I THOUGHT

Chapter 2

"Ms? Ms we already landed." Rinig kong sabi nang babaeng katabi ko. Kanina pa ako gising kaya alam ko kung anong nangyayari.

"Alam ko." Sabi ko pero di parin gumalaw.
Di pa nga humihinto tong eroplano eh.

"I don't understand." She spoke, kaya sa madaliang inis ko tumingin ako sa kanya.

Hindi ako makapagsalita nang tumama yung paningin ko sa mga mata niya.

Wala lang naman. Medyo kakaiba lang yung ganda niya.

She smile at dun ako natauhan.

"What language was that?" She asked. I bitterly chuckled.

"You have your phone with you?" She nods.

"Then google it." I added but she just chuckle.
Darn! Bakit ba ganitong mga tao ngayon? Joker naba ako para sa kanila?

"I didn't expect that, but yeah! I'll try to." She said saka mas ngumiti pa.

Umiwas nalang ako nang tingin saka tumingin sa may may paanan. Ilang oras din akong nakatulog at buti sa ilang oras na yun walang distorbo.

Huminto na nga ang eroplano saka pina unlock samin yung seatbelt na kanina ko pa hinubad.

Ilang minuto lang nagsilabasan na ang iba. Tumayo narin tong kasama ko kaya napilitan akong tumayo para makalabas siya.

Aalis na sana ako nang biglang

"The fuck? Watch your step Miss!" Sigaw nung lalaki sa babaeng katabi ko.

"Sorry? I didn't even do anything." She responded pero mukhang badmood ang lalaki at parang susuntukin niya na yung babae kaya agad narin akong humarang.

"Kung gusto mong manapak mag boxing ka." Sabi ko pero parang di naman niya ako maintindihan.

"And who are you?"

I bitterly chuckle saka siya tinulak at naapakan ang isang lalaki sa likod. Nagalit yung lalaki sa kanya kaya dali-dali ko nalang hinila tong babae at baka ano pang magawa nung lalaking yun.

Hawak hawak ko yung kamay niya hanggang sa makalabas kami nang eroplano saka ko pa binitawan.

"Thank you." She spoke. Di nalang ako umimik at nag simula nang maglakad palabas nang Airport.

"Uhm, I'm Roseanne Park. Rosie for short." Aba't nakasunod parin pala.

"Uhm, I'm really thankful for earlier. You think, we can have dinner at least?" She said pero di ko parin pinansin.

"Uhm, what about having your number, so I could treat you anything you want?" She spoke again.

Kahit anong gawin kong lakad, naabutan parin niya ako.

"Hey! At least, tell me your name?" She said and this time she stopped me by standing in front of me.

"I'm really sorry. I just feel like I wanna give back the favor, and--

"Fine. Dinner." I uttered saka nag simulang maglakad papuntang exit.

"Okay then. I know where to go." She uttered at the back pero di ko na siya kinausap pa hanggang sa makahanap kami nang taxi.

"P&M's Restaurant, please?" She told the driver.

"Ne." He said, then starts to drive.

Walang emosyon akong nakatingin sa labas nang sasakyan nang magsalita siya.

"May I know your name?" She asked.
I didn't look at her.

"Lisa." I uttered. Pangalan lang diba?

"Full name?" I rolled my eyes.

"Lalisa."

"Okay? What about your surname?" I chuckle mentally.

"Lalisa Manoban."

"Oh? You're a Manoban. I see." I took a glance at her. Did she know other Manobans than me?

"What do you know about us?" She chuckle.

"Uhm, Tita Chitt. She's our business partner." To be honest, I'm shook. I just played it cool.

"Is that so? Are you close?" I asked. I don't really wanna ask, but she made me.

"Uhm, quite yes. Is she perhaps your mother?"

"She is."

"Really?!" The driver, and I both flinched.

"S-Sorry. I was just surprised. Wow. This is really cool. I mean, I really wanted to know you in person. Tita Chitt talks a lot about you." She said chuckling.

"I don't care." I said.

"Oh? That's pretty--

"Rude? I know." I interjected.

"Oh no, that's not what I mean. The thing I wanna say is, you're pretty cool." I look at her.

She smile like she's not affected of me being savage. Is she being serious?

"Look, I really want to know you. Can we at least see each other once in a week, or can I visit you in your place?" I bitterly chuckle.

I can't believe with this girl. Ano bang nakita niyang mabuti sakin?

"I don't want strangers in my place. After the dinner, don't ever show your face again." I uttered, she became silent.

I took a glance at her kasi ewan ko ba. Nakakainis!

She was just looking ahead na para bang mamumula na ang mga mata. Naiiyak ba siya?

"Hays! Fine! Kung gusto mo bumisita ka dun araw, tanghali at gabi bahala ka. Oa mo." Inis na sabi ko pero nakatunganga lang siyang nakatitig sakin.

"What?" I rolled my eyes. Ba't kasi di nalang nagsuot nang translator gadget.

Di narin ako nakapagsalita nang huminto na ang sasakyan. Siya na nagbayad nang pamasahe kaya pinagbuksan ko nalang saka tinulungan sa mga gamit niya.

Babaeng to. Sana kasi nagdala nalang nang yaya eh.

"Here." Sabi niya saka kami lumapit sa isang mamahaling Restaurant for sure.

Napatingin ako sa paligid, and it looks new to me. Wala naman kasi akong nakikita na ganito nun eh.

"Goodevening Ms Park, and Ms M!" Suddenly the staffs greeted us.

Wait,

"Just treat us like costumers tonight, and table for two. Thank you." Rosie spoke.

"Yes, Ms. This way."

We followed the host who stopped in a vacant table. Medyo marami rin kasing costumers kaya medyo malimit nalang ang mga vacant table.

"Give us the best dish, please?" The host nods, then bowed before calling someone in a distant.

Nilagay ko na muna sa ilalim nang mesa ang luggage niya saka ako umupo sa harap niya.

"Tell me about P&M's." I spoke. Wala kasi talaga akong alam sa mga negosyo ni mommy eh.

"P&M's are merged restaurant of your mother, and my parents. Park's dish, and M's dish in one place. It was like Aussie&Thai Restaurants in Korea."

Di pala talaga ako nagkakamali. Eto yung restaurant na pagtatrabahuhan ko.

"And why are you here?" I asked.

"Well, somebody asked me to help someone."

"I bet that's mom." She chuckle, but she stopped when she saw me looking at her seriously.

"Jeez! Fine. Your mom asked me a favor, and since its your first time working...I-uhm, suggested that you should try from the start."

"And what does that mean?" I asked, and what she said next made me wanna scream.

"You'll be a crew here."

AHHHHHHHHHH!!!