Chapter 2: Little Secret

PEONY's POV

"Pumunta ako sa binigay niyang address, naghintay ako ro'n ng ilang minuto dahil sabi niya ay may lalapit daw sa'kin. May lumapit naman talaga, mga lalaking nakasuit. Hindi ko alam ang sunod nilang ginawa, basta ay bigla na lang ako nakaramdam ng karayom sa batok ko at bago ako mawalan ng malay ay nakita ko 'yong babae na nagpapunta sa'kin do'n na inabutan siya ng pera ng isa sa mga lalaki," pagpapatuloy ko.

He nodded in understanding. "So, that's how it went down."

"Pero hindi mo ako p'wede ikulong dito. Kailangan ako ng ama ko. Kailangan ko rin magtrabaho," sabi ko.

"Who said I'd confine you here?" he sighed. "While you're with me, you're free to do as you wish. If you're looking for work, you can work for me."

"T-talaga?! Anong trabaho?"

"I'll think about it, for now, finish your breakfast," he said.

Ngumiti ako at nagpatuloy sa pagkain. Swerte! Dito lang pala ako makahahanap ng trabaho. Isang tabi na lang muna natin ang tungkol sa pagbili niya sa'kin, hindi naman niya siguro ako kakatayin 'di ba?

Excited na ako. Ano kayang trabaho ang ibibigay niya sa'kin? Kung maging katulong niya ay okay lang, basta ay makatuwiran ang sahod. Kung gardener naman ay okay lang din, kaya ko naman mag-alaga ng mga halaman.

LUIGI's POV

After she finished her breakfast, I returned to my study room. It's good to see her doing well; I feared she might fall ill due to the drugs she received yesterday.

I pressed the button on the right corner of my table, and shortly after, my secretary arrived. He knocked gently on the door before slowly pushing it open. With a respectful gesture, he lowered his head slightly before walking towards me.

"You summoned me, sir?"

I nodded. "Halukayin mo ang background ni Peony Sinclair, I need it by tomorrow morning."

"Yes, sir." he bowed his head before leaving the study room.

As he exited, my phone rang. I picked it up and checked the caller ID. Seeing Russell's name, I answered the call.

"What do you need?" I asked.

Russell is both my friend and foe.

"It's chilly, Matty!" he teased. "Heard you got a new toy. Don't wreck it this time; let me have a go."

"No clue what you're on about," I replied, uninterested.

Tumawag ba siya dahil lang do'n? Such a waste of time.

"Oh, please, don't play dumb, Matty. I know you!"

"Kung tumawag ka para ro'n ibababa ko na 'to. Wala akong alam sa mga sinasabi mo," I said and was about to hang up when he spoke.

"I'm at the gate. I'll go there and check your girl," he said then hung up the call.

Agad akong tumayo at lumabas sa study ko. Nang may makita ako na isang katulong ay tinawag ko ito.

"Check if Russell's car is in front of the gate," I commanded.

Saglit kong tinignan ang likuran ng katulong habang palayo ito bago bumalik sa study ko. Ilang minuto akong naghintay sa study, nakaupo habang nakatutok ang atensyon sa'king computer, hanggang sa may kumatok sa pinto.

"It's open," sabi ko.

Nang bumukas ang pinto, pumasok ang isang lalaki na nagngangalang Russel. Napatayo ako sa gulat, hindi ko inaasahan na narito talaga siya. Damn, why is he here? So, he's not kidding when he said he was in front of the gate?

He smiled widely. "Why do you look so pissed? Don't you miss me?"

"Fuck off, what are you doing here?" kunot-noong tanong ko, halata sa boses ang inis.

"Can't I be here? I'm your friend!" sabi niya at naglakad palapit sa'kin.

"Friend my ass, go home." sabi ko saka umupo ulit.

"Don't be like that," ani niya bago maupo sa couch. "Nabalitaan ko na may inuwi ka raw na babae kagabi. Patay na ba? Hindi mo man lang talaga pinaabot sa'kin?"

"You're right. She's dead so leave," pagtataboy ko at lumingon sa kaniya ngunit hindi siya natibag. Pinagkrus pa niya ang dalawa niyang binti habang komportableng nakaupo sa couch.

"You're so heartless. Kagagaling ko lang sa Spain dahil sa inutos mo at dumiretso ako rito. Hindi mo man lang ako ni-welcome," saad niya, nangongonsensya. "Imbes na yakapin mo ako, tinataboy mo pa ako."

"The woman's dead so what else do you need?" I asked, leaning back to my chair.

He grinned. "I'll sleep here."

"The hell? No!" I stood up and approached him. "Get up."

