Kabanata 4: Escape
MALAKI ang aking ngisi habang tumitingin ako sa salamin at suot ang servant's uniform na black and white.
Hindi na ako makapaghintay na matutong magluto ulit. Sana ay maging succesful ang araw ko ngayon. I don't want to have any problems or anything like that. I want this day to go on longer with a smile on my face.
Calm yourself down, Charm.
I sighed and sat down at the bed. Kumusta na kaya sina Kuya? Si Prudence? I miss my friend. Sana ay makita ko na siya ulit. Ilang buwan na rin simula noong magkalayo kami. Wala na sa akin ang phone ko ngayon. Kaeton confiscated it last night.
Pumunta ako sa kusina nang matapos magluto ni Josephine. Naglalakad ako sa hagdan nang may ngiti sa labi habang hawak ko ang pagkain ni Kaeton na pork steak na may kasamang ice tea.
It opened shortly after I rapidly knocked. When I entered, my smile grew larger. Amoy na amoy ko ang halimuyak ng kaniyang perfume. Nilapag ko ang pagkain niya at binati siya.
"Masamang araw, Mr. Valeros."
Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa kaagad at napansin ko na busangot ang kaniyang mukha.
"Morning," maikling bati niya sa akin.
I remained in this room because I wanted to observe him eat.
He didn't even give me a sidelong glance, and in less than ten minutes, he ate and returned his attention to the laptop and the books in front of him.
Sinubukan kong sumilip sa isang libro na naroon.
Considering the way he is behaving toward the country, President Victor Montes was attempted to be removed from office. He causes suffering for others and advocates corruption, like others of the country's politicians. He started killing people when he was young, but he was too wealthy to go to jail. Now that he has been president of this country for almost two years, I can see in the crowd the displeasure of a few people due to the dark crisis they were facing through these dark times.
I am completely aware of the exact person being mentioned. I quickly lost my appetite as my vision became naive.
Nang sulyapan ko si Kateon, busy pa rin siya sa pag type sa kaniyang laptop habang may binabasa. He moved with great professionalism and had a serious expression. It seems as though he is the world's most excellent leader.
Napaawang ang aking labi nang matapos siya kaagad sa case na binabasa niya, halos wala pa akong sampung minuto rito!
He is good, and the responsibility he accepted was appropriate for him, as evidenced by the fact that he completed the task in less than a minute. In general, it takes ten minutes!
"Done watching me?" he raised an eyebrow.
My lips parted a bit.
Hindi ko inaasahan na itatanong niya iyon sa akin at aware naman ako na kanina ko pa nga siya pinapanood. I will not deny it, nang masilayan ko siya, I immediately had innumerable words in my mind. I'm currently being pretty strange. Despite to my previous assumptions, it looks to be opposite.
"I'll clean your table, Sir."
Mabilis kong kinuha ang pinagkainan niya at pinunasan ang kaniyang table kahit wala namang dumi doon. Masyado siyang malinis kumain kahit na nagmamadali. Ang expensive niya rin gumalaw.
"I'll go ahead and be back."
His legs were crossed, and he gave a chilly glance at my way as he leaned back on the chair. Bumalik na naman ang itsura ng kaniyang mukha, hindi katulad kahapon na nangingiti siya. Ngayon kasi ay busangot at malamig ang tingin lang ang binibigay sa akin.
"Be safe."
Napapikit ako sa inis habang naglalakad papalabas ng pintuan. Safe? Akala naman kung saan pupunta! Ihahatid ko lang ang pinagkainan niya sa kusina at babalikan ko rin siya roon para ihatid ang bagong laba na damit niya.
Doon daw siya palagi sa office niya naliligo sa tuwing busy at hindi lumalabas. Buong maghapon lang sa loob habang nagbabasa ng mga cases.
Gaano ba siya katalino para magkaroon siya ng maraming trabaho? Hindi siguro naturally kailangan iyon. Sipag lang talaga. Neverthless, need pa rin ng intellegence upang makapasa sa board examination and battery exam. Masyado iyong mahirap. Tiyaga lang talaga sa pag-aaral ang kailangan.
At the age of twenty-seven, he's super succesful.
I'm twenty-three years old, and I still haven't accomplished anything because my own mother has taken down my own hobbies and career just because I disobeyed her orders.
"Madame Charm, ito po ang gagamitin ni Sir Kaeton na damit ngayon. At nawawala po iyong boxer niya kaya puwedeng makisuyo sa kuwarto niya, nasa pinaka dulo ng wall, iyong pinaka malaki."
