga ako mai-stress ng sobra dahil ini-recommend na rin ni Daddy na ipa-bago ng style ang hotels bwcause of its old design and structures inside, and of course I am the in-charge. Napaka-daldal din kasi nito ni Ate Noreen at naibida na agad kay Daddy 'yong idea niyang pagpapa-renovate kesyo 'little renovation' lang naman daw kaya ayos lang. They are really stressing me out! Masyado nilang tine-test ang kakayahan ko!

At talagang napakagaling ni Ate Noreen at napili niya pa ang gallery na pinakainiiwasan ko para sa supplier ng mga paintings! Grabe! Walang awa 'tong ate ko.

"Wala na bang ibang gallery na pwede?" I asked Ate Noreen while massaging my head. Kaka-rrview ko lang ng portfolio na binigay sa akin ni Ate Noreen kanina at kung pwede ko lang talaga siyang tadyakan ay nagawa ko na kanina pa.

"Wala na, Aya." She sighed. "Sila lang naman ang nakikita at pinagkakatiwalaan kong gallery 'no. Their works are superb"

I shook my head and browsed my files again pero walang pumapasok sa utak ko pero para hindi naman mapansin ni Ate Noreen na kinakabahan ako, I keep on reading some shits here even if npthing is really rrgisterimg in my mind. Kasi naman!

"You still have time, though, to find another gallery," I commanded.

Napakaimposible naman kasing sa dinami-daming art gallery sa Pilipinas ay wala siyang mahanapan ng may magaganda at kalidad pang gawa! Or… Okay na 'yong hindi masyadong magandang gawa, basta mayroon at hindi ang Velez Art Gallery!

"Wow, ha? Boss, Madam?" She winced. "You told me that I am the in-charge of this one and my choice is that Gallery. You cannot do anything about it! That is my choice! Hindi naman kita pinapakialaman diyan, e. And I already told you, the owner already agreed so magpapa-meeting na tayo sooner or later for them to know our desired designs para masimulan na but since lahat ng hotels ay lalagyan, mukhang matatagalan pa ang pagsasama niyo ng ex mo."

I sighed heavily. As much as possible, ayaw ko nang mag-create ng lines between me and the things about him. Oo, matagal na iyon. Oo, naka-move on na ako pero hindi ako madaling makalimot. It was a bitter past of me so how could I forget about that?

And also, talaga bang wala siyang pakialam sa mangyayari at talagang pumayag siya sa sinasabi nitong si Ate Noreem? Dumbass. Siya kaya? Paano niya nagawang pumayag without further thinking?!

"Bahala ka sa buhay mo, ate. H'wag mo na lang ako idamay sa mga gagawin niyo," I said in despair.

"Hmm..." Her eyes narrowed at me. "Hindi ka pa nakaka-move on, 'no?"

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "Tapos na ako r'yan, Ate Noreen. Kayo lang 'tong palaging nagbo-brought ng topic na 'yan while I don't care anymore. Kayo ata ang hindi maka-move on dito, e."

"Then I will include you in every transaction and decision I will make. Duh, this is your hotel for heaven's sake. Hindi pwedeng wala kang pakialam. And besides, between the two of us, you're extra knowledgeable in designs. Ewan ko lang sa 'yo kung bakit hindi mo ina-apply 'yan ngayon. You bady know that theie gallery's works are amazing! So, if you already moved on, then you will have a meeting with them."

Kung maka-utos naman talaga 'tong babaeng 'to!

But she's kinda right. Professionalism over feelings. I mean, I don't have feelings anymore, but I still care about the past. Baka manloko pa ulit, mahirap na. Nagiingat lang naman.

"Whatever, Ate. May iba pa akong inaasikaso, okay? Can't you see?" Inilahad ko sa kaniya ang mga files ko sa harapan.

She just rolled her eyes and sipped on her coffee. Kung hindi lang malaki ang naiiambag nitong Tita kong ito rito, baka pinalayas ko na talaga 'to.

I came back browsing the files and I made sure that I am focusing. Kung ano-ano kasi sinasabi nitong si Ate Noreen, e.

My eyes narrowed at one of the engineers of the company I was looking for to see their services.

Engineer Tristan Rylan Fajardo

My mouth literally formed an 'o' because of an amazement. He's already an engineer, huh? Good for him. Mukhang tapos na siya sa masters niya.

"Ate, engineer na pala 'to si Rylan?" Pinakita ko sa kaniya ang pangalan ni Ryle sa listahan.

"Yup, galing 'no? Sa ibang bansa pa 'yan nag-masters. Bakit? Bet mo?" She looked at me meaningfully.

"Bet ko maging engineer ng renovation. I hope he is fine with that," naging sagot ko na lang. Iba na naman kasi ang iniisip nitong si Ate Noreen.

"No, I am asking if you like him na. Pamalit man lang sa ex mo," she, then, laughed like an evil witch.

Napasapo naman ako sa ulo ko dahil sa sobrang kabaliwan nito ni Ate. She's playing her cupid role again. Naalala ko siya rin nagtulak at nang-asar sa'kin kay Levi, but that's the last though.

Ewan ko. Bakit ko ba naalala pa 'yon!

~~~