Chapter 4: New Manager

Sarah

Three days later, I finally moved into my own home. The house I actually built while I was in Paris. So when I returned to the Philippines I had what I could call my own home.

I'm complete with everything in here and out of the house. As well as my new car just arrived yesterday from Dubai. Actually, two cars. Because I was planning to give one to my manager once it arrives from Paris, because one of the most important things she needs is a vehicle for avoiding hassles.

Habang nag momoment dito sa aking malawak na walk-in closet ay naka tanggap ako ng isang hindi inaasahang tawag mula sa Paris.

"What?! What do you mean you can't make it, Amelia? You told me you would follow me here in the Philippines and then, what? Now you tell me you're quiting? What the hell is wrong with you?!"

She's so unbelievable!

Of all people, she is what I needed the most. She was the last person I expected to give up on me. And now, there she is, saying that she doesn't want to continue and she doesn't want to be my manager anymore.

"My decision is final, Sarah. And there is NOTHING wrong with me, but you? To yourself? Yes, there is. Try to fix yourself first and maybe someone else will stay in your life. I'm done enough. I did my best to be the best, Sarah." She said. And she obviously hated me.

Her words were like a knife repeatedly piercing my heart. At hindi ko ito inaasahan. It hurts, when you are constantly leaving by the person you think will stay by your side.

I swallowed hard. I was about to speak again when she continues what she says.

"So now, I'm going to clarify myself. I can't be your manager anymore and that's it!" And then she hang up.

Isang mahabang katahimikan ang namagitan sa akin hanggang sa hindi ko namalayan na inihagis ko na lang bigla ang aking cellphone sa pader ng aking kuwarto.

Napatawa ako ng mapakla sa aking sarili. Ganoon na ba talaga ako kasamang tao? To the point na ako mismo ang nagtutulak na iwanan ng mga taong nasa paligid ko?

What did I do wrong? Why do people I care about leave me over and over again?

Dahil sa hindi ko kaya ang magmukmok sa loob ng aking bahay ay mas minabuti ko nalang muna ang lumabas.

And although alcohol is cannot be in my body right now due to the upcoming photo shoot, I am more than willing to look for it. Because I want to get drunk. I have no manager to criticize me now, anyway.

I drank as much as I could. I didn't even realize how much alcohol I had put into my body. All I ever wanted was to lose those words of Amelia, who kept coming back to my mind. Those harsh words I've heard from her since I met her.

Hindi ko na rin namalayan pa ang pagtakbo ng oras. Hanggang sa maging wild na ang lahat ng nasa paligid ko. Mga kabataan na masayang nagsisigawan habang nagsasayawan sa dance floor. Thankfully, I have a cap on my head so no one can recognize me.

When Dj started his music, the surroundings became even more noisy. That's why I decided to get up from my seat and go to the dance floor. It wouldn't be so bad if I comforted myself for a moment, right?

I mean, enjoying your own company is better than talking to ramdom people or strangers.

Like the teenagers around me tonight, I was jumping, dancing, screaming as if there's no tomorrow. Until suddenly, I collided with another body and before it finally fell to the floor I quickly grabbed her in the arm.

Her eyes widened in surprise. And she blushed as we looked up. Ang hindi ko lang maipaliwanag ay ang tila ba naging slow motion ang lahat ng nasa paligid namin noong sandaling magkatitigan na kaming dalawa.

She didn't recognize me right away because I was wearing a cap. But when the light hit my face, her facial expression suddenly changed. Dahilan upang mabitiwan ko siya mula sa pagkakahawak sa kanyang kamay at tuluyang bumagsak sa sahig.

"Ouch!" Sambit nito habang napapahimas sa parte ng kanyang katawan na nasaktan.

Agad na napaiwas ako rito ng tingin at tatalikod na sana nang magsalita siyang muli.

"Hoy! Hindi mo man lang ba ako tutulungang makabangon?!" Inis na singhal nito sa akin dahilan upang mapapikit ako ng marinin.

Other people started looking at us. I won't even be able to stay inside this bar anymore because I'm definitely in trouble. Hindi ko na pinansin pa si Lila at ihahakbang na sanang muli ang aking mga paa papalayo nang pinigilan ako nitong muli.

"You jerk! If you didn't help me here, I would shout at the people here who you are!"

Argh. Dammit! Lumpo ba siya o ano?!

Walang nagawa na muli ko itong nilapitan at hinawakan ang kamay nitong naka extend para abutin ko.

