Chapter 1

"What does he want this time?" I asked the woman walking beside me.

"May importante lang daw siyang sasabihin sa inyo ma'am," the woman stuttered.

"Hindi ba pwedeng sabihin niya lang sa akin through a phone call? Kailangan ko pa bang puntahan siya sa office niya?"

"Yes. I believe so."

I rolled my eyes heavenwards. My dad always wants to get everything that he wants. Walking beside me is his secretary about my age. Kanina pa ako tinatawagan nito kahit natutulog pa. Gaano ba ka importante yung sasabihin ni Daddy para dapat ko siyang puntahan sa personal?

Hindi na ako nag-abalang kumatok at agad binuksan yung office door niya. Napaangat siya ng tingin sa akin at agad ngumiti nang makita ako.

"My beautiful daughter!" Bati niya sa akin.

Walang gana akong umupo sa bakanteng upuan sa harap ng desk niya. I couldn't reciprocate the enthusiasm that he beamed at me. Sino ba ang may gustong gisingin alas kwatro ng umaga?

"What is it, Dad? This better be important," I said.

"Oh? Going down to business already? Hindi ka ba babati sa Daddy mo?" He asked.

Napairap nalang ako bago lumapit sa kanya at humalik sa pisngi. "Good morning po."

"Good morning din, anak," he smiled. "Please take a sit."

I nodded at him and took a sit. 

"Miss Reyes, can you leave us for a bit? Mag-uusap lang kami," he gestured his hand towards his secretary which quickly responds.

"Yes sir. Excuse me," tango nung secretary at agad kaming iniwan.

As soon as the woman walks out of the room, agad ko siyang hinarap at tinanong agad.

"Is this one of your fixed marriage thing again? Dad, sinabi ko naman sa'yo diba? Ayokong makasal sa taong hindi ko kilala."

"Edi kilalanin mo."

I sighed. "Who is it this time?"

Ngumisi siya. "Curious of the man?"

"I'm not considering the idea. Gusto kong malaman kung sino. Baka isa na naman 'yan sa mga anak ng business partners mo na baduy," I said.

He chuckled. "Hindi siya baduy, anak. He's actually decent. Besides, single ka naman diba?"

Umiling ako. "Dad, I am single for a reason. Mas kailangan ng aso ko ang buong atensyon ko so I don't have time for relationships like that."

"Why are you like that? Wala ka namang naging boyfriend para maging bitter ka 'a," he asked.

"Kasi hindi niyo po ako pinapayagang magka-boyfriend noong nag-aaral pa ako."

"But I told you that you can now that you finished your studies. Pwede ka nang magkajowa," he said.

"Not my priority, Dad. Alam kong gagawin mo din ito-- the fixed marriage thing. Kaya bakit pa ako maghahanap ng jowa kung hindi ko naman mapapakasalan?" I pointed out.

He sighed. "Look, I'm sorry."

"It's fine Dad. So sino nga ngayon ang gusto mong ipapakasal sa akin?"

Yumuko siya bago ako hinarap ulit. "It's Timothee Chandler."

Tumaas yung magkabila kong kilay. "A Chandler?"

"You know him?" Nagbabasakali niyang tanong.

Umiling ako. "No. I haven't met the son before pero kilala ko ang mga magulang. I think I saw them in the news once."

"And the news was?"

"A huge scandal of the company," I said directly. "Dad, are you sure you want me to be tied to Mr. Chandler? I mean alam ng lahat ang scandal na iyon. Do you want our company to be stained? I don't want the things that you've been working on to be burned down the ground!"

Bumuntong-hininga siya at napahilot sa sentido. "I know, anak. But his father is a good friend of mine."

"Ano ba yung nasa isip mo, Dad? Do you think marrying his son could redeem the reputation of their company? Pero paano tayo?"

"You don't know the scandal, do you?" He asked seriously.

Umiling ako. "No. The news didn't disclosed it yet," I paused. "Ano ba yung scandal?"

He sighed. "Ang sabi babaero daw yung anak nila."

"What?!" Nanlaki ang aking mga mata. "Babaero naman pala pero ipapakasal mo ako sa kanya? Dad naman!"

"It's just a rumor," he said. "Hindi naman daw totoo yung sabi-sabi kasi alam naman nila na mabait anak nila. He was a magna-cumlaude at his time."

"And you want me to marry him because of what?"

"To stop the rumors," he paused. "Para sabihin na may girlfriend na siya at ikakasal na din. Please, anak. I know that you turned me down on the past pero kahit ngayon lang. Gawin mo para sa Daddy mo, hmm?"

Napapikit ako nang mariin. "What do I get in return?"

"Mapapasayo lahat ng mana ko," he said directly.

I scoffed. "Dad. Alam mong wala akong pake sa mana mo. You know I don't have interest with your wealth."

He frowned and then sigh in defeat. "Fine. I'm gonna take you to your Mom."

Unti-unting nawala yung kunot ng noo ko at lumiwanag yung mukha. "Really? Papayag ka nang bibisitahin ko often si Mommy?"

He nodded. "Yes."

"Yes!" I jumped for joy. "Wala nang bawian 'yan ha?"

"Oo," he said. "So payag ka na?" 

Nawala yung ngisi ko at umupo ulit sa mesa. Ang dali ko namang pumayag dahil lang dun. Of course hindi agad ako papayag. My life is at stake here. Nakasalalay kung ano yung magiging future ko dito.

"In one condition, Dad."

He frowned. "Ilang kondisyon ba gusto mo? I already agree na pwede mong bisitahin Mommy mo."

"Let me know him first," sabi ko.

"Know him? That's easy, anak. I can schedule a day for you to know him better!" He suggested.

