A God Named Sin

Prologue

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places, and events are fictitious. Any resemblances to people or events, living or dead, are pure coincidential.

***

"Lovely!" A photographer exclaimed after I did a pose.

"Last one, Louisiana!" I striked a pose again and made fun of this chair. I needed to get this one done so I can play with my toy.

"And that's a wrap!" The photographer joyfully shouted and everyone clapped their hands. I said my goodbyes and I already have no time to go back to the dressing room. As soon as I got out of the building, there were lots of media gambled at the entrance. I had to make my move fast because I will be late and I don't want that.

I am still wearing my make up and decided just to retouch it and change my lipstick into red. I just let down my curly waves and put on my pin on the upper right of my chest.

"Ms. Morel, you have a flight today going to beijing, layover po kayo dun for 2 days and pagbalik po ninyo ay meron kayong contract signing with Lé, visté clothing line and in the evening, you have an awards night to attend to. May award po kayo na nareceive sa Gaudencio's Star Awards." Pagnanarate ng aking secretary. I just nod after nod on what she was saying.

"What date is it again, Cora?" I asked her. Halos hindi ko na alam kung anong araw ngayon sa dami ng pinapagawa sa akin but i'm not complaining. It's just that, it's tiring and consuming the shit out of me.

"Alin po? Today is August 21, monday. Your flight back here is morning po ng 24, that would be Thursday madam Sin."

Napakunot ang noo ko. Is it really on thursday? I think it is not.

"Cora, are you sure that the award's night will be on thursday?" I asked her, confused. Nataranta siya at muling binuksan ang iPad. Napasapo siya sa noo at bumaling sakin,

"Madam, friday night po pala siya. Sorry po, marami lang po talagang iniisip." I nodded. My flight is still in an hour and according to Jade, twenty minutes lang ay ando'n na kami. I decided to talk to Cora on what's bugging her.

"Cora, take a 2 days break while i'm away. I will call Eunice to take care of everything while i'm gone." Ngumiti siya at niyakap ako. I waved them goodbye and made my way to the shuttle.

"Sin!" Jordan yelled, he will be my co-pilot for today. I waved then he ran towards me.

"Tagal na nating hindi nagkasama no?"

"Oo nga eh. How's Scarlett and Ivonne?" I asked him. He was one of my colleagues during flying school. He already got married two years ago and has a beautiful family.

"Well, as usual, Ivonne got the limited edition of the bag that you endorsed last week. Scarlett's learning to feed herself already."

We talked a lot of things until we reached the big toy. Pagbaba ko ng shuttle ay sumaludo pa ang mga stewardess na s'ya ring ikinatawa ko. Sumenyas lang ako at nagpatuloy na. Inilagay ko ang aking maleta sa maliit na cabinet bago pumasok sa cockpit.

"Good afternoon passengers. This is captain Louisiana Morel speaking. First, I'd like to welcome everyone on Lightwing Morel Flight 86A. We are currently cruising at an altitude of 33,000 feet at an airspeed of 400 miles per hour. The time is 1:25 pm. The weather looks good and with the tailwind on our side we are expecting to land in Beijing approximately fifteen minutes ahead of schedule. The weather in Beijing is clear and sunny, with a high of 30 degrees for this afternoon. If the weather cooperates we should get a great view of the city as we descend. The cabin crew will be coming around in about twenty minutes time to offer you a light snack and beverage, and the inflight movie will begin shortly after that. I'll talk to you again before we reach our destination. Until then, sit back, relax and enjoy the rest of the flight."

Stable na ang aming flight kung kaya't nakarest lang kami ni Jordan. We already talked a lot of things especially in my part. Sobrang tagal pa kasi bago ko ulit sya nakasama dahil sa reshuffling of schedule.

At katulad nga ng aking prompt kanina, we landed at thw airport 15 minutes earlier than expected. Nasatisfy ako sa pagland ng eroplano at huminga ng malalim. Finally, a breather.

