Malawak ang aking ngiti habang binabati and mga nagsisipasukang pasahero sa eroplano.
"Good morning sir"
"Good morning ma'am,do you need help with your luggage?"tanong ko sa pasahero sapagkat napansin ko na tila ito'y nahihirapan sa kanyang bagahe sapagkat may kalong itong bata.
"Uhm...yes ma'am."tila nahihiyang turan ng babaeng pasahero.
Agad kong kinuha ang bag at inalalayan ang babae papunta sa seat nito.
"Thank you ma'am for your kindness" the lady said to me with a smile.
"You're welcome ma'am." sabi ko sabay ngiti sa babae.
Pagkatapos nun ay naging abala na kami sa pagchecheck sa ibang mga pasahero. After that I walked toward our jumpseats.
"Riri shopping tayo mamaya pagkatapos ng flight natin"Elli said to me. Elli Marie Büchel is one of my bestfriend. Bali apat kaming magkakaibigan,flight attendant kami ni Elli,isang sikat na model naman si Ange at nurse naman ang pinakamatanda sa amin na si Dana.
"Sige ba punta tayo sa Louis Vuitton or maybe sa ibang high-end boutiques bilhan natin si Dana ng dresses."pag sang-ayon ko sa kanya.
"Ibili din natin siya ng bags and perfumes"sabi pa ni Elli.
"I think we need to buy her some lingerie, di yung puro PJ's lang pantulog niya"dagdag ko pa then sabay kaming napahalakhak ni Elli.
Tumigil lang kami sa pag-uusap ng mag-umpisa ng mag-announce ang Chief flight attendant namin after ng door closure. After that the plane started ascending.
Busy kami sa pag-re-ready ng mga pagkaing ibibigay sa mga pasahero ng mag announce and Captain namin.
"Good morning passengers, this is Captain Theous Verdict Kim speaking. First I'd like to welcome everyone on Dionysus Flight 22B. We are currently cruising at an altitude of 34,000 feet at an airspeed of 400 miles per hour. The time is 6:25 am. The weather looks good and with the tailwind on our side we are expecting to land in Italy approximately 15 minutes ahead of schedule. The weather in Italy is clear and sunny,with a high of 26 degrees for this morning. If the weather cooperates we should get a great view of the city as we descend. The cabin crew will be coming around in about 15 minutes time to offer you snacks and beverages, and the flight movie will begin shortly after that. I'll talk to you again before we reach our destination. Thank you for flying with TVK Airlines. Until then, sit back,relax and enjoy the rest of the flight"
Hanggang sa matapos ang anunsiyo ay napatanga ako sa aking nadinig. Ang boses na iyon ang ganda sa pandinig at ang gaan sa pakiramdam. Sana kasing-gwapo din ng boses niya ang mukha niya. Theous Verdict. Fudge magkakacrush pa ata ako sa Captain ng flight namin.
"Hoy Riri natulala ka na diyan" saway sa akin ni Elli.
"Hehe sorry Elli may naalala lang ako"palusot ko sa kanya.
"Weh?maybe you we're just mesmerized by our captain's voice"may panunudyong turan sa akin ni Elli while wiggling her brows up and down.
"Di nga kaya magtigil ka na sa imahinasyon mong yan"sabi ko Kay Elli at nagsimula ng mag assist ng mga pasahero.
1:10 ng dumating kami sa Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport. Naging maayos naman ang aming biyahe from Philippines to Italy. Medyo nakakapagod nga lang kasi di kami nag layover sa Dubai sapagkat straight ang flight Namin pa-Italy.
Pagkatapos naming asikasuhin ang mga dapat asikasuhin ay nag umpisa na kaming gumayak palabas ng Airport. Buti na lang at maagap ang service namin at di na kami nag antay pa. Umupo kami ni Elli sa pinakalikod na seat. Pinili kong umupo sa may bintana coz I love to look around and appreciating every city or country na napupuntahan namin. I was busy looking outside the window when I heard a baritone voice next to me.
"Guys we only have 6 hours stopover so you better enjoy your short-term vacay here in Italy just don't get drunk coz we will be flying back to the Philippines at exactly 8 this evening"
Fuck that voice. Agad akong napalingon sa aking right side. Only to see na hindi na si Elli ang katabi ko kundi isang lalaki na ala-greek god from the Mount Olympus ang peg. Di ko maiwasang huwag titigan ang mukha ng binata. Fudge, those sharp jaw line. Perfectly pointed nose. Pink luscious and kissable lips. And those tantalizing grey chinky eyes. The oh so yummy biceps. Baka may yummy six or eight pack abs pa 'to under his uniform. Fuck nagkakasala na ako sa lalaking ito. Agad akong bumaling sa labas ng bintana ng maramdaman kong napalingon ito sa gawi ko. Then I took my phone and I pretended to be busy with it. Gosh get a grip Rhystine.
