Chapter 03

Chapter 03

It's been three days.

Sa tatlong araw simula nang nakipag meeting ako kila Janice at sa asawa niya, araw-araw na akong nakakatanggap ng message from her husband. I knew it. He wants to play fire. He really badly wants it because he likes to message me every minute. This will be a big blow up for their wedding day.

Abala ako sa pag-aayos ng mukha nang bumukas ang pinto ng dressing room. Nakita ko sa salamin na pumasok si Lia at lumapit sa akin. 

“Ate, may nagpaabot. May letter daw po sa loob kung kanino galing. Hindi sinabi ng delivery man kung kanino galing, eh. Should I throw this one?”

Humarap ako sa kanya at tinitigan ang hawak na regalo ni Lia. Balot na balot ito kaya hindi ko makita kung anong klaseng regalo. But I know who gave this one. 

It should be him.

I smiled. “Can I see it?”

Nakita ko ang letter sa ibabaw. And the moment I open it, I can't stop myself from smiling. Not because I like the gift, but because my plan is about to happen.

I remove the letter and crapple it.

“Ah, you can keep it, Lia.” Inabot ko ulit kay Lia ang regalo. “You know I don't like gifts from strangers.”

“Pero sayang naman 'to, ate. Tignan mo muna kung anong nasa loob? Baka magustuhan mo.”

Umiling ako. "Lia."

She sighs before getting the gift in my hand. 

“Sure ka na, ate, ah? Akin na lang 'to?” She asks. “Ayaw mo talaga?”

I nod my head, making her sure that I don't really like it. 

I haven't accepted any gifts from anyone since then. At mas lalong ayokong makatanggap sa ng regalo mula sa mga taong may connection sa pamilyang Ynes. Hindi-hindi ako tatanggap ng regalo mula sa kanila. 

I promised myself that they would receive a gift from me. Not me. I'll make sure they will like my gift for them. They will remember it until their last breath, especially that man. 

Lia went out holding the gift from Leo. Saktong paglabas nya ng dressing room nakatanggap ako ng message from him. Hindi ko malaman kung saan nakakakuha ng lakas ang lalaking 'to para kulitin ako ng ganito. He's about to marry someone yet he's still bugging me. What an asshole he is. 

I didn't reply to him. Bahala siya sa buhay niya. Starting the day he's message, ang tanging nirereplyan ko ang mga taong nya about sa kasal nila. Pero ang tungkol sa pang sarili niyang kagustuhan ay iniignora ko lang. Wala akong interes sa kaniya. 

Days pass by like a blink of an eye. It's been one week since Leo bugged me. And yet he's still bugging. Makapal ang mukha niya. I'm cold to him yet he is still doing what he is doing.

“Lia, may meeting ako with Miss Janice Ynes today, right?” We are on our day for my second schedule for today. It's already three in the afternoon. “What time again?”

“Yes, ate, meron po. Wait po check ko.” Kinalikot niya ang hawak na tablet. “By 6pm, ate.”

“Okay.”

I finished my schedule with Juna Loprez, one of the famous owners of a modeling company here in the philippines. And after that, nagpalit lang ako at kumain saglit bago dumiretso sa meeting place namin ni Janice Ynes.

To be honest, I knew Janice Ynes as a pretty, kind and lovely lady.  Though I didn't have any interaction with her before, I can tell she's really a genuine person. Malas niya lang kasi napunta sya sa pamilya na masama ang ugali. I've been hearing rumors back then that she's  to marry someone by her parents. Why force though? Why not let her experience and enjoy life?

Adults really love to pressure their children.

She's only 24. She's young and too good for someone like Leo. And Leo didn't deserve someone like Janice.

As usual, Janice and her husband were already in the meeting place. The moment we entered their scene, they're kissing endlessly. It's gross.

“Uhm, excuse me, Miss Ynes.” Hiya na tawag ni Lia sa dalawa.

'Tila walang narinig ang dalawa. They slowly move their lips away from each other and look at us. 

“Oh, I'm sorry. Please, sit down.”

Namula si Janice habang si Leo ay mayabang lang na tumingin sa akin. As if I care about him.

As usual, we talked about their plans. May nagbago since they consulted their parents and they didn't like what she wanted to do in their wedding. I tried to stop myself questioning her why she let her parents decide what she wants to do. It's not my business so I should not interfere with that. 

Sa gitna nang discussion namin, umalis si Leo dahil may tumawag sa kaniya. Hindi ko mam gustong marinig pero dahil kaharap ko lang sila ay narinig ko ang reason niya.

“I'll be right back, babe, okay?” He kisses Janice' forehead. “I will pick you up.”

“Make it fast, okay?” Janice says.

“Yup.” Tumayo si Leo at tinignan ako. “I'm going first.”

Ngumiti ako ng peke at tumango.

I noticed how Janice watched her husband go out until he disappeared from our sight. Then a worried look evident on her face.

“Is there any problem, Miss Ynes?”

She sighs before looking directly in my eyes. 

“It just … uhm…” she pressed her lips trying herself not to spill what she wanted to spill.

Ngumiti ako. “I understand, Miss Ynes. Should we continue our discussion or make another schedule?”

“No, no, we can discuss now. I need to present this to my present later tonight so we should finish this today.”

Really? She let her parents manipulate her? 

We continue discussing the plan. Even though something is bugging her, she's trying to focus and give me the details she wants about their wedding. We're about to finish discussing when suddenly her phone rang. 

”Sorry, can I answer it?“

“Go ahead.”

