The Maid's Secret

Chapter 3: His Attitude

Dahil sa interesado akong tingnan ang picture book, binaon ko ito sa pagpunta sa Pilipinas. I want to get this mission started as soon as possible and if I were to have quite some time to read then, I guess this book would do me the favor.

Currently, I'm waiting for Mr. De Guzman's representative to escort me to their household. May importanteng meeting pa raw kasing inaasikaso si Mr. De Guzman sa Japan at baka sa susunod na linggo pa ito makauwi kung kaya't ang isa sa mga tauhan na lang niya ang tinawagan niya para alalayan ako sa pagdating ko.

It's not that I will get lost. Actually, I'm quite familiar with this country. This is the place where I grew up after all. As far as I can remember, my mother gave birth to me here too. I was an only child. Well, I would not be if only the baby inside my mom's womb was born. I was just a six-year-old kiddo when my parents died from a fire.

Tinalikuran ko na rin ang mga natitira kong kapamilya dahil ni kaunting kibot ay hindi nila nagawa noong mga panahong iyon. Gayunpaman, sa kabila ng malamig na trato nila sa amin, nagawa naman nila kahit papaano ang bigyan ng maayos na libing ang mga magulang ko. Somehow, I was already grateful there.

Sa sinabi kong walang naiwan sa akin ang mga magulang ko, half of it was a lie. Meron naman kasi talaga subalit pinagpiyestahan na pala ito ng mga mukhang pera naming kamag-anak. Instead of getting mad at them, I just decided to live on my own. 'Makakaya ko ito kahit wala ang tulong nila.' 'yan lang ang mga salitang isinaisip ko noon habang patuloy na naghahanap-buhay sa tabi-tabi.

And look at me now, I have my own house, cars, motorcycles, condominium unit, lots of money, and a company to lead. Honestly, I declined the offer of handling this company for the sake of saving my whole time on guarding that son of Mr. De Guzman. It's not like it would be easy to do two things at a time. Especially when you have a company to manage and a fraternity leader to protect. Two different things and widely far from one another.

Ayoko talagang tanggapin kaso, kung hindi lang talaga ako pinakiusapan ni Master, hindi ko talaga kukunin ang trabaho na iyon. Sir Phoenix wanted me to have one of his companies to give me more valuable matters to spend my time with. I guess he is concerned about me getting bored in case I come up to dislike the role. He also mentioned that the board of directors had a unanimous decision of offering me the position as their leader due to my previous works with them.

Of course, being a sweet and smooth talker I am, I tried to get the company matter in our conversation and save myself from piles of paperwork and meetings. In addition that I have to monitor Derek's actions and whereabouts for the whole time around. But... he ended the discussion with a challenge.

"Kung magaling ka talaga, makakaya mong pagsabayin 'yan."

Oh please! It's not as easy as the time management commonly suggested in schools. This is about managing a company consisting of countless employees and on the other hand, saving one's life from continuous death threats and dangers. It's not like I can cut myself into halves.

Hindi ko talaga maintindihan ang pag-iisip ng matanda na iyon. Nasabi ko na ring matanda ito base sa boses niya sa tuwing nakikipag-usap siya sa akin. Kapag tinatanong mo naman siya ng mga bagay na tungkol sa kanya, papaikutin niya lang ang usapan at tatawanan ka kapag napagtanto mong napaglaruan ka na niya at natakasan pa niya ang mga katanungan mo. Tss.

"Excuse me. Are you Ms. Rieda Fernandez of Phoenix Organization?" asked by a man with an above average height and a black suit. The clothing style makes him look smart and decent but by the way he acts, I think he is not born for a prince charming character. Rather he's for a prince's close aide material. That's not bad, at least.

Now, now, I can't appraise someone's value just by their clothes now, can I? "Yes, I am. What business do you have with me if I may ask?" balik kong tanong naman sa kanya kahit na ba may hinala na ako kung sino siya.

He then took his glasses off and reaches his hand to me. "I'm Martin Woods, Mr. De Guzman's trusted advisor and representative. I was ordered to pick you up and assist you to anyway I can," pagpapakilala niya sa kanyang sarili.

