Mask
1748 Words
Chapter 10
Sash's pov:
Nahihiya akong tumingin sa lalaking ito. Mas pino pa siyang kumilos kaysa sa akin pero napakalalaking-lalaki nya sa paningin ko! Para siyang prinsipe sa mga kwentong pambata na nababasa ko noon! Talaga bang butler lang siya?
Ngunit napansin ko ang ilang pagkakapareho nila ni Aizen lalo na ngayong nakatalikod siya sa akin. Kung sa unang tingin ay iisipin kong siya nga si Aizen!
Pero… imposible! Manyak ang lalaking ‘yon at sira-ulo! Hindi siya kagaya ni Dylan na bukod sa gwapo na ay napakamaginoo pa. At ang kanyang ngiti, talaga namang… haayyy! Para kong natutunaw kapag nginingitian niya ako, lalo tuloy akong nahihiya!
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Umakyat kami hanggang ikatlong palapag at huminto sa harap ng isang pinto na nasa dulo ng pasilyo.
Muli siyang humarap at ipinakita sa akin ang mapang-akit niyang ngiti.
"We're here! P’wede bang maghintay ka rito ng sandali? Ipapaalam ko lamang sa kanya na narito ka na,” malumanay nyang sabi.
Hindi naman maiwasang mamula ng mukha ko kaya naman nag-iwas ako ng tingin at tumango na lamang.
Kumatok siya ng dalawang beses sa pinto at pagkatapos ay binuksan ito. Pumasok siya sa loob at sandaling iniwan ako sa labas.
Nakahinga ako ng malalim dahil grabe talaga ‘yong kaba ko kanina pa. Hindi ko nga alam kung tama bang pumayag ako dito. Naisip ko lang kasi kanina… hindi pa ako p’wedeng bumalik sa bahay namin dahil baka ibenta lang ako ulit ni Tita Catalina. Naisip ko rin na tama nga sigurong matuto akong protektahan ang sarili ko ng sa gano’n… wala ng mananakit sa akin!
“Sashna?” tawag niya sa akin.
Parang huminto ang puso ko ng sandali. Ewan ko ba kung bakit inakala ko na namang si Aizen ang nagsalita ngunit sa pagharap ko sa lalaking tumawag sa akin… si Dylan ulit ang nakita ko. May pagkakahawig talaga sila ng boses.
“Are you okay?” he asked out of concern.
Pero kahit na may pagkakapareho sila ay may malaki pa rin silang pagkakaiba. Parang napakalambing ni Dylan at napakamaunawain nyang tao. Magiging magkaibigan kaya kami?
“Y-yeah! I’m… I’m fine,” I answered in hesitation.
He chuckled then he patted my shoulder, “It’s fine, don’t worry! He won’t bite you… I guess?”
He smiled. I-is that a joke? Sheez! I’m so nervous!
Binuksan ni Dylan ang pinto at tinanguan ako bilang senyales na maaari na akong pumasok. Muli akong huminga ng malalim at ikinuyom ko ng mahigpit ang aking mga kamao upang mapalakas ang loob ko. Nagsimula akong humakbang papasok ngunit kahit pinatatatag ko ang loob ko ay tila walang epekto lalo na nang mapansin kong medyo madilim ang kwarto.
Isinara ni Dylan ang pintuan at bigla na lang nanigas ang mga binti ko sa aking kinatatayuan. Nangunot ang noo ko ng suyurin ng aking mga mata ang malaking kwarto na iyon ngunit wala akong makitang kahit anino man lang.
Sino ang kakausapin ko dito? Multo?
Kahit medyo may kadiliman ang kwarto dahil dim light lamang ang nakabukas ay nauulinagan ko pa rin ang mga bagay-bagay sa loob nito. May mataas na istante ng napakaraming libro sa gawing kaliwa at isang malaking bintana na may puting kurtina naman ang nasa kanan. Isang mahabang mesa ang nasa gitna at may tig-limang upuan sa magkabilaang bahagi nito at tig-isa sa magkabilaang dulo.
“H-hello? Is anyone in here?” I asked.
The swivel chair at the end of the table slowly turned to face me and I was even more frightened when I saw the look of the man sitting there. W-what… is that? Is he wearing… a mask?
Napahakbang ako paatras dahil sa pangingilabot. Bakit? Bakit siya naka-maskara? Nakakatakot!
Hindi siya kumikibo at naka-dequatro siyang nakaupo habang nakatukod ang kanang kamay sa kanyang sentido. Pinagmamasdan niya ba ko? Siya ba? Siya ba… si Prime?
I couldn’t speak out of sheer fear when I saw the creepy mask he was wearing. Like Dylan he was also in a black suit. He was wearing a fedora hat on his head and his hand was also wrapped in black gloves.
Sh*t! I’m really scared! Anong gagawin ko?
Hindi siya kumikibo sa kanyang pagkakaupo at tingin ko ay nakatitig lang siya sa akin. Hinihintay niya ba akong magsalita? Magpakilala?
