39 - Cold Treatment

RJ's POV

Tons of files in front of me and yet, I am doing nothing but just stares at them. I don't think maiintindihan ko ang mga proposals na ito kung wala dito sa trabaho ang isip ko. Yesterday since Charm and I reached home, she has been treating me coldly. Maayos pa naman syang kausap nung pauwi na kami.

Only when Lola told her to meet with Ellie alone tomorrow to check on the venue and choose the dishes to be served because Lola has a prior appointment and Rizza will not be available as well that her mood changes a bit.

When we were alone in the car she told me she was a bit scared na baka pumalpak at hindi magustuhan ni Lola ang mga pipiliin nyang food. I offered myself to go with her in Royalties pero bigla akong sinungitan at hindi na ako kinausap hanggang makarating kami sa bahay. I just thought that she was tired that's why she was grumpy and hits the bed early. She did not join me in our usual TV viewing con bonding in the family room every night.

Also, this morning is different. I was about to go to work when she wakes up and the cold treatment is still there. She only speaks kapag may itinanong ako sa kanya. She is different today, very different.

I have been calling her since I arrived here in the office pero hindi naman sinasagot ang phone, I already send her numerous messages pero kahit tuldok hindi man lang nagrereply.

"Riza can you please call Charm, kanina pa ako nagtext hindi naman nagrereply, tumatawag ako hindi naman sumasagot. Anong oras ba sya pupunta sa Royalties Hotel today?" I asked Riza over the phone.

"Sasagot na yun Kuya, kakababa ko lang ng phone. Hindi rin sumasagot sa akin kanina kasi nasa tracks daw sya for her practice. Malapit na daw sya sa Royalties Hotel." Rizza said.

"Nauna ka pang sabihan kung nasaan sya kesa sa akin eh isang daang messages na yata yung pinadala ko hindi man lang magreply kahit tuldok. Sinabi ko sa kanya na sasamahan ko sya sa Royalties eh." I irritably said.

"Ikaw talaga Kuya, sytle mo bulok. Ginamit mo pa si Ate Charm para makita lang si Ellie, kunwari ka pang gusto mong samahan si Ate Charm pero infact gusto mo lang makita ulit si Ellie." Rizza began teasing.

"That's not true, pwede ba kayo nga ni Lola yung nang-iwan sa ere. Pinabayaan nyo ang asawa ko sa assignment na 'to, eh Dad's intruction is for Charm to only assist Lola on the preparation. Hindi sya yung magiging punong abala. Hindi nyo alam how scared she was last night kasi baka daw hindi nyo magustuhan yung mga pipiliin nyang food." I said.

"I'm sorry Kuya." Rizza said.

"Kaya nga ako na lang ang nag-volunteer na samahan sya kasi nahihiya akong ipagawa sa kanya yung mag-isa." I replied.

"Prior commitment na kasi yung kay Lola and may separate assignment naman ako from Dad kaya hindi talaga namin sya masasamahan. Tawagan mo na sya ngayon para makasunod ka na agad at masamahan mo sya. Babay na." Rizza said and immediately hungs up the phone before I even say my goodbye.

I quickly dialed Charm's number but it just keeps on ringing and I am beginning to be irritated when she finally picks up.

"Hindi ka ba busy sa work to send me more than thirty messages and make twenty missed calls?" She asked irritably.

"If you reply at least once you won't have those numerous messages and missed calls. Where are you?" I straightly asked.

"Royalties Hotel." She briefly replied.

"Wait for me, pupuntahan kita dyan." I said.

"I told you last night, no need to come with me Faulkerson, Jr., kaya ko na 'to." She replied.

"I still want to go there and pick you up." I said.

"You don't have to, I have my ride." She replied.

"You came from your practice so malamang yung bike ang dala mo, si Rizza ang nagsabi sa akin. Nauna pang malaman ng kapatid ko ang whereabouts mo kesa sa akin na asawa mo, but I will deal with you on that later. In the meantime, hindi mo ako mapipigil na pumunta dyan, yung wildtrack ang gamit ko kaya pwede kong isakay yang bike mo sa likod ng sasakyan at wala kang magagawa kundi hintayin ako." I firmly said.

"Tama ka wala naman akong magagawa kung gusto mong pumunta dito sa Royalties Hotel, kahit nga wala ako hindi kita mapipigilang pumunta dito." She said.

"Ano bang pinagsasasabi mo Meng? Are you hallucinating?" I asked

"Hello ... hello .... choopy ka hindi kita maintindihan, kaya babay na", are the last words I heard before she hungs up on me. May monthly period ba 'tong asawa ko at kung anu-ano ang pinag-sasasabi?

Nasobrahan yata sa pag-iisip ng menu for the dinner, sabi ko na nga kay Dad malamang ma-culture shock si Charm eh, pinilit pa ring bigyan ng assignment. I wasted no time and drive myself off to Royalties Hotel where my wife is.

"Siguro kasi, lagi syang nandyan. Whenever and wherever I need him, lagi syang dumarating. He takes care of me a lot too. Ganun talaga ako eh, mababaw ang kaligayahan. Simpleng atensyon na itatapon sa akin, tuwang tuwa na 'ko, big deal na yun para sa akin. Siguro may middle child syndrome ako, kasi si Tatay mas pinapansin si Ate while si Nanay, sobrang alagaan si Dean, pakiramdam ko nakakalimutan nila ako, KSP ako simula pa nung bata ako. Kaya kahit sinong magtapon sa akin ng simpleng atensyon, sobra ang appreciation ko." Is what I recall she said when I asked her before why she fell in love with Patrick

Now, I have to make her feel that like Patrick I can be with her whenever and wherever she needs me. I can take care of her too, mas magaling akong mag-alaga kesa sa kung sino pang nilalang na galing sa past nya.

