Apollo's Crib: A Sinister Fate

EP. 04

"Hello Elvis, please find Audrey. She's not home right now and I'm scared her Dad will soon find out that she's missing. Hurry and bring her home, do you understand?" ani Sinica sa driver niya.

"Yes, Madam! I understand, don't worry too much. I will bring her home as soon as possible!" sagot nito.

"Good. Then, I leave it to your hands, remember our rules, alright?"

"I know what you mean, Madam. I promise that I won't lay my fingers to Audrey. She will be back home, unscratched."

"Well done," aniya. Pinutol na niya ang tawag at nagtungo siya sa kaniyang jacuzzi. Gusto niyang magbabad sa gatas para lalong maging smooth ang kanyang balat. She cannot deny the fact that she is also aging, thanks to her money that she can still look young in spite of her age. Iyon nga lamang ay sobra ring magastos ang magpaganda. Buti na lamang at asawa siya ng isang bilyonaryo at hindi na niya pinoproblema ang mga gastusin.

She have to look stunning tonight. Getting stressed at this time is not a good idea. "Relax, Sinica... tonight is your time to shine the most, don't you think so?" aniya sa sariling repleksiyon sa salamin matapos magbabad sa kanyang jacuzzi.

Pagkatapos ay nagsuot siya ng mamahaling roba at nagtungo sa master bedroom, naabutan niya ang kasambahay nilang si Laura na naglilinis ng kanilang kwarto. Si Laura ay isang single-mother at ang solong anak nito na si Rona naman ay sekretarya niya.

"Good morning, Madam Sinica!" masiglang bati ni Laura sa kanya. Nakangiti ito at bahagya pang yumukod pagkaharap sa kanya.

She smirked a little and said, "Please serve my favorite tea at my breakfast nook. I want it in five minutes,"

"Sure, madam, dayuling tea will be served, right away!" sagot nito at nagtungo na sa kanilang tea room kung saan nakalagay ang mamahalin niyang koleksiyon ng mga tsaa. Isa ang dayuling tea sa pinakamahal na tsaa sa buong Taiwan at ang isang kilo nito ay umaabot sa 1,000 USD.

Habang nagtitimpla ng tsaa si Laura ay tinawagan naman niya ang anak nito para siguraduhing naayos na nito ang lahat ng pinapagawa niya. "Reports." aniya ng marinig ang boses ni Rona sa kabilang linya.

"Good morning, madam Sinica, rest assured that your event will goes smoothly as planned. I have taken cared everything as you ordered." sagot nito.

"Good job, how about my guest, did everyone confirmed their attendance?"

"Yes, madam, everyone said that their going to attend even if they needed to cross in the bridge of fire."

"Great, is that all?"

"Yes, madam... is there anything you want me to do in particular?" usisa nito.

"Nothing as of now, all I want is for you to make sure that everything will be okay. I don't want to ruin this night, because my husband will surely attend, too. So, I hope you understand what I am trying to say, right now. Don't disappoint me, Rona. I'm counting on you!"

"Don't worry madam, I will put my life on the line just to make sure that I will execute this job to your heart's content,"

"Okay, guess I heard enough. Bye!" aniya.

Tapos na silang mag-usap ni Rona nang dumating si Laura bitbit ang tsaa na hininga niya rito. Langhap na langhap niya ang aroma nito kaya napangiti siya.

"Is that Rona, madam?" Usisa ni Laura.

"Yes, your daughter seems capable on working with me. If this event goes well, I will let you guys go. Plus, I will give you both enough money to start a new life." Aniya.

"Really, madam? You're not kidding, right?" Namimilog ang matang tanong nito.

Napangisi siya sa reaksiyon ng kaharap. Laura and Rona works for her with half of their expected salary. Malaki ang pagkakautang ng pamilya ni Rona sa kanya noong magkasakit ang kinakasama rati ni Laura. Malaki ang hospital bill nito at kinailangan nilang humiram ng malaking pera para ipambayad sa ospital. Bilang kasunduan, kailangan ng mag-ina na magtrabaho sa kanya at kalahati lamang nang sahod ng mga ito ang ibinibigay niya para makabayad ang mga ito sa malaking utang.