Bumaba ako ng aming eroplano at sumakay sa shuttle namin. Medyo pagod talaga ako dahil wala pa kong maayos na pahinga mula last week. Puro photoshoot at lipad.

"Capt., Wala bang discount ung bagong bag na inendorse mo? Pahingi naman oh." Nakahilig ako sa may gilid ng biglang sumulpot si Kesha, wala namang bago dito. Ngumiti ako sa kanya at kinuha sa side pocket ng maleta ko ang discount card.

"Here. Buong store yan kahit hindi lang bag ung bilhin mo. Just present the card before checking out." Ngumiti ako at kumindat. Pinakakuripot sa lahat ng stewardess na kasabayan ko ay si Kesha, sumunod si Maya na hindi ko kasama ngayon sa flight.

"The best ka talaga capt.!" Isinuot ko nalang ang shades ko at humilig muli sa bintana. Mamaya ay papunta kami sa hotel para magcheck in at magpahinga.

Kasalukuyan kaming nasa lobby at ang head stewardess na lamang ang ipinaasikaso ko sa mga kailangan. Sadyang pagod na talaga ako at wala na kong energy para makipagusap pa.

"Here's the card everyone!" Announce ni Madam Sol. Mas matanda siya sa amin ng 10 years at itinuturing na nanay ng lahat. Tumapat sya sa akin at niyakap ako.

"Puro trabaho kasi, ayaw muna maghanap ng boyfriend." Sabi ni Madam Sol at marahan pa ngang piniga ang braso ko.

"Nako, mama Sol. Meron kaso it's complicated." Sabat naman ni Jordan. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay at umakto siyang parang sumusuko na. Inirapan ko ito at natawa naman sila.

Pagkadating ko sa aking room ay inayos ko ang gamit ko. Pagtapos ay naglinis ng katawan at naglagay ng facial mask. I decided to put my phone on airplane mode since I consider this one as pahinga. I just need a break from everything.

I woke up the next day not feeling well. Nagayos ako at nagbihis para bumaba sa restaurant ng hotel, nagiwan ng note sa may pinto ko si Madam Sol na they will be there.

I just wore a simple brown turtle neck and a beige cullots, paired with my chanel slip ons and to complete my outfit, I just put on my silver watch and black shades.

Hindi ko na pinansin ang mga taong kasabay ko sa elevator dahil karamihan ay may mga lahi naman. Tumigil ito sa ikalimang palapag upang magsakay pa ng tao. Hindi naman ganun karami ang tao sa loob kaya umusog ako sa gilid.

Tinignan ko ang oras sa taas ng elevator at hindi sinasadyang mapatingin sa katabi ko. A tall, fair skin man. A very familiar one. Very familiar that I can also feel a familiar feeling in my chest.

I looked straight at the door of elevator. Kitang kita ang repleksyon naming dalawa. Of all the places that we'll meet, dito pa talaga sa China? Umusog pa siya papalapit sa akin kung kaya't nasiksik ako. He didn't say a word.

Paglabas ng lobby ay nagulat ako ng muntik na akong madapa. Nagulat nalang ako ng may kamay na umalalay sa akin at napalingon ako sa kanya.

Hindi ako nagpakita ng kahit na anong emosyon pero bakas ko sa kanyang mukha ang pagkagulat.

"Sin--" banggit niya sa pangalan ko. Umayos ako ng tayo at inayos ang aking sarili. Bakas pa rin ang pagkagulat sa kanyang mukha.

"Its not Sin, Mr. Sandoval." Tinanggal ko ang shades ko at inilagay sa aking buhok pagtapos ay tinignan siya.

"It's Captain. Captain Louisiana Morel." Ngumiti ako sa kanya na parang walang nangyari.

Na parang walang pinagsamahan.

Na parang hindi kami naging parte ng buhay ng isa't-isa.

Na parang hindi magkakilala.