Absurd
"Halika na sa kwarto mo..." anyaya ni Manang Cora.
Naiwan ang aking mga mata sa bulwagan kung saan umalis si Conor. Mabuti na lang at hindi ko sila kaharap kaya hindi nila nakikita ang talim ng tingin ko. Kung hindi pa kumunot ang noo ni Manang Cora sa akin, hindi pa ako kikilos.
"Anong tinitignan mo r'yan?"
"Nothing, Manang Cora. So... where's my room?"
"Nasa ikalawang palapag lahat ng mga kwarto. Sa guest room ka matutulog. Ricki, pakiakyat ang mga gamit ni Miss Adelle sa kanyang kwarto..."
Agad tumango ang binata at inakyat ang mga bagahe ko sa enggrandeng hagdanan.
"Mauna na po ako, Miss Rodriguez. Tawagan niyo na lang po ako kapag may kailangan," paalam ni James.
"Thank you, James..." I smiled.
Ngumiti lang siya bago hinatid ng mga kasambahay sa labas. Halos mapatalon ako nang pagkalingon ko ay bumungad sa akin ang nakataas na manipis na kilay ni Manang Cora.
"Sa kwarto mo," simple niyang sinabi at nauna na.
I glanced back at James but he was already inside the car. Ngayong wala na siya, parang saka lang nag sink in sa akin lahat ng gagawin ko. I know I can pull this off as long as I put my mind into it, but I just can't help but acknowledge that I'm going against an established household and a prominent family.
My heels echoed as we ascended on the grand staircase. Nilingon ko ang baba at halos manliit ako sa lawak niyon. Malawak rin ang taas. Maraming pinto ng mga kuwarto na alam kong malalaki rin. Tanaw ko rin dito ang balkonahe kung saan tagusan ang hangin at sikat ng araw.
"Ang buong hilerang ito, mga guest rooms. Nasa baba ang kwarto ng mga kasambahay at iba pang tauhan. Sa kabila naman..."
Sinundan ko ang mga itinuturo niya.
"Nariyan ang mga kwarto ng mga miyembro ng mga Villacorta. Naroon din ang study. Sa dulo nitong hallway, ang library naman. Dalawang palapag ang library at may pinto rin dito at sa baba..."
Halos mahilo ako sa laki at sa dami ng kwarto.
"Kuha mo?"
Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay. I tried my best not to arch my brow at her, too.
"Yes, Manang Cora."
"Mabuti," tinalikuran niya ako.
Lumabas si Ricki sa isang guestroom at agad tumango kay Manang Cora. Iginiya niya ang loob. Nasa may pinakadulong hallway iyon.
"Handa na po ang mga gamit niyo, Ma'am Adelle..."
"Pumasok na tayo," sabi ni Manang Cora.
I smiled at the young and thin boy before going inside the room. I was so surprised that the guestroom is this large! In the middle of the left side of the room, there was a four poster bed, its curtain being gently blown by the wind. May isang bedside table, coffee table, vintage cabinet, sariling banyo, at may maliit pang walk-in closet!
"This is a guest room?" I couldn't help but ask.
"May problema ba? Pwede nating-"
"No... I was just amazed that the guest room is this huge..."
"Liliit ang tingin mo sa kwartong ito kung makita mo ang kwarto ni Senyora Ingrid at ng yumao niyang asawa."
Makintab ang wooden floor. Talagang highly maintained ang mansyon. Lumapit ako sa bintana at nakitang tanaw rito ang hacienda!
Nalibang ako sa tanawin. I like houses with big windows and open air for sunlight, and this mansion is surrounded by it. For a moment, I got a feeling that one of these days, I might forget that I'm not here for a vacation. I'm here for a mission. But maybe I should treat the view as a consolation, huh?
"Taga Maynila ka, hindi ba?" Manang Cora suddenly asked.
Napalingon agad ako sa kanya. Kinakabahan ako kapag nagtatanong ang mga tao tungkol sa mga bagay-bagay sa akin. It was a mundane question but perhaps because I know I'm hiding something, I'm always cautious and in defense.
"Yes..."
