Chapter 23

Getting back to Manila, I'm slowly trying to adjust myself, especially when it comes to motherhood. Shai was such a good friend for letting me stay in her condo and she knows I couldn't pay her for that because I don't have enough money, but I told her I'll make up for it once things get better.

Sometimes, Shaira went to work by day while some days she's working from home. Kahit na panay ang iyak ni Matteo ay hindi niya inintindi 'yon. I know she was just considering my situation, but could it also be a reason she's just pitying me?

Ang lala ko mag-overthink at ayokong lunurin ang sarili ko sa pag-iisip dahil makakasama lang 'yon sa pakiramdam ko.

I haven't heard a thing from Alessandro as well. It was also too late nang in-inform ko sina auntie sa agarang pag-alis ko. I just left a message on her and haven't received a reply since then.

Galit kaya sila sa akin? Somehow, I know they will understand why I did that.

"Jace, may ipapabili ka ba? Pupunta ako sa grocery to buy some foods for dinner later."

"Ah, yes." Kinuha ko ang wallet ko saka ko inabot sa kanya ang isang libo. "Pwede kaya 'yang pagkasyahin sa gatas at diaper?"

"Pwede naman," sagot ni Shai saka niya kinuha sa akin ang pera. "I'll try to get some tipid stuff for you. Akong bahala, don't you worry."

"Thank you, Shai... don't worry rin, I'll look for a place rin naman agad."

Inilingan naman niya agad ako. "Naku, 'wag mo muna isipin 'yan. I'll connect you with someone later pag-uwi ko. I think I know he can help you financially... later natin pag-usapan, or maybe while I'm away patatawagin ko na siya sa 'yo."

"Sige, walang problema sa akin. Anything you can offer. I'll be good with it."

"Okay, I'll be back soonest!"

When Shai left the unit, I went to clean some of the area while Matteo is sleeping. Pilit kong ino-okupado ang sarili ko dahil ayokong mawala ng gawin kung hindi ay kung saan-saan na naman liliparan ang isip ko.

While I was cleaning, I stumbled upon the drawer where there are frames standing on the top. They were pictures of her and her family. Seemingly, no pictures of any guy on it—mukhang naka-move on na nga talaga siya ro'n sa jowa niya before.

But thinking about my family, I'm not sure if it's a right thing to do to see them again. Ni hindi nga nila ako hinanap noong nagpunta ako ng Sicily so why would they care if I show up? Baka itaboy lang nila ako.

The parents I grew up knowing aren't my biological parents. My childhood was all a lie and they didn't like the way I wanted to know who my real parents are kaya siguro parang ang naging trato nila sa akin ay isang outsider. And even if they are far from where I am, sina auntie lang ang naging kasangga ko.

In the middle of my work, I received an unknown call. Kinuha ko ang phone ko saka ko tinitigan ang numerong hindi naka-rehistrado sa contacts ko. The ring lasted for forty-five seconds and it ended. Hindi ko sinagot dahil nag-aalangan ako na baka si Fabio iyon.

Is he looking for me?

And so, why would I care?

Muling nag-ring ang phone and this time, I bravely answer the call.

"Good evening," pagbati nito. "Is this Jacinta Versoza?"

"Yes, speaking..."

"Perfect! I am Enzo. Shaira Alonzo referred you to me, and its a great timing since I am looking for part-time staff."

"Oh, I see... is this a work-from-home job?"

"This is on-site," he answered. "You'll be working as a waitress in a bar."

Because I have a background in it, I thought it could be a perfect opportunity for me.

"Are you interested?"

"I am, sir."

"Great! Glad to hear that," he said. "Are you available tonight? I would love to meet you in person. Meet me at the bar tonight, and we'll process your application. Is that all good?"

"Sounds good to me."

"Perfect! See you later."

When he dropped the call, bigla akong nagdalawang isip kung tatanggapin ko ba 'yon o hindi. A few seconds later, I received the location from him. Hindi naman malayo 'yon. It seems like it's just around the area lang din naman. Maaaring walking distance lang din ang layo.

I think accepting this job offer would be a good move for me since ayokong maging pabigat kay Shaira. Ang isa pa sa inaalala ko rin ay kung aalis ako mamaya, walang magbabantay kay Matteo. Hindi naman ako nakitira dito sa condo ni Shaira para pagpaalagain sa anak ko. Sobrang nakakahiya na 'yon.

When I'm all finished cleaning and got to rest, Shaira came home. Nagulat pa siya na nalinis ang paligid at sana raw hindi ko na ginawa 'yon. I helped her with all the things she bought pati na rin ang pinasuyo ko sa kanya na gatas at diaper ni Matteo. I was at first surprise dahil sobra pa sa isang libo iyong nabayad niya ro'n. I rushed to get my wallet, but she refused to accept it. 'Wag ko na raw abalahin instead I'll save it for something else.

While she was preparing for our dinner, we talked about how Enzo called me to offer a job at his bar. At that moment, she immediately made me change my clothes and told me siya na ang bahala kay Matteo.

So, I quickly prepared and wear something casual. She said Enzo wouldn't mind since he invited me to the bar at hindi naman sa isang corporate office to wear something so formal. Before I left, I had a quick dinner and left.