"I'm sure, of course! So, tell your daughter to make her job done with flying colors. Your freedom is in her hands." Aniya. Sinenyasan niya itong umalis na sa harapan niya pagkatapos. Gusto niyang mapag-isa at ayaw niya nang makipag-usap pa sa kawaksi. She was busy thinking of how proud Apollo might be kapag nagkataon.

After two decades of being married, she's still yearning for his love and approval. She wants him to be proud at her, just this once.

Samantala, natunton na ni Elvis ang kinaroroonan ni Audrey. Kasama nito ang mga kaibigan na sina Cecil at Sydney na parehas spoiled brat at sa hilatsa ng mga hitsura ay hindi gagawa ng maganda.

"What are you doing here? Did mother told you again to hunt me down?" Mataray na tanong ni Audrey.

"Yes, miss... I am afraid that you have to come home with me," sagot ni Elvis.

"Oh, come on! Didn't I tell you, I can take care of myself? Besides, I'm with my friends, is it hard to understand that I also have my own life? Am I not allowed to enjoy my youth?" Reklamo ng dalaga.

"Sorry to hear that miss, but I am just following your mom's order." Aniya sabay senyas sa dalawa niyang kasamahan para kunin ang dalaga.

Ang dalawang kaibigan ng dalaga ay parang mga takot na daga na nakasiksik sa gilid ng sofa.

"Shut up! Don't you ever dare, Elvis! You're just a mere employee, and I am still your boss. Get out of here!" Sigaw nito. Halata ang pagkalango sa alak ng dalaga dahil hindi matatag ang pagkakatayo nito.

"I guess, it is better to come with us at peace. We've promise your mom that we will not hurt you. But if needed, I will drag you home. If not, your Dad will find out what your doing and we both know that you're not prepared for what he can do with you."

Tumawa ng malakas ang dalaga at mabilis na dinuro ang matanda.

"Are you mocking me? No matter what happen, I am still his daughter, he won't touch me. Stop bossing me around, get out!" Sigaw muli ni Audrey.

Dahil sa inaakto ni Audrey ay nagpanting ang tainga ni Elvis. Nakita nito ang isang maliit na timba ng tubig na pinagbabaran ng mga ito ng wine. Walang pasabi na isinaboy ito sa dalaga upang mahimasmasan.

"What the hell are you doing!" Hiyaw ng dalaga.

Hindi niya ito pinansin bagkus ay binuhat niya ito at pinasan sa kanyang balikat. Kahit ano pang suntok at sabunot ang gawin ng dalaga ay hindi niya ito binitawan hanggang makarating sila sa kotse. Initsa niya ang dalaga sa loob at inutusan ang dalawang kasama na bantayan ang dalaga habang siya naman ang magmamaneho.

"How dare you do this me! Let me go!" Hiyaw ng dalaga. Ngunit kahit manlaban pa ito ay wala ring magagawa ang huli hanggang sa tumigl na rin ito dahil sa pagod.

Pagkarating nila sa bahay ay agad silang sinalubong ng nag-aalalang si Laura.

"What happened to her?" Usisa nito.

"Don't bother to ask, prepare hot bath for her and help this lady to clean herself." Ani Elvis. Dinala nito ang dalaga sa banyo at maingat na itinapat sa shower, umalis na rin ito pagkatapos at hinayaan si Laura na asikasuhin ang dalaga.

"Where is she?" Usisa ni Sinica ng madaanan niya ito na pababa sa hagdan.

"She's in her room, Laura is in there, too. She'll take care of Audrey." Ani Elvis.

"Is she drunk, again?"

"Yes, madam."

"This lady might have a death wish!" Gigil na wika ni Sinica, akmang susugurin nito ang anak nang pigilan ito ni Elvis.

"Making a scene right now is not advisable. You clearly know how rebel she was, save your energy for tonight." Suhestiyon ng lalaki.