"Saan ka nag-aral?"
"Enderun," because that's what's indicated on my resume.
Naningkit ang kanyang mga mata at bahagyang lumapit sa akin. Napakurap ako nang umikot pa siya habang nakatingin pa rin sa akin.
"Hindi ka ba modelo?"
I almost chuckled. "No..."
"May boyrfriend ka na ba, hija?"
I almost rolled my eyes. "No, I don't have a boyfriend, Manang Cora."
"Hmm..." humalukipkip siya at pinasadahan ako ng tingin mula ulo hanggang paa.
"Uh, why?"
"Marami kasing pumasok na sekretarya ni Senyorito, iyon pala ang intensyon ay landiin ang Senyorito..." iling niya.
Now, I chuckled. As if!
"I will not flirt with my boss, Manang Cora," mariin kong sinabi. "It's unethical."
"Sigurado ka ba r'yan?" nilakihan niya ako ng mata.
"Of course," my brows furrowed.
Nagkibit-balikat siya at tumango. Inayos niya ang kanyang uniporme at pinasadahan ng tingin ang buong guest room. People here are so weird!
"Kung ganoon, maiwan na muna kita. Ipatatawag na lang kita kapag kakain na at dumating na ang Senyorito. Babalik si James mamaya para ibigay sa 'yo ang lahat ng dokumentong kakailanganin mo. Pati na rin ang schedule ng Senyorito."
"Alright. Thank you, Manang Cora..."
"O siya..." sinarado na niya ang pinto.
Doon pa lang ako nakahinga nang maluwag. I sighed heavily and let my body fall on the soft, bouncy bed. Malayo ang tingin ko sa tanawin sa hacienda. Malawak din ang backyard. Parang walang katapusan ang lupain nila.
I'm always away from my parents, but for some reason, I felt homesick. I prepared myself for this mission, but it's so different now that I'm actually here. Hindi ito magiging madali. Mailap si Conor Villacorta. Hindi tanga ang mga Villacorta para maisahan ko basta-basta. They've got all these connections while it's just me and my mother up against them.
Bago pa ako panghinaan ng loob, inisip ko na nagawang iwanan itong lahat ni Tito Salvador para kay Mommy. Nandito na ako kaya hindi na ako pwedeng umatras pa.
I sighed and got up. Inayos ko na ang aking mga gamit at nilagay sa maliit na walk-in closet. Pagkatapos ay nag-shower. Even the bathroom felt cozy. It was complete with amenities, and its interiors were filled with the most minute details of embellishments that made it so luxurious.
Nang matapos ay saktong nakarinig ako ng katok sa aking pinto. I opened it and saw a girl in her uniform.
"Kakain na raw. Bumaba ka na," supladang sinabi ng dalagang kasambahay.
Mukha siyang maarte. At sa salita pa lang ay alam kong maarte nga.
"Kababalik lang ni Senyorito galing hacienda. Hindi pwedeng paghintayin 'yon."
Why are people here so aggressive and weird?
"Alright. Susunod na ako."
"Bilisan mo. Ayaw ni Manang Cora na pinaghihintay ang pagkain. H'wag kang pa-special," umirap siya at umalis.
Bahagyang nalaglag ang panga ko. Nobody talks to me that way! I almost slammed the door but stopped myself.
"Can I really fucking put up with those people?" I whispered to myself.
I inhaled harshly again before opening the door and going out. Pagkalabas ay kita ang hilera ng naglalakihang double doors ng mga kwarto sa kabilang terasa ng pangalawang palapag. My eyes darted on the prize... the study!
Paano kaya ako makakapasok doon nang wala si Conor o kahit sino man sa bahay na ito? Pakiramdam ko pa naman ay napakarami nilang tauhan. Susubukan ko mamayang gabi.
Kumalabog ang aking puso nang nakitang kasabay ng pagbaba ko ay ang pagpasok ni Conor sa bulwagan. He was like a dashing prince who entered the castle. It's apparent that he's handsome and lean. Everyone who sees him, whether for the hundredth time or more especially when it's the first time, would immediately know that he is.
