"Hindi ko rin naman talaga iniisip iyon, Royce. Kung hirap ka pala sa househelp, sana nagsabi ka at marami kami no'n."
I sighed and looked at me with dismay. "Ang Papa mo ang nagsabing hindi ako kumuha ng kasambahay, Sky."
Nakahalukipkip akong kumunot ang noo sa kanya.
"Yes. He said you should learn house chores somehow."
"Are you kidding me?" halos bayolente kong balik.
"I know how to do it so you don't have to worry about it. I agree that it should be one of the things you need to learn if you want to survive and be independent as a person. Pero hindi ko naman aasahan na agad kang matuto kaya huwag kang mag-alala."
Tiim-bagang akong humarap sa elevator door. My face reflected on it. I am deeply pissed. Bakit hindi napag-usapan ito kanina?
Lumabas na kami. Sumunod ako sa kanya at napansin kong mukhang malaki ang unit niya.
I didn't dwell on the household chores. Fine, I'll learn that! Pero bakit ganoon si Papa? Kaya niya talaga akong tiisin ng ganito? At parang gusto niya pang alipinin ako ni Royce dito, ah!
Buti na lang at mukhang marunong naman si Royce. He's not born rich after all. Baka siya pa ang alipinin ko rito.
"This has only three bedrooms," aniya habang pinagpipindot ang modernong button sa dingding.
He also clapped and some lights turned on. Tumingala ako dahil medyo malaking condo nga iyon. It's a two-storey condo. Ang tanggapan, may malaking espasyo niya rin. Sa malayo, tanaw ko ang malaki at modernong kitchen. Sa kabilang banda naman, may isang kuwarto na tiningnan ko.
"This is the common restroom here," he said and pointed at a white door. "And this room is a small gym room."
Iyon ang tinanaw ko. May gym equipments siya. Kaunti lang pero tama na rin.
"The three bedrooms are upstairs, ang isa ginawa kong opisina. At ang isa naman, guestroom kaya..."
"Sa guestroom ako," agap ko.
Nagkatinginan kami.
"Wala naman tayong househelper kaya walang tsi-tsismis na hindi tayo magkatabi."
"My bed is large so you won't have to worry of us touching."
"And?" nagtaas ako ng kilay.
"Fine. Have it your way. Sa guestroom ka. Ang ibang gamit mo, nasa kuwarto ko."
"Kukunin ko at ililipat," sabi ko at umakyat na kami.
The master's bedroom was spacious. He even has his own walk in closet and a bathroom with a large tub.
Naghohotel ako at minsan tumitira na ako halos sa hotel namin, pero bukod doon, wala na. Laking mansiyon ako. I couldn't even remember a time when I went to a condo or there is a need to. Kaya medyo mangha ako na may malaking espasyo pala sa mga ganito. Parang hotel room lang din pero mas maganda.
The interiors are a blend of black, white, and gray. The placement of the lights were artsy and modern on the walls, giving off drama. He had modern art pieces like abstract paintings and even brass metal art.
Medyo impressed ako roon. I was used to jars and classic touch in our house so a modern one like this amazed me a bit. And how it was all cleverly put together. I wonder if he hired a designer for this, or he just did it himself. Kung sabagay, hotelier siya. He must know a thing or two about these things.
Sa baba noong brass metal art sa landing ay isang console table na may platong lalagyanan. Tinabi ko roon ang nabili namin sa Maldives. It blended well with everything. It's a coconut product, a sculpture of a native tribe.
Kabanata 15
Magsimula sa umpisa
