His Broken Gem

HBG 9

Stella's POV

"Mom, I told you, we're not living together," I grunted.

We were at my office when she just suddenly barges in when I'm doing some paper works. And now we are discussing about me and Sebastian living together.

"You're not. But he frequently visited you and even sleep in the same room! Mika told me na iisa lang ang kama roon," she pushes. I massage the bridge of my nose and take a deep breath.

"We didn't sleep in the same room! We sleep separately," I clarified.

"You're having a relationship with a man, Stella. You're already 24 and God knows what happened in that room," she said, shaking her head.

My eyes went round at what she just said. Is she thinking that something happened to us? Me and Sebastian? Eww. I almost gagged at the thought of it but I stop myself. I think I should just go with the deal since mom is so eager to set me up if Sebastian didn't intervene that time.

"Oh my gosh, Mom. Nothing happened!" I blurted, putting the pen down.

"You can't fool me, Sweetheart. I'm not born yesterday," she said.

"Mom—" She cuts me off as she points a finger at me. Swinging it from left to right.

"Uh-uh. No more debate about this. That is final, both of you will be living together from now on and you guys should start on discussing the wedding," she said as she takes her bag and stands up. What the hell? "yon lang ba anf pinunta niya rito? "I'll be sending some furniture that you can use."

I stood up and was about to complain when she immediately shut me off and leave. I flop down to my swivel chair, rubbing my temple as I sigh deeply, feeling my head throb.

Can't I have a day without a headache? I decided to finish signing those papers that need my signature and leave everything to my secretary, I'm not in the mood to work overtime right now.

I went to the nearest mall to buy some furniture, especially a bed. Mom might wonder if she saw him sleeping on a sofa. A staff immediately usher me to the bed section.

As I was choosing a bed, I felt my phone vibrates. I took it out and saw Mika calling. I groaned as I answered the call.

"What now?" I impatiently asked. I still can't forget all she did last week.

"Galit agad? Wala bang hello diyan?" she giggled in the other line. I rolled my eyes at her even though hindi niya nakikita 'yon.

"If you won't say anything, then I'm ending this call," I warned her. She immediately responded to me.

"Ito naman, ang high blood..." she muttered. "Ngayon ang discharge ni Shy, kapatid ni Ali," she added. I furrowed my eyebrows as I heard an unfamiliar name.

"Who the hell is Ali?" I repeated.

"Si Seb, Sebastian Alistair name niya, nakalimutan mo?"

"I don't even know the names of my employees, so he's not an exemption," I stated.

"Grabe ka naman. In case you forgot. Magkaiba si Ali at ang mga employees mo. Ali is not just a regular employee," she said.

I silently grunt. I don't want to hear any lecture right now. "If that's all then goodbye, I'm busy." I didn't wait for her answer and ended the call. Hinarap ko ang staff na nasa likod ko.

"I'll take this, I want it to be delivered today before 6 pm..." I look at my watch to check the time. "That is 1 hour and 45 minutes from now. I'll pay double just get it delivered on time."

After paying ay dumaan muna ako sa Starbucks and buy some coffee for take-out.

I went home after that, when I said home, I meant the unit. It's still doesn't feel right though. As I get to the unit, I saw mom's secretary waiting outside of the door.

"Miss Salvador," she greeted me as she saw me approaching. I just waited for her to talk again.

"Narito na po 'yong mga pinadala ni Ma'am Catherine para sa inyo po, ipapaakyat ko na po ba rito?" she added. I sigh before nodding my head. I entered my unit, leaving the door open.

I entered my room and took a shower. I changed into my comfortable clothes and goes out to the living room.

Naroon ang secretary ni Mommy, ordering the staff to put the things inside.

"Is that all?" I asked her as I saw her double-checking the things. She faced me as she nodded her head.

"Yes ma'am. Saan po ilulugar ang mga 'to?" she asked. I look at the things mom bought.

"You can leave, I'll take care of it," I ordered. She was hesitant to leave.

"Ma'am—"

"I said 'Leave', do I need to repeat myself?" I recorded. She immediately shook her head before bidding goodbye.

I started unboxing the things mom bought me. A coffee table, some carpet, kitchenware, television and many more. I was exhausted after placing all of them in their right places. I look around to see my unit more...homely. I rested on the sofa, not realizing that I'm already drifting off. The sound of the doorbell wakes me up, I checked the time and notice that it's already 5:35 pm.

It might be the delivery man from the store earlier.

I opened the door without any hesitation and was surprised to see a different person. A furrowed my eyebrows as I look at them.

"I wasn't informed that I'm having more renters today," I sarcastically said. Mika just smiled and kiss me on the cheeks.

"Good evening," she greeted me as she faced her companion. "Shy, siya si ate Stella mo."

I look at the little girl that was hiding behind Sebastian's back, peeking at me. I look straight at her and that makes her hide even more. She must be afraid of me.

I rolled my eyes and mutter, "Whatever." I came inside to check to clean the living room. May mga naiwang mga boxes pa kasi roon.

"Pasok kayo." I heard Mika saying. I didn't give them a place and just did my work done. After that, I entered my room not wanting to face them. Lumabas lang ako ng kuwarto when I heard the doorbell rang. I saw him at door talking to the delivery guy.

"Kindly place that inside that room," I commanded. They look at me because of my sudden appearance, but I just ignore them and make my way to the kitchen.

Mika and Sebastian's sister were there, eating dinner. Baka nagluto sila kanina habang nasa loob ako ng kuwarto.

