Seeking Gaston Lynx Esquivel

Chapter 40

"Okay, kumpleto na tayo. We could go down now to the entrance and wait for our van and don't forget your things." Mrs. Ramirez instructed us.

Isang maliit na travelling bag lang ulit ang dala ko dahil ilang araw lang naman kami doon. Binuhat na namin ang kanya-kanyang naming gamit at sumakay na ng elevator. Nasa sampung katao lamang kami at isang van lang ang gagamitin namin.

"Let me help you with your things." Akmang bubuhatin ni Eng. Alfredo ang bag ko ng tumanggi ako.

"Thank you, pero kaya ko naman."

He didn't insisted anymore hanggang sa makarating na kami sa may labasan. Mrs. Ramirez will be with us at busy ito ngayong may katawagan sa cellphone niya.

Since bibiyahe naman kami ay nagsuot lamang ako ng simpleng wide leg jeans at puting adidas shirt, then I tucked it in. Maging ang mga kasamahan ko ay nagsuot lamang ng komportableng damit.

We were waiting patiently while Eng. Alfredo was just right behind me. Hindi ko tuloy maiwasang isipin ang mga pinagsasabi ni Ina tungkol sa kanya. She isn't wrong but I don't want to entertain it.

"Okay...Listen!" Mrs. Ramirez walked towards us urgently, and she was almost panicking too.

Kaagad na naalerto ang team sa kanya.

"Last minute changes. Sir Gaston will be with us for three whole days."

Kaagad na namilog ang mga mata ko. I fidgeted my fingers and I heard some of the members of the team groaned.

I heard Eng. Alfredo sighed heavily beside me. "Then, I guess we need to work harder." Then he chuckled.

"And sa Villa niya tayo titira sa loob ng tatlong araw. Don't worry, isa-isa tayo ng kwarto, we'll have privacy."

"Ma'am baka naman patii sa pagtulog magtratrabaho tayo niyan." Eng. Romero joked and the team laughed.

Well it's not impossible.

Mrs. Ramirez joined and laughed too. "Don't worry, Sir Gaston is kind and considerate. Hindi naman tayo aabot sa puntong yan."

They continued talking more hanggang sa dumating na nga ang sasakyan namin. Inaayos na namin ang mga gamit namin sa likod ng mapagtanto namin na kulang ang espasyo sa likod para sa mga gamit namin.

So some of the members of the team carried their own things inside the van and stayed seated. But that is when other problems arrive.

"Ma'am hindi po ata tayo kasya."

I looked inside and it was already packed. Kami na lang ni Eng. Alfredo ang natitira sa labas. I looked at Mrs. Ramirez who was on the phone again.

"Hello, yes. Pwede po bang kumuha pa ng isang sasakyan?" I looked at her as she relayed our problem.

"Kay Sir Gaston na lang? Oh...I mean it's fine Jess. Thank you." Then she ended the call and had another call.

Kaagad akong nanlamig sa narinig kong usapan. I saw Eng. Alfredo looked for a seat inside at dali-dali na rin akong sumunod.

"Here. Eng. Ada." He tapped the little space beside him. Pero wala akong choice.

I got in and squeezed myself. And it was uncomfortable. And I'll be staying like this for almost two to three hours.

But it's fine, this is better than...the other available options.

"Are you fine?" Eng. Alfredo can't help but ask me. My face probably looks so uncomfortable.

"Yes, I'm good." Pilit kong salita.

Maya-maya pa ay tiningnan kami ni Mrs. Ramirez sa loob. I avoided her gaze when her vision found mine.