The Stolen Ruby (Tagalog-English) Book 2

Chapter 17: Back to the band

I woke up with pain in my body and eyes. Feeling ko ang puffy ng mata ko. Iyak ako ng iyak kagabi. I was harsh to him too, Hindi na ako magtataka kung hahayaan niya nalang talaga ako. 

I tried to open my eyes, but end up closing it again dahil tumama ang araw sa mukha ko. I forgot to close the curtains before I slept.

Hindi ko na alam kung paano ko iiwasan si Troy. Feeling ko kasi ang impossible, because he's involved in almost all of the business here in Manila, plus malapit ang Hotel ko sa mga building nila. I need to find another job as soon as possible.

Other company somehow rejects my application immediately. Feeling ko may kinalaman dito si Troy.

I checked my phone and dialed Zeus's number

"Hello?" He answered.

I didn't expect him to answer immediately since for sure busy ang banda.

"Are you free?"

"Of course. Why? Don't tell mo gusto mo 'ko Cleo?!"

Napapikit ako sa inis. I would gladly punch him to his face when I meet him.

"Kapal mo ha? Shut up and meet me at the Starbucks near the hotel I'm currently staying."

"Ouch! Valasote Hotel, right? Gagamit nalang ako ng waze to. See you when I see you!" He said and ended the call.

Hindi man lang ako hinintay mag salita? bastos na bata 'to! I really need to talk to him, them I mean. Nag ayos na ako ng sarili at lumabas ng Hotel. Napatigil ako sa paglakad nung tumunog ang cellphone ko.

Zeus:

I'm here.

Pag labas ko ng Hotel, malayo pa lang nakikita ko na siya. Clear glass naman kasi ang starbucks.

"Hi Cleo!" he said when he saw me. Lumapit ako sa kanya at yumakap.

I sat on the chair in front of him.

"How's the band?" I asked.

"Uhm... the band is fine. Madami ang nag hahanap sa'yo ever since the mini concert happened. Gusto ka nga sana tawagan ng manager namin but I said you're busy and you have a work."

Oh my God! Really? I wonder if the manager will agree if I join the band again?

Zeus grew up so much. I'm so proud of him. Parang ang pormal niya makipag-usap, unlike noon na parang pabalasubas mag salita.

"Yun nga ang dahilan kung bakit kita tinawag. I want to join again. But ano yung kanina? Ako may gusto sa'yo? Dream on Zeus!" Tawa ko.

"Hindi na pwede."

Ha? Bakit? Baka hindi naman kasi talaga pwede na. I guess wrong timing ako.

"... kasi inaasar mo 'ko." dugtong niya.

Binato ko siya ng tissue. Tumawa siya at pinulot ang tinapon ko.

"Edi huwag na." Irap ko.

"Joke lang! Puwedeng puwede 'no! You're always welcome to the band, and besides you're the one who created it."

Ngumiti ako. Oh my God! So proud of you! He's now a good speaker and professional at serious conversations.

"Gusto mo ba pumunta ng recording? We actually have one now, sabi ko ma-late lang ako since you asked me to meet you."

Aw. Zeus is so sweet.

"Napaka pasaway mo pa din!" Inis na sabi ko.

It's still an important schedule. Makakapag antay naman ako dahil harap lang 'to ng hotel ko.

"It's fine! Hindi mapapahamak ang banda, kung papaalisin nila kami sa ganun ka-simpleng dahilan

then it will be their loss."

Still, they should be professional and not just dump a schedule just to meet other person. Well anyway, it's Zeus. Walang matinong ginawa yan. Joke haha.

"Tara?" He said.

Bago kami umalis nag order muna siya ng frappe at bread. Akala ko ay nagugutom siya pero binigay niya sa'kin 'yon. Baka daw hindi pa ako nag uumagahan.

Zeus has his own car. Hindi na ako magtataka. He came from a rich family after all, plus sikat na ang banda ngayon. Panigurado malaki ang kinikita nila sa concerts, mall show, and etc.

Nahihiya nga ako na bigla nalang sumulpot, because they're damn famous! Bumaba kami sa isang building, i think this is an entertainment company.

Dati pangarap lang namin 'to. Tinitignan lang namin yung nag lalakihang building ng mga talent agencies. I'm so proud of them, kahit na hindi ako kasama sa pag angat nila dito.

"Zeus! There you are! Saan ka ba nanggaling ha?" Inis na tinanong ng papalapit na lalaki sa'min.

He's older, obviously. Tinignan niya ako at binalika ang tingin kay Zeus.

"Sino 'to? Girlfriend? You know we strictly-"

"She's not. She's the one who formed the band years ago." He said.

