Katulong . . .
Hindi ko napigilan ang pagsinghap sa narinig. Ni hindi ako nakapagsalita. Never in my life that I am mistaken as katulong. Nothing is wrong for being a maid, but it came out from her dirty mouth as an insult.
Nang mag-angat ng tingin si Lord ay hindi nagbago ang reaksiyon niya. He looked at his watch and slightly loosened up his tie.
I headed downstairs. Alam kong alam ng babaeng kasama niya na hindi ako katulong. Baka hindi niya lang kasi matanggap na kahit ganito lang ang suot ko, kapag pinagtabi kami ay magmumukha siyang basahan. Partida, wala pa akong ligo.
"Magandang tanghali, Sir Lavigne." Nakangiti akong lumapit. "Dito ba kayo manananghalian ng kasama n'yo?"
Nangunot ang noo niya. Matagal na rin mula nang huli niya akong nakitang ngumiti nang ganito. Ang kaso, mukhang maalam na siya sa pag-distinguish ng peke sa totoo.
"Oo, dito kami kakain." Ang kasama niyang babae ang sumagot. Kapansin-pansin ang mapanuri niyang mata sa akin na pabalik-balik mula ulo hanggang talampakan.
Katulong, my ass. Might as well taste my service, biatch.
Pinanatili ko ang ngiti ko. "Halina kayo sa kusina. Ipaghahanda ko kayo ng pagkain."
Sopistikada akong naglakad sa unahan nila. Nang marating ang kusina ay naroon pa rin si Manang Ymir.
"Ako na ang maghahanda ng pagkain," bulong ko sa kanya. Hindi ko na siya hinintay na makasagot at agad na tumungo sa cooking area. Silid itong nakahiwalay sa kusina at dito iniluluto at inihahanda ang mga pagkain.
I'm in the midst of readying the water dispenser when Lord entered the room.
"Let Manang Ymir do the job. Umakyat ka na," he authoritatively demanded.
Sarkastiko akong tumawa. "Bawal bang pagsilbihan ko ang asawa ko at ang babae niya?"
"What did you say?"
"Oops." Tinakpan ko kuno ang bibig ko. "Nadali ba, Lord?"
"Ikaw lang ang babae ko," aniya sa malamig na boses. I couldn't help but to hold my breath. "Kumain ka na?"
Mariin kong ipinikit ang aking mga mata at pilit iwinaksi ang estrangherong emosyon sa dibdib ko.
"Bumalik ka na r'on at nakakaistorbo ka," sagot ko na lang. "I'm almost done."
Hindi muna siya gumalaw. Saglit niya akong sinubaybayan bago dahan-dahang humakbang palabas.
"Ignore what she said. Bridgette is a spoiled brat, sometimes she forgets her manners." Nang masabi iyon ay tuluyan na siyang lumabas.
A lifeless smile made its way to my lips as I finally organized the tray of their meal. Mukhang nakalimutan ni Lord Lavigne kung sino ang pinakasalan niya.
Kung sa bagay, we never really had enough time to know each other. If chance permits and he's going to witness how I deal with life and people, I have no idea if he would be glad or upset. The attitude of Heather Cassia is either a blessing or a curse, depends on how people see it.
"You need more decors, Lord. I can help you. P'wede kong ilista ang mga dapat palitan, i-improve, at idagdag. After that, I can also help you find for the materials. You own a real estate agency. Dapat mas maganda pa ang bahay mo kaysa sa mga binebenta n'yo, right?"
"We'll see. May mga bagong maliliit na pabahay kasing pinapatayo ang La Villamorés ngayon, you're aware of that. My schedule this week is loaded."
"P'wede naman nating tingnan ngayon."
"No." Pareho silang nabaling sa direksiyon ko nang bigla akong magsalita. "I mean, here's your meal, Ma'am and Sir."
Pansin ko ang paminsan-minsang pagtatapon ni Lord ng tingin sa akin habang isa-isa kong inilalapag ang mga pagkain at inumin nila. The stray girl seemed to notice it, and so she talks.
"I'm Bridgette. Only child. Sought after architect." Lasang-lasa ko ang pagyayabang sa tono niya. "Tagapag-mana rin ng isang malaking kumpanya, namumuhay na parang prinsesa."
Tuwid akong tumayo hindi masyadong malayo mula sa lamesa. This is exactly what waitresses do, what a dung.
"Did I ask?" Sa wakas ay nagkaroon ako ng kalayaang magsalita. Agad itong napaangat ng tingin sa akin at natigil naman sa pagnguya si Lord. "I mean, katulong lang po ako. Hindi niyo na kailanga'ng magpakilala sa'kin," bawi ko agad.
"What about you? Ano ang pangalan mo?" she asks. I can sense that she's not curious at all.
"You don't deserve to know my name," buryo kong tugon. I'll have better things to say than answer people's stupid questions all day long.
"I beg your pardon?"
Akmang sasagot na naman ako nang biglang umentra si Lord.
"What's this?" Itinuro niya ang putaheng nasa isang maliit na mangkok.
Ano nga ba iyan? Did I just make a recipé and served it without thinking of a name?
"I made that," sabi ko na lang. Nagmumukha naman itong masarap. Nagkukulay berde at pula, parang korean soup kung tingnan.
"Really?" Tumaas ang kilay ng babaeng nakalimutan ko ang pangalan-siguro dahil wala akong pakialam. "Magaling din akong magluto," she proudly informed. Does anybody here asked? She's too confident to think that we actually care.
Nakita kong gumalaw ang kamay ni Lord at pinulot ang kutsarang nababagay rito at nagsimulang kumuha. Naalarma ako agad.
"Sandali," pagpapatigil ko sa kanya. "Siguro mas mabuti kung ang bisita natin ang unang titikim. 'Di ba, Sir?"
He turned his gaze at me. In return, I smiled at him with a look that says, 'I'm being kind here, don't spoil the moment, jerk!'
"It's so sweet of you," the girl said after picking a teaspoon.
Fake.
"Hindi po iyan ang tamang utensil. Sa bawat pagkain, may nararapat na kutsara, tinidor, pinggan, o mangkok na gagamitin," imporma ko sa kanya. Lumapit ako at itinuro ang dapat gamitin. "As an heiress you should know that, should you not?"
Saksi ako sa panlalaki ng mata at butas ng ilong niya, pero hindi rin nakatakas sa akin ang bahagya niyang pagkabigla. Yes, this woman that you labeled as katulong knows how to speak english and can even do better than you, biatch.
Ang lakas ng loob niyang i-declare na tagapagmana siya, na heiress daw, na namumuhay na parang prinsesa. Wala namang kaso roon kung totoo naman, pero sadyang kinulang siya sa kaalaman sa mga etiquette sa bahay.
Nanginginig ang kamay nitong nakahawak sa kutsarang may lamang sabaw. Lord who's looking at her intently seems excited on her reaction.
Me too.
Subaybay ako sa kung paano niya dahan-dahang hinigop ang nasa kutsara. Oo, hinigop. Kung ako ang nasa posisyon niya, inamoy ko muna. Kapag naamoy ko na, titikman ko nang kaunti. Kapag nagustuhan ko ay doon ko hihigupin.
So whatever will happen, not my fault.
"OMG! Ang anghang! O my Go- ah! Shit! Aaaaanghang hanghang tubig, tubig."
Halos mabulunan ako sa sarili kong laway habang pinapanood siyang nagwawala sa hapag. Hindi pa natapos dahil diretso ang pagtungga niya sa basong nasa tabi ng pinggan niya.
"Shit! It's a white vinegar! Oh my God, what the f- shit shit shit!"
"I-ito tubig." Natatarantang inabot sa kanya ni Lord ang baso niyang puno pa.
Dire-diretso niyang nilagok ang laman nito hanggang sa halos maubusan na siya ng hangin sa dibdib. Marahas niyang inilapag ang baso at mabibigat ang hiningang tumingin sa akin.
Lord on the other hand didn't move an inch. Diretso ang tingin niya sa pinggan pero halata ang bahagyang paggalaw ng perpekto niyang panga. Angry, my Lord?
"Where's your wash room?" pagkaraan ng minuto ay nagsalita ang babae, bakas ang pagkapaos ng boses nito. Lord gave her the direction and she immediately left.
Now, it's the two of us. For the first time in my life, I feel awkward. This is so not me.
"What have you done?" he asked in all seriousness.
"Done what?" patay-malisya kong tugon. "Naninilbihan kapalit ng pagtira ko rito?" dugtong ko sa paraan na parang sinasabi kong dapat alam na niya 'yon. "Ayaw kong may maisumbat ka balang-araw. I will pay the equivalent of what I receive. Shouldn't you be glad, Mr. Lavigne?"
"She's our architect. Hawak niya ang mga bagong-tayong condo ng La Villamorés. What you did is unethical," says Lord. Hindi niya pinansin ang mga sinabi ko.
"Correction, Mister. She's YOUR architect. Huwag mo akong dinadamay sa mga pag-aari mo. Remember, we are married but didn't promise to share each other's properties."
Sumeryoso ang mukha niya at tiningnan ako sa mata. "Cassia, you think you still have properties? All you have now is me and everything I own. If you don't want to meddle with my business, then stay at home and learn to be a wife. That's the only choice you have now. Take it or take it."
Fiddle-faddle! Poodle poop! If young Sheldon has been able to hear everything he said he will surely puke! In my case, I still can handle.
Humalukipkip ako at ngumisi. "Be a wife, you said? Well, then, I order you not to bring any woman in this freakin' house anymore. Take that girl with you if you don't want me to flush her on the toilet." I gave him an annoying look. "Take it or take it."
"May pros and cons ang pagiging matalino. Pros, they consider a lot of problems as mere mind games and are entertaining. They can invent something extraordinary and leave legacy. They can think logically even in a stress situation and can work well in a minimal supervision. Sometimes, they can stay cool even under pressure. Intelligent people are more likely to gain respect and preferences from people.""Indeed. Kapag matalino ka, marami kang magagawa. Marami kang matatanggap at malayo ang mararating mo.""Nevertheless, intelligence does not result pure advantages. Some people abuse their capability, and that's when the disadvantages occur. They stay away from people who make them feel stupid. Madalas din silang makakita ng mali sa iba, ng pagkukulang. They are also at risk of sounding arrogant because they think they're the best, they think they are superior of others. Consequently, it will hinder them from accepting suggestions and criticisms. They won't heed pieces of advice becaus
Panay ang lingon ko sa kanan at kaliwa habang nakikipag-argumento kay Manang Ymir. Pareho kami ngayong narito sa bukana ng grocery store at kanina ko pa ipinagpipilitang hindi ako p'wedeng sumama sa kanya sa loob.I never set a foot in a grocery store because all I had to do before is to list down everything I need and let the maids do the buying—when everything is still in its place. Kung lalabas man ako para bumili, 'yun ay kung para ito sa personal kong pag-aari kagaya ng mga damit, jewelry, cosmetics, gadgets, at iba pang luxury items.And that's exactly what I'm telling right now . . . for how many freaking times."Paano kung may makakilala sa akin? Ano na lang ang iisipin nila? Na wala na akong perang pambayad ng katulong at ako na mismo itong narito at nag-go-grocery? Come on, I'm not gonna escape. There's a boutique nearby, doon lang ako." Holy Mary, why is the world so airheaded?"Heather, nangako ka sa'kin kanina na hindi ka tatakas."I frustratedly massaged my forehead. "Ma
"BREAKING NEWS:Heather Cassia Del Puerto 'The Bitch', the daughter of Robert and Jezebel Del Puerto became a housemaid after being disowned by her father. Not to mention, she works now for the La Villamorés' owner-a former student and campus heartthrob of Aguiluz International University—Lord Lavigne."I'm torn between clapping my hands or bursting into a loud harsh cackle of laughter, so I just did both. At least, this reminds me that stupid people do exist when sometimes I fail to think they do.Trina only had the audacity to do this now that she thinks she's already above me. What an intoxication she put herself into. Should I pity her?Madalas na akong center of hatred noong college pa lang, pero wala ni isa ang nangahas na idamay ang pangalan ko sa AIU Trends, isa sa mga most famous page ng aking alma mater. Ang original group page name nito ay AIU Secret Files, pero mukhang naisipan din nila—kahit nakapagtatakang may isip sila—na very cliché iyon.Hindi rin naman ako masyadong
