"Happy April Fools Day Jerome Lance"
Yan ang message nang kanyang ina pagkalapag na pagkalapag ng eroplano sa airport ng Bangkok. Hinayaan nya na lang dahil minsan ay may pagka-tililing ang ina nya.
Naaninag nya agad ang isang kotse pagkababa nya ng eroplano. Halatang pinag-handaan talaga ng ina nya ang pagpunta dito.
"Sawadee krap." bati nya sa driver
"Sawadee krap. Good afternoon sir! Should we go directly on the condominium or we'll pass on the EPPHi." tanong ng Driver
"EPPHi first. Thank you." tipid nyang sagot.
Tumango ang driver at nagsimula nang magdrive
---
Pagkarating nila sa EuniPhil Prime Holdings Inc. ay agad syang nagpunta sa Reception.
"Miss. I have an appointment with Director Hachivarait" sabi nya pagkatapos nilang magbatian.
"He's in his Office sir. On 32nd floor." sagot nung babae na nagpa-cute pa ng kaunti sa kanya.
Is flirting included in their job descriptions? He thought.
Agad naman siyang pinagbuksan ng pintuan nang makarating na sila sa tapat ng Office ni Director Hachivarait.
"Nong Lance! I am expecting you! How's Life?" masiglang bati ng isang lalaki na nasa may 40+ na ang edad.
Director Cenjiavi Hachivarait. Basa nya table nameplate nito
"Same old, Director. Did you receive the E-mail that President Cervinio sent?" tanong nya
"Straightforward as ever. Well.. President Cervinio only called me, Why?"
"Sir. Apparently, Chairman Eunice Cervinio assigned me as a Temporary Finance Head here. She said she already informed President Cervinio." he stated the situation.
"Ohhh... But the problem is that President Cervinio didn't inform me about the reassignment. He only told me that you would visit here. Let me call him for you." sagot ng Direktor at kinuha ang phone nya
"Sawadee krap sir! How can I help?" masayang sagot ng nasa kabilang linya.
"Good day too. Mr. President. I'm sorry to disturb but I have a question." sabi ng Direktor
"It's okay Director Hachivarait. Fire your question away."
"Well, I know Mr. Cervinio will visit our branch. But he also told me that Madam Chairman assigned him as a Temporary Finance Head of this Branch and that you approved it. Is it True?"
"Uh-huh... Well... I.... don't certainly remember. But I can ask Chairman if it is true. Is Mr. Cervinio still there?"
"Yes. He's here"
"Please tell him that we'll be calling him, with your presence sir, of course."
"Okay. Mr. President. Thank you!"
"Anytime Director" at naputol na ang linya.
This is bad. Sabi nya sa sarili nya. May kutob na sya sa kung anong mangyayari lalo na nang maalala nya ang text nang kanyang ina kanina.
"Dammit!" mahinang bulong nya
"What is it Mr. Cervinio?"
Iniangat nya ang mukha nya bago nagsalita. "Director. I think this set-up is just one of Madam Chairman's Schemes." pranka nyang sagot.
"Ohh? You think?" tanong nito sa kanya, ngunit bago pa nya ito masagot ay nagring na ang kanyang Cellphone.
**Fam GC calling**
Sinagot nya ito. Bumungad sa kanya ang mukha ng kanyang ina at nakakatandang kapatid.
"Happy April Fools Day!" sabay na bati ng dalawa. Halatang tuwang-tuwa
"Tuwang-tuwa ahh. May nakakatawa?" sagot naman nya gamit ang naiiritang boses.
"Chill bro. Wag ka na magalit." - Lyndon
"Oo nga anak. Don't be galit. We're just having fun" - Eunice
"Having fun having fun. Hindi to fun.. Nanistorbo tayo ng isang busy'ng tao." napairap na lang sya sa hangin. Gumastos pa talaga sila para sa prank na to? So childish.
"Hahahahah.. Don't worry bunso. Alam ni ninong mo 'to" - Lyndon
"ANO!?" sigaw nya bago binalingan ng tingin si Director Hachivarait na ngayon ay nagpipigil ng ngiti. "You knew about this?"
Ngumiti ito nang napakalawak bago nagsalita. "Happy April Fools!"
Damn.. Ang gagaling nilang artista ahh..
"Did you know that this prank could line up in the costliest prank?" tawa lang ang sinagot nila sa kanya "I'm going back to Manila"
"Oppss. Saan ka nga again mag go anak?" ibababa na sana nya ang tawag nang magsalita ng makahulugan ang kanyang ina
"Back there. Manila! I have no Business here anyway" sagot nya.
"Sorry brother. But no can do. I already called the plane back since I'm going to London tomorrow."
"Then I'll just book a flight! Or whatever to go home!"
"Well... About that... Our pretty mom here pulled some strings... Your Passport is useless for 30 days... Effective April 1, 4:00 pm PST"
"WHAT! Mom!!" reklamo nya.
"Anak. Diba I told you naman. I want to make you layo from Pilipinas first. To unwind! To make you iwas from your toxic na kaibigans and ka-ibigans! And you said yes!"
"B-but--"
"No Buts."
"Ma! Ano namang gagawin ko dito?" reklamo nya sa kanyang ina.
Dammit. Bakit ba kasi ang tagal ma-process ng visaless at passportless entry ko sa ASESEAN. He thought
"Mag-tour, mag-shop, mag-whatever! You can tanong Director Hachivarait there oh"
"Yeah... Whatever. I'm hanging up"
"Bye, anak! Enjoy!"
"Bye Nong Lance!"
Pinatay nya na ang tawag. Binalingan nya ang direktor, "I'm going, Director. Thank you." tumayo na sya sa kinauupuan at nag-bow.
"Okay.. Just call me if you need anything!" sabi ng direktor bago sya makalabas ng pinto
Pagkalabas nya ay napabuntong hininga na lang sya.
Now I'm stuck in this country. Thailand, Please be nice to me.
BINABASA MO ANG
Searching in Thailand
RomanceJL, In attempt to find himself, found his way to Thailand. And Thailand being Adventurous and Mischievous it is, took something more from him... ...in exchange of him. "I was in a search for myself. But then, I found you." - JL
