All Jokes Aside (Imperfect Series #3)

Chapter 07

It's freaking over two hundred pesos, it's too much. It's a lot of money for just a few hours, per month nga lang ang nakukuha ko sa sahod ko sa hotel tapos five million won ang nakuha ko sa ilang oras lang? Nagluto lang ako may limang milyon na ako. Nakakapanlula ang ganun kalaking pera na sahod ko. Dinaig ko pa ang sahod ng abogadang kumare ni Mama.

I bit my nail as I looked wearily outside of my window, I was still in the living area and over-thinking. What if he didn't mean paying me that much. What if pagbayaran niya ako? What if may kapalit nun? What if bait lang pala yun at makulong ako dahil baka pagtangkaan akong nagnakaw ng pera na yun?

I shook my head and disposed the rummaging what-ifs inside of my head. Binalik ko ang check sa sobre at sinuksuk sa loob ng bulsa ng shoulder bag ko ang sobre na yun. Hindi ko yun  kayang gastusin habang hindi pa ako nakakasigurado kung tama nga ba ang pagbigay niya sakin nun. Hindi ako maaaring magsaya dahil may pera akong ganun kalaking halaga.

Yung rest day ko ay hindi worth it dahil hindi ako nakapagpahinga ng maayos, nagkaroon ako agad ng part-time job at malaki ang binayad niya sakin. Nastress tuloy ako sa pag-iisip ng ganun. Nais kong marinig ang clarification na yun kaysa sa kung ano pa ang negatibong naisip ko. Mabuti pang ayusin ko muna yun saka na siguro magiging magaan ang loob ko at makakatulog ulit ako ng mahimbing.

Nakabalik ako sa hotel ng masakit parin ang braso. Hindi ako uminom ng painkiller dahil kaya ko naman. Saka ako umiinom ng painkiller kapag hindi ko kaya gaya ng period cramps na unbearable. Nasa huling suite na ako nang magkita kami ni Shin-Ah. Malaki ang ngiti niya at kinuha ang kamay ko.

"Lowie! Guess what?" How would I exactly guess something I didn't know about. What a ridiculous expression. "Mina Lee is here!" she added.

I didn't get what she meant. I didn't know who Mina Lee was. My brows curled down. "Who?" I asked as I entered the last suite. It's almost five p.m and I should finish cleaning the suite or else I would walk home late.

She rolled her eyes at me and pinched my cheek faintly. "Mina Lee is the leader and the dancing machine of Kpop girl group Candy. She's so famous and she just debuted her first drama. Have you seen the drama, the Knock on the Door? It made her more famous because of her acting skill was jaw-dropping." she said with her eyes glittered in joy and excitement.

I cocked my head to see the room. "I really don't know that girl you're talking about and I haven't seen that drama you mentioned."

She frowned. "You've no fun, Lowie. She's staying the night here, Lowie."

"Oh really, then?"

She pouted and slapped my arm. I winced because she hit my aching arm. She widened her eyes and her excitement died down to turned to felt sorry. "Oh sorry, I forgot." she said and gently patted my arm.

"Go back to work, Shin-Ah. Manager Kim might see you." I shooed her.

"I treat you later. See you." she said goodbye.

I chewed my lips as I nodded. Tinulak ko ang trolley at inuna kong kunin ang sheets sa kama para palitan ng bago at pati ang pillowcase ng unan. May magpapalit mamaya ng sheets dahil yung dala ko ay para sa paglinis ng kwarto. Pagtanggal ko sa sheets ay ilalagay ko na sana muna sa sofa nang bigla akong mapaatras nang makaharap ko ulit si Hyunjin Nam.

"Shoot!" Nagulat ako sa bigla niyang pagsulpot sa harap ko. Napahaplos ako sa dibdib ko, kinalma ang sarili at napatingin sa kanya. "You surprised me." I blurted.

"Same time later. Heesu will get you." Yun lang ang sabi niya bago tumalikod.

Pero naalala ko agad ang tseke na bigay niya sakin kahapon. "Sir... excuse me." I called. He halted and turned to face me again. "It's... about the money you paid me." I was hesitated to open up to him about it.