DON'T FALL IT'S DANGEROUS

Chapter 3

DESTEEN didn't expect what happen to her when she arrived at the Philippines. Unang tapak niya palang sa bansa, disgrasya agad ang sumalubong sa kan'ya.

Hinilot niya ng bahagya ang puwet na nauntog sa sahig matapos siyang mabangga kanina. Her butt hurt but it was tolerable. It hurts, yes, pero at least nakatayo pa rin siya.

Nakakahiya no'ng una dahil may nagtinginan na tao doon.

Desteen hailed a taxi to drop her to her new house. She inhale the fresh wind of the place. Bigla nalang siyang nabahing. Kinuskos niya ang ilong. "I guess I'm wrong when I say it's fresh." tumawa siya. "Polluted, maybe."

Desteen came from small beautiful town in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland. She was having a good life living there. It was her hometown. She grew-up there. This trip is her first travel alone, though, it's not her first time here in the Philippines. Dati na silang nakapunta sa bansang Pilipinas kasama ang ama.

Desteen dad, Matteo Schmid, used to lived in the Philippines. Matteo was a full-blooded swiss national. Dugong banyaga ito. Matteo fell in love with the place. Dito din nahanap ni Matteo ang Ina ng anak na si Desteen. So, basically, Desteen is half-filipino.

Desteen is a dual citizenship. Means, she can lived in both Philippines and Switzerland. But now, she's living in the Philippines for good as what she and her dad's bet. Nagpustahan silang mag-ama sa larong basketball. And Desteen won with their bet.

So, here she was, happy observing the surrounding as the taxi continuously maneuvering.

The last time she came her in the Philippines, was she's only sixteen years old. And looking outsides car's window, Desteen knows a lot changed throughout the times. Marami siyang nakikita na building ngayon kumpara noon.Kung dati maraming puno ang mga gilid ng kalsada, ngayon kunti nalang ang nakikita niya. It's okay though. Eleven years passed since her last visit to the country.

The only constant in this world is changes. Now, Desteen believe in that parable.

Ilang minuto pa ang lumipas bago makarating si Desteen sa bahay na titirahan niya. Her dad's bought a condo for her. Sinipat niya ang laki ng building. She doesn't know what to do. It was her first trip without accompany.

Nakakatakot palang bumiyahe mag-isa... Para kang basang sisiw na hindi alam ang gagawin.

Filipino hospitality is really something. They always seem happy because Filipinos always had a smile plastered on their faces. Tinulungan din siya ng driver ng taxi na nasakyan niya. Since the driver was kind, Desteen, gave the driver a big tip. Laking pasalamat ng driver.

Matapos maibaba ang lahat ng gamit ni Desteen doon niya lang naalala na wala sa kanya ang susi ng condo unit niya. Her dad prepared everything for her.

Tinawagan ni Desteen ang ama. Nahihiya siya dahil pinagtitinginan na siya ng mga taong dumadaan. Para kasing pinalayas ang itsura niya. Tatlong malaking malita ba naman dala niya.

Naiinip na si Desteen. Matagal muna bago sagutin ng Mateo and tawag ng anak. Desteen tsked. Ang mahal pa naman ng international calls.

"Dad, I don't know what to do." Nakatayo lang si Desteen sa labas ng building kung na saan ang condo unit niya. "It's mainit pala here in Philippines.

Tumawa si Matteo sa anak. He could imagine her daughter pouting now. "Just wait there. Someone will pick you up. That man already knows what to do."

Tumango si Desteen kahit hindi naman siya nakikita ng ama. "Okay. Thank you, dad. Love you."

Matteo made a kissing sound making Desteen chuckled. "Love you, too. Enjoy your stay. I'll come visit you when I have time."

"Yes, yes. Take care, dad."

"Bye." Binaba ni Matteo ang tawag.

Mayamaya pa may lumapit na lalaki kay Desteen na init na init na.

"Good afternoon, ma'am." The man wearing a black suit or it was their uniform? Desteen didn't know. "I'm Liam. Sir, Matteo instructed me to guide you in every way possible. I am your personal assistant, ma'am." May ibibigay sa kanya ang 'personal assistant' niya kuno. "Here's your key card, ma'am." May tinawag na tauhan ang personal assistant niyang si Liam. "Follow me, ma'am."

"Okay." Sumunod lang si Desteen kay Liam. Hanggang sa elevator. Pinindot ni Liam ang twenty seventh floor. The fourth floor from the last floor of the building. To Desteen, Liam is not just an ordinary person. Ramdam niya iyon. Kitang-kita din sa tindig nito.

Liam guided her. And eventually stop at a certain door. Room 0261. Desteen enter her key card and the luxurious beautiful room welcomed her.

