Chapter 4

"Naka-alis na po si Sir," sabi ng kasambahay na naglilinis ng opisina ni Accius.

Tumango ako at umupo sa swivel chair ni Accius. "You can leave now. Tawagin mo na rin si Jesel at papuntahin dito," aniko. Tumango siya at lumabas na.

I roamed around his office. Malaki ang opisina niya. Tiningnan ko ang bookshelf niya at nag-obserba kung may mali ba. My eyes narrowed as I observed his things.

Last night, he spent his hour outside. Isang oras siyang nawala at nang maka-uwi ay hindi agad siya bumalik sa kuwarto. I was thinking if he headed here or in that black door.

I flinched and thought of something. Agad akong lumabas at pinuntahan iyon. Malaki ang mga hakbang kong naglakad patungo roon. Nakakunot ang noo kong pinagmasdan ang pintuan na iyon.

Pinihit ko ang doorknob ngunit talagang naka-lock. Pinilit kong buksan ngunit ayaw talaga.

"M-Madame!" I heard Jesel calling me. Hindi ko iyon pinansin at patuloy na pilit binuksan ang pinto.

"Madame! Bawal po tayo dito. B-Balik na po tayo."

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "At bakit naman bawal? Do you know what's inside in this room?"

She nervously shook his head. "Hindi ko po alam, Madame. Pero ang alam ko lang po ay b-bawal po tayo sa area na 'to. Lalo na sa kuwarto na 'yan. P-Pero naka-lock naman po kaya hindi natin 'yan mabubuksan."

"Bumalik na po tayo–" Natigilan si Jesel nang may biglang malamig na boses na nagsalita mula sa aming likuran.

"Hindi ka dapat narito, hija."

I flinched when I heard someone's voice. I calmed myself and fixed my hair. I plastered a smile on my face.

"Hindi ka dapat narito, hija," ulit niya pa.

"And who are you?" nakangiti kong tanong.

She looks like in her mid 60s. Sa bihis niya ay parang kasambahay na rin. Her dark aura is scary. Mukha siyang masungit dagdag pa ang walang reaksyon nito sa mukha. She’s looking at me like I have committed a crime.

"Maaari mo 'ko tawaging Manang Rosa. Ako ang head sa mga kasambahay sa pamilyang ito," pagpapakilala niya.

"Hindi ka dapat narito. Ano ang ginagawa mo rito, hija?" Her eyes narrowed like she's observing me.

"I'm just wondering what's inside this room. I was checking all of the rooms here. Ito na lang ang hindi. Gusto kong makita ang loob nito,” I said, like I didn't find this room suspicious

Umangat ang mga kilay nito. "Puwede mong puntahan ang ibang kuwarto pero huwag lang dito. Mabuti pa kung bumalik ka na sa kuwarto ninyo, hija.”

Pinatunog pa nito ang hawak na tungkod at tumalikod papaalis. May sinabi ito kay Jesel ngunit hindi ko na narinig. I sighed and stared at the door I was trying to open.

"T-Tara na po, Madame."

***

"Pinatawag mo raw po ako, Madame. May kailangan ka po ba?"

Tumayo ako mula sa swivel chair ni Accius dito sa kaniyang opisina. At binitawan ang mga papeles na nasa lamesa. I walked towards her.

"What time do you sleep, Jesel?" I asked while crossing my arms over my chest.

"Eleven po tulog na 'ko. Bakit po?" naguguluhan niyang tanong sa akin.

My eyes narrowed. "Do any of you sleep late or early in the morning?"

Nanliit din ang mga mata niya na at napaisip. "Wala po. Maaga po kami natutulog lahat dahil maaga ang trabaho. Pero si Manang Rosa po gising 'yon sa madaling araw. Hindi ko po alam kung anong oras ‘yon natutulog. Hindi na nga po yata iyon natutulog. Siya po kasi unang gising sa amin."

I bit my lower lip as I tilted my head.

"May nangyari po ba?"

Pakiramdam ko ay hindi iyon ang unang gabi na lumabas siya sa ganoong oras. Sa mga araw na narito ako, hindi ko naman siya napapansin na umaalis dahil maaga akong natutulog.

I shook my head and walked towards the swivel chair and sat there. "May pagkakataon ba na nakita ninyo ang asawa ko na umaalis ng madaling araw dati?"

Nag-angat siya ng tingin sa akin. "Parang wala naman po…"

Natigilan siya. "Ah! Si Tessa. May na kuwento po siya sa'kin na nakikita niya raw si Sir na umaalis dati tuwing hatinggabi. Buntis po kasi 'yon sa mga panahong ‘yon."

My forehead creased. "Is she one of the maids here?"

