Sold To The Devil (Tagalog)

Kabanata 3

"Diyos ko po! Anong ginagawa mo?"

Natigilan ako sa ginagawa. Lumingon ako sa likod ko at nakita ang isang babaeng nakatayo sa doorway na may tinutulak na cart. Nag-isang linya ang labi ko habang bumababa sa railing.

"Ine-enjoy ko lang ang view, ano ka ba? Parang nakakita ka naman ng multo." Nagkibit-balikat ako at pinagkrus ang braso.

Tumagilid ang ulo niya sa pagtataka. "Balak mo bang tumalon sa balcony?"

No, I was just trying to see if I could leap off, but my room was too high. I was looking for a way out other than the gate, which was heavily guarded.

"Look, I may not like to be in this place right now, but I'm not going to take my life away just because of that. Hindi ako suicidal at mas lalong hindi ako tanga." Lumabas ako ng balcony at pasimple kong sinara ang glass door. "You work here?"

"I'm a maid, Miss Mildred."

She was a beauty, and she's only a maid. She looked at me suspiciously but entered nonetheless while pushing the cart. "Nagdala ako ng breakfast sa'yo, utos ni Master Zaccheus."

I gasped. "Thank you! Gutom na gutom na ako. Akala ko gagawin akong prisoner dito sa loob!"

Lumapit ako at umakyat sa taas ng kama ko. Hindi tulad kahapon ay nakakagalaw na ako nang maayos dahil disente na ang suot ko.

"Prisoner? Miss Mildred, hindi naman naka-lock ang kwarto mo. Pwedeng-pwede kang lumabas. Pwede mong gawin lahat ng gusto mo sa bahay na 'to." Kinuha niya ang tray at nilagay ito sa harap ko.

"I can? Oh." I didn't bother using the utensils and used my hands instead. I groaned, my eyes almost rolling at the back of my head. "I thought I was going to starve to death."

"Hindi ka ba nakakain kagabi?"

"No, hindi ako nakakain buong araw at buong gabi kahapon. They starved me to death to punish me and it's the worst punishment ever." I grabbed the spoon and shoved rice inside my mouth.

"Sigurado akong may rason kung bakit ka pinarusahan."

Napahinto ako sa pagkain. Inangat ko ang tingin ko para salubungin ang kaniya habang mabagal na ngumunguya. Hindi siya mukhang nagulat. Of course, she worked in the Underground like me. As a maid though.

"I killed my previous owner," I admitted with a shrug.

She nodded. "Kaya pala..."

"Hindi mo ba itatanong kung bakit?"

Umiling siya.

"So... what else did the devil order you? Talaga bang gano'n siya? Sobrang controlling?" Sinalinan niya ako ng juice at inabot ito sa akin. Nahulaan niya na sigurong mabubulunan ako sa bilis ng pagkain ko.

"Sabi niya ay tulungan daw kitang maligo at magbihis. Ilibot daw muna kita sa bahay habang wala siya."

"Tour me around the house? I'd love that." That's an opportunity to memorize the house. I had to make a plan. "But I do not need your help to bathe and dress me. I'm capable of taking care of myself."

"Whatever you like, Miss Mildred."

"Pwede bang huwag mo 'kong tawagin Miss? I'm just a s*x slave, please." I rolled my eyes.

"Kung iyon ang gusto mo, sige. Anong pangalan mo?"

"Sienna."

*****

"And lastly, this is the dining room." Sienna led me through the house. She had introduced me to the whole second floor except Zaccheus' bedroom, then she brought me to the first floor.

Sobrang haba ng lamesa na nasa gitna. Moderno pa rin ang estilo nito at nakakaakit tingnan. Sa kisame naman ay nakasabit ang maliwanag na chandelier.

Pumunta si Sienna sa pader at nagsalita sa intercom. Hindi nagtagal ay nagsipasok ang ilang mga maids na may dalang kaniya-kaniyang pagkain. Nilapag nilang lahat ito sa hapag. Halos napuno ang kalahati ng lamesa dahil sa dami ng niluto.

