Red Strings of Fate (Haunted Series 2)

Strings 18: Precious

Dumaan kami sa party needs and I couldn't help but think about their birthday again. If I'm making a dress for Jamie, anong gagawin ko para kay James?

Jamie told me, James would be having a suit made by his tailor, but I still want to give him something... for old times sake.

When we were kids I always gifted him something, at ako palagi ang nahuhuli magbigay kasi tatakas kami papunta sa puno namin para lang maibigay ko 'yun. But he isn't the TJ I know now. 

He's a man na kayang kaya bilhin ang mga bagay na kailangan niya.

Speaking of TJ... hinanap siya ng mata ko at nakitang nasa appliances siya. I don't know what he's doing but when he caught my stare, he smirked at me and made a finger heart.

Gago?

Ang random ng lalakeng to kaya hindi ko mapigilang tumawa. Naglakad siya papunta sakin dala dala ang isang rose lamp and I smirked, "Don't seduce me Sir. Hindi gumagana."

"I wasn't! Why? Are you seduced?" He faked a gasp.

I blinked. Did I dig my own hole? I cleared my throat for safety purposes at baka kung ano nanaman masabi ko.

"Look." Naagaw niya uli ang atensyon ko nang ipakita niya sakin ang glass lamp na bitbit niya. It has a rose inside but what caught my attention is the word written in block letters.

Hope

"Nakita ko lang, do you want it? I should buy this for you." Mukha siyang sobrang saya sa nakita niya and I didn't want to erase that from him... but—

Natulala ako, my eyes trained on the letters of my name. "But... why?"

"Just because." This man's energy is so singularly focused. It's like he's trying to set something—or someone, on fire.

"Hindi mo naman kailangan gawin yun Sir."

"Why? Don't you like it? It has your name." Tumawa siya and I bit my lip.

"Well... no but—" My skin goes from pink to red, giving away my inability to lie about it.

Hindi niya na ako pinakinggan at nilagay yun sa cart, "I'll buy this."

"Ah." I murmured. "Thank you."

I'm just afraid of feeling things I shouldn't feel. Him giving me unnecessary kindness gives me hope for things I shouldn't have hoped for. He can't have this power over me. Sino ba nga naman ako? I'm just their maid.

Lumabas na kami sa parking area pagkatapos namin mamili, nasa pinakadulo pa siya nagpark and I wanted to curse him for it. Ang layo tapos umuulan pa!

Gusto niya kasi malayo sa mga sasakyan dahil takot siyang magasgasan ang beloved niyang kotse. 

Well... who would like to damage a two million car? Dapat sa kotseng ganto hindi nilalabas eh.

Nang umalis kami, hindi na ako masyadong nagsalita at nag search nalang ng inspiration sa google ng pwede kong gawing birthday gift. I promise I'm going to work hard for it. I've been putting the designs together in my head while thinking of what they do and what they are.

Pagkabalik ng mansyon, I unpacked all the groceries we bought at tinulungan ako ni Tinang habang kwinekwento niya sakin kung pano siya nagsimula dito. 

Apparently, she was only helping her parents and then got paid later on. She wasn't interviewed or had a polygraph test like us.

We placed all of the things we bought in the cabinet they're designated to. "Si Jamie ang palaging gumagawa nito, ang kaso busy siya at wala nang oras magpahinga ang babaeng 'yon."

I nodded. Jamie got the mom role instantly huh?

"Ano palang gagawin dito?" Lumingon ako kay Tinang at nakitang hawak niya ang lamp na binili ni TJ.

"Ah ilagay mo lang yan sa gilid beh, binili yan ni James as a joke." I awkwardly laughed. Nilagay niya lang yon sa gilid at bumuntong hininga ako. Why do I have to say that as an excuse?

She looked at me weirdly, "Anong meron sa inyo?"

"Anong... meron?"

"Ngayon ko lang nakita na palaging andito si James. May sarili siyang condo, pero simula nang nagtrabaho ka dito, andito na siya palagi."

Kumibit balikat ako. Kasi hindi ko rin alam. "Baka naman nagkataon lang."

Pagkatapos namin ayusin ang groceries sa kanilang pantry, nagsimula na akong maglinis sa game room mag isa. 

Madilim na at patuloy paring bumubuhos ang ulan nang bumaba ako sa basement. I started working and three hours later I pushed a damp piece of hair out of my eyes and stood back to admire my work.

The wood floors were clean and dust-free. All the furniture and the entire place were thoroughly dusted. I had found the pillow linens and blankets scattered, washed and dried them in the washer and dryer in the laundry room.

The small kitchen and bathroom were scrubbed and bleached, and I had closed all the small windows para walang pumasok na dahon o ulan sa loob.

Smiling, bumalik ako sa bahay namin, masaya na tumigil narin ang ulan, and took a long cool shower to wash the hours of cleaning and dust on my skin.

Lumabas ako ng kwarto na nagpupunas ng buhok at sinundan ang ingay ng TV sa sala. Ang tagal ko nang hindi nakakanood ng balita, ano na kaya ang nangyayari sa mundo? Mundo ko kasi umiikot nalang sa TikTok at IG reels.

Wala namang tao pagbaba ko, kaya lilipatin ko na sana ang channel nang mapagtantong—

Ipinadala agad sa ospital ang mag asawa ngunit nang alas-syete y medya, tuluyan nang namaalaam ang kabiyak ng aktres na si Congressman Ramirez.

Kami ay nakikiramay sa pamilyang Ramirez.

"Oh bat ganyan ang itsura mo?" Sumakto ang pagpasok ni Lorraine sa bahay and I didn't have the words to deliver her the message as I stood in shock.

"Lorrs... mga magalung mo..." Tumingin siya sa TV nang hindi ako natapos sa pagsasalita.

I saw how her face fell and I ran towards her as she began to visibly shake and cry. Mabilis ko siyang niyakap, "I'm so sorry."

(';︵;')