Recuerdo De Amor Island 2: Take You Back - Completed

Chapter 2

SHERA

"Ma! Papita alis na po ako!!" Sigaw ko mula sa sala.

Im off to my part time job. TThS a week in main branch of Saratoga Motors Incorp. Product Development Department. My job? All around kung ano ang maari kong maitulong, kahit janitor okay lang but mostly Im with computer-aided engineer to help them create new design and modules for cars.

Narinig ko ang yabag nila papuntang sala. I see my Mama first kasunod ang kumikinding kinding na si Papita. Nakataas ang kilay na tiningnan ako mula ulo hanggang paa.

"Hindi ka ba kakain anak? Maaga pa naman ah!" Masuyong tanong ni Mama sakin. Umiling ako at hinalikan siya sa pisngi.

"Sa canteen na lang po mama baka malate ako ei." Sagot ko sabay lapit kay Papita.

"Gora na anak. Mag ingat ka." Nagbeso-beso kaming dalawa. "At naloloka ako sa outfit mo ngayon. Kailan kaya kita makitang nakapangbabaing damit muli?"

Napailing na lang ako sa kadramahan ni Papita.

"Papita naman alangan magbestida ako sa trabaho ko. At babae pa rin po ako, ganito naman talaga ako magbihis ah kaya dapat sanay na kayo."

I lovingly stare at mama before I grab my bag, headed myself toward the door.

Lumingon ako sa kanila.

"Wag kayong magpapagod sa parlor ha. Lalo ka na Mama, ipacheck-up mo na ang ubo mo."

"Okay lang ako anak, mag-ingat ka at ikamusta mo na lang kami kay Tito Arman mo." Pangbaliwala ni Mama sa sinabi ko.

I sighed and leave our house. She's not okay at may tinatago sila ni Papita tungkol sa sakit nya. Kaya nga nang pumasok ako ng college nagpatulong ako ko Tito Arman na kapatid ni Papita sa pagpasok sa SMI. I'm a first year college taking Mechanical Engineering at UP Diliman. Im also SMI scholar, dahil kung ang kinikita lang nila ang ipangtustos sa pag aaral ko hindi sapat iyon. Isa ako sa mapalad na napasok SMI scholarship program para sa may mga potential maging parte ng kanilang company someday. Kaya lahat ng expenses ko foundation ang nagpro-provide but it doesnt mean okay na ako dun.

I want them to know my worth kaya ako nagpart time sa SMI, madali lang sakin makapasok dahil magkaibigan sina Tito Arman at Mr. Saratoga. Plus, bata pa lang ako palagi na akong nasa SMI dahil sa isinasama ako ni Tito Arman doon at kilala na ako ni Mr. Saratoga. Natutawa kasi sila sa pagkahilig ko sa mga kotse.

Papita, Fred or Freda Lagdameo is not my father. He's my mother best friend at malayong kamag-anak namin. Tubong Iloilo kami na nakipagsapalaran dito sa lungsod when Im 3yrs.old. Bumili sila Mama ng bahay sa isang barangay sa Quezon city, hindi naman sya squatter area at organize naman ang mga tao sa lugar. May maliit kaming beauty parlor na syang bumubuhay saming tatlo.

My mama, Jeanette Valdez is a single mother. Bunga ako ng kanyang pagkakamali. She fell in love to a married French national, a businessman that stay in Dubai for business ventures. Where my Mama work as a housekeeper in the hotel where my unknown father stayed. They fall in love daw and secretly got a relationship ngunit ang kanilang "isang linggong pag ibig" ay maagang natapos. When my unknown father has to go back to his country and family.

He promise mama na makikipaghiwalay daw ito sa kanyang asawa para sila ang magsama. They have communication when he reach in France but one day it suddenly stop na kahit anung tawag ni Mama out of coverage na ang number nito. Hanggang sa tuluyan ng nawalan ng communication si mama sa kanya. A month later ng malaman ni mama na buntis sya. Napagpasyahan nyang umuwi na lang dito sa Pinas. Pero bago pa man sya nakapag resign, the management of the hotel wanted her deported in their country back to Philippines. She dont know the reason behind but its a blessing at least they wont find out that she is pregnant.

Luckily, my unknown father leave huge amount of dollar to my mama before he left her. Iyon ang pinangbili ni mama ng bahay namin at ipinundar ng parlor. I only heard this story to my papita. Palihim nya itong ikwenento sakin dahil everytime I attempt to asked mama about my father she will cut me off and walk out. Mula noon I never asked her again. I make myself contented of what theyd given me. My papita was trying to be my father but I know its hard for him. I realize too that 17 years already kung mahalaga si mama sa lalaking iyon he should search for her, but I guess not.

"SJ dumeretso ka daw sa opisina ni bossing." Bungad sakin ng junior analyst na nadaanan ko.

