Kenshin

Pagtapak pa lang ng paa ko sa airport, sunod-sunod na agad ang calls na nareceive ko. Naghihintay ang assistant ko sa labas na may hawak na tablet para sa schedule ko.

"Good afternoon, Sir. You have a meeting in 30 minutes at Shangri-La Hotel." Bungad agad nito at inabot ang luggage ko habang nagdidikta ng agenda ng meeting.
"I thought Raiden already settled that?"
"I'm sorry Sir, but Sir Raiden canceled the meeting last time and was rescheduled today."
Grrr... Raiden....

"Where is Raiden?"
Natahimik ang assistant ko na nakabuntot lang sa akin. I learned from Trevor that an opposite-sex assistant will not be effective lalo na kung freshly graduate ang makukuha. So I followed his example at lalaki ang kinuha kong assistant.

"He is... honestly, I am not sure where he is." Sagot nito. Mukhang napagod na din kakatanong kay Raiden kung nasaan siya. Pinagbuksan ako ng pintuan ng driver habang inaayos ni Ryu ang mga gamit ko sa compartment ng makapa ko ang suit ko.

"Ryu,"
"Yes, Sir?" tanong nito habang pasakay sa passenger seat katabi ng driver.
"My wallet is missing."
Napahinto pati ang driver ko.
"Which wallet, Sir?" Tanong ni Ryu.
"My credit card wallet," I replied habang kinakapa ang loob ng suit.
Fucking hell.

"I will call your banks and freeze your cards." Sabi nito.
"Call the banks and track my cards. Who the hell stole my wallet?"
May magnanakaw na sa Japan?
"Will do, Sir." Sagot agad ni Ryu at tumawag agad sa mga banks.

Kapag minamalas ka nga naman. Hindi na ako nakapagtrabaho ng maayos sa flight dahil sa katabi ko, nanakawan pa ng wallet.

Naiinis akong tinawagan si Raiden. Isa pa itong kapatid kong ito. Kailan ba titino?

"Yoh big bro." Sagot ni Raiden.
"Nasaan ka?"
"Hindi kita marinig." Sigaw ni Raiden sa kabilang line. Ang lakas ng background music.
"Nasa concert ako."

"Concert ng ano na naman?"
"Can't hear you. Bye." Sabi ni Raiden at pinatayan ako ng cellphone.

"Sir, I already contacted your banks. They are monitoring your cards." Sabi naman ni Ryu.
"Keep monitoring." Utos ko.

Inabot ng hanggang 9 ng gabi ang meeting. Medyo galit na ang kausap ko dahil sa last minute cancellation ni Raiden ng meeting last time.

"Your brother is not like you... not like your father." Sabi ni Mr. Cheng.
"My brother is not yet ready to face the company. Do not compare him to me or to my dad." Walang amor na sagot ko.
"Can't blame me..." Sabi ni Mr. Cheng.
"Sure I can." May warning na sagot ko.
"Email me your proposal. Goodnight Mr. Cheng." Tumayo ako at iniwan si Mr. Cheng sa restaurant.

What a day.

"Sir..." Tawag ng pansin ni Ryu sa akin habang nasa kotse pauwi sa penthouse ko.
"Someone called the office and looking for you. It's a...lady. Are you expecting some call?"
Umiling ako. Sino na naman iyon?
"Okay." Hindi na ako kumibo ulit.
"Sir, I emailed you your schedule for tomorrow." Sabi ni Ryu sa akin.
Again, hindi ko kumibo.

My life is different from what I have two years ago. In a snap, my time is always not enough. Dati, bored na bored ako pagkatapos ng klase, ngayon, ni hindi ko magawang manood ng movie.

Kinabukasan, eight pa lang ng umaga, nasa office na ako. Mas maagang dumating si Ryu s akin at nakapila na ang pipirmahan kong papeles sa table.

Bandang ten ng umaga ng sumilip si Ryu sa pintuan ko.
"Sir,"
"I told you I am busy," I said without looking at him.
"Someone is looking for you. Her name is Dominique."
"I don't know him." I replied.
Ryu cleared his throat. "Sir, I said it's her. HER name is Dominique." Pinakadiin pa nito ang salitang her.
"I don't know her." Naiinis na sagot nito.

"She has your wallet."
Doon ako napaangat ng ulo.
"Call the police." Utos ko.
"She saw it on the aircraft. She was your seatmate according to her."

Fuck me. Ang babaing bulate nandito.

"Then get my wallet from her."
"She doesn't want to give it to me. She said she doesn't trust me." Nagpipigil ng ngiti si Ryu.
Napamura ako sa tagalog.
"Let her in." I replied. Sasakalin ko ang babae na ito eh. Istorbo...