Kabanata 2

VALERIAN'S POINT OF VIEW

We were already sitting formally on the couch inside the VIP room. Arielle Alcantara looked like a kitten who couldn't meet my eyes.

Bumuntong-hininga ako. Hinubad ko ang aking coat at inabot kay Arielle.

"Wear it," I said.

I couldn't talk to her properly if she was almost naked in front of me. I shook my head when I remembered the scene earlier and the other week.

Unang beses kong nakita si Ms. Alcantara ay noong sinama ako ng mga kaibigan ko sa bar.

My attention was caught by the girl dancing with a mask.

Nang bumalik ako sa bar, I requested her to dance for me inside the VIP room, where there were no other men watching. Hindi ko alam pero hindi ko gusto ang ideya na may ibang lalaki na nakakapanood sa kanyang sumayaw.

Her tattoo on her wrist caught my attention.

"Valerianus Venustus..."

Those were the words tattooed on her wrist.

Hindi nawala sa isip ko 'yon. I never saw her face, pero naalala ko ang tattoo niya.

It was the same tattoo na nakita ko kay Ms. Alcantara nang minsang ipatawag ko siya sa office ko. Honestly, matagal ko nang napapansin ang tattoo ni Arielle sa kanyang pulso pero madalas na tinatago niya 'yon.

At that moment in the office, I already knew that she was the same girl at the club.

Doon ko lang nagpagtagpi-tagpi lahat. The reason why lagi siyang tulog sa klase ko ay dahil sumasayaw siya sa club sa gabi, at nag-aaral siya sa umaga.

She has always caught my attention since day one.

She's mysterious and different...

"Why are you working here? Answer me honestly, Ms. Alcantara. I won't judge," I cut off the heavy atmosphere between us.

I gave her the assurance. Ayaw kong isipin niya na hinuhusgahan ko siya dahil sa klase ng trabaho niya.

"May utang akong kailangan, Prof... Natalo ang papa ko sa casino kaya dapat kong bayaran 'yon..." she reasoned out.

Now, I know why. Matalinong estudyante si Arielle pero napapadalas na ang pagkabagsak niya nitong nakaraang buwan dahil palagi na siyang tulog sa klase ko.

"It's your father's debt, bakit ikaw ang kailangan magbayad?" I asked.

Napatungo si Ms. Alcantara.

"Kung hindi ako makakabayad, ako ang magiging kabayaran ng utang niya. Ayaw ko sa matanda na 'yon!" I could sense the hatred in her voice.

Ayaw niya talaga.

Unconsciously, the anger and frustration rose within me. May parte sa akin na ayaw ko siyang mapunta sa iba.

"How much is your debt?" tanong ko.

"Five hundred thousand... Isang linggo nalang ang natitira para mabayaran ko 'yan..." nanghihinang ani ni Arielle.

"Babayaran ko."

Napatingin siya sa akin sa sinabi ko. "Ano?"

"Babayaran ko ang utang mo. But in exchange for babysitting my son gaya ng sinabi ko sayo. One year contract. And most importantly..." Iniwas ko ang tingin ko at nagtagis ang bagang ko. "...you don't need to work in this f-cking club."

Naisip ko pa lang na sumasayaw siya sa iba ay hindi ko na kaya.

"Bakit ako? Marami namang iba diyan."

"You have something na hindi ko mahanap sa iba."

I see something special about Arielle. She's rare. At wala na akong mahanap na iba na pwedeng makapag-alaga kay Adam— ang anak ko.

Kumunot ang noo ko at nilingon ko siya. "Why? Do you like dancing for other guys?"

"H-hindi 'no! Kung alam mo lang. Hindi ako nagbebenta ng katawan. Sumasayaw lang ako. Sa katunayan, ikaw nga lang ang unang lalaki na sinayawan ko sa lap dahil malaki ang offer m—"

She stopped when she realized what she said.

A small smile crept into my lips. I couldn't help it.

"Really?" I said— acting innocent.

D-mn.

"Anyway, meet me at the office tomorrow. Pag-isipan mong mabuti, Ms. Alcantara. I'll discuss you the terms and conditions. I'll prepare the contract ahead," sabi ko at tumayo na.

At the back of my head, I was hoping na hindi na niya pag-isipan. Gusto kong pumayag siya sa alok ko para kay Adam at para hindi na siya magtrabaho sa club.

Aalis na sana ako ngunit sa pintuan pa lang ay natigil na ako.

Napalingon ako kay Ms. Alcantara na nakaupo pa rin sa couch.

I sighed heavily.

"Go home early tonight."

"Pero may traba—"

"I'll pay the rest of the evening and f-cking go home, Arielle. Get dressed, and I'll drive you home."

Wala nang nagawa si Arielle kundi sumunod. I don't like the idea of staying here and dancing for others for the whole night.

The next day, I was waiting for Alcantara in my office. I was secretly hoping that she would come.

