Chapter 6

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6 – Aling Simang

Tammy felt Aling Simang’s hot gaze on her. The elderly woman scrutinized her from head to toe.

“Hija, are you sure you want to apply as a housemaid?”

“Y-yes po.” Tammy lowered her head and tried to make herself smaller. Here she was now in this strange world, applying to become a maid in a dormitory full of male students.

“What pushed you to this? Your appearance suggests you are from a Buena familia.” The woman stressed the last two words.

Whoa. My skin is really obvious. This is too much. How she wished for the ground to break open, swallow her and then return her to her real time. How she wished for a miracle. Unfortunately, it seemed like Tammy could not wake up from this nightmare.

‘Shit, this is for real! Oh well, I’ll just make do with this’. She set aside her skill in English and planned the words she will be saying.

She raised her head to answer Aling Simang.

“Please excuse me po. This is actually what happened. I am from Hong Kong. My father is Chinese, while my mother is a Filipina. My mom left us when I was still a child. The last thing she told us was that she was going to Manila. I sailed this country to search for her, but unfortunately, she had already passed away. I was on my way back planning to board a ship back to Hong Kong when my purse got stolen. Right now, I don’t have anywhere to go. If it’s possible, please let me work here until I save up enough money to return.”

“What a sad story.” Aling Simang’s face showed seriousness, but it still went back to being inquisitive.

“And your father? How did you learn to speak Tagalog?”

“My father knows the language due to my mom. I haven’t informed him with a letter since I don’t intend to make him worry for my sake.”

Tammy’s real parents crossed her mind. Were they feeling worried about her? She was hoping they didn’t notice her absence. Well, actually it was highly probable. Both of them were occupied by their businesses.

“Ah, is that so?”Aling Simang inched closer to her. “Do you know how to clean, cook – “

“I know how to do household chores!” Tammy answered excitedly.

“Don’t interrupt, I’m still speaking!” The elderly woman reprimanded her. “As of my question, do you know how?”

“Y-yes po. I can clean and wash clothes.”

In actual and per her mother’s orders, Tammy was taught household chores by her nanny. Alas, there was still one task she has yet carry out successfully.

“What about cooking? We have to cook daily for thirty people,” said Aling Simang.

“I will try my best to learn how.”

“Oh my, that won’t do! Manuel, look for someone else.”

“Aling Simang, please be magnanimous this once. Let her be a housemaid here. She doesn’t know anybody else in Manila. It’s already fortunate that I saw her at the plaza.”

Tammy’s eyes went to Manuel. She had forgotten that he was actually next to her.

Aling Simang also stared at him. The woman raised her eyes toward the young man standing opposite the backyard and then found out that there were twelve young men covertly watching them.

“Go back inside, you fools!”

The voice itself scared the wits out of those men. They all hurriedly raced back.

“Did you see that, hija? That what causes me to dislike getting a young housemaid. You can’t stop those fools from flocking around you, especially with a face like yours… It’s too enchanting for them.”

Tammy didn’t know whether to be happy or annoyed. The old woman uttered the word ‘enchanting’ in a really strange manner.

“Aling Simang, I promise, I’ll do my best! And I won’t be naughty to them,” she begged.

“Manuel, can you monitor her?”

“Yes po, Aling Simang,” the young man swore.

“Very well, I’ll finish cooking first. You’re in charge of touring her around the place. Just don’t let her play around with even one student from here. And you, tomorrow, you’ll begin. I’ll tell you all the things you will have to do. Entiende?”

“Si, Señora.” It was a good thing Tammy knew basic Spanish.

“Anyway, what’s your name?” asked Aling Simang to her.

“Ta… Tammy.” replied the young lady.

“I didn’t expect her to know how to speak Spanish!” murmured Aling Simang before once again facing again the dish she was cooking.

Tammy left her together with Manuel. The young man led her around the whole dormitory. Aside from the living room, there was spacious kitchen and a dining room. There were twelve rooms which could each be occupied by two to three people. Aling Simang’s dwelling place was the shed . Aside from that, there was another vacant room on the first floor with a bed, a table set and mirror within.

“You’ll be staying here,” Manuel said. “As for your clothes, I’ll just ask Aling Simang to give you new ones.”

Tammy only nodded.

“She’s only snappy at first, but let some time pass and then you’ll see her getting kinder.”

Tammy chuckled a bit.

“You probably can’t imagine the old tigress getting mild-tempered, right? You’ll just see for yourself,” he said with a smile.

“Wait a minute, where’s the restroom?” she suddenly asked.

“Follow me, Miss.”

Manuel led her outside, toward a small room with a single small window. Inside, there was a huge earthen jar and an old-fashioned toilet. She suddenly remembered Rizal’s old home in Laguna and realized the restroom was similar to this.

I hope I can meet Jose Rizal in this age!

“You can freshen up here. Please be at ease, the men’s restroom is upstairs.”

“Thank you, Manuel.”

They once again went out. The young man left her in her room and made her stay there. Then Manuel ascended to the second floor.

Tammy took off her bag from her back. She sighed in relief since the residents didn’t pay much attention to this. She removed what was inside, and in her glee, she found her toothbrush and toothpaste set.

Wow, I won’t have to worry about bad breath! Now that I think about it, how do people brush their teeth in this era?

Tammy couldn’t fight back the urge to lie down as she was too exhausted. She wanted to go back to the present time. However, since she knew she couldn’t do anything about it, she would probably just try to enjoy the place.

Tomorrow… is the beginning of her unusual life in the past.

Notes:

Aling – honorific or title for a middle-aged/old woman

hija – daughter / young miss

po – signifies that the speaker is being respectful

Buena Familia – rich family or a well-to-do family

Filipina – a woman from the Philippines

Tagalog – local language in the Philippines

Manila – capital of the Philippines

Entiende – ‘understand’ or ‘do you understand’

Si, Señora – Yes, Madam.

Laguna – a province outside the capital

Jose Rizal – a famous hero in the Philippines

TL: WS25

ED: Corensi

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