Hide And Seek (A Series #4)

Chapter 30

Chapter 30: Coming home

"Paano kapag wala na akong babalikan?"

Iyan ang unang tanong ko kay Mommy nang dumating kami sa States. Tanong na ilang buwan pa bago nagsimulang magbigay si Mommy ng sagot.

Maliban kay Kaden, ayaw nila akong umuwi kahit ilang linggo ang nakalipas mula noong pagdating namin. Mommy broke my SIM card in front of me. I hated her for two months until I have learned why my mood changes everytime I think of Fidai, I think of the land I left promptly.

Siguro nga may mga dahilan kung bakit nangyari iyon sa amin. Pagdating namin ng California, sinalubong kami nila Tito Mikael at Tita Kristen, half-American and half-Filipino na asawa ni Tito. They all made decisions for me. I was left to follow their orders.

Kinabukasan noon, umalis si Tito kasama ang asawa niya upang mamamahala sa C & H. And Lolo guided me how to run the hotels they owned here in California.

I started working in The Landbay Hotel California, Lolo's very own. Months and months, Lolo is supervising me. And during that time, hindi ko pa rin pinapansin si Mommy. I really hated her but not for long.

Kalaunan napapatawad ko naman siya. Gusto niyang hindi mangyayari ang nangyari noon kay Daddy. I understand it, but in that day when she decided we leave Philippines, I was surprised, shocked, horrified. All negative emotions is gathering inside me.

"Miss Felicano, Sir Felix is in the lobby." sabi ng secretary ko rito.

Hinilot ko ang aking sentido bago tumugon sa intercom. "I'll be right there."

Inayos ko na ang aking pagmumukha. Felix is a friend. Board member ang magulang at paminsan siya ang naging representative nito kaya kami nagkakilala.

Bumaba na ako pagkatapos ng pag-aayos sa sarili. Binabati ako ng mga employees at tipid naman akong ngumiti sa kanila.

This hotel is such taller than C & H. This is about 73 floors and there's an adjacent building with 52 floors down, still part of The Landbay.

"My, my..." nakangising bungad ni Felix sa akin.

I rolled my eyes. "Let's go, I'm hungry."

"Sure, my lady." tawa niya pa.

"Good night, Miss Felicano." bati ng mga receptionist.

Ngumiti ako nang bumaling sa mga ito. "Good night,"

They giggled even when Felix smiled as well. Napailing na lang ako. Kahit kailan talaga ang isang ito. He is Canadian-Filipino. Just like Jason, he really likes pestering me kahit may girlfriend naman ito.

Dumiretso kami sa kabilang building kung saan naroon ang night life viewing restaurant. Dumiretso kami sa nakasanayan na lamesa. Nasa dulo ng balkonahe.

"May I take your order, Ma'am, Sir?" tanong ng waitress.

"The usual for me and a glass of wine." tugon ko.

"Yeah, same as her."

"I'll be back by 10 minutes with your food." ani ng waitress at umalis.

Nilabas ko ang aking cellphone. At si Felix ay sumandal sa kanyang inuupuan na may mapanuring tingin sa akin kaya nagbuntonghininga ako at inip na tumingin sa kanya.

"You look like a girl in a long distance relationship."

Mataman ko siyang tiningnan. "I am a girl in a relationship with myself. #PromoteSelfLove."

Tumawa siya. "Let those men court you, Ee. May the best man wins."

"Trying to be a wingman again, Felix." iling ko at binalingan ang aking cellphone.