Kabanata 3
Hire
A woman like me.
Ano ba akong klaseng babae? A whore? A slut? A gold-digger? Bakit, masama na ba ngayong kumayod para sa ikauunlad ng buhay ko? Ng mga kapatid ko?
Ico's words made a deep cut. Kung tutuusi'y wala naman siyang sinabing masama. He didn't specify what kind of woman I was, but then it didn't take a goddamn Sherlock to know what he meant. He thought I was someone immoral and dishonorable.
He could judge me for the ways I had chosen and for the roads I had driven to improve our way of life but he could never never judge me for wanting a better future. Kung may choice ba ako, ibababa ko ng gan'to ang sarili ko? Putang inang 'yan. May pinag-aralan ako! I was the smartest of our batch but there's only much that intelligence could give!
He was a fucking jerk.
"Gaga, 'yong cellphone mo, nagri-ring."
Sinipat ko si Minerva na nakahiga sa sofa ng apartment namin. Nakadantay ang paa niya sa arm rest habang nagn-nailcutter sa mga kuko niya sa kamay. I next darted my eyes at my phone. Nang makitang unknown number ang tumatawag ay 'di ko 'yon pinansin. Humiga rin ako sa kabilang sofa at saka itinaas ang tingin sa kisame.
"Mine, mukha ba akong pokpok?"
Napaubo-ubo siya. Nang matanto niyang seryoso ako'y umayos siya ng upo sa couch. I did the same so that we could now face each other properly.
"Hm, gusto mo ng honest answer?"
"God, Mine, siyempre!" Napairap ako sa hangin. "And don't you dare kiss my ass, okay? Just straight up tell me if I really look like a slut."
Bumuntong-hininga siya. "Sa kasamaang palad, hindi ka naman mukhang pokpok."
"Okay? So ano ako?" I shot up a brow.
"Mukha ka ngang mayaman, sa totoo lang. Sexy ka pa at nakakainggit 'yang pang-diwata mong buhok. You have Russian roots, right? 'Yong tatay mo Russian tas Filipina ang nanay mo?"
"Sabi lang ni Laurel." Nagkibit-balikat ako. "Pero 'di ko sure. 'Di rin niya sure."
Ngumiwi siya. "Ang walang-silbi naman niyang si Laurel bilang adopted mother mo! Inampon ka lang siguro niyan para pagtrabahuhin, e."
Sasagot na sana ako nang mag-ring ulit ang cellphone ko. Ayoko sanang sagutin dahil unknown number 'yon at wala akong ganang makipagdiskurso sa ibang tao ngayon. Mine's eyes were nudging me though, so I didn't have a choice. Dinampot ko ang cellphone at sinagot ang tawag.
"Hello, this Sunny Veg—"
"I want a pizza." It was Ico's voice.
Napasimangot ako. "Sino 'to?"
"Icarus Benavidos," he answered in a husky voice. Of course, I know! "I would like to order a box of pepperoni pizza. Please deliver it to the summer house and kindly do it as soon as possible. I have work at 9 AM."
"Okay. That would be all, Sir?" I asked in a phony receptionist voice.
"One more thing. Deliver yourself along with it, uh, Sunny Vega."
My brows furrowed. "Huh? Me? Why?"
"Because I need you."
Putangina, wow! Just Wow! Pagkatapos niya akong husgahan dahil binigyan ko siya ng calling card ko, tatawag siya ngayon at sasabihing kailangan niya ako? What a fucking dick!
I was supposed to bail on him but Minerva and her annoying hearing skills knew that the call was from Ico. Dahil do'n ay kinaladkad niya ako papasok sa kuwarto ko't pinabihis ng marangal na damit. Binigyan niya pa ako ng pera pang-taxi patungong Cavura. And now here I was driving along the country road leading to the farthest South. Naka-motor lang ako dahil naibalik ko na kahapon kay Levi ang Aventador niya.
