CHAPTER 3

TUWANG-TUWA si Lockett ng umapak ang kaniyang mga paa sa De Luxe Island. Finally, nakarating din siya rito. Nakakatuwang isipin na magta-trabaho siya sa paraisong lugar na ito. Gagawin niya ang lahat para hindi biguin ang expectation sa kaniya ni Mr. Santillana.

She's excited to work as a manager of De Luxe Hotel.

As she walks side by side with Mr. Santillana, Lockett can’t stop thinking of the best ways to improve the service of the Hotel.

"You're deep in thoughts, Ms. Mendoza." Narinig niyang wika ni Mr. Santillana.

Bumaling siya sa katabi at nginitian ito. "Nagiisip lang ho ako ng magandang approach sa mga costumers ng hotel. I'm also thinking how to enhance the services of the Hotel."

Mr. Santillana smiled. "I know I hired you for a reason. Anyway, I trust your capability."

Mas lumapad ang ngiti niya sa sinabi nito. Nakakatuwa namang isipin na may tiwala ito sa kakayahan niya.

Pagpasok nila sa De Luxe Hotel, pinatawag ni Mr. Santillana ang lahat ng staff ng Hotel at ipinakilala siya bilang bagong manager. Mukha namang mababait ang mga empleyado ng Hotel.

"Bukas mag uumpisa ka nang magtrabaho." Wika ni Mr. Santillana. "Sa ngayon, magpahinga ka muna. Or, you can roam around to familiarize the island." May iniabot itong susi sa kanya. "This is the key to the penthouse where you will stay. It's in the 40th floor of this hotel. It has two rooms, so you can invite a family to stay over if you want."

"Thank you, Mr. Santillana."

"Don’t mention it. Lahat naman ng naging manager ng De Luxe Hotel ay doon tumira. Actually, it was made for my son but apparently, he likes forest and animals than beaches and islands." His face becomes somber at the mention of his son.

She didn’t say anything. She feels like it’s not right to say something because she doesn’t know his son. Nanahimik nalang siya at hinintay na magsalita itong muli.

"Well," Basag nito sa katahimikan. "Aalis na ako. Good luck, Ms. Mendoza."

“Thank you, Sir.”

Sinundan niya ng tingin si Mr. Santillana hanggang sa mawala ito sa paningin niya.

Lockett slowly walks to the elevator that will take her to the penthouse. She had a smile on her face as she rode the elevator to the top floor where the penthouse in located.

Nang makarating siya at nakita ang nasabing penthouse, napanganga siya sa sobrang ganda niyon. Hindi rin maitatanggi na mamahalin ang mga gamit na nasa loob sa penthouse.

Hinubad niya ang sandals na suot at umapak sa carpeted floor. Napakalambot niyon sa paa niya. Siguradong mamahalin. And when she looked to her right, a smile appeared on her lips when she saw a mini-bar full of different liquors.

Is this paradise or what? She thought with a grin on her face.

Lumapit siya sa bar at nagsalin ng isang shot ng champagne.

As she sipped the champagne, she let her eyes roamed around the place. There's a leather set of sofa in the center and expensive looking paintings were hang on the wall. And then her eyes stopped on the door next to the mini-bar.

Her curiosity kicked in.

Naglakad siya patungo sa pintuan na katabi ng mini bar at binuksan iyon.

Cold breeze assaulted her when she opened the door. A balcony? Dahan-dahan siyang naglakad palapit sa balcony railing.

The scene in front of her took her breath away. The sun is on its peak and sunlight rays makes the ocean sparkled like diamonds. Talagang napakaganda ng tanawin mula sa kinatatayuan niya.

Hindi niya alam kung ilang minuto siyang nakatayo sa balkonahe at nakatingin sa karagatan. Nang mainitan, bumalik siya sa loob at tinunga ang natitirang champagne sa baso at tinungo ang pintuan na nasa malapit sa sala. Nang buksan niya iyon, hindi niya alam kung ano ang ikokomento niya.

Napakaganda ng silid.

The floor is covered with Persian carpet, the walls are covered with white-pink color and it looks pleasing in the eyes. Lumapit siya sa kama at umupo sa gilid niyon. Napakalambot niyon, parang napakasarap matulog sa ganitong klaseng kama. Pero sa halip na matulog, lumabas siya ng silid para maglibot sa isla.

She doesn’t have the luxury to sleep, she have to familiarize the island.

RED SAT on the sofa, next to his mother. Pinatawag siya ng mga ito sa hindi malamang kadahilanan. Actually, may ideya na siya kung ano ang dahilan at pinatawag siya ng mga ito dahil iyon din ang dahilan niya kung bakit siya umuwi rito sa Pilipinas.