She nodded. "Opo. Pero wala na siya ngayon, nanganak na po kasi."

"That room. Madalas din ba siya roon?" I said, referring to that suspicious room. Nakuha niya naman agad ang tinutukoy ko.

Pinilig niya ang kaniyang ulo, nag-iisip. "Opo. Dati po noong hindi pa po kayo kasal at wala ka pa rito, halos lagi po si Sir doon. Tuwing gabi po. Minsan doon na siya natutulog. Pero simula noong nandito ka na po, hindi ko na siya napapansin na pumupunta roon,” paliwanag niya.

I nodded. "You can leave now," wala sa sarili kong sinabi.

I stood up from my seat and walked towards the glass wall. Napa-isip ako sa narinig mula kay Jesel. But I realised, why am I making this big deal? I shouldn't care about that anymore. I should know my place. Hindi dapat ako nakikialam sa buhay niya. I should know my limit.

I sighed and walked towards the couch to get my phone. Pero agad akong natigilan nang may namataan ako.

The coat he used to wear earlier in the morning. Naglakad ako patungo sa Coat Rack kung saan nakasabit ang itim na coat niya. Kinuha ko iyon at tiningnan ng mabuti. I sighed in relief when there's nothing wrong with the coat. I was about to hang it back when I touched something strange on his coat.

Tiningnan ko ng mabuti ang magaspang na nahawakan ko. Dahil sa kulay itim ito ay nahirapan ako na alamim iyon. It is like a liquid that has dried. But when I realized what it was, my mouth slowly parted.

A blood.

Pero imposible! Hindi naman siguro.

***

I fixed myself and wore decent clothes. I decided to go to a restaurant. I feel like I need this. Kailangan ko rin lumabas.

As I entered the restaurant I saw a man that caught my attention, he's a little bit taller than me. Bahagya siyang nakayuko. The customers are scolding him. I ignored it and walked towards the table. I received a message from Jessel, saying that Accius is calling again. I couldn't answer his call earlier because of my low battery.

I looked around. I noticed that the other waitresses were busy. I just waited but no one was really coming my way because they're bothered by those customers scolding the worker. Napatingin ako sa hindi kalayuan. Naroon pa rin ang lalaki at mukhang sinisigawan pa rin siya. They're a group of men probably older than me.

"St*pid sh*t! I'll talk to your manager. You should learn your lesson, young man. T*nga ka kasi!"

"Pasensya na po. Hindi ko naman po sadya. Aalisin ko na lang po 'yong mantsa–"

He couldn't finish his words when the man slapped him. Dinuro-duro pa siya nito at sinisigaw ang kamaliang ginawa.

"This suit cost more than your life! T*nga ka kasi. Paano mo 'to mababayaran ngayon?! Sige nga!"

"H-Hindi ko po kayang bayaran 'yan. Gagawin ko na lang po ang gusto ninyo."

"I want you to get fired!" the man shouted.

Napaangat ng tingin ang lalaki. "P-Pero Sir–"

"Don't you dare talk back to me. Hindi mo ba ako kilala?"

"Poor boy. Ang lambot kasi kung kumilos, palpak tuloy." The other man said. They all laughed at him.

People who are also here are watching them. They caught people's attention because of that scandalous man.

"Why would he? Who even are you?" I asked sarcastically as I walked elegantly to them.

They all turned to me. They looked at me from head to toe. Hawak ng lalaki ang batok nito at pinipisil pa kaya tinabig ko iyon.

"And who is this beautiful lady?"

"Probably the lady who wants you to shut up," I said. His eyebrow raised and chucked.

"Woah. What’s your name, Miss?”

“Why would I tell you? People like you don’t deserve to know my name.”

He scoffed and was about to touch me but the man they were yelling at, held his wrist, stopping him from touching me.

“Don’t you dare touch me. You’ll regret it,” banta ko.

Hinarap ko ang lalaking nasa tabi ko na nanatiling nasa baba ang tingin. “You should go and do your work. Don’t mind these unmannered people.”

His eyes widened as he looked at me. I nodded and turned my back at them. The man earlier walked towards me.

“Can I take your order po?”

Even his voice is soft. He looks soft and feminine. His white skin like mine is soft too. He looks really pretty and handsome at the same time. Sakto lang katawan niya at hindi gaanong payat. But he looks so down. I don’t know but I feel bad for him.

I nodded and told him my order. “And also add some Lasagna soup.” He nodded and wrote down.

“Yes?” I asked. He’s still standing and biting his own lip.

“Gusto ko lang po magpasalamat. Hindi na po sana kayo nag-abala pa. Pasensya na rin po,” aniya.

