Two weeks bago ang pasukan ay natapos na ang renovations sa old house,
pag titignan sa labas talagang mukhang luma ang bahay pero design
nalang, di ko binago ang itsura nya pero talagang pinaayos ko ang lahat
ng laman ng bahay. Sa labas natapos na din ang landscaping, may
magandang garden na sa harapan at nakatayo narin ang matagal ko nang
gusto, ang maliit na kubo, gusto ko tawagin ang aking Hang out.
Sa kubo may isang billiard table kasi yun ang hilig namin ni Tonio na
laro, malapit ang kubo sa pool kaya parang cottage narin ito pagkat may
maliit itong salas at dining area. Sa likod ng bahay kung nasan ang pool
ginawa ko itong parang beach type, ginaya ko ang concept ng bahay ni
Erap, Jeff’s little Bora naman ang tawag ko sa lugar na ito. Tiyak na
magugustuhan ng mga boarders ko ang lugar na ito, ang tangin difference
sa bahay ni Erap ay walang buhangin dito pero kumpleto sa gamit na
parang maliit na resort.
Dumating ang mga magulang ng mga prospect boarders, kasama nila si Tonio
na dumating sa mini bus. Akala mo kung nagtuturista sila, sinalubong ko
sila sa gate at medyo nagulat ako pagkat mukhang bibigating tao ang iba
sa kanila. Napansin ko ang itsura ng iba na parang nandidiri agad sa
itsura ng bahay, natatawa nalang ako pagkat di pa nila nakikita ang loob.
“Good morning to everyone, my name is Jeffrey Mendez and this is my
house” sabi ko sa kanila at yung iba ngumiti at bumati pero madami parin
ang nagtataas ng kilay at siguro pinagdududahan kami. “Alam ko madami
kayong mga tanong pero mag tour muna tayo sa loob ng bahay at mamaya ko
entertain ang mga tanong niyo.
Pumasok kami lahat sa bahay at tinabihan ako ni Tonio, “Pare naman
masyado ka strikto, relax konti” bulong nya sa akin pero tinaasan ko sya
ng kilay at hinarap ang mga bisita. “This is the living room, I know
surprised kayo sa itsura ng labas at loob, and I can see now that you
are all smiling di tulad ng kanina at akala niyo siguro kung gigiba tong
bahay. Well as you can see the whole flooring is made of marble, the
living room is very spacious. We have nice couches, a giant lcd
television, opo may cable po yan. I don’t go for much decoration so you
will notice wala ako masyado pictures on the walls, the room is fully
airconditioned. Follow me to the dining area” sabi ko at nabibighani
parin sila sa ganda ng living room ko.
“Here in the dining area we have an ample large dining table that is
capable of seating up to twelve people, but there will be only eight of
us here, me and my trusted manang and only six boarders. I know there
are many of you but I can only accommodate six since there are only ten
rooms in this house, one is mine, one is for Manang Aurelia here, and
six for the boarders, one guest room just in case I do have guests or
you will be coming for a sleep over to visit your daughters. And the
other room is the room of my grandfather, no one shall stay there, it
shall remain closed.” sabi ko at tahimik lang sila lahat at siniko ulit
ako ni Tonio. “Pare naman relax konti” bulong ulit nya.
“There are two bedrooms here in the first floor, my grandfather’s room
and manang’s bedroom. We have one laundry room at the back, so let us
proceed upstairs to the second floor, please follow me” sabi ko at
umakyat kami lahat sa second floor.
“Here in the second floor we have four rooms, just the same number of
room as upstairs. The biggest room is mine and is found at the back of
the floor, it has a terrace overlooking the pool. There is a small
living room area here at the center and it shall be used for studying
purposes only or chitchat before they go to sleep. There are computers
ready for use with internet access here and at the third floor, but
upstairs instead of having a small living room we do have a study area.
There are two toilet and baths here, one is in my room for my personal
use only, and the other one is for everyone. There is another toilet and
bath downstairs and one more upstairs so walang problema pag magsabay
sabay sila pumasok sa umaga” sabi ko at sinilip nila ang mga kwarto at
nakapagpahinga din ako at tinabihan ako ni Tonio.
“Pare good job so far” sabi nya. “Pero pare bakit ang dami nila?” tanong
ko at tumawa sya. “Hayaan mo na, basta anim lang kukunin mo, malamang
may aayaw din mamaya” sabi nya. Tinour ko sila sa taas at pagkatapos
bumaba kami sa pool area at dumiretso kami sa kubo kung saan may mga
palamig at meryendang nakahanda. Naupo sila lahat at nagsimula na ang
mga tanong nila.
“Jeff how secure is my daughter here?” tanong ng isang tatay, “Sir, as
you noticed exclusive compound po ito, may mga guards bago kayo pumasok
sa area na ito at sa gabi may rumuronda. No extra charge yon at ako na
may ari ng bahayang bahala don” sabi ko. “E how about the transporation
for them going to school?” tanong ng isang nanay. “Well if they are
early I can bring them to school, I am the CEO of my company so I can be
late for work, I cannot promise picking them up in the afternoon but
there are rides once you exit the gate. They will be provided ID cards
just in case gusto nila magtaxi para pwede nila ipasok dito” sabi ko.