Umawang ang labi ko nang makita ang summer house na tinutuluyan niya. Nasa portiko ako nito at hindi pa nakaka-doorbell. It was a two-story house with French windows encircled all around it. Kahit sa labas pa lang ay makikinita mo na ang maganda at mamahaling interior sa loob. The house was a combination of shades of white and beige and was surrounded by tropical plants. Pakiramdam ko'y nasa ibang bansa ako!
"Pizza delivery!" I yelled after pressing the doorbell once.
Mga dalawang minuto pa ang lumipas bago niya binuksan ang pinto. Napataas ako ng kilay dahil nakapormal na long-sleeved polo siya at slacks. He was fresh from the bathroom and I could smell the fragrance of expensive perfume and deodorant from him.
Itinaas ko ang box ng pizza. "Oh, pizza mo."
Siyempre at 'di naman ako gan'to kabastos magdeliver ng pizza sa normal na araw. But then I was still mad at him for things he said—and didn't—yesterday. Ni hindi siya nag-thank you kahapon!
"Thanks," he said, accepting it. He gestured me to enter the house. "Uh, pasok ka."
Umiling ako. "'Wag na."
"Please?" he asked in a soft tone. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay kaya napalunok at napaismid siya. "May kailangan lang tayong pag-usapan. I have an important offer."
"Pwede naman tayong mag-usap dito sa hamba ng pintuan."
Binalingan niya ako gamit ang kritikal niyang mga mata. "Okay, fine. Dito tayo mag-uusap."
Matagal kaming nagkatitigan. Problemado siyang napalunok at tumuwid muna ng tayo bago bumuntong-hininga. I was getting impatient by the second. Kung bakit mukhang pasan niya ang buong mundo sa hitsura niya ngayon ay labas na sa 'kin.
"I want to hire you," he said slowly.
I raised a crooked smile. "Hire? Okay? Anong tatrabahuhin ko?"
"I want you to pretend as my girlfriend."
A fucking what?
Napakurap-kurap ako at 'di makapaniwala siyang tinignan. Saan siya kumukuha ng lakas ng loob para sabihin 'yan pagkatapos niyang iparamdam sa 'kin kahapon na hindi ako nababagay sa kaniya? What a hypocrite!
But then he's hiring me... and that meant more money for me. Money!
"It's just for a week, Sunny. May family dinner kami sa Sunday at kailangan ko ng babaeng maipapakilala kay Dad."
He licked his lower lip and looked at me intently. Kinunutan ko siya ng noo. Wow, okay? This escalated quickly!
Huminga siya ng malalim. "If I don't introduce someone to him, he's going to push the fixed marriage that he planned for me next year. I'm entering residency by then and I don't want to be married. Not this soon."
I arched a brow. "And you chose me to pretend as your girlfriend among all the other women who'd accept this job for free because...?"
"Because you're good at this. This is your battlefield."
Napabuga ako ng matalim na hininga. Why was he talking like he knew me? He didn't!
"I'm good at what exactly?" I probed in a feisty voice.
"You're good at no strings attached," he explained, clenching his jaw. "Other women end up asking for more. I know you won't."
"Ang arogante mo," wika ko.
He was caught off-guard. Pinaningkitan niya ako ng mga mata na siyang nagpasilay ng isang ngisi sa labi ko. I plastered a mocking look which he didn't obviously like because he was like that. He wasn't a fan of people making fun of him.
Isang tingin sa kaniya'y mapapansin mo na ang pagiging sigurado niya sa mga bagay. He was precise and meticulous, even in the way he spoke. Akala niya'y ang tanging tama lamang ay ang sa tingin niya'y tama para sa kaniya.
"You're hiring me and my answer is no," I said with finality. "Alam kong ayaw mo sa 'kin dahil ganito ako pero kahit gano'n, alam kong totoo ako bilang tao at bilang babae."
I tilted my head to the side and raised an arrogant smile. Nakataas ang isang kilay niya na tila ba naaaliw sa pinagsasabi ko.
