You Belong With Me

Six.

"Welcome home, Miss!"

Michelle smiled warmly at me.

"Hi, Michelle! Ang pasalubong ko para sa mga bata naroon na kay Manong Ronnie," kinindatan ko siya at pumasok na sa opisina.

Michelle served Lala since she graduated college. When I became Lala's secretary, she was like the 'executive' one and I was more of a personal assistant. We grew close since then and when she gave birth to her twins, she made me a Ninang!

Mabuti nalang at tinapos ko ang mga kailangang gawin bago lumipad papuntang Milan. I was only gone for three weekdays though.

Buong araw, inabala ko ang sarili sa trabaho. There are a lot of projects at bay and the biggest one so far is the Montano-Divesta collaboration! I called Michelle to contact the agency I once worked in to hire some models.

"Miss, suggestion lang, ayaw mo bang magpa-audition nalang? Para hindi basta-basta ang ibigay sa ating modelo!"

I looked up at Michelle. She has a point. I agreed to her at siya na raw ang bahala roon.

Sumakit ang ulo ko kalaunan. I glanced at the wall clock. Gosh! 7pm na pala! Niligpit ko na ang gamit ko. Handa na sana akong umalis nang tumunog ang phone ko. Unregistered number iyon.

This better not be Chandler!

"Hey!"

Ugh, it is Chandler!

"What?!"

"Oy, sungit naman! Dapat 'good evening, Chandler'!"

"Chandler, masakit ang ulo ko. Just go straight to the point!"

Natahimik siya sa kabilang linya. He cleared his throat.

"Hala... okay ka lang? May mag-aalaga ba sa'yo?"

Kumunot ang noo ko. Anong pinagsasabi nito?

"Ano ba? Why did you call?", bulyaw ko. I am hungry and tired! Ugh!

"Sasabihin ko lang sana na nakuha ko na ang sasakyang binili natin! Joyride sana tayo! Ito naman, galit agad!"

Suminghap ako. "Chandler, what is a fucking joyride?!"

"Masayang sumasakay! Duh!"

Is that even a thing?!

"Joke! Sige na, baba ko na 'to. Magkita nalang tayo sa meeting bukas! Ingat!"

Napailing ako nang matapos ang tawag. I need a lot of energy when I'm with Chandler! He's always hyped up and loud. I'm not used to that vibe!

Umuwi ako sa bahay. I have a condo near Divesta Corp. but I need Manang Milagros' sopas tonight. I'm probably jet lagged!

Our house is in Forbes Park kaya hindi ako natagalan sa pag-uwi.

"Manong, dito ako matutulog ngayon. You can fetch me here tomorrow at 8am."

"Sige po."

Pagpasok ko sa bahay, I can already smell the soup! Itinext ko kasi si Manang kanina habang papunta ako rito para hindi na ako maghintay. My stomach is rumbling already!

"Good evening, Manang!"

"Magandang gabi, Portia! Naku, teka ilalagay ko muna sa bowl ang sopas."

Manang Milagros ate it with me. She used to do this when I was still young. Mommy and Daddy weren't always around so Manang was my companion. Hindi rin ako lumaki na may hinanakit kina Mommy dahil kay Manang. She taught me a lot and Lala was really happy about it then. Reason why she always bought Manang everything she needed and wanted.