Love and its Cost

Chapter 3

Stacey's

"SO FAR, SUCCESSFUL ang first day! 'Di ako makapaniwala sa bilang ng mga nanood."

"The question is… will the case still be the same for tomorrow knowing we will charge them for a ticket."

"Gago! Mukha bang walang pera ang mga studyante ng Villanzel. Tang-ina mo, Renz!"

"Chill out, guys. We shouldn't worry about those things for now; let's relax, enjoy, and celebrate the first day's success."

Hindi ko na sana pagtutuunan ng pansin ang kaingayan ng mga taong pumasok; it's none of my business naman kasi, pero napantig ang tainga ko nang marinig ang pangalang Walter. Nagdasal pa ako na sana kapangalan lang, pero 'yong huling nagsalita sa grupo, nabosesan ko — roon na ako naging sigurado na si Walter na mahangin nga. Ayon pa kay Ren, hindi lang mahangin itong si Walter, fuckboy rin. Tingin ni Ren, nakikipag-flirt si Walter sa akin n'ong nakaraan, dahil tipo ako nito; ihanda ko raw ang sarili ko, dahil hindi ako titigilan ni Walter hanggang 'di nakukuha ang p********e ko.

Kung nandito ba ang lalaking ito para subukang i-flirt na naman ako o gusto lang niya dito mag-celebrate kasama ang tropa, hindi ko alam kung alin sa dalawa. Isa lang ang sigurado ako: 'di kaaya-aya ang presensiya ng lalaking ito; nagdala pa talaga siya ng mga kaibigan niya. Nang sinulyapan ko ang kanilang grupo sa isang sulok, gumuho ang mundo ko dahil katatayo lang ni Walter at sigurado akong dito ang punta n'on: sa countertop. Hindi ba puwedeng kasamahan niya nalang ang pa-orderin niya rito; napakataxing maging customer ng Walter na 'to.

"Oh! Greetings! It's Ms.Stacey again." Nagkunwari pa talaga siyang nagulat kuno nang makita ako.

"Good afternoon, Sir. Welcome to Ness Cafe. May I have your order?" nakangiti kong tugon pabalik.

"Missed me?" masigasig niyang sambit.

Masaya man ang ekspresyon na nakaguhit sa aking mukha, napaka-understatement ng salitang nanggigigil para ilarawan ang nararamdamn ko ngayon sa kakapalan ng mukha ng Walter na 'to. Dapat talaga pinutulan ko noong nakaraan engkwentro namin ang lalaking ito; nagtanda na sana 'to kapag nagkataon. Nonetheless, professionalism, Stace; ang motto ko sa buhay at maging unbothered gaya ng isang reyna. Wala kang narinig mula kay Walter; wala as in walang lumabas sa bibig niya.

"May I have your order, Sir?" Sa likod ng magalang kong pakikitungo ay nagtatago ang pagkairita ko.

"I brought my mates in theater club with me. You know; to chill out and refresh. Acting is so taxing."

"I see. I hope all of you will have a good time in our shop, Sir. May I have your order, now?"

Kung nabubuhay lang ako sa mitolohiya ng mga Greeks, baka pati si Zeus mapapasabi nalang ng, "How could a human have so much patience?" tapos papakainin ako ng ambrosia at ako ay magiging God of Patience. Napaka-polite ng reply ko, eh; kahit na sa loob-loob ko gusto ko na siya tanungin na, sino? Sino po ang nagtanong? Mukha ba akong therapist o kaya naman ay mama niya para may pakialam ako kung ano ang ganap sa buhay niya? Hindi po ako interesado. Barista ako; Barista na tagagawa ng milk tea.

"Is a discount an option for the crowd that I invited here?" bulong pa niya.

Tingin ko ay kitang-kita niya ang pagkagiba ng mukha ko. Discount 'ka mo? Maya na kapag dinala mo na ang buong barangay niyo. Biro lang; hindi naman kasi ako ang nagmamay-ari ng shop para mamigay nalang basta-basta ng discounts. Pero tiyak kong hindi kinulang sa pera ang isang 'to, para manghingi ng discounts; hindi naman siguro sila mag-ce-celebrate rito ng tropa niya nang walang laman ang bulsa. Sigurado akong malamang sa malamang nagpapapansin lang ang Walter na 'to, pero sige patulan ko nga.