"Stella, may binili kaming Kare-kare kanina, tikman mo," Mika offers. Napakunot naman ang noo ko habang tinitingnan ang kinakain nila. It's a yellowish food that doesn't look appetizing.

"Where did you buy that?" I asked as I grimace at the presentation of the food.

"Sa karenderya sa labas ng hospital. Dali na, masarap 'to," aya niya ulit.

I just shake my head, rejecting her offer. The food was unfamiliar to me, and also I'm not sure if the food was clean since it was from a Carenderia.

"No thanks," I said as I get a water from the fridge. I should start buying some ingredients and stock the fridge. It's almost empty.

After getting a water, I decided to stay in my room and lock myself up. I was about to enter my room when he suddenly approaches me.

Napataas naman ang kilay ko at hinintay ang sasabihin niya.

"I just wanted to say thank you for letting us in here. Bibilisan ko na lang ang paghahanap ng mauupahan namin," he said.

I mentally rolled my eyes. "Don't bother. Mom wants you to live here anyways," I stated, not looking at him.

"Then...ako na lang magbabayad ng kalahati sa bill dito," he offered.

I scoffed as I look at him. "You can't even afford the bills of your sister then you're suggesting pay half of the bills here?" I mocked him. An annoyance was visible to his face but he's trying to mask it off.

"Magtatrabaho ako para makabayad dito, huwag kang mag-alala—" I cut him off as I remembered something.

"Before I forgot, quit all the job that you have now, baka may makakilala sa'yo at magsumbong kay mommy. We can't risk that..." I said. "I know some good company, I can make way to give you a work there," I added. I heard him laugh, a sarcastic laugh. My eyebrows immediately arched at his action.

"Salamat na lang pero ayokong magkaroon ng trabaho dahil sa may kapit ako, gusto ko makuha ko 'yong trabaho dahil sa sikap ko at hindi galing sa tulong ng iba," he mimicked.

I rolled my eyes at him. "Well, your loss. You're a stubborn man, anyway," I stated.

"And you're an arrogant woman," he rebutted.

"Yeah, whatever you say," I muttered.

"Kuya!"

Sabay kaming napalingon sa pinanggalingan ng boses na iyon. It was her sister, I guess she's around 7 or 8 years old. She's thin, it's because of her illness.

"Andy," tawag nito sa kapatid.

I watch him change his expression in front of his sister, from frowning to smiling. I noticed the girl look at me before coming closer to her brother.

"Uhm, kuya. Totoo po ba ang sinabi ni Doc Ganda na dito na tayo titira?" she innocently asked as she lowered her voice.

Sebastian just smile and patted her head. "Sa ngayon, oo. Pero hindi tayo puwede rito panghabang-buhay," wika niya.

I just watch them conversing to each other before I realized that I look like a fool standing here and just listening to them. I open the door and entered my room.

I don't have a appetite tonight and just sleep.

"Smile princess." I heard the man say as he directed the camera on me. I was just crying while sitting on the chair, tied up. I look around to find Kuya.

"Sabing ngiti eh!" I flinched as the voice starts to gets higher and louder.

"Ano! Hindi ka talaga ngingiti?" the man behind the camera asked again.

I'm still wearing my gown, but it's a mess now. It was tattered everywhere, the sleeves and the skirt. It's also covered with dirt and blood. I don't know how long we've been here, but I guess many days have already passed base on the hunger I'm feeling right now.

I can't see anything around me, there's only one light in this room at nakatutok iyon sa akin. I heard a movement somewhere, all my senses were alert.

"Don't...touch her!" Nakuha naman ng boses na iyon ang atensyon ko. It was kuya Jasper's voice.

"Kuya?" I called him out still crying. I heard him groan as he spoke.

"I'm here..." he said. Halata sa boses niya na mah iniinda siyang sakit. Thatade me cry even more.

"Potek naman oh! Mahirap bang ngumiti ha!" The man shouted again. I heard a movement behind the camera.

"Huwag na huwag kang magtatangkang saktan siya!" kuya Jasper shouted.

"Hindi kita kinakausap ah! Kaya manahimik ka," I heard the man shouted before I heard kuya Jasper groaning in pain.

I cried out thinking that they're hurting him.

"No, please. D-Don't hurt him. I-I'll smile na po j-just don't hurt him," I cried.

"Ayan naman pala eh. Ngayon, smile..."

I opened my eyes as the flash strike into it. I was sweating a bucket. I look around to see nothing, it's bright inside my room. I hate darkness, it reminds me of that day.

I tried to calm my breathes as I figure out that I'm at my unit. f**k that dream again!

It's still 1:15 am when I check the time. Napahilamos ako ng mukha nang ma-realize na hindi na ako makakabalik sa pagtulog. I got out of my bed and went to the kitchen to drink some water, to calm my nerves. I drank 3 glass of the water as I lean my hands on the table, trying to calm myself.

'You're fine, Stella,' I heard Megan at the back of my head. 'They can't hurt you anymore.'

"Why can't I get rid of it! It's so fuckkign tiring!" I grunted.

'It's because you won't let it go, you idiot!' Megan mocked.

"Shut up," I groan not liking what she called me.

"Ayos ka lang?" I flinched at the sudden voice, I look around and saw him at the kitchen doorway.

Did he heard me?

"I'm fine," I firmly said as I composed myself.

"Are you sure?" he asked again. I glared at him, getting annoyed of his annoying question.

"Mind your own business," sabi ko na lang sa kaniya at nilisan ang kusina. I scram towards my bedroom and took my laptop. I opened my account to check some new emails.

Might as well do my work now since I can't go back to sleep.