Chapter 6 (SUDDEN)

CRIMSON

I looked around but Mr. Adamos was no longer there. Hey… where is he? Why does he instantly disappear?

Weird, right?

I was still thinking where he goes as I felt the shiver in my spine with the thought that the handsome bi-eyed creature is not a human at all. I am  right. 

My fear towards him returned to me. I am being scared for unknown reasons, I don’t know, but I can only remember how frightened I was in the club. I no longer remember the reason I felt this way… Yeah! It was no more in my memory. I can’t remember anything aside from the dance that I slipped on the pole, and… and he saved me. 

“Crimson.”

I was startled when Mrs. Li called my name. My right hand went to my chest like I could stop it from beating too fast. I am becoming of getting scared easily and I felt stupid more than ever. This is not me.

“Yes, Mrs. Li?”

“Where is Mr. Adamos?” she asked while her eyes roaming around her flower shop. 

I moved my head sidewards, gesturing that I have no idea. I remember I was talking to the man but he was gone the next minute. I thought he even did something to me… and he even talked to me but I can’t remember what we talked about. My memory was like being corrupted, deleted, or removed.

Oh, gee! Probably I am still lacking sleep and that is why I have this short term memory as of now.

“Did he tell you that he wants you to work for him?” Mrs. Li gazed at me like she was observing my reaction, like she wanted me to like what she said. 

My eyes became bigger as I needed some answers but I can’t ask the questions inside my head… I just wanna ask, what was that? Why would Mr. Adamos like me to work for him?

No. I’m kinda suspicious of that man… I can’t. 

“We… we didn’t talk about that, Mrs. Li.” Weary eyes, I stared at her. 

“But he told me so.” Mrs. Li went inside her small cubicle and I started to get the broom so I will start to sweep the floor. 

I did what I needed to do. I don’t need to be instructed, I need to do my tasks for I am getting money from it. While sweeping the dust on the floor, Mrs. Li stood beside me and gave me an envelope. 

Wonderingly, I eyed her. Questions are in my eyes. What was that?

I took the envelope and checked what’s inside. Money? 

“Whom to deliver it?” I grabbed a pen and a piece of paper to write the details after I remembered that I left my phone in my backpack when I entered the store. Funny that I remember the small details this morning but I can’t remember what Mr. Adamos said or did to me before he disappeared.

Disappeared? This is truly uncanny.

But why do I keep on thinking that way? If I can’t remember then possibly it didn’t happen at all. It was probably in my imagination only.

“You will not deliver it to anyone, Crim. It’s yours.” Mrs. Li smiled at me then held my hand to make me hold the envelope.. 

What?! Wait! This is really not normal. Why are people giving me money so easily? Last night, Mr. Adamos left a hundred grand in the club for me according to Daisy, and now Mrs. Li is giving me an envelope with a bundle of money too. What’s wrong with them?

“This is the last time I will have you here in the store. You can stay in the apartment as the rent for it will be paid by Mr. Adamos. He is such a good man wanting to help you. I even told him that you wanted to continue your study in college and he told me that if he sees potential in you then he will sponsor you to finish college. Ain’t that perfect for someone like you, Crimson?”

I didn’t utter a word after hearing that. College? Did I hear it right? 

Mrs. Li said that I will have a chance to go back to college and Mr. Adamos will sponsor my education. Woah! That’s great!

I felt amazing and delighted when shiverness ran through my system. Hey… there is something wrong, I know. 

“B-but… but why?” I bravely questioned Mrs. Li because I don’t believe in instant luck. That man wants to give me a hundred grand for the flopped dance and now he is offering me a job and that he will sponsor me… isn’t that weird? Why would he do that for someone like me? He doesn’t know me. Probably he wants to eat me… he is really an aswang. He is a monst—- 

“Probably he wants to help you,” Mrs. Li cut my thought as she assured me. “That man is a very good person, Crimson. He was sponsoring charities all across the globe and he was the one who helped me when I was broke years ago and—” 

Mrs. Li stopped and my eyes furrowed. Years ago? Did she say years ago? How long? Mrs.  Li is in her fifties… What was that? Mr. Adamos helped her when he was only twenty or younger than twenty? The man looked only twenty-five to twenty-eight, I think. 

