Amber's Abode (Hotel Duology One)

Chapter 05

Chapter 05
Friendship

"Kakasuhan kayo?"

I stab the last bite of my omelet lying on my plate. My secretary immediately went home after I told her what happened last night. She has a lunch date with her husband supposedly but she canceled it. I wasn't sure if I needed to say to her, but she is the only one who knows my past except for Lorraine. 

Gusto ko rin naman may kausap tungkol sa nangyari. Vent out the frustration I feel with Tita Belle. Hindi ko naman magagawa 'yon kay Lorraine dahil may problema rin sila, ayokong makisawsaw pa.

"I told you I'm okay," I assured her. "It's just a misunderstanding, akala nila sisirain ko party. Nag-trespassed pa kasi ako."

"Pero bakit sinabi ni Lorraine na may consequence pa po kayong haharapin?"

"That? It's nothing."

Wala naman akong dapat ikabahala do'n 'di ba? I will ignore it, avoid it at all costs and pretend Lorraine did not offer that kind of arrangement.

"Anong nothing? Amber, magiging sekretarya ka ni Tita Belle!" biglang sumulpot sa dining si Lorraine habang kumakain ng saging. "Kami ni Ace ang magbabayad sa ginawa mo kung 'di mo siya susundan."

Kumunot noo naman ako at sumimsim ng tubig. "Huwag mong pansinin 'yan."

Bigla namang sinampal ni Lorraine ang lamesa at tumingin sa akin. Mata sa mata. 

"No, you should do it....please," she begged. "Siguradong ang partnership namin sa hotel ang pupuntiryahin niya kung tatakas ka. Please? Please? Please?"

"Lorraine, hindi mo ba siya pwedeng kausapin? This is not a big deal to begin with. Tita Belle is overreacting! If we just ignore her, she can forget this," saad ko.

"Nakalimutan mo na ba yung kagabi? I tried to defend you but she did not listen. Paano pa kung sabihin kong let her spare you?"

I backed off and she did too. Inubos ko naman ang natirang tubig sa baso ko.

Do I need to kneel down below them again to spare my life? I already made this decision years ago and I told myself not to do it again...

"Please! Please! Please! Look, she did not recognize you at all! Giveaway na nawalan ang ala-ala niya tungkol sa'yo para makapagtrabaho ka. Isn't that good for you? Amber, all you need to do is pretend you know nothing about her and just work until her secretary comes back!" medyo tumaas ang boses ni Lorraine. "Please naman Amber, kaibigan mo ako! Kailangan ko ng tulong."

"Naririnig mo ba ang sarili mo Lorraine?" seryosong sambit ko.

She had a confused look on her face.

"Excuse me lang 'ha?" tumayo na ako. "You're pushing me on something that I don't want to do. In the first place, hindi naman mangyayari 'yon kung sumagot si Ace sa tawag ng empleyado n'yo. Why is it my concern?"

Umiwas siya ng tingin sa akin at bahagyang tumalikod. 

"One more thing Lorraine, kaibigan kita at tutulungan kita pero sana huwag mong ipilit sa akin. I already vowed to myself that I will not come back to my younger self begging for chances to live. Ayoko nang tapakan ulit nila ako."

Iniwan ko silang dalawa sa dining at tumungo sa kwarto ko. Huminga ako nang malalim at umupo sa kama ko. 

I was hurt. Hindi ko gusto ang sinabi ni Lorraine akin. I'm not relieved that Neon's mother forgot about me because she also forgot her memories with her family. Kahit na masama ang ugali niya sa akin she is still a good mother of Neon. The memories they had together just disappeared suddenly and I know how it feels.