"Are you, like, a special maid or something?" I whispered.

Mahina siyang natawa. "Ako 'yong head."

Napasinghap ako. "Should I call you Mistress then?"

"You're way above me, Mildred. Hindi ka bayarang babae rito. Lahat 'yan ay para sa'yo." She motioned her hand to the dining table.

"These are all for me? Is this usually how you greet your Master's women?" I asked suspiciously.

She pulled a seat for me and I made myself comfortable. I straightened my back as I salivated over the food in front of me.

"Hindi nag-uuwi ng mga babae basta-basta rito si Master Zaccheus."

"Are you saying that I'm special?"

"Yes."

I fell for that line once. I won't fall for it ever again.

"Dapat sabayan mo 'ko sa pagkain. Sa tingin mo ba kaya kong ubusin lahat ng ito?" Hinila ko ang upuan sa tabi ko at tinapik ito.

"Hindi ko pwedeng gawin 'yan. Katulong ako. Sasabay ako sa mga kasamahan ko mamaya."

I stared at her, but she looked determined with her job. Both of our attention were pulled to the entrance when we heard a loud click of the door unlocking.

"Mukhang nandito na si Master Zaccheus."

The blood circulating in my veins felt cold. I had no appetite all of a sudden. Umalis si Sienna para asikasuhin ang amo niya.

Napairap ako sa hangin, inayos ang pagkakaupo, at sinalinan ang plato ko ng pagkain. Habang ginagawa ko ito ay nakita kong pumasok si Zaccheus sa kitchen entrance habang nakasunod sa likod niya si Sienna at Adam. Inangat ko ang mga mata.

My eyes flickered to my plate and to him nervously. There was something about him that made my flesh tremble. He wore a gray shirt inside his black tuxedo.

His eyes appeared to be way darker and more dangerous than before. A shiver ran down my spine. I curled my feet under my chair and dropped the utensils in my hands on the table.

"Ah, you're home. Way to ruin my day, Mr. Zaccheus," I commented wittily, smiling.

I was getting myself killed.

He pulled the head chair. "I'm going to be honest, I didn't think you'd have the guts to get your ass out of that room."

I gritted my teeth before answering. "Bakit naman hindi ako lalabas?"

"Considering how terrified you looked when I left you in your room."

I snorted. "I was not terrified. I was excited and sexually deprived. I thought you'd f**k me, but you left me and dropped that funny joke about being your..." I laughed, "wife."

Si Adam na nasa likod niya ay tumaas ang sulok ng labi. Kinawayan ko siya. Hinila ko muli ang upuan sa tabi ko para imbitahin siya.

"Hey, Adam! Care to join me for dinner?" I innocently asked.

Umupo si Zaccheus sa upuan sa uluhan ng lamesa. Pakiramdam ko ay matutunaw ako sa init ng titig niya sa akin. May pinatong siyang isang puting folder sa lamesa sa kaliwang kamay niya. Ultimo may humalukay sa tiyan ko nang mapansin ang bahid ng kulay pula sa gilid ng mga daliri niya.

I knew what that was. Dried blood.

"Adam, Sienna." He called the other people present in the dining room. "Leave us."

Dahil masunurin sila sa kanilang amo ay lumabas sila nang sabay. Ang kamay ni Adam ay nasa likod ni Sienna na tila gustong manatili sa silid upang samahan ako. Mas lalo akong nawalan ng ganang kumain. Bumuntong hininga ako at sumandal sa upuan.

"Serve me my dinner." He pulled the cloth around his neck, craning his neck to the side and then running his hand through his soft-looking hair.

I knitted my eyebrows in dislike. "Ano?"

He looked annoyed now. "Alam kong narinig mo 'ko. Don't make me repeat myself, Mildred."

