Hell, All Over Again

Three - The Happening

JAMIN looked at the invitation that Don Joaquin had sent him. It'll be in a hotel room that the Romero owns, just one of the many hotels they do business with. It says a dinner at eight tonight. There's even the card key to the room.

It's kind of strange to have a dinner with the old man in a room with just the two of them. But knowing the man, Jamin has an idea on what the Romero man is trying to do. For sure it's about his company and the share that he's been trying to get his hands onto.

It's no secret that Don Joaquin wants to buy a share in his company but as the Alejandro's policy, only family members can buy. But as Don Joaquin is aggressive in running his charities, he's also smart and persistent when it comes to business. That's why Romero and Alejandro are always neck in neck in the business industry. Hindi magpapasapaw ang isa't isa sa pagpapatayog pa ng mga negosyo nila.

Though Jamin already made up his mind and as always to decline the Romero's offer, it's still polite to turn the offer down. He thought it'd be better to see him tonight at the dinner and tell him personally.

He called his secretary in the intercom and told her to cancel his previous dinner appointment and decided to go to Don Joaquin's invitation. A few more hours and he will be set to go.

"Ano ito?" tanong ni Rose Ann sa katulong na si Mara.

Mara is in her early twenty's. Anak ito ng mayordomang si nanay Malou, at si tatay Lando na driver niya, parehas na nasa late forty's ang edad. Estudyante sa kolehiyo si Mara, pero nagagamapanan pa rin nito ang tungkulin na maging alalay niya.

"Ipina-iinom po ni Don Joaquin, ate Rose Ann. Inumin daw po ninyo lahat." Inosenteng sagot ng dalaga.

"I know it's a drink but what's in it?" Nayayamot niyang paliwanag.

"Orange juice po?" May pagtataka sa reaksiyon si Mara.

"Nakikita ko ngang orange juice, pero bakit nga? Alam ninyong hindi ako umiinom ng orange juice." Nagpakawala si Rose Ann ng malalim na hininga. Pinipigil niya ang huwag sumigaw sa inis.

"H-hindi ko po alam, ate. Basta sabi lang ni Don Joaquin na inumin ninyo iyan." Medyo nakadama na ng pagkabahala si Mara.

Magsasalita pa sana siya ng mag-ring ang cellphone niya. Nayamot siya lalo dahil video call ang nag-appear sa screen. Ayaw man niya, napilitan pa rin niyang sagutin ang tawag. Bumukas ang video at bumungad ang matikas na mukha ng Don.

"Rose Ann, drink the juice, now!" Matigas nitong utos.

Lalong nag-igting ang galit sa dibdib ni Rose Ann. Pagkuwa'y iniangat niya ang paningin at tiningnan ang isang itim at maliit na device na nadikit sa kisame ng living room. Isa lang ang video camera na naka-install dito sa living room, ang iba ay hindi niya alam kung saan-saan pa ba nakadikit. Kaya naman nakikita nito ang bawat galaw niya.

"Drink!" Ulit ng Don.

Iniabot uli sa kaniya ni Mara ang juice at wala na siyang nagawa kung hindi ang inumin iyon. Halos masuka siya sa concentrated taste ng orange juice. Ayaw na ayaw niya iyon. Nasusunog ang dila niya.

Isang ngising baliw ang nahagip niya sa reaksyin ng Don bago nito pinatay ang tawag.

"Miss Rose Ann, handa na ang sasakyan sa pag-alis ninyo." Siya namang pagbungad ni tatay Lando.