Monica
"Welcome back, Ms. Carluccio!" The airport staff at the counter greeted me.
She returned my passport and boarding pass. I happily returned her smile and headed to the baggage area to pick up my suitcase.
It's been five years since I last stepped foot here in the Manila Airport. I've been to Tuscany to continue college and trained for business. I never really planned on studying abroad if this was not my father's order.
"Let's buy some wine here, honey. I heard that Carluccio's retailed their brand here." I happened to hear what the woman said.
It caught my attention since my last name was mentioned. Carluccio's has been the biggest wine producer all over the world for hundreds of years straight. Thanks to my grandparents for expanding and manufacturing such a successful business.
"Of course, honey. Let's gather our bags so we can rest." Her husband said.
My purpose of coming here is to claim what's rightfully mine. In the years I was not here, someone else managed the company. And I blame my cousin for letting that happen. My father died mercilessly, I lived miserably and the company slipped through our hands. My family took care of it for hundreds of years but now it will disappear just like that.
I cannot blame my father for doing things that I can't understand before. I can't forget how hopeless he was in front of me with a pile of problems over his head.
But now that I'm here, I will make sure to put everything in its right place. I will not allow anyone or anything to ruin my plans. I will not allow anyone to stop me.
"What do you mean that you can't fetch me?" I scolded my cousin through the phone. I looked stupid right now.
"I can't. I don't have time right now. I really can't stand here in my office with so much to do. If you told me earlier, you wouldn't have a problem right now." My stubborn cousin said.
Really? Why should I announce my arrival, though? I even bought a sim card because I had no signal. I even loaded about five hundred pesos just to call my cousin. But maybe nothing will happen either because I did not matter to him.
"You make the decision, now! I am not leaving this airport if you did not pick me here!" I hung up the call.
I had just arrived but it had already ruined my day. I had a great trip and I was so tired that I wanted to go to sleep and soak in the bathtub with milk. I didn't carry much but it feels like my luggage was loaded with stones.
Minutes passed and he is still not here. I am starting to think of crushing his bones when we meet. And my phone beeped and when I saw his name on it, I immediately opened it hoping that he's on the way.
Matteo:
I'm sorry, Monica. I really can't right now. Something urgent came up. I just sent a driver, he will take you to your flat. Take care.
What the fuck? Does he really think that his apology will be accepted?
Me:
Is this your way of greeting me? Vaffanculo! Merda!
I'm going to sit on a long chair here in the waiting area for arrivals. My eyebrows furrowed and I no longer knew what to do. I was so tired and I had no choice but to go to sleep.
"It's raining! Alas, I haven't been picked up yet." Said the old woman next to me.
I looked outside and it was really raining. The drops are big and strong.
Really unlucky!
I waited a few more minutes before the driver that Matteo had ordered arrived to pick me up here. Because it was still raining heavily, I chose to stop at the hotel we passed first to rest. The driver could not see the road properly due to the heavy rain.
Drops of rain greeted at the hotel entrance. The room was quiet because it was already night. I went straight to the reception counter to rent a room.
"Ciao! Buona sera. Shit! I mean good evening. One suite, please." I said nervously to the man.
I was so accustomed to the Italian language that even here I still brought it.
"One moment, Ma'am." He says so.
I waited for him to give me the key because I really want to sleep and rest now. He has already opened a few pages of the notebook and I am bored with what he is doing.
"I'm sorry but we're fully booked for tonight, Ma'am." He said before closing the notebook he was holding.
"What do you mean? It's not too late at night for you to be full." I'm really annoyed.
"We can't do anything about that, Ma'am. You can transfer to other hotels nearby." Is he freaking kidding me? The rain is pouring hard outside and he wants me to transfer to another hotel at this very moment?
"It is raining cats and dogs outside! Do you think I can transfer now?" I sighed.
Teddy D. Corporal. That's his name written on his nameplate.
Who is he kidding right now? I glanced at that notebook and there are still vacant suites. Did he really think that I am dumb? Did he think I knew nothing of what he was doing? I have checked-ins in many hotels in Italy that I got familiarized with by the work in reception.
"Can you please check again? I really need a room right now." He opened the notebook again and I was not mistaken. There are still vacant suites!
"I have checked twice, Ma'am and it hasn't changed at all." He said.
There is something going on right now. I can see it through his eyes and hidden smirks. I have experienced this kind of treatment before when I went to Los Angeles. And I am afraid that this is happening again.
Italians often faced racism all over the world, especially in the United States. Anti-Italianism or Italophobia is a negative attitude regarding or people with Italian ancestry, often expressed through the use of prejudice, discrimination or stereotypes. The reason is that the large majority of the Italian immigrants were Catholic, as opposed to the nation's Protestant majority.
