Chapter 6
1154 Words
"Hindi pwede."
Napasimangot ako sa natanggap kong sagot mula kay Vallen.
"You still don't feel well. I won't allow you," sabi pa niya.
Pero kapag ba okay na ako, papayagan niya rin ako? "Then you'll allow me to go to school once I finally recovered? Right? Right?" a little excitement is obvious in my tone. Syempre, gusto kong pumasok. At ito nga, nagpaalam ako sa kaniya pero hindi niya ako payagan.
"Yes," he answered.
Kinagat ko ang labi ko para mapigilan ang sarili ko sa pagngiti. I miss going to school kahit na maging doon ay sirang-sira ako.
Why?
Because Lorraine is my schoolmate. We are taking different courses but she's still pestering me even in school.
We are already grown ups, I don't know why she's doing such a childish act.
"Or do you want to homeschooli—"
"No." I said firmly, cutting him off. Nang mapagtanto ko ang ginawa ko, agad kong tinakpan ang aking bibig. Really, me and my mouth!
Tumitig siya sa akin. Umiwas ako ng tingin. "Sorry..." I mumbled under my hand covering my mouth.
"How's your feeling now?" He asked.
"I'm feeling better," sagot ko. It's all thanks to him that I'm feeling better now.
"If that's so, then I'll be taking my leave. I have to go to the company," aniya. Tumango lamang ako sa kaniya. "Ivan will stay here. If you ever need something, just ask Ivan for it," dagdag pa niya.
"Hmm, okay," sagot ko. Wala naman akong iba pang gagawin bukod sa matulog at magpahinga.
"Don't get up yet. I'll bring you food. Just wait here," sabi niya. Oo nga pala, umaga na ulit ngayon at araw ng Lunes. Maayos-ayos na ang pakiramdam ko pero tinanong ko pa rin sa kaniya kung papayagan niya akong pumasok sa school kasi nga may pasok ako. Kaso iyon ang nakuha kong sagot sa kaniya.
It's still early. Maaga rin kasi akong nakatulog kagabi kaya napaaga ang gising. Pagkagising ko, gising na rin siya. Bihis na at mukhang aalis nga papuntang kumpanya.
Remember, he's Vallen Garrett Alejo? The wealthiest person in the city? He has a lot of connection, hindi lang dito maging sa ibang bansa. He also ranked high in the most influential men in the world kaya maraming nakakakilala sa kaniya. Daig pa ang celebrity.
And here he is in front of me. Who would believe?
He called Ivan outside. Pumasok si Ivan. "Greetings, Young Lady," bati niya. Ngumiti ako kahit naiilang pa rin ako sa pagtawag niya sa akin.
"Bring our breakfast here," utos ni Vallen. Yumukod si Ivan at umalis na rin pagkatapos sabihin iyon ni Vallen.
We waited for Ivan and when he arrived, we ate immediately. Nang matapos kaming kumain, nagpaalam na si Vallen sa akin na aalis na siya.
At ito, naiwan na akong mag-isa sa loob ng kwarto. Hindi pa ako nakakalabas magmula nang dumating ako dito nu'ng Sabado kasi 'di ba, may lagnat ako kahapon. At natatakot din akong lumabas.
Ang laki-laki kasi ng bahay, baka maligaw ako.
Kaya naman binuhay ko na lamang ang TV at nanood. Gugululin ko na lamang ang oras ko sa panonood ng TV kesa mag-isip ng mga bagay na hindi na mahalaga.
-
A few days later...
"Young Lady," tawag sa akin ni Ivan.
"May kailangan pa po ba kayo?" he asked. Napakamot ako sa aking ulo dahil sa pagkagalang niya sa akin.
"Uhm, Sir Ivan—"
"Just Ivan, Young Lady," pagpuputol niya sa sasabihin ko.
"Pero..." I hesitated to tell at first kasi nakakahiya. "P-Pero mas matanda po kayo sa'kin. And it doesn't feel right that you're using honorifics to me while I don't," dagdag ko. I don't want to be rude. Kahit hindi ako napalaki ng ayos ng mga magulang ko, I build myself to be respectful towards elderly and other people.
Nagulat siya sa sinabi ko kahit hindi ko alam kung ano ang kagulat-gulat doon. Pagkatapos ay ngumiti siya sa akin. "You're the first woman to show respect towards us, Young Lady," aniya. Huh? Does that mean, may ibang babaeng na-link na kay Vallen? And they're not respecting them?
"But I can't allow myself to drop the honorifics. I apologize, Young—"
"Lesley. Or Lady Lesley if you're not comfortable with just Lesley. But please, not Young Lady," I said with great disapproval. It's too formal, well Lady Lesley's still formal but it's much better than Young Lady.
"If that's what you want, Lady Lesley," yumukod siya sa akin at muling tumunghay ng nakangiti.
Ngumiti rin ako sa kaniya.
"Pero Ivan, wala na akong kailangan," sagot ko sa tanong niya kanina. Tumingin ako sa harap ng salamin at tiningnan ang aking sarili na nakasuot ng uniporme. "I'm all set and ready to go," dagdag ko. Dahil fully recovered na ako, makakapasok na ako. May approval ni Vallen himself!
"Lady Lesley," tawag niya sa'kin.
"Hmm?"
"Young Master wanted me to ask you if you want to transfer to another school," sabi niya. Napatingin sa kaniya. What did he say?
"Transfer?" I asked. He nodded. "Why?"
"Because your half-evil-sister, Lorraine, is there in the school you're attending with," sagot niya.
"Pfft," I laughed. Half-evil-sister? "Who came up with half-evil-sister?" I asked.
"It's Young Master, Lady Lesley," sagot niya..This time, I laughed real hard.
Talaga? Sinabi niya 'yun? How did he say so? Paano njya nalamang half-evil nga si Lorraine?
"Anyway, it's alright. No need to bother with transferring. Malapit na akong magtapos, baka wala nang school ang tumanggap sa akin," sabi ko. I will just endure this until the end.
"That's seems to be impossible," sabi niya. Naguluhan naman ako. Anong imposible?
"Huh? What do you mean?" I asked in confusion.
"No one will dare to refuse the fiancée of a Vallen Garrett Alejo," he proudly said. Ah, so that is what he meant.
Pero teka. "Is it publicize already?" tanong ko.
"Not yet, Lady Lesley. Young Master will discuss the wedding with you anytime soon once he finished all of his work in the company," aniya.
Napatango-tango ako. That's good. Kasi ayokong basta na lang harangin dyan sa labas. I want our engagement, even our marriage, is stay hidden. I want it to be a secret that I am his fiancée.
"I see," sagot ko.
"Pero tara na? Baka mahuli pa ako sa klase," sabi ko. Yumukod muli si Ivan.
"Yes, Lady Lesley," aniya. Aalis na sana kami ng biglang tumunog ang cellphone ko.
Nagtaka naman ako kasi ang aga-aga, sinong tatawag sa akin?
Kinuha ko ito sa aking bag. "Wait lang, Ivan," sabi ko.
Pagkakuha ko sa cellphone ko, kaagad na kumabog ang dibdib ko. Remuhistro ang gulat at pagtataka sa aking mukha.
I read once again the name of the caller kasi baka nagkakamali ako.
But no. Hindi.
It really is Mom.
Yes, Mom is calling me...
Why?
Should I pick it up? Or not?
Anong kailangang sa'kin ni Mommy?
Did they finally see my worth...?
- Writer
