Chapter I

“Nak, andito na ang bill ng kuryente at tubig. Jusko sabay talagang dumating.” Sabi ng nanay ko pagkaupo sa hapagkainan.

Hmm goodmorning kaya muna?

“Hmm magkano ba? Bukas magbabayad ako ma” eto na naman ako, akala mo may ipon at kaydaling magsabi na kayang bayaran ang tubig at kuryente, agad-agad.

Napangiti si mama sa sagot ko. Ang pinakaayaw ko sa lahat ay ang ma stress ang nanay ko sa bayarin sa bahay. Kaya pag ganitong may kailangang bayaran, ako na ang taya.

“Oh siya, mag breakfast ka na at baka ma late ka sa session niyo” sabi niya at pinagtimpla ako ng kape.

Hmm isa pa itong buhay ko sa gobyerno. Akala ko yayaman ako dahil malaki ang sweldo pero tangina, puro pighati at utang lang ang na invest ko.

Utang.

Isang salita pero triggered kaluluwa ko. Paano ko ba mababayaran lahat ng mga utang kong pera sa mundo? Nakakaumay ng kumayod tapos sa kinsenas at katapusan ibabayad mo lang sa utang.

Nawalan tuloy ako ng ganang kumain.

Inabot ni mama ang kape ko. Sumimsim ako sa mainit na kape.

Hmm, this is life! Sana ganito ka hagod ang buhay, mainit, nakakapaso, mapait pero masarap sa huli.

Darating din ang araw na masosolusyunan din ang lahat ng problema ko.

Darating ang araw na matatapos din lahat ng utang ko sa mundo.

Pero mga after 10 years pa. Hay, napapikit ako sa dismaya.

….

“..okay, meeting adjourned. *tok tok”

Hmm 3 hrs. Session at puro mga walang kwentang bagay naman ang napag-usapan.

May mga reportings pa from different departments na wala namang concrete at relevant na informations. Sakit sa ulo. Ma ookay itong sakit sa ulo ko kung may pera ako ngayon.

Pera lapit ka sa akin.

I gathered my things and headed to my personal office a.k.a cubicle ni Brgy. Secretary, My bestfriend- Madi.

I check my phone, need ko na mag charge. I was about to plug in my phones charger when my phone rings. It was from an unknown number, a foreign number.

“Hello?” I answered.

“Hello good day. I’d like to speak with Ms. Quiva?” A male authorative voice from the other line.

“Ehem, this is her speaking. Who is this?” I sound confuse.

“Good day Ms. Quiva, this is Manuel Medíchelí from Milan. One of our associates there in Mindanao Philippines will contact you in an hour and will handle some matters with you.” He informed in a very formal tone.

“Uhmm, why exactly?” I’m still confused tho.

“You will know everything in an hour Ms. Quiva. Our associates know your whereabouts at this moment so it’s better for u to stay where you are and wait for him.”

For no reason, I felt nervous. How the hell this guy knows me and calls me out of nowhere from overseas?! Is this a prank or something?

I chuckled. “Hmm if this is some kind of a prank or what, with all due respect Sir, I have no time for this. Just prank someone else. Goodbye and happy lunch”

I turned off the call and plug in to charge it. Then my phone rang again.

It was the same caller. I know I look stupid as of the moment because I unconsiously/consiously make faces when Im confused.

“What the hell is this? Who the hell are you Mister?”

I muttered.

I declined the call. But then the caller is persistent. I have no choice but to answer him again.

“Hey Mister, leave me alone and stop calling this number. Wrong number ka uy!” I yelled out.

There was a short silence on the other line.

“It was quite unpleasant to drop a call like that Ms. Quiva. And this is not a prank if thats what you think. Stay where you are and see you soon.”

And then he drop the call. The audacity to tell me what to do? Para lang ding mga bobo naming opisyales ah?! Hehe joke

Leeer? I just shake my head in annoyance and charged my phone again.

… ….

“May meeting ka with health workers at 1pm?” Tanong ni Mimi.

Kasalukuyan kaming nag lulunch ni Madi sa secretary’s table niya ng may dumating na tatlong kalalakihan sa Hall.

Ang dalawa’y naka all black suit habang ang isa naman, na nasa gitna ay naka 3piece cream tuxedo.

What the hell? Asan ang lamay?

“Hello goodnoon. Sorry for interupting your lunch ladies, uhmm is Ms. Rosalía Quiava here?” The man in cream tuxedo spoked with all formality.

Napatayo si Madi at medyo nagulat.

This man in front of us exudes 100% daddy energy!

Tall, dark and gorgeous.

Napatayo na din ako, “uhmm yes? Bakit?”

He took off is sunglasses and stared at me for a moment.

“We need to talk Ms. Quiava, in private.” He spoke.

“My apologies for interrupting your lunch, but this is urgent” he said again and he walk out in the office.

Napatingin ako kay Madi at nagpatanga.

Sinundan ko ng tingin ang Lalaking kakalabas lang.

Paalis na ako sa aking kinatatayuan ng maalala ko ang lalaking tumawag sa akin kanina.

Eto na ba ang sinasabi niyang may darating na associate niya dito sa Mindanao?

Akala ko scam yun? Baka pagkalabas ko dito sa opisina bigla akong kidnappin? Or barilin?

Teka? Wala naman akong naaalalang nakabanggaan ko or na offend ko na tao?

Wait?!

Sino naman ang magpapakidnap sa akin? Isa lang naman akong hamak na hampaslupa dito sa mundoooo? Wait? O baka isa ito sa mga prank ng mga pinagkakautangan ko?!? 😭

“Ms. Quiava, Mr. Lorenzo is waiting for you” biglang sambit ng lalaking naka black suit.

Mukhang bodyguard ito nung lalaki kanina.

“Mr. Lorenzo” hu da hell ar u?!

Lumabas na ako at ramdam kong sinundan ako ni Madi.

Nilingon ko siya at sinabihang doon lang siya sa kanyang opisina. She looks worried but I just told her na wag mag alala.

That “Mr. Lorenzo” is waiting outside and di ko maiwasang mairita. Ano bang pakulo ito?!

“Eheeem,Ano ho bang kailangan niyo sa akin?” I asked using my most innocent voice.

He turns his back and suddenly grin then crossed his arms.

“Can we talk somewhere private? Like an office? I’d like us to talk inside the car and dragged you somewhere but I don’t want you to think of anything else so I’ll hold my reins.” He sounds annoy.

That made me confuse.

“What is this exactly anyway?” I talked back.

He has his filipino-spanish features but he sounds foreign to me.

“Hmm .. lemme see, Dimitri Guidottí? Does he ring a bell?” He said.

I froze for a second. I mean, parang na choke ako. Wait, I was just thinking about him today then eto? What the hell?

“Uhmm .. yeah? Why?” I stammered a bit.

“Ms. Quiava, where is your office?”