Eight Years Ago
Currently, I'm in Estanegro City looking around for a heaven cafe. My acquaintance claims that this region has a cafe where you can fully unwind and feel like you're in heaven, especially if you prefer reading and drinking coffee.
Heaven Cafe is the ideal location for me, aniya pa sa'kin, at dahil nga sa mahilig ako mag basa at uminom ng kape ay agad-agad ko itong pinuntahan at hinanap.
On my way there, I almost got hit by a car, but luckily someone saved me. If it wasn't for him, baka nakaratay na ako sa hospital bed right now. I'm glad na dumating ang taong 'yon at lubos akong nagpapasalamat. I would have invited him to share a cup of coffee with me in appreciation for saving my life, but after he saved me, he immediately left without saying goodbye. I therefore missed my opportunity to express my gratitude, introduce myself, and learn his name.
Hindi ko rin nakita ang mukha niya dahil naka hoodie ito at cap, bago ko pa siya mapasadahan ng tingin wala na siya sa pwesto niya at hindi ko na alam kung sino siya ro'n sa mga taong nagkakalat sa kalsada. Inilibot ko pa ang paningin ko no'n sa buong paligid upang hanapin kung sino man siya pero nabigo ako. So I just let it go, magkikita pa naman siguro kami, kung hindi ngayon baka sa susunod na araw. I will wait for fate to cross our paths once more, even if it takes a few more decades. At that point, I will be able to accomplish what I have not been able to. Kilalanin, kakaibiganin, at jojowain ko siya! Char, just kidding aside.
After nun, natagpuan ko na ang Heaven Cafe kaya ito ako ngayon umiinom ng kape habang nagbabasa. Sa ilang oras kong pag i-stay dito ay nakatapos ako ng tatlong book, sobrang fast no? parang ikaw lang gano'n ka rin niya kadaling palitan.
I stopped for a moment when my old manager called me. "moshi moshi" - [hello] I answered while continuing reading and sipping coffee.
"Ogenkidesuka, ojosama? Anata no ryoshin wa watashi ni anata o chekku suru yo ni tanonda." - [How are you, young lady? Your parents have asked me to check you.] Sabe ng manager ko sa kabilang linya.
"Watashi wa umaku yatteru" - [I'm doing well] napapabuntong hininga kong sagot, alam ko naman ang totoo na kahit kailan hindi magkakaroon ng pake ang parents ko sa'kin. Kahit hindi man niya aminin, alam ko na hindi nag utos ang parents ko para kamustahin ang kalagayan ko.
"Yoroshidesu ka, ojosama? Mondai ga aru baai wa, shusei dekiru yo ni oshietekudasai." - [Are you sure, young lady? If you have a problem, tell me so I can fix it.] Nag-aalalang aniya.
"Hai" - [yes]
After my old manager and I talked, Keishanaia, my personal assistant, called next, which I immediately answered.
"What's the matter?"
"Hello, ma'am. Please return home so we may discuss your admission in Hellion Estanegro University."
Napatingin ako sa relos ko, and it's already 8:37 in the evening. "Good enough" kinuha ko na yung leather jacket at handbag ko 'tyaka lumabas ng cafe.
I immediately proceeded to a car dealership to get a new vehicle for me to drive home in. Since I am used to driving my own car to deliver and pick me up, I can honestly say that I have no idea how to commute.
My driver just dropped me off, and he begged for permission to use the car to travel back to their province because his mother is ill and nobody is available to care for her. Naturally, since I don't have a rigid management style, I consented, so now I'm in this situation. Nobody is coming to get me or fetch me up.
Buying a new car is my only solution. "How much is this Porsche panamera ultra-exotic luxury sedan?" tanong ko sa isang salesman "the gold one" umarko ang kilay ko nang makita ang reaksyon niya, nagdadalawang isip pa ito na sagutin ako.
"It's 117,700 United States dollars, ma'am, so 6,940,945.55 Philippine pesos."
"I'd like to buy it." umikot ako at binuksan ang pinto ng passenger side
"Ma'am, dahan dahan po baka magasgas." nag alarma ang salesman, agad itong lumapit sa gawi ko para ako'y pigilan.
"So what?" aniko habang tinitingnan ang loob ng sasakyan
"Mahal po kas-"
"As if I am just going to scuff the car and then sabotage it. It wasn't my first time buying such an expensive car, either." sa sinabi kong 'yon natahimik siya at hinayaan na lang akong lumapit nito at sumakay.
"Excuse me ma'am, Would you like to try test-driving it?" pagsulpot ng isa pang salesman na agad ko naman tinanggihan.
"There's no need—this is the business card of my secretary. Give him a call, and he will handle paying you."
They gave my secretary a call. They just exchanged a few sentences. After a short while had gone, my secretary also came to personally discuss this with them. I slept off inside the car, which I'm about to purchase, while my secretary set up the required responsibilities.
In a few minutes, my secretary came to me and gave me the car key. "My work here is done, madam."
He was about to leave but he stopped for a moment when I said something "Come with me Lucenzo, I'll just drop you off on the highway" but he refused
"It's a pleasure to be able to go with you, madam, but no thanks because I have someone waiting for me outside, and another one, madam, wouldn't it be better if you yourself were the first to get in your new car?" He smiled, "Alright madam, I'll go ahead of you." He slightly bowed his head before exiting the franchise.
I shook my head in disbelief, "Oh my god Lucenzo!" That man is really good, and that is one of the reasons he stayed as my secretary for a long time.