Montepalma Series 2: Trapped by His Game

Kabanata 4

I was busy checking the boxes of medicine when I saw Ashley appear beside me. She was one of my employees in our drugstore. On hands ako sa main branch ng drugstore namin kasi dito nagsimula si Mom.

My job is to take care of my Mom’s legacy. And Ol & Sianna Drugstore will be mine in the future. I am the heiress of our drugstore. That is why I strive hard to be a pharmacist. My role model was my mother.

“Hindi ka po kumakain, Ma’am,” si Ashley habang tinutulungan na rin ako sa trabaho ko. “Ano po bang gusto niyo kainin? Kanina ka pa po hindi kumakain ng lunch.”

“I’m fine. I love working.”

“Uhm but someone sent you food. It is on your desk.”

She got my attention. I took a glance at her while my eyebrows were knitted together. She gave me a sheepish smile. Wala naman ako naalala na umorder ako ng pagkain. Pinagkrus ko iyong kamay sa dibdib.

“Did it come from my father?” I inquired.

She moves her shoulder upside down. “I don’t know, Ma’am. It is better if you check it by yourself.”

Bumuntong hininga ako at binalik ko iyong mga boxes ng mga in demand na gamot sa bansa. Tumango na lang ako sa kaniya at bumalik ako sa desk ko. May pagkain nga doon sa desk ko at tiningnan ko kung saan nanggaling.

Wala naman nakalagay na note. Kinuha ko iyong phone ko sa hand bag at tinawagan ko iyong number ni Dad. Sana break na nila sa pabrika para maistorbo ko si Dad at para na rin masagot niya iyong tanong ko. It took my father three minutes before he answered it.

“Hello, Sianna,” he greeted. “Why? Do you need something?”

I cleared my throat. “Dad, are you the one who bought me food?”

“No, hija. Why?”

“Nothing, Dad.” Tiningnan ko iyong paperbag at may laman iyon ng pagkain. “Sorry for interrupting you. I will eat my lunch now.”

“Alright, Sianna. Eat well.”

I disconnected my phone call with my father. Muling nagsalubong ang kilay ko habang nakaupo ako sa swivel chair ko. Napatingin ako sa counter at maraming bumibili na loyal customer na gamot sa amin.

It was teriyaki chicken with cauliflower rice in it. And there is a Danish roll cinnamon on the other box. I was silently munching my lunch. I was checking the time while eating my dessert. Sobrang workaholic kasi ako at ayaw ko na paupo-upo lang sa drugstore.

Mabuti na lang may pagkain na. Usually nagpapadeliver pa ako ng food para makakain ako. Tumayo na ako at niligpit ko na ang kinainan ko. Bumati sa akin mga employee habang inaasikaso ang gamot ng mga customer.

Dahil busy ang ibang kapwa kong pharmacist, ako ang humarap sa isang counter at may matanda na lumapit. I gave her a small smile.

“Magkano ang nebulizer, hija?” the old woman asked.

“It would be three thousand,” I answered. Pinanood ko siya na binibilang ang pera niya na barya.

Nakaramdam ako ng awa dahil may mga na-encounter ako na ganito na customer. Mostly, it was old people who were short of money. Nakita ko na lumungkot ang mukha ng ginang.

“Pasensya, hija. May isang libo lang ako sa pitaka,” aniya parang nahihiya.

“That would be fine, Ma’am.” Ngumiti ako sa kaniya at tumalikod para hanapin ang nebulizer sa kaniya. Ang pinili ko pa sa kaniya iyong bagong model ng nebulizer ngayon. Nilapag ko na sa counter. “Don’t worry. I will give this to you for free and five nebules.”

She gave me a warm smile. “Ang bait mo naman, hija. Pagpalain ka ng diyos.”

This is how my mother works. That is why she wants to manage a business about medicine and necessities in the medical field. Her legacy is to help someone who is less fortunate. I put her stuff in the paperbag.

Tumabi sa akin ang employees at nakangiti sa akin hudyat nakita ang ginawa ko. Pero lagi ko naman ito ginagawa sa mga nas-short ng pera kapag bibili ng gamot. Our motto is health is wealth. It’s okay to help someone or give them their needs when it comes to their health. My mother has breast cancer yet her money didn’t even help her at all.

