Haplos ng Hangin (Yutang Bulahan Series #3)

HNH - 36

THE BACK TO DECEMBER.

“Hi, I’m Sandi Hinolan.” Binasag ko ang katahimikan at ang pagkakagulat nila. Isinantabi ko ang towel na dala ko kanina at kahit wala pang suklay, hinayaan ko ang sarili kong humarap sa kanila.

Then they start to scream, shriek, hyperventilate, and etc.

Okay, what is going on?

I look at Mama Hector. Umiling lang siya at lumapit na roon sa isang babaeng payat pero naka-corporate attire. Medyo kumalma ang babaeng iyon pero ‘yong iba, hindi pa rin. Hanggang sa ang payat na babae na iyon na mismo ang nagpakalma sa mga kasamahan niya.

Sinuklay ko ang basa kong buhok gamit ang mga daliri ko and just shrug my shoulder.

They continue their hyperventilating moment while I sit down in a single couch, in front of them. I smile and wait for them to calm down.

Even the bulking body guys, which I assume will be my personal guard, are shrieking like they pinch by a cupid.

“Okay, take your time,” I mumble.

I got a pack of cigarettes on the coffee table beside me. Kumuha ako ng isa at agad sinindihan sa katabi nitong lighter. I savor a smoke, let my throat savor the coolness of the mind from the cigarette, and then puff with a heavy sigh.

But I did stop midair when I saw they all look at me with a deafening sound. Para silang naging statue, natigilan at lahat nakatingin sa akin.

“What? It isn’t a big deal. Everybody knows I’m smoking.”

“Nah uh. Unicef, ‘nak. Role model ka. Stop it,” Mama Hector say, requesting me to throw away the cigarette.

Pero hindi ako nakinig. I puff another smoke and stand up. I puff another, at saka ko lang isinantabi ang cigarette sa malapit na ashtray.

“I want to know them,” excited na sabi ko.

The shock atmosphere were eventually replace by a more lighter one. They all smile. Una kong tiningnan ang katabing petite woman, the same age as Mama Hector, yata.

Mama Hector then introduce them one by one. The petite woman is my new manager and will be handling every offers, transactions, businesses, and my other agendas here in the Philippines. She’s Ms. Yang. My personal assistant is a girl the same height as mine and a bubbly one, named Nissa. My hair stylist, stylist, and make up artist in one is Alexa, she’s a transgender and one of the few that live in my hometown. Alexa Geroso is the name. Previously Rocky Alexis Geroso. Boyfriend daw niya ang kapatid ng Presidente ng BN Station kaya siya nabigyan ng chance to be in this “special” task. Ewan ko, naguguluhan ako sa part na ‘yon. There are two big guys. The first one is Martin, head of my security team. The second one is Chivas, my personal driver and a member of my security team. They both worked as PSG of the previous administration kaya trained na trained daw sila to protect me.

It’s my choice na kaonti lang dapat ang mga makakasama ko rito sa Pilipinas. Ewan ko, nakakasawa kasing ang dami kong kasama rati. Mas mabuti na ‘yong ganito, palagi akong may peace of mind.

Para mas makilala sila, I invited them for a lunch. Nag-usap lang kami kung anong mga mangyayari sa pag-uwi kong ito. Agad din namang nakalimutan ng buong mundo ang issue’ng ginawa ko a few days ago. Pero sa Pilipinas, bumabalandara pa rin daw ang pangalan ko sa social media, news, and other media platforms. Basically I am still the trending topic in the Philippines.

“What do you want to do to confirm the speculations?” tanong ni Ms. Yang, bago kong manager.

Inilapag ko ang kubyertos na hawak ko at nakangising sumandal sa back rest ng dining chair at nag-cross arms.