“I… I am scared,” I whispered and Mrs. Li gave me a knowing smile. I know she will understand if I tell her I don’t want to accept the job. 

“Work for him, Crimson. Maintaining the cleanliness of his unit is the same with your work here in the store. It is much better for you if you work for him since you will have time to enroll next semester and finish college. This is what you dream for, right? To get some degree?”

I nodded because that’s true. I always told her before that I am earning to support myself in college. 

“Look,” Mrs.  Li continued. “Your soon-to-be boss is a busy man. He will always be out of the country and you will only be the one who stays in his unit everyday. You just need to maintain its cleanliness and you can  do whatever you want for a day. Actually, he was offering that you will work as a stay-in housekeeper but he knows you will refuse. He is a very considerate man and he is not like what you were thinking.”

I can’t say a word. Am I that transparent? 

“He has a model girlfriend and I know they have been together for years so you don’t need to worry that he might make some advances in you. That’s impossible, Crimson.”

I don’t know why I felt sad about what I heard. It was like a slap on my face telling me I am not suitable to Mr. Adamos taste. That’s kinda harsh but Mrs. Li is right. Who am I  to be desired by that handsome man?

“I hope you can decide as fast as you can.  Mr. Adamos will leave the country next week and he was in a rush to look for a housekeeper. He told me that if you won’t accept the job he is offering then I need to look for anyone who could replace you,” Mrs. Li stated and I don’t know why she sounds so persuasive. 

Probably, she doesn’t like to be compromised with Mr. Adamos. Or likely, she promised the man that she could convince me.  

I shook my head sidewards. I am not thinking that way. I am thinking that he might eat me. Not eat the other term means about but eat me like kill me and eat my heart and liver like what an aswang can do. 

“I gave your apartment’s address to Mr. Adamos and he will pick you up this afternoon. Now, go home and decide if you want to work for him, stay-out or stay-in.”

That’s it and she turned her back on me. I stared at the envelope in my hand and sighed. 

“Bye, Mrs. Li.” 

She glanced at me and said ‘bye’ and I noticed that she was sad. I turned my back and stepped away from her. I picked my backpack and went outside of her store. 

I wonder why Mrs. Li looked sad when she was positive in telling me about the goodness of working with Mr. Adamos.

I walked back to my apartment and when I was already in front of the door, I felt some dark vibes again. 

Hah! I am just nervous, no more no less. 

I entered the apartment, checked the time, and it was only nine in the morning so I decided to buy some food for my breakfast. While walking to the nearest convenient store, I saw the same sports car on the other side of the road.  

My heart beats fast. Why do I feel that this Adamos is stalking me now? But he has a girlfriend…

Hey! Why am I thinking sad when I said that he has a girlfriend. 

Oh c’mon, Crim! You are not having a crush on the man, right?! 

I continued walking. I just ignored the sports car I saw. He might have taken his breakfast in the fancy restaurant in that area and that is why his car was there. I should not think of anything to worry about. I will work for him and he will be my boss. 

He will be my boss! I should always remind myself that. 

I sighed. I really don’t like to work for him, but I admit, I was tempted by the money in the envelope with thinking that Mrs. Li is right, I will just maintain the cleanliness of Mr. Adamos home and I will have a chance to finish college when the man will like my service. 

My service?! Ugh, why does it sound malicious when it’s not supposed to be? Oh, gosh…

I took my phone out of my pocket and typed a message to Daisy when…

“Crimson.”

Oh my God! I dropped my phone as Mr. Adamos surprised me by appearing in front of me suddenly. 

“What the…” I trailed off while watching in like a slow motion how Mr. Adamos catches my phone before it hits the cemented ground. “Wow!”