8 November 2016

Ni Hao, Alyssathebored this chapter is for you. Glad that I met you. I think we should thank the Scribed we became friends. Hehehe! Have a nice day! :)

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Chapter V

May isa daw akong kasama sa kwarto pinili ko ang kama na malapit sa bintana. May malaking aquarium at kita mo ang iba ibang sea creatures. Sa pagkaka alam ko pag mag me mermaid pwede din lumanggoy sa aquarium tank nila.

Dumating ang ka room mate ko at inayos na niya agad ang kanyang gamit nag lagay pa siya ng naka sabit na mga letters sa headboard ng kama niya N G A I R E.

"Paano i prounce name mo? Naire? Silent G?" Umiling siya habang naka ngiti.

"Kailan kaya may tatama? Hindi siya parang Blaire or Claire. Ny-ree ang pronunciation." Tumango tango ako.

Pinayagan kaming mga intern mamasyal sa resort at sa Monday orientation. Nag suot ako ng baby pink off shoulder na one piece na may corset ribbon sa gitna sa harap, hindi din pwede mawala ang Smooth Groove, at nag lagay na din ako ng adhesive tape sa swimsuit ko. Bumababa ako mula sa pool para maka punta sa dagat at maka pag selfie ng ma i send ko sa group chat namin.

It was already dusk. Sumunod si Ngaire sa akin kaya nag pa picture na din ako sa kanya, may silhouette shot din ako. Nanatili kami doon hanggang sa dumilim na, may moon at stars na. Ito ang gusto ko pag nag pu punta sa province mas maraming stars ako nakikita, sa amin bilang mo kung ilan ang nakikita mo. Hindi ko alam kung bakit mas marami sa province, parehas naman Pilipinas.

Nag punta kami ni Ngaire sa game room ng resort at nag laro ng dart, may aquarium tank din dito. Nag pahinga ako sandali at siya naman tinuloy ang pagla laro. Tinignan ko ang cellphone ko na may message galing kay Hebe sa group chat namin.

Hebe: Maganda diyan sa resort nila?

Iris: Yup. Punta kayo dito tapos punta ulit tayo ng Virgin Island.

Levi: Miss ko na yung Buko nila doon.

Next month daw ay pupunta sila dito hindi pa sure kung kasama ang parents namin. Para hindi daw nakaka hiya na mag a absent ako agad sa intern. Pag pumunta sila syempre kailangan kasama din ako sa pamamasyal dito sa Bohol.

Bumalik ako sa pag da dart at naka bull's eye ako, nagtatalon ako sa saya. May narinig naman akong pumalakpak mula sa likod.

"Galing!" Nilingon ko siya.

Hindi ko alam kung tatawagin ko ba siyang sir or Anselm dahil boss namin siya dito. Hindi ako sanay kaya ito na lang sinabi ko. "Hi!"

Nung gumabi naki pag video call ako sa mga kapatid ko para mapanood ko ang pageant ni Olga. Naka pasok siya hanggang Q and A portion.

"You're one of the beauty queens and being beauty queen not just having a beautiful face, but brain and heart. If you can only choose one. What would you follow your heart or your brain?" Tanong ng isang judge.

I know my answer. But let's see what she's thinking.

"Brain. No matter what happened I will choose brain not just because it's the right thing to do, but it will prevent me from doing things that I think I will regret sooner or later. Thank you."

"Say what?." Yan ang naging reaction ko.

"What?" Hindi ko sinagot si Cady.

Dapat naman pinagsasabay ang puso at utak. But if we only need to choose one, for me I would follow my heart. Okay if you want to follow your brain there is nothing wrong with that. I need to explain myself.I know choosing your heart can make you fool. But choosing your brain can make you go crazy with non-answerable questions and thoughts Like for example: What if I did that? Would my life will be happier if I did that? I might get wrong. Everything that we feel, what we are thinking, what we thought were all started with the brain function. When you choose your heart and you fail, maybe you will regret and you will ask yourself 'Why I did that?' Suddenly, you will realize that you can learn from it. And when you win while choosing your heart, you will be happy. At least no more questions with what ifs. Plus you can tell yourself that 'Wow! I did that I should be proud of myself.' Whatever the outcome.

