Seducing the Casanova (Seducing Series #3)

Chapter 2 - Hotel

Hotel

Eyes immediately darted at me when I got out of the elevator. Karamihan sa mga 'yon ay ang mga staff ng hotel na s'yang pinapatakbo ko.

"Good evening, Ma'am Vera," they greeted. Tinanguan ko sila at nginitian. Dumiretso na ako papunta sa front desk at nagsimulang magtanong. I just checked something and if there are any problems regarding the hotel and the clients at so far ay wala naman silang naibanggit sa akin.

This hotel is just one of the many ones owned by our family, at ako ang inatasan ng mga magulang ko na mag-manage nito. Actually, they asked me to manage a hotel in Manila which is one of our highest paid hotels but I refused. I don't like the ambiance there.

Mas gusto ko dito... payapa at presko ang hangin. Not that I hate Manila. Doon pa rin naman madalas ang punta ko dahil mas maraming bars do'n at doon rin located ang condo ko. I just can't work with that kind environment kaya pinagpilitan ko na dito nalang ako i-assign.

"You can go to your places now. Let the night shifters take it from here." they all nodded at me after hearing my announcement. Most of them thanked me which I didn't bother answering.

I'm not being nice at them, sadyang tapos na ang shift nila kaya pinapauwi ko na sila.

Nagpasya akong maglakad-lakad nalang muna sa kabuuan ng hotel na 'yon. Ngayon nalang ako ulit nagtagal nang halos buong araw doon kaya kahit papano ay napapagaan no'n ang pakiramdam ko.

Ngayong araw sa buong linggong nakalipas lang naiba ang amoy na dumadaloy sa ilong ko. I was always at different bars with the usual smell of liquors, smoke, and even drugs kaya parang sinasala ang kaluluwa ko sa lugar na kinaroroonan ko ngayon.

After minutes of walking, I just found myself at the back of the hotel. Different plants and flowers welcomed my eyes dahilan para halos mapapikit na ako sa sarap nang hatid ng mga 'yon sa sistema ko.

Since I considered this place as one of my hangout spots, nag-request ako kay Mom na kung pwede ay palagyan niya ito ng napakaraming bulaklak at mga halaman. She agreed to what I requested and now... this place is more of a sanctuary than a garden. Pinagawaan ko din 'yon ng swimming pool, hot springs, jacuzzi and I even bought a piano... which is free to use for upcoming guests.

Hinayaan ko ang mga paa ko na kusang maglakad at dinala ako nito sa harapan no'n. With my hands, I slowly touched the keys. It created a sound when I pressed one.

I bought a grand piano for my hotel's sanctuary for the clients to use, not for me to use. Hindi ako marunong mag-piano at kahit na noong sinubukan ko na turuan ang sarili ko ay hindi ko rin nagawang matutunan 'yon. I'm too busy to even ask for a tutor kaya hindi ko na sinubukan pa ulit.

I wanted to learn yet I know to myself that I'm not a fast learner when it comes to musical instruments. Iisa lang ang kaya kong patugtugin, an acoustic guitar, at ilang taon pa ang nakalipas bago ko 'yon tuluyang natutunan.

Napangiti ako ng mapait nang may sumagi sa isipan ko. Dad knew how to play a piano, he actually knew how to play a lot of instruments. I asked him before to teach me pero hindi niya napagbigyan 'yon. His reason is that he has no time to teach me those kinds of things and I must focus on something that'll actually benefit me, which is business.

Na kahit kailan ay hindi ko naman ginusto pero nakasanyan ko nalang dahil 'yon ang gusto ng mga magulang ko.

My phone vibrated dahilan para maagaw no'n ang pansin ko. I removed my phone out of my pocket and both of my eyebrows raised when I saw a text from one of my closest friends, Addison.

Addison: Where are you? Tita said you're out.

Nagtipa ako ng reply sa kaniya.

Vera: Antipolo. You could go here if you want to, I'll stay here 'till tomorrow.

Naghintay ako ng reply galing sa kaniya pero ilang segundo na ang nakalipas at hindi na iyon nangyari. Ilalagay ko na sana 'yon pabalik sa bulsa ko nang mag-ring 'yon.

She's calling me.

Sinagot ko ang tawag niya at napairap nalang ako nang marinig ang maarteng boses niya.

"What do you want?" mataray na tanong ko. Napakunot ang noo ko nang mapansin ko ang pamilyar na ingay sa background. Is she inside a bar?

"Where the hell are you? Some of our friends are looking for you! It's friday na, Vera. You're supposed to be with us, hanging out till dawn!" she answered. Her voice is not as loud as usual which confirmed my hunch, nasa bar nga siya.

Napangiwi ako nang bahagya nang marinig ang mga sinabi niyang 'yon. 'Friends'? Is she referring to 'her' cheap friends? Ang lakas pa ng loob niya na sabihing kaibigan ko rin ang mga kaibigan n'ya gayong sumasama lang naman sila sa amin pag alam nilang kami ang gagastos.

"I'm busy. Just call me once you're done partying," I simply said. Hindi ko na siya inintay pa na sumagot at pinatay ko na ang tawag.

I decided to go inside the hotel since it's getting a lot more colder outside. Manipis ang suot ko at baka sipunin pa ako pag nagtagal pa ako do'n.

I let the warm water from the faucet cover my body. Natukso akong mag-shower nang makapasok ako sa sarili kong suite dito sa hotel.

Wala akong masyadong ginawa ngayong araw pero pakiramdam ko ay pagod na pagod ako. I want to freshen up a bit to make myself feel better kaya nagpasya akong maligo nalang. Buti nalang ay alam ng mga staff dito ang gusto kong body wash kaya hindi ko na kailangan pa na pumunta ng mall para bumili no'n.

While my body is inside the tub, I couldn't help my mind but to wander.

What do I really want in my life? I mean... I have my own business now which was led by my family and I already have a college diploma with a course of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, yet why do I still feel empty?

It's like there's this hollow feeling inside me na hindi ko alam kung paano mapunahan.

"Bahala na." I just sighed and coated myself with the bubbles from my body wash.

Hindi ko na muna iisipin ang tungkol do'n.