Teka nga, sandali! Baka naman… baka naman si Aizen ang lalaking ito at tinatakot lamang ako? Baka pinaglalaruan na naman niya ako para may pagtawanan siya? Urgh!
Muling umusok ang tenga ko nang maaala ko ang sira-ulong ‘yon. Malamang nga ay siya itong lalaking ito!
“Hoy Aizen! Tigilan mo na nga ‘yang kalokohan mo! Kung inaakala mong matatakot mo ko d’yan sa maskara mo, nagkakamali ka!!!” bigla kong sigaw sa kanya.
The man moved and crossed his arms over his chest but he did not even speak. What? Wait, is he mad??? Am I wrong for assuming that he is Aizen???
I was stunned to notice that there was something gleaming in his left ear. I felt my heart stop beating when I realized that he was wearing a black earring!
Ow my gosh! I’m wrong! Sh*t!!!
HE IS… A REAL MAFIA BOSS!
I bit my lip and bowed my head down several times. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! Please don’t kill me!”
My legs are shaking because I feel like I made him angry. He might kill me here and surely no one will know that I have died! Oh God, please help me!
Iniangat ko ang ulo ko ngunit wala pa rin siyang kibo. Kahit isang salita ay wala akong naririnig sa kanya. Sandali, naiintindihan niya ba ang sinasabi ko?
Umayos ako ng tayo at muli ko siyang tinignan kahit na natatakot ako sa maskarang suot niya. Huminga ako ng malalim at saka ako muling nagsalita, “Do you… understand me?”
Wala pa rin siyang isinagot kahit isang kataga. Taga saan ba ang taong ‘to? Hindi nabanggit ni Dylan sa akin kung paano ko siya dapat kausapin pero siguro naman nakakaintindi siya ng salitang ingles, hindi ba?
“Sorry for earlier, I thought you were the one I knew and was just scaring me! I hope you can forgive me!” I said honestly and bowed my head down again.
Still, he was silent. I don’t know what I should say just for him to talk to me. Shouldn't he be orienting me? He should say what he doesn't want and wants me to do in my job but why is he like this? Maybe his language is different, he doesn't seem to understand me?
I greeted my teeth and let out another breath. Maybe I should try to introduce myself first, maybe that's all he's waiting for to speak!
"My name is Sabrina Shanelle Eleazar, you can call me Sashna or Sash! I'm 19 years old and I'm glad to accept your job offer,” I tried to speak confidently but it seemed to have no effect on him.
What the heck? Doesn't he really want to talk? Why am I still here? Or is he really deaf? Or is he a mute?
I repeated the introduction and this time I did sign language even though I don't really know how to do it. “My name” —placed hand on chest— “is Sabrina Shanelle Eleazar.”
I pointed at him with my index finger, “you can call me” —placed hand on chest again— “Sashna or Sash!”
I just stared at him for a few seconds and waited for his respond but nothing, he still said nothing. I sighed in defeat.
Nah! I give up! I’m defeated! What’s wrong with this guy? Why doesn't he want to say at least just one word?
I felt scared again when he suddenly stood up. What is he thinking? What will he do?
He put his hands on either side of his pocket and slowly walked... towards me. I didn't know what to do, I panicked so I took a step back but, in my fear, I only took one step and I froze until he got close to me. In the darkness of the room, I could only see his furious eyes on his face which made my nervousness worse. He still doesn’t speak and he seems to be checking my face as well.
What the hell… is he thinking?
He again started to walk slowly around me and soon after, he stopped behind me. I close my eyes to the thought that he might do something wrong to me if I leave in urgent. I didn't move an inch, I didn't say a word, I just waited for what he would do next and I just prayed in my mind that I would be alive after this!
I felt him slowly parting my hair and I still couldn’t move apart from swallowing my saliva. He walked again and even with my eyes closed in fear I knew he had stopped in front of me.
What now? What is he up to?
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Narinig ko ang dalawang magkasunod na katok at pagkatapos ay biglang bumukas ang pinto. Napadilat ako ng aking mga mata at tama nga ako, nasa harapan ko nga siya!
“Prime, ang tagal mo naman! Mahuhuli na tayo,” sabi ni Dylan.
Nangunot ang noo ko habang nanlalaki ang aking mga mata sa gulat. A-anong— teka!
“N-naiintindihan mo ako?” paniniguro ko.
He averted his eyes from me and walked over to Dylan, “Of course!”
Tila unti-unting kumulo ang dugo ko. W-walang hiya! Nakakainis! Mukha akong tanga kanina!!! Nakakaintindi naman pala bakit hindi siya nagsasalita? Pinaglalaruan niya ba ako?!
Pero ano bang magagawa ko? Urgh!!!
Hmn. Ang boses niya… ay parang boses ng isang halimaw na nakulob sa isang malalim na balon! Hindi ko alam kung gano’n talaga ang boses niya o dahil lamang nakasuot siya ng maskara? Nakakatakot!
Huminto siya sa may pinto at muling lumingon sa akin.
“Make sure you do your job well otherwise, I will punish you!” he warned.
What… the… hell!
- Writer