“Siya po ang may-ari nito, Lola,” si Kenjie habang tinuturo ako. Napailing na lang ako at binigay na sa ginang ang paperbag. “Mabait talaga boss namin!”

“Halata naman, hijo. Matulungin kaya bibiyayaan siya ng maraming blessing.”

She grabbed the paperbag before she left my drugstore. It touches my heart when I make someone happy whenever I help them. Well, that is my job after all. Nilingon ko ngayon si Kenjie na binabasa ang reseta ng customer.

That is how my day works everyday. I serve people by giving them affordable and better medicine to help their health. Sobrang pagod ako nang makauwi ako sa bahay namin. Dumiretsyo na ako umakyat para makahiga na ako sa higaan ko.

Masaya ako kapag napapagod sa trabaho. Mas gusto ko na kumikita ako sa sarili kong pera kaysa humihingi lagi kay Dad. I plopped myself on my bed and I bounced a little bit. I shut my eyes.

Suddenly the image of Mr. Montepalma pops inside my mind. I took my pillow and pinged it against my ears to remove him from my mind. Damn it.

This is the reason why I overwork to forget him in my mind. I don’t want to think of him. I don't want to hear his baritone voice. f**k it!

How dare that French keep running inside my head whenever I am not working. Kulang na lang pagurin ko na sarili ko sa drugstore. I groaned and took my phone to search for his name. Ano nga ba ang pangalan niya?

Well… maybe I just need to search for his family’s name. I typed in Google their name. Marami akong article na nababasa at tungkol talaga iyon sa kanila. They are the top one richest in the whole Asia. Can you believe it? Not just in the Philippines but in the whole asia.

Until I saw the familiar name on the article. His name is Niklaus Damon Montepalma. This is why he prefers me calling him Nik instead of being formal to him. Walang masyado lumalabas sa kaniya kaya pinatay ko rin ang phone ko. He is very private, huh?

I woke up when I felt someone shaking my shoulder. I groaned when the sun rays hit my eyes. Tinakluban ko iyong mukha ko nang marinig ko ang boses ni Baby habang umaalon ang kama ko.

Bwisit.

“Stop it, Baby!” I hissed.

But she continued jumping in my bed. “Rise and shine, Sianna! Tumayo ka na diyan at magbreakfast na tayo ni Tito Luis.”

“Ten more f*****g minutes!”

“Come on, sleepyhead!”

“I hate you!”

Bigla ako napabangon sa hinihigaan ko at nakangising aso si Baby para bang nagwagi siya guluhin ako. I checked the time on the nightstand table and it was already nine o’clock. Tumayo na ako at nakita ko si Dad na nakasandal sa gilid ng pintuan.

“Mukhang hindi ka nakapag palit ng damit kagabi,” Dad commented.

I nodded my head. “Yeah. I was tired.

I was more sleepy because I slept when it was twelve midnight. That man is going to make me crazy. I am not a morning person, that is why they get used to me by being grumpy whenever I wake up.

“I called your cousin to help you prepare for your birthday,” Dad added.

I raised my eyebrow. “What am I? A nine year old? I am not excited about my birthday. And I thought we'd talk about this?”

“Just please,” he pleaded. Ito na naman sa kaniyang boses na hindi ko matanggihan. “I told your cousin to drag you into a bar to enjoy your life.”

“You’re being crazy, Dad.”

“I’m trying to be a cool father for you.”

He looks so proud saying those remarks. I rolled my eyes at them. Pumasok na ako sa banyo at padabog ko sinarado iyong pintuan. Alam kong pinag-uusapan na nila akong dalawa. I took a cold shower and I did my makeup in my bathroom.

Lumabas na ako at Sunday naman ngayon kaya family day. Usually ay kakain kami sa fine dining restaurant ni Dad. Pero mas namimiss ko lang lalo si Mom kapag kakain kaming tatlo. On how she talks, how she smiles and how she laughs.

To be honest… I think I forgot her voice.

Nandito na kami ngayon sa living room at si Dad naman ay may binabasa habang may reading glass siyang suot. Matanda na rin kasi siya. Halata na at ayaw ko minsan sa kaniya na nagpapaalam siya na parang mawawala siya.

How I hate being attