CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 2

BRIA stood up from her seat. As a maid na ang ganap niya kaya ni-ready na niya ang utak niya para sa malalang bakbakan mamaya.

Pero syempre, eme-eme lang. Exaggeration niya lang ‘yon.

She flattened out the cloth on her torso and made sure that there were no creases on her uniform. Tiningnan niya rin kung malinis ba ang black shoes niyang kapares ng white and royal blue niyang uniporme. Tiningnan niya rin kung malinis ba ang lamesang pinag-senti-han niya kanina.

Thank God, squeaky clean and no spills.

Nakahinga siya nang maluwag nang makitang okay naman ang hitsura niya. Kinapa-kapa niya rin ang naka-bun niyang buhok para malaman kung may tikwas ba o kung magulo na ang kaniyang buhok. Wala naman siyang napansin na kakaiba kaya hinanda na niya ang kaniyang sarili.

Hindi naman ito protocol pero syempre, mas okay nang presentable siya tingnan. Mayamaya pa, naririnig na niya ang mga salitang Espanyol na papalapit na sa banda niya. Napalunok siya at niyuko na ang kaniyang ulo.

Mrs. Del Rio and her four best friends arrived. Sumulyap siya at nakitang todo paypay na ang kaniyang amo. She sighed inwardly and slowly walked towards her boss.

“Ma’am,” she called politely.

Naagaw naman niya ang atensiyon nito na tahimik lang na nakikinig sa mga kaibigan kanina pero nakangiti naman. As usual, her boss eyed her from head to foot. The Madame handed her the hand fan and she began fanning her. Nabura ang ngiti nito at nakahalukipkip na.

Napadasal siya sa kaniyang isip at napatawag sa mga santong kilala niya. She hoped the Madame wasn’t in a bad mood. As her direct servant, she already knows that the struggle is so real. As in R-E-A-L!

“Oh, Sabria. Is that you?” pag-agaw-pansin sa kaniya ni Mrs. Prado — isang matandang byuda at sobrang yamang casino owner na business partner din ng mga Del Rio.

Natigilan siya, pero awtomatikong nagpaypay pa rin ang kaniyang kamay. She blinked a few times before lifting up her head. She smiled at the woman who also gave her a warm smile.

The woman aged like fine wine. Her fine lines weren’t much defined and her face looked young and fresh. Perks of being single for how many years, she guessed. More on self-love siguro ito. Havey!

Sana all na lang talaga. If she’s to compare herself to Mrs. Prado, she’s probably the stressed, exhausted, and uglier version of the woman. Well, she used to look well put-together because of her weekly visits to the spa, salon, and beauty clinics before. Natamasa niya rin naman ang maging young-looking and fresh sa tanang buhay niya.

“Oh, Eleanor’s daughter. What a pity, she was a bright young girl but now... she’s working,” puna naman ni Mrs. Yu na hindi na lang siya pinrangkang sabihin na katulong siya.

Umasim nang bahagya ang mukha nito at napangiwi nang kaunti nang magtama ang kanilang tingin. She only kept her smile while her eyes dropped to the floor.

Tiis-tiis lang, Bria. Aalis na sila mamaya.

“She’s my personal shopper, too,” Mrs. Del Rio said briefly.

“Really? She has a good eye in fashion, Marjorie. That’s a wise choice,” pamumuri naman ni Mrs. Prado.

Ito lang yata ang medyo mabait pa sa kaniya. The other amigas, on the other hand, were looking at her as if she’s a lost case — like a spectacle in a pity party. Hindi na lang siya nagpaapekto.

Part ng job description niya ang art of dedma. Trabaho lang ito at ayaw niya namang mapahamak kung lalaban siya at ipagtatanggol ang sarili. She treasures her job dearly. Ito lang kasi ang source of income niya maliban sa isa pang side hustle. Kaya laban lang.

“But, sayang ‘no, Marjorie. She could’ve been your daughter-in-law,” muling nagsalita si Mrs. Yu.

Shutakels.

Eto na ng aba ang ine-expect niya. Hindi naman niya madalas nami-meet ang Titas of Manila pero kasi, kilala niya talaga ang hilatsa ni Mrs. Yu! Mukhang laging may dalang delubyo. Nakakaloloka!

Mabilis na nag-angat ng tingin si Mrs. Del Rio at nagtaas ng isang kilay. Seryoso na ang mukha nito.

Bria’s heart hammered. ‘Wag naman sana siya…

‘Wag naman sanang mag-aaway ang magkakaibigang ‘to dahil maid ang trabaho niya. Hindi referee!

“That’s an old event, Yolanda. Don’t bring it up now,” kalmado pa rin ang boses ng eleganteng si Mrs. Marjorie Del Rio.

Nagkibit-balikat lang naman si Mrs. Yu at hindi na umalma pa. For all she knows, takot din ito kay Mrs. Del Rio dahil marami talaga itong kayang gawin. Sa isang pitik lamang nito, bagsak ang kompanya ng asawa ni Mrs. Yu.

She felt proud of her boss. In fairness! Shala shala naman talaga ito at may karapatang maging entitled.

Tumikhim si Mrs. Prado na tila peacemaker talaga ng grupo. “Hmm. By the way, Marjorie. When will your children come home? I heard malapit na. I’m looking forward to the party you’ll gonna throw. I’m excited.”

Nag-isip pa muna ang amo niya. “Let me see. Mallory will board her flight tomorrow. McKenzie is next week and...”

Forda paypay ang eksena ni Bria pero sa totoo lang, para na siyang hihimatayin sa kaba.

Her anticipation could kill her. Ang tagal sumagot ng Madame niya. May dalawa pa kasi itong anak!

“Lorena will be back from Amanpulo two weeks from now. And my pride...”

Nanuyo ang lalamunan ni Bria sa huling binanggit ng kaniyang amo.

Ngumiti nang tipid si Mrs. Del Rio. “My pride and joy, Magnus. He’ll arrive today.”

Bria’s jaw fell. Aksidente niyang nabitiwan ang pamaypay ni Madame. Namilog ang mga mata niya.

Oh my God! He... He’s going home!

Nakita niya ang pagkunot ng noo ni Mrs. Del Rio kaya madalian niyang pinulot ang pamaypay. She smiled apologetically to each of the Madames. Wala sa sariling napapaypay siya sa sarili dahil naliligo na siya ng pawis bigla. May tumulo pa sa gilid ng kaniyang noo.

She just noticed her silly act when the eyes of the old women all narrowed at her. Napasinghap siya at nakitang pati ang amo niya, nakatitig na rin sa kaniya.

Kabado siyang tumawa. “Hehe. Sorry po...”

Napawi ang kaniyang ngiti. Yumuko siya habang nag-iinit ang pisngi. Parang slow motion na hinabaan niya ang kaniyang braso at nilipat niya agad ang pagpaypay ulit sa amo niya. Palihim niyang kinurot ang kaniyang sarili.

You’re too reactive and silly, Sabria!

Until a bodyguard approached her boss, parang tinakasan na talaga siya ng kaluluwa niya.

“Madame, the chopper has arrived. Sir Magnus is now here,” balita nito.

Agad nagliwanag ang mukha ng nonchalant na si Mrs. Del Rio. “Really? My dear son is here?”

Bria froze on her spot. Natulala siya at hindi makakilos. Her hand placement was still as if she was fanning her boss, but her hand was also unmoving.

The concerned Mrs. Prado went near her and waved her hand in front of her bulging eyes. But still, her mouth was parted a fly could enter and she seemed to be glued on her spot.

Hindi yata alam ng ginang kung ngingiti ba o mapapangiwi ito sa kalagayan niya.