CHAPTER 15

JEWEL

Nakisabay ako kay Sir Yul hanggang CGC dahil sabi niya may dadaanan siyang gamit sa condo unit niya doon. Mas malapit-lapit yun sa bahay kesa sa restaurant na pinanggalingan namin. Sayang din ang pamasahe.

Napapangiti ako habang naiisip ang mga nangyari sa meeting. I'm glad that I didn't mess up. Success din yung napili kong restaurant. Mr. Takakura enjoyed the dinner at nasarapan siya sa mga pagkain. Ang saya sa pakiramdam na nagawa ko nang mabuti ang aking trabaho. Pagdating na pagdating ko sa bahay, idadraft ko na agad ang minutes of the meeting habang sariwa pa sa isip ko ang mga pinag-usapan.

Tumigil ako sa pagngiti nang maramdaman kong parang may mga matang nakatitig sa akin. Nilingon ko si Sir Yu na siyang aking katabi. He is staring intently at my face. Tila nagdududa ang kanyang mga nanliit na mga mata.

"S-Sir bakit po?" Napahawak ako sa aking pisngi. "May dumi po ba ako sa mukha?" Kinabahan ako. Baka may mali akong nagawa na hindi ko alam.

"Bakit ang galing mo mag-nihongo? How did you learn it?" tanong niya nang hindi pa rin inaalis ang mga paningin sa aking mukha.

"Yan po ba ang dahilan kaya niyo ako tinititigan?"

"Yes. Bakit meron pa bang ibang dahilan para titigan kita?"

"Ah wala naman po!" nakahinga ako nang maluwag at muling ngumiti. Akala ko may nagawa akong palpak . "I learned the language in America?" I gladly answered his question.

"How? Did you go to a language school there?" Parang ayaw maniwala ng hitsura niya.

"Hindi ho." Tumingin ako nang diretso sa daan at inalala ang isa sa mga mabubuting karanasan ko sa America. "I had a Japanese friend named Akiko. We lived in the same neighborhood and we went to the same college . She and her family taught me how to speak the language."

Nilingon ko si Sir Yul. I'm about to narrate a story pero baka masayang ang gintong oras niya kung magkukwento ako. I'm hesitant but his face tells me that he's eager to listen to whatever I'll say kaya itutuloy ko na lang. " Nung nasa Amerika ho ako, nakitira ako sa pamilya ng Tita ko. She's my father's younger sister. Brazilian ang asawa niya at meron silang dalawang anak na parehas nasa highschool nung mga panahong yun. Napakaraming naitulong ng Daddy ko sa tiyahin kong yun. Kung paano siya nakapunta sa Amerika at pati sa pagbili niya ng bahay dun ay tinulungan din siya sa pera ni Dad. He sent me to her believing that she'd gonna take good care of me. Pero hindi ganun ang nangyari. I took care of my own self. They treated me like a ghost, an outsider and a burden. Sa kanya pinapadala ang allowance ko pero hindi yun nakakarating nang buo sa akin. Binabawas na kasi nila yung share ko sa mga bills, pagkain and they even charged me rental fee for my room. Madalas ang nakakarating sa akin ay kulang na para sa pansarili kung gastos kaya napipilitan ako mag-partime job." I chuckled. "Part-time nanny, dog walker, cleaner, waitress, bantay sa convenience store at kung ano-ano pa. Lahat yan naranasan ko just to make ends meet sa kabila ng pag-aaral ko."

"Did your parents know about this?" The doubts in his eyes fades away.

I shook my head with bitter smile. "No."

"Bakit di mo sinabi sa kanila ang totoo?"

"My Dad was very close to her sister. I didn't want to ruin their relationship. Isa pa ayokong mag-alala sila sa akin lalo't nasa malayo ako. I was really thankful to Akiko and her family kasi sila ang naging pamilya ko sa Amerika. She's an only child and her parents were so kind to me. Mas madalas pa akong nasa bahay nila kesa sa bahay na inuwian ko. Her mother treated me like a daughter. At first I had difficulty communicating with them but as time passed by, hindi ko namamalayang naiintindihan ko na lahat ng mga sinasabi nila at nakakapagsalita na rin ako naturally. Alam niyo po bang ako lang ang Pilipino doon sa California na mas active pang umattend sa get-together ng mga Japanese? Dahil kina Akiko mas marami pa akong mga naging kaibigan sa Japanese community sa California." Muli akong ngumiti. "I miss them. They are the best thing that happened to me in America. Without them, I don't think I'd survived there."

Sir Yul is still staring at me. He seems expecting that I'll tell more. "That's it," ngiti ko. "That's how I learned Japanese. Sorry kung na-incorporate ko pa yung konting kadramahan sa buhay ko," ngiwi ko.

He sighed. Pero mukhang hindi naman siya nabagot sa napakahabang sagot ko.

"That Japanese friend of yours? Do you still communicate with her?"