The room was spacious. It's for one person living in there. Pang-pamilya na siguro ang kwarto. Desteen knows it was bit expensive just by looking at the interior of the whole room. From its high ceiling, chandeliers and paintings hanging from the wall, to the displays. It all scream extravagants.

Hindi talaga marunong magtipid ang tatay niya. Palaging nagastos, palibhasa may perang pangwaldas.

Liam help her placing her things inside. Matapos niyang mailagay ang mga maleta ng bago niyang boss, Liam bow his head. "Just call me whenever you need help, ma'am, or you need something." Tinuro ni Liam ang telepono na nakasabit sa ding ding ng silid malapit sa may pintuan. "Use that phone, ma'am. That's connected to me. I will personally deliver you your food, ma'am.Enjoy your stay."

"Thank you, Liam." Nginitian lang siya ng binata saka umalis.

The first thing, Desteen do, is to stroll around the whole room. The kitchen is quite wide. Pero wala din yung silbi dahil hindi naman siya magaling magluto, nagmamagaling lang.... Her unit has three bedrooms. Maganda ang kabuohan ng bago niya tirahan. And what she like the most is the veranda with the overlooking view of the whole city.

She inhale the new scent of air. Ibang-iba ang lugar na ito sa kinalakihan niya. Lauterbrunnen have lots of hills and you'll see greens all over the place. Tahimik doon, compare to the city where she will be living. Maingay ang paligid ng lugar dahil sa mga ugong kotse. The city was very busy.

Matapos niyang malibot ang buong bahay niya. Inayos naman niya ang mga gamit. Medyo may kabigatan ang maleta niya kaya nahirapan siya ng kunti.

Matapos niyang maayos ang gamit ay naligo naman siya. Desteen just wear comfortable clothes. Pagkatapos niyang magbihis ay tinungo niya ang kusina. She's planning to lists all her needs so she could shop. Nasa may sala palang siya, narinig niya ang doorbell.

May peephole ang pinto niya. So Desteen take a peek, and it was Liam behind the door. She welcome Liam.

Liam formally smile at Desteen. "Here's your food, ma'am." Tinulak nito ang trolley papalapit sa kanya. "Enjoy your food."

Nagpaalam na si Liam kaya si Desteen nalang ang nagtulak ng trolley pero imbes na sa kusina ang tungo niya, she headed to her living room. Doon siya kakain.

Inihanda niya ang pagkain na inihanda ni Liam. It was Filipino delicacies. Chicken adoba, menudo or is it mechado? Desteen didn't know. May pritong isda din and some dessert na ngayon lang niya nakita, it was an obligated shape dessert with drizzle sugar on top and a golden colored one. Hindi alam ni Desteen ang pangalan ng dessert na iyon.

Back in Switzerland, Desteen dad always cook Filipino food. Kaya alam niya ang ibang delicacies ng Pilipinas. Her dad even taught her how to speak ang understand Filipino language and traditions since Pinoy are superstitious people.

Maganang kumain si Desteen. Sobrang sarap kasi ng pagkakaluto ng pagkain.

Ilang minuto lang naubos na agad ang pagkain. She clean her mess.

Ngayon ginawa niya na talaga ang first and real agenda niya. Ang ilista lahat ng kailangan niya sa bagong bahay niya. Inisa isa niyang ilista ang kailangan niya sa cellphone.

Ilang oras siyang naglista ng kailangan. From her essentials, kitchen utensils, her groceries, some appliances and additional decorations for her new house.

Since it's her first time living in the Philippines alone and she know nothing than being, Desteen ask Liam for help to guide her where she can find her needs.

"Yes, ma'am." Ani ni Liam matapos niyang sabihin na magpapasama siya mag shopping. "I know places where we can find your needs."

"Okay. First thing in the morning we'll go shopping."

Napag-desisyunan nilang bukas nalang mamili dahil medyo madilim na din. At besides, Desteen feel light headed because of jetlag. Ngayon lang niya iyon naramdaman.

"Copy that, ma'am." Liam formally respond.

Liam is really professional. Desteen thought. "May car kaba na malaki? If meron, let's bring that one."

Hindi alam ni Liam na marunong palang mag salita ng tagalog si Desteen kaya medyo nagulat ito ng magsalita pero nakabawi din agad. "Sige po, ma'am."

"Okay. Salamat." Binaba ni Desteen ang tawag.

Masaya siya. It was her first conversation she uses Tagalog with Filipino. Sa bahay nila sa Switzerland, nagsasalita sila ng tagalog ng ama niya. Minsan nga lang.

Though, her Tagalog has still an accent it's still understandable. May iba pa siyang Filipino terms na hindi alam.

Tinungo naman ni Desteen ang silid niya. She was excited for tomorrow.

She sleep early for her to wake up early too.

She was looking forward to it. Sana maging okay ang stay niya sa Pilipinas.

Tomorrows activity was all in Desteen's mind until she falls into her oblivion....

N I C E S T N I C E