KALMIA Series 1 - Kiel's Story: Hotelier of Mine (Chapter 5)

“Ms. Janihim, Mr. Cristobal would like to have a moment to talk to you,” sabi ng magandang receptionist sa kanya ng makarating siya doon at sabihing mag-check out na siya. Napakunot ang noo niya, as far as she knows, tapos na ang pag-uusap about her matters kagabi at kahit naman ano pang sabihin ni Mr. Cristobal ay wala nang makakapagpabago pa ng isip niya na umalis sa hotel.

“Okay,” she said and shrugged. Wala na naman siyang gagawin kundi ang mag-travel saglit para makalipat sa ibang hotel. Sam emailed her last night sa hotel details niya. It’s a good thing na nakakuha pa ito ng room kahit na nga ba madalian ang pagbobook.

“Oliver will take you to Mr. Cristobals office,” sabi pa nito at biglang sumulpot ang dating bellboy na kumuha ng lugguage niya nung unang dating niya sa Hotel. Lumakad sila papunta sa golden elevator sa gilid ng ordinary elevator na ginagamit ng mga guest. She was amazed how nice it was in that elevator at iisang numero lang ang nakalagay doon. Oliver pressed that number at tahimik silang tumaas papunta sa lugar kung saan sila mag-uusap nung Mr. Cristobal na iyon.

“Ms. Ja—.”

“Aann, remember? Kung sana kasing ayos ng serbisyo mo angi bang serbisyo dito sa hotel ay baka di na ako umalis na pinagsisisihan kong nag-book pa dito. Keep up the good job, Oliver,” sabi niya naman and gave him a sweet smile.

Napangiti naman ito at tumungo. “Anything for this hotel’s guest, Aann, atsaka ayaw kong mawalan ng trabaho kaya naman ginagawa ko ang lahat to do great my job,” sabi nito at lumabas na ito sa elevator. “This way, Aann, Mr. Cristobal is waiting for you at his office.”

Yun lang at lumakad na ito at kumatok sa nag-iisang pintuan doon sa floor na iyon. Narinig nilang may nagsabi ng ‘come in’ kaya naman binuksan iyon ni Oliver. Isang napakagandang office-slash-condominium ang bumulaga sa kanya. If only she got this room, then maybe mag-iba pa ang isip niya at dapat nasa package si Kiel Cristobal. Napangiti siya sa iniisip.

“Have a sit, Ms. Janihim,” sabi ni Kiel. Hindi niya namalayan na nakaharap na pala ito at wala na si Oliver sa office nito. Umupo naman siya sa upuang itinuro nito habang ito ay abala sa paggawa ng kape nito. “Would you like coffee, tea or juices?”

Wala bang ibang optiong like…you? Napangiti ulit siya sa kabaliwan ng isip niya. “Coffee would be lovely,” sabi niya dito at nakita niyang naglabas ito ng isa pang cup para sa kanya. Natutuwa naman siya sa nakikita. Eventhough, the only man in the room was the owner, ay wala ito ni isang assistant na nakapaligid dito at ito pa ang gumagawa ng kape niya na pwede namang ipagawa kay Oliver bago ito umalis.

Pinanood niya ang bawat galaw ng binatang nasa harap niya. Mula sa paggalaw ng kamay, daliri, ang sexy body nito at syempre and yummilicious na…ahem! Ang mga mata, Aann, tanggalin sa pang-upo at tumingin ka sa iba! Saway ng kabilang bahagi ng isip niya. Gusto na niyang mapabungisngis kung hindi lang niya inaalala nab aka kuwestiyunin ng binata ang kanyang mentalidad lalo na at nag-complaint ito sa hotel.

Nagulat na lang siya ng mailapag nito ang kape sa lamesa sa harap niya at umupo naman ito sa upuan na katapat niya. What a nice view! Woot woot! She can’t believe how easily can this man take her concentration. She’s so proud of herself lalo na kung concentration ang pag-uusapan. As a varsity player in her school days ay kailangan talaga ng concentration.

