Chapter 4
"So, how's your first day going so far?" Keyrel asked, breaking the silence.
"It's...fine," I replied, trying to keep my responses brief.
Keyrel raised an eyebrow. "Just fine? That's not very enthusiastic. 'Wag na nga tayong masyadong maging pormal sa isa't isa."
"I know," I said, smiling plainly. "Of course."
Keyrel grinned. "So, what do you think so far? Do you think you can stay here working for a while?"
I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. "I guess," I said finally. "I've met a young girl earlier. One of the Gonzalo?"
Keyrel chuckled. "Oh, how's Theraze? Isn't she rude? Mean?"
"She's...definitely got a strong presence," I said, choosing my words carefully. Anong kagagohan ang pinagsasabi ko? Talaga namang nakakainis ang batang 'yon! "I'm still getting to know her, but she seems like a force to be reckoned with."
That's a lie bitch! Hindi ko alam kung saan ako kumukuha ng mga salita.
Tila sumasang-ayon naman sakin si Keyrel basi sa kanyang pagtango. "Mabait iyan sa boss natin, sa kanya lang 'yan mabait. Sa iba naman iba siya kung makitungo. I don't know, but she's adopted by the Gonzalo. Shh, don't tell them i told you." Nilagay niya pa ang hintuturo niya sa labi niya.
I just nodded and didn't asked any further questions.
As we finished loading the washing machine, Keyrel started it up and we stood back, waiting for it to finish its cycle. "You know, we're going to get along just fine," Keyrel said, smiling at me.
I nodded, feeling a bit more at ease. Maybe working with Keyrel wouldn't be so bad after all.
"Nagchichismisan po ang bagohan at si Keyrel!" Sigaw ng kung sino dahilan para matahimik kami.
"Si Daisy lang 'yon, silang dalawa ni Terry ang nga ingetera kong kaaway." Keyrel said.
Normal lang sa trabaho ang mga ganyang tao, meron din kami niyan sa kampo. We spent the day washing thick curtains and bed covers, which were a real challenge to clean because they didn't wring out well and were heavy when wet, making them hard to hang up.
We lost track of time. By the time we finished, the sun had set and we were both exhausted. Lupaypay ang katawan namin pero pinilit naming kumain kasama rin ang ibang maids bago nakapagpahinga ang lahat. It'd be a relief to get some rest.
I haven't met our boss yet, but I know my target for this mission. I don't care about lying; it's all part of succeeding. And my sole focus is on completing the mission and taking out the target. Nothing else matters.
Nothing else matters. Focus on the mission.
Hindi ako nahirapang matulog dahil paghiga ko ay agad akong nakatulog. Mahimbing na ang tulog ko ng makaramdam ako ng uhaw, hindi ko kayang bumangon pero pinilit ko dahil uhaw na uhaw na talaga 'ko.
"Aishh, bweset!" Mahinang sabi ko at napasabunot pa sa buhok para hindi magising si Keyrel. Mga alas-3 palang yata ng umaga.
Bahagya pa itong humihilik. Napagod talaga siguro siya.
Bumangon ako sa kama at dahan-dahan na binuksan ang pinto. Nakapatay na ang lahat ng ilaw at ang tanging ilaw ko lang ay ang maliit na ilaw galing sa sala. I was heading to the kitchen when I heard a noise in the living room. I froze, trying to pinpoint the sound. It was just the sofa creaking and some weird thumping noise that sounded like clapping noises.
I tried to brush it off and headed straight to the kitchen. Kumuha ako ng baso saka kumuha ng tubig sa ref at nagsalin sa baso.
"Ah!"
Muntik ko ng mabitawan ang basong hawak ko, naibuga ko naman ang tubig na dapat ay iinumin ko.
Tangina, ano ba 'yon?!
Dali-dali kong ininom ang tubig sa baso ko saka iyon inilagay sa sink. Parang gustong buhusan ng holy water ang tenga ko sa narinig, hindi ko dapat 'yon narinig.
"Oh! Ales!"
Gusto ko na talagang umalis ng makarinig na naman ulit ako. Kinuyom ko ang kamao habang papalapit ako ng papalapit sa sala.
Promise, sisilipin ko lang. Hindi ko sila guguluhin, hindi ito isang pambubuso. Sabihin nalang nating aksidente ang lahat at hindi ko ito kasalanan.
Sumilip ako sa sala. My eyes landed on the sofa. My eyes widened, my mouth dropped open, and I swallowed hard. My breath caught in my throat as I saw the back of a man standing by the sofa. It was like a bucket of cold water had been poured over me. The man's bare back arched as he hovered over the woman, who was also naked beneath him.
"Ah! Ales, i saw someone watching us!" Hinabol ko ang hininga ng mapatingin ang babae sa direksyon ko.
She saw me. Nakita ng babae na naninilip sa kanila. Oh, my god! What the hell did i just witness? Can I get a refund on my eyeballs? My eyes are melting, and I need a bleach bath for my brain. May the floor collapse beneath me right now, please.
Should i call the police?
Nagtago ako sa pader habang pinapakiramdaman ang galaw ng dalawa. Pakiramdam ko ay nagiinit ang mukha ko, lalalagnatin pa yata ako.
UMAGANG kay sarap mag mura. Hindi ako pinatulog ng mga nakita 't narinig ko kagabi. Hanggang ngayon ay kinikilabutan pa rin ako kapag sumasagi sa isip ko ang nakita't narinig ng mata at tenga ko.
"Jaire!" Napatingin ako sa direksyon ni Keyrel ng tinawag niya ako. Sinenyasan niya akong lumapit kaya lumingon muna ako sa paligid bago siya pinuntahan.
"Bakit?" Pasimple ko siyang siniko habang nagpupunas ng vase.
Lumapit siya ng konti sakin at bumulong. "Señorito Ales and his girlfriend arrived last night. Señorito Ales is Señorito Racs' younger brother." Tumango lang ako at pinagpatuloy ang pagpupunas kahit tapos na itong punasan ni Keyrel.
Tila pinagpawisan ako sa narinig ko. Iyon yata ang naabutan kong ginagawa ng dalawa sa sala kagabi. Shit! Sila lang namang dalawa ang dumating kagabi, wala ng iba pa.
"I don't really know him, but the first time I saw him, I got chills. He's got this intense aura around him - like, he's used to getting what he wants, no questions asked. His face is chiseled, like carved out of stone or something, and his eyes... they're piercing. Like, he can see right through you. When he looks at you, you can feel it, like he's sizing you up." She stared at the window while keeping her hands gesturing. "He's got this strong jawline that makes him look like he means business. And the way he carries himself? Confident, almost arrogant. You can tell he's used to being in control. I don't know what his story is, but I've heard rumors about how he deals with people who get in his way... let's just say he doesn't mess around. You get the sense that he'll do whatever it takes to get what he wants."
May gusto yata ang babaeng ito sa boss namin.
"What's his name again?" I pressed, my eyes locked on Keyrel's. Napangiwi ako sa sarili ko dahil parang tanga nagtanong pa talaga ako. Hindi naman kasi mawala sa isip ko ang nasaksihan kong kababalaghan kagabi.
She shot me a knowing smirk, like she'd been waiting for me to bite.
"You're really interested, huh?" she teased, her voice dripping with amusement.