GEAR GODS SERIES: DRIFTING BACK TO YOU

Kabanata 25

Treese

"They have to go to school from seven thirty to ten AM. I'll drop you off and pick you up myself. You will and should never get into someone else's car no matter what," paalala ni Sovereign habang inaayos niya ang seatbelt ng car seats ng mga bata.

Tumango ako habang nakatayo sa kanyang tabi at hawak ang bags. "Yes, Sir."

He looked at me. "Put the bags in the trunk," seryoso niyang sabi.

Lumapit ako sa driver side at pinindot ang button para sa trunk. I then went to the trunk and put the bags. Nang isasara ko na iyon ay tumigil sa harap ng villa si Sir Greion na mukhang nagja-jogging sa buong villa. Basa na ng pawis ang grey muscle tee niyang tinernuhan ng itim na sweat pants.

Sir Greion removed his air pods. "Oh, hey Treese! Got a new job, hmm?" nakangiti niyang bati na parang ako lamang ang nakita niya.

I saw how Sovereign stood straight and stared at Sir Greion as if he's about to strangle his colleague.

"Yeah. She's our new nanny. Now move along, Greion," Sovereign hissed.

Sir Greion just grinned. "Such a hothead." He pointed Sovereign then looked at me. "You sure you wanna work for him? Because I could definitely pull you out--"

"Will you just f**k off?" asik ni Sovereign. Tila naiinis o . . . nagseselos.

"Daddy, isasabi na naman bad, ha?" sita ni Sofie sa ama.

I pursed my lips when I saw how Sovereign bent down to look at Sofie inside the car. "Right. I'm sorry, baby. I got carried away."

Umismid si Sir Greion. "Dikit kasi kayo nang dikir ni Raven sa isa't isa kaya nagiging pareho na ang ikli ng mga pasensya n'yo." He faked a sigh. "You know where to find me, Treese in case you need an SOS. I'm sure HR will understand in case you won't be able to stand his attitude."

Napalunok na lang ako nang kindatan ako ni Sir Greion bago siya nagpatuloy na sa kanyang pagja-jogging. Nagkatinginan kami ni Sovereign nang makalayo si Sir Greion. He looked furious with his darkened eyes and tightly clenched jaw. Gusto ko sanang magpaliwanag ngunit magsasalita pa lang ako ay umirap na si Sovereign saka siya umiling-iling.

"Get in the car. We're gonna be late," he said in a cold, authoritative tone.

Hindi na ako nakakibo. I went to the shotgun seat and put my seatbelt on while he went to the driver side and started the engine wearing the disappointed look on his face. Pinainit niya sandali ang makina ng kotse saka na pinatakbo ang sasakyan palabas ng compound.

I . . . was lost the moment we exited the gate. The roaring engine, the cold breeze of the air conditioner caressing my skin, and the sight of him holding the steering wheel with one hand, it . . . brought me back in time. When everything was still perfect. When we were still deeply in love. Inseparable.

I heard our kids giggle in the backseat. Para akong hinatak paalis ng reyalidad. This was the dream. To be in the shotgun seat while he's holding the wheel. We have kids in the passenger, filling our hearts with their sweet laughter.

This was supposed to be my life, but as soon as I had a glimpse of the uniform I am wearing, it hit me.

I am not part of the family I dreamed of having with Sovereign . . .

"Why are you crying?"

Napatitig ako kay Sovereign. "Huh?"

Lalong nalukot ang kanyang noo. "You're crying. Why the hell are you crying?"

Sinilip ako ni Sovie. "Tita Twreese? You cwrying?"

Kaagad akong suminghot at pinunasan ang aking magkabilang pisngi. "Sorry. Sorry, may naalala lang." I sniffed then looked at the back seat. Nakapinta sa mukha ng mga bata ang matinding pag-aalala. "Sorry, hindi ano lang. May naalala lang kasi si Mo-- I mean si . . . si Tita Treese pero okay lang ako."

Sovereign inhaled a sharp breath. "Why? You remembered your boyfriend from US after realizing that you're nothing but a nanny now, hmm?"

Lumamlam ang aking mga mata. Gusto kong sabihing wala naman talaga akong naging nobyo. Na sa kabila ng lahat ng hirap na pinagdaanan ko, nanatiling tapat ang puso ko sa kanya ngunit hindi ko handang sabihin iyon nang naririnig kami ng mga bata.

I lowered my head and didn't answer him. Sa sulok ng aking mata ay napansin kong humigpit ang hawak niya sa manibela na tila nagalit. Why? Did he really think I went silent because I was guilty of what he's accusing me?

