Feather (Self-Published)

CH 1: Contradictio In Adjecto

Evil truly walks among us, I thought to myself looking at the demon-incarnate a.k.a. my boss. Magtatatlong taon na akong personal assistant ng hayop na 'to at kung hindi lang graduating 'yung kaisa-isa kong kapatid ay matagal ko na s'yang ipinakulam.

Ano ba, bakit ba kasi ako walang kilalang mangbabarang?

Pero, 'yun nga lang ay ayoko namang mawalan ng trabaho kasi kahit slave-driver itong tarantadong ito ay malaki namang magpasahod.

"Miss Montiel!"

"Yes, Mr. Satander—I mean Mr. Santander, Sir!" I replied so surprised that the mobile tablet I was holding fell to the carpeted floor; I hastily picked it up.

"Why the fuck are spacing out? Am I paying you to daydream?!" he bit out.

I shook my head. "No, Sir..."

"Then pay attention!"

"Yes, Sir."

Hay, taena, sarap sunugin nitong demonyong 'to talaga...

"This Sunday, I want you to come by my condo to feed my cat."

"S-Sunday po?"

"Yes. Sunday, the day after tomorrow. Is there a problem?"

I shook my head. "Wala po."

Maglalaba lang sana ako, Sir, kasi isang araw lang po ang day-off ko, 'di po ba? Dapat maglilinis din po ako ng bahay kasi wala naman po kaming katulong kaya ultimo ang pagkudkod ng inodoro ay kinakarir ko na. Gusto ko rin po sanang magpahinga pero dahil isa't kalahating anak kayo ni Satanas ay sige po mag-ko-commute po ako mula Fairview, Quezon City hanggang BGC, Taguig, para lang po pakainin 'yung pusa mong punyemas ka!

"Did you say something?" he asked arching his brow inquiringly at me.

I automatically pasted a smile on my face. "No, Sir..."

"I'll be out of the country for a week so you'll have to feed Cherish every day. She's rather picky when it comes to people but she seems to really like you."

Wow, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science 'tapos yaya lang pala ng pusa ang ending. Nice career path, Juris.

But I had to admit that my job pays me better than all the other jobs that I had received an offer for. Kaya kahit gusto ko sanang maghanap ng trabaho na malapit naman sa kurso ko ay napilitan akong maging alalay nitong kampon ng kadiliman na 'to.

"Did you hear me, Miss Montiel?"

"I did, Sir," I replied.

"What time is my wedding again?" he asked adjusting his cuff links.

"Six in the evening, Sir," I replied. "But you have to be there at least an hour before the wedding because traditionally, the groom has to wait for the bride—"

"I did not ask for your opinion or your take on traditions, Miss Montiel."

I felt myself blush at his rebuke. "I'm sorry po, Sir," I murmured. "Congratulations po pala."

He completely ignored what I had said. "I will be at the office tomorrow until 3 PM because I have a meeting with Mr. Jarquèn. I expect you to be here, too."

"Yes, Sir."

"I am expecting at least a dozen important e-mails. I need you to send them to me ASAP regardless of what time they'll reach your inbox."

"Saang companies po galing ang e-mails na hinihintay po ninyo—"

He gave me an icy stare. "Do you want me to sort the e-mails for you, Miss Montiel?"