Ngumiti siya at dinampot ang cellphone. Hindi siya nag-aksaya ng oras para tumayo, kaagad niya sinagot ang tumawag sa kaniya.

“Yes? I'm still in a meeting with— WHAT?!” Nagbago bigla ang tono ng pannaalita niya. “Why? What happened? Did you find him?”

I don't know what's going on between her and the person she's talking to but I could clearly see the horror in her face. I wonder what's going on? Is it about her parents?

“Hanapin niyo! Hindi pa 'yon nakakaalis! Ang dami-rami niyo riyan hindi niyo kayang bantayan?! Pauwi na ako! Hanapin niyo! Understand?!”

She ended the call and immediately fixed her things. She looked in a hurry. Ano kayang nangyayari? 

“I'm sorry but I need to go. Can we meet again some other time?”

“Yes, I think that's very important.”

“Thank you. I'm sorry for this. It's just very urgent and important.”

“No worries, Miss Ynes.”

While fixing her things, she picks up her phone and calls someone.

“Please, pick up, babe!” she mumbles. “I need you right now!”

I don't know what comes in my mind but my mouth slips a word that gets her attention.

“Do you need a ride? I can offer.”

“Really?” her face lit up.

I nod my head and stand up. “Shall we go?”

Mabilis siyang tumayo at kinuha ang gamit. We went out while she was saying something I don't understand. I can really tell she's in fear while we are on our way. Halata sa mukha niya ang takot at kaba. At kung ano man ang nangyayari dahilan ng takot at kaba niya, kailangan kong malaman 'yon. Hindi ko siya makausap habang nasa byahe dahil abala siya sa cellphone niya. 

“What's happening, ate? Bakit natin siya kasama? May nangyari ba?” Bulong sa akin ni Lia. She's sitting next to me since Janice is sitting in the passenger seat, guiding Mang Ador to where we are going. 

“I don't know either. I just offered her a ride.”

“Thank god!”

Pareho kaming napalingon kay Janice sa biglaan nitong pagsalita. 

“Don't let him go anywhere again, got it?! I'm coming.”

Nagkatitigan kami ni Lia pero walang salita ang lumabas sa bibig namin. I stared at Janice and still wondered what's going on.

Ilang minuto ang lumipas ng marating namin ang mansion nila. Nagulat ako dahil pinapasok niya kami sa mismong mansion nila. 

“I'm really sorry for making trouble with you, Miss HM.” Sabi ni Janice habang naglalakad kami papasok ng mansion nila at tumungo sa sala. “Please, wait for me here. I just need to do something.”

Ngumiti ako sa kanya. “No problem.”

“Manang, kayo na po muna ang bahala sa kanila babalik din ako agad.”

“Yes, madam.”

Janice hurriedly went out again. Hindi ko alam kung bakit siya umalis eh nasa loob na kami ng bahay na. Kanino siya pupunta?

“Ah, excuse me?”

“Yes po?” sagot ng isa sa mga katulong nila.

“Saan ang bathroom niyo?”

“Sundan nyo po ako, ma'am.”

Sumunod ako sa katulong nila. 

“Dito po, ma'am.” she gestures the way. “Diretso lang po kayo, ma'am, nasa dulo po ang bathroom.”

“Thank you.”

“Maiwan ko na po muna kayo.” she says and left me.

I decided to look around rather than using their bathroom. And a loud noise from anywhere got my attention. Sinundan ko kung saan nagsimula ang ingay hanggang sa makarating ako sa may corridor at may pinto sa dulo na mukhang daan papunta sa likod ng mansion nila. And the sound slowly becomes clear.

“I told you to stop trying to go outside, didn't I?! What if something bad happened to you?! Malalagot ako kay mommy at daddy! Can't you stay here and be an obedient older brother, Jian!”

Jian? Older brother?

Hindi ba't si Xian lang ang older brother ni Janice? And her older sister is Jane. So who's this Jian?

I tried not to make nokse walking towards where they are. 

“Kuya naman, pangatlong beses mo na 'to. Wala sila mom at dad sa bansa para matignan ka. At ako ang naiwan na bantayan ka. Malalagot ako kapag may mangyaring masama. Please, understand naman!”

I am at the edge of the doorway and see Janice's back. But the person she is talking to, I can't see him. 

“Ayaw mo naman na ikulong kita sa kwarto mo, right?"

Sinubukan kong silipin ang kausap niya.

"Oh, ayaw mo naman pala. So, makinig ka, okay?"

My mouth hangs open and my eyes widen when I see the person she is talking to.

No way… 

Is this Xian?

But Janice called him Jian. May kakambal ba si Xian?

Tinignan kong mabuti ang itsura ng lalaki. Kamukhang-kamukha niya si Xian Ynes. The only difference is that he's not like his other siblings that have a white skin. Pero kamukhang kamukha niya si Xian.

“Escort him in his room and don't let things like this slide again or else I will fire you. Understand?!”

“Yes, ma'am.” Sagot ng dalawang guard.

“Go! I have visitor so huwag kayong dadaan sa sala. Sa likod kayo dumaan. Faster!”

Mabilis naman na hinawakan ng dalawang guard ang lalaki at hinigit palayo. I don't know why but my eyes follow him. 

There's something in me that my eyes can't let go to look at him.

“Argh!” Mabilis na nag martsa si Janice paalis. 

That's my cue to walk back to the sala. She's probably going in there, too. 

Huh… I can't believe this. Tinatago ba nila ang lalaking 'yon? Bakit? I need to find out. That's my key to sabotage the Ynes family. That man is my final card.