OUT OF ALL THE PLACES I THOUGHT I'd be sleeping in, Haji's condo unit wasn't on my list. It didn't even make it to the top five.
"You can sleep there."
Lumingon ako kay Haji. Nakaturo siya sa isang kwarto dito sa condo unit niya. I insisted that he just leave me at a hotel pero nagpumilit siya na sumama ako sa kaniya. He told me to stay the night here so that I can go apartment hunting tomorrow.
Binuksan ko ang pinto ng kwarto at namangha ako sa kalinisan ng lugar. It was so stereotypical of me to think that it would be messy just because a man occupies this space. Puti ang kulay ng dingding at gray naman ang mga corners. There was a queen-sized bed at the far end of the room, and the walls were lined up with abstract paintings. Nakasara ang puting kurtina pero alam ko na full glass ang bintana. The only light that emanated the room was from a dimly lit lamp on the nightstand.
Naramdaman ko si Haji sa likod ko kaya hinarapan ko siya. It was obvious that this was his room.
"Kwarto mo 'to," I said, matter-of-factly.
Haji shrugged. "It's okay. You can take it for the night."
"But it's your room. Sa guest room o di kaya sa couch na lang ako."
Nakikitulog na nga lang ako tapos dito pa 'ko papatulugin. Ang kapal naman ng mukha ko kung tatanggapin ko 'to.
"There's no AC in the guest room," he reasoned.
"Okay lang." Sanay naman ako na matulog kahit sa labas pa nga. Ang swerte ko na lang na nag-offer pa si Haji na dito ako matulog. It's more than enough for me.
"Siobe," he called for my attention. Tinaasan ko siya ng dalawang kilay, humming in response. "I'm tired. I would appreciate it if you just take my room without any complaints? Can you do that?"
"Ikaw? Saan ka-"
"I'm fine with the guest room. Get some sleep now, okay?"
Magrereklamo pa sana ako pero tinalikuran na niya ako at sinara ang pinto. Ang bastos.
He looked tired though, kaya pinabayaan ko na lang. Energetic siya kanina sa resto pero noong nagpaalam siya na may sasagutin lang siyang tawag, hindi na siya ngumiti pa. I wonder what that call was about.
I scanned the surroundings first before I carefully sat at the end of the bed. Ang lambot ng kama niya. Pakiramdam ko gawa 'to sa feathers dahil sa sobrang gaan sa pakiramdam. I laid down for a bit before I went to my trolley bag on the floor then picked a shirt and shorts to wear. Hindi talaga ako nakakatulog kapag hindi ako naghahalf-bath man lang.
It was hard taking a shower with the cast and all but I managed to pull through. Hindi naman gaanong kasakit. The doctor said I'll be fine in weeks if I don't strain myself too much.
Nakahiga ako ngayon sa kama, nakatitig sa kisame. Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na si Daddy pa mismo ang magpapalayas sa'kin. But I'm a grown-up now, I can go through life without their help. I didn't want any of their help financially if they're going to use dirty money on me.
Thiago Holdings is known to be a corrupt company but Mommy always seems to brandish a good reputation after every controversial issue. Hindi ko alam kung paano niya nagagawa 'yon but that's one hell of a talent. Mommy is smart kaya siya ang nagmana sa Thiago Holdings, previously known as Isidro Holdings Company.
Iniisip ko kung ano ang connection nila Mommy at ang Daddy ni Haji. Mommy seemed to fear Governor Romero pero nag-invest pa rin siya ng millions sa campaign niya. It didn't make sense...
Unless... may pinanghahawakan si Governor Romero na pwedeng makasira sa reputation ng kumpanya. A blackmail or some sort.
My brows furrowed as I practically created the ceiling as my idea board. I was fidgeting with my fingers on my stomach as a light bulb flickered in my brain.
BINABASA MO ANG
Ace The Wager (TO BE PUBLISHED)
General Fiction[DECK OF CARDS # 1] Defending him meant signing her death certificate. Siobhan Thiago never wanted to be involved in anything that doesn't concern her. She was never socially active nor woke. Politics and business did not concern her since she was...
