I hurriedly cupped water from the sink faucet with both of my hands. As the chilly water stroked against my face, I bit my bottom lip. It's not because of the coldness of the water that my lips tremble when I see myself in the mirror.

"Dianne?" rinig kong tawag ng aking katrabaho na si Nicole sa labas ng restroom. "Tara na sa baba. Pinapatawag na tayo ni Miss Minchin." wika niya sa pabirong paraan.

"S-sige, mauna ka na. Susunod ako, Nics." tugon ko.

Nang hindi na siya muli pang nagsalita ay hudyat na bumaba na ito. I took a roll of tissue from beside the sink and wiped my saturated face with it. When I discover that my hair is tangled, I loosen it and comb it clean with my fingers before retying it.

"Dianne, hindi ka dapat matakot. Limang taon na ang nakalipas. For sure hindi ka na naaalala ng baklang–este lalaking iyon," sabi ko sa aking sarili.

Kahit paano ay gumaan ang aking pakiramdam matapos ko iyong mapagtanto.

I took a step back to look in the mirror at my entire self and feigned a grin. I'm dressed in a maroon, short-sleeved, below-the-knee dress. It complements my pale skin and curves, particularly around my waist. This is my hotel attendant uniform, and I've been working Serene Stays Hotel for two years.

God knows how hard I worked to get to where I am now.

Nang makababa ako sa ground floor ay hindi na ako nagtaka nang makitang ang lahat ng staff ay nakapila sa magkabilang gilid ng entrance. Dali-dali akong tumabi kay Nicole nang senyasan niya ako bago pa mahuli ni Miss Minchin.

Yes, Miss Minchin talaga ang tawag namin sa aming Manager dahil iyon talaga ang kanyang apelyido. Biyuda ito at may pagka-strikta.

"Do you think I wouldn't notice that you weren't at our orientation earlier, Ms. Vinzon?" pabalang na saad ni Miss Minchin kaya ako yumuko.

"I'm sorry, Miss Minchin. I'm suffering from a stomach ache–"

"Ms. Vinzon, I don't need your explanation," may awtoridad niyang sabat kaya nagulat ang ilan ko pang katrabaho.

"May sakit ka?" Tyler simply said it with his lips, making no sound. He works as a bell boy at the hotel.

Umiling ako bago bumulong, "Wala. Eme lang 'yon."

He scratched his head, indicating that he didn't understand what I said. My legs started to hurt after waiting for our VIP guest for half an hour while standing straight. I'm wearing three-inch stiletos, which makes standing for lengthy periods of time much more difficult.

Nang makatanggap ng tawag si Miss Minchin ay ginawa ko iyong daan upang maupo saglit sa malapit na couch. I bent down to massage my right foot with my hand, but it made no difference. I gasped as Tyler approached me and came to a complete halt when he was in front of me.

"Can I?" He asked for my permission in a deep voice.

Kaagad siyang lumuhod upang masahihin ang aking kaliwang binti matapos akong tumango. As I felt his hands massaging my skin, I put my hands on my lap and held my skirt. He's been working in this hotel for over five years, and his charisma may be one of the reasons why so many people like him.

From his faded black hair, pair of deep set eyes, pointed nose and slender thin lips he's a perfect package. Matangkad rin ito at kahit nakasuot siya ng longsleeves na uniporme ay litaw na litaw ang matipunong hubog ng kanyang katawan.

"Saan pa masakit?" bumalik ako sa ulirat nang sabihin niya iyon.

I looked through the transparent glass wall on my left side and immediately got up when I noticed a familiar gleaming black Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Tinapik ko ang balikat ni Tyler upang yayain siyang bumalik sa aming pwesto kanina at agad rin naman siyang sumunod.

When the man I wanted to avoid parked in front of the hotel's entrance, I messed up my hair a little and allowed some strands of it obscure my eyes. Ang lahat ng bell boys kabilang si Tyler ay mabilis na lumabas para kunin ang dalang mga bagahe ng aming VIP guest. Maging si Miss Minchin ay lumapit na rin sa magarang sasakyan ng aming bisita upang salubungin ito.

Parang gusto kong tumakbo palayo nang lumabas ng sasakyan ang lalaking pilit kong kinalimutan sa loob ng limang taon. I read his name on our record so I know he's our guest but somehow I still hoped that I misread it earlier. Seeing his aristocratic face again after a long time makes me remember those moments we spent together.