With a firm voice, I continued, "I'm not going to break my streak for you. Ayokong maging parte ng kasinungalingan mo."
He massaged the bridge of his nose and leaned sideways on the doorway. Nang magtama ang mga mata namin ay kakikitaan na ang kaniya ng pagsuko. I smiled because I knew that my words had made an impact on him.
"I'm sorry," he said. Umayos siya ng tayo't sinsero akong tinignan. "I was in a bad mood yesterday. Everything wasn't going as planned and yes, maybe I lashed out some of my bad energy on you."
I scoffed in my head. So ano ako kahapon kung gano'n? Sacrificial lamb? Tagasalo ng mood swings niya?
"Alam kong mali 'yon. And I'm sorry, Sunny," he paused to gather enough courage to say his next words, "but please, I need you. You're the only one who can do this."
I pressed my lips in a thin line and shook my head. "I'm not. You're rich, Ico. You always have choices."
He nodded painfully and tried to flash a small smile. "Hindi kita pipilitin kung talagang ayaw mo. Thanks for your time though, and I'm sorry again."
He took out cash from his wallet and gave it to me. Nagkatitigan kami nang bahagyang maglapat ang palad niya sa palad ko. Feeling a static travel through my palm, I retreated right away. Akmang aalis na ako nang may maalala. I looked back and saw him, arms crossed over his chest while leaning on the doorway again. His dark eyes glued on me.
"Muntik ko nang makalimutan," nginisihan ko siya at makahulugang tinignan, "hindi rason ang pagiging bad mood mo kahapon para hindi ako respetuhin. Every woman deserves respect, Ico. No matter who they are or who they want to be."
After saying that, I walked away. Hindi ko mabura sa isipan ko ang natameme niyang mukha kahit nasa daan na pabalik sa Cavura. May matagumpay na ngisi sa labi ko. It felt good leaving him speechless. At least ngayon alam niya na kahit ganito ako, may respeto ako sa sarili ko.
Napatigil ako sa gitna ng daan dahil sa biglaang pagtunog ng cellphone ko. Nag-park ako sa gilid ng palayan at ni-check kung sino ang tumatawag. Nang makitang si Minerva 'yon ay agad ko 'yong sinagot. She said that calling me was a waste of her load so why would she call now?
"Sa'n ka ngayon?" bungad niya sa kalmadong boses.
"Dito sa Timog. Bakit?"
"Come to the hospital. Naaksidente si Sabby."
It was a miracle that I didn't get into an accident while driving to La Fortuna Medical Center (LFMC). Nakaabang si Laurel sa lobby ng ospital kaya naituro niya agad sa 'kin ang silid ni Isabel. When I entered her room, I saw her lying down on the bed with Mine holding her hand beside her. Natataranta akong tumungo sa kaniya. Naghanap ako ng benda o malalang sugat pero mga galos lang sa kamay ang meron siya.
"Anong nangyari?" tanong ko kay Mine sa medyo mataas na boses.
It was Sabby who answered. "Nahulog ako sa hagdan, Ate. Pero okay na po ako ngayon."
Minerva's brows furrowed at me. Hindi niya nagustuhan ang pagtaas ng tono ko gayong naroon sa silid si Sabby. Tumayo siya't nagpaalam sa kapatid namin bago ako hinila palabas ng hospital room. Si Laurel ang naiwan do'n sa loob.
"Anong nangyari?" ulit ko.
Mine closed the door before turning to me. She sighed. "Nahulog siya sa hagdan. Isinugod siya ni Ate Lory sa ospital sa pag-aalalang baka nagka-internal hemorrhage siya o ano."
"So?" tumaas ulit ang boses ko. "Ano nang resulta? May internal hemorrhage ba? Tinest na ba siya o ginamot lang 'yong sugat niya?"
