Code Name: Snapdragon

Rescue Me

Chapter 12

Si Mr. Fujiwara ang isa sa pinakasikat na negosyante sa Japan at nagmamay ari ng pinakamalalaking club at pasugalan. Nagkaduop ang landas nila ni Martin ng minsan magawi sa Japan si Martin para sa isang business trip at nagkataong isa sa mga nakilahok si Mr. Fujiwara.

Nang mga panahong iyon ay bagsak ang negosyo ni Mr. Fujiwara at ginigipit siya ng mga nautangan niya.

“You cannot run from us Mr. Fujiwara! We've been looking for you and I can’t believe that you are just here I need my money now!” sigaw ng lalaki.

“Please give me enough time and I will pay you,” sagot ni Mr. Fujiwara na napasandig sa pinto ng cubicle sa loob ng comfort room.

“Enough time? Are you out of your mind? enough is enough I need my money now and if you can’t give it until tomorrow expect the worst thing with your business!” tinig ng lalaki na kausap ni Mr. Fujiwara.

Lahat ng iyon ay naririnig ni Martin na noon ay nasa isa a mga cubicle ng rest room. Paglabas niya ay nakita niya na nakaupo sa gilid si Mr. Fujiwara at sapu ang upo na tila pinagbagsakan ng langit at lupa. Nakaramdam siya ng awa pagkakita dito at hindi niya alam kung bakit parang may nag udyok sa kanya para kausapin ito.

“You need some help?” alok ni Martin.

Tiningnan siya ni Mr. Fujiwara na tila tinitimbang kung sasagutin ang tanong niya o tatalikuran siya. Ilang minuto siya nitong tintigan na tila tinatantiya kung gaano kasinsero ang alok niya hanggang sa huli ay sumagot ito.

“Do you think you can help me? Honestly, I want to end my life right now,” desperadong sagot ni Mr.Fujiwara.

“That will be the stupid answer and I don’t want to hear it. Why don’t you join me for a coffee and let us talk about your problem maybe I could help,” sagot ni Martin.

“Do you think you can help me?” ulit na tanong ni Mr. Fujiwara.

“I am willing to help you but right now what you need to do is to compose yourself and let us talk about your problem and those guys who attacked you,” sagot ni Martin.

Nang marinig iyon ay tila nakatanaw ng pag asa si Mr. Fujiwara na tumayo mula sa pagkakasalampak at sumama kay Martin sa cafeteria doon ay buong detalye niyang isiniwalat ang dahilan ng pagkakabaon nito sa utang.

“I started to open clubs in Shinjuku, one of the most promising places for nightclubs but I never thought that the place was controlled by different groups of gangsters who expand their power by threatening club operators and demand money in return for their protection,” simula ni Mr. Fujiwara.

Mataman namang nakikinig si Martin habang sinisimsim ang kape na kanyang inorder.

“I decided to borrow money from a loan shark and give it to Master Timuro, the gangster leader for my protection but the night after he received the money he was assassinated by his trusted man who connived with his foe, and all of his men were also killed. They destroyed everything in my place and warned me to leave immediately and that’s what I did but the man whom I owe the money found out what happened and he demands my payment,” paliwanag ni Mr. Fujiwara.

“How much money do you need to pay them? Tanong ni Martin.

“I owe them one million yen,” nanghihinang sagot ni Mr. Fujiwara.

“I can lend you that amount and if you want we can start a business together but I guess we can look for some promising place in Japan with fewer gangsters,” sagot ni Martin.

Hindi makapaniwala ang reaksyon ng mukha ni Mr. Fujiwara kulang na ang ay yakapin niya si Martin ngayon lang nangyari sa kanya na nakakilala ng tao na sa unang pagkakataon na makilala ito ay handa ng magbigay ng tulong at hindi basta tulong dahil malaking halagaang pinag uusapan nila.

“Why are you doing this to me? Aren’t you afraid that I will run with your money and never pay you?”tanong ni Mr. Fujiwara.

“I know you will not do it,” determinadong sagot ni Martin.