But... there was something so different about him. Was it his dark aura? Or his smooth and fluid movements that make him masculine?
I'm not sure. And I shouldn't be thinking about this now.
Saktong pagkababa ko sa huling hakbang ng hagdanan ay dumaan siya sa harapan ko. I smiled while he was looking at me menacingly as he approached me.
"Good noon, Sir! The lunch is ready-"
Tuluyan na niya akong nalagpasan. I cleared my throat.
Hmm. I think I know now. Ang kanyang mga kilos ay halata ang paglaki sa karangyaan. Pino, ngunit marahas. Sigurado at maskulado. He moves like he owns the world and he knows it. He can enter a room full of elites and still dominate them. Maybe that's the reason why I kind of feel... small... around him. And nobody... ever... with this confidence of mine, has made me feel that way!
Kahit pa halos umusok ang ilong ko sa inis para sa lahat ng tao rito, at lalong lalo na kay Conor Villacorta, nakangiti pa rin akong sumunod sa kaniya.
"I have already seen your schedule for the whole week, Sir. I suppose it's better if we do a run down because it's quite a lot-"
Napawi ang ngiti ko nang lumiko siya mula sa drawing room at muntik pa akong matalisod sa makapal na carpet.
"James has yet to show me the schedule for the whole month. Maraming nagpapaschedule ng appointment-"
"Let's talk about that later," putol niya sa akin.
Natutop ko ang labi ko. His voice was low and deep. Sing rahas pakinggan ng kaniyang anyo ang kaniyang boses.
Napalunok ako nang dire-diretso siyang naglakad patungong dining area. Tahimik na lang akong sumunod.
"Magandang tanghali p-po, Senyorito," kanya-kanya silang tanguan.
"Naku! Nariyan ka na pala. Tamang tama at handa na ang pagkain," magiliw na sinabi ni Manang Cora.
For a moment, Conor eyed the food on the table. Napatingin tuloy ako sa pagkain. It was like there was a feast. Uupo na lang siya at susubo, mukhang magrereklamo pa. Kitang kita ko kung paano nagyukuan ang mga kasambahay, takot na may maling nagawa.
Ang ibang kasambahay ay nangangarag pa. Hindi sila pinansin ni Conor at diretso lamang itong naupo sa hamba, pinakadulo ng napakahabang lamesa.
My lips parted as I watched the maids frantically serve the food one by one. Conor put the napkin on his lap. A maid poured an orange juice and bowed her head before walking away.
"Dito ka po, Ma'am Adelle..." mahinhin na sinabi ng isa pang batang babaeng kasambahay.
My lips parted. "I was told not to have lunch with him. Nandito lang ako para kapag may itatanong-"
"Manang Cora prepared the table for you. Sit down."
Napakurap-kurap ako. Well, alright!
Ni hindi manlang ako ginawaran ng sulyap ni Conor. He immediately lifted his fork and knife and started slicing his steak. Pinasadahan ko ng tingin ang mga pagkain at halos mahilo sa rami noon.
"Hindi pa ho ba kayo kakain?" tanong ko.
"Pagkatapos pa ni Senyorito, Adelle. Kumain na kayo at h'wag na kaming alalahanin pa..." si Manang Cora. "Pinasabay kitang kumain para makasundo mo ang sekretarya mo, hijo. Hindi pwedeng mawalan ka na naman ng sekretarya, lalo na ngayon na... abala... ang lahat..."
I glanced at Conor, looking for a hint of concern but all I saw was indifference. He is directly looking at his food like he owns the world and he doesn't care about it.
Halos mapatalon ako nang nakitang unti-unting dumulas ang kanyang mga mata sa akin nang napansin ang titig ko. I immediately looked away and got myself some food.
I cleared my throat. "We will have to go to Manila by the end of this month for some important meetings with the board members."
"I thought you hadn't gotten the schedule for the whole month?"
His tone was mocking.
"Yes, except for this one. It was included in the tentative schedule James sent me earlier. I'll have to finalize everything and reply to confirm-"
He just nodded and continued eating. I pursed my lips and continued.
