The Broken Hearts Club

04

Amporkchop! Gwapo sana mabaho lang ang hininga!

•••

"Why do you want me to be your nanny? Can't you do things by yourself?" I bravely asked him this as we are face to face.

"Because I can see it in your eyes that you need this."

"Bakit nga ako? Wala ka na bang makitang iba riyan? Any other options, ganoon?"

"Give me three valid reasons on why I should stop pursuing you to take this job," he said instead of answering my questions.

"Kasi—"

"English only, please."

"Because you don't know me well. We've just met! You cannot tell if I'll do something bad in your house when you're not around."

"Not enough. You're overthinking. What if we've just met? As if I'm asking you to marry me or somn, and if you'll do somn in my house whenever I'm not around, there are what we called conscience and policemen."

"I. Am. Demanding."

"I know."

"I'm not an easy-going person," I lied.

"So am I. But I'm reminding you that you'll work as a nanny and not to be friends with me. Understand?"

"But isn't it much better if you'll be able to build a good boss-employee relationship?"

"Nice try but I'm not gonna buy it."

"Leche oy!"

"Is that a yes?" Hah! Yes is the new leche na pala.

"How much is your offer ba?"

Truly, I like what he is offering. Habang maaga pa gusto ko nang magsimulang magtrabaho kahit saan basta mapagkikitaan at marangal. I want to save money for me and my Tatay, and of course, for my education that I have always longed since I was still a kid.

This man—whom I doesn't still know the name but been exchanging conversations for a quite while is here in the house I've rented offering a blessing.

It's like the food is already been serve in front, waiting for me to devour it. But would you eat something that is coming from a total stranger? What if there's a poison in it?

"You name it."

After a lot of pursuing, napapayag niya rin ako. I mean, sinong hindi 'di ba? Nangangailangan ako ng pera at sa tingin ko siya na ang sagot para sa problema kong iyon. At isa pa, marupok ako! Kung ganiyan ba naman ka-gwapo ang magiging boss, hindi ka pa namamatay feeling mo nasa langit ka na!

Isinalansan ko sa bago kong ukay na bag ang kaunting damit na nadala ko mula sa probinsiya. Sasama raw ako sa kaniya ngayon upang tignan ang kaniyang bahay at doon na rin daw titira.

I stopped midway in entering my clothes to my bag when I saw him entering my room with so much poise. His every step is demanding for attention and recognition. I wonder if there's still a man out there who can walk high as mighty like him? I bet none.

Pinaningkitan ko siya ng mata dahil sa walang paubaya niyang pagpasok sa aking kwarto ngunit hindi na ako umimik pa. There's no point on arguing to someone you know you'll never win. Not even an ounce of chance.

He was just standing there at the doorway, waiting for me to finish my business. Nagmukha siyang higante sa maliit kong palasyo. Hindi ko lubos mawari na sa isang gabi kong pamamalagi rito ay iiwan ko na agad ito.

•••

Just by one look, I was in awe. Katatapos ko lang maglibot sa buong mansion ni Rhys. I already foresee that his house will be big but I didn't expected that it would be this big. Hindi na ito simpleng bahay, mansion na ito, e.

Their mayordoma was the one who accompanied me to tour the whole place. Natagalan kami't umabot nang halos isang oras dahil palagi akong humihinto sa bawat lugar na makikita rito sa bahay at pinupuri ito. Nakakailang mura na nga ako pero sinuway ako ni Mamacitta, she said it's prohibited to say curses in this house, that was the number one rule of their—our boss.

Lahat ng sulok sa mansiyong ito ay nagsusumigaw ng karangyaan. All the adjectives ever existing in the world can't seem to be enough to describe how beautiful this place is. Pero parang may kulang... All those vibrant colors but it still feels plain, dull, and lifeless. It doesn't feel like home.

I sighed. Hindi ko dapat iniisip ang ganitong bagay, this is not my problem anymore. Kung may kulang, punuan, ganoon lang iyon. Mas mabuti pang hanapan ko ng sagot iyong tanong nilang "Bakit puregold ang tawag kung mayroong kulay green?", baka masali pa ako sa Guiness World of Book Records.

Pumunta ako sa kanilang sala kung saan naroon ang refrigerator at kumuha ng malamig na tubig upang inumin. Naubusan ata ako ng laway habang naglilibot kanina dahil sa labis na pagkamangha.

"What are you doing?" nagulat ako dahil sa boses na iyon ngunit ang mas nakapagpagulat sa'kin ay ang kaniyanh itsura. Hindi ko tuloy napigilan ang sarili kong maibuga ang tubig na nasa loob ng aking bibig sa kaniya.

I panicked as irritation registered in his face. Pinahid niya ang aking kalat sa kaniyang katawan gamit ang kaniyang kamay at ginawaran ako nang nakakakamatay na titig.

"Boss, huwag po!" I said, terrified, as I was checking intently his body.

"Shouldn't be I'm hearing sorry than that?"

"Boss, hindi pa po ako handa."

"It's obvious. I'll call some maids to help you train."

"No, no. What I meant is, hindi pa po ako handang ibigay ang virginity ko. Huwag pa po sana tayo ngayon maghoneymoon," I kidded to ease the tension. Pero mukhang wrong move ata dahil mas lalong naglapit ang kaniyang kilay at mas lalong tumalim ang mga titig niya sa'kin. Nakakapaso.

He's topless for heaven's sake! Towel lang ang panangga niya upang hindi makita ang kung ano mang tinatago niya sa likod nito. Even his v-line is showing, it seems to be inviting me. Kung tanggalin ko kaya iyan at nang makita ko ang hinahanap ko? Charot lang!

Be demure, Zuya. Behave!

Ngayon ako nagsising naisip ko iyong food poisoning kanina. Kasi kung ganitong putahe ba naman nasa harapan mo, tignan lang natin kung hindi mo lalamutakin ito.

"Ang yumm—"

"What?" he snapped at me.

"Sabi ko po, ang yumburger ng McDo ay masarap."

His exquisite thick eyebrows arched at me. "But there's no yumburger in McDo, maybe you meant Jollibee?"

"No, boss."

"Then what's your point?"

"Walang yumburger sa McDo pero sa Jollibee, meron, alam ko po iyon. Gusto ko lang i-point out na gaano man karaming yumburger ang nakalahad sa aking harapan, iyang abs mo pa rin ang pipiliin kong tikman. Rawr," I said naughtily. Biro ko lang naman ito, lowkley panlalandi kumbaga, kung papatulan edi maayos. Kung hindi, wala ring problema.

"What?" he uttered in pure disappointment.

"Charot lang, boss. Kilig ka naman."

"What an annoying specie!" he growled before he made his way to leave me.

"Oy!" pagtawag pansin ko sa kaniya. He stopped but he didn't make effort to look at my side. "Joke lang 'yon ah!"

"You're a woman, act like one."