Napahawak ako sa gilid ng lamesa habang lumalalim ang paghinga ko. Nararamdaman kong nanginginig ang mga laman ko. Humihigpit ang hawak ko sa gilid ng lamesa. Sobrang natatakam akong sugurin siya sa kinauupuan niya at agawin sa kaniya ang baril na siguradong nakatago sa katawan niya.

"Sinabi ko na sa'yong hindi mo 'ko binili para alilain. There's a big difference between a slave and a s*x slave, Zaccheus. Why don't you get it over with already?"

He ignored my statement and slid the folder across the table towards me. I caught it before it flew off the table.

"Ano 'to?"

"Sign everything."

"Tinatanong ko kung ano 'to. Hindi ko tinanong kung anong dapat kong gawin dito!" Napataas ang boses ko. Bumibilis ang kabog ng puso ko sa pag-aalala. Masama ang pakiramdam ko sa folder na hawak at natatakot akong buksan ito.

He ran his hand over his mouth and grabbed his chin. He looked like he was losing his patience.

"I am f*****g tired already. Huwag mong ubusin ang pasensya ko. Itikom mo na lang ang bibig mo at pirmahan lahat ng mga dapat mong pirmahan sa kontrata."

"You must have killed a lot of people then, hindi ko alam na nakakapagod pala 'yon? Tell me, how many people did you kill today?" Pinadulas ko ang folder sa lamesa pabalik sa kaniya. Muntikan akong mapaigtad sa kinauupuan nang hampasin niya ng kamao ang folder bago ito bumagsak sa lamesa.

"Six."

I was speechless. I didn't think he would actually tell me.

"Why?"

"They failed their job and left me to clean up their mess."

"Bummer."

His chair moved backwards as he rose from his seat. My gaze followed him as he walked toward me. I braced myself in case he intended to put his dirty hands on me. He snatched the backrest of my chair, spun it around to face him, and smashed the folder onto the table.

He leaned forward and pushed the chair onto two feet. My eyes widened in horror.

I grabbed his bulky arm for support, gasping for air. "Don't you dare let go, Zaccheus."

"It is Zac, Mildred." A twisted smirk crawled across his face. I inhaled the smell of cologne, cigarettes, and blood on his skin. His face was close enough for his breath to blow against my face.

It aggravated me how handsome he looked up close. I almost forgot that he just murdered six people before he came home.

"Zac." I swallowed. "What the f**k do you want from me?"

"What do I want from you?" he trailed, his eyes running down my body. I shivered, my breath trembling as I exhaled slowly.

Mas nilapit niya pa ang mukha niya sa akin. Napalunok ako at napatingin sa labi niya. Mukhang malambot ito, basa at mapula. Binalik ko ang tingin sa mga mata niya. Imahinasyon ko lang siguro ngunit naramdaman kong kumiskis ang labi niya sa akin.

"I... Mildred..." Huminto siya upang ilapit ang labi niya sa tenga ko. Napapikit ako habang nagtataas-baba ang dibdib ko. "I want your children. I want you to marry me, Mildred. I want you as my wife."

Nanliit ang mga mata ko. "Huwag mo 'kong pinaglololoko."

Binuklat ng malaya niyang kamay ang folder. Binitawan niya ang upuan ko, lumayo sa akin, at tuwid na tumayo habang pinapasok ang dalawang kamay sa magkabilang bulsa niya.

Nakatayo siya sa harap ko habang ako ay nakaupo. It was like I was giving him head. I was sitting face to face with his crotch.

He pulled a pen from his right pocket and handed it to me. "See it for yourself then."

Parang nasa ilalim ako ng talimuwang nang tanggapin ko ito mula sa kamay niya. Sumagi ang daliri ko sa kaniya nang panandalian. Nilingon ko ang folder na nakabukas sa taas ng lamesa katabi ng plato ko. Pinagsisihan ko kaagad na lumingon ako at nabasa ang nakalagay sa unang pahina ng kontrata.

He wasn't lying and joking from the start. He wanted me to sign a marriage contract.