"You might also have a meeting in your company in Singapore. The board members are asking if they can meet you in person-"
He put down his fork and dabbed the corners of his mouth with the napkin. Tapos na siya?
"As much as possible, I want all my work done here in Casa Fuego. Kung hindi maaari, magpadala ka ng representative ko sa Singapore."
"But... it will be much better if you attend in person. This is a serious matter. The boards are waiting for the final decision of who's going to take over-"
"Then, we'll do it online."
"Sir, they are asking for you to attend in person. We can't do it online."
"Why? Do they live in a cave?"
"No..." tanging nasabi ko dahil hindi ako makapaniwala.
"Then, they can do it online."
Natutop ko ang labi ko. How irresponsible! Hindi ba siya aware na nagkakaroon na ng krisis sa kompanya nila dahil gusto ng board members both in their local group of companies and most especially the international ones for Emerson Villacorta, his elder cousin, to take over instead of him!
Hindi basta-bastang meeting iyon. It is very important. Hindi pwedeng basta representative na lang niya o sa online gawin. Tito Salvador worked hard for this group of companies. He has strong work ethics. Kung ganito ang ugali ni Conor Villacorta, sana nga hindi niya makuha ang posisyon!
Mukhang malabo nga na makuha niya iyon. The board members don't want him because of his past scandals, and especially now that he's part of the investigation for his father's death, which, by the way, he isn't cooperating with until now!
"Sir, I think that will be reckless. The meeting will include very important discussions for the new head-"
"You decide for me now?"
Nilingon niya ako at tinaasan ng kilay.
"You are my secretary, not my consultant. Not our family advisor. I assume you know the difference."
I wanted to scoff! Is he really questioning me? Ako? I graduated with Latin Honors in college, and I was a consistent honor student abroad! I was an intern for six companies and they all offered me a direct hire because of my excellent performance! I have a very clean record, no past scandals, and a whole life ahead of me! Kumpara sa aming dalawa, mas siya ang kahina-hinala ang kaalaman!
I have never been humiliated like that! Ito talaga ang mga pagkakataong sana nasa New York na talaga ako! Kaya ko lang naman sinabi ang mga suhestiyon na iyon, ay dahil may alam ako sa business!
Parang sasabog ang utak at dibdib ko sa mga kinimkim kong salita. But then, I pushed it all back in when I cleared my throat. It felt like there's a war at the back of my head, but my smile struggles to drown the noise with its music.
"I'm sorry, Sir..." tikhim ko. "I was just suggesting since James told me that you do not plan on attending those important meetings."
Kumunot ang noo niya at binaba ang juice bago tumingin sa akin.
"Your job is to be my secretary. You fix my schedule, do the fucking paperworks, do what I tell you to do."
I gritted my teeth.
"Stay in that lane. Don't fucking overstep... and don't fucking talk to me until I do."
Tumahimik na lamang ako. Reacting would be counterproductive. I have to play the long game. He's very impatient and short-tempered, he wouldn't know how to play that game. I'm at an advantage so I should just suppress it, even when I wanted to explode.
Sa totoo lang, nag-aalala ako sa mga kompanyang pinakaingatan ni Tito Salvador. Hindi katulad ni Conor, he is a hands-on leader. At ngayon, si Conor... gusto lang magtrabaho sa apat na sulok na ito? Does he realize how diverse and vast their empire is?
I wanted to say all that. I wanted to scream at his face. But then, I smiled and nodded.
After eating, he immediately left the dining area and went upstairs. I sighed and waited for James in the living room.
Hindi pa nagtatagal ay dumating na rin naman si James. Nilabas ko ang laptop ko at nakinig sa kaniya. Napasapo ako sa noo ko nang nakita kung gaano ka-hectic ang schedule sa iisang buwan lang. I almost forgot that I'm here to actually work as a secretary, and not just to find any lead about Tito Salvador's death.
"That's all, right?" I asked, dreading his answer.
"The schedule, yes. Now, since you're his secretary, you must be informed about the strategies to tone down the speculations about Sir Conor regarding... Don Salvador's death."
Nanlaki ang aking mga mata.
"Why would they want to tone it down? Wouldn't it seem too defensive?"
