Romancing The Highlander

CHAPTER ONE: MASKED

CHAPTER ONE: MASKED

Four years ago.

SCOTLAND is the land of braves and has a great history offered to everyone who will visit this beautiful country. From Edinburgh - its capital - down to its Scottish port - the Glasgow - and the highland city tagged as the best and safest place to live - Inverness. Lahat nalibot ko na at tinagal-tagal ko rito, para ayoko ng umalis pa at bumalik sa Pilipinas. Kaya lang hindi naman panandalian ang visa na nakuha ko kaya kailangan ko pa rin umalis. Unless I fall in love and get married to a highlander here, which I think is a better idea, but I won't push still.

Dadagdagan ko lang ang ipon ko pansimula sa Pilipinas bago mapaso ang visa ko sa susunod na taon at uuwi na rin. Walang plano na magdagdag ng sakit ng ulo na dahilan kaya ako nakayod na parang kalabaw dito ngayon. I wasn't born in a silver spoon-gated community and both of my parents died early due to unfair health care system in the Philippines. Poverty was the main reason why I flew here to work because I don't want to end up dying like my parents. Kahit 'man lang ako ang umalwan ang buhay bilang patunay sa mga taong walang ibang ginawa kung 'di husgahan ako at aking kakayahan.

"Heart, bust out table six." Sigaw na agad ko naman sinunod.

I work here at Inverness, waiting tables by day, serving alcoholic drinks by night at Glasgow. Dalawang trabaho para lang mabilisan akong makaipon bago pa ako mapatalsik ng immigration police dito. Nagpunta ako dito na tourist visa lang ang meron. Imbis na magbakasyon naghahanap ako ng trabaho at ang unang sahod ko, in-apply ko ng working visa agad. And I obtained a two years working visa after the long process I went through.

May isang taon pa ako.

Isang taon pa.

Isang taon na lang.

Nilinis ko ang lamesa at nilipon sa isang tray ang maruming pinagkainan ng mga customer. McDanes Restaurant by the River is very popular seafoods restaurant here at Inverness with the view of Loch Ness. Pinaka-paborito ko iyong view sa may river kung saan may mangilan-ngilan na taong naglalakad. Its a normal day, a bit chilly on the outside despite the blazing sun rays. Isa pa sa mga gusto ko dito ay ang panahon na kinasanayan na ng balat ko.

Nang matapos ako magligpit, dinala ko ang mga maruming pinggan sa kusina at inabot iyon sa dishwasher. Hinubad ko ang suot ko na apron saka lumabas sa pinaka-likod dala ang mga basura na hiwa-hiwalay ko nilagay sa dumpster. Ganito lang ang araw-araw ko na gawain at nais ko pa nga magkaroon ng extra job pagkatapos ng shift ko dito sa McDanes. From six in the morning until two in the afternoon, that's my shift here. Ala-sais naman ng gabi hanggang alas dos ng madaling araw sa Foyer Bar na pinapasukan ko sa Glasgow.

May bakanteng oras ako kaya lang wala pa ako makitang trabaho na pwede pasukan.

"Do you smoke?" tanong na pumukaw sa akin. It was Dylan - one of McDanes' chefs. Hindi ko tinanggihan ang alok niya at kumuha ako ng isang stick na siya mismo ang nagsindi. I'm not a smoker before, but this country taught me how to be one especially when I felt so stressed in life.

"Thanks!" I said. My voice filled with enthusiasm, which I think Dylan liked about me. Everyone does, not only him. "Do you know a part-time job where I could earn more money?"

"I do, but that job isn't for you, Heart."

"Why? I could do anything,"

Dylan eyed me from head to foot, then started shaking his head as if he thought of a crazy idea.

"You're not suitable for that. I'll let you know when someone is looking for a part-timer."

"What kind of job is it?"