Kabanata 5

Matapos ko siyang gamutin ay bumalik ako sa kinakain ko. Akala ko ay lalabas na rin si Miguel dahil tapos nang gamutin ang sugat niya pero nanatili siya.

And every second I spent with him felt like I was walking on edge.

“Bakit hindi ka pa lumalabas? Wala ka bang trabaho?” medyo malamig kong tanong.

Tumaas ang tingin niya sa akin at medyo kumunot ang noo niya.

“Hindi pa ako nag-aalmusal,” aniya.

“Bakit hindi ka nagtanong sa mga kasambahay?”

Nag-iwas siya ng tingin.

“Ipinautos ni Renzo na hindi ako pagsilbihan. Kung hindi ako magluluto, wala akong kakainin.”

What?

Tiningnan ko ang kamay niyang may sugat. There's no way he can cook with that wound.

“Paano ka kakain niyan? Don't tell me you're cooking because I don't think you can.” Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.

“I'm cooking, Yana. Walang gagawa sa akin no’n.”

Bahagyang kumunot ang noo ko bago nagpatuloy sa pagkain. I've already helped him with his wound. Tama na ’yon.

Kaya lang, nang magpatuloy siya sa pagluluto, hindi ko maiwasang mapatingin sa paghihirap niya. Hindi niya kayang gamitin ang may sugat na kamay niya kaya nakaka-stress siyang panoorin.

At hindi ko alam kung bakit bothered na bothered ako na nakikita ko siyang nahihirapan. Kaya ayaw kong nakikita siya eh. He made me feel unnecessary feelings.

After a few minutes, nagawa niyang makahiwa ng ilang ingredients ng iluluto niya. Kahit mabagal, nagagawa naman niya. Pinagmamasdan ko lang din siya…kahit gustong-gusto ko na tumayo at tulungan siya.

Maybe because he's my cousin and I just want to help a family member? Kaso hindi ko rin maiwasan na bigyang-malisya ang paglapit ko sa kanya dahil sa mga napapanaginipan ko. I feel so guilty for dreaming like that. I know I have no control over that matter! Heck, if I did, matagal ko nang tinapos ang mga panaginip na ’to. I couldn't, that's why it's starting to affect my relationship with him.

“You look so lousy cooking with that wound. Masasabihan pa akong walang silbing pinsan dahil hindi tumutulong,” nakataas na kilay kong sabi. “Have some of my food. Wala akong balak na magluto. And I want my reputation to be good.”

Tinigil niya ang kanyang ginagawa at saka tumingin sa kinakain ko. Marami ’yon. You can't expect less in this mansion.

He licked his lips. Tiningnan niya kung okay ako sa suggestion ko. I nodded at him before he sighed and walked near me.

“Maliit lang,” aniya.

“I'm already full. Huwag ka nang magtipid. You're acting like we're starving you. Eat all you can,” I told him.

Iyon nga ang ginawa niya. I saw him put a handful of food on his plate. Umupo na rin siya sa tabi ko para sabay na kami. Kaso nakadalawang subo siya nang may pumasok na kasambahay, disturbing us from eating.

“Excuse me, Sir Renzo wants Miguel in the cellar. He needs to go back to work,” sa akin niya sinabi ’yon.

“He's still eating. He will be back after having his late breakfast,” I said, emphasizing how late he was for breakfast already. “He also has a wound.”

“Miss, Sir Renzo is mad,” sabi niya na nanginginig ang boses. Mukha pa siyang aligaga. “I don't want him to get mad at me too.”

“I'll deal with him later,” I assured her, but she didn't believe me.

“I might lose my job,” bulong ng katulong.

Tumayo si Miguel kaya napatingin ako sa kanya.

“Nagpa-advance payment ako. Gusto niyang magtrabaho ako ng tamang oras. I'll just eat properly later.”

Umirap ako, not really knowing what to do. Nakakaawa rin ang nanginginig na kasambahay. And seriously, I can't fully judge them because I myself don't know the full context of what really is living here in this mansion.