"Why wouldn't they tone it down? It's bad publicity for Sir Conor and for the conglomerate. Domino effect."
I gritted my teeth. "Well, what if... he really has something to do with... Don Salvador's death?"
"Whether he has something to do with it or not, this public scrutiny must stop. Sir Conor has the right to privately deal with this matter. Besides, this is not a good time for absurd speculations. Lalo na ngayong mainit ang dugo sa kaniya ng board."
"Absurd, huh?"
"Ano?" napalingon siya sa akin.
I smiled and shook my head. I scrolled on my laptop and checked the events again.
He sighed. "Hassle nga. Sobrang daming news and media companies na kailangang kausapin. I don't understand how they could accuse someone so easily like that."
"So you really believe that he's not capable of killing his father? He... holds grudges against his father. And Don Salvador was seen dead on the stairs at a time... he was supposed to meet his son."
Nagkatinginan kami ni James.
"Well, I heard that in the news..." bawi ko.
"One is innocent until proven guilty, Miss Rodriguez. Isa pa, you should learn how to be loyal to your boss."
I pursed my lips. He went on with the strategies he was talking about. Apparently, they hired an expert to fix his public image. He must be that fucked up, huh?
Kalaunan, nagpaalam na rin si James. Umupo muna ako sa malambot na sofa at sinandal ang ulo sa backrest. I closed my eyes and relaxed myself.
Kailangan kong makapasok sa kanilang opisina. Hawak ko ang schedule niya ngayon, but I need to track his whereabouts before the incident. Where was he exactly in the building when Tito Salvador was found dead on the stairs? Tapos na ba sila sa meeting? Umalis ba agad si Conor Villacorta?
Maybe I can soon manipulate their CCTV footages which I am sure will be very difficult. Kailangan kong dumaan sa butas ng karayom at titiisin ko 'yon para kay Tito Salvador.
When I opened my eyes, I almost screamed atop my lungs when I saw a face so close to mine! Napatalon ako at napatayo, mabigat ang hininga habang nanlalaki ang mga matang tinignan ang maarteng kasambahay kanina.
"What the hell?!"
Umirap siya sa akin at sinayaw ang kanyang puting uniporme.
"Why was your face so close to mine?! Are you trying to kiss me?"
Natawa siya sa sinabi ko. Ang kanyang headband na puti, katerno ng kanyang uniporme, ay maayos na nakalagay sa ulo.
"Bakit ko naman gagawin 'yon? Hindi tayo talo."
"Then, what were you doing?"
Lumapit siya sa akin at nanliliit ang mga matang tumitig sa akin. People here are so weird!
"Anong concealer mo? Tinitignan ko lang kung talagang wala kang pores o natabunan lang ng concealer?"
What the hell?
"I am not wearing make-up right now," hinawakan ko pa ang pisngi ko.
"Weh?" she rolled her eyes. "Sinungaling mo naman..."
Kumunot ang noo ko habang tinitgnan siya. Dalaga pa siya at may kaartehan. Salungat sa isa pang dalagang kasambahay kanina na mukhang mahinhin.
"Pusta ko hanggang Linggo ka lang dito. Hindi ka makakatagal kay Senyorito. Pwera na lang kung type mo? May balak kang akitin! Naku! H'wag ka nang magtangka! Hihirap lang ang buhay mo!"
Ngumiwi ako. "Of course not. And I plan to stay for long. So if you don't like me, you'd have to put up with me."
Umiling siya. "Hindi ako naniniwala. Hindi ka magtatagal. Isang sigaw lang sa 'yo ng Senyorito, uuwi kang luhaan."
"I won't."
Bumuntong hininga ako habang iniisip kung paano makakapasok sa opisina ni Conor. Manang Cora and James told me that I can only enter the study when he permits me to do so. At ayon sa kanila, mas mahilig siyang magtrabaho sa library.
I need to at least familiarize the interior of the office so I know what I would do and where I'd go straight in a fast paced manner. Sa dami ng tauhan nila rito, hindi ko alam kung paano 'yon magagawa.
"What's your name?"