"Head Napa cabbage, kosher salt, ground pork, scallions, cilantro, soy sauce, fresh ginger, eggs, package round dumpling, wonton, or gyoza wrappers.""Those are?"My mom faced me and smilingly replied, "The main ingredients of your father's favorite pork dumpling.""Oww . . . kay?" I reacted stupidly, still trying to process what my mom wants me to do. "You're not gonna make me cook, are you?"She didn't reply. Itinuloy niya ang paghiwa ng kung anu-anong ingredients. Halatang gamay na niya ang paggawa ng mga ito."I let the maids do all the works except the kitchen. This is my place."I gave a nod. It's true, kitchen is one of my mother's kingdom. One of her dreams is to build a restaurant, but my father happened so . . ."Is this the reason why you summoned me here? Mom, you know kitchen is not my thing."Hindi ako pinansin ni mommy. Instead, she ordered me to do something. "Get the wrappers in the container.""Mommy!" I complained.Pinanlakihan niya lang ako ng mata. "Do it."I didn
Napaigtad ako nang tumama ang mamahaling flower vase ni mommy sa pader, ilang pulgada na lang mula sa balat ng aking braso. Tumalsik ang bawat pirasong bubog nito, nagkalat sa sahig. Malas lang ni dad, wala ni isa ang sumugat sa akin.With a face like a thunder, he slammed his fist down onto the table. His facial muscles are twitching, and he looked at me with those eyes seem to pop out."What did you do, Heather Cassia?!" We're in a wide four-cornered library room, and the sound of his voice etched in between of every single book in the bookshelves.Why is there a kind behavior to ask 'What did you do?!' after knowing what you actually did? Is it one of the ways to make us realize our own action and what it actually caused us?A lot of 'what did you do?' in the world and the one that has been said in a voice fuming with anger is something that shouldn't be answered.And, oh, he called me in my real name. That's not something I should ignore.So, I remained silent."Hindi ka namin hi
"Are you out of your mind, Hid? You think your suspension is not going to affect your record? What about your behavior? Ganiyan ba umasta ang isang Dean's Lister? Paano kung matanggal ka sa listahan? Paano kung hindi ka umabot sa summa cum laude? Paano kung—""Mom," I cut her off, "gusto ko nang matulog." Tumalikod na ako at nagsimulang humakbang papasok sa aking kuwarto."No, we talk!" Humarang siya sa aking pintuan. "You should apologize to you professor. My God, Hid. Major subject mo pa 'yon!""I don't say sorry to anyone, Mommy. Alam mo iyan."If there are two phrases I will never say in my life, these are 'I'm sorry', and 'I was wrong'. I will never feel sorry and will never feel wrong of my actions. Not a chance. Even if I do, I can always find a way to get away with it. I will never let anyone feel that they beat me, nor to see that I failed."But she's an exception! She's your professor, for goodness's sake!" diin ni mommy."The salvation of my pride considers no one," tamad k
Nagbunga ang gabing iyon, dalawang taon na ang nakalipas. Ang akala ko ay isang simpleng suspension lang ay nauwi sa kamalasang tumangay sa akin papunta sa buhay na impiyerno—papunta sa buhay ko ngayon.True, the past can't be undone, yet what is coming is better than what is gone. It's not late to use my head more wisely. Ah, did I just indirectly admit that I used my head less?Ipinilig ko ang aking ulo. I pushed myself to stand up. Usually, when I wake up, I feel like I am just letting the hands of the clock take me to bed again when darkness comes. Since I moved here, no single day that I anticipated the sun to shine.These past few days are too gloom, empty, boring, lifeless, name it. But today is another day. Not another day of doing the same annoying routine, but another day with a new life to offer.Halos liparin ko ang pintuan at tumalon mula sa barandilya ng palapag pababa sa first floor. Napakahaba pa naman ng hagdanan ng bahay na ito, aksaya sa oras. Kung tutuusin, mayroon
Nangyari ang hinihintay ko. Malakas na tumunog ang censor ng boutique nang lumabas ang stepmother ko na nakahawak ng handbag at dalawang paper bag.Tumingala siya, bumaling-baling sa paligid. The innocence in her eyes pushed the evil smile appear on my lips. Nang lumapit ang isang guwardiya sa kanya ay kitang-kita ko kung paano bumilog ang mga mata niya. Her shocked expression brought joy to my heart, especially when the manager, Mrs. Sandara, approached.Dahil medyo malayo ako ay hindi ko nasundan ang usapan. Lumapit ako at tuluyan silang narinig."I'm sorry but we need to inspect you, Ma'am," the manager apologetically said. "Kilala ko kayo at sa tingin ko ay hindi naman kayo magnanakaw, but the censor won't lie.""Fine." Ramdam ko ang frustration sa tinig ni stepmom. "Hindi naman ako tatakas. I will prove my innocence."Isa-isa niyang inilapag sa inspection area ang lahat ng hawak niya. Her body got scanned. As what I already know, the item is not hidden in her clothes.My vision m