I nodded. Sinunod ko ang sinabi ni Mirabella at nagtungo sa tinutukoy niyang kuwarto. Pagkapasok ko pa lang ay kaagad na umalingasaw ang mabangong pabango. Malinis iyon kahit na kulay itim. Dalawa ang kuwarto niya? Iba ito sa kuwarto na pinasukan ko noong isang araw.
Naglakad ako papalapit sa dresser at binuksan iyon. Napaawang ang aking labi nang makakita ng maraming baril! Hindi lang basta isa. . . mayroong AR-15 Type. AK Type. Machine Gun. Rifle. Shotgun. Pistol. Derringer. Revolver and others.
Bakit may ganito siya?!
Nang silipin ko ang isa sa mga baril niya ay bigla akong nahilo sa nabasa.
OV HLRGROVTV.
What's the meaning of this one?
Umiling ako at kumuha na lamang ng boxer nya sa tabi ng dresser. Ibang dresser pala ang nabuksan ko.
Alam ko namang leader siya at alam ko ang responsibilidad na kinakaharap niya pero hindi ko naisip na ganito kalala. May mga baril. Sobrang dami.
Pagkapasok ko sa office niya ay kaagad kong binaba sa sofa ang kaniyang mga kagamitan. Ni hindi man lang niya iyon sinilip. Focus lang siya sa pagbabasa at pag type ng mga letra sa kaniyang laptop. Para bang wala siyang pakialam sa paligid niya.
He stared at me with serious eyes and said, "I'm too concentrated on my task but I detected something else in my room, I do not even allow other people to access there until I declare it," he said. "Now, What are you doing in that room, Charm?
Kaagad akong napalunok.
"It's not just a room, there are many significant material objects in there, which is why I don't permit anyone to enter since I'm very fastidious about my equipment."
I bit my lower lip and slowly nodding.
"I'm s-sorry, kumuha lang ako ng b-boxer doon. . ." I bowed.
I heard him sighed.
"Forgiven. But next time, announce it to me first before entering that room."
"Opo, sir."
He's eyes darkened.
"Put that 'opo' down. Only Kaeton."
Ah, ganoon ba.
"Sige, Only Kaeton, mauuna na po ako," I giggled why turning my back on him.
Nagtatakbo ako palabas habang tumatawa ngunit hindi ko na naman mabuksan ang malaking pintuan. What the hell?!
Dahan-dahan akong lumingon sa kaniya at napagtanto na naka tayo na pala siya ngayon at masama ang tingin sa akin.
"You just gave me headache, stop your games, Charm! I told you do not forget the rules! Did I command you to leave?"
I slowly shook my head.
"Hindi 'di ba? Are you fucking listening, Ms. Silleza?"
Ngumuso ako. Hindi rin po, Sir.
"Make my head better," umupo siya at sinandal ang likod. "Remove my headache."
How could I do that?! Wala akong alam sa ganoong bagay!
"Faster, ayoko sa lahat ay ang mabagal kumilos."
Napakurap-kurap ako at nagmadaling kumuha ng palanggana sa lababo at kumuha ng yelo sa freezer. Malawak ang kaniyang office, kumpleto na lahat. Kumuha ako ng bimpo at nilagay doon ang malamig na yelo saka lumapit kay Kaeton na ngayon ay nakaupo na nakatingin sa akin, pinapanood ang aking ginagawa.
Pinatuwid ko siya ng upo para pahidan nang dahan-dahan ang kaniyang batok, leeg at ulo. Bumaba ang mukha ko sa kaniya habang siya ay nakatagilid sa akin. Rinig na rinig ko ang marahan niyang paghinga.
He had his eyes closed, which astounded me as I applied a cold compress to his forehead. He seems observing what I am doing.
"Charm. . ." he huskily said.
I swallowed my saliva down.
"B-Bakit?"
Hindi pa rin siya nagmumulagat ng kaniyang mata habang ako naman ay patuloy pa rin sa pagpunas sa kaniya.
"Did you witness something that perplexes you?"
Umiling ako kahit hindi naman niya iyon nakikita dahil naka pikit siya.
"W-Wala naman. . . hindi ko lang naintindihan ang n-nakalagay sa isang baril doon. Kakaiba. . ." I whispered.
Dahan-dahan siyang nagmulagat ng mata at napatingin sa akin.
"Good, then. . ."
Gusto kong malaman kung ano ang meaning no'n pero pakiramdam ko ay hindi tama. Para akong kinakabahan. I have been carrying a gun ever since because my brother Isaiah taught me how to defend myself if I'm in danger, therefore I'm not clueless because I just saw a gun.
