Lies Written In Silk

LWIS 2

Kinabukasan ay maaga akong nagising. As in 5 a.m. level. Hindi dahil morning person ako kundi dahil sa kaba. Feeling ng tiyan ko parang nag-a-audition sa Best Dramatic Churning Performance.

Hindi ako sanay gumising ng ganito kaaga unless may exam or sale sa ukay.

Mabilis akong naligo at nagsuot ng pinaka maayos kong damit na clean white polo and dark pants at rubber shoes. Simple pero decent. Nag-ayos ako ng buhok at nagpulbo ng konti but I avoided makeup baka isipin nila nagpapaganda ako para sa ibang reason. Gusto ko lang magmukhang hireable at hindi naglalandi sa mansion owner.

Bitbit ko ulit yung brown envelope ko, kasama ang dasal at ang pinakamalakas kong Lord please sana di ako mapahiya energy.

By 7:30 AM nasa labas na ako ng subdivision. Ang signage?

VILLA DE SAAVEDRA

Pangmayaman talaga, font palang ng letters ay alam mong hindi ako target audience ng lugar na 'to.

Makinis yung kalsada. Tahimik. Mga bahay na mas malaki pa sa combined lot area ng buong buhay ko. Even the air smelled rich. Parang oxygen na may kasamang yaman particles.

Huminto ako sa Guard House sa Gate 3.

"Good morning po." bati ko, trying to sound confident kahit pakiramdam ko nalalagas na tuod ang kaluluwa ko.

"ID, ma'am?" tanong ng guard na mukhang mas polished pa sa first day ng school.

Shet.

ID?

Eh wala naman akong ID except library card from 5 years ago.

"Uh.." ngumiti ako sheepishly. "Mag-aapply po ako as helper."

The guard blinked like I just said I came from Mars. "Anong house po?"

"Saavedra mansion po. Recommended by uhm, Aling Mercy." I handed the small paper with the address.

Nag type siya sa tablet.

Wow tablet?? high-tech mga guard?? saan ako napunta??.

Mag guard nalang din kaya ako?

"Ako po pala si Isabella Sevilla" dagdag ko na baka makatulong mag sound legit.

He nodded after a few seconds. "Proceed, ma'am."

Ay? Hindi pa ako na-reject? Small miracle!

"Thank you po."

I started walking inside the village, breathing with shaky excitement. Malawak ang kalsada at may mga puno at tahimik. Sobrang tahimik na yung tipong naririnig ko lang ang heartbeat ko at yung self-esteem kong bumubulong na wag tayo magkahirap-hirap please.

After about 8 minutes ay naka tayo na ako sa harap ng isang gate. Hindi lang basta gate.

Black iron gothic gates na may giant S crest.

Yung tipong one wrong move and we release the hounds.

There it was.

Saavedra Mansion.

And grabe! mansion isn't even enough word. It was like something out of a luxury magazine. Grand white walls, tall glass windows, manicured garden and fountain na parang hindi bahay. Parang embassy.

Inhale. Exhale. Smile. Wag magmukhang takot. Wag magmukhang gutom at wag magmukhang taong galing kanto.

Nag doorbell ako. A soft chime echoed. After a few seconds, may lumabas na babae na siguro mga nasa late 50s. Naka maid uniform siya, but crisp and elegant, hindi yung typical nakikita sa teleserye.

"Good morning, ikaw si..?"

"Isabella po. Referred ni Aling Mercy. S-sabi niya naghahanap po kayo ng kasambahay." Nahihiyang sagot ko.

I prayed silently she didn't see my hand slightly trembling.

She looked at me from head to toe. Evaluating. Judging. Scan and analyze like airport security.

Then she smiled. "Come in."

Oh my gosh.

Legit?!

Hindi pa ako natatanggap pero at least pinapasok ako. First win.

Pumasok kami, and omg.

Floor: parang polished clouds

Stairs: elegant wood na parang nabless-an ng interior Jesus.

Furniture: mahal. Period.

Even the air smelled expensive na parang mixture ng vanilla, cedarwood at success.

