"Why the fuck are you calling me in such an early morning?" Sagot ko agad sa tumatawag sa aking cellphone the moment I swiped the call button. I used my other free hand to rub my eyes from having blurry visions since kakagising ko lang. I was still sleeping ng biglang nag-ring yung phone ko. Isa to sa mga pinakaayaw ko. Ang gisingin ako sa pagtulog galing trabaho. For fuck's sakes it's 7:00 in the morning.
"E-Eh k-kasi po Sir Chale, y-yung book s-signing niyo po ngayong alas nuebe na po." Nauutal na sagot ng aking secretary. I can hear her nervousness from here at sigurado akong takot itong ginising niya ako. I just rolled my eyes heavenwards and disconnected the call myself.
Tamad akong naglakad patungo sa bathroom at dun nagsimula ang usual morning ritual ko. Habang ginagawa ko iyon ay napapa-isip ako sa kung ano mang mangyayari sa book signing. I'm delighted to see my readers but then again, I'm still tired kasi kahapon lang ay buong araw kong inasikaso yung problema sa publishing house namin sa New York and now I have to go back here in Philippines to sign books and have tons of meetings that I still don't know what are those all about. My secretary keeps calling and reminding me about stuffs like this but I keep forgetting. I'm so fucking stressed.
I was in the middle of buttoning my polo when a ring came roaring from my cellphone. Sinagot ko ang tawag at marahas na itinapot ang cellphone sa aking tenga. "Yes, I know, Lena. I'm coming. Stop calling."
"Eh k-kasi S-Sir baka makalimutan n-niyo rin po yung iba pang gagawin niyo after the book signing event." Sabi niya.
"Just remind me when we get there. Tsaka Lena, bawas-bawasan mo yang stutters mo. It's fucking irritating." Hindi ko na hinintay ang sasabihin nito at binabaan ko na siya ng tawag.
After dressing up and eating breakfast ay lumabas na ako ng bahay at pumasok sa aking trailblazer. Once the engine started, pinaharurot ko agad ito. I called first Lena and asked her where would this conference be held. Sa SM Makati daw magaganap iyon tsaka sabi niya rin one hour late na daw ako.
Nakarating na ako sa mall na sinabi ni Lena and when I went out of the car after parking it ay may nakita akong isang lalakeng mataba na naka-eyeglasses at sa kanyang likuran naman ay dalawang bodyguards which I assume will be the bodyguards to escort me.
Ngiti-ngiti ang lalakeng naka-eyeglasses na lumapit sa kinaroroonan ko. Naglahad muna ito ng kamay bago nagsalita. "Hello Sir Chale Prado! Ako nga pala ang coordinator ng conference at tsaka yung nagpa-appoint sa sekretarya niyo. It's so nice to finally meet the author of two of the New York's best-selling books of all time."
Pinagtaasan ko ito ng kilay at ningitian ng tipid. It's the way he looks at me that gives me an uncomfortable feeling. Bakla yata 'to. Nevertheless, I shook his hand. "I'm very flattered by your words, Mister Coordinator. I'm honored to participate in this event."
"Oh, Mr. Prado! Masyado namang mataas ang Mister Coordinator. Hugo will do!" Hindi pa rin ito bumibitaw sa kamay ko at medyo may naririnig na rin akong malice sa tono niya. Yes, he's gay alright. And he's trying to flirt. "Anyway, it's us that should be honored. The great Chale Fabian Prado is having his first conference after two years."
Ngumiti ulit ako ng peke at swabeng kumawala sa matagal naming handshake. I manage to secretly wipe the sweat from my hand na galing sa kanya. I quickly made a note to myself to wash my hands with alcohol later. "So when shall we start? I heard that I was an hour late. Let's not waste the readers' precious time at baka magkaroon pa ako ng issue patungkol sa tardiness ko."