Somehow, my judgment is not that bad or wrong at all. There's still something within a loyal and obedient servant. I know it.

Mukhang napansin naman niya ang pagpukol ko sa mga mata niya na tila sinisiyasat ang mga ito kung kaya't rumehistro kaagad sa kanyang mukha ang hindi pagiging komportable sa mga tingin ko. Hmm. Seems innocent though. Even so, it doesn't mean he couldn't be harmless.

"I'm looking forward to working with you then," and I walk off to the black car where he came out a while ago. If he's already uncomfortable then, there should be no time to interact a lot for now. There is still a one whole year so going slowly would be considerable.

He was able to catch up with me, frustration evident on his expression. On a whim, I tried to look at him again the way I did a while ago to tease him. "You don't look so good," I told him and then he opened the door to the backseat reluctantly. He's so easy to read yet a gentleman.

I checked out on him from head to toe and as expected, it makes him more agitated. This Martin Woods is quite interesting. Just the same as my future young master. My hope is that Derek is somehow as gentle as this guy. Setting all those expectations aside, I patted my baggage's holder and I went in.

Panindigan niya ang pagiging 'gentleman' niya.

I locked the door on my side immediately. Habang hinihintay kong matapos si Woods sa paglalagay ng mga bagahe ko sa likod ng kotse, napagdesisyunan ko namang tanggalin na ang pares ng hikaw at relo ko.

According to the profile Mr. Romuel prepared for me, I'll introduce myself as Jenny Rosario. A twenty-year-old clumsy girl who only has her grandparents left. She originally came from Iloilo. She is poor and their family's only way of living is through a herbal store. Rosario was recommended by Mr. De Guzman's old friend way back in college. Her grandmother worked as a maid before to that old friend and to make up for the grandmother's hard work, he came up to that idea.

Matapos ang pag-uulit ko ng bago kong karakter sa sarili ko ay saktong dating ni Martin Woods na mukhang hingal na hingal sa pagbubuhat ng mga gamit ko. Pasalampak siyang umupo sa hindi kalayuan sa akin at sinenyasan ang drayber na maaari na kaming umalis. Heh. I bet he's thinking I'm a freaking b***h right now.

I noticed the driver as the one who was with Mr. De Guzman back in Japan. He is quite a silent one and for the whole drive, the only thing that I could interact with is my laptop. Since we still have some time left before arriving at the household, I'm arranging the arrivals of my vehicles and weapons since I prefer those I have rather than purchasing another here in the Philippines.

Obviously, I can't have those delivered at the De Guzman mansion for it will be suspicious. Fortunately, it just so happened that there's a lawyer who decided to stay abroad for good and he wanted his house to be sold as soon as possible. And it just so happened that I need one as a storage and a hiding place so I bought it.

That place is located two houses away from my working place so it will be very handy to get my stuff there from there. Since I will not be home most of the time, I asked some of my fellow workers to set up a bunch of security cameras and identification censors within the whole area in advanced. So yeah, you can say that I actually prepared everything I need before flying here.

I was also having a hard time communicating with Mark lately. Looks like he's really busy with his work. Despite that, Master Phoenix let me have Mark as my representative in the company who would handle other tasks in case I was not around. Hindi naman iyon tinanggihan ni Mark bilang matalik at matagal ko na ring kaibigan. Isa pa, nandirito sa Pilipinas ang nakababata niyang kapatid na kasalukuyang nakatira sa puder ng tiyahin nila. Mas mapapadali ang pagbisita niya rito kaysa noon na madalang lamang siyang makabisita dulot na rin ng trabaho sa ahensya.

"Rieda Fernandez also known as Agent Ishtar. 20 years old."

Napaangat naman ang kilay ko nang marinig ko ang pagbanggit ng katabi ko sa pangalan ko at agent name na ginagamit ko. Mukhang kahit na ba walang nakakapagtaka sa record ko ay pinili pa rin ng puder ng kliyente na paimbestigahan ako. Tch, a bold move.

