Nagtungo ang mag-asawang Trinidad sa kabilang mesa kung saan may grupong naghihintay din sa pagdating ng mga ito. Naiwan ulit kami ni Keith sa hapagkainan na ngayon ay tinatapos pa ang aming almusal.
"I can't believe it! Ang layo nila sa picture ha, nasa 40s or 50s pa ata sila doon. They were so familiar, at ang tumatakbo lang sa isipan ko kanina when I saw them, ay kung saan ko ba sila nakita. Buti nalang talaga dumating ka. I was literally lost in my thoughts." I mumbled between my chewing.
"I recognized them immediately." He replied. "But I think you did a great job there, nakuha mo ang loob nila." He continued.
"You thinks so? It was not my intention tho, I was just telling the truth." Nginitian ko si Keith pagkatapos kong sabihin iyon sa kanya.
Muntik akong mabulunan sa gulat ng hapitin ni Keith ang bewang ko at inisod papalapit sa akin ang kanyang upuan. Just as soon as I lift my gaze, the old couple appeared right in front of us. Umupo ulit ang mga ito sa kanilang upuan.
Pagkatapos naming kumain, pinatawag ni Mr. Alejandro ang isang staff nito sa hotel. Hindi rin nagtagal ay lumapit ang isang babaeng nakasuot ng kulay pulang corporate attire.
"Delia, I would like you to welcome our special guests, this is Mr. Keith Cruz with his lovely wife, Sandra. " Binati kami ng staff na nagngangalang Delia at ganoon din kami sa kanya. Hinabilin kami ng Ginoo kay Delia upang maipasyal raw kami sa Hotel.
The couple went upstairs while Delia brought us to the mini museum of La Costa Blanca. It was actually an open museo. However, Delia shared that it was not open for a public view. Once you enter the lobby, makikita agad ang open room na museo na nasa bandang sulok.
"The hotel was first established by the late Marcello and Olivia Trinidad on 1930. Actually this hotel was just an extension of La Costa Blanca Beach Resort that's why it was named such because Blanca in english is White and Costa is Coast. It was derived from the white coast of the Beach Resort owned also by the Trinidads." Pagsisimula ni Delia.
That was trivial!
Nagkatinginan kami ni Keith, nagtatanguan sa isa't-isa as he grabbed my hand and intertwined our fingers.
"Mr. Alejandro Trinidad was the only child, so when he got married with Mrs. Elena, the couple transferred the ownership to their unico ijo as a gift. Unfortunately, after 10 years the couple died due to an accident."
"The Renovations happened during the year 2000, and up until now as you can see, the Trinidad decided not to compete anymore especially with modern hotels existing."
"Yes, I'm wondering, Bakit pa nila ibebenta ang hotel? Hindi ba nila ipapamana sa kanilang mga anak?" I asked. Sa totoo lang matagal ko ng gustong itanong ito.
"Unfortunately the couple was not able to have a child. That's why right now they are looking very carefully for a righteous buyer, para maibenta nalang lahat ng kanilang ari-arian."
Hmmm that explains why they have to sell this. Ang ganda kasi talaga ng hotel kaya nagtataka ako kung bakit kailangan pang ibenta, wala palang anak ang dalawa kaya wala silang ibang choice kundi ibenta nalang. At kaya pala, matinik sila sa kung sino ang pipiliing buyer. Now, it makes sense. The written report that was given to us was just purely about the statistics and you know, the 'reputation'.
Sa totoo lang, sumikip ang dibdib ko sa narinig. I can imagine and feel the struggle they went through as a couple. Ngunit kahit hindi man sila biniyayaan ng anak, hindi nila sinukuan ang isa't-isa. Sa nakikita ko, mas pinatatag pa ang relasyon na meron sila.
VOUS LISEZ
The Desperate Wife
Roman d'amourMuntik ko ng hindi makilala ang babaeng nakatayo sa aking harapan. Her baggy shirt and pajama was gone. Complementing with her red lipstick on, she's now wearing a wine red suit and skirt attire matched with a white top inside. Ang laki ng pinagbago...
