When Playboy Meets The Odd

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

SAGE

"Ano? Hindi nagana ang telepono?" Napairap ako sa narinig.

"Opo, Ate, eh display lang naman yan ni General eh!" Napasapo sa kanyang noo ang babae. I saw the younger girl look at me.

"Sino ba sila Ate?" I heard her asked. Dumako tuloy ang tingin ko kay Monsy.

"What are we going to do?" I asked. Nilingon kami ng dalawang babae.

"Paano ba yan, peke pala itong telepono ni General." Said the older woman.

"Wala po ba kayong cellphone?" Tanong ni Monsy sa mga ito. The two women took something from their pockets. It's a keypad phone. Nabuhayan naman ako ng loob.

"Try to call your company!" I said to Monsy. The two women looked at us with worried.

"Eh, walang signal dito neng!" Nawala ang ngiti ko. Fuck. I forgot about that.

Bumuntong hininga ako. This is one of the biggest problem here in Claveria! Iilang lugar lang ang may signal.

"Ganun po ba? Paano po kayo nakakatawag kung ganun."

"Sa sentro." Sabay-sabay naming sagot. The three of them looked at me. Gulat ata dahil alam ko. Monsy looked at me dumbfoundedly.

"Uhm, I've been here." Paliwanag ko sa kanya.

"Ano daw, Ate?" I heard the younger girl asked. Napailing naman ang babae sa kanya.

"Meron po bang masasakyan dito papuntang sentro?" Monsy asked. I looked at the two women. Nagkatinginan naman sila. Napasapo tuloy ako sa noo ko. I think I know what they're going to say.

"Wala hijo. Kailangan mo pang makisabay sa sasakyan ng mga sundalo!" I sighed from what I heard. Is there any good news? Nawawalan na ako ng pag-asa ah.

"Meron po bang lalabas sa kampo ngayon?" Tanong ni Monsy. Umiling ang dalawa.

Goodness.

"Wala po ang sasakyan ngayon nasa Tuguegarao!" Said the younger woman. Monsy nodded. She looked at him with awe.

"Nandun ba sila? Naku ilang araw pa ang balik nun, hijo!"

Hay, I can't stay in this room. I need some fresh air.

Naglakad ako patungo sa katapat na veranda. We're in their second floor. Natanaw ko ang malapit na dagat. This place is so majestic except that there's no signal.

"Paano po nakakatanggap si General ng mensahe?" I heard Monsy asked. I looked back at them.

The woman glance at me before glancing at the thing on the near table.

Fax machine? Great. Wala na bang mas ikakasinauna ang lugar na to?

Suwerte pa pala ako sa dati kong tinirahan. At least, there's a signal there.

"Do you have a fax machine in your company?" I asked Monsy. He shooked his head.

"Who uses fax machine now?" Tanong niya.

"Uh, them?" Itinuro ko naman ang dalawang babae. Napasapo naman ito sa kanyang noo.

"Hanggang saan po ba nakakapagpadala iyan?" Monsy suddenly asked.

"Sa sentro din. May sekretarya doon si General. Siya ang nagpapadala ng mga mensahe."

I flicked my finger. Kaagad naman silang napalingon sa akin. "Let's send that secretary a message so she can contact your company." I suggested.

Monsy nodded. "Do you know how to use that?" He asked. Nawala ang ngiti sa labi ko.

"How would I know?" Simangot ko sa kanya. Monsy let out a sigh. Tinignan niya ang dalawang babae.