“So, Ms. Janihim, I heard that you are leaving our hotel because of our incompetent staff. Would it be okay to let us know exactly what happened? Narinig ko na kasi ang side ng empleyado ko and I wanted to hear you side. Kahit na empleyado ko sila, I am no one to judge dahil wala ako that time,” mahabang turan ni Kiel sa kanya. His voice almost made her drool, not because it was too soft and almost made her sleep but because, his voice sounded amazing. Can you believe that a manly voice sounded like a lullaby to her?

“Since you have the right to know, Mr. Cristobal, dahil may-ari—.”

“Anak ng may-ari,” pagtatama nito sa kanya.

“Sorry for that, let me rephrase it. So, since you have the right to know dahil anak ka ng may-ari and you wanted to know my side at kung bakit ako nag-react ng ganito, Mr. Cristobal, then the pleasure is all mine,” mahabang introduction niya sa mahaba niyang complaint. “Tatlong dahilan kung bakit nakapag-decide ako ng ganito. First, your hotel’s under decorated. The staffs in front of the hotel are very welcoming but the hotel itself isn’t. It felt like pupunta akong work when I am here instead of going for a vacation which was why I am here. I would suggest putting more flowers, more lights and about the elevator, I would like to suggest na maglagay kayo ng mural or painting to compliment it. It would be nice to see a painting there for relaxation lalo na at galing ka sa mahabang biyahe para makapunta lang ditokatulad ko na nanggaling pa sa ibang bansa.”

“Oh,” nagulat na turan nito sa unang dahilan kung bakit siya aalis. It’s better na alam nito ang mga dapat baguhin para mas maging maganda ang hotel. “I will consider your suggestion.”

“Don’t consider it, just do it,” may pag-uutos na turan niya. “If you want to please any Hotel Critique, I suggest not to consider it but to just do it.”

“Very well said, Ms. Janihim, but as I told you before, I am only the son of the owner at hindi talaga ako ang owner ng hotel na ito. I would definitely tell my dad to put some murals or painting in our elevator. More lights and flower on the lobby and hallways para mas welcoming ang hotel. Thank you for telling us what we are lacking kahit na nga ba hindi naging maganda ang stay mo dito.”

“The hotel’s lovely, the room, the dinning areas, the amenities and some of the staff are all good pero may mga taong humahatak pababa sa standard ng hotel niyo, I don’t want to be cruel to them but I suggest na it’s either to fire them or make them learn. No guest would like to experience what I experienced here.”

“We know, Ms. Janihim kaya nga I wanted to know what really happened. Please continue,” sabi naman nito at iminom ng kape. She did the same at ang mga mata nila ay nagtama. If only she wasn’t drinking a hot coffee ay baka kiligin siya dahil napakagwapo nito kahit na nga ba may nakatakip na mug sa mukha nito.

“Second, about food allergy, dapat alam ng mga food servers niyo ang mangyayari sa mga guest na may food allergy. That is deadly, Mr. Cristobal, and it was a good thing na alam ko ang itsura ng pastang kinakain ko sa ordinary pasta. I would suggest to let the food server go on study meeting about health and safety. Third…” she sighs as she remember her burnt dress. “The third one is the one I hate the most. Your employee burnt my dress.”

“A dress?” napataas ang kilay na tanong nito. She knows what he was thinking at hindi niya gusto ang iniisip into. “I can personally help you with that. My Tita is a fashion designer. Pwede niyang kopyahin ang nasira mong damit like it’s the same.”

“It would never be the same, Mr. Cristobal,” madiing turan niya. Parang nag-iinit na rin ang ulo niya katulad ng kapeng iniinom niya.

“It’s just a dress, Ms. Janihim,” sabi nito and sip his coffee not even taking his eyes of off her.

“It’s not just a dress, Mr. Cristobal, because that is my favourite dress that was given to me by my father! I treasured that dress more than anything in the world not because it’s so darn expensive but because it’s my favourite! Akala ko ay safe na ipahawak at ipaplantsa ko sa inyong empleyado pero mali ang akala ko. Ngayon, Mr. Cristobal, maibabalik pa ba ang damit na sinasabi ko?”