"Thank you so much for the crowd, Sir. However, we are yet to receive a memorandum regarding discounts. The price is fixed at this moment." Nilakasan ko talaga ang boses ko para marinig ng mga kasama niya at ng iba pang tao sa shop. "If you have coupons in your pocket, Sir, you might avail for a discount."

Epektibo 'ata ang pamamahiya ko; kapansin-pansin ang unti-unting pamumula ng mukha niya at halatang-halata 'yon dahil may pagka-mestizo siya. Kung sa pag-anunsiyo ko sa buong mundo na nanghihingi siya ng discounts o sa pagtanong ko kung may coupons ba siya, hindi ko alam kung saan mas nahiya si Walter; siguro sa dalawa? Pormahan at dating palang, nagsusumigaw na si Walter ng yaman; sa mga tulad niya, tiyak kong wala sa bokabolaryo nila ang discount at coupons.

"I was just playing jokes. No need to blurt it out loud," bulong niya ulit, pero this time may bahid na ng pagkapikon.

Sabi na nga ba na nagpapansin nga lang 'tong si Walter, eh. Binanggit ko pa n'on na walang kaso sa akin ang makipagbiruan kapag nasa mood lang ako, pero mukhang imposible 'yon kapag si Walter ang kaharap ko dahil ang biro sa kanya ay kapareha ng pagpapansin, pwes, ang biro sa akin ay kapareha ng pamamahiya. Kapag talaga itong si Walter 'di pa rin ako tinigilan matapos ang engkwentro namin ngayong araw, mapapamangha na ako sa kakapalan ng bungo niya.

"May I have your order, Sir?" ngiting tagumpay kong saad.

ANG BENTA TALAGA ng shop na pinag-ta-trabahuan ko; nanatiling puno nang buhay kahit alas diyes na ng gabi. Nandito pa rin sa cafe si Walter at ang mga kaibigan niya; hindi pa sila tapos sa kanilang selebrasyon, pero sa halip na si Walter ang um-order ng maiinom at makakain nila, ang mga kasama na niya ang pumupunta sa counter. Sa interaksyon namin ng nga kaibigan niya, mukhang taliwas ang ugali nila kay Walter, kaya naman wala akong naging problema mga nakaraang oras.

Kasalukuyan kong inihahanda ang order ng isang customer; Red Velvet Milktea ito kaya medyo natagalan ako. Nang sa wakas ay matapos ko na ang in-order niya ay walang pag-alinlangan na tinawag ko na ang kanyang pangalan. May babaeng tumayo sa pagkakaupo sa waiting area; hawak-hawak niya ang kanyang cellphone at pumunta sa direksyon ng countertop. Sa bawak yabag na naririnig ko mula sa kanya ay siyang palakas nang palakas na pagtibok ng aking puso, dahil sa ingay na nagmumula sa phone niya.

"Nagbabagang balita! Isang lawsuit ang inihain laban sa Traders, isa sa mga nangungunang kompanya sa hardware inustry. Sa nasabing kaso, binanggit na hindi raw pinapasahod ng Traders ang kanilang manggawa sa loob ng pitong buwan na. Tinitingnan na nang maiigi ng Department of Labor and Employment and bagay-"

"Here is your order, Maam," magalang kong sambit 'saka ko inabot ang order niya.

"Thank you," tugon naman niya. Bagama't nginitian niya ako ay halata ang pagka-problemado sa mukha niya.

Kahit na ako ay nagsimulang kabahan dahil sa balita. Sigurado akong hindi pa sira ang aking pandinig, kaya tama 'yong dinig kong sinampahan ng kaso ang Traders — ang kompanya kung saan ko ni-invest ang kalahati ng savings ko para sa stocks nila. Sinubukan kong kurutin ang aking sarili; baka nakaidlip lang ako habang nag-t-trabaho at kasalukuyang nananaginip, pero sa halip na magising, nasaktan ko lang ang sarili ko. Nasa reyalidad nga ako at totoong may kaso ang Traders.

"Ma'am, may I ask if I heard it right that Traders was under a lawsuit?" 'Di pa rin ako kombinsido kaya sinubukan kong makipag-usap sa customer bago pa man siya makalabas ng shop.

"Ah, yes. It's kinda trending sa city today. In the comments pa nga, it was revealed na a strike was happening outside the company earlier the day. I am quite feeling kabado nga, because I invested so much sa stocks ng Traders," sambit niya at mas lalong naging problemado ang mukha niya.