Napansin ko na may nakatitig sa akin kaso inignora ko na lang yun. Pero di ko na matiis ang babaeng walang sawa sa pagtitig sa akin kaya nilingon ko na eto. Agad namang napalingon yung babae sa labas ng bintana. Then I saw her pretending to be busy with her phone. Medyo natawa ako sa inasta ng babae coz she looks like a little girl who's been busted while staring at her crush. Napansin ko pa na namula ang pisngi Niya. Aww how adorable.
"Miss staring is rude"bulong ko sa tenga nung babae. The girl faked a cough then she turned her gaze to me. Medyo nabigla ata ito sa kaya napausog ito papalayo.
"M-mister I m-mean Captain K-Kim I wasn't s-staring at you I was just looking at Elli it just happened na parang nakatitig ako sayo" the woman explained to me while stammering. Oh how cute. I can feel that she's lying to me but I just ignored it.
"Okay, by the way, what is your name miss?" I asked her. I'm just curious about her kasi ngayon ko lang ito nakasabay sa flight na ako ang piloto. Yun lang ba? Or you we're attracted to her beautiful face? Kastigong tanong ng utak ko. No there's nothing malicious 'bout that and also I'm not attracted to her. Sagot ko pa sa utak ko. Fudge I'm going crazy talking on my own.
"Sir you okay?" I heard her asking me that made me woke up from my own reverie.
"Uhm yeah I'm okay don't worry about that" I assured her because worry was evident on her face. "What was your name again?"
"Uhm I-I'm Rhystine Dela Merced Sir" she said with a shy smile plastered on her face.
We already arrived at the hotel where we're goin' to stay for the next 6 hours. Nag umpisa na kaming maglabasan sa van ng mapansin Kong di pa lumalabas si Miss Dela Merced.
"Do you need help with your luggage Miss Lorejo?" I asked her.
"Thanks sir but I can totally manage" Rhystine said with a smile, again. Damn that smile it's so heart melting and it made her more beautiful. You said earlier that you're not attracted to her, so what now dude? I can hear my conscience talking to me. Again. Okay I'm attracted to her so what's the fuss?
Damn maybe I'm already crazy talking to myself. Maybe I need to pay my friend a visit when I gets back to the Philippines. Maybe Vernon can help me to be sane again.
"Okay Miss Dela Merced and Miss Büchel mauna na ako sa inyo" I said.
"Okay Sir see you tonight" Rhystine said. Then I started walking towards the hotel.
"Hoy Riri ano yun?" Tanong sa akin ni Elli pagkaalis lamang ni Theous sa harap namin.
"Anong 'ano yun'?" balik tanong ko kay Elli.
"Yung titigan niyo ni Captain T" sagot naman sa akin ng aking kaibigan at nag umpisa na kaming maglakad papasok ng hotel.
"Luh wag mo yun pansinin he's just asking 'bout my name" I answered her then nauna na ako sa paglalakad baka kasi mapansin niya na medyo namula pisngi ko sa kanyang tinuran.
"Hey Riri wait up bilis mo naman maglakad. Halata ka eh" tudyo sa akin ng kaibigan ko sa.
"Just shut up Elli"
"Yiiiieee nagdadalaga na bunso namin" nang-aasar pa talaga tong babaeng to.
"Ikaw kasi bakit ka umalis sa tabi ko kanina?" Tanong ko dito habang pinandidilatan.
Swinipe ko yung card at pumasok na kami sa hotel room na pagshe-share-ran naming dalawa.
"Sorry na Riri gusto ko din kasi sa may bintana kaya umusog ako" Elli said while pouting.
"Wag ka nga magpout diyan para kang bebe" I said while chuckling and nag-umpisa na akong tanggalin ang aking heels,stockings and syempre ang kanyang uniform. While Elli went to the shower room of our hotel room. Di na ako nagbanlaw at nagpalit na lang ako ng damit. I chose a simple white above the knee dress. Nilugay ko na Lang buhok ko and I put a powder on my face and liptint on my pouty lips.
"Anong oras ba tayo magsho-shopping?" I asked Elli na kagagaling lang sa shower room.
"Just give me five minutes then we're off" then nag-retouch na si Elli. Nawiwili ako kakanood kay Elli sapagkat bukod kay Dia Angelique ay isa din si Elli sa magaling mag-make up aming apat. Well, me and Dana doesn't have any interest on make-ups but we're interested to branded shoes,heels,bags and K-pop inspired dresses.