Mahigpit na hinawakan ni Mr. Fujiwara ang kamay niya at marahangpinisil, “ thank you so much I owe you my life, I promise to be on your side for the rest of my life,” tanging nasambit ni Mr. Fujiwara.

At doon nagsimula ang malalim na relasyon nila ni Martin at Mr. Fujiwara at ngayon ay magkatuwang nilang pinalalago ang kanilang nasimulang negosyo hindi lang night clubs maging ang pag eexport ng mga produkto ng Japan sa Pilipinas at produkto naman ng Pilipinas sa Japan ay kanilang pinasok na magkasama partikular sa mining industry.

“Long time no see kumpadre!” bati ni Mr. Fujiwara sabay yakap kay Martin.

“It’s nice too see kumpadre!” ganting bati ni Martin.

“Have a seat and enjoy some drink with me,” alok ni Mr. Fujiwara.

Pinaunlakan naman ni Martin ang alok nito. Agad na kumumpas si Mr. Fujiwara sa kanyang mga tauhan at agad na lumapit ito sa kanya para alamin ano ang nais niyang iutos.

“Bring out the best food and drink that we have I want my friend to enjoy the night,” utos nito sa tauhan.

“Do you want someone to be with you tonight we have a lot of young ladies for you to choose,” alok ni Mr. Fujiwara.

“The same old Fujiwara,” natatawang sagot ni Martin

“Why are you still going to reject my offer?” hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Mr. Fujiwara.

“Good food and drink is enough,” sagot ni Martin na hindi man direktang makatanggi ay alam na ni Mr. Fujiwara ang pagtanggi niya.

“Okay if that’s what you want then be it,” sagot ni Mr. Fujiwara.

Isa isa ng inihain sa harap nila ang masasarap na putahe at nagsimulang kumain sina Martin at Mr. Fujiwara.

“What happened to your transaction with Jacquelyn Del Moro I heard she is very hard to please tanong ni Mr. Fujiwara.

Napangiti naman si Martin sa deskripsyon na ginawa nito kay Jacquelyn na sa totoo lang inakala rin niya kanina na mahihirapan siyang mapapirma sa kontrata mabuti na lang at hindi pa pumapalya ang strategy niya.

“Well that is also what I thought but fortunately I am able to close the deal with her this afternoon,” masayang balita ni Martin.

“Really?that was great!” masayang sagot ni Mr. Fujiwara.

“How about you? How’s our business in Japan?” tanong ni Martin.

“Our business is doing great we expand our products in China, Singapore, and Saudi Arabia and soon once you start operating your business here we can also offer our products here. I have already sent the financial report to your email but of course, I want you to be with me once our team presents their annual report next month,” pagbibigay impormasyon ni Mr. Fujiwara.

“That’s good and I am planning to be in Japan with Ellize,” sagot ni Martin.

“Oh the girl of your dream and the lucky one? Whoah, I will finally meet her in person,” excited na komento ni Mr. Fujiwara.

“I want to surprise her and I hope I can persuade her,” alanganing sagot ni Martin.

“Why are you not confident that you can bring her with you?” nagtatakang tanong ni Mr. Fujiwara.

“Well... the truth is she is a journalist in our country and you know how busy the life of a journalist right?” sagot ni Martin.

“Why don’t you ask her to manage one of your business maybe you can have a lot of time together if that happen,” suhestiyon ni Mr. Fujiwara.

“I tried to persuade her but she loves her job and she enjoys what she’s doing and I don’t want to put pressure on her and since she asked for three years to enjoy her singleness before we finally get married I have no choice but to agree,” sagot ni Martin na tila nagsusumbong.

“Oh I see but maybe if you will tell her earlier she can request a week vacation so you two can enjoy the beauty of Japan,” tugon ni Mr. Fujiwara.

“I hope so,” kibit balikat na sagot ni Martin.

“By the way Martin, Mr. Minamoto ask if he can talk to you in person he said he want to offer you a business proposal,” Mr. Fujiwara said.

“Mr. Minamoto the the man known for his greediness?” tanong ni Martin.

