Chapter Ten

A Very Lonely Man

I ran five miles on the treadmill just to stop the thoughts from hurting me again. I almost died by doing it.

Kahit na active naman ako ay hiningal pa rin ako ng malala lalo na dahil nitong mga nakaraan ay wala akong ginawa kung hindi ang mamroblema at magpahinga lang. I enjoyed being a couch potato and now my body punishes me too.

I go back to my room after doing some extra strength training. I pampered myself in the bath tub and just let my mind rest. Nang mapagtagumpayan ay muling bumalik sa akin ang dahilan kung bakit ako narito.

I called Tamara and get updates from Coastal Rock. Kahit paano ay natuwa naman ako nang malamang may nakuhang corporate guests from two companies ang hotel. It was booked ahead of time at bago pa sumikat ng sobra ang Sunset Royale. Lagi ring fully booked ang huli kaya siguro wala na ring chance na magbago pa kung sakali na napilitan lang sila sa Coastal Rock.

I went to the restaurant to get my dinner. I wore a nice peach dress that complimented my skin so much. I feel like a fairy on it. As usual, marami pa ring mga matang sumunod sa akin hanggang sa matapos na akong kumain.

I went to the coffee shop after that. I listed so many things that I witnessed in Sunset Royal that will help me improve my own hotel. I highlighted 'fun' on top of my list. Tingin ko ay kulang na kulang kami sa mga pakulo at events. Hindi gaya rito na kahit hindi ka na lumabas ay narito na ang lahat. It was indeed another a whole new level of paradise.

I also listed yachts since it was one of the things that the place offer. Paunti-unti ay naiintindihan ko na rin kung ano ang hinahanap ng mga turista. Hindi lang ang pag-e-enjoy sa bagong lugar kung hindi ang pag-e-enjoy na may kasamang exclusivity at VIP treatment. The things that get more likes online. The posts that screams wealth and success so everyone would envy them for thinking that they're living the life that everyone is dreaming of—even if some people are just being hypocrite about it.

I will never be against people who loves to enjoy new things but it made me cringe that most people became so pretentious these days just to brag something they really do not have. That will never sit right with me.

If flexing and pretending makes someone happy then so be it. The only thing that makes me sick about these people is when they're overdoing it. Iyon bang lahat na lang ginagawa para makasabay lang sa mga usong trends kahit na wala naman talaga silang kakayanan. Iyong mga taong nagagawa pang mangutang at mameste ng ibang tao para lang sa mga luho nila.

They're so crazy about social media and the people in it who gives them fake validations. And they never realize they are punishing themselves in the long run by showing off and pretending too much. That was one of the main reason why I quit being on any social media platform. I just can't take people these days.

Iiling-iling akong nagpatuloy sa pagsusulat habang dahan-dahang inuubos ang kape ko.

"Hi ma'am! The coffee shop is about to close in an hour and we're doing our last call. Would you like to order something beforehand?" nakangiting pukaw sa akin ng babaeng waiter na mayroong malawak na ngiti na para bang hindi siya nagtrabaho buong araw.

Her aura was just so vibrant and comforting even when it was already dark outside. She's beautiful and glowing too.

Umayos ako ng upo. Hindi ko namalayang nakadalawang kape na ako at isang slice ng carrot cake sa halos dalawang oras na pananatili sa loob.

I feel bad for occupying the space and making it a work place but I had so much in my plate. Parang hindi ko magagawa ang lahat ng mga nagawa ko ngayon kung sa kwarto ko ako nagtrabaho.

"No thank you, Joanne." I gave her back the sweetest smile she gave me after glancing at her name plate.

Matapos niyang mawala ay inayos ko na rin ang mga gamit ko. There was really something magical in this place that I just couldn't tell. Para bang ang mga staff ay hindi nagtatrabaho at napapagod. I never see someone with a poker face. Though gano'n naman talaga dapat, minsan ay hindi ko rin masisisi dahil hindi biro ang magtrabaho sa hospitality management.

Kahit na naitayo ko ang hotel noon ay inaral ko pa rin ang lahat ng role na gagampanan ng mga tauhan ko. Inaral ko kung paano mag-function sa reception. How to take calls, room services, check guests in and out, greet them, give them their keys, prepare their bills, payment, everything. Iyon pa lang ay hirap na ako.

I also learned how to do housekeeping. Simula sa paglilinis, pag-ayos ng mga higaan at pag-restock ng mga gamit para sa mga susunod na guests. Even at our restaurant, naging waiter din ako at tumulong sa kitchen. I did it all because I want to learn not only the process and the struggle of my stuff but because for me, it is mandatory if you really want your business to succeed.

