Soft

Chapter 9. Soft

HINABOL si Jasel ni Vince bago pa siya tuluyang makalabas ng gusali ng ospital. Hindi nakaligtas sa kanya ang malisyosong tingin ng mga medical personnel sa kanila, hula niya ay talaga namang kilalang surgeon ang lalaki roon lalo pa't talaga namang agaw-pansin.

She couldn't blame those envious eyes that were looking at their direction. Everything about that handsome and hot neurosurgeon always stood out effortlessly.

Vincent Laurence Ramos

He was her the one that got away. Cliché, oo, pero iyon ang nangyari. Naging sila nito noong nag-aaral pa sila, ngunit kalauna'y nagpasyang maghiwalay dahil ayaw niyang pigilan ito sa pag-alis upang ituloy ang pagdu-doktor sa ibang bansa. She was fine letting him go, so long as he'd pursue his dream and career.

Subali't ang hindi niya lubos maisip ay nangputulin nito ang alin mang ugnayan ang mayroon sila noon.

Napapikit siya sa biglang pagdaloy ng ala-alang iyon; nagmukha siyang kinakalma ang sarili.

"Doon ka muna sa office," pigil nito sa kanya. Her tears dried up but her eyes were still reddish and a bit swollen.

"I'm fine. I just want to go home. Jetlag lang ito."

"Ihahatid na kita, kung ganoon. Do you still live at the Nievieras'?"

Tumango siya hindi dahil sa pumapayag siyang ihatid nito. Sinagot niya lang ang tanong nitong sa Nievieras' pa siya nakatira.

They were obviously gaining attention that was why she started walking away. Tahimik na sumunod lamang si Vince.

"Bumalik ka na. On duty ka."

"It's alright. Break time ko pa."

"Kahit na. I can go home by myself."

He let her go but he made sure she rode a cab first and told the driver the exact location. Ito na rin ang nagbayad ng pamasahe niya at alam niyang may sukli pa sa blue bill na binigay nito sa driver, na inabot naman ng driver sa kanya nang maihatid na siya sa tapat ng Nievieras' Condominiums.

"Keep the change po," sambit niya at nagpasalamat.

Nanlalatang ibinagsak niya ang katawan sa malambot sofa nang makauwi na siya. She didn't bother going upstairs. Her mind was clouded by the fact that she and Vince met again, and that he really looked fine and doing great in his field. She was beyond proud of his achievements.

Halos tatlong oras na ang nakalipas nang marinig niyang bumukas ang pinto.

"I bought foods on my way here. Kumain ka muna."

"Thanks."

Inilagayng bagong dating ang dalang paperbag sa lamesita at dumiretso sa kusina. Pagkabalik nito ay may dala itong dalawang boteng beer at ilang prutas na nakahiwa na't nakalagay sa lalagyan.

"Baka hanapin ka ni Kuya," untag niya at bahagyang inayos ang upo para makakain.

"Nakahiga ka lang diyan mula kanina?" nag-aalang tanong nito.

Hindi siya sumagot at tumungga sa bote ng beer. Ice, her best friend, was the one who entered the unit. Bukod sa kanilang magkapatid ay may access din ito roon. She gave her the pass code.

Tumungga ulit siya ng beer. Inisang lagok niya iyon at tumayo siya upang kumuha ng tequila sa mini bar counter. Hindi siya matutulungan ng beer lamang.

"Kumain ka muna," awat nito sa kanya.

"Kumain na ako sa airport kanina."

Mataman siyang tinitigan ng kaibigan. "I'm sorry if I blamed you about what happened. Gulong-gulo lang ang utak ko no'n," panimula nito.

Honestly, she forgot about the whole situation. She forgot how guilty she was, or how embarrassed she was to face her brother and her best friend for being so childish. And that's all because a ghost from her past, Vincent Laurence, had shown up.

"Pagpasensyahan mo na rin ang kuya mo."

"I came back for him. Hindi para kay Vince. I didn't even know he's back."

"Akala ko, alam mo, kaya ka umalis," komento nito.

"Umalis ako kasi nasasaktan ako para kay kuya."

"Alam ko na ngayon," anito. "Pero, Jase, ano'ng gagawin mo?"

"Magre-resign ako sa trabaho. Maintindihan naman ni Kieffer."

"Alam mong hindi iyan ang tinatanong ko."

"Alam ko. At wala akong gagawin kahit bumalik na si Vince." She cleared her throat. "Hindi na ako pupunta ng ospital."

Tumango ito at uminom din.

"Are you going to live with him?" Napailing siya. "Silly question, of course you will," dagdag niya. "Let's put up a business, Ice," pag-iiba niyang bigla sa usapan.

"Ano'ng business naman? You don't need to put up a new one. Just focus on your businesses. Sa hotel. Malaki ang share ng pamilya mo roon."

"Not sure," aniya.

Ice sighed and decided to brainstorm with her instead. "What business are you planning to have? A small one, or something big?"

"Just a small one."

"How about our milk tea shops?" Ice suggested.

"Your milk tea shops?" takang-tanong niya.

"We're offering franchises. Or you can just simply put one by your own."

""Hmm... Not bad. Siguro, mag-franchise na lang ako. Hindi rin  naman kasi ako magfu-full time doon. Kakailanganin pa rin naman ako sa hotel paminsan-minsan, lalo na kung may meeting ang mga board."

"Are you sure? How about you franchise a fast-food restaurant instead? KFC? Jollibee?"

"Nah, masyadong mahal iyon."

"Kaya n'yo naman."

"Just a small business, Ice. Parang outlet ko lang kapag masyado na akong na-burn out."

"Ikaw ang bahala. I'll call my cousin and ask her to assist you with this one."

"Thanks."

Alam niyang hindi lang iyon usapang-lasing. Ang pinag-usapan at pinlano nila ng kaibigan ay matutupad.

But she suddenly became distant from her friend and her brother when she was sobered up. Kung hindi lamang lumapit ulit ang kaibigan niya sa kanya ay tinuloy na niya ang planong umalis na sa condo unit at tumira na sa hacienda.

Kaya naman, natuloy rin ang plano niya sa naging usapan nila noon ni Ice.

Bago siya bumaba sa posisyon ay sinigurado niya munang handang-handa na ang papalit sa kaniya. The Chairman, who was Kieffer's father, understood her decision on stepping down from her job as the General Manager. Pero hindi naman magbabago na isa pa rin siya sa mga board of directors ng hotel. Maraming salamat sa minana niyang share mula sa namayapa niyang mga magulang.

At gaya nga ng plano, dahil may Milk Tea Shops na business ang pamilya ni Ice sa probinsyaay nagpasya siyang mag-franchise niyon. While her brother and her friend were busy for the preparations of their upcoming wedding, she became busy with her business, too. Maybe she lied about saying that she'd never go back to the hospital because the place where she put up her business was just in front of the hospital building. Isang pedestrian lane lamang ang layo niyon sa Medical Center.

Soft opening pa lamang noong nakaraang linggo pero tinangkilik na ng mga customers ang bagong bukas niyang Milk Tea Shop. The staffs from the hospital loved her milk tea flavors and frappe, she's also selling desserts like cakes and pastries. May supplier siya ng mga iyon. She was planning on taking up vocational course related to baking and pastries so she'd learn how to bake cakes and sell it as well.

Mula rin nang mag-soft opening ay halos araw-araw nang may bulk orders ng mga inumin sa kanya. Be it from the hospital, or from the other commercial buildings near her shop. Magandang puwesto nga ang napiling lugar ng kaibigan niya dahil nakapalibot sila sa mga establishment.

Now, she couldn't wait for the grand opening!