“I’m sorry about your dress and my attitude, Ms. Janihim,” sabi nito at makikita sa mga mata na sinsero ito. The handsome man sighed and stood up. “Pwede bang huwag ka ng magsulat ng complaint and send an email to Louise Margaret about what happened to you here? In return, I will make sure na yung mga suggestions mo about making this hotel lovely to even the eye of the critique ay mangyayari.”

“Actually, Mr. Cr—,” she was cut. Actually hindi na siya magsusulat ng complaint about the hotel kaya nga niya sinasabi ang mga suggestion kanina dahil nanghihinayang siya sa ganda ng hotel na ito.

“Kung hindi pa sapat iyon, I am willing to be your personal server hanggang sa matapos ang bakasyon mo. I’ll follow you kung saan ka man mag-stay o mas magandang mag-stay ka na lang dito sa office-slash-condo ko,” sabi pa nito sa kanya.

“What?” nakanga-ngang turan niya dito. She just can’t believe what she was hearing right now.

“We really need a good reputation para kay Louise Margaret. If my resources are right ay darating this week si Ms. Arevallo and we wanted to impress her para mas tumaas pa ang sales ng mga rooms naming. We can’t afford any negative comments specially your comment, Ms. Janihim, dahil masyadong major iyon. Kaya nga I will do anything, kahit yung suggestions mo pa and become your personal server hanggang sa matapos ang bakasyon mo.”

Your resources are right because I am Louise Margaret, and infairness, di ako na-impress dahil sa naging stay ko dito but your dedication to this hotel impresses me. Siguro kung magagawa mo ang mga suggestion ko then I might rethink again. After all, everyone deserves a second chance. Turan niya sa sarili.

“Ms. Janihim?”

“You sounded desperate, Mr. Cristobal, why do you have to go this far?”

“Because my father’s retiring this month at ayaw kong ma-disappoint siya. Pinalaki niya ang hotel na ito with his power and I don’t want to ruin it specially at ibibigay niya sa akin ang kompanya niya. Gusto kong mas mapaganda pa at mapalago pa ito, Ms. Janihim, kaya siguro I am sounded so desperate.”

“Actually, your offer is very tempting, Mr. Crisobal but before I take that offer I have one more thing to say,” sabi niya dito.

“Hanggang sa abot ng makakaya ko, Ms. Janihim,” sabi nito and smiles.

“Call me Aann, Mr. Cristobal, dahil in the next few days ay magkakasama tayong dalawa and I will even leave a positive comment about your hotel,” nakita niyang nagliwanag ang gwapong mukha nito. Wala na ang worried expression nito na nakaplaster kanina sa gwapo pa ring mukha nito. “but you have to make sure na magagawa mo ang suggestion ko habang andito pa ako sa Pinas. Can you do it, Mr. Cristobal?”

“Is that all?” nakangisi ng turan nito. Ngayon ay nakarehistro na ulit sa mukha at postura nito ang confidence na kani-kanina lang ay nawala.

“Yes, Mr. Cristobal,” sabi niya at tumayo na. Now, they are on the same eye level.

“Thank you very much, Aann, for accepting my offer,” sabi nito. Her ugly name sounded so beautiful. Actually, isa sa mga dahilan niya kung bakit Louise Margaret ang pangalang ginamit niya ay dahil na rin sa napapangitan siya sa pangalan niya but somehow, nung sinabi ni Kiel ang pangalan niya ay parang napakaganda nun na nag-match sa kagandahan niya. “And please, call me Kiel.”

Hindi ba pwedeng baby? Love? Sweetheart? Pero sige na nga okay na ako sa Kiel! First name basis na kami! We are so close na! Pwede na kaming magpakasal! Sabi ng loka-lokang bahagi ng isip niya. “Will it be alright to stay here? You see, nung pagpasok ko kasi ay na-inlove ako dito. If your offer still stands…can I use this?”

“Sure, Aann, mas maganda na rin na dito ka mag-stay para makita mo ang mga mangyayaring pagbabago sa hotel,” sabi nito and smiles.

“Thanks, I’ll just call my secretary to cancel my booking from Peninsula,” sabi niya and turned around.

Living with a handsome and very yummy man for months? Oh yeah! This is what vacation is all about! Walang kwenta ang Hawaii kapag ganito ang mangyayari sa bakasyon ko!

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