She forcefully made me sit on a nearby bench. Mariin niya akong tinitigan. It was like she was saying that I was being over-acting. Well, sino bang 'di magiging OA kung gan'tong nahulog sa hagdan ang kapatid ko? She's five! Malay ko ba at kung nagkalasog-lasog ang buto niya! There's many bad things that could happen!
Umupo siya sa tabi ko. "Nag-order na ng MRI ang doktor kaya 'wag kang mag-alala. Aside sa pwede siyang magka-internal hemorrhage, nag-order ng gano'n ang doktor dahil sabi ni Ate Lory, ilang beses na raw na biglaang nadadapa si Sabby."
Ate Lory was one of the people that took care of the kids in the orphanage. Minerva lived there for a while before she decided to have her own life after stepping thirteen. Natagpuan siya ni Laurel at kinupkop tulad ng pagkupkop niya sa 'kin.
"Clumsy lang talaga si Sab," wika ko. "She's five for goodness' sake!"
"'Yon din ang naisip ko pero baka may rason naman si Ate Lory para mag-alala ng gano'n." She sighed and scratched her wrist, a thing she always did when she's stressed. "Ayaw daw maglabas ng orphanage ng pera para sa gastusin ni Sab dito sa ospital. Wala akong raket ngayon at nalulugi na ang Cavura. Paano tayo makakabayad?"
Kumunot ang noo ko. "Bakit ayaw maglabas ng pera ng orphanage? Kaunti na lang ang mga bata roon, ah?"
"Kaya nga ayaw nilang maglabas." Bumuntong hininga siya't humilig sa backrest. "Si Sab ang pinakabata roon. Magte-trese anyos na ang karamihan sa mga kasama niya. You know what that means."
"Pagtatrabahuhin na sila sa palayan at azucarera," dugtong ko.
Napapikit ako't napatango. Kaya gusto ko nang ialis sa lugar na 'yon si Sab, e. The orphanage was like a breeding ground of slaves. They feed these children as if they meant well, pero sa huli pala'y gagawin lang nilang trabahante. Ang liit pa ng sweldong binibigay nila!
It was straight-up child-slavery but La Fortuna's government had a lot of ways to conceal the said wrongdoings. They even bragged about the orphanage like it's actually saving lives when in fact, it's not!
"Ite-terminate na nila ang orphanage sa susunod na ilang taon. Papalitan ng ibang adbokasiyang alam naman nating kasinungalingan naman," dagdag ni Mine. She smirked without humor. "Putanginang gobernador 'yan."
"Gov. Benavidos?" My heart rate sped up. I was never interested in politics, unlike her.
"He has done a lot of good deeds, Sunny. Pero mas marami siyang nagawang anomalya. He's one pretentious bastard."
Matapos ang pag-uusap namin ni Mine ay tumungo ako sa cafeteria upang bilhan ng pagkain si Sab. Habang pumipila ay pinag-isipan ko ang tungkol sa gobernador. Maybe that's the reason why Ico left their mansion? They lived by the phrase, death before dishonor, right? What did that mean? Na mas pipiliin nilang mamatay kaysa ang masira ang reputasyon nila?
"Manang, hello! Isa nga pong kape! Ay, dalawa na lang, para rito kay baby boy 'yong isa!" The words were followed by a loud bark of laughter.
Napabaling ako sa pinaggalingan ng boses. My brows furrowed when I saw Ico with a dark and tall guy in a white coat who was locking his arm around his neck, causing him to dock down a little. 'Yong kasama ni Ico 'yong umoorder. They were in the specific area for doctors who wanted to buy food.
I jumped on my place when Ico and I suddenly locked gazes. Pumasok sa utak ko ang offer niya kanina. Then everything else came in, too. Ang pambayad sa ospital. Ang kapakanan ni Sabby sa orphanage. Ang pagkalugi ng Cavura. It occurred to me that despite all my hard work in trying to get money, we were still lacking with it. I needed more.
And with how things were going, only Icarus Benavidos could give it to me.