"Sige po. Salamat."

Tumango lang ito habang ako agad na pumunta sa office ng Head Engineer dito sa main branch ng SMI. Kumatok ako sa pinto at binuksan ng pumayag ito.

"Good morning po Engr. Lagdameo." Bati ko sa boss ko.

He rolled his eyes.

"Good morning Shera. Hai ikaw talagang bata ka pagtayong dalawa Tito ang itawag mo akin. Alam naman ng lahat na pamangkin kita." Paalala nya. Tumango ako at tipid na ngumiti sa kanya.

Napabuntong hininga ito sa reaksyon ko.

"I miss the kid thats full of life when she was young, carefree and always telling me to teach her how to assemble or fix a car. How about you SJ? Is there any chance you see your old self again?" Malumay na pahayag ni tito.

"She was long gone Tito. She already understand the way of her life. She was right now strong and already witness the reality in the world." Seryoso kong sagot. Nakita ko ang pagdaan ng lungkot sa mata nya.

I know even mama miss my old self. I just woke up one day, I change from a princess to rugged, felt incomplete and became less emotional. I dont even remember when is the last time I laugh.

"Pinatawag nyo daw po ako tito?" Tanong ko sa kanya.

Nag alinlangan itong sabihin sakin. Napakamot ito ng ulo.

"You know we are busy right now on our upcoming presentation in a world market for our new developed electric and solar cars, right? It happened that one of our receptionists involved in car accident yesterday and now in the hospital. Kailangan may papalit sa kanya. Gahol na sa oras para naghanap ng bagong receptionist mula sa labas kaya napagpasyahan nilang sa part-timers employee na lang muna kukuha and they choose you on TThS schedule. I tried to reason out but their decision is final." Tuluy-tuloy nitong pahayag.

Sumama ang pakiramdam ko sa narinig.

"Ibig bang sabihin nito Tito ako ang ipapalit sa nagleave?" Paninigurado ko.

Tumango ito.

"Yeah, dalawa kayo kung tutuosin, yung isa pang MWF. I'm sorry Shera I know you're not comfortable with this but we dont have any choices here." Malungkot na pahayag ni Tito but his eyes speak otherwise. "The uniform is already inside the bathroom. Go get change SJ they are waiting for you."

Nanlumo ako, bagsak ang balikat na pumasok sa banyo. Napangiwi ako ng makita ang damit. Not my type of dress at all. Its a cream color office attire for women. Pwede namang pants na lang diba. Napabuntong hininga ako ng isuot ko ito. Buti na lang may black top-tank ako sa loob ng tshirt ko kanina kung wala luluwa ang dibdib ko sa blazer lang na to. The skirt is two inches above the knee lang dapat pero dahil may katangkaran ako umabot ito sa gitna ng hita ko at kahit anung hatak ko pababa useless lang. Isinuot ko na rin ang 2inches black shoes. Tsk. My misery began. I fix hair like a bun exposing my neck. I leave my face alone dahil wala naman akong kikay kit na dala. Baby powder is enough for me. I sighed again bago lumabas sa banyo. A flash of camera welcomes me in the room. Tito Arman is grinning while taking my picture. I rolled my eyes. Di ko na kailangang tanungin kong kanino nya ipapakita yun.

"SJ this is Ms. Monica, she will do your make-up to make you more presentable, isa sya sa makakasama mo sa reception area." Pakilala ni Tito sa dalagang kasama namin dito. Tipid lang akong ngumiti sa kanya.

Ms. Monica put light make up on my face at ngayon pa lang parang gusto ko ng bumalik sa banyo para alisin ito. Im really uncomfortable using this. Di nga ako umattend ng JS Prom ko dahil sa ganitong kaek-ekan sa mukha eh. I didnt recognize myself when Ms. Monica finish her job to me. "Ang ganda mo pala SJ ei" masayangng turan nito. Pilit na ngiti at thank you lang ang sinagot ko.

I look so girly and now it obviously shown my foreign feature. Namana ko ito sa di ko kilalang ama. At sa halip na matuwa mas lalo lang akong naasar because of this face I always bullied in school when I was young. "Putok sa buho" ang palagi nilang tukso sakin, lalo na ng bata ako I love to wear my blond hair and wear girly dresses.I dye it on black now and hide my true self on mens wear para iwas na rin sa pangungutya ng iba.

Hinatid na kami ni Tito sa labas ng opisina nya. Lahat ng kasamahan ko sa trabaho napatingin samin lalo na sakin. Shock on my appearance and admiration is written in their faces. Naiilang ako sa mga tingin nila.

"Is that you SJ? Wow! Ang ganda mo pala pagnakadamit pangbabae ka." Puno ng paghangang sabi sakin ng isang binatang engineer. He's looking at me from head-to-toe and stare my face with admiration.