I have experienced this before, I know how to handle them now.
"Can I talk to your manager?" That's the first move.
"The manager is out, Ma'am. Something urgent came up in his neighbourhood." He said.
"Then, can I talk to the property manager?" There is no way you can escape this.
"I'm really sorry, Ma'am. But the property manager is not talking to the clients." You have a lot of excuses.
"Then, who is available right now that I need to talk to?" I am not leaving this place!
"Ma'am if you may, the security will escort you outside-" That's it! He just got on my nerves.
"Do you think that I am dumb? Do you think that I don't know what you are doing right now? Do you think that I am not aware of the kind of treatment you're giving me?" I bursted.
My voice grew louder so that other people in the hotel lobby looked in our direction.
"Mr. Corporal, I know the owner of this hotel. If I make my calls right now, you might not have work tomorrow." He was stunned by what I said. Yes, I know the owner but we are not close. So I will just use my connection to win this and knock this racist down.
"Ma'am-" he shivered.
"Enough talking. Book me my suite." I said.
He didn't move but just looked at me. Despite my threats to him, he was not shaken. I'm still kind at these times but when I haven't gotten what I want, he can taste the nightmare.
"Fine. We're done here." I walked away from the counter and pulled my cell phone out of my bag. Fortunately, I have a number of people to call today.
When the call rang I put it to my ear. A few more rings and then he answered.
"What kind of workers do you have here?" I burst when he answered the call.
"Hey, who's this?" Ivan Augustus asked.
"It's Monica! Porca miseria!" I scolded.
"You're here? Why? What happened?" I can't wait anymore.
"I am here at your hotel. And your receptionist is treating me like a dog! I need a room right now but he can't provide me with one when there are still a lot of vacant rooms. Did he really think that I am dumb? I am tired and my legs are trembling for hours. My butt is aching from sitting in a plane for almost sixteen fucking hours! I cannot stretch my neck because it became numb! Don't you have mercy?" I gasped after I said those. At the length of my litany, Ivan could not answer and he could not interrupt me.
"Calm down, okay? I will talk-" I cut him off.
"Calm down? Do you really think that I can calm down right now? Ivan, I am tired. And your receptionist doesn't have any respect for a client. He really got on my nerves!" I yelled.
"Okay, okay. I'm going there." He said before dropping the call.
This is hell!
I can't calm down right now when I am tired. The hotel staff was disrespectful and added to my headache. Don't expect me to relax when I know that I can't.
Ivan arrived wearing only pants and a black T-shirt and shoes. His eyes were red as he faced me. Maybe he was asleep and I interrupted his rest. I confronted the receptionist when Ivan approached me and I raised an eyebrow at him. He kissed my hair as an act of greeting.
He was older than me but he was scared when I cried. It was like I am his sister here in the Philippines when I met him because my friend Lauren was her boyfriend.
"When did you come?" He asked softly.
"Enough shit, please. I'm tired. Get me a room." I said. I also don't have the strength to argue anymore.
He entered the reception counter and took the key to my room. The man just bent down and was obviously nervous when his boss approached.
"We will talk tomorrow," I heard him say to the man.
"Let's go," Ivan said while carrying my bags.
"Oh grazie Dio!" I whispered. That means thanks God in Italian.
Those kinds of people need to learn their lesson. Racism is not a joke that they can just do to me or to anyone. If that becomes a crime, I guess the prison center will be full.
Ivan swiped the card and typed the password. The code is written to the card and seconds later, the door finally opens. I went in first and collapsed, throwing my body on the soft bed. I immediately felt relief when I felt the cold on my skin.
"I'm sorry about earlier. Don't worry, I will talk to him tomorrow and fire him immediately." Ivan said.
I got up from my lying position. "Don't!" I hissed.
"Just talk to him. But don't fire him." I said.
I am not a bad person. No matter how much pain he caused me, my conscience would not allow me to lose his job. We didn't know that he might have a family and I didn't want to affect them just because of my greed.
"But he hurt you," he said.
"Verbally, yes. But forget about it. Let him be." I went back lying on the sofa.
"Sometimes, people will become like that for a reason. I just need to forget about it and move on." I don't want his life to become miserable. I don't plan that.
"Are you sure?" Ivan asked.
"Yeah," and silence resurfaced.
The heaviness of my eyelids signaled that I wanted to go to sleep. Gradually, my body became lighter and I was just immersed in the soft mattress.
He sighed. "Okay. I'll lock the door. Call me when you wake up tomorrow." He placed the card beside the lampshade.
"Okay, send my regards to Lauren." I said.
"I will," and the next thing I heard is the creaking sound of the door as it closes.