Room 304 Has a View

It was past eleven when Marcos finally reached the hotel. His flight had landed two hours late and the taxi driver had taken the long way through the city. He set his suitcase down on the lobby floor and looked at the woman behind the desk.

Lampas alas-onse na nang makarating si Marcos sa hotel. Dalawang oras nang huli ang kanyang eroplano at pinaikot pa siya ng taxi driver sa buong lungsod. Ibinaba niya ang kanyang maleta sa sahig ng lobby at tumingin sa babae sa likod ng mesa.

"Reservation under Marcos Soto," he said. He had practiced the sentence on the plane. The woman typed for a moment, then made a small face he could not read.

"May reserbasyon ako, Marcos Soto," sabi niya. Pinraktis niya ang pangungusap na iyon sa eroplano. Nag-type ang babae sandali, tapos gumawa ng maliit na mukha na hindi niya mabasa.

"I am sorry," she said. "Your room is no longer available. We had a problem with the booking system. But we have one room left, on the third floor." She paused. "It has a balcony. Same price."

"Pasensya na po," sabi ng babae. "Hindi na available ang kuwarto ninyo. May problema sa booking system namin. Pero may isang kuwarto pa kami sa ikatlong palapag." Tumigil siya. "May balkonahe. Pareho lang ang presyo."

Marcos took the key without arguing. The elevator was older than he was. It groaned as it climbed. When he opened the door of 304 and pushed back the curtains, the city spread out below him — rooftops, lit windows, a small square with a fountain still running.

Kinuha ni Marcos ang susi nang walang protesta. Mas matanda pa sa kanya ang elevator. Umuungol ito habang umaakyat. Nang buksan niya ang pinto ng 304 at itulak ang mga kurtina, kumalat sa ibaba niya ang buong lungsod — mga bubong, mga naiilawang bintana, maliit na plaza na may fountain na tumutubo pa rin.

He stepped onto the balcony in his coat and watched two people share a cigarette by the fountain. The wind was cold. He did not move for a long time.

Lumabas siya sa balkonahe nang nakasuot pa rin ang coat at pinanood ang dalawang tao na naghahati ng sigarilyo sa tabi ng fountain. Malamig ang hangin. Hindi siya gumalaw ng mahabang panahon.