Dahil dito, napapailing ko na lang siyang hinayaan na banggitin ang lahat ng napag-alaman nila tungkol sa akin. Tutal mas makabubuti na rin ito. Para maging maalam naman sila sa taong hindi nila gugustuhing bungguin. It would save some trouble at least.

"You took the courses, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Major in Business Economics, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics, and Bachelor of Arts in International Studies. An—"

I cut him off before he could say everything he has on his notes. It's irritating when he's mentioning it one by one as if I'm under interrogation. "So you still had me investigated after all. I won't deny any information you have attained about me but I won't confirm it either. Pero kung ako sa iyo, ititikom ko na lang ang bibig ko bago pa ito matahi nang marahas gamit ang mga kamay ng katabi ko." Itinigil ko panandalian ang pagtipa sa laptop ko at saka siya tiningnan nang may ngiti.

I saw how dumbfounded he was after I dropped my warning for him. He was obviously intimidated by how I act and speak. Sa una lang naman iyan. It's a defense mechanism to see those who have got the guts to come near me.

Hindi naman na siya nagtangka na magsalita pang muli. For the remaining time of the drive, I just spent it on working on the paperwork needed for the upcoming days. It would somehow lighten up my load of work. Nang matapos ako sa mga ito ay napansin kong papasok na ang sasakyan sa isang subdivision.

"One piece of advice." Martin Woods started once again.

"You have to store quite a long patience. The young master is not just a delinquent but he's also very popular with the female species. You might saw immature and embarrassing young women observing the house to catch a glimpse on him. He has the intellect yet he barely passes his exams. He rarely attends his classes. Hindi rin siya nagpapasa ng mga kailangan ipasa sa eskwelahan niya. I hope you can change him a little. After all, you were a well-known agent, right?"

Hearing it from him, I'm kind of projecting an image already inside my head. Mukhang magiging sakit ng ulo ang bago kong poprotektahan. Gayunpaman, sana lang ay hindi siya mahirap matyagan. Dahil kung oo, pasensyahan na lang. I have to do what it takes in order to keep up with this damn mission.

Instead of giving him a concrete answer that will only disappoint him, I heaved a loud sigh. "I was paid to be his life-protector not as a life-counselor. By the way, will you be there at the house kung may kakailanganin ako?" pag-iiba ko ng paksa. We should not discuss things that will only hinder the mission's success.

With my question, of course, I can't possibly go out anytime I want if I need something like personal things or hygiene-related products. Given that I have to guard Derek all the time, the household has other employees that I should also handle by living with them. And by being able to live with them with me keeping my secret not to be blown, I must have at least someone who can support my back on any future unanticipated situations.

"Fine, but if you are to teach him a lesson, you are very free to do so in any method you can think of. However, I suggest you not to put the brutality segment unless you're really pissed off. As for your question, yes. I was assigned to tend everything in the house and to report everything to my employer," aniya.

Nakahinga naman ako kahit papaano nang maluwag. It's good then.

May mga dinaanan pa kaming ilang liko bago niya itinuro sa akin ang pagkalaki-laking mansyon na simula sa araw na ito ay titirahan ko. May kalakihan ito kumpara sa pagmamay-ari kong bahay dito sa Pilipinas. Sa bagay, hindi rin naman kasi ako tumitingin sa laki o presyo ng bahay. Ang kailangan ay ang straktura nito at ang pundasyon nito. 'Yung may mga sikretong daanan ba. Nalampasan na namin 'yung bahay na binili ko. Ipinaalam ko sa katabi ko ang tungkol dito para kahit papaano ay magagawan niya rin ng paraan para mabantayan ang lugar na iyon.

"From today onwards, you are to put your life on the front line to defend Mr. Derek's life. Sana masanay ka sa tunog ng mga telepono, tunog ng fax machines, at doorbell. Good luck," pakikipag-usap niya sa akin habang nakatingin lamang sa repleksyon ko sa rear view mirror.

Napairap na lang ako sa kung pang-ilang beses na niyang pinapaalala sa akin ang mga bagay na iyon. "You don't have to tell me that. I know what I'm doing," at lumabas na ako ng kotse sa puntong tumigil na ito sa harap ng mansyon ng mg De Guzman.