He sat still while he and his mother wait for his father to arrive.

Ilang minuto ang lumipas bago dumating ang ama niya. His father has this stern look on his face.

"Are you here for good, or, just visiting?” His father asked him.

“Depends on my mood.” He answered.

“You know we need you, right? The company needs you." Anito

He looked at his father, and then his stare hopped to his mother. "I don’t know. I'm still thinking about it."

Tumabi sa kanya ng upo ang ina at hinawakan ang kamay niya. "Matanda na kami ng Daddy mo." May bahid na kalungkutan ang boses nito at nakokonsensiya siya. "Minsan lang naman kami humiling sayo. When you told us that you want to study photography, we let you, even though we wanted you to take on Business Management. When you told us you're leaving to pursue your dream, we let you, because we love you. We let you do things you want to do because we want you to be happy. Hindi ka namin pinigilan, pero ngayon, matanda na kami. So we're asking you to help us. Hindi namin basta-basta ipapahawak ang kompanya sa kahit na sino lang. Please, consider our offer."

He felt suffocated as he heard his mother plead for him to take over the Company. Masama ba siyang anak dahil sarili lang niya ang iniisip niya?

Red looked at his father. "I don’t know anything about business, Dad. Baka malugi ang kompanya ng dahil sa'kin. I don’t want that."

"I will hire people that can help you understand business. And I will personally teach you, so, don’t worry."

Humugot siya ng isang malalim na hininga. "Dad, how can you be so sure na may matututunan ako? How can you be so sure that I can run a company on my own? I’m a Photographer, not a Business Management Graduate."

His father smiled. "Because you're my son and business runs in our blood."

Bumaba ang tingin niya at hindi siya nagsalita. Alam niyang kapag humindi siya at bumalik sa pagta'trabaho sa Nat. Geo, siguradong hahayaan siya ng mga magulang kahit hindi ng mga ito payag sa desisyon niya. That’s how they love him. They always wanted his happiness more than anything in this world. Maybe, it’s time for him to do something for his parents. It’s time for him to make them happy.

He took a deep breath. "I'll try but I’m not promising. Ayokong mangako ng isang bagay na walang kasiguraduhan."

His father smiled. "That’s good enough for us. Tomorrow, you'll start your training."

Training? How he wish this training means going to the forest to take pictures of different beautiful scenery, but he knew better, for his dad, training means sitting behind a table full of boring paper works.

KINABUKASAN, nagising ng maaga si Red para sa training na sinasabi ng ama niya. He knew that this is going to be a long day.

"Are you ready?" Tanong sa kanya ng Daddy niya ng makapasok siya sa opisina nito.

He shrugged his shoulder. "I don’t know if I’m ready, but, let’s do this."

Ngumiti ang ama niya at pinaupo siya sa visitors chair para maumpisahan ang training niya.

LOCKETT woke up with a smile on her face. It’s her first day as The De Luxe Manager. She's so excited to work.

After bathing, she dress up and went to the Managers office.

Pagdating niya roon, nandoon na ang sekretarya niya na ang pangalan ay Sandy. Ito ang sekretarya ng huling Manager ng Hotel na nag-retiro na.

"Good morning, Sandy." Nakangiting bati niya rito.

Sandy smiled back. "Good morning din po, ma'am Mendoza."

“Drop the formality, just call me, Lockett.” Ang pinaka-ayaw niya sa lahat ay iyong mina-ma’am siya. Sana naman ay makinig ito sa kaniya, ang huling sekretarya kasi niya e panay ang tawag ng ma’am sa kanya.

“Sige po, Miss Lockett.”

Miss Lockett? Mas okay na iyon kaysa sa ma’am. Nginitian niya si Sandy at pumasok sa loob ng opisina niya.

Pagkapasok niya sa loob, agad niyang inumpisahan ang trabaho.

Hindi namalayan ni Lockett ang oras, nang tumingin siya sa relong pambisig, manananghalian na pala.

Tumayo siya mula sa pagkakaupo at pumunta sa De Luxe Restaurant na nasa loob lang ng Hotel. Nang makapasok sa restaurant, umupo siya sa mesa na nasa gilid at hindi masyadong napapansin ng mga taong pumapasok. She ordered a simple lunch. As she ate, her eyes roamed around the restaurant. Parang wala naman siyang babaguhin sa hotel, ang kailangan lang niyang gawin ay I-manage ang Hotel ng maayos.

