Chapter 2

Agad-agad akong lumabas ng area winery kung saan ko siya nakita. I was so confident that this day would be a good one for me, but something always will come to crash it for me.

Hindi ko namalayan na hinabol na pala ako ni Andrei sa labas. Nang higitin pa niya ako kanina, I almost pushed him away for mistaking him as the other guy I was trying to avoid.

"I'm sorry, sorry..." I apologize, not meeting his eyes since I'm aware that he could show up anytime and he'll possibly see me right after. Mabilis ang kabog ng dibdib ko. I'm not expecting this would go this way. Gusto ko lang naman ng trabaho pero bakit pilit kaming ipinagkikita ng demonyong 'yon?

"No, it's okay. What happened? Did you feel anything?"

Nag-isip na lamang ako ng dahilan. "Uh... yeah. It was just a little contraction here..." Paghimas ko pa sa belly ko. Pansin ko namang nakahinag siya nang maluwag sa pagkompirma ko. Hindi ko naman sasabihin sa kanya 'yong totoo or else, the situation could go wrong.

And I will hate myself if we'll ever to see eyes to eyes again.

"What do you want to do now?" he asked.

"Maybe I'll somewhere else for the meantime and then I'll be back."

"Okay, but why don't you stay inside? We have a lounge area there. Don't worry, you'll be there alone so you can relax. Is that fine with you?"

Tumango naman ako sa sinabi niya. Hindi na naman ako aangal since wala naman akong ibang pupuntahan pa. Kaya ko namang lakarin pabalik sa bahay, pero baka sa daan naman niya ako maabutan. Nagmadali na lamang kaming sumuyod pabalik sa loob saka niya ako dinala sa lounge area na tinutukoy niya.

May sofa, TV, mini bar, at ilang mini-games ang nasa loob ng lounge room. Umupo na lamang ako sa sofa habang si Andrei naman ay nag-excuse upang balikan ang kanilang magiging business partner.

Alam niya kayang nasa Italy ako ngayon? Hindi naman siguro. Hindi rin naman niya alam na may kamag-anak ako rito sa Palermo kaya nakakagulat talaga. Or baka may iba lang talaga siyang agenda at hindi ako kasama ro'n. And if that is his intention, I should be fine and not to worry about him.

I grabbed my phone and immediately check his Instagram account using my other account—which I normally used for stalking people. And there clicking on his profile, I just confirmed that he's truly in Italy. From his previous post, he arrived a week ago in Rome, and then with his friends, he traveled to Sicily. Checking some of his photos, there I saw the man who I've got to talk with on my last day at the bar. He was really friendly with him.

It's a good thing, I was able to get out of that situation as quickly as possible.

While I was waiting inside the lounge room. Hindi pa rin naman maialis ang kaba sa dibdib ko dahil baka mamaya ay dalhin naman nila ito rito. Walang ideya si Andrei kaya maaaring mangyari iyon.

After a moment I was all by myself sa lounge area, naisipan kong sumilip sa bintana kung saan tanaw ang daan sa main entrance. There, I saw him and the Ferrucci's talking. Nagtago na lamang ako sa likod ng kurtina upang hindi ako masilayan mula sa loob.

They were talking and he was laughing. They were all getting along. Bago pa man tuluyan siyang umalis ay nakipagkamay pa ito sa kanila. That only means ay na-settle nila ang partnership. Napabuntonghininga na lamang ako dahil sa laki ba naman ng mundo, sa iisang isla pa talaga ulit kami magkikita—well, hindi pa—ayokong mangyari iyon.

When he drove away, bumalik naman sa loo bang mag-ina. Dali-dali rin naman akong bumalik sa kinauupuan ko. Ilang saglit lang din naman ay bumalik na si Andrei.

"How are you doing?" he asked.

"I'm good," sagot ko. "Everything's a little fine now..."