Nang marinig ko ang pagkatok sa p***o, agad akong napatayo.

I don't know why but something excites me seeing her entering that freaking door.

Nakagat ko ang ibabang labi ko nang makita ko si Arielle na nasa bukana ng aking pintuan.

I cleared my throat before speaking.

"Come in then lock the door." I said.

I saw how her face turned red. "B-bakit pa kailangan i-lock, Prof?"

"We'll be talking about confidential matters. Don't worry, hindi kita pasasayawin kung 'yan ang ikinakabahala mo."

Agad din naman niyang ni-lock ang pintuan. After that, she walked towards my table— still hesitant.

"Take a sit." I ordered which she commanded.

"Napag-isipan ko na, Prof. Tatanggapin ko ang offer mo..."

The side of my lips rose up. "Good."

Masaya ako na pumayag siya, dahil kung hindi, I will make her. Hindi ko siya titigilan kapag hindi siya pumayag.

Inilabas ko ang kontrata at binigay sa kanya pati na rin ang kopya ng mga terms and conditions.

"Read it."

Binasa naman niya.

"Maybe you're wondering kung bakit ikaw ang kinuha ko kung pwede naman ako maghanap ng ibang qualified na babysitter," panimula ko.

I paused before continuing.

"My son, Adam, has a rare condition— that no doctor can identify kung anong sakit niya at kung paano ito maagapan. She has an allergic reaction to human physical connection. Kapag nahahawakan siya ng ibang tao, may allergic reaction siya. Nagkakaroon siya ng mga pulang bukol sa katawan niya at nahihirapan siyang huminga..."

Ilang doctor na ang tumingin kay Adam pero wala pa ring makapagsabi kung ano talaga ang sakit niya. Tanging sa akin lang siya hindi nagkakaroon ng allergic reaction.

He has an antidote if he accidentally got contact with other people, pero limited lang 'yon.

But when I brought him to the mall, I rented the whole playground para makapaglaro siya nang mag-isa pero hindi ko akalain na mawawala siya sa paningin ko habang may kausap ako sa phone.

I started to panick. I got terrified nang makita ko siyang karga ng isang babae. Tumakbo ako palapit sa kanila at nagulat pa ako nang makita kong si Arielle ang may hawak sa kanya.

Agad ko siyang pinatingnan sa personal physician namin, at nagtaka ako kung bakit wala siyang allergic reaction kay Arielle.

And that was my call to hire Arielle as my babysitter... for my son.

Arielle looked up when she realized something.

"Di ba nahawakan ko siya sa mall? Okay lang ba siya?" I could sense the concern in her voice.

"Yeah, he's okay." I answered. "I couldn't do this alone and it's rare to find someone like you... I mean, it's rare to find someone na walang allergic reaction si Adam."

Tumango naman siya.

"Since you're in need of money, I want to hire you as Adam's babysitter. One million worth of contract for one year. You can advance half of the payment to pay your debt. Wala kang ibang gagawin kundi alagaan si Adam. I'll pay all of your expenses sa school, in your personal life— anything, basta pumayag ka lang."

I am desperate. Yes, I know.

Habang naghahanap pa ako ng gamot para kay Adam, I want to have someone to look out for him.

At nakikita ko naman na magiging mahusay na babysitter si Arielle kay Adam.

He's comfortable with her, I can see.

Ilang beses pa tiningnan ni Arielle ang kontrata. She seemed like thinking it thoroughly.

Maya-maya ay nagtaas na siya ng tingin at bumuga ng malalim na hininga.

"Fine, papayag ako."

Nakuyom ko ang kamao ko sa ilalim ng mesa dahil sa sobrang tuwa. I was also holding my smile.

What the f-ck is wrong with me?!

"Alright, you can sign the contract now."

I was really trying my best not to suppress my wide smile and just act normally.

Pagkatapos niyang pumirma ay ako naman.

I extended my arms to shake hands to close the deal.

"Looking forward to working with you, Miss Alcantara."

Tinanggap niya naman ang kamay ko. My jaw clenched when I felt her hand on mine.

"Thank you, Prof."

Tumango lang ako at bumitaw.

"Alright, Ms. Alcantara. You have one week to prepare. As written in the contract, you need to have a medical check up to make sure that you're completely healthy and safe to take care of Adam."

Tumango lang siya.

"And also, prepare to pack your things para sa paglipat mo. I will help you."

Kita ko ang pagkunot ng noo niya.

"Anong lipat?" she asked— confused.

"You will be living with me, Ms. Alcantara. It's written in the contract."

Nanlaki ang mata niya at agad na hinalukay ang kontrata.

Mahina akong natawa nang napasampal nalang siya sa kanyang noo nang makitang kasama nga iyon sa kontrata.

Seemed like someone didn't review the contract well.

Yes, dear... You're living with your professor...

TO BE CONTINUED...