Kung tutuusin pwede namang ibaon ko na siya sa limot at mag-asawa na lang ako ng iba pero hindi ko kaya. Ni minsan ay hindi ko naisip na magkakaroon ako ng ibang lalake sa buhay ko kaya kahit gaano kahirap lagpasan ang lahat ng unos na dumaan at patuloy na dumaraan sa buhay ko, nananatiling kanya ang puso ko.

Hindi na kami nagkibuan kahit noong naibaba niya kami ng mga bata sa eskwelahan o kahit noong nasundo na niya kami. Pagkahatid niya sa amin sa villa ay umalis din naman siya kaagad para mag-ensayo.

Inabala ko na lamang ang sarili ko sa pag-aasikaso sa mga bata. I helped them study their lessons and then we played. Nang magsawa silang maglaro ay hinayaan ko na munang manood ng TV. After putting the channel in a kids-friendly show, I went around and did some cleaning. Una kong nilinis ang kusina at ang silid ng mga bata ngunit dahil lutang ang isip ko'y nawala sa isip ko ang mahalagang rule na binilin ng HR.

I got so lost in my thoughts that I forgot that I wasn't allowed to enter Sovereign's room. Huli na nang napagtanto kong nabali ko na ang mahalagang rule niya. Nasa loob na ako ng silid, at nang akmang lalabas na ay napansin ko ang unan na nasa gitna ng kama.

Napahinto ako nang mapagtantong may damit na nakabalot sa unan. I walked towards it and picked up the pillow. Pinagmasdan ko ang kulay pink na blouse, at nang mapagtanto ko kung kanino iyon ay namuo na lamang ang aking mga luha.

This blouse . . . was mine.

Napatingin ako sa pinto nang bumukas iyon. Sovereign looked surprise to see me inside but his expression suddenly darkened when he saw what I was holding.

Umigting ang panga niya't pagalit siyang lumapit upang agawin ang unan sa akin. "Didn't they tell you that my room is off-limits?!"

Namumuo ang mga luha ko siyang pinakatitigan. "You put . . . my old blouse on your pillow." Basag akong ngumiti. "Do you miss me--"

"No." Umigting ang panga niya. "No, I don't miss you if that's what you wanna ask."

I blinked, making my tears fall. "But you--"

"This blouse belonged to the woman I loved. The woman who had so much faith in me and did everything to make me feel that I was worthy of her love." He scoffed. "She's not you? You're just some spoiled girl who hit rock bottom so hard after dumping me and my kids."

Napahikbi ako. "Reign, I--"

"Get the f**k out of my room." Lalong dumilim ang kanyang ekspresyon. "I am giving you the f*****g chance to spend time with my kids. Don't piss me off, Treese. I could take away that chance in a snap."

My lower lip trembled. "I don't know how I will ever convince you to listen to me. Nahihirapan kang bigyan ako ng pagkakataon dahil nasaktan kita nang husto, but if only you will just loosen up a bit--"

"Get out--"

"I still love you, alright?" I sobbed. "God, I still love you and I never stopped loving you that even when I was robbed and had no money to go here, I f*****g walked for fifteen f*****g hours just to see you again kahit alam kong ganitong bersyon mo ang . . ." Suminghot ako't tumingala. "Sorry. Sorry, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to . . . sorry." I sniffed and tried my best not to sob. "Lalabas na ako, Sir at hindi ko na ulit susuwayin ang utos mo huwag mo lang akong alisin bilang yaya o housekeeper kasi . . ." My voice cracked. "Kasi pagod na akong yumakap ng unan at patulugin ng pag-iyak sa gabi dahil lang hindi ko kayo kasama . . ."

I wiped my tears and walked out of the room. Nagkulong ako sa powder room sa ibaba at doon iniyak ang lahat hanggang sa tuluyang gumaan ang dibdib ko. Nang kahit paano ay kumalma ay saka lamang ako lumabas.

I sniffed and was about to prepare something for snacks when Sovereign went down the stairs. Umiwas siya ng tingin saka lumunok bago siya nagsalita sa malamig na tinig.

"You can . . . go back to the housekeeping department now. Get some rest. The kids and I are leaving anyway," malamig ang tinig niyang sabi bago tinawag ang mga bata upang sumama sa kanya. Kung saan man sila pupunta ay hindi ko na natanong.

Bumagsak na lamang ang aking mga balikat. Diyos ko. Mukhang unang araw pa lang ay tanggal na kaagad ako sa pagiging yaya ng mga anak ko . .