"No. I want it my way. I want to know him the way that I want. Kapag nagustuhan ko siya then I would agree," I said.

Sumimangot si Dad. "Paano kong hindi mo magugustuhan?" 

I shrugged my shoulders. "Edi walang kasalan."

"Anak naman!'

"Don't worry, Dad. I won't be harsh. Siguro I'll give him a chance if ever hindi ko siya gusto. I'll be patient."

"Salamat, anak. It means a lot," ngiti niya.

"Yun lang po ba yung sasabihin niyo?"

He nodded. "Yes, that was all. Thank you for considering my proposal."

"Anything for you, Dad."

Matapos naming mag-usap ay nagpaalam na ako sa kanya. I close the door before I leave at bumuntong-hininga. Napapikit ako. Kailanman ay hindi ko nararamdaman kung talaga bang mahal niya ako. Binigay niya naman sa akin yung lahat ng gusto ko but why can't I feel the love?

Mas mahal pa niya yung kompanya keysa sa akin. He even gave me up for the sake of his friend's business. Kaya lang naman ako pumayag kasi matagal ko nang gustong mabisita si Mommy. My parents separated. Noong una ay nasa alaga ako ni Mommy but she's unable to raise me since may ibang pamilya na din siya. She's not as rich as my Dad so my Dad took custody of me. Ayaw ni Daddy na bisitahin si Mommy kasi yung bagong asawa din naman ni Mommy yung may ayaw. 

I went home directly at pagkapasok ko pa lang nang bahay ay sinalubong agad ako nang aso ko. She wagged her tail at me.

"Hi, Pixie!" 

I bended my knees and started patting her head. Hindi ko napigilan ang panggi-gigil and carried her in my arms. 

"Did you miss me?" I asked which she responded with a bark.

Pixie is a dachshund. Binigay siya sa akin galing kay Mommy. Let's just say mahilig din sa aso si Mommy and when their dog gave birth, she gave me the puppy. Mixed-breed si Pixie since hindi nila napansin na Aspin yung nakabuntis. Pixie still have a long body of a dachshund but unlike the mother, she had long legs. Yun lang ang nag-iba sa kanya. Nagmukha tuloy siyang Min Pin.

"Mommy got another marriage proposal," I told her. "Gusto mo bang ikasal si Mommy sa taong hindi niya kilala?"

She licked my face instead of answering me. I gigged. Umupo ako sa sofa at pinanggigilan yung aso ko.

"Hindi ko nga lang alam kung paano siya makikila. I don't want to know him through chats or the usual dinner. Paniguradong hindi niya ipapakita sa akin kung ano talaga ugali niya. Baka totoong babaero talaga siya, diba? For sure if we meet each other in a formal way, he would keep his acts," I continued. "You know how I despise lying, right?"

Tiningnan ko yung aso ko pero tumahol lang siya kaya napangiti nalang ako. 

"I'll take that as a yes."

"Ayy, Ma'am! Nandito na pala kayo?" 

Napalingon ako sa pinanggalingan ng boses at nakita yung kasambahay namin. Bumaba na si Pixie mula kandungan ko at hinarap yung maid.

"Kararating ko lang, Manang," ngiti ko sa kanya.

"Ang aga niyo naman pong umuwi. Hindi ba't alas singko ka pa naman kayo umuuwi? Alas tres palang," tanong niya.

Kumunot yung noo ko at tiningnan yug orasan. Tama nga siya. Alas tres pa nga lang. Minsan kasi pumapasyal pa ako kahit saan. Don't get me wrong, I graduated na and I also have a stable career. Kaya lang I'm taking a break from work. Besides, I am my own boss.

"Maagang natapos yung usapan namin ni Daddy. Ewan ko kung bakit kailangan ko pang pumunta sa opisina niya kung pwede namang sabihin niya nalang sa akin mamaya pagkauwi niya," I said.

"Baka urgent talaga, Ma'am. Alam niyo naman Daddy niyo, gustong makuha niya lahat ng gusto niya," iling niya.

Sumingkit ang aking mga mata kay Manang. Pati yun alam niya? Well, hindi na nakakagulat. Matagal na din siyang naging kasambahay dito sa amin simula pa nung kinasal sina Mommy at Daddy. Siya na rin yung nagpalaki sa akin.

"Talagang kilala niyo po kami no?" I asked smiling.

"Aba syempre naman, Ma'am! Kabisado ko lahat ng mga ginagawa niyo araw-araw. Gigising ka ng alas kwatro para maghanda sa trabaho. Pero ngayong naka-break ka ay alas otso ka na gumigising. Pagkagising mo pa ay pinapakain niyo mismo yung aso at pinapalabas. Ala una ng hapon ay lumalabas ka kasama mga kaibigan niyo at umuuwi na kayo ng alas singko," dire-diretso niyang sabi.

Napakurap ako nang may naisip. Kilalang-kilala ako ni Manang masyado na pati yung daily routines ko ay alam niya. She knows my favorite food and probably my favorite color. Alam niya ang lahat. Mas alam pa nga siguro niya ako kompara kay Dad.

"Manang ang galing niyo talaga!" I exclaimed and hugged her out of the sudden.

Nabigla siya sa ginawa ko kaya hindi agad siya nakapagreak. Humiwalay na ako sa yakap at agad umakyat sa silid ko. I close the door behind me and went directly to bed.

Tama. Alam ng kasambahay yung pinaggagawa ko. She's been there, observing us while doing her job. Kaya hindi nakakagulat kung bakit alam niya lahat. And that is because he is a maid. Nang dahil sa naisip ay alam ko na ngayon kung ano yung gagawin.