Chapter 23

The event's intrusion move forward. There were a lot of things announced and happened as we've come to meet everyone. Sadly, there were no royals in the events but it shouldn't be the reason why I won't make this job perfect as I'm trying to impress my boss on how I handle meeting new people and other stuff that maybe I would get some points.

Connagh's not so strict with his instructions that's why I got comfortable on how I manage my actions. Mas tinandaan ko rin ang mga advice sa akin ni Connagh na don't just leave who you were talking to like you're not interested to talk with them anymore. I should then excuse myself if I needed to do something. Be polite. Smile as always. And as much as possible, never decline a delicate offer, but if it's making me uncomfortable, it's okay to reject it. And if someone harasses me, Connagh should know it first.

When Connagh and I was left alone on our table, nakahinga ako ng maluwag. Pakiramam ko kanina pa bumabaluktot ang dila ko sa kaka-English.

"You're shaking, Kiersten," Connagh muttered as he hold my hands tightly. Napatitig naman ako sa higpit ng pagkakahawak niya sa kamay ko. Binaling ko rin naman ang paningin ko sa kanya at napalunok na lamang ng laway. "You're doing great, Kiersten. There's nothing to be scared of."

"I-I'm not..." I stuttered.

"Oh, really?" he smirked, squinting his eyes. "It seems like you've been stressing it out."

I took a deep breath and let it go. "I really don't know. This is a real challenge for me."

He nodded. "Then it's good, right? If you've been stressing then it's working. You're gaining experiences and all. I'm sure you'll take all these experience and knowledge away with you, right?"

"Yeah, I guess, that's the important thing I'm doing right tonight."

He chuckled. "I hate to say this, but I think you're doing much great rather than me tonight."

I laughed and punch him softly on his shoulder. "No, I'm not. Binobola mo lang ako, e."

He chuckled. "I'm serious, Kiersten. You don't to have to be so nervous. They might actually be impressed of how you engage with them. If I may hear about them talking about you, I'll let you know, alright?"

I nodded. "I would love to know that. Thank you, sir."

"You don't actually have to thank me," he said. Napakunot naman ako ng noo sa sinabi niya. "You did it by yourself. I was only here to guide you and evaluate you. And as far as I can see, you impressed at your work. You took my advice and all. I'm actually proud of what you're doing, Kiersten. Keep it up until the night ends, alright?'

I nodded so determined at him. Before I went here, that's the goal I put in head tonight. That I should do an exquisite work. And I may not doing everything perfect because I'm not even perfect so I think what I offer was enough to recognize my hospitality and generosity.

A moment later, we heard someone's phone ringing.

"Is that yours?" he asked and I had to put the purse next to my ear. I nodded when I confirmed that it's coming from me. I scooped my phone out of my purse and found tita's name on the screen. Hinarap ko naman si Connagh. "Excuse me, sir. Tita's calling me. I just need to answer it quickly, is that alright?"

He immediately nodded. "Yeah, of course, go on."

"Excuse me," I said and I stood to leave the table and find my out of the room. Medyo maingay din kasi sa loob and it's hard to hear it when we're inside of the huge space. But as soon I accepted tita's call, I heard her sobbing. Agad naman akong tinubuan ng kaba sa dibdib ko. "Tita? Umiiyak ka ba?"

"Inuuhog lang ako, Kiers," aniya sabay singhot nang malakas. Sunod ko rin namag narinig ang paghikbi niya. Napakagat naman ako sa kuko ko habang pinapakinggan ko siya sa kabilang linya.

"Tita... what's wrong?"

"Si Amanda..."

Namintig ang tainga ko nang marinig kong binaggit niya ang pangalan ni Amanda. 'Yong babaeng 'yon. "What's wrong with her, tita? I know she's no good to everyone, but what did she do this time?"

Hinintay ko munang kumalma si tita saka rin niya ako sinagot sa tanong ko. "Hindi naman niya ako sinaktan o kung ano mang pisikal pero hindi ko inaasahan ang pagpunta niya rito kanina. She just told my amo that we're relatives at inaaway mo raw siya. Pinagmalditahan ko raw siya no'ng nasa flower market tayo. Which is true naman, I won't deny it din naman because she deserved it naman. This time, she pursued that I should be fired to my boss. Pinagpilitan niya talaga na tanggalin ako sa trabaho."

"Bakit naman niya gagawin 'yon? Does she have the right to do that to you?"

Napahugot naman ng malalim na hininga si tita. "Sabi niya oo kasi pamangkin siya ng amo ko."

"What the fuck?"

"'Di ba?! Kaasar! Iyak tuloy ako ng iyak ngayon?"

"Okay... ano bang nangyari sa 'yo?"

"Ayun, napagsabihan ako ng amo ko. Nagpaliwanag din ako ng side ko. Inintindi ko na lamang kung anong ibibigay sa aking parusa, but good thing ay napagsabihan lang din ako. Saka pinagsabihan din si Amanda. Siguro patas na rin pero hindi pa rin ako maka-move on ngayon kasi akala ko tatanggalin na ako sa trabaho ko."

