My Big Boss | Kristel & Yohan Fanfiction

Kabanata 6

Kabanata 6

I spread my arms and slowly turn around. Feeling the sensation, the wind caress my skin. Humalik ang masaganang simoy ng hangin, tila ba kakaiba ang humaplos sa aking katawan. Ah, wala na pala ako sa Maynila.

Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili na sumigaw sabay nang pagdilat ng mga mata ko, pinasadahan ng tingin ang buong paligid. Pumukaw ang ibang klase ng letter characters sa mga posters at mga taong nakakasalamuha na siyang nagsasalita sa kanilang lingguwahe.

It's an undescribable feeling when you finally visit your dream country. Now i'm here! Finally!

"Jeogiyo, Ms. Kristel I'll be the one who'll accomodate you to the hotel."

Pinakita niya ang ID na napagtanto kong isang driver. Nang mapansin niyang hindi pa ako ganoon ka kumbinsido ay ipinakita niya ang logo ng kompanya. Ibig sabihin, he works for the great daepyonim.

I check in a five-star hotel. Yayamanin talaga itong boss ko. Kung ako pa iyon, mag-iiponan pa ako ng matagal na panahon para makapunta rito pero akalain mo naman, nagdilang-anghel ang pagiging PA ko.

Naku, Kristel! Parang nung isang araw ang arte mo at ayaw magpasuyo kay Kuya Roy sa business meeting raw. E, kung mas maaga pa lang binanggit na dito pala ang punta, aba'y madali lang naman akong kausap.

I go for a stroll outside, nang nabagot na sa suite. The cold howl breeze in winter dramatically go along my mood. Alone but not lonely, fortunately I found a convenient store nearby.

Tumango ako sa cashier at tumugon naman ito. I scan the products and rejoices as I grab the triangular-shaped rice, mas humiyaw ako nang makita din ang katabing fridge section na may laman na famous banana drink in its daji size.

"Kababayan?"

Bumaling ako sa cashier. The way he speaks Tagalog accent fluently makes me figure out he's a Filipino.

"Pasensya na, ano lang.. First time ko dito," ani ko sa maliit na boses.

"Ah hindi.. ahh- ano.. Akala ko kung napano ka," saglit siyang tumawa.

Gumala ang paningin niya sa paligid kaya napalinga rin ako. Walang ibang tao dito sa loob kundi ako lang mag-isang customer, malamang malapit na dis oras ng gabi.

I glance back to him and nod as I walk away. Nagtungo na ako sa table at umupo sa bandang nakaharap sa kalsada.

Nagsimula akong kumain ng biglang lumapit ulit ang lalaki, may dala itong basket at iba't-ibang biscuits at instant-packed products ang laman nito.

"Sa'yo na po ito. Libre na lang pa-expire na. Ay, hindi pa talaga expire, sa makalawa pa pero pwede nang kunin bilin ng may-ari," Umupo siya sa gilid.

I stifle a smile. This is somehow familiar to me. A poor Korean student struggling in College years, worked part-time in a convenient store and is allowed to eat only the expired products. Iyon kasi usually nakikita ko sa kdrama pero totoo nga talaga.

"Marami 'to ah, hindi ko mauubos kaya sabayan mo na lang akong kumain," ani ko at binalotan ang isang biscuit. "Alam ko na hindi ka pa kumakain."

"Hindi na ho-" I cut him off with the biscuit in his mouth.

Hinawakan na niya ito at ngumuya. Sabay kaming kumain at nang maubos na, nagbayad na ako. Even though he didn't want to, I still gave him a tip but that didn't end there. I decided to stay a little longer in the store at nakikipag-chikahan pa sa kanya. Minsan, may customer kaya napuputol ang chikahan.

He's truly a graduating university student, struggling and barely passing. His mother is a Filipina and his father is a Korean, that makes him half-Filipino and Korean. They lived in the Philippines in his middle years but decided to stay here for good. He is working hard because he wanted to help his parents and their tuition fee is likely expensive. I admire his dedication, kaunti na lang kasi ang ganito.

I was about to get out from the store when a man entered and rush towards me.

