GETTING TO KNOW MS. ANGER | MaColet

11 RUNAWAY?

NICO

Papunta kami sa Cash'e Ville where Gwen works. Sa staff entrance daw ang daan lahat ng mga empleyado.

Napansin ko yung mga magagarang koste na nadaanan namin na nakapalibot sa restaurant. Alam mong hindi basta basta yung mga taong nasa loob.

"Anong meron?" I asked Gwen as soon as I turned off the engine.

"Sabi ni Madam may meeting daw mga business man. They reserved the entire place for it" she explained as she opened the door with a 'Staff Entrance' sign.

I nodded, letting her words sink in.

"First time mangyari 'to dito, 1 week pa lang naman simula ng magbukas ito" kwento niya pa na tinanguhan ko lang.

"Suotin mo 'to" binigay niya sakin yung isang white long sleeve para daw presentable.

Matapos namin magbihis ay sinabihan nya ako na siya ang kukuha ng order at ako ang magseserve. She gave me the easier task since I was new to this.

"Ahh, Nico" kalabit ni Gwen habang naglalakad.

"Pwede tayo makaencounter ng mga katulad mo" she added.

"Katulad ko?" mabilis na lumingon ako sa kanya ng nakataas ang isang kilay.

"Mabilis uminit ang ulo" she said, flashing a peace sign. "Wag mo na lang patulan ha" remind niya sakin.

I nod para tapos na ang usapan, unless someone really crossed the line baka hindi ko mapigilan na pindutin ang anger issue ko.

She left me at the counter where the food trays were placed, while she went to take orders sa kabilang counter kung saan nakapila siya. I roamed around the place, noticing the mix of older men in business suits and a few younger faces that seemed closer to my age.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Gwen na papunta sa dulong table, may hawak siyang menu card if I'm not mistaken. After a few minutes, she came back to hand me the order slip.

I rang the bell and passed the order to the kitchen. When the bell rang again, I grabbed the tray and scanned the room for Gwen. She was busy at another table, her expression focused as she took down more orders.

I took a deep breath and headed toward the table with the tray, hoping I wouldn't have to test my patience too much tonight.

Maingat akong naglalakad papalapit sa dulong table nang biglang tumayo ang isang lalaki. Hindi ko inaasahan iyon kaya't nabitawan ko ang tray at tumilapon ang laman nito. Pareho kaming nadumihan ang suot.

"I'm sorr-"

"You idiot! Do you even know how much this coat costs?" a baritone man, puno ng galit habang tinitingnan ang basang coat niya.

"I'm sorry, sir, bigla po kasi kayong tumayo eh" sabi ko nang may halong sarcasm.

Kitang-kita ko kung paano gumuhit ang galit sa mukha niya. Nagulat ako nang bigla niyang hinawakan ang kwelyo ng suot kong longsleeve. Napansin ko rin sa peripheral vision ko ang pagtayo ng iba pa niyang kasama sa mesa.

"Do you even realize who you're talking to, kid?" may pangmamaliit at nakakainsultong tono sa boses niya.

"I'm not interested naman po, Sir" sagot ko, pilit na pinapakalma ang sarili. Galit niyang binitawan ang kwelyo ng sleeve ko, pero hindi pa rin siya tapos.

"Where's the manager here?" pasigaw niyang tanong, ang mga mata ay tila nagbabaga sa galit. "You're the most disrespectful, incompetent idiot waitress that I encounter. You should be thankful na hindi ko pa kayo pinapasara right this second!"

"I'm very sorry, Mr. Ricalde" isang babae na nasa kanyang 30s ang mabilis na lumapit at magalang na nagpakilala bilang owner ng restaurant. "Baguhan pa kasi siya. I'm taking full responsibility for this mess. As the owner of this restaurant, I apologize sincerely."

Naramdaman ko na lang ang isang kamay na humigit sa akin papalayo sa gulo.

"Haynako, sabi ko na sa'yo na huwag na huwag kang papatol" Gwen stressed. She shook her head, obviously worried.

"Baka ako pa ang madamay niyan, Nico" she added.

I sighed, feeling the weight of her words. "Hindi ko naman kasi alam na bigla siyang tatayo. Tanga din siya sa part na hindi man lang ako nakita" I muttered, shaking my head in disbelief.

Gwen exhaled deeply, trying to keep her composure. "Magpalit ka na muna. May extra t-shirt ako sa locker. Hanapin mo na lang" she instructed, her voice softening slightly. "At please, magpalamig ka muna ng ulo bago ka lumabas ulit."

I nodded, making my way to the drawer. After finding the t-shirt sa locker niya, I headed to the small staff restroom. I was about to open ng may nagmamadaling pumasok.

"Ako muna pre, ilalabas ko lang 'to" nakahawak pa siya sa tyan niya.

I stepped aside, letting him go first. While waiting, I couldn't help but replay the scene in my head. The situation escalated so quickly, and I was caught off guard.

I decided to leave the staff room and head to the restaurant's restroom to change. It would be quick, and no one would probably notice.

Sumilip muna ako ng makitang mga busy ang ibang staff ay maingat na tinakbo ko yung restroom.

As soon as I entered, I saw myself in the large mirror. My long sleeve shirt was a mess, stained and crumpled from the earlier incident.

Pumasok ako sa isang cubicle at hinubad ko yung long sleeve revealing my tank top. After kung isuot yung t-shirt na pinahiram ni Gwen. I was about to leave ng marinig ko ang padabog napagsara ng pinto and lock with a hurried click.

Mabilis akong lumabas sa cubicle para sana umalis.
But then I saw a girl- crying, her arms wrapped tightly around her knees.

"Okay ka lang?" a dumb question escape from my lips.

Ikaw umiiyak tapos tatanungin kung okay lang ba, diba ang tanga lang.

She froze at the sound of my voice, at dahan dahan na tumingala. I clearly see her face- saw how the tears escaping from her eyes.

Seeing her in that state, something inside me shifted.

I think awa?

I don't know, maybe something more.

"Anger"

Before I could process what was happening, she suddenly hugged me, wrapping her arms around my torso.

Mas lumala ang pag iyak niya.

Part of me wanted to push her away, pero iba ang ginagawa ng katawan ko. Instead of pushing her, I found myself placing a hand on her back, rubbing it gently to calm her down.

"Bakit ka umiiyak?" I asked her ng humina na ang kanyang pag iyak.

She broke the hug and looked straight into my eyes. "Itakas mo ako dito" she pleaded, her voice trembling with desperation.

"H-ha?" I stammered, hindi makapaniwalang nakatingin ako sa kanya habang magkasalubong ang mga kilay ko. What was she talking about?

She grabbed my free hand, the one not holding the long sleeve shirt, and squeezed it tightly. "Please, Anger, dalhin mo ako kahit saan, dalhin mo ako sa malayo. Malayo dito." pagmamakaawa niya pa.

"Naka-drugs ka ba?" I blurted out, still processing of what she just said.

She shook her head, her grip on my hand tightening. "Si Daddy, gusto niyang hindi na ako makawala sa family ni Maki. Gusto niyang pag-usapan na ngayon ang kasal namin para makuha na niya ang share na pinangako ng Daddy ni Maki" she confessed, halatado sa kanyang boses ang panginginig.

"Please, tulungan mo ako. Ilayo mo ako dito" pagmamakaawa niya pa, ang mga mata niya ay puno ng takot.