I smiled. “I did that because they’re annoying. And also I can’t stand just watching you being scolded by them.”

“Thank you po ulit.”

Hindi na siya ang naghatid ng order ko. I ate my food and headed out after I finished eating. Naglalakad ako nang mamataan ang lalaki kanina. He’s sitting on the bumper blocks. Nakayuko siya. Sa tunog ng sapatos ko ay napalingon siya. Agad siyang napatayo at hinarap ako.

“Are you okay?” I asked. Tumango siya at tipid na ngumiti.

“Salamat po ulit kanina. Wala po akong kayang maibigay na kapalit… kaya pasensya na,” he said.

I chuckled. “It’s okay. Wala naman akong hinihinging kapalit. Can I just know your name?”

He nodded and smiled. “Daven.”

“I'm Sadie Dollina. It’s nice to meet you. And cut the 'po' and be casual. We’re at the same age I guess?”

“22 na 'ko ngayon.” So we’re really at the same age. “I am too.” His eyes widened.

“You're going home now?” tanong ko.

“Oo. Uuwi ka na rin ba? Ingat sa pag-uwi, Sadie. Salamat ulit.”

“I want to drive you home. Can I?” Namilog ang mata nito at nahihiyang umiling. “‘Huwag na. Nakakahiya naman. Sasakay na lang ako ng jeep.”

I pursed my lips. “Para makatipid ka.” Ngumiwi ito at nagbaba ng tingin, nag-iisip. Tumango na lang siya kalaunan.

“Come on,” I smiled. We walked towards my car.

But I stopped when I saw Accius. Nakasandal siya sa aking sasakyan at nasa baba ang tingin. My breath stopped when he looked up at me, with his dark and intense eyes. He’s fuming mad.

Bumaba ang tingin niya sa kamay kong nakahawak sa sa pulso ni Daven. I immediately let go of Daven's hand and looked away. I don’t know but I feel freaking scared. Kahit noong una ko siyang nakita ay takot na talaga ako. With the way he looked at us, it’s really scary. Kahit ang katabi ko ay nakaramdam ng kaba.

I looked at Daven who’s looking at me confusedly.

“I’m sorry, Dave. I can't drive you home. Maybe next time?” His forehead creased. Kita ko ang pag-aalala sa kaniya.

“Okay ka lang ba? At sino siya?” mahina niyang tanong sa akin.

Nagbaba ako ng tingin. I don’t know what to answer. At some point, hindi ko masabi na asawa ko siya. Maybe it’s because I don’t love him? We're married to each other, but we're strangers.

“Sorry. Can I just get your number–” I stopped when I felt an arm sneak into my waist, like he’s claiming his property.

“His f*cking number? For what my wife?”

Napa-iwas ako ng tingin at kinagat ang pang-ibabang labi. Daven's eyes widened. Hindi siya makatingin kay Accius.

I tried to get away from his arm but it’s just tightening the more I try to.

“Who the f*ck are you?” he asked sharply. Daven flinched nervously gulped while fidgeting his fingers.

He’s so innocent to be treated like this. Nainis ako bigla kay Accius. Binigay ko ang lakas ko para lang makawala sa kaniya. Nilapitan ko siya. His sparkling eyes met mine.

“Sorry about that. You should go home.” I smiled assuredly at him. Tumango siya at saglit pang tumingin sa lalaking nasa likod ko.

I watched him walk away.

Accius walked towards me. “Who the f*ck is that boy? Really, Dollina? Ipagpapalit mo ‘ko sa batang lalaki na ‘yon? What the f*ck? Walang-wala ang payatot na 'yon sa akin! He's nothing compared to me, Dollina. Kawawa lang siya.” Nakakunot pa rin ang kaniyang noo at galit na galit.

“Yes, walang-wala siya kumpara sa'yo. But don’t say those kinds of words to him and curse him. At anong pinalit? Are you saying that I'm a cheater?” My eyes narrowed.

He sighed and massaged his temple. “It’s not like that. I’m not accusing you of being a cheater. I’m just asking who is that boy? Why is he with you? At bakit mas kinakampihan mo pa siya? You didn't even tell me or the maids where you were heading to." Kita ko ang pilit niyang kinakalama ang sarili.

“What are you saying? Hindi ko siya kinakampihan. I just did not like the way you talked to him. He’s innocent here. Wala siyang ginagawa.”

“His f*cking name, Dollina,” matigas niyang sambit. Umiling ako.

At ano ang binabalak mong gawin sa kaniya?

The blood in his coat entered my head. I frozed. But still forcing myself to calm down. Agad ko ring inalis sa isipan 'yon.

“I won’t tell you.”