“Hello, pretty lady.” Anang boses mula sa likuran niya.

She looked back to see who it is. She saw a handsome man, maybe a bit older than her. “Yes? How may I help you?”

“You’re so beautiful, I can’t stop myself. I have to know you better.”

Kinunotan niya ito ng nuo. “Hindi umu-obra sa akin iyang mga pick-up lines kaya tantanan mo ako.”

The man smiled cheekily. “Hey, the name is Reeve Montreal. Yours?”

“What makes you think that I’ll tell you?” Pagtataray niya pero ang totoo nacu-cutan siya sa ngit nito.

The man smile didn’t waver. “Because I’m handsome and—”

“And full of himself.” Sabad ng isang lalaki na may dalang food tray.

Isa ba itong waiter? Ang guwapo naman ng waiter na ‘to. Komento niya.

Inilapag ng lalaki ang food tray at inilahad ang kamay. “Hey, the name is Clave Montreal.”

“Montreal?” Gagad niya at tumingin kay Reeve. “Magkapatid?”

“Magkakambal.” Kininditan siya ni Clave. “But don’t tell anyone. I’m embarrassed to call him my twin brother.”

Pinigilan niya ang sarili na ngumiti. “Okay, I won’t tell anyone.”

“Great.” Reeve smiled. “So, what’s your name?”

“Lockett, my name is Lockett Mendoza.”

“What?” Sabay na ani ng dalawa. Parang gulat na gulat ito sa pangalan niya.

“What?” Pinandilatan niya ang dalawa.

“You’re the new Hotel Manager?” Sabay na naman na tanong ng dalawa.

Tumango siya. “Yeah, paano niyo nalaman?”

Bago pa makasagot ang dalawa, may tumawag na sa mga ito. Reeve was called by a sexy woman and Clave was called by a waiter. Pagkaalis ng mga ito, tamang-tama naman na lumapit sa kanya si Sandy.

“Kilala mo ba ang mga ‘yan, Sandy?” Tanong niya sa sekretarya niya.

“Yes, Miss Lockett. Yung lalaking pumasok sa kusina, si Clave ‘yon, and Hotel Chef. Yung tinawag naman nung babaeng mukhang haliparot, si Reeve naman po ‘yon, siya ang Manager ng buong Isla.”

Napanganga siya. A chef and the Island Manager? Iba din ang magkambal na ‘yon? Kung maka-akto, parang mga ewan lang.

"Miss Lockett?" Pukaw sa kanya ni Sandy.

“Yes, Sandy?"

May iniabot itong cell phone sa kanya. "Si Mr. Santillana po, tumawag at hinahanap ka. Hindi raw niya makontak ang cell phon niyo kaya sa opisina siya tumawag."

Tinanggap niya ang cell phone. "Thank you, Sandy."

Ngiti lang ang tugon nito sa kanya bago umalis.

She put the phone over her ear. "Mr. Santillana, This is Miss Mendoza speaking."

"Oh, hello, Miss Mendoza. Maybe you are wondering why I called, well, it’s because I want to ask you if you can lend me a hand?"

Kumunot ang nuo niya. "Lend a hand? You want my aid on something, Sir?"

"Yes, it’s about my son. He needs a very professional person who will teach him how to manage a Hotel. It’s part of his training. I would really appreciate it if you say yes. You're one of my employees’ who’s skilled and intelligent enough to teach my son."

Sino siya para tumanggi? Pinuri na siya at isa pa, nakakahiya kung tatanggi siya. Tuturuan lang naman niya ang anak nito kung paano humawak ng Hotel. Hindi naman mahirap 'yon.

"Sige po Sir. Pumapayag po akong turuan ang anak niyo."

"Thank you so much!" Mr. Santillana exclaimed happily. "He'll be there in three weeks time. He's still training in the accounting department. Tatawagan kita kapag oras na para pumunta siya riyan."

"Okay po, sir." Nakangiting wika niya.

"Salamat ulit." Anito na may bahid na kasayahan ang boses. "Anyway, I have to hang up. Thank you again."

Namatay ang tawag at ibinaba niya ang telepono. Dumako ang tingin niya sa labas ng restaurant kung saan kitang-kita ang karagatan.

Humugot siya ng isang malalim na hininga at pinapatuloy ang pagkain. Saka na niya iisipin kung paano tuturuan ang anak ni Mr. Santillana.

A/N: Filler lang 'to guys. Hehe. Kailangan lang sa story pero makakaasa kayo sa susunod na chapter, magkikitang muli si Red at Lockett. hehe