Inunahan ko na rin siya na buksan ang trunk para kunin ang mga bagahe ko. Ako na ang nagbaba nito kaya naabutan ko na lang siya na naghihintay sa may pintuan. Nang papalapit na ako ay siya na ang kumatok at pinagbuksan naman siya ng isang matandang nakasuot ng pangkatulong na uniporme.

"Maligayang pagbabalik, Martin," nangiting salubong nito sa kasama ko.

"Salamat po, Manang Delia."

Sinundan ko lang si Martin habang inililibot niya ako sa bawat sulok at ng pamamahay na ito. Habang hinahayaan niya akong kabisaduhin ang lugar ay mahinahon din niyang ipinaliwanag sa akin ang iba pang mga patakaran sa loob ng mansyong ito. And as someone who is bound to the contract, I must compromise.

As I was looking around, I felt that there are pairs of eyes watching on my every move. Nang subukan kong alamin kung sino ang nagmamay-ari ng mga ito ay napansin ko ang mga nanlilisik na mga tingin ng ibang babaeng empleyado rito sa akin. I guess this is what Martin is trying to say a while ago. Female species, huh?

Sa pagkakaalam ko naman, nagsuot ako ng damit na naaayon sa gagampanan ko para hindi mapaghinalaan. I even dyed my hair black from it's original brown color. Mahirap na at baka may makakilala sa akin na kung sino. Mas maganda na ang nag-iingat.

"Are we clear?" pagtatapos ni Woods na 'tila ba isang diskusyon sa klase ang naganap. Pumasok naman lahat ng sinabi niya sa tainga ko. Hindi ko nga lang alam kung may nakalabas sa kabilang tainga ko.

Pinagmamasdan ko pa ang paligid nang may marinig akong mga yabag mula sa itaas. "Oh! Good timing! Sir Derek, I want you to meet your new maid," rinig kong bati ng katabi ko sa taong mapagkakamalan mong tarantadong tambay sa may kanto sa pananamit nito. He's Derek?

Woah. Even the way he tries so hard to look cool and rebellious is already a pain in the a*s. Ganito na ba talaga sa Pilipinas? I know I've spent most of my years overseas but hey, I wasn't informed that millennials are so engrossed by the thought of looking cool and everything.

Or was I really that busy on being a secret agent?

I looked to the direction where he is looking at, only to find another trying hard to look like a gangster guy. My goodness. This will be quite a work.

"I don't care about her. Emma, call my driver," para bang walang narinig niyang sabi at bara-barang utos. Napabagsak naman ang mga balikat ng katabi ko na abang naitsipwera ng sarili niyang amo.

I think he will cry anytime soon. "Young master, you're not wearing your proper uniform again. How many times do—" Martin looks so hopeless. Mukhang wala rin siyang magawa sa ugali ng lalaking pinagsisilbihan niya. So he's Derek. The son of that poor father who even kneeled down in front of his men to convince me to do this job.

Unfortunately, it's a job of protecting his good-for-nothing looking son.

"Kailan ba hindi?" sagot niyang pabalik. Napasingkit naman ang mga mata ko sa inasal niya. Ngayon, mas naliwanagan ako sa mga sinabi ni Woods kanina ukol sa pagkakaroon ng mahabang pasensya.

Hahabulin pa nga sana siya nito kaso natigilan siya nang makasakay na ito sa kotse. Papunta yata ng school. If he's that determined to appear like that in an institution, I bet he's using his family name to get through. "Is he always like that?" my words slipped.

Mahabang buntong hininga naman ang pinauna ni Woods. "Oo. Nagsimula 'yan nang mamatay si Miss Sarah pitong taon na ang nakalilipas. O siya, pumunta ka na sa kwarto mo at maghanda. Susundan mo pa ang sakit sa ulo na iyon," at tinulak tulak na niya ako papunta sa engrandeng hagdan ng pamamahay.

Hindi naman mawala sa isip ko kung paano umasta ang bente anyos na laking-yaman na iyon.

Derek De Guzman, hindi uubra sa akin ang ganyang pag-uugali. Hintayin mo lang at ako ang magdidisiplina sa'yo. Mapapatino rin kita.