Tinignan ako ng lalaki. Hindi niya naman kailangan sabihin yun. We went to the 10th floor. Pumasok kami sa isang recording studio. Wow! Dati pinapanood ko lang 'to sa youtube. It looks really nice pala talaga in person.

"Cleo? Cleooo!" Sabay sabay nilang tawag sa'kin at niyakap ako.

I smiled and almost teared up. I miss them and I'm really proud of them!

"Kamusta kayo?" Sabi ko sabay punas ng luha ko.

Tumawa sila at humiwalay ng yakap sa'kin. Pinunasan ni kuya Daniel ang muling tumulong luha sa pisngi ko. I'm so glad I still feel welcome here. Everytime.

"Masaya naman, pero mas masaya sana kung nandiyan ka." John said.

Sinuntok ko siya ng mahina. He laughed and gave me the expression 'totoo naman ah?'

"Ano... I just want to ask if... I could still join the band."

Tinignan nila ako. Natahimik sila. Bakit? Hindi ba talaga pwede?

"P-Pero yung hindi naman pwede-"

"Anong hindi pwede? Kami bahala sa'yo. Welcome back!"

Gulat ako nung nag paputok sila ng party poppers. H-How come? Wait I mean...

"Habang papunta kayo dito sinabihan na kami ni Zeus." Nakangiting sabi ni Gabby.

I'm so overwhelmed right now. What did I do to deserve these people? Niyakap ko sila. Lumingon kami sa lalaking nag kunyaring nauubo. He's the guy looking for Zeus.

"Honestly, madaming gusto na bumalik ka." The guy said.

Nagulat naman ako. Really? I don't really stalk the black dragons that much since I was busy sa office these past few days.

"You will be debuting again as five." He said.

Days have passed and sa isang linggo pinag sasabay ko ang practice para sa banda at ang trabaho ko sa office. I'm now holding my official resignation letter, may bagong trabaho na 'ko kaya naman aalis na ako tulad ng deal namin.

Nadatnan ko si Troy na umiinom ng wine sa kanyang table. Tinignan ko ang bote at halos maubos niya na 'yon. What is he doing? He should be working, right?

"Good morning sir, I would like to give this to you since nakahanap na ako ng bagong trabaho." I said and put my letter on his table.

Inangat niya ang tingin at tinignan ako sa mga mata. I looked away. Bakit ganyan siya makatingin sa'kin?

"I'll approve this for you," He said and accepted the letter coldly.

Hindi ko alam kung matutuwa ba ako o malulungkot dahil hinayaan niya lang ako na umalis kaagad.

"Thank you, sir."

Tumalikod ako at nag simulang mag lakad papalayo. I don't want to do this, but I have to. He have a private life and I can't keep on seeing it. Secretary nga ako pero halos lahat ng ganap sa kanya alam ko na.

"Do you really want to do this?"

I stopped and sighed. I don't want to face him, 'cause I'm afraid I'll find myself coming back to him. I need to do this for myself. Hindi ako martyr and if he really wanted me to stay sana una palang pinigilan niya na ko.

Hindi naman siya yung nasasaktan eh. Ako lang. Dahan dahan akong tumango bilang tugon sa tanong niya. I went out of his office and packed my things. Konti lang naman ang gamit ko dito kaya hindi ko kailangan mag hakot ng madami.

"Oh? Saan ka pupunta?" Sam asked when he saw me.

My eyes widened. Inangat ko ang tingin upang harapin siya.

"I resigned." I said and smiled fakely.

"Ha?! Bakit? Ikaw din, hindi ka na makakakita ng ganito ka gwapong mukha araw-araw." He said and chuckled.

Tumawa ako. Totoo naman na gwapo siya.

"Wala ka pa ngang dalawang buwan dito. Buti pinayagan ka ni kuya?"

Tumahimik ako. Syempre, he doesn't  want me here also. Hindi siya makapaglandian kay Allison nang hindi kinokonsensya.

"Anyway, I'm sad that you're going. Pero that's your decision." He said and smiled. He hugged me and my phone suddenly rang.

"Cleo! 'diba sabi ko debut niyo mamaya? Nasaan ka na? Aayusan ka pa dito." Manager Finn said.

Hindi ko naman nakalimutan. Mamaya pa naman 'yon hindi naman kailangan mag madali. Ewan ko ba dito.

"Opo, sorry. Papunta na ako." I said.

Sobrang dami daw nag aabang sa'kin and even the banners, nandoon ako. May tao na sa oras na 'to pero yung start eh mamayang hapon pa.