The Shining Glory of the Queen

Chapter 3

"Today is a battle. Tomorrow is a new fight. I'd choose to face my 'today' than to look out for tomorrow. If I didn't survive now, what tomorrow would I look out for?"

-Tobias Recaido's Quote

Inayos ko na yung mga gamit ko sa resthouse namin. Halos nandoon pa'din yung whole staff namin, kasama na si Tita Guia, na head ng household.

Kinalakihan ko dito kasi dito kami nagsusummer when I was four years old. Dito lang yung natatanging place na mabait ako. Yeah, I admit na hindi ako mabuting tao, nevertheless, I still have a perfectly good reason.

Napag-usapan namin yung bagong owner ng island. It turns out, mabait daw yung guy kasi dinadalhan daw niya sila ng mga pagkain. Chef daw kasi yung guy.

Sticking to the plan, I want to go to the guy, pero kanina kasi, gusto ko sana siyang guluhin pero I changed my mind. I want to thank him kasi from the start, nagbibigay na pala siya ng mga pagkain kina Tita Guia.

Hindi lang 'yon. Close na din daw sila. Tita Guia even calls him Tobby. Gwapo daw siya and sabi naman nung ibang nagtatrabaho dito, understatement daw yung "gwapo".

I'll be the judge of that. Thank you very much.

Ngayon, naglalakad ako papunta sa modern house niya. My gad, let me tell you that it's a hike just to get to his house. Ang sipag niya naman kung akyat-panaog siya sa resthouse ko tapos pabalik sa bahay niya.

After mga five minutes, finally, nakarating na din ako sa resthouse niya. Ang laki and it's surrounded by full glass. His house is so transparent and it looked so modern.

"Excuse me?" tanong ng isang malalim na boses sa likod ko. I turned around only to see a handsome guy holding a hose.

Para siyang gardener na model— wait what?

"Hello! Uhm... Is 'Tobby' here?" tanong ko while eyeing him carefully. Naka loose black t-shirt siya. Naka shorts lang din siya. Medyo tanned yung skin niya.

He kind of reminds me of Drake pero siyempre, mas gwapo pa din yung kapatid ko. Family muna.

"You're talking to him," sabi niya habang binababa yung hose.

"Ha? You're a 'Tobby'? You look more of a... James," sabi ko habang natatawa sa sarili ko. Nginitian niya lang ako.

"That's because I am a 'James'. Tobias James Recaido, what can I do for you, magandang binibini?" sabi niya habang nagba-bow.

Natawa na lang ako kasi akala ko mas magiging mature siya. Welp, tama din naman sina Ninette, yung maid namin. He's kinda hot, pero hindi siya gan'on ka-appealing sa'kin.

I mean, I've seen better. I often visit the gym dati, bago pa kami nakabili ng equipment para sa gym room namin sa bahay.

"I'm Arissa Jae. I just want to visit the new neighbor. I'll be staying here for a while... might as well get along with the new guys," sabi ko while shrugging.

Ewan ko but I don't feel like being arrogant here. This island makes me calm, swerte si Tobias at hindi ako dinadalaw ng kamalditahan ko. Baka 'di na siya bumalik sa resthouse ko.

"Oh! Ikaw yung may-ari ng resthouse sa tabing-dagat? Let me tell you, the architectual presentation is cool. I had the time to sketch it, you want to see it? Ikaw yung alaga ni Tita Guia 'noh?" sabi niya ng sunod-sunod. 'Di na nga ako makasabay.

"Okay, okay! Slow down! Ang daming tanong. Here's my answer; Yes, yes, and yes," pagsagot ko sa tatlong magkakasunod na questions niya.

"'Lika! Pasok ka. Pasensiya na, I don't get many visitors here kaya kalat ang shirts ko," pag-eexplain niya habang pinupulot yung mga shirts sa leather sofa niya pag-pasok ko sa door niya.