"I am one of the investors too, Ma'am," aking pag-amin.

"Oh, is that so?" tugon niya sabay bitiw ng mapait na ngiti.

"If Traders would be proven guilty, things might get unfavorable in our end," lintaya ko.

"Mukhang we are the biggest casualty of this lawsuit; we should brace ourselves for the worst. Some commentators here sinasabi na the case was not an empty allegations; Delravin's raw is making this happen."

Naging blangko ang isip ko sa loob ng ilang segundo; napatanga ako, as in. Delravin's... Delravin's ang may pakana ng lawsuit? Kung gan'on nga, understatement kung sasabihing bad news itong kaso laban sa Traders. N'ong isang araw lang ako gumawa ng report tungkol sa Delravin's, kaya naman sariwang-sariwa pa sa isipan ko ang impormasyong nakalap ko na patas lumaban ang kasalukuyang CEO ng kompanya: Jio Eross Delravin. Hindi siya 'yong tipong gumagamit ng underhanded methods para mapatumba ang kalabang kompanya.

"Nice chatting with you; tingnan mo nalang in the internet. I have somewhere else to be pa. Goodbye!" sambit ng babae bago ako iniwang nakatulala.

Tumagal ng ilang minuto bago ako naka-recover mula sa shock. Na-process na ng utak ko na 'yong comment lang ang nagsabing may kinalaman ang Delravin's sa lawsuit at hindi ang news outlet mismo, kaya baka tsimis lang; ganonpaman hindi pa rin mapanatag ang kalooban ko. Kailangan kong personally na mag-fact-check at mag-research kung ano nga ba ang nangyayari; 'yon nga lang ayon sa work ethics namin, ipinagbabawal ang paggamit ng cellphone habang nasa trabaho. Wala akong magawa kung 'di maghintay na matapos ang shift ko.

"Why the uneasy face, Ms. Stacey? Let me guess... it might be because I'm leaving. Yeah?" Ang nakangising Walter ang nasa harap ko ngayon. "Calm your troubled waters; I will surely come back tomorrow."

"Anything that I can help you with, Sir?" Mangha-mangha na talaga ako sa bungi ni Walter; gawa 'ata sa pinakamatigas na metal — 'di talaga nagtatanda. Bakit ba kailangan niyang mas sirain pa ang sira ko nang araw.

"Just bidding my goodbye, Ms. Stacey," ani niya at kinindatan ako.

"NAGLABAS NG MANDATO ang Department of Labor and Employment na dapat makipagtulungan ang Traders sa kanila habang isinasagawa ang imbestisgasyon, kung 'di ay mapipilitan silang magpataw ng 20 na cut-off sa kinikita ng Traders," ani ng reporter.

Pagkatapos na pagkatapos ng shift ko, rekta kong kinuha ang aking cellphone para mag-research nang malaman ko naman kung ano nga ba ang nangyayari. Sa news na tinitingnan ko ngayon, mas lalo lang akong nababahala, dahil napakabilis ng aksiyon na nagmula sa DOLE — palatandaan ito na malakas ang ebidensiya laban sa Traders. Sumagi na naman sa isip ko na kagagawan ito ng Delravin's; nagsitindigan ang lahat ng balahibo ko sa katawan.

Naghanap ako ng mga article kung may kinalaman nga ba ang Delravin's sa kasong ito; wala mang klarong mga pahayag, maraming mga kilalang business analyst ang naglahad ng kanilang opinyon na malaki ang posibilidad na kagagawan ng Delravin's ang kaso. May dalawang rason sila: una, isang kompanya lang ang may guts na mag-go against sa Traders to the point na i-expose ang baho nila publicly at 'yon ay ang Delravin's; pangalawa, si Atty. Romwald Verciago ang lawyer na tumutulong sa nga manggagawa na ipanalo ang kaso. Kung si Jio ang business genius, si Romwald naman ang law genius — higit sa lahat, magkaibigan sila.

"Ang umaabot sa higit na dalawang daan katao na makikita sa bidyo ay ang manggagawa ng Traders na kasulukuyang nagwewelga sa labas ng kompanya; hinaing nila, magpipitong buwan na at hindi pa rin sila pinapasahod ng kompanya," habang nag-uulat ng reporter dinig na dinig ko ang sigawan ng mga manggagawa sa likod niya.