"Let's go Riri" aya sa akin ni Elli then umalis na kami sa hotel room Kung saan kami nakaukopa.
"Riri do you think Dana will love this?" Elli asked me while holding a pink midi dress.
"No Dana will never wear that dress" sabi ko sa kaibigan. Then binalik na lang ni Elli ang dress sa rack.
"It's cute kaya"
"Like duh Elli alam mo naman na Dana only wear black,brown,or yung nude colored dresses diba" sabi ko and nag-umpisa nang mamili ng damit para Kay Ange.
Kinuha ko ang isang beige colored dress na hanggang tuhod. Surely Ange will love this.
Nagpunta na kami sa counter at binayaran na ang aming mga pinamili. I bought an LV bag for my mother and and a Red four inches stilleto for my older sister. I also brought some chocolates for my nephews. Kahit di man ako umuuwi sa kanila ay nagpapadala naman ako ng mga regalo at pasalubong for my family in the province. Kasi kahit magkalayo man kami ay lagi kong naalala ang sakripisyo ng mommy at daddy ko. Pagkatapos nun ay nag-aya na si Elli na kumain. We decided to eat in a café near our hotel.
I was busy talking to my friend over the phone when I heard the doorbell rung.
" I need to hang up now bud, I think someone's looking for me" I said to my friend.
"Okay Verdict I'll just talk to you bud when you comeback" Maxus said to me then my friend ended the call.
I walked towards the door and opened it only to see Macy Forbes flirtily smiling at me. Isa itong Flight Attendant sa airlines ko at anak ito ng business partner naming magkakaibigan.
"Oh Macy what are you doing here?" I asked her even though alam ko na kung bakit ako nito sinadya. Yayayain na naman ako nitong mag date.
"Uhm I just want to ask you if you wanna go out with me diyan lang naman sa café malapit dito sa hotel" Macy explained to me.
"Okay wait for me I'll just grab my wallet" I said then went back to my room. Kahit ayaw ko makasama ang babae ay pumayag na lang ako sa gusto nito. I just don't want to be rude at her.
"Let's go" I asked her pakalabas ko lang ng hotel room. Agad namang yumapos si Macy sa aking mga braso. Pinabayaan ko na lang ang babae and I just continued walking.
We entered the café at dun ko lang tinanggal ang kamay ni Macy na nakayapos sa akin ng magkasalubong ang mga mata namin ni Rhystine. Rhystine is with her friend, Ms. Büchel. Umupo kami sa katapat lang ng upuan ng dalawa.
"Why did you removed my hands?" Macy asked me.
"I just don't like it and also wag mo na yun gagawin" I said in a serious voice na siguradong nadinig nila Riza.
"I can't promise you na di ko na yun gagawin Theous" Macy looked at me in the eyes. "I want you Theous and I will do my best magustuhan mo lang ako"
Di na ako nagsalita pa at umorder na lang.
Nakita ko kung paano tanggalin ni Theous any kamay ni Macy na nakayapos dito ng magtama ang mga mata namin. Sinundan ko ito ng tingin hanggang sa makaupo ito at ang kasama. Gosh sa katapat pa talaga namin pumwesto.
"Why did you removed my hands?" Macy asked Theous.
"I just don't like it and also wag mo na yun gagawin" Theous said in a serious voice.
"I can't promise you na di ko na yun gagawin Theous" Macy looked at Theous. "I want you Theous and I will do my best magustuhan mo lang ako"
So totoo talaga ang mga rumour tungkol sa dalawa. Parang May Kung anong kirot akong naramdaman sa aking dibdib Ng marinig ko Ang mga sinabi ni Macy.
"I want you Theous and I will do my best magustuhan mo lang ako" panggagaya ni Elli sa katrabaho naming si Macy.
"Desperada lang ang peg" Elli said while rolling her eyes.
"Magtigil ka nga Elli baka madinig ka nila"saway ko sa kaibigan sabay simsim sa aking Frappucino.
"Totoo naman eh kung alam mo lang todo papansin yan kay Captain T porke kaibigan ito ng daddy niya" nababanaag ko sa mukha ng aking kaibigan ang pagkainis.
"Bagay naman silang dalawa" I said while looking at the two. "Look at Macy she's sexy and matured looking. Sure akong ganyan ang tipo ni Theous"
"Naku Riri mas bagay kayong dalawa ni Theous para sa akin kaya fighting baka type ka niya the way he looked at you ghorl may something eh"Elli said with a cheerful smile.
I just ignored my friend's statement and I continued eating.
Muling nagtama ang tingin namin ni Theous. I can't deny na I'm attracted to him. But I can't risk my work just for personal purposes. So I'd better stop kung ano man ang nararamdaman ko para sa binata.