"Rica..." maarte niyang sinabi.
"Anong oras kayong natutulog, Rica?"
"Bakit?" kinulot niya ang dulo ng kanyang buhok.
"I'm just asking..." I smiled.
"Mga alas diez ng gabi dahil madalas, wala nang utos ang Senyorito. Pero hanggang gabi siyang nasa opisina madalas, minsan hindi naman."
"He's a workaholic?"
"Sobra! At matalino rin kasi. Mahilig magbasa ng libro sa library, mahilig tumugtog ng piano, mahilig mag golf, at mahilig magtrabaho. Kaya madalas... busy... Good luck na lang sa 'yo bilang sekretarya."
"Really? He stays in the office late?" I almost sighed.
At talaga bang matalino siya at... mahilig magtrabaho? My mother said he refused to work in the companies and just wanted to party the hell out of his life.
"Minsan lang naman. Madalas sa library siya, e. Ano? Back out ka na?" she smirked.
"No," I smirked back. "You think he'll be in the office tonight?"
"Hindi siguro. Kasi pinaayos niya kanina ang library kaya malamang, doon siya..."
Lumiwanag ang ekspresyon ko. Ngumisi ako at tumango sa kanya. Nawi-weirduhan siyang tumingin sa akin at umalis na lamang, umiling-iling. I smirked and waited for the late night.
Hindi ako mapakali sa kwarto ko kaya naligo na lang muna ako. Wearing my pajamas, I looked up to the clock and saw that it was already past Ten in the evening! Sinadya kong patagalin pa para ligtas na talaga!
Unti-unti kong binuksan ang pinto ng kwarto ko. I looked around and there was nobody around. Kahit sa baba, mukhang wala na ring mga tao. Marahan ang mga apak ko habang naglalakad sa hallway. Sa sobrang tahimik, dinig na dinig ko ang malalim at mabigat kong paghinga.
In my stay here, however long, I can't afford a wrong move. Kung malaman nila ang totoong pakay ko, they can punish me and my mother without consequences on their end. They are a very powerful and influential family. They can destroy us within their fingertips.
Luminga-linga ako sa paligid para tignan kung may CCTV ba. Wala akong nakita kaya nagpatuloy ako. When I reached the double doors of the study, I realized that they were locked!
"Shit! Stupid! I did not think about this!"
Pinihit ko ulit ang doorknob ngunit naka-lock talaga! I closed my eyes tightly and took out a pin out of my hair. Dahil doon, bumaba ang mahaba kong buhok sa aking balikat.
"You better work..." I whispered.
Kunot-noo kong diniskartehan ang pin ngunit dahil kakaiba ang disenyo ng doorknob, nahirapan ako. If it was an ordinary doorknob, this would work quickly!
I failed miserably again and gave up. I sighed and closed my eyes. Tumingala ako at hinilot ang noo para pakalmahin ang sarili. Paano ko naman ngayon kukunin ang susi nito? Damn it!
I feel like I'm rushing this. Totoo naman. Gusto ko nang makaalis dito at kung mas mapaaga ang hustisya ni Tito, makakaalis na rin ako patungong New York. It's frustrating that I'm in this situation, while the Villacortas seemed to have gone on with their lives.
Umiling-iling ako at sumuko na. I was about to walk back to my room again when I saw a familiar shadow ascending on the grand staircase. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at natatarantang naglakad na sa hallway. Kumakalabog ang puso ko at pakiramdam ko ay mahihimatay ako sa kaba!
Akala ko'y nakalusot na ako ngunit narinig ko ang kanyang boses.
"What are you doing?"
His deep voice echoed in the hallway.
"Were you trying to get in the study?"
It was dark but the ambient lighting from the lamps mounted on the railing of the staircase illuminated his rough features. Dahil sa ilaw, mas lalong nadepina ang rahas ng tingin niya, at ang laki at kisig ng kaniyang pangangatawan.
Nakatingala siya sa akin mula sa hagdan habang nanlalaki ang mga mata kong nakatingin sa kaniya. Umawang ang labi ko para magsalita, pero walang lumabas doon.
"I asked you what the hell are you doing?"