"Umupo ka muna." sabi niya, pointing to one of the couches. "Ako si Ate Lulu. House manager dito."

House manager.

Hindi basta ate. CEO ng bahay.

"Thank you po."

Tahimik sandali. I clasped my envelope tight. Then biglang may footsteps from the stairs.

Nakatingin si Ate Lulu sa direction nun, so naturally tumingin din ako.

And then I saw her.

The Saavedra.

She descended the stairs slowly, elegantly. wearing a fitted black slacks, white silk blouse, ponytail sleek and tight, aura na parang combination ng CEO, disciplinarian at unknown danger.

Tall, poised and cold.

And beautiful.

As in untouchable kind of beautiful.

Yung presence niya alone, parang lahat ng oxygen na-reserved para sa kanya. The house didn't just belong to her.

She commanded it.

She looked at me. Sharp eyes and sharp jawline, everything sharp except her lips. soft, natural pink and slightly pressed as if assessing my entire life.

Pass kay Carla Abellana, doon tayo sa kumukha.

"Good morning." she said, voice calmand low but controlled.

Kung boses pa lang may presyo, ito yung boses na pinag-iipunan ko.

"G-good morning po." sagot ko, trying not to choke on my heartbeat.

"You are?"

"Isabella Sevilla po."

Those eyes studied me slowly. As in s-l-o-w. I felt small. Like nilibing ako sa chin-high expectations niya.

"You're applying as house staff?"

"Yes po. Kung okay po sa inyo."

She nodded slightly. "Experience?"

Um. Eto na.

Walang pambenta. Walang credentials.

"Wala po sa formal work. Pero marunong po ako magluto, maglinis, maglaba and fast learner po ako. Masipag at hindi po ako choosy sa gagawin." Naka ngiting sagot ko pero pero sa loob ko?

Parang anytime ay mag passed out ako.

Hindi man lang ako ni inform ni Ate Lulu na mala dyosa pala ang mag interview sa akin. Edi sana nag practice muna ako sa bahay kung paano mag English.

Nagtaas siya ng kilay. "So you can do anything?"

"I can try my absolute best po." Ngumiti ako kahit feeling ko nanginginig bone marrow ko.

Silence.

Then she turned to Ate Lulu. "Trial."

Trial?

TRIAL.

OMGGGGG

Ate Lulu nodded. "Copy, ma'am."

Before she walked away ay tumingin ulit siya sa akin. No smile, no warmth pero hindi rin rude. Just unreadable. Powerful and Controlled.

Wag mo akong titigan ng ganyan Mæm baka maihi ako ng wala sa oras.

"Don't be late. Don't be loud. Don't be reckless. And don't assume your place unless told otherwise." she said suavely.

"Y-yes po." utal kong sagot.

"And one more thing." she added, eyes piercing straight through me.

"Yes?"

"If you break anything.. you replace it."

SHOOKT.

"Yes po " ulit ko na halos bowing like awkward peasant.

She nodded and walked away. Every step niya parang may theme music.

I exhaled finally. Ate Lulu chuckled.

"Huwag ka kabahan. Mabait si Ma'am. Strict, yes. But fair. Basta masipag ka at hindi pasaway ay tatagal ka dito." sabi niya.

Mabait pa yan huh? para akong lalapain ng buhay dahil sa titig niya.

Tatagal? Sana nga.

Pinikit ko mata ko saglit. Relief, gratitude and fear ay nag halo-halo.

This is it.

New life.

New work.

New boss na mukhang kaya akong tunawin with one look pero sige laban.

"Welcome, Isabella, simula ka bukas." Sabi ni Ate Lulu.

"Salamat po." halos pabulong kong sagot at sabay ngiting nanginginig.

As I stepped out the gate again, hawak yung papel sa kamay ko ay isang thought lang tumakbo sa utak ko.

Kung hell training ito ay handa na ako.

Pero kung siya ang impyerno?

Baka okay lang, yummy naman eh.

Kasi ang gwapo este ang ganda niya.

At ang mata? Jusko, parang sinasabi na Don't disappoint me. Ang atake.

And I won't.