"Back to work people. SJ will be at the reception area for a while." Seryosong anunsyo ni Tito Arman. "And she still remains off-limit."

Napailing ako sa huling sinabi ni Tito. Maraming gustong manligaw sakin pero takot sila kay Tito. Kahit naman gawin nila sa basted list lang din sila bagsak. I dont want distraction in my studies right now. Wala pa akong isang oras sa reception area boredom already strike me. This work is unproductive for me. I rather stare in lab computer and create new module for car than stare this computer and answer calls. Mas gustuhin ko pang tumulong sa mga Engineers sa PD team kaysa umupo dito. Ilang beses na akong napabuntong hininga. Napailing lang ang mga kasama ko buti pa sila nag enjoy habang ako bagot na bagot na.

"Good morning Mr. President, Sir Blake!!" Sabay na bati ng dalawa kong kasama. Napatayo ako sa narinig para makita ang binati nila.

Tumambad sakin ang dalawang lalaking hinangaan ko in different way. Mr. Lauro Saratoga, I idolize him for being a good leader and boss to his employees. Tito Arman's best friend since they are teenagers. Blake Lawrence Saratoga, I was 8 years old when we first met. I may be young that time but he became my first crush. And I guess until now he's always my long time crush.

"Good morning Mr. President, Sir!" Bati ko rin sa kanila at pilit na ngumiti. Parang ngiwi na ang kinalabasan nito.

"Good morning ladies and Ms. Shera Jean Valdez." Yeah that's me. Balik na bati samin ni Mr. Saratoga. "Somebody is not happy with her new job." Seryosong sabi nito sakin but I know better, he's joking. I can see the amusement in his eyes.

Napasimangot ako. Nanlaki ang mga mata ng kasamahan ko at curiosity in Blake eyes sa reaksyon ko. Well, ang iba siguro nangingig na sa salita ni Mr. Saratoga but not me. I know him too well, sa PD department malayang makita mo ang tunay na ugali ni Mr. Saratoga lalo na magkasama sila ni tito Arman. They are the first person who teach me about cars. He even personally helping the PD team to assemble every first original car we manufactured. He loves to do what he used to do before this company was built. Ang pagiging mekaniko nya.

"Id rather be under the car fixing and examining it than sitting in this desk doing nothing and get bored Mr. President." Prangka kong sagot sa kania. Napasinghap ang kasamahan ko sa sagot ko. Mr. Saratoga nod, trying to suppress his smile and keeping his serious expression.

"I understand you Ms. Valdez but unfortunately you'll be in this desk for a month. So you have to adjust okay?" Nanlaki ang mata ko sa narinig. What?

"Didn't Eng. Lagdameo told you?" Kunwari nagulat ito. Tsk! Pinagkaisahan ako ng dalawa. Umiling ako. "My bad… maybe he doesn't want to upset you more. Well, you hear it now. Remember my son SJ?" Itinuro nito sa Blake na matiim na nakatingin sakin. I nod. "He's going to work here like you as a messager for a while, so kayo na ang bahalang mag utos sa kanya. Have a nice day ladies." He leaves me an amusing glance bago naglakad. Blake walked in front of my desk. Kahit may harang sa aming dalawa I feel suffocated with his presense.

"You look familiar. Did I know you before?" He asked with full of curiosity while looking at me intently trying to recognize me.

"Why dont you try to remember Sir Blake or asked your Dad perhaps. Pwede ring wag na lang. It doesn't matter anyway." Pormal kong sagot.

There's part of me that felt sad that he didnt recognize me. Sabay sino ba naman ako para sa kanya. He knotted his eyebrows hearing my answer. Akma sana syang magsasalita ng tinawag na ito ng ama nya. Agad itong naglakad papunta kay Mr. Saratoga. Buti na lang. Lumingon pa ito sa pwesto ko bago tuluyang maglakad palayo samin.

Pasimple ko kaninang pinag-aralan ang anyo si Blake. He grown up into a very attractive young man. He's pure Filipino but it's obvious he has foreign blood. May taas na 5'11 at the age of 18, every muscular in his body is already in the right places but the most attractive to him is his face. He had this kind of face that stopped you in your track. His curls were ravin black and his eyes were chocolate brown framed by graceful browns. He had prominent cheekbones and well-defined chin and nose. His soft sharp lips are very captivating and attractive. He always had a playful smile appeared on his lips. Kaya hindi ako magtataka if habulin ito ng mga babae.

No wonder he's a man of every rich girl's dream and I'm nobody compared to them. Kaya dapat lang na makalimutan nya ako. Beside we only meet once kaya its easy for him to forget me. And I guess, its better that way, I don’t want to get closed to him anymore.