01 - The City that Never Sleeps

Max

THE view of Brooklyn Bridge from the studio-type apartment where I live always takes my breath away. That's what I always want to see first thing in the morning to lighten up my mood, just like a husband to his wife. Another reason I chose this place is among those choices that Emerald gave me when I was looking for a place to stay.

"Emerald, what is my schedule today?" I asked, then pressed the treadmill's stop button. The mini speaking gadget, which I place on top of the center table beside my picture with Mom, lighted up upon hearing my voice.

"You have a 10 am meeting with Mr. Nagasaki and a 2 pm meeting with your friend Chris at Crowne Plaza Hotel and Resort."

I reached the water bottle and opened it to drink, then wiped the sweat on my forehead and nape.

"Emerald, what is the weather today?"

The gadget lighted up again and began to talk that almost choked me.

"You'll meet someone today that will instantly change your world."

Why does Emerald suddenly become a soothsayer? I asked for the weather, not my fortune, for Pete's sake! This toy is tearing up my guts.

"I repeat, what is the weather today?"

Emerald repeated what she just told me a while ago, and it's pissed me off. Crap the fortune-telling features of this gadget. Whoever is the creator of this should start re-modeling Emerald or updating its program. Emerald became a broken phonograph record suddenly that made me walked out of my room.

"Naghanda na ako ng almusal mo, hijo." Nana Zeny told me when I met her outside. Her smile reminds me of late Mom. They're blood sisters, and ever since my Mom succumbed to death, Nana Zeny took care of me.

"Thank you, Nana." Nana Zeny's forehead slightly creased when she heard Emerald talking inside my room. "I broke it... I think?" I said, shrugging my shoulder.

I went straight to the bathroom and took a shower. I kept on humming to the tune of a particular song that never left my mind. I inclined my head and let the water from the showerhead hit my face.

"I'm sorry, Max..."

I opened my eyes after hearing those words again. It's still alive on my head, even if three long years had passed. It's still her.

Sadie.

"I'll go straight to Crowne Plaza to meet Mr. Nagasaki and Chris, Claudel. I'll drop by later to watch the performance. Just make sure that everything is under control; allow only those with RSVPs to come inside our lounge."

Mahigpit na bilin ko kay Claudel. This assistant of mine called just right in time. Kalalabas ko lang sa banyo noong maisipan niya akong tawagan para sa update. There will be a band performance at the lounge I owned in Furman Street. Iniwan ko na preparation sa ilalim ng supervision niya. At kaya ako makikipagkita kay Chris, para maayos na namin iyon sa branch ng lounge ko sa Crowne Plaza.

I never thought that I could be this successful after leaving the Philippines. I was happy and contented with my life there with Sadie, but she didn't choose me. In the middle of everyone, strangers, to be specific, she rejected my planned proposal.

"Boss, kapag may naghanap sa 'yo,"

"Just tell them your script."

"Max is not around and will not be around until further notice. Got it, boss."

A devilish grin flashed on my face. Iyong mga 'flavor of the week' ko lang naman ang maghahanap sa akin na hinaharap ni Claudel araw-araw.

"Dapat hindi mo na lang pinaasa kaysa hinahabol ka," komento ni Nana Zeny. I slid my phone inside of my trouser's pocket.

"I didn't ask them to fall in love with me, Nana," I said, shrugging both of my shoulders. Nana Zeny just shook her head in disbelief. Hindi ako dating ganito, nagbago lang talaga ako.

"Kailangan ko mag-grocery at bumili ng mga toiletries." I quickly handed her cash from my wallet since she's not fond of using our joint credit card. Kinuha ko iyon para less cash transaction pero hindi sanay si Nana kaya naman naglalagay pa din ako cash sa wallet. "Death anniversary ng Mama mo sa makalawa. Sana wala kang lakad noon para makadalaw tayo,"

Wala naman ako masyadong schedule. Para nga akong turista lang dito na may sariling negosyo. I live a comfortable life here in Brooklyn. Malayo sa buhay na mayroon ako sa Pilipinas. Simple lang buhay doon na isang dahilan kaya daw tinanggihan ni Sadie ang proposal ko. We haven't talked about it even if she's already in New Jersey. I won't go there to meet her. If she needed to explain herself, then cross the border as if I'm the one she loved.

Silly, Max... Sadie won't do that. Tinapon niya ang lahat para sa mas matanda sa 'yo...

"I'll fix my schedule for that." I stood up after drinking the coffee that Nana had prepared for me. "I have to go, and don't wait up, hmm?"

I walk towards Nana and give her a tight hug.

"Mag-text ka kung anong oras ka uuwi, Max!"

"I will, promise!"

**

BROOKLYN isn't the first country that crossed my mind when I planned a trip as part of my moving-on agenda. Paris, France was on the list, too, but this city that never sleeps offered many things to me. Night life, girls, business, cars, and dollars. Sabihin na nating ngayon ko palang na-e-enjoy ang buhay at wala pa uli sa bokabolaryo ko ang paglagay sa tahimik. Masyado kasing masakit at napahiya pa ako sa harapan ng marami nang talikuran ako bigla ni Sadie.