Seeing guns and authority carried by the Romanos, I felt like they were sort of a violent family and everyone was scared of them. Minsan, pati ako ay nai-intimidate. Kung wala lang si Mama, feel ko, pareho kami ng magiging estado dito ni Miguel. Kung hindi ko pinsan sina Renzo, Samuel, at Damien, I will not be treated this way. Instead of being a princess, I would be treated as less than someone insignificant to them.

Matapos kong kumain nang tahimik, bumalik ako sa kwarto ko. I tried to be as low-key and more observant. Oo, may amnesia din ako. Pero may isip din ako para maghinala na may kakaiba sa mansion.

The vibes were dark and filled with mystery. Having amnesia felt like I was in a dangerous place, only oblivious to it.

Nang mabagot ako sa mansion, umalis ako at nagpahatid sa resort. There were tourists all over the place. Kaya rin hindi ko matanggap na may kakaiba ring nangyayari kasi kapag nasa resort ako at sa beach area, mukhang wala namang panganib. Baka sira lang ang utak ko dahil sa aksidente.

Kaya siguro sinisigurado palagi ni Mama na nakainom ako ng gamot. Baka masiraan ako ng bait kung itigil ko!

Nagbuga ako ng malalim na hininga nang medyo nagpapanic na ako sa mga naiisip.

“I am not going crazy! The hell? I'm too beautiful to lose myself!” pangkakalma ko sa sarili.

“Miss Chloe, your VIP spa session is ready. Would you like me to escort you?”

Hindi muna ako nagsalita. Kunwari kong hinawi ang side bangs ko habang nananahimik. Kailangan ko munang pakalmahin ang sarili ko. Pero siguro dahil sa katahimikan ko, nakaramdam ng tension ang babaeng kasama ko.

“Or did you change your mind, Miss?” she asked, sounding desperate. “Tell me what you want.”

Becoming a Romano, now I had this effect too. The tension I'm giving them.

“No. I'm fine with my spa session. Lead the way.”

Nagtagal ako sa resort. Nahanap ko rin si Mama at Lola na doon na rin nag-dinner. Sinamahan nila ako sa table ko bago kami bumalik sa mansion para magpahinga na.

I had my mind cleansed from my whole day's activity. Nagising lang ako sa madaling araw nang makaramdam ako ng uhaw.

Gusto kong magpatawag ng katulong pero naisip ko na magandang bumaba ng ganitong oras. I might discover something.

Ganoon naman gumagalaw ang mga tao kapag may sekreto, diba?

Iyon ang plano ko. Kaya lang, masyadong tahimik na tanging ang yapak ko lang ang naririnig ko sa marble floor. Hanggang sa dumating ako sa kusina, ang tahimik.

Pansin ko na bukas ang ilaw sa kusina pero tahimik. Pagpasok ko, wala akong nakita agad. Not until I saw Miguel leaning in front of the pan. Nakapikit siya habang nagluluto… ng ganitong oras.

Pagbukas ng mata niya, agad niya akong nahanap. He moved as if out of instinct. Paglapit niya sa akin, yakap agad ang ginawa niya at saka siniksik ang ulo sa leeg ko.

“Let's stay like this for a while,” paos niyang sabi.

My heart started to pound.

“What are you doing?” nababahala kong sabi. I wanted to push him but I couldn't find my strength. And I was only in my night dress!

“Let me recharge, hmmm,” he whispered softly. “Your cousins fucking hate me. I don't even know what I did to make them hate me this much,” ngayon ay iritado niyang bulong habang humihigpit ang yakap niya sa akin. “If it weren't for you, kaya ko silang labanan.”

Umawang ang labi ko. “Are you out of your mind? I saw Renzo with a gun. Don't be ridiculous!”

“Tsk… they were scared for a fucking medicine I refused to swallow in front of them! Kung hindi ka lang nila dinadamay, I'd like to watch them lose their temper while forcing medicine on me!”

I gritted my teeth.

“Kaya ka rin napag-iinitan eh! You're acting like you can handle them. Wala ka sa lugar, Miguel!”

“I know. Kaya kailangan kita.” He chuckled lightly that I wanted to smack his head.

…