Charm's POV

Sinabi ko na nga eh, dapat hindi ko na lang sinagot yung call na yun eh. Ito naman kasing daliri ko, dapat drop call eh, bakit kasi iba ang napindot ko ang accept button, nasagot ko tuloy ang tawag ng anak araw na yon.

Hindi pa nakahalata na ayaw ko syang kasama, kagabi pa pinaramdam ko na yun sa kanya. Gusto lang makita ulit yung ex-girlfriend nya, gagamitin pa akong dahilan na kunwari concern sya. Hello Faulkerson, Jr., I was not born yesterday, puro lalaki ang kasama ko sa motocross driving ko kaya alam ko ang mga ganyang galawan.

"Mrs Faulkerson, this way to the Prince Hall please. We also set the food tasting in that hall, ma'am. Ms. Ellie is already waiting for you there." says the hotel staff. Wala bang ibang pwedeng mag-entertain sa akin maliban sa Ellie na yun?

"Hello Charm." Ellie greeted as soon as I enter the Prince hall.

"Hi Ellie, again thank you for accommodating us even with such a short notice." I greeted her back.

"No big deal Charm, malakas sa akin ang mga Faulkerson eh. Here are our suggested food for the dinner. Si Chef Bella nagprepare nyan." She said.

I tried each dish on the table and they are all good, nahirapan talaga akong mamili kung ano ang dapat part ng menu namin. "By the way are you alone?" She asked.

"Hindi ba obvious, nag-iisa lang ako oh." I replied while munching on the desserts.

"I mean wala man lang sumama sa yo, pinabayaan kang mag-isa na parang company secretary na nag-aayos ng events." She commented.

"May prior appointment kasi si Lola and Rizza, but RJ is coming to pick me up." I replied and I saw how her eyes glow.

"So RJ is coming, that's nice. Matagal na rin kaming hindi nagkaka-kwentuhan ni RJ." She said.

"How shall I settle and close the deal?" I asked her.

"Decided ka na ba? Hindi mo man lang ba hihintayin si RJ for his opinion?" She asked.

"My husband is coming over, only to pick me up. Isn't he sweet? Therefore, I don't need his opinion on this, Lola Linda will not ask me to come here if she does not believe in my judgement. I will ask again Ellie, how shall I close our deal and reserve this prince hall for our family dinner event?" I straightly asked.

"Please wait here and enjoy your dessert while I ask sir Philip to prepare the contract." She said.

"Thank you very much, Ellie." I politely said before she leaves me alone in the hall. When she comes back she is with Philip, the hotel manager who explained to me the contract for our event. We are in that state when RJ arrives.

"Good afternoon." He greeted.

"RJ!" Ellie said and excitedly stood up and runs towards him. She wraps her arms around RJ's arm while they walk towards us. Gagang 'to, asawa ko yang hinaharot mo. Ito namang anak araw na 'to ang laki ng ngiti obvious na enjoy na enjoy.

"Good afternoon Mr. Faulkerson, I am Philip one of the hotel manager." Philip greeted.

"I already signed the contract, I took the liberty to choose the menu. I'm sorry hindi na kita nahintay." I said while fiercely looking at him.

"Sabi ko nga kay Charm hintayin ka na lang before we close the deal baka kasi may iba kang suggestions for the menu, kaya lang she is very insistent. Ang tagal mo kasi eh, ano ba ang nangyari sa yo?" she sweetly said. Pasalamat sya, nakaligpit na yung mga steak knife kung hindi lumipad papunta sa kanila ang mga yon.

RJ discreetly removes Ellie's arms around him and walks to me and give me a kiss on my temple, para na naman akong si Lola Linda.

"We can serve another set, RJ, if you want to try them, too. We will just cancel the contract and replace it with a new one, pwede naman yun di ba, sir Philip?" Ellie said.

"Pwede ba ang ganun, my wife already closed the deal and signed the contract ang hassle naman kung babaguhin pa natin." RJ said.

"Yes, we can still change the menu if you want but of course there will also be changes at the cost." Philip seconded. "I will tell the kitchen to serve another set, please excuse me." Philip said and leaves the three of us alone in the prince hall.

"Hindi pa kasi naencode sa system yung contract kaya pwede pang baguhin." Ellie explained.

"I understand if you don't trust my judgement, RJ. But I guess I cannot wait for you to have your own food tasting session. You know that I went straight here from my practice. I am tired and all I want now is to go home and rest. I have my ride anyway, iwan na lang kita and be the one in-charge of the revision of the contract." I said and I walk towards the door but RJ quickly grabs my hand.

"Please tell Philip there is no need for another round of food tasting. I trust my wife's judgement and it's been a long day for her today, so we need to leave for home and rest." RJ said.

"Ok, sabihan ko si Sir Philip." Ellie said and obviously disappointed. "You may call me if you have other concerns, sir Philip assigned me in-charge for this event." Ellie added.

"But your shift ends at four in the afternoon, hindi ba hassle to extend your working hours?" I asked.

"Nagpapalit ako ng shift just for that day." She replied.

"Ang sweet mo naman." I sarcastically commented.

"Anything for RJ's family." She said, gagang 'to at sumagot pa talaga

"Thanks again Ellie, but we really need to go." RJ said. "Let's go, sweetheart" He added and wraps his arms around my waist. I forcely remove his arms around my waist as soon as we were out of the hotel

"Wala na yung ex mo, no need to pretend na sweet tayo just to make her jealous." I said before I get in the car. Bahala kang mag-sampa nyang bike ko sa truck mo, kakabwisit ka.