"That's great," he said. Umupo naman ito sa upuan na nasa harapan ko. "So, where we have left it off earlier?" he asked, but already remembered it before I could even say it. "Right. Just like what I said, you'll be working here with a flexible schedule, I'll give you that for now. But when it comes to partner visits or any important gatherings, that's an exemption alright?"

Tumango na lamang ako sa kanya. "That would be fine for me."

"And we'll pay you 1000 euros weekly, is that alright with you?"

"Whatever it is, I would be fine with it."

"You must be so excited!" Andrei said. "So, the only problem remains here is... you're pregnant and sure you can walk, but I know not thirty minutes far away from your home. But I know someone who can help you."

"Who?" I asked, creasing my forehead.

"Jann," he said. "He's been using a company-issued Vespa so maybe he could fetch you at your home and drop you later on. Does that sounds good to you?"

As if I have a choice, tumango na lamang ako sa kanya.

"Then, congratulations! Welcome to Ferrucci Winery!" he said. Inabot nito ang kamay niya sa akin upang kamayan ako at pormal na tanggapin ang trabahong inalok niya, pero niyakap ko siya kapalit no'n. Natawa naman siya ng bahagya saka ko naramdaman ang paglapat ng kamay niya sa likod ko upang yakapin din ako.

"Grazi, Andrei." Saka ako dahan-dahang umalis sa pagkayayakap sa kanya.

"You're welcome, Jacinta. It's a pleasure for us for you to be here with us. I'm excited to work here with you."

"I'm also looking forward to it. So, when can I start?"

"I guess, you can start tomorrow," he said. "We'll finalize your contract today and you'll be working from eight in the morning to four in the afternoon. That'll be your normal schedule, but that can be changed if there are some circumstances we should watch out for. Does that sound good to you?"

"Absolutely fine for me," pagtapik ko sa braso niya. "If I won't be doing anything then, I think I should go home now and take some rest."

"Yeah, I think you should do that. You should also get my number for our direct communication."

Nagpalitan naman kami ng number at pagkatapos no'n ay binalak ko nang umalis. He even wanted to call Jann para ihatid ako sa bahay, pero in the end ay siya na rin ang naghatid sa akin baka malagot daw siya kay auntie kapag pinauwi niya akong mag-isa.

Hindi ko naman pina-diretsyo sa bahay ang pag-drop niya sa akin. Sinabi kong ibaba niya ako sa bar ni Alessandro kaya iyon ang drop-off destination namin. Hindi pa agad ako bumaba since I'm checking the area if he was there. Alam ko na kung anong sasakyan niya kaya kapag nahuli ko iyong sasakyan niya, I would run the hell out of here.

Nang ma-secure ko namang ligtas pa ako, nagpaalam na ako kay Andrei at saka ako bumaba ng sasakyan niya. Muli niyang ipinaalala sa akin na simula bukas ay si Jann na ang susundo sa akin. He joke that if there was an company-issued car for me to use ay ibibigay niya sa akin iyon pero hanggang Vespa pa lang ang ibinibigay nila which is for me—still an expensive one.

Nakita ko naman si Alessandro sa labas ng kanyang bar at nag-aayos pa lamang ito sa pagbukas ng bar niya. When he shifted his head towards my direction ay nagulat siya nang makita niya ako.

"Che diavolo, Jacinta?" Salubong ang kilay nitong sinalubong ako. "You're not working at the bar anymore, right?" (What the hell, Jacinta?)

Hinalikan naman niya ako sa magkabilang pisngi nang makalapit ako sa kanya/.

Bahagya akong natawa. "You are right. I'm not here to work."

"Good to know that, because we've already settled your job status. And of course, just like what I've promised to you, you'll be receiving your separating pay maybe in the next two weeks. I'll just text you about it. You don't have to come here. I'll deliver it to your place."

"Wow! What a hardworking guy, so you've found my replacement?"

He shrugged off. "Well, not yet, but a few applicants will be here to get the position and I hope some of them have your will and determination. You're such a good friend and worker. I'm so dumb laying you off, but I'm after your being so you cannot blame me."