"So, hindi ka tatanggalin?"

"Hindi. Thank you, Lord," hagulgol pa ni tita.

"Thank God," buntong-hining ko pa. "Tahan ka na, tita. 'Wag mo nang isipin 'yan si Amanda. Sabi ko nga, she's no good for anyone. 'Wag mo na siyang isipin. Hindi ko na rin naman siya pinapansin kapag nakikita ko siya sa office. Well, we fought so wala ng silbi pang lumapit siya sa akin at makipag-usap. I never wanted to talk to her anymore. Sabi ko nga on the first day of meeting her, may na-se-sense na agad akong hindi maganda, e. 'Wag mo na lang talagang isipin, tita. 'Wag ka ng umiyak. Hanap ka na lang ng jowa, okay?"

Natawa naman si tita. "Thank you, pamangks."

"Walang anuman, tita. Good thing ay nagkausap kayo ng amo mo at hindi ka niya tinanggal."

"True, buti na lang talaga," buntong-hininga pa nito. "Bwisit talaga 'yang si Amanda, e."

"I couldn't agree more," ngisi ko pa.

"Nasa'n ka ba ngayon? Sa pagkakaalam ko may event kang pupuntahan ngayon, 'di ba?"

"Yes, tita! I'm actually here, right now sa event. I'm with Connagh. Iniwan ko lang muan siya ro'n sa table para sagutin ang tawag mo. Lumabas lang ako saglit kasi medyo maingay do'n sa loob."

"Gwapo ba jowa mo ngayon?"

"Si Berk?"

"Jowa mo na ba 'yon?" takang tanong ni tita.

"Hindi..."

"E 'di, hindi siya ang tinutukoy ko."

"Si Connagh ba?" tanong ko.

"Tumpak! Gwapo ba siya ngayon?"

"Yes... I think he always does." Para namang baliw na kinilig si tita sa kabilang linya. "Saka hindi ko naman jowa si Connagh. And I think we'll never be in a relationship. Yes, he's gwapo tonight, but I always have to put in my mind na siya ang boss ko and I have to put my limitations with that."

"Sus. Hindi pa rin ako kumbinsido. I still root him for you," hagikgik pa ni tita. "Sige na, hindi na kita patatagalin pa. Maginhawa na rin naman ang nararamdaman ko so balikan mo na ang jowa mo ro'n."

"Tita naman!" saway ko pa sa kanya. Tumawa na lamang siya pero agad niyang pinigilan dahil siguro baka marinig siya ng mga tao ro'n sa kanila. "Sige na, babalik na nga ako kay Connagh. He must be alone there and I still have to impress him."

"Go pamangks! Galingan mo r'yan!" pag-cheer pa ni tita sa akin. "Ingat ka r'yan! Use protection, okay?"

"Tita!" I said, gritting my teeth. Siya na mismo ang nagbaba ng tawag at ikinalma ko na lang din naman ang sarili ko sa sinabi niya sa akin.

I had to bring my confidence back at saka ako bumalik sa loob ng room and found my way where Connagh was sitting.

"Is everything okay?" he asked as I came closer to him.

I sighed and then seated next to him. "It's not bad at all, but it's about Amanda."

Kumunot ang noo niya. "Oh, what about her again?"

I rolled my eyes. "She almost fired my tita because of her bad attitude. Mabuti na lang ay napagsabihan lang din si tita at kaya niyang ayusin 'yon. Ewan ko na lang kay Amanda kung isasa-tao niya 'yong sinabi sa kanya ng amo ni tita. But I don't think she will. She keeps doing bad stuff din naman pagdating sa office and her work ethic is so low na siguro."

"Yeah, about her performance, I'm talking to her mentor and he's reporting to me that she's not doing great at all. I also don't think she'll pass her internship." He shrugged off as if imagining it now would lead to Amanda's failure of completing her job. "But... uhm... did you sit on red wine?"

My eyes squinted when he asked that. Napuno naman ako ng katanungan sa sarili ko.

"No... I did not..."

"Yes, you did. Stand up and you'll see the stain on the back of your dress."

"On the back of my dress?" I questioned.

He nodded. "Yes... I believe it's red wine."

"No... I didn't sit on any wine. Wait—what kind of stain? Too dark and spots?"

He nodded so confused as well. "Yes... is it?"

"Oh, shit," I hissed.

"What is it, Kiersten?"

"You're not kidding, right?" I asked and he shook his head. "Gosh..." I muttered, taking my breath away.

"I need to go to the restroom now."

"Oh—oh, sure. Do you need something else?"

"Uh... maybe... I need a little favour."

"Sure, what is it?"

Lumapit naman ako ng bahagya sa kanya para ibulong koi yon sa kanya. "I'm going to the restroom and I need your help. Maybe you can help me to walk with me by walking behind my back. We just need to go to the restroom for a quick second and I'll handle things there."

"Sure, let's go."