“How about the eating arrangements?” tanong ng isa. “Yes, you will be
paying for board and lodging, food will be taken care of manang,
breakfast and dinner is for sure but if they are around for lunch then
that shall be taken care of too” sagot ko. “Sorry Jeff but I am still
worried, this seems to be too perfect. I am hesitant to leave my
daughter in your care, tell me something to make me feel comfortable, I
am really sorry kasi madaming scam artists or bad people na baka ikidnap
ang anak namin at mamaya nasa bar na nagtratrabaho o binubugaw sa kalye”
sabi ng isang tatay.
“I understand po, if you think I am a s*xual predator well let me tell
you wala ako hilig sa babae. Ibubugaw? Well I don’t really need your
money,I have my own company so go figure. Itong ginagawa ko para lang
may titira dito sa bahay. Masyado malaki kasi and its only me and my
manang. I grew up here and I used to remember having lots of people
here, masaya noon. Paglipas ng panahon tanging lolo ko nalang ang si
manang ang natira. I want this house to be happy again. I am not forcing
you to let your daughter stay here, I am sure madami naman boarding
house dyan na mas maganda. I am just offering something better. Here its
not your usual boarding house where kanya kanya ang gawain. Dito
kasibahay ito parang isang pamilya ang mangyayari. I wont be here all
the time because of work, they will not be here because of classes. But
when we are here rest assured they will be safe and wala na silang ibang
gagawin dito kundi kumain, matulog, maligo, magbihis, mag aral at pag
wala klase may sapat naman na facilities for them to have fun. I am
strict as you noticed so expect them to be disciplined” sumbat ko at
natahimik sila.
“As you can see si manang lang ang kasama ko dito so expect your
daughters to help out in cleaning and doing all the chores here. They
will do their own laundry, walang magpakaka senyorita dito. If you
expect your daughter to be pampered here better find another place. If
di marunong maglinis ang anak niyo pwes dito matututo sila, and by the
way walang lugar dito ang tamad at maarte. There will be a curfew, and
of course no male visitors at night, by day pwede pero kailangan may
kasama sila lagi and they are not allowed to step foot inside the house.
If your daughters fail several subjects they are out of here, if they do
drugs sorry they are definitely out” sabi ko at parang nagustuhan nila
ang patakaran ko.
“So magkano naman ang monthly?” tanong ng isang nanay at ngumiti ako,
“Four thousand pesos only, complete board ang lodging na po yon” sabi ko
at nanlaki ang mga mata nila. “Are you serious?” tanong ng isa pagkat
napakamura ng presyo ko. “Yes I am serious, I told you I don’t need the
money. Yung pera na makukuha e isipin niyo magkano gagastusin sa pagkain
nila. Plus the water bill, the kuryente, lahat naman pwede nila gamitin
dito e. Your daughters will enjoy all the luxuries of my house, and they
will be kept fed, I cannot guarantee their health sa kakainin nila sa
labas but definitely four thousand lang yan at din a tataas. No hidden
charges whatsoever, in total twenty four thousand a month income but
deduct expenses, kung may matira dagdag sa sweldo ni manang yon. I pay
manang 15 thousand a month, kung ano matitira sa kikitain ng bahay sa
kanya na yon.” sabi ko at naging maingay ang kubo pagkat gusto na nila
lahat ang alok ko.
“Excuse me pero madami ata kami dito, so how will you choose?” tanong ng
isang tatay. “I am willing to pay more just let my daughter in” sabi pa
ng isa. “Sorry walang palakasan dito, may screening process po tayo,
academic standings and attitude is important. My assistant has the files
of your daughters that you submitted and we shall be choosing the six we
see fit to stay here. No discriminations sana but may priority ang less
fortunate and I hope you do understand kasi mura tong alok ko and the
rich ones can afford something better. Don’t even try to bribe me since
I don’t need your money, If you do try automatically your daughter is
out. So lunch will be served in an hour, for the mean time please enjoy
the facilities of the house. You can go back inside and check the rooms
again baka isipin niyo may mga hidden cameras ako, hindi po ako
manyakis” sabi ko at umexit kami ni Tonio at tawa sya ng tawa.
“Pare ang taray mo. Alam mo ba yung sinupalpal mong isa judge yon tapos
yung isa pare police yon” sabi nya at natawa narin ako. “Ano may
prospects na ba sa anim na papasok?” tanong ko at ngumiti sya. “Ay pare
magugustuhan mo sila, tara sa loob at nandito sa flashdisk ko ang files”
sabi nya at pumasok kami sa bahay at humarap sa computer.
Napakita nya lahat sa akin yung anim at di ko nagustuhan yung panghuli,
“Pare bakit kamukha ni Nadine yan?” tanong ko. “O ayaw mo nyan pare at
least may kamukha pa ni Nadine” sabi nya. “Ayaw ko yan, alisin mo yan
palitan mo” sabi ko. “Pero pare kamukha ni Nadine yan, malay mo
makajackpot ka dyan o at least malalaman…” sabi nya pero umentrada ako.
“Ingatan mo ang susunod na mga salita na lalabas sa bunganga mo” banta
ko sa kanya at tumahimik sya at pinatay na ang computer. “Sige pare
papalitan ko nalang ng iba” sabi nya. “Good, wag mo announce ngayon sino
nakuha or else magkakaproblema. Saka mo nalang sila inform pag nakauwi
na sila” utos ko at bumalik na ako sa mga bisita.
Tulungan nyo kaming manatiling libre. Magclick lamang po sa kahit anong sponsor ad.
Salamat po!