Nag suot ako ng grey turtleneck dress para sa orientation at gladiator sandals. Katabi ko si Ngaire at busy siya sa kanyang cellphone. Ako naman nag hi hintay na dumaan si Anselm, sabi hindi daw si Anselm ang mag to talk.

Kinuha ko ang steno notebook at pink glitters ko na pen ng nag simula ang orientation. Yung mga inapplayan daw namin hindi lang yun ang gagawin namin, dahil trainee pa lang kami kailangan matuto din daw kami ng ibang trabaho. Minsan daw kasi walang kinalaman ang magiging trabaho mo sa pinag-aralan mo.

"Now, let's talk about the rules." Ani ng speaker.

Rule no. 1. Late is not acceptable.

"Remember you're just intern here. You guys are the lucky, because we chose you to be part of our resort. Three tardiness leads to termination. Remember this, we can replace you with the other applicants that we didn't choose."

Kawawa naman sila second option lang. Nag taas ako ng kamay, ng tinuro niya ako ay tumayo ako.

"Why being late is not acceptable? This is not only our work. We have many things to do in our daily lives." Kahit nasa bakasyon din naman ako kahit papaano.

"We're teaching you to be responsible."

"Speaking about tardiness what if the person lives far away from this resort?"

"That's simple he or she should leave the house earlier.'

"What if they are too tired to wake up earlier than their usual wake up routine?"

"They would use to it."

"Okay, but I bet you know that health is the most important."

Umirap siya. "Yes. That's why they should sleep early."

"Like what I have said. We have bunch of things to do that can't make it in one day."

"Rules are rules."

Ngumuwi ako at inayos ang dress na suot ko bago ako umupo. Nilagay ko ang dalawang paa ko sa left side at nag cross ankle

Rule no. 2: You're here to work not to procrastinate.

Hindi pa naman siya nag e explain nag taas na ako ng kamay alam ko naman ibig sabihin nun.

"Trainees have the right to relax." Sabi ko.

"Yes when they are done with their tasks."

"Relaxation or procrastination doesn't mean it stops them from doing their task, it's just a break."

"I know. But relaxation can lead to laziness."

"Too much work can lead to the hospital." Depensa ko.

Napansin ko gusto na ako sugurin ng babaeng speaker nagpi pigil lang siya.

Rule no 3. You follow what is right not what you want.

"Doing right prevents you from being wrong."

Nag taas ulit ako ng kamay.

"Sorry to say this, but what you said is not always right. Maybe following what you want has the high chances to be wrong than choosing what is right. But you have to be open minded, that life doesn't only orbit in what is right. There is something beyond those things."

"Oh my goodness. We're talking about the rules." Nasapo niya ang noo niya

"I'm just stating my opinion. There is no right or wrong."

"You just said a while ago that what I had said is not always right."

"Yes. And I didn't say that your thoughts are wrong. Maybe you're right, but not always. Why innocent found guilty even they did the right thing?"

Rule no 4: You can't date any fellow interns, employees and the higher positions.

Ibig sabihin hindi ko pwede i date si Anselm? "This rule is too much."

Nag taas siya ng kilay sa akin.

"What I mean is what if you found him or her in this resort not as customer?"

"Why are you in love? Have you found him here together with your fellow interns?"

I can't say that I'm in love, but I know it's more than a crush. Wala din naman siya dito kaya sinagot ko siya ng isang "No."

"Okay then, rules are rules."

Matapos ang orientation, dumiretso si Ngaire sa kwarto ako naman nag libot sa loob ng resort.

May nakita akong pinto na may sign na

DO NOT ENTER AUTHORIZED STAFF ONLY

Anong authorized staff only? Mamaya may tinatago pala dito.

Hinawakan ko ang doorknob at naka bukas ito.

"Security control room." Bulong ko

Nilibot ko ang paningin ko at walang tao. Pumasok ako at sinarado ang pintuan, lumapit ako sa may malaking computer, keyboard at mouse. Marami pang computer malilit lang yung iba. Ito malaki mukhang lahat ng department ang nasa video.

Napalingon ako sa tumikhim.

"You're not allowed here, Miss and what you're doing is trespassing. I'm Agent-"

Hindi ko na na pakinggan yung mga susunod pa niyang sinabi ng nakaramdam ako ng takot. Agent? Police agent? Makukulong na ba ko?

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Thank you for your time. Have a nice day! :)