Napangiwi naman ako sa sinabi niya kaya nang mapansin niya iyon ay mas lalong kumusot ang mukha niya.

"Cosa non mi stai dicendo, Jacinta?" he questioned. (What aren't you telling me, Jacinta?)

Napabitaw ako ng hininga. "I just found myself a new job."

His face dropped down. "What are you doing, Jacinta? I know you needed it, but I also can help you financially. You just don't have to work."

"I can still manage it, Ale. Don't you worry about me? I will be starting tomorrow there. My auntie knows them so they thought I would be fit in it."

"And where would that be?" he asked.

"In Via dei Fiori," sagot ko saka ako napangiwi. "That's just thirty away... or maybe more than because we're on a car."

Buntonghininga na lamang ang reaksyong ibinigay ni Alessandro. Napailing pa ito saka kinuha ang kamay ko at inimbitahan akong pumasok sa loob. Binati naman ako ng ilang mga dati kong kasamahan do'n at tinanong pa kung babalik ako sa trabaho pero sinabi kong bisita lang din naman ang ipinunta ko.

Umupo ako sa corner habang pinapanood ko sila na maglinis at mag-ayos ng mga upuan. Ipinaliwanag ko rin naman sa kanya kung anong trabaho ko ro'n at kung anong dapat kong gawin. Nang mapakampante ko siya ay hindi na niya ako tinanong nang kung ano-ano pa hangga't sa may sabihin ito...

"I remember something else," he said, making an immediate look at me.

"Che è?" I wondered. (What is it?)

"Remember the customer we had last night?" he said, trying to make me remember it when it didn't even flush out of my mind when that happens.

"Hmmm?"

"The one you were supposed to serve for?" he questioned. "They were actually looking for you."

"And what did you tell them?"

"I told them you've left early. Don't worry, I didn't mention about your 'pregnancy'," he said, even quoting it with his fingers. Hindi naman ako nagbigay ng reaksyon.

Even though Alessandro and I became best friends when I got in Sicily, hindi ko sinabi sa kanya iyong buong kwento tungkol sa pregnancy ko. Wala akong binigay na pangalan sa kanya o lahit ng lalaking nakabuntis sa akin. I could tell it to him, but I'm so scared that it might ruin what I have here in Italy right now.

Tahimik at sarili ko lang ang iniisip.

Kahit si auntie, hindi kilala kung sino ang nakabuntis sa akin. Sinabi ko na lang sa kanya na walang hiya iyong lalaking iyon saka niya ako tinawanan. She didn't ask for more, but I know Alessandro will ask me more about that, but he's respecting my privacy so he's letting it go.

"He even said if you ever came back, I should tell them. Which I don't do," Alessandro said. "I don't give my friend's whereabouts and personal information. So, you're fine with me. Don't you worry about these men? I'll handle them. So, for now, what can I do for you?"

I shrugged off. "I don't know... I'm just going back home and having a rest. I'll be starting tomorrow so I gotta save up a lot of energy."

"You shouldn't even come here," he said. At pinapagalitan pa rin niya nga po ako. "Do you want me to take you home?"

Agad naman akong umiling sa sinabi niya. "No, I'll be fine."

Saglit lang din naman ay may mga customer nang pumapasok sa loob ng bar. That's the moment na nagpaalam ako sa kanila na aalis na ako. Before I could even stepped out of his bar, Alessandro shouts we'll hangout this weekend or maybe he'll bring me to a yoga class to help my pregnancy.

That made me laugh a little.

When I left the bar and find my way back home, napapaisip na lamang ako kung tama ba ang desisyon ko na Sicily ang pinili kong lugar para sa pagbubuntis ko. I know I'm here to get a new chapter of my life, but I feel like sometimes, it hits me that what I'm doing is wrong.

Or maybe this is just because of my pregnancy symptoms... making me think something unusual. A month to go, another chapter of life awaits me.

#BirthOfLiesInSicily #BOLISChapter2 #WTS9