Kung matutulog siya rito, maaari niyang ma-encounter si Peony. Hindi niya p'wedeng makita si Peony at baka bastusin niya iyon, hindi pa man din niya kilala ang babaeng 'yon. Hindi ko rin nakwento sa kaniya ang tungkol sa paggamot sa'kin ni Peony, ang alam lang niya ay nasaksak ako pero hindi ko nasabi kung sino ang tumulong sa'kin.

Kung hindi nga dahil kay Peony ay baka patay na ako ngayon. Utang ko sa kaniya ang buhay ko.

"Why? Matutulog nga ako rito!" sagot niya at kumapit sa upuan na parang bata. Naningkit ang mata niya na parang sinusukat ang buong pagkatao ko, maya-maya ay umayos siya ng upo at sumeryoso ang mukha. "May tinatago ka sa'kin 'no?"

I furrowed my brows to look like I was annoyed. "What? Ano naman ang itatago ko sa'yo?"

He shook his head, feeling disappointed. "I know you, Matty. Wala kang pakialam kung matulog man ako rito o hindi. Ito ang unang pagkakataon na ayaw mo akong patulugin dito."

I sighed. "Aalis ako, that's why."

"Umalis ka rin naman dati pero hinayaan mo ako na magstay dito," mabilis niyang tugon.

I shook my head, giving up. "Do whatever you want. I'm tired, I'll head back to my room." sabi ko at naglakad na paalis.

"Kailan ka pa napagod?" tanong niya na binaliwala ko. Binuksan ko ang pintuan at lumabas na sa silid.

I need to talk to Peony right now.

Pumunta ako sa kwarto ni Peony, kumatok muna ako ng ilang beses bago iyon buksan. Mukhang hindi niya narinig ang katok ko dahil hanggang ngayon ay nasa bintana ang atensyon niya.

Tumikhim ako upang kunin ang atensyon niya. Nang lumingon siya, saka ako nagsalita, "We need to discuss something. Take a seat," saad ko saka lumapit sa upuan at umupo.

She pouted before approaching me. She sat quietly in front of me.

I cleared my throat once again before proceeding with my intention. "Stay put in this room. A friend of mine is in the mansion, and he'll be staying for a while. I'm not sure for how long he'll stay, but I need you to stay in this room. You don't know each other, so he might harm you."

"I-Is that so? Alright, I'll stay here," she responded.

I nodded in agreement. "That's great. Your food will be provided so you don't need to come out. You also have your own bathroom here. If you need something just call me using the telephone on the side table. Just press the number one."

She nodded in understanding. "Okay, walang problema," tugon niya nang nakangiti.

Tumayo na ako dahil wala naman na akong sasabihin pa. "I'll excuse myself now. Remember what I've told you."

Tumango siya ulit at mukhang may gusto siya sabihin pero mukhang nahihiya siya. "What on your mind?" tanong ko.

"Hmm..." she averted her gaze and said, "May I have a flower from your garden? Kahit isa lang."

I shrugged. "Iyon lang? Wala ka nang gusto na iba?"

Lumingon siya sa'kin at umiling. "Iyon lang. Kahit isang bulaklak lang."

"Very well. I'll have a maid bring one to you," tugon ko saka tumalikod. Palabas na ako ng pintuan nang marinig ang pasasalamat niya. Nag-pause lang ako saglit bago tuluyang lumabas ng silid.

It's a success, but I genuinely hope she stays put. I don't want them to meet. Russell is an asshole, and he might force her into something, thinking that Peony already had sex with me.

I don't see Peony that way. She comes across as modest and delicate. I don't even dare to approach her.

I shook my head and retreated to my bedroom. Magpapahinga na lang ako dahil wala naman akong gagawin ngayong araw, mas mabuti na lang din na magpahinga ako dahil iyon ang sinabi ko kay Russell. Baka mas lalo pa siyang magduda kung babalik ako sa study room.

Just as I was settling down, my phone rang. I let out a sigh as I picked it up without checking the caller ID.

"What do you need?" I asked.

"This is your grandfather!"

My brows furrowed as I looked at the screen of my phone. They furrowed even more when "Father" appeared on the display instead of "Grandpa," indicating that the call came from my father's number.

"Dad, give me my phone! Sabi ko ako na ang kakausap kay Luigi!" dinig ko sa boses ni Dad sa kabilang linya.

"Ako na! Ako ang may hawak ng phone 'di ba?" sagot naman ni lolo kay Dad.

I knew exactly the reason behind this call.

I sighed as I responded, "I've told you, I'm not ready for marriage."

Without waiting for a reply, I ended the call. They can sort it out. I'll settle down when I'm good and ready. I want to live my life to the fullest first.