"Bayaran niyo na kami! Anak kayo ng demonyo!"

"Wala ba kayong mga pamilya! Ano nalang ipapakain namin sa asawa't anak namin!"

"Hustisya para sa pagod namin! Gago kayo, Traders!"

Sa patutuloy kong pangangalap ng impormasyon, mas nagiging malinaw sa akin na hindi lang basta haka-haka, ngunit napakaseryoso ng kaso na kinakaharap ng Traders. Kumbinsido na rin ako na nga ang Delravin's ang may kagagawan ng pag-atakeng ito. Kung walang gagawin ang Traders dito, isa lang ang kapalarn nila: babagsak at mapapakulong pa 'ata ang kasalukuyang CEO ng Traders; pero sa lagay nila ngayon, napakaimposible na 'atang mababaligtad pa nila ang kaso.

Matamlay akong pumunta sa aking kama at tinakpan ang aking mukha ng unan; ko ang aking sariling humagulgol. Kapag na-proven guilty ang Traders, magiging proven-empty rin ang savings ko. Kalahati... halos kalahati ng savings ko ni-invest ko sa kanila! Paano nagawa ng Traders 'yon? Nag-research naman ako nang maayos bago mag-invest; kulang pa 'ata ang ginawa ko. Ito na ba ang sinasabi ng ilang investors na fishy na naaamoy nila sa Traders? For the love of thousand stars, makailang ulit ko nang sinampal ang sarili ko ngayon, pero gising na gising nga diwa ko.

"Stace, kalma. Ang pag-iyak ang pinakahuli mong dapat gawin ngayon," pangungumbinsi ko sa aking sarili.

Masyado akong nadadala ng emosyon ko; kailangan kong mag-isip ng rasyonal. Hindi pa naman huli para ibenta ang stocks ko? 'Di bale nang walang kikitain, ang mahalaga, hindi malugi, dahil sa oras na matalo ang Traders sa kaso babagsak ang presyo ng stocks nila. Agad kong inayos ang aking sarili at ni-open ulit ang aking laptop, pero tingin ko ay pag-iyak nga lang ang magagawa ko ngayon. Sa website, may notice na nakalagay na on-hold ang stocks; hindi maaaring ibenta hangga't on-going pa ang trial.

Jio's

"PAYNE, IT'S PAST 10 o'clock already; should you not head back first, you would have to wait for me 'till dawn," I told my personal bodyguard.

"Sir, my job is not done as long as your safety is not guaranteed," he replied.

I have been meaning to increase Payne's pay for sometime, but I couldn't find the perfect alibi to do so since I don't want to sound unjust to my followers. Payne might not be the most skilled body guard that I have, but there's no denying that he qualifies as the most loyal one. Today... no, if I am not mistaken, it has been a week already since I became the busiest to the point that I have to tire my ass out 'till dawn. The reason being I have been facilitating the assault on Traders myself; neglecting the paperworks in return, that's why there's so much workload left for me to do in the evening.

"You worry too much, Payne. The higher-ups of Traders are busy saving themselves right now; they won't have the time to threaten my safety at this moment," I calmly assured him.

"Still, I won't dare be incomplacent, Sir; it might cost your safety to be compromised." Guess I can't do anything about it.

"It has been a week since you're accompanying me, Payne. I worry that you are not attending your personal and your wife's needs." A grin is noticeable in my lips. "You know that I need you to function well everyday."

"Between the two of us, it's not me who needs to satiate his worldly desires the most, Sir," full of mockery Payne responded.

Payne is always best at this game; I would not be able to compare to his level of mockery skills. No matter how many years did pass, it is still impossible to outplay his ridicules. Well, I couldn't find any defense to what he said. It has been a while since I had a good orgasm; the reason being I have been alloting so much of my time to procure cards to play against Traders, thus I rarely get the chance to cater my personal needs. After this incident with Traders, I will surely reward myself with a good s*x and drinks.

"You should teach me how to sharpen my tounge, Payne." I gave out a smile.

"At this moment, that's not what you badly need, Sir, but to waste yourself and have a good time," he uttered, while emphasizing the 'good time' part.

"Do you think I don't want to? If only not because of this paperworks, I would ravish a woman right now and drink into my hearts content 'till I pass out," a hint of frustration is noticeable in my voice.

