"Excuse me, ma'am but your card is placed on hold"
Natigilan ako sa narinig.
What?
Tinaasan ko ng isang kilay yung front desk and gave her my fakest, yet my prettiest smile. "Na-see mo na ba card ko?"
The girl blinked, confused for a moment, and nodded. "I already tried three times, ma'am"
Ugh. This dumb girl. Tinignan ko ang aking everose gold na Rolex at napasinghap ng hangin sa napansin. I've been standing here for 5 minutes long! Nangangalay na legs ko!
"Miss... Juanciansyo, yes?" I said upon reading her name tag, already losing my patience. "Hindi ko tinanong kung ilang beses mong sinubukan, I asked if you've seen my card"
Saglit pumanget ekspresyon niya sa mukha. Halatang naiinis na 'rin saakin. But she still managed a smile. Dapat lang at baka wala na siyang trabaho kinabukasan.
"Yes, ma'am" She answered.
"Have you read my pangalan?"
She looked at the card, "Ma'am... Cleobella Thea Mercante"
"Repeat my last name again"
"Mercante...?"
I waited for a reaction.
Nothing.
Oh my god.
This is ridiculous.
I tapped my pinked nails at their marbled counter. "I think you're not tanga naman not to know the Mercante Hotel Group?"
Napa 'O' bibig niya. Ngayon lang ata napagtanto. "Ah, yes ma'am. Hindi naman po ito 'yung Mercante Hotel"
I rolled my eyes. Nakakaloka na. "I am a Mercante, so if you won't give me a room right now, I don't think I'll ever see your face again"
Bigla siyang namutla sa sinabi ko pero naroon parin ang pagkalito. "P-pero ma'am, your card is o—"
"Wala akong pakialam if my card is on hold. Do something about it, or let me talk to your manager instead. Ako na lang gagawa ng paraan since mukhang—"
"May problema ba dito?"
Humalukipkip ako at sabay naming nilingon ng front desk ang lalaking nagsalita.
My jaw dropped when I saw the familiar beautiful face of the man I despised since childhood.
Kazael Mat Bonavich.
"Sir!"
I blinked and blinked. Did I accidentally entered my family's rival hotel?!
Oh, no no no no.
Lumapit saamin si Kazael, naka school uniform pa ito na halatang kakagaling lamang sa eskwelahan. Binigyan niya ako tingin sabay pasok ng dalawang kamay sa bulsa. "Anong problema?"
"Si ma'am kasi—"
I cut her off. "My driver couldn't pick me up sa sobrang lakas ng ulan kaya my mom told me to stay in a hotel na lang daw muna. I would prefer naman to stay in our own hotel pero ito lang ang malapit. When I booked for a room, mukhang naka hold ang card ko"
Tumango tango si Kazael sabay lapag ng kanyang itim na backpack sa front desk. "May cash kang dala?"
I pursed my lips. "Wala"
"Well," Kinuha niya wallet niya sa backpack. "That's bad news"
Kumunot noo ko ng buksan niya ang kanyang wallet at kumuha ng pera dito. I exaggeratedly gasped. I am not about to accept any cash from a guy like him just so he could buy me a room—
"Go grab a taxi or something" Nilapag niya ang 500 pesos cash sa front desk— mismong sa harapan ko. "We're not accepting anyone who couldn't pay for a room. No exceptions"
I wanted to scream.
At his ears.
I am Cleobella Thea Mercante and I am not going to take a taxi.
——
Taglish.
This is a work of fiction. Names, business, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
TRIGGER WARNING: This story contains strong language, abusive behaviors, mental health issues, harassment, anxiety, violence, and addiction. Please read with an open mind, or if not comfortable, do not continue.
R18+.
——
Cadre Series #2