Nauna naman akong tumayo at agad namang sinundan ni Connagh ang pagtayo ko. May mga lumapit pa sa aming partners na kinailanganin muna naming iwanan dahil mas kailangan kong pumunta sa banyo ngayon. Connagh wouldn't even let me leave alone. Nang makarating naman kami sa girl's restroom ay agad naman akong pumasok sa loob at ininspekyon ko kung may ibang tao rin ba.

I don't know if Connagh stayed outside of the restroom or not, but I immediately do an action para magawan ko ng paraan ang nangyayari sa akin ngayon. I stood in front of the mirror and check the back of my dress and found the stains on it. Mas nanlumo ako nang makita ko 'yon kasi sobrang bad timing ng period ko ngayon.

I really thought hindi matutuloy ang period ko ngayong araw, but expect the unexpected and this is the worst timing of all. Hindi ko naman alam kung anong gagawin ko at nagsisimula na akong mataranta.

Saglit lamang ay may kumatok sa pinto. "Kiersten," pagtawag ni Connagh sa akin. "Are you okay there?"

"I'm stressing out, Connagh."

"What do you want me to do?"

"I don't know..."

Napatitig naman ako sa tissue dispenser at kumuha ako saka ko inirolyo sa kamay ko at ibinasa ko ng tubig mula sa sink at saka ko sinubukang alisin ang mantya nito sa palda ko pero wala itong nagawa. The stain remained and my dress just became wet.

"Kiersten," muling pagtawag sa akin ni Connagh. "Do you want me to come in?"

Hindi ako nakasagot sa kanya kaya inanunsyo niyang papasok siya sa loob ng restroom and then there I found him sneaking his head. Then he found me so devastated on my situation. Dahil hindi ko na nga alam ang gagawin ko at halos maiiyak na lang ako dahil hindi ko alam kung pa'no solusyonan ito.

Wala akong dalang napkin o kaya naman tampon. I managed to use sanitary pad naman, but I never thought it would leak and made a stain at this very night pa. Gusto kong sumigaw at magbalibag pero nahihiya na lamang ako dahil nakikita ni Connagh ang sitwasyon ko ngayon.

"What do you want to do now, Kiersten?" tanong nito at wala akong maisagot sa kanya. Nakayuko lamang ako at iniangat niya ang ulo ko sa paghawak ng kamay niya sa baba ko. Kahit nakatitig siya sa mata ko ay pilit ko namang iniiwas ang paningin ko. "Do you want me to ask someone else who has some pads for you?"

Umiling ako. "No... that's embarrassing, Connagh. Don't do that."

"Then what can I do? Tell me... do you need to go home now?"

Umiing ako. "No, ayoko. I don't want to go home. The event's not even done yet. I still need to impress—I'm sorry... but yeah... we shouldn't go home."

Humugot naman siya ng malalim na hininga at hinawakan niya ako sa braso ko at pinisil niya iyon ng marahan. "I know what you said. You don't have to impress me, Kiersten. What you've done was enough for me and you don't need to do anything for me. I know you need this for your internship, but let's be personal tonight, if you're not comfortable anymore, then let's go home."

"Connagh..."

He smiled. "It's alright, Kiersten. We're going home now, alright?"

"What about our partners?"

Napaisip naman siya ng bahagya. "Maybe I'll just say a word to them before we go. Here take my coat to cover the stain on your dress."

"No—"

Pero pinagpatuloy niyang tanggalin ang suot niyang coat at ipinuwesto niya sa tagos sa dress ko. Hinawakan ko naman ng mariin iyon upang hindi malaglag. When we left the restroom, he had to go back to our partners and say a word to them before we go. Hindi na rin naman ako sumama sa kanya at hinintay ko na lamang siya sa labas hangga't sa makalipas ang limang minuto ay binalikan na niya ako.

He walked behind me para walang makahalata. We headed straight to the parking lot and settled myself inside. Lubos naman akong nahihiya kay Connagh because of that.

"I'm sorry we have to leave early..."

"No, it's alright," he said, strapping his belt in. "You don't have to apologize."

"It's embarrassing..."

"That's fine. I understood it, Kiersten."

"Thank you..."

"You're welcome," he smiled. "And our partners are also leaving early from the event so it's alright. Don't sweat it." Napatango na lang din naman ako sa kanya at kahit gawin kong komportable ang sarili ko ay hindi ko naman magawa dahil sa nangyari sa akin. "Hey, Kiersten. I'll suggest we should go to my flat? I'm quite near the area so I think we'll get there as soon as we can. Is that alright? You can take a shower there."

I nodded. "Sure... that's fine."

"Then let's go home now," Connagh announced.

He then started the engine and we drove out of the parking lot and went straight to his apartment. At this point, gusto ko lang umalis sa nararanasan kong sitwasyon ngayon. I know I've been in this situation for many times pero this is the worst one. Hindi ko inaakala na mangyayari ito ngayong gabi. I was silent the whole ride as I couldn't help, but to be out of this nightmare.

Hopefully, things get better. I won't lose hope for that.

***

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoy this chapter! Let me know your thoughts! I would appreciate it so much!

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