Being a business owner doesn't stop once you built your place and hire people. It is just the beginning. Kung talagang gusto mong maging successful ang business mo ay kailangan mong aralin lahat maski sa pinakamaliit na bagay at tutukan. That way you'll be knowledgeable enough to know how things really works. Naiisip at nakikilala mo rin ang mga tauhan mong kasama mong bubuo sa pangarap na sinimulan mo.

Kahit na isang dekada at mahigit na ako sa pagnenegosyo ay hindi natapos ang mga dapat kong aralin at matutunan, gaya na lang ngayon.

I guess life is really just like that. We evolve and don't stop learning. That's somehow the same with my mantra in life, and that is to never stop learning because you don't know everything and what you think you know is not always right.

I made a big progress tonight. Excited na akong umuwi bukas at pag-meeting-an ang lahat ng mga dapat naming i-improve sa hotel.

Plano ko sanang bumalik na sa aking suite pero nang mahagip ng mga mata ang spa na pinasukan namin ni Toine kagabi ay wala sa sariling nagpatianod ako sa mga paa ko hanggang sa makabalik ako sa lugar. Even though I am not sure if I can be inside the place, pumasok pa rin ako.

I smiled when the same bartender greeted me. May dalawang tao sa loob na nasa isang itim at mahabang couch, Bukod sa kanila ay wala nang iba pa. Dumiretso ako sa bar at naupo sa high chair.

"Did Toine came here?" I asked before he could even kick me out of the place.

"Good evening, ma'am. You mean, Mr. Toine Rozovsky?"

"Yeah. Magkasama kami kagabi rito. Have you seen him around? Pumunta ba siya rito ngayong araw?" I asked just to keep the conversation going so he would not notice that I am not supposed to be here.

"I'm sorry ma'am but I don't have any idea about Mr. Rozovsky's whereabouts."

"Can I have a martini?"

"Right away." nakangiti na niyang sabi kaya nakalma na ako. Mukhang hindi na niya ako mapapaalis.

"You two seemed close. Alam mo ang favorite drink niya so meaning palagi siyang narito?" tanong ko ulit nang maibigay na niya sa akin ang order kong alak.

Napalitan ng kaba ang matamis niyang ngiti kanina. "Hindi naman po palagi."

"Hmm, so he just visits this place whenever he wants to?"

May pag-aalinlangan niyang itinikom ang bibig lalo na nang tumayo ang dalawang customer at umalis.

I took blue bills out of my wallet and secretly slides it to him. Nagmamadali niya naman iyong kinuha.

"For any information you want to give me about Mr. Rozovsky."

"You didn't hear it from me, ma'am."

I drag my fingers across my lips to create an illusion of a zipper being zipped.

"Call me, Lacey."

Tumango si Jimm at bumalik sa pag-aayos ng counter habang sinasagot ako kapalit ng perang ibinigay ko. He must have needed it.

"He's not always around. Ngayong buwan lang napadalas siya pero pasulpot-sulpot lang 'yon dito basta. Minsan kasama ang kakambal o mga kaibigan pero madalas siya lang talagang mag-isa."

"I see. Tell me more."

"Tama kayo, kilalang-kilala ko na Sir Toine kumpara kay Sir Thelonious dahil dalawang beses pa lang naman yata ito napunta rito hindi gaya ni Sir Toine na sa tuwing nadadalaw sa hotel ay dito kaagad pumupunta."

"You said he's mostly alone. You mean wala siyang dinadalang babae rito?"

He nodded. "Not until yesterday with you, Miss Lacey."

That made me sip on my drink.

"Baka hindi mo lang alam kapag may dinadala siyang iba. I doubt that you're here twenty-four seven."

"Siguro, pero ikaw lang talaga ang nakita ko. He's always prefer to be alone. Gano'n siguro talaga kapag broken-hearted."

Nangunot ang noo ko sa narinig. "Broken-hearted?"

"Opo."

Pinigilan kong matawa. That didn't sit right. Si Toine ma-bo-broken hearted?

But then I remember him saying about kids. Tuluyan nang nalihis ang plano kong magtanong-tanong tungkol sa mga ganap at tao sa likod ng lugar na 'to at napunta na lang lahat kay Toine.

"Does he have a wife? Are they separated? Is that what you mean, Jimm? Naghiwalay na ba sila kaya siya broken-hearted?"

May pag-aalinlangan siyang tumango pagkatapos ay bahagyang natulala habang pinupunasan ang basong hawak.

"Tell me something about it."

Sa kanyang muling pagtitig sa akin gamit na ang malungkot na mga mata ay muli akong bumunot ng pera pero imbes na kunin ay tinitigan niya lang 'yon pagkatapos ay marahang umiling.

"Mr. Rozovsky's wife died along with his two kids, Miss Lacey. Iyon ang dahilan kung bakit broken-hearted siya at hindi dahil naghiwalay sila. He was left all alone and I think that made him a very lonely man."

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