I am Simon

Chapter 3- LAB RESULT

Kumalat sa buong office ang issue na hiwalay na kami ni Romelie. Gaya ni Mike, she will not stop para makaganti siya sa akin.

"May sugar mommy 'yang si Simon," I once heard Romelie. Hindi naman niya tinatago ang galit niya sa akin.

"At nawalan ka ng milking cow, Romelie," I replied chuckling. Some of my female co-workers are in favour of Romelie.

"Nakakadiri ka, Simon," wika ng ilan. I shrugged and walk away.

Isa-isang nawala ang mga 'friends' ko sa office dahil sa balitang pinakalat ni Romelie about my 'sugar mommy'. Ang lilinis din naman kasi ng mga ito, ano?

Isa-isa ko silang gagantihan. Gagapangin ko ang sales nila at magsisimula ako kay Romelie.

"I can give you a better offer, a good discount, or maybe a good location other than Pasay."

I got their clients on their journals. Weak, they should not write their project in a notebook. Kaya nga may gadget na.

"I am actually looking at Makati pero Romelie suggested na Pasay ang magandang investment ng condo."

Napangiti ako. "Oh, no... Makati is the central district when it comes to business. How about lunch? I can discuss with you some available condominiums that I have in the market?"

"Okay. Sure. I am free later around 5 pm."

"Let me know the place, Ms. Lim."

"Call me Lisbeth. Greenbelt Makati will be fine."

Kinabukasan, isang galit na galit na Romelie ang sumalubong sa akin sa office.

"How dare you?" sigaw nito sa mukha ko.

I smirked and continue to walk.

"That's my client, Simon."

"She's mine now. She signed a two-bedroom condominium deal. Better luck next time, Romelie."

And that's the beginning of this charade. Romelie used the same tactic and snatch male clients from me.

One morning she has a smug face when I walked by.

"How's that, Simon? I learned from the master, isn't it?" nanunuyang tanong nito.

"Still baby on this industry. Watch out, dear."

Hindi ko pinakitang nabubwisit ako. That's my sale and she will pay for that.

There's a saying that when you are on top, all you can see are clouds. Napansin kong halos wala nang kumakausap sa akin sa opisina maliban kay Boss. I am not invited on Friday night gimik like it used to.

As if I am here to make friends!

One morning, nagising ako na nilalagnat, masakit ang ulo, namamaga ang lalamunan at maraming skin rashes. I called the office to that I am sick and will continue to work at home.

Hindi nawala ang lagnat ko after two days so I decided to go to the hospital. When they saw my rashes, the doctor admits me and did a series of testing. I lasted at the hospital for two days.

Wala akong kasama sa hospital at walang nagbantay sa akin. Walang dumalaw man lamang sa mga kasamahan ko sa opisina. Somehow, I felt angry towards them. Noong gimik time at ako ang nagbabayad, lahat sila ay kaibigan. Ang nagagawa nga naman ng pera.

Pagkatapos akong makuhanan ng napakaraming blood sample, humupa ng kaunti ang lagnat ko at nawala ang ilang rashes. I was discharged from the hospital on the third day.

Palabas na ako ng hospital nang makita ko si Romelie na naghihintay sa labas ng isang clinic sa loob ng hospital. Curiosity ate me so I went inside of the hospital and investigate.

Ano ang sakit mo at nangpapa-check up ka?

I waited and waited... until she left crying.

Well, that's new. What the heck is wrong with her?

Hinintay kong ma-clear and clinic at umalis ang lahat ng tao bago ako pumasok. Iisa ang pakay ko, ang clinic history ni Romelie. Napapangiti ako habang naiisip kung ano ang magagamit ko sa babaeng iyon.

I looked for her name and found a brown envelope. I opened it and a few laboratory results were there. Kinunan ko ng picture ang lahat ng nasa envelope at mabilis na umalis.

Nakalimutan ko pansamantala na nakita ko si Romelie sa hospital. I went to work kinabukasan feeling exhausted pa rin. Hindi ko rin maintindihan kung bakit ako palaging nanghihina at kung minsan ay nagtatae.

After a week after my discharge from the hospital, I received a call asking me to go back to the hospital for my lab result.

After a week lang ang lab result? Pilipinas! Wow!

Makulimlim ang mukha ng doctor at napansin kong hindi ako kinamayan gaya noong unang tiningnan niya ako. Pinaupo niya ako sa harapan ng table niya at binigay ang lab result sa akin.

The lab result looks familiar to me. Doon ko naalala ang nakita ko sa hospital documents ni Romelie.

"What is this?" nagtatakang tanong ko.

"I don't know how to break this news to you. You are positive for the human immunodeficiency virus or HIV. You are in an early stage."

Parang nagstop ang lahat sa akin nang marinig ko ang sinabi ng doctor. Parang may yelo na gumapang sa katawan ko. Para akong nalaglag sa kawalan at hindi pa bumabagsak sa lupa.

"Sorry, come again?"

Huminga ng malalim ang doctor. "You have HIV."