Kabanata 22
1205 Words
Sovereign
Raven stormed towards my car as soon as I took a halt at the pit stop. Sa itsura pa lamang niya't paraan kung paano binuksan ang pinto ng training car ko ay alam ko nang malapit na siyang maputulan ng ugat sa sobrang galit.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" asik niya nang mahubad ko ang helmet.
I sighed and glanced at coach Race who's just leaning on another car with his arms folded in front of his chest. Maya-maya ay ibinalik ko rin ang tingin ko sa galit na si Raven.
"I'm in a bad mood," simple kong sagot.
His eyes slightly quenched. "And that's a f*****g excuse why you nearly hit the f*****g curve, hmm?"
"I didn't, alright?" sagot ko. Wala talaga sa mood na makipagtalo ngayon.
"We'll you almost f*****g crashed."
I sighed. "Still, hindi ako bumangga. Knock it off."
Umigting ang panga niya. "What the hell is really going on with you, hmm?"
Naupo ako sa hood ng kotse saka ko sinuklay palikod ang aking buhok. "You haven't heard the news yet?"
His brows furrowed. "What news?"
"Treese is here. I saw her yesterday in a housekeeping uniform, at malakas ang kutob kong 'yang kapatid mo ang gumawa ng paraan para makapasok si Treese sa management. Hindi naman basta-basta lang mag-apply sa compound, unless she had a member of CRA vouched for her."
Napapikit sa inis si Raven. "That motherfucker." He sighed before he looked at Greion. Isa ring myembro ng CRA. "Where's Liam?"
Greion jugged his protein drink for a moment. "At the gym. Why?"
Hindi na pinansin ni Raven si Greion. He stormed out, probably to confront his brother about Treese. Nilapitan naman ako ni Greion at naupo rin sa hood ng kotse habang kausap ni Coach and pinakabeteranong mekaniko sa compound. They were discussing something. Probably about the new improvements in some parts of our race cars.
"May chics na kasama si Liam kanina. Naka-housekeeping uniform." He smirked. "Papakilala sana ko kanina kaso ang sama ng titig ni Liam. Akala mo aagawan ng babae."
My brow shot up. "Bagong salta rito?"
Of course, he'd know if it's a new girl. He flirts with everyone and knows every single employee working in the compound.
"Yeah, I think she's new. Hindi naman mawawala sa memorya ko ang gano'n ka-cute kung dati pa siya rito." He licked his lower lip. "Makatawag nga sa housekeeping department mamaya nang mai-request na 'yon na lang ipadala sa villa ko."
I don't know why but my blood suddenly boiled after hearing what Greion said. Sigurado akong si Treese ang tinutukoy ng lintik na ito kaya bago ko pa siya mahambalos ng helmet kahit dapat ay wala na akong pakialam sa nanay ng mga anak ko, bwisit na bwisit akong nagmartsa paalis matapos sumenyas kay Coach.
"Mag-bestfriend nga kayo ni Raven! Ang hilig n'yong mag-walk out!" sigaw ng lintik.
I lifted my middle finger while walking away. Lalo lang tuloy nasira ang mood ko, at kahit na anong pangungumbinsi ko sa sarili kong hayaan na lang at huwag nang pansinin, naiisip ko pa lang na pupunta ng villa ni Greion si Treese ay parang mapuputukan na ako ng ugat sa ulo.
"Why the f**k do you give a damn about that woman, Sovereign?" I murmured to myself while driving the golf cart back to my villa.
Napabuntonghininga ako bago inis na iniliko sa sunod na block ang golf cart ngunit maya-maya ay natanaw ko si Treese sa harap ng villa ni Liam. She was struggling to carry all of her cleaning materials because she didn't have a golf cart to use.
Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa ngunit nang pangiti na siya sa akin ay iniwas ko na ang tingin ko't binilisan ang patakbo sa golf cart. Pakialam ko kung maglakad siya papunta sa housekeeping department?
Nagtalo ang galit at awa sa dibdib ko lalo na nang mailaglag niya ang ilang gamit na hindi na niya mabuhat ngunit sa huli ay nagwagi pa rin ang lintik na bahagi ng pagkatao kong hindi pa rin maiwasang lumambot sa kanya.
I ended up turning the golf cart around. Natigilan siya't napatitig sa akin ngunit iniwasan ko na lang ang tingin niya saka ko itinigil ang golf cart. Treese watched me get out of the cart and walked away, halatang nagulat sa ginawa kong pag-iwan sa sasakyan nang may magamit siya.
"Sovereign, thank you!" she shouted.
Pigil na pigil ko ang sariling lumingon kaya binilisan ko na rin ang lakad ko. I tried to convince myself that I should not let her distract me anymore but it was so hard. Panay ang pasok sa isip ko ng mga kalokohan ni Greion.
Ilang housekeeper at empleyado na ng compound ang nag-resign na umiiyak dahil nabasag ang puso dahil sa kanya. He'd shower his target with attention and then leave her after getting what he wants. Paano kung gawin din kay Treese?
"Putangina talaga, Sovereign," asik ko sa sarili. I almost forgot that my kids are in the living room playing.
Sovie stood up, walked towards me, and then pouted while his brows were furrowed. "Daddy, no cuwrsing. Bad na ang mouth." He pointed the stairs. "Mag-bwrush na ng teeth."
I shut my eyes and drew in a sharp breath. "Right. Sorry, big boy. Daddy said a bad word and that's not nice. Don't ever say that word, alright?"
He nodded before he went back to his sister and helped her decorate her doll house. Naihilamos ko naman ang mga palad ko sa aking mukha.
I tried to relax and get Treese out of my head but the moment I shut my eyes, her image earlier appeared inside my head again. Naalala ko rin si Geion at ang balak niyang pag-request kay Treese na maging housekeeper sa villa niya.
"Lintik naman talaga," asik ko dahilan para simangutan ako ni Sofie. "Shee daddy aman, eh."
I sighed. "Sorry, baby."
I walked towards the landline and dialed the housekeeping management's number. Nang masagot ay hinilot ko ang sintido. What the f**k am I even doing?
"Yes, Sir Sovereign?" bungad sa akin ng sumagot ng tawag.
I swallowed the pool of saliva in my mouth. "Yeah, uh . . . remember that housekeeper I told you not to send to my villa ever again?"
"'Yong bago ho? Yes, Sir. Hindi na ho namin ipapadala diyan gaya ng request ninyo. Katatawag lang din ho ni Sir Geion. Ni-request na ho niya si Treese para maging personal--"
"I changed my mind. Send her back to my villa."
Natahimik sandali ang kabilang linya. "P-Po?"
I shut my eyes and drew in a sharp breath while wondering why the hell am I making my life complicated right now. I could just have her fired anyway. Bakit kailangan ko pang pabalikin bilang housekeeper sa villa ko? Lintik naman talaga.
"I . . . I said send her back to my villa."
"Pero, Sir na-request na ho kasi ni Sir Greion--"
"I don't care, alright? Send her back to my villa whether Greion will let her or not. She's my housekeeper so I want her back."
I put the phone down and rubbed my palms on my face when I realized what I said.
What the hell did I just do?
- Writer