Simple martial arts are one instance. Since I'm the only girl there, I should develop my fighting skills in a solo setting so that I can shield myself from inappropriate residents.
"I want to know," I breathy said. "Ano ang meaning ng nakalagay, Kaeton?" I seriously asked.
He didn't answer me. Just kept inhaling and feel relaxed.
"Gusto kong malaman kung ano iyon."
Dinilaan niya ang kaniyang pang-ibabang labi at para bang pagbibigyan na niya ako. Sasabihin na niya ba? Maghihintay ako sa sagot niya.
"Nobody will never acknowledge the value of that since it is so meaningful in my life, and I won't ever tell anyone because that gun is advantageous to me."
Bahagya akong nakaramdam ng lungkot dahil hindi ko malalaman ang meaning. Ayos lang, aalamin ko na lang kung bakit importante iyon sa kaniya.
"Ang babaeng nagmamay-ari ng baril na iyon ay sobrang importante sa akin. . ."
Hindi na dapat ako nakikialam kung sino iyon dahil sigurado namang ayaw niyang sabihin.
Pinagpatuloy ko ang pagpupunas sa kaniya kahit na malalim ang iniisip. Importanteng tao, babae. . . probably his mother.
"May I ask?"
"Hmm?"
I cleared my throat and sighed.
"Where's your mother?"
Napaahon siya sa kaniyang kinauupuan at binigyan ako ng isang malisyosong ngiti, mukhang nang-aasar.
Ano'ng iniisip niya? My brows furrowed at him.
"Bakit mo gustong malaman? Gusto mo bang mag legal na tayo?"
I laughed sarcastically.
"Tayo? Wala namang tayo, Kaeton. Kaya anong legal ang pinagsasabi mo?"
His mischievous expression vanished instantly, replaced by a frigid winter expression. He has a fast mood swing. Hindi na ako magtataka kung bakit naaasar sa kaniya ang mga kaibigan niya.
Napapikit ako at bigla na namang naalala si Prudence. Damn. I miss her. Where is she right now?
"You are mine," he gritted his teeth. "Matagal na panahon na, Charm," diniinan niya pa ang pagkakabigkas sa name ko.
Matagal na panahon? Bullshit.
"You're a detective, right?" I sarcastically asked. "Why don't you find some information about your mental illness? Baliw ka na!"
He made no response to what I stated. I recognize his extreme insanity, and if he had desired it, I would have seen a psychologist to repair his broken brain.
"Oh, right. I'm sorry, nasobrahan lang ako sa kaiisip ng kung ano. . ." he let out a long sigh.
Ngumiwi ako at pinakatitigan siya. May problema ba siyang kinakaharap ngayon? Bakit ganoon ang kaniyang action sa harapan ko?
"You're overworked. Learn to rest even a little. Resting is affordable, you don't have to exhaust yourself with all the tasks."
He bit his lower lip and then looked at my eyes.
He nodded with smile on his lip and then held my hand.
"Thank you, Charm. . ." namamaos na aniya.
I went over to him, but he instantly grabbed my waist and seated me on his lap once more.
Napasinghap ako bigla nang mahigpit niya akong yakapin. Hindi ako nagsalita o umangal. Siguro ay sobrang stress at pagod na siya. Sometimes, all it takes is a hug from someone to let us comprehend that they understand the difficulties we are facing and that we weren't alone.
"Thank you for saying that, it calmed me."
Hindi ako nag aksaya na ipalupot ang kamay ko sa kaniyang leeg. He need a hug, so I gave what he wanted.
"Charm. . ." nilagay niya ang mukha niya sa aking leeg at mahigpit akong niyakap.
I felt the tenderness around me throughout his embrace as if there were no tomorrows, but I didn't care because I was too engrossed by the way he gripped my waistline.
Although it was tight, my breathing remained ordinary, and despite the presence of multiple air conditioners, the atmosphere remained warm. I felt as though I was soaring to the sky.
"Don't escape from me, please. . . I don't want you to turn your back on me. I want your whole focus, I want your attention. I want your love. I want your life. I want you."
I immediately pay attention to every statement he makes. His voice carried ache, which I could hear. There was almost pleading happening on.
Hindi pa rin talaga ako makapaniwala na kilala niya ako gayong hindi naman ako pamilyar sa kaniyang mukha.
His voice was filled with emotion, and it sounded as though he was very wounded. Why did he like me, I want to know. Why is he so drawn to me? I'm so intrigued.
Before I allow myself to want your lifetime, please give me the opportunity to learn about certain.