TROUBLE

DARIUS

I'm not interested about that woman. Kaya lahat ng sinasabi sa akin ni Mrs. Sylvastra ay wala akong pakialaman. Ginagawa ko lamang ito dahil ito ang kahilingan ng lola ko. She wants me to get married dahil gusto niya na bago siya pumanaw ay makita niyang may mag-aalaga sa akin. I don't have mother and father, only my grand mother took and raised me. They both died in accident.

Hindi ko mapigilang mapatingin sa labas. Nasaan na kaya ang babaeng iyon? 

"Kanina kapa nakataingin sa labas, nay hinihintay ka ba?" tanong ni Mrs. Sylvastra.

“My dog is nowhere to be found. She might have gone off somewhere.” nakangising sabi ko. 

Cough.. Cough..Cough...

Napatingin kami sa kabilang table dahil sa pagkasamid ng isang babae sa kanyang inumin. Bumangon ito at walang sabi-sabing lumabas.

"Mauuna na ako, Mrs. Sylvastra," nakangiting sabi ko. Mabilis akong tumayo at humarap sa kanya. Yumuko ako bilang pagbibigay-galang sa kanya.

"Alright, Darius. Please, take care." nakangiti ring sabi niya.

Mabilis akong nagtungo sa labas at kunot-noong tumingin sa paligid.

Walang Akhira.

Saan kaya pumunta ang babaeng iyon?

"Sir, Darius! Sir!" Awtomatiko akong napalingon kay Akhira. Tumatakbo siya papunta sa direksyon ko. May hawak siyang paper bag. Nagawa pa niyang mag-shopping. Iba talaga siya sa mga katulong na nakilala ko. Para siyang may sariling batas at mundo.

"Sorry. I had my period that's why I bought some pads," namumulang sabi niya kaya hindi ko maiwasang mahiya kaya ibinaling ko na lamang ang atensyon ko sa ibang bagay.

"Let's go home," walang-ganang sabi ko at tumalikod na upang sumakay ng elevator. Nakita ko namang sumunod siya kaya nakahinga ako ng maluwag.

The heavy doors slid open with a soft ding, revealing the polished interior of the building’s private elevator. It was spacious, lined with dark wood and gleaming metal. Karaniwang dito lamang sumasakay ang mga mayayaman at kilalang tao sa gusaling ito.

“Come in and close the door,” walang-ganang sabi ko.

“Y-yes, Sir,” she replied softly, pressing the button for the ground floor.

Walang may gustong magsalita. Namayani ang katahimikan sa loob ng elevator.

"May problema ba?" tanong ko dahil kanina ko pa napapansin ang pagiging balisa niya.

"Salamat sa concern pero okay lang ako," nakangiting sabi niya pero hindi mapagkakailang may malalim siyang iniisip.

“Good. You seem quieter than usual. If you need anything, or if anyone is treating you unfairly, you have my permission to speak up.” seryosong sabi ko na tinanguan ko na lang. Gusto ko pa sanang makipagtalo pero mukhang hindi siya interesado.

Just as the elevator passed the fifth floor, there was another ding and the doors opened again. Two men stepped inside—they looked well-dressed, but their eyes carried a look of arrogance and familiarity with wealth. They were probably guests from one of the offices or apartments above.

At first, everything seemed normal. But as soon as the doors closed and the elevator began to move again, one of the men let his gaze travel slowly from Akhira’s face down to her feet. He smirked, leaning casually against the wall as if he owned the place.

Hindi ko maiwasang mapakuyom ng kamao.

“Well, well… look at this,” he said, his voice loud and suggestive. “A pretty little thing working as a maid. It must be hard being around rich people all day, isn’t it? Maybe you’d be better off serving someone who knows how to treat you right.”

Bastos!

"Excuse me! Ayus-ayusin mo ang sinasabi mo, manong!" galit na bulyaw ni Akhira sa lalaki.

The other man laughed, joining in. “Watch our words? Come on, darling. You know how it is—girls like you are usually grateful for any attention. Don’t act too innocent. How much does your master pay you? I can offer you more than that for a few hours of your time.”

His words were rude, offensive, and humiliating. I saw Akhira's hands were tremble slightly. She wanted to speak up firmly, but she also knew that as a maid, she was expected to remain humble and avoid trouble. She bit her lip, na para bang pinipigilan niya lamang gumanti sa lalaki.

The two men paused, looking at him as if they had just realized they were not alone. “And who are you to tell us what to do? We’re just speaking our minds. It’s not like she belongs to anyone important.”

“I said,” pag-uulit ko, na ang boses ko ay malakas na umalingawngaw sa bawat sulok ng elevator.

"Take it back. And apologize immediately.”

One of the men tried to act tough, though his confidence was already wavering. “Why should we? She’s just help—”

“Just help?” I cut him off, stepping forward slightly to stand between them and Akhira, shielding her completely with my broad frame. “Let me make something very clear. A person’s worth is never determined by their job or their status. Whether she is a maid or a princess, she deserves respect. And when someone speaks to her with disrespect, they are speaking to me as well.”

Matalim kong tiningnan ang dalawang lalaki.

“You have two choices. Apologize right now, or I will make sure that every single door in this city closes for you. I have connections, and I can guarantee that you will regret ever opening your mouths in this manner.”

The fear in their eyes was obvious now. They recognized the power and status in my voice, even if they did not know exactly who I was. No one spoke with such confidence unless they had the means to back it up.

“We… we’re sorry,” the first man stammered, his earlier arrogance completely gone. “We spoke without thinking. Please forgive us, Miss.”

 “Better,” malamig na sabi ko. “And remember this: manners cost nothing. But if you ever treat anyone like that again, you might not be so lucky next time.” dugtong ko pa.

 When the elevator reached the ground floor and the doors opened, the two men practically rushed out, hurrying away as if they afraid to stay another second.