"Are you okay?" Hinihingal niyang tanong. He suspiciously look around and held my shoulders. "Are you okay, Kristel?" he asked once again, his eyes were shaky and intense.

Suddenly, he hugged me. I'm completely zoomed out, unable to speak and confused. His breathing was ragged. I can even hear his heart beating faster against his chest, uneasily.

Naiilangan man at hindi makapagsalita kaya tumango na lamang ako. Saglit siyang pumikit, kuyom ang mga kamao. He let out a heavy sigh, and I don't know if it's because of relief or annoyance.

Nauna siyang lumabas, I followed after him. He is standing beside the parked car and gesture the car, silently asking me to hop in. I did.

Ni isang boses walang lumabas. Walang nagsalita.

However, my mind is tangled from other questions. Should I ask what is he doing there? Why he is here?  Why is he asking me if I'm okay? All these questions but I don't have the urge to ask, what if I'm going to utter the wrong words? Because the last time we had a conversation, I was completely wrong.

Kaya ngayon, 'hiya' siguro ang isa sa dahilan kaya hindi ko siya magawang kausapin.

Hanggang sa nakarating na kami ng hotel, akala ko matutuyuan na ako ng laway pero nang nasa loob na kami ng elevator, doon pa yata nagbalik ang mga kaluluwa namin.

"Sorry-" sabay naming ani.

"You first-" ulit at magkapareho naming sabi.

"Ako na lang!" Baka magkasabay na naman.

I bit my lower lip and face ahead, kita sa elevator door ang reflection naming dalawa, it's disfigured pero nasisigurado ko na hindi nakatuon ang paningin niya doon.

"It was late that I realize, you actually speak and understand Tagalog words," I said in my most serious tone. "Sorry if I curse you sometimes and I don't really mean to ogle- No, I mean to appreciate you. Siguro sa pagiging hanga ko lang sa mga Korean, you know."

He wasn't responding and I thought he would totally ignore me. I look over him and caught that he just smirked. Wow, kaya minsan 'di ko naiintindihan itong pagkatopak ng lalaking ito.

"But I meant the curses," dagdag ko. Ayaw maapakan ang pride.

"Six a.m. tomorrow, meet me at the reception balcony," he replied and slightly move his head up. He put his hands on his pocket sides and the elevator's bell rang.

"Ano-" hindi ko matapos na sambit nang nauna siyang lumabas.

"Come earlier than me, you must arranged my meeting schedules first," he said, not looking back.

Lumabas na rin ako. We're on the same floor but I swear that if he keeps on being arrogant, I'll find myself strangling him kasi nakakapikon na rin talaga lang.

He head towards north while my room is on the south. I'm not up into another arguement because I am tired but he is really getting into my nerves!

"Ba't ka nandoon?" Tanong ko, pero patuloy pa rin siyang lumakad. I mean the convenient store earlier. I don't want to ask him this, but Yohan..

"Ano ginagawa mo? Ah.. anong okay ba ako?"

He halted.

"Were you looking for me?" Sa nanguguya kong tono.

Lumingon siya sakin pero hindi pa rin nawawala ang aroganteng awra nito. His lips were thin grim, he pull to loosen the bow tie on an impatient way as he walk towards me. Tumigil siya sa harapan ko, leveling the same gaze as I gave him.

He cock his head to the side. "Hindi ka ma-kontak. Kailangan ka bukas. Kaya.. Yun. Hinanap ka."

Tumango ako, pero hindi kumbinsido. Ako naman ngayon ang tumalikod sa kanya, mabuti at maliit na distansya lang at ang suite ko na.

"Naghanap din ang mga driver, Kristel," dagdag pa niya.

Kinuha ko na ang hotel card tsaka swi'nipe at binuksan ang pinto. I glance at him over my shoulders. 'Di ko maiwasang mapangiti ng hilaw.

"WE were looking for you," pagdidiin niya sa unang salita.

I nod in a lazy manner, brows were furrowed. "Okay.... bukas na lang ba 'yung "hug" ng mga driver na naghahanap din sa akin?"

Umiwas siya ng tingin, umiigting ang panga at bahagyang umiling. Tahimik lang at tanging paghilamos lang ng kamay niya sa kanyang mukha ang nagawa.