“Yes and let me warn you never let him use your name or connect your name with him because we know all his illegal business and transaction not only in Japan but also in Hong Kong and China,” paalala ni Mr.Fujiwara.

“Okay is he here also in Macao?”tanong ni Martin.

“No he is not but he said if you agreed to see him he is very much willing to flight just to make sure that he can talk to you,” sagot ni Mr. Fujiwara.

“Okay give me a couple of days and we will see if I still have time to meet him okay,” sagot ni Martin.

“How about tomorrow are you free to join me? Tanong ni Mr. Fujiwara.

“I have an appointment with Cleo Jean Chan tomorrow morning so I guess I am free in the afternoon,” sagot ni Martin.

“I am planning to visit A-MA Temple you wanna join me?” tanong ni Mr. Fujiawara.

“Sure I’ll call once I’m done with my business with Miss Chan,” sagot ni Martin.

Ilang paksa pa ang napag usapan nila ang ilan ay tungkol sa pulitika at iba pang negosyo na balak nilang buksan hanggang sa makaramdam na ng pagod at antok si Martin. Napansin naman iyon ni Mr. Fujiwara kung kaya’t nagpaalam na ito na babalik sa hotel kung saan siya naka check-in.

Pagdating sa kanyang kwarto ay inilapat agad ni martin ang pagod na katawan sa malambot na kama noon niya naramdaman ang pagod ngunit sa pagpikit ng kanyang mata ay mukha ni Ellize ang kanyang nakita kaya’t napadilat siyang muli at naalala na hindi man lang pala nioya ito nakaumusta kanina sa sobrang dami niyang inasikaso. Siguradong mag tatampo iyon kapag hindi siya nakapagparamdam kahit na text lang.

Agad niyang kinapa ang bulsa kung saan nakasuksok ang kanyang cellphone at agad na tinawagan si Ellize. Habang nag riring iyon ay kinakalkula niya ang pagkakaiba ng oras sa Macau at sa Pilipinas.

"Hey sweetie I almost thought that you break your promises,"bungad ni Ellize Ng sagutin Ang tawag ni Martin.

"That will never happen sweetie no matter how far I am my heart and soul will always be with you," sagot ni Martin.

"Ooooh I'm so kinikilig Ang Haba ng hair ko," masayang sagot ni Ellize.

"How's your day sweetie?" tanong ni Martin.

"Well as usual....we have the same old routine and I am currently working on our next episode I'm sure it will open new opportunities to l***q community to come out and let them be accepted by the society," sagot ni Ellize.

"Mukhang very timely ang naisip nyong episode ah, I'm sure it will trigger the curiousity of the people about the existence of gay and lesbian and maybe if they heard their stories, yung stuggle nila how they become like that na hindi naman nila pinlano na magkaroon ng ganoong identity ay maging bukas na at matanggap sila ng society,"sagot ni Martin.

“The way you talk it seems na mukhang accepted sila sayo sweetie ah,” sagot ni Ellize.

“Well sweetie just I know you will agree with me na being gay or lesbian does not define their whole personality right?” safe na sagot ni Martin.

“Yes sweetie namiss ko tuloy na kaharap ka while having this kind of conversation,”komento ni Ellize.

“Soon sweetie palagay ko naman ay hindi kami matatagalan ditoso far so good ang unang araw ng aking meeting with clients actually kakayari ko lang makausap si Mr. Fujiwara ang he is really excited to see you,” sagot ni Martin.

“Sweetie take time to rest gabi na and about Mr. Fujiwara in time makikita rin niya ang beauty ko,” pabirong sagot ni Ellize.

Natawa naman sa sagot niya si Martin bagay na hindi nakaligtas samatalas na tenga ni Ellize.

“The way you laugh ay mukhang ayaw mong pumayag ah,” hirit ni Ellize.

“Of course not you are beautiful inside and out natutuwa lang ako how will I tell that to Mr. Fujiwara,” sagot ni Martin.

“Ikaw talaga I know na are tired and narinig ko na ang sweet voice mo so you restnow sweetie, i love you,” paalam ni Ellize.

“Okay sweetie goodnight, I love you more,” pagtatapos ni Martin sa usapan nila.