"Sadly no. The last time we talked was five years ago. She told me then that she'd be moving to Belgium for work. Simula noon hindi na kami nagkausap."

"What about your aunt?"

"Wala na rin." Ngumiti ako nang matamlay. " Matapos mamatay ang tatay ko ay nawalan na rin kami ng mga kamag-anak. They cut their ties with us after they learned he's in huge debt. Ayaw nilang madamay lalo na't nag-alala sila na baka mabawi pati yung mga naibigay na property sa kanila ng father ko. Sad to say but my only family now is my mother," may hinanakit na tono ko.

"There's a good thing on it. At least hindi ka napapaligiran ng mga users na tao. You should learn from it. When you become successful in the future, iwasan mong mag-invest sa mga taong iiwan ka lang sa bandang huli."

Napalunok ako. Gumaan na sana ang pakiramdam ko sa una niyang sinabi pero sa bandang dulo pala ay may mabigat na batong ididiin sa dibdib ko. Just like the matter of Jonjie Lee, natuwa rin sana ako kasi akala ko kahit papaano ay may konting malasakit siya para sa akin. Pero sa bandang huli ay para akong sinampal sa kahihiyan nang malamang ginawa niya lang yun dahil sa sariling interest.

I am a fool to think that I'm totally forgiven. He can be civil and friendly at times but I feel that deep down inside him, he doesn't trust me yet. Kaya ganun na lang ang pangamba niya na baka takbuhan ko ulit siya sa annulment ng kasal namin. Kelan niya kaya makikitang hindi na ako yung dating Jewel na nanggamit sa kanya?

YUL

Sa mansiyon ni lolo ako umuwi. Pagod na inilapag ko ang suitcase at coat ko sa sofa. Dinampot agad yung ng katulong at inayos.

"Sir kakain ho ba kayo?"

"No. I had dinner already. Where's chairman?" Lahat kami sa pamilya ay chairman ang tawag sa aming lolo.

"Nasa library ho."

Instead of going there. Dumiretso ako sa mini bar. I poured my favorite whiskey to the glass. I drank it in one shot. Ang swabeng init na dumaloy sa aking lalamunan ay pansamantalang pinagaaan ang nabibigatan kong dibdib.

Malakas na inilapag ko ang baso nang may madiing pagkakahawak dito. I gazed at the wall and recalled what Jewel said. Hindi ko maiwasang huwag maawa at ma-guilty. Simula nang umalis siya patungong Amerika ay wala akong ginawa kundi isumpa siya at magalit sa kanya. I thought she was rejoicing and living a grandiose life after solving her problem by using me.

My conscience struck me hard. If I think about it, she actually suffered more than me after we got married. Napakarami palang pagsubok na dumating sa buhay niya and she was fighting strongly each one of them alone. Me on the other hand was sulking like a child. Thinking that dealing with the heartaches of his first love was the biggest problem in this world. We both suffered but she suffered in much larger scale of life.

"You're here."

Napalingon ako sa aking lolo. His walking towards me with a cane. He's eighty two but still strong. In fact, he can still walk vigorously without a cane. He doesn't work anymore but he always has the last word for every huge decision that CGC makes. He spends most of his time playing golf and gardening. At home, the library is more like his bedroom.

"Good evening chairman," I simply greeted him then poured whiskey to my glass.

"Why are you drinking?" puna niya.

"Nagpapaantok lang ho."

He sat in stool beside me. "I heard you fired Lee Con," he said in low voice.

Ngumisi ako without taking my eyes from the glass. "It's only a small matter kaya hindi ko na ho kinunsulta yan sa inyo."

"I know. It just happened that Mr. Lee Sr. called me and asked if you can reconsider."

Uminom muna ako. "My decision is final. Their demand is unreasonable. Besides, the damage they made in our image is intolerable," matigas na sagot ko.

He sighed. "Yan lang ba talaga lahat ang rason mo o baka may kinalaman dito si Luigi?"

Napatingin ako kay Lolo. Natawa ako sa sinabi niya. "Why would I make a decision because of him?"

"Yul, even though I seldom go at CGC, you know that management can't keep important information from me. I know what he did to Mr. Lee's car. I also know that the reason behind it was that new secretary of yours who was treated rudely by Mr. Lee. Are you finally taking side with your cousin now?" he smiled like he is finally seeing hope na magkakasundo na kaming magpinsan.

Sarkastikong natawa ako. "Luigi has nothing to do with my decision. You know I will never support his childishness. He has his reason and I have mine."

He gripped the cane with both hands and smiled. "That secretary of yours. I wonder what kind of woman she is. Is she the new girlfriend of your cousin?"

"No. She's not the type of woman who will fall for a womanizer." I chuckled.

"Is she pretty?"

Hindi ko siya sinagot sa halip ay uminom ulit ako ng alak. This is the first time he got curious to a woman being linked to my cousin.