Noong sandaling hihilain ko na dapat siya papatayo ay siya rin namang paghila nito sa akin pababa dahilan upang ako na naman ang napa subsob sa sahig at siya naman ngayon ang nakatayo habang mayroong nakaka asar na mga ngiti.

"What the fuck!" I screamed out loud at her before helping myself to get up.

"Fair enough." She smirked at me before leaving.

Sinubukan ko pa sana itong habulin ngunit masyado yata siyang mabilis kaya hindi ko na ito namataan pa. In the end, umuwi ako ng umuusok ang ilong sa galit at hindi makapaniwala dahil sa ginawa ng babaeng iyon.

Well, hindi pa naman ito ang huling gabi na magkikita kami. I'll get my revenge, kaya humanda siya.

------

The next morning, I left home early because I had to earn a new client, for the new product I was going to endorse.

It's been a long time in the making and it's one of the reasons why I wish Amelia could come here sooner. But sadly, she can't do it anymore.

Kasalukuyang naghahanap na rin ako ng aking bagong manager. Mahirap kasi ang ganito, hindi ako sanay at inaamin kong nahihirapan ako.

Sa pang araw-araw ko pa lamang na ginagawa, kailangan ko na ng gagabay sa akin. And I can't really do that without the manager next to me.

I arrived at the meeting place earlier, ten minutes before the exact time.

Agad akong napa tingin sa paligid dahil kahit isa ay wala pa akong nakikitang tao, except sa iilan na mga staff na naglilinis sa paligid.

Baka napa aga lang ako masyado. Sabi ko sa aking sarili.

But a woman standing in the distance while reading the magazine immediately caught my attention. I was facing her back so I couldn't see her face.

She was wearing a tight, black dress that was just up to her knee, which made her beautiful body stand out.

I smiled to myself as I approached her immediately. She must be a model like me.

I was about to approach her when she suddenly turned in my direction. My eyes widened to see her but I quickly hid and caught the heat of my own cheek.

What the hell is she doing here this time? I asked myself.

And for the first time, I suddenly felt a few of her eyes stare at me so I looked away. And just kept walking towards her upang hindi mahalata.

"Lila?" I immediately asked as I stopped in front of her.

Pormal na ngumiti ito sa akin at sandali akong tinitigan sa aking mukha. Hindi ko tuloy mapigilan ang hindi mapalunok.

Ngunit kaagad kong naalala ang nangyari sa amin sa bar noong nakaraang gabi. Napa ngisi ako. Hindi pa nga pala siya nakakabayad sa akin.

"What are you doing here?" Pa simpleng tanong ko sa kanya bago ito muling pinasadahan ng tingin sa kanyang kabuohan.

Napataas ito ng kanyang kilay bago napa cross arms. "Is Amelia doesn't told you yet?" Tanong nito sa akin.

"No...wait, do you know her?" Gulat na ganting tanong ko naman sa kanya bago ito napa tango at naglakad sa unahan na agad ko namang sinundan.

"Yes, we have been friends since she came to Spain. You know, our family business where you stayed one year ago." Oo, naalala ko nga dati. May event noon sa Spain kung saan nag stay kami ni Amelia sa isang sikat na hotel doon na hindi ko alam eh, pag mamay-ari pala nina Lila.

Napa hinto ito sa paglakad at muling napaharap sa akin.

"In fact, I will be your new manager." She said before smiling at me. I was stunned and seemed surprised at what she had said.

"W-what did you say?" Tanong ko sa kanya ngunit napa ngisi lamang ito sa akin.

"Are you fcking kidding me?" Dagdag na tanong ko pa in disbelief.

"Definitely not." Seryosong sagot nito bago napa musyon sa mga paparating na mga client. "Now, it's time for us to talk about your new project."

No, fucking way. Seryoso ba talaga siya? Huh! Of all the people Amelia can bring, why Lila? Damn it! It seems like we have to deal with it every day.

Napa tingin sa direksyon namin ang aming client. Pormal na kumaway sa kanila si Lila habang ako naman ay nasa kanyang tabi.

"Then, don't be too picky." Pagbabanta ko sa kanta. Kunot noo at naguguluhang napa tingin ito sa akin. "Prepare yourself for hell, Lila." Dagdag ko pa.

But again, she just smiled formally at me which made me even more annoyed.

"Actually, I am. And I will." She said.