Waring nakinig naman ang ginang ngunit piniksi nito ang kamay na hawak ng lalaki. "Okay, I will let this slide today but I can't promise for tomorrow. Sooner or later, I have to tame her down and cut her horns for good." Ani Sinica.

Samantala rinig na rinig naman ni Audrey ang mga sinabi ng ina. Tahimik itong bumalik sa banyo at sinimulan nang hubarin ang saplot para maligo.

"Laura?" Tawag niya sa kawaksi.

"Yes, miss? Do you need help?" Usisa nito.

Kahit dalaga na siya ay hindi siya nahihiyang ibuyangyang ang katawan sa kasambahay nila, na itinuturing niya ring nanay-nanayan.

"Do you think, I'm worthless?" Tanong niya.

"Of course not! You and your siblings are precious! Don't ever think that to yourself, it's cruel!"

Napabuntong-hininga siya at mariing kinagat ang mga labi. "If I'm precious, why did my parents never cared for me? They're all busy building their own empire, they almost forgot that they have kids waiting for them to be loved."

"They loved you and your siblings, maybe they're just preparing for your future. Remember, their wealth today will be yours one day."

Pagak na tumawa ang dalaga at mabilis na pinalis ang luha na naglalandas sa pisngi. "But I don't need anything rather than their affection. Was it really hard to give?"

"Miss Audrey, sometimes you have to see things beyond your expectation. Both of your parents is working hard to give you and your siblings a good life. But, because of that, they have to sacrifice their time to you. Parents have to choose between which is better and needed."

"That sucks!"

"Yeah, sometimes. Just don't mind them, continue to do good. Give yourself a better life, stop befriending your friends who has a lot of vices, they're not good on you." Payo ni Laura.

Ngumiti lang ang dalaga bilang sagot, "Help me clean myself. I want to sleep after," sambit niya.

Tumalima naman kaagad ang ginang at tinulungan siyang maligo. Nang makaramdam nang kapreskuhan ay maagap siyang nakatulog habang yakap ang paborito niyang teddy bear.

Napapailing na lang si Laura habang nakatitig sa kawawang dalaga. Kung siya lang siguro si Sinica ay hindi niya hahayaang lumaking may kulang sa kanyang mga anak. Total ay bilyonaryo naman si Apollo, hindi na siya magtatrabaho at ibubuhos na lang niya ang atensyon sa triplets. Ngunit hindi siya si Sinica, isa lamang siyang hamak na katulong na may isang anak na hindi rin niya mabigyan ng maayos na buhay dahil sa malaki niyang pagkakautang.

Nang mga oras na iyon ay busy naman si Apollo sa kanyang opisina ng makatanggap ng text mula sa taong malapit sa kanyang puso.

"Are you busy?" Sabi ng text.

"Aside from sorting things out, I'm good. And you?" Sagot niya.

"Been missing you lately, when will you visit me? I'm dying to see you again. Stop making me miss you like a fool," sagot nito.

"Sorry if I got busy recently, i know for sure, you'll understand. This is so for us, remember? I've been working so hard to achieve our goal the soonest way possible,"

"I know, but please... spare a little time for me. I won't ask your day. I'm just asking for a little time from you. I just missed you so bad, I've been restless for days." Tila nangongonsensiya na sabi nito.

"Okay. Okay. Don't be too sad, I'll find time for you, are you happy now?" Sagot niya.

"Is that a promise?"

"Of course, I never break my promises, right?"

"Yes, I know! I'll be waiting, Apollo." Sagot nito.

"And while waiting, please don't stress yourself anymore. I'll be there as soon as I finished my work."

"I love that, see you!" Excited nitong reply.

Pagkatapos niya itong kausapin ay inabala niya ang pag-aayos ng mga papeles na may kinalaman sa kanyang mga properties. Hindi niya namalayan na maghahapon na pala. Ni hindi na siya nakakain ng pananghalian dahil sa pagiging subsob sa trabaho. Being a billionaire is not easy at all. The responsiblity on his shoulder isn't as easy as people think might be. Despite his status, he still have to work hard so no one could ever surpass his title.