He tapped my shoulder. "I trust your decision about Lee Con. Pinagbigyan ko lang sila na kausapin ka alam mo naman na inaanak ko sina Mr. Lee Sr. sa kasal. I know you will always choose what's best for CGC. I won't talk to you about it anymore." Inalalayan ko siya sa pagtayo. "Goodnight. Don't drink too much," wika niya bago tumalikod.

"Goodnight chairman."

Nang muling mapag-isa ay nilagyan ko ng whiskey ang aking baso. Inubos kong muli ang laman nang isang lagukan. Hindi ako sigurado kung para nga sa mas ikakabuti ng kumpanya ang naging desisyon ko. But what I'm sure is that I am protecting something more important to me than CGC.

Tumunog ang aking cellphone. Tinatamad na dinukot ko ito sa aking bulsa. Bahagyang sumigla lang ako nang makitang si Stella ang tumatawag.

"Hi Love."

"Love kanina ko pa hinihintay ang tawag mo," may tampong tono niya.

"I'm sorry. I was really preoccupied the whole day," I answered in low voice.

"You don't sound good mukhang pagod ka nga. Where are you right now?"

"At chairman's place. You know it's weekend."

"What are you doing?"

"Umiinom lang konti. Nagpapaantok."

"Don't drink too much."

"Yes love. I'll drink one last glass then magpapahinga na ako. I'm sorry that we couldn't meet today. How about we watch movie tomorrow night? Pagkatapos ng inspection namin ni Mr. Takakura sa factory ay wala na akong schedule."

"Okay. That sounds nice!" her voice got livelier. "I have nothing to do too after my fitting."

"Ah by the way, nakausap mo na ba si Jewel? Pumayag ba siya na samahan ka bukas?" I remembered after she mentioned the fitting matter.

"I was trying to call her but her phone is off."

"Baka nasa byahe pa pauwi at low bat ang phone."

"How did you know?"

"Siya ang kasama ko sa dinner meeting namin ni Mr. Takakura."

"Bakit hindi si Nora?"

"She's not feeling well. I gave her a day off."

"Oh I see. So how was the meeting?"

"It was successful. Mr.Kitamura planned to distribute our products next time not just in Tokyo but also in Nagoya and Osaka area. Hey you know Jewel, that favorite person of yours, she's really good in nihonggo. Pwede nang mapagkamalang haponesa kung magsalita. She entertained well our VIP client. I'm quite impressed," tatawa-tawang bigkas ko.

"R-Really? That's nice to hear. At least totoo ang mga sinulat niya sa resume. Love, I have to hang up now. I'm in spa. See you tomorrow night. I love you."

"I love you too. Text me when your home."

"Yes bye."

"Bye."

Sinunod ko ang sinabi ni Stella. Uminom na lang ako ng isang baso at nagtungo na sa kuwarto. Habang nagbibihis, naalala ko ang sinabi niya na hindi makontak si Jewel. Sinubukan kong tawagan ang aking secretary, nakapatay pa rin ang telepono niya. Tumingin ako sa oras. 11:15pm na. Posible kayang wala pa siya sa bahay? Wala pang alas diyes nang ibinaba ko siya sa CGC.

Nakatatlong beses akong tawag sa loob ng tatlumpong minuto pero nanatiling patay ang kanyang telepono.

I'm done changing clothes, washing my face and brushing my teeth. Komportableng nahiga na ako sa kama. I turned off the lampshade beside my bed. I closed my eyes but then I opened it again. Bigla kong naalala si Jewel. Naupo ako at muling binuksan ang lampshade. Inabot ko ang aking cellphone. I'll try calling her one last time.

Her phone is finally ringing.

"Hello sir?"

"Jewel where are you?"

"Nasa bahay na po. Kadarating ko lang."

I checked the time. It's almost midnight. "What happened to you? Kanina ka pa namin naibaba sa CGC ah."

"Naku sir, ang malas ko po! Nasiraan ang jeep na sinakyan ko. Sobrang hirap makasakay ulit. Ang tagal ko hong nag-abang."

"Ganun ba?" Dapat pala ay pinahatid ko na lang siya kay Alfred. Yun man lang ay nai-reward ko sa kanya for doing a good job at the meeting.

"Sir bakit nga pala kayo napatawag?"

Napakurap ako. "Ah... ano...ano... I just want to tell you that Stella was trying to call you kaya lang nakapatay daw ang phone mo."

"Ganun po ba? Naglow-bat kasi. Kaka-charge ko lang ho. Tatawagan ko na lang ho siya."

"You don't have to call her now magpahinga ka na. You can call her in the morning."

"Sige po. Goodnight sir. Magpahinga ka na rin."

"Goodnight." I smiled.

My mind instantly gained peace. Muli kong pinatay ang lampshade. Komportable akong nahiga sa malambot kong kama at unan. Right after closing my eyes, dire-diretso na ang pagtulog ko nang mahimbing.