Buong loob kong susubukan 'to kahit na wala pa namang kasiguraduhan. Dahil walking distance lang din ang layo ng bar mula sa condo, I walked for about twenty minutes until I reached the place that Enzo's given to me.

I entered the bar and looked for him. I asked a bouncer there, he instantly knew what I was looking for, but told me that Enzo was still not around. I dropped him a message na lang at naghintay ako sa bar counter. I sat on the farthest stool so no one would mind my way.

But the bartender seems to mind my business.

"What d'you like?" she asked.

I shook my head. "No, thanks. I'm not drinking tonight."

"For real? What's the point of going to the bar if you're not drinking?" she questioned me and she was right about it. And then just like that, she poured something into a glass and then put it in front of me. "Come on. That's one me. You don't have to pay."

I smiled. "Just like what I said, I didn't come here to drink."

And then she just looked at me, shifting her eyes from me and that shot glass.

"Fine. Thanks though..." and then I grabbed the glass and drink it at once.

It wasn't bad as I thought it would be, but I hope this additional kick of alcohol boosts my courage or whatever.

"Good right?" She asked, smirking. Tango na lang din naman ang naisagot ko. "Do you need more?"

I shook my head. "No, one was enough. Thanks."

"Just to be clear, I'm not hitting on you," she explained and she laughed at it. Medyo nagulat din naman ako sa sinabi niya dahil hindi naman iyon ang nasa isip ko. "I just haven't seen you before. First time mo sa bar na 'to?"

Tumango ako. "Yes..."

She slowly nodded her head upon my confirmation. "That's why... so, what were you up to? Fun? Hook up?"

I hastily shook my head. "No, I'm not here for those things."

She smirked, kind of confused by her reaction. "I don't get you. You are at the bar. You're not here to drink or do something fun... you must have a boring social life."

I shrugged off. "Yeah... maybe... but I was here for a job."

"Oooh," she swooned. "Would we be working with each other?"

"I don't know that yet," I answered. "We'll see... I was just waiting for Enzo. Do you know him, right?"

She giggled. "I know him very well. He's my boss. I'm not sure he's here already."

"Yeah, I was told to wait."

"What are you applying for?"

"Waitress," I answered.

Her eyes squinted a little as if she was thinking about something else.

"What's wrong?"

She shook her head as if she was avoiding it. "Nothing. Are you sure?"

"Now, you're making me unsure."

She chuckled. "It's just... oh wait... the man of the hour has come."

Itinuro niya sa akin iyong lalaki na naka-puting polo na papunta sa direksyon namin. Looking at him from afar he already smells look so good, but as he gets closer, my gut is telling me something and when his face gets clearer as he comes closer ay mabilis akong napatayo sa kinauupuan ko.

"Where are you going? Aren't you gonna meet Enzo?" she asked.

I shook my head. "I'm... no... I'll be leaving na. If he asked you about me, just tell him you don't know."

"Huh?"

I left the bar counter just in time when Enzo gets there. He was looking around while the girl bartender continued blending drinks. When her boss asked her, I was hoping she wouldn't call me out. In the end, she shook her head in response and then Enzo called me.

I looked at the screen of my phone and I rejected his call. I left the bar with a very heavy shoulder.

Enzo was a friend of a friend of Fabio and that kind of connection isn't a good thing for me. Might as well cut if off before worse things could happen. I know I'm rejecting a job, and money that could help me financially, but I don't want something in my life that will resonate back to Fabrizio. I left that man so I have to forget everything about him.

When I get back to the condo, nagulat pa si Shaira dahil ang bilis ko raw and then I told her the truth and what happened. Hindi niya rin naman pala ine-expect na may connection 'yon. Shai felt sorry about it and I thought that was okay. Hindi naman niya alam 'yon.

Namukhaan ko lang kasi si Enzo one time Fabio was invited sa isang bar naman sa Taguig. Sinama niya ako—we were dating at that time, iyong friend na nang-invite sa kanya obviously may in-invite rin na close friends and one of them was Enzo and I hope he didn't remember me by my name.

Fabio and Enzo didn't talk that much, but we met, and so he would recognize me as I did.

"Sorry, bes. I'm not sure if I still know anyone who can refer you to."

Umiling ako. "No... you don't have to be sorry. Ako na nga itong nakakaabala sa 'yo. Di bale, I will find a way."

"I'll help you pa rin," she added.

Sa hindi ko malamang dahilan, niyakap ko na lamang si Shai at hindi ko maiwasang maiyak. The emotions I have been keeping inside is becoming a burden. Hindi ko alam kung ang pag-alis ko ng Sicily ay isang tamang desisyon.

Hindi sana ako nagpadalos-dalos.

Pero nandito na ako, kailangan kong panindigan 'to.

I will never step back in Sicily, and not to be with a man na wala man lang pakialam sa akin. All I know is that the interest he's been showing me was fake and all for a show. Those are lies and funny thing is, I've been blind about it.

Shai jokingly said that I look like someone who got drunk and when I told her I drank one shot glass, she was right that was where all that emotion comes from. But who knows, I could be so damned about my situation right now, but there could still be something good in the future.

Something that truth lies ahead.

#BirthOfLiesInSicily #BOLISChapter23 #WTS9