I prepared to give her the world, but a tremendous amount of money finds a way to her heart. To Sadie, I am just a no-life goal man who's contended to live a simple life. That was before, but now I'm different. I like this version of mine now. I got a lot of connections and business partners here in Brooklyn and across the border.

"David Jones..." A soft voice lady talk not far from where I am. I am at the one of the famous restaurant in Crowne Plaza Hotel and Resort that serves continental cuisines which is my favorite. Kaya dito ko napiling kitain si Mr. Nagasaki at Chris. Masyado pang maaga para oras na napag-usapan at mukhang ma-e-entertain naman ako ngayon.

"Who is she, babe?" The blonde-haired woman who's sitting right next to the guy named David Jones asked. Mga tatlong lamesa ang layo ko sa kanila kaya dinig na dinig ko ang mga pinagsasabi nila. The red curly-haired woman started to cry,,,, which made David's forehead slightly creased.

Umayos ako ng upo, lulubusin ko na ang pagiging tsismoso. I remembered myself because of this scene, but not the same because I am careful not to get every girl I dated for a week pregnant. I always pack a lot of protection. David Jones' case is worst since the blonde woman beside him is pregnant.

"I am his girlfriend. He promised a lot of things to me," the red-haired woman wails. Everyone, not only me, eyed the three of them.

"Girlfriend -- no, babe. I don't know her!" Giit nung David Jones sa asawa nito malamang. Umiiyak na dinukot ng red haired woman ang cellphone sa Louis Vuitton bag nito. It's a limited edition bag which every woman in New York dreams to have.

Pinakita nito ang cellphone sa blonde na babae na naging dahilan ng pagtayo nito. "What is the meaning of this?"

"You said that you'll leave her for me. That will go to the Bahamas and stay there."

"W-what? No, I really don't --" Bago pa 'man matapos ni David ang sasabihin ay nasampal na siya ng kanyang asawa. That's a hard slap which I don't want to experience. Bigla akong napa-isip dahil baka mamaya mangyari din sa akin ang ganitong eksena. I watched the blonde woman left the restaurant after slapping David. Susunod dapat dito ang lalaki ngunit sumigaw si red hair.

"You're leaving again? What about me?" Umiiyak na tanong ng babae dito.

"I don't know you, so get lost." The red-haired woman stops him. "Ugh, how much do you want?"

Mas lumakas ang iyak ng babae. Naging samu't sari ang bulungan sa paligid ko. Lahat nakikisimpatya sa mga babaeng pinagsabay ni David.

"Don't you love me anymore?"

I prefer my girls not to go this far. I don't want to be shamed again in public, but my sympathy goes to this red haired woman. Her eyes were pleasing to me. Mukhang hindi niya alam na may asawa na itong kumag na si David. Umalis pa din ang lalaki pagkalapag ilang dolyares sa lamesa. Patuloy sa pag-iyak iyong babae na malao'y binigyan na ng panyo ng ilang tsismosong katulad ko.

My attention diverted to my phone when it vibrates. It is a text message from Chris and he asked me to meet him at beach later. Hindi na napabalik sa eksena ang atensyon ko matapos magreply dahil dumating na si Mr. Nagasaki.

"Rest assured that your money won't get wasted. My rooftop and lounge entertained a lot of customers. Almost half of Brooklyn's population."

"I believe in your skills, Max. I know that I made the right decision on investing in your business,"

Nagkamay kami ni Mr. Nagasaki saka nagpaalam na siya sa akin na aalis na. The meeting didn't last a hour because after explaining what is Elixir, Mr. Nagasaki wrote a check under my name immediately. Hindi kasi patay ang negosyong may kinalalaman sa night life dito sa Amerika lalong lalo na dito sa New York City. They won't name this as city that never sleeps without a reason. Buhay na buhay ang ekonomiya at turismo kahit pa sobrang traffic.

I waved at the restaurant staff and asked for the bill. Mabilis naman ako pinuntahan dala iyong babayaran ko. I have some left over cash in my wallet. Matipid si Nana Zeny at pati yata ang pakikipagtawaran sa mga panida ay dinala dito sa Brooklyn. She's the only immediate family that I have. Walang sariling anak kaya ako na lang inalagaan at bilang kapalit, dinala ko siya dito at nilagay sa family registry ko.

"One tequila sunrise here, please,"

The voice was familiar, making me look around until my eyes stopped and stared at a woman on the bar side. It was the red hair woman a while ago. I thought she had already left the hotel after the scene. Nasa beach na ako nag-iintay na lang dumating si Chris. I took all the courage and walked towards her spot.

"One scotch, please, and charge her drink on me." She eyed me from head to feet. Her brown eyes captured me that suits her above the shoulder red curly hair. "I witnessed your little scene awhile ago."

"Ah, t-that..." She's too emotional right now, and I shouldn't bring it up.

"When life gives you lemons, make a lemonade, and then throw it in the face of the person who gave you lemons until they give you the oranges you originally asked for."

She smiled.

I smiled.

"Summer Davis," she said,

"Max Lewis," I replied.

**