Ang sakit sa aking puso ay mas lalong lumala nung bumaba mula sa shotgun seat ang isang napagandang babae. She's dressed elegantly in a red cocktail dress that complements the man next her in a black suit. Just looking at them made me feel intimidated.

"Good afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Sager," bati ni Miss Minchin sa dalawa naming guests.

The girl wrapped her arms around the guy's arm. " Oh no! Don't say that. We're not married yet, but we will be... soon," she replied, her voice kinky.

Nang pagmasdan ko ang lalaki ay mukha naman siyang masaya sa kanyang narinig. They will marry soon. If she meant tomorrow when she said soon, I'd be grateful. That's something I'd like to cross off my life's bucket list.

Miss Minchin indicated to the entryway, "Let's go inside, Mr. Sager. The presidential suite has been prepared for the both of you."

Nagyukuan ang lahat ng mga staffs kasabay ko nang tuluyan na silang nakapasok sa lounge area. Kahit ilang metro pa ang layo niya sa akin ay amoy na amoy ko ang pamilyar niyang pabango. Para akong naaakit sa halimuyak niyon kagaya ng dati.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Sager..." sunod-sunod na bati ng aking kapwa empleyado sa tuwing madaanan sila ng aming mga bisita.

My pulse began to pound loudly as I saw his glossy shoe stop in front of me. "G-good afternoon, Mr. Sager," I said.

Para akong nabunutan ng tinik nung lampasan nila ako. Nagpatuloy sila sa paglalakad hanggang sa marating nila ang elevator at pumasok doon. Kasabay ng pagsara ng door cladding ay ang pagtama ng aming tingin. Binigyan ko siya nang pilit na ngiti ngunit umiwas lamang ito na para bang hindi niya ako napansin.

What are you expecting, Dianne? That he will approach you and ask how you're doing? Obviously not. Matagal na kayong tapos, gaga!

Nasa kalagitaan ako ng paglalakad papuntang locker room nang lumapit si Nicole. Inangkla niya ang kanyang braso sa akin at ang mga mata niya'y kumikislap sa tuwa. For sure, chismis na naman ito.

"Grabe, Dianne! Ang gwapo pala talaga ni Mr. Sager 'no? At saka ang ganda rin ng nobya niya. Artista iyon, hindi ba?" kumento niya.

Nagkibit balikat ako. "Hindi ko alam kasi hindi naman ako nanunuod ng tv."

"Nanunuod ka... ng chuchu tv." at humalakhak siya.

Without waiting for her, I simply shook my head and entered the locker room. Her booming giggles could be heard echoing down the corridor. When I saw more than 20 missed calls from my son's school, I sighed. Akmang tatawagan ko iyon pabalik pero naunahan niya ako.

"Ms. Vinzon, your son, Daryx–"

"May nakaaway na naman po ba?" I checked the time on my phone. "Give me 20 minutes and I'll be there."

Kinuha ko ang maliit kong bag mula sa locker at isinilid doon ang aking phone. I exited the room with my purse in hand after locking it. Nicole was about to say something when I tapped her shoulder, and she came to a halt as I dashed into Miss Minchin's office. Since I'm still in the middle of my shift, I should appropriately get permission before leaving.

"Ms. Vinzon, you're finally here." Miss Minchin rose up from her seat. "Are you the one who cleaned Mr. Sager's room? Ms. Arellano stated it was you."

"No, I'm not, Miss Minchin," tugon ko. Hindi naman kasi ako ang naglinis no'n kundi ang magaling kong kaibigan.

Nicole, lagot ka talaga sa akin.

Miss Minchin's arms are crossed across her chest. "You know what? It doesn't matter who cleaned it; I want you to go into Mr. Sager's room because if no one cleans it to his satisfaction, he'll fire all of us."

"Fire?! As in tatanggalin po tayo sa trabaho? Like goodbye na talaga? Although he is a VIP, I don't believe he wields that much power–"

"He is the owner's son and will now be our new boss," pagkumpirma niya.

Should I go to my child first, or to my child's father, who will now be my boss?!

Terrolicious

A/N: Itong story na ito ay matagal na sa library ko pero hindi pa siya polished kaya nire-revise/reread ko.

PS. May bago na naman akong ongoing na itatambak ko lang hehe!