"Why not try having a good time on your screen, Sir."

Payne's suggestion left me confused for a second. If what he meant by "fun on screen" would be playing games, I'm past that era of my life already. I have grown tired and sick of it; it no longer gives me the same satisfaction that I used to feel before — because I can literally pay my way out to become stronger. Going to a party or having s*x is the whole new definition of fun right now. Payne has been my my bodyguard for almost 3 decades now, he should be aware of this facts. Perhaps he is referring to something else?

"What do you mean by that?" full of curiosity, I inquired.

"I assume they are pretty popular among teenagers and young adults these days; the newly hired younger bodyguards just won't stop talking about them." I halt from what I am doing at the moment. I gave him a curious look; these cam girls happened to pique my interest — they are foreign into my ears. I wanted to know more what they are capable of.

"Cam girls? What are they?"

I WAS TOO occupied yesterday that I didn't get the chance to have a look at the news regarding the Traders being prosecuted; that's why I'm making it happen right now. Given how horrible the news outlets exposed the dirty work of Traders, they must have been in so much humiliation from the public. This is what a rival company gets after attempting to challenge Delravin's, but not doing it properly — they have to be exposed and disposed.

As Traders reached significant heights, I was one of people who became alarmed — it was too sudden. Though at first I paid no attention to it; I thought they were perhaps being led by someone talented. However, when their rise was too overbearing, I became suspicious. I told Payne to go investigate Traders. To my surprise, Traders was doing their laborers dirty — not paying them for seven months? How shameless of Traders. I then busied myself to procure a plan on how will I bring the company down.

"How is it going?" I inquired.

Romwald is on the other side of the line. He is not just not my pal, but a well-respected lawyer. In fact, there has been a chaos that is unfolding in the law industry at this moment and he is the culprit behind it. Because of his unparalleled ability, I entrusted to him the legal matters of the case against Traders. Although, I have faith in him, I need to keep tabs on the progress of the lawsuit so I would be able to make preparations in case something unexpected happens.

"I got this, Iyo. Everything's well. Why call early? I'm having my breakfast." The audible clacking of the utensils and plate proves that he is telling the truth.

"What plans do you have for today? You think you can pull out something that would burden them more?" If only Romwald is here, he would see the impatient look in my face.

"Of course, I got it covered! All is cool. Leave it to me, Iyo," full of confidence he said.

"Tell me what plans do you have."

"Uhh, here we go again. Do you need to always be sure of everything?" he exclaimed.

A minute has passed; Romwald heard silence from me as a reply. He already knew the drill — I need to know the plan, because I wouldn't be silenced 'till I am informed. The plan would let me know how will things proceed and progress; as I said earlier, it would allow to make preparations in case something goes out of hand — it would serve as an assurance. Jio Delravin is not someone who would let himself be a victim of risks; risks are his underlings — he controls them.

"Whatever. To summarize, an inspector of DOLE should pay our Traders a little visit anytime of the day."

"And... that's it?"

"That's it," declared Romwald.

"The hell? Romwald, Traders wouldn't mind losing 10 percent of their profit. They would rather pay a small price than giving their laborers their seven months worth of salary." I took a deep breath; this man is being unreasonable right now. "Come on, Romwald. What I need you to do is not a visit from DOLE, but to make sure that Traders would suffer more losses."

Romwald is considered as a genius in the law industry for a reason: being able to pass the bar exam at the age of seventeen and never lost a case even once — these things prove how capable he is. However, he is a problem; everytime I would make him work for me. He needed me to burst out of anger first, before telling me how he would handle the case and his reason being he is too lazy to explain the details to me, but I suppose that wasn't the case, he just loves to toy with me. Having to deal with him makes me frustrated; if it weren't for his talent in law.

"I bet you are about to die from anger right now." I can hear him laughing on the other side of the phone. "Iyo, you are underestimating the visit of inspectors. You might be a genius in the business industry, but you fell short in legal matters. To make it short, what will happen is: in this visit, the inspectors will tag the raw materials and deliveries of Traders as foreclosures. What will happen next; I would leave that to your imagination."

Now I understood what he has been scheming. "You are saying that they won't be able to operate, while the case is on going?"

"Uhuh, you guessed it right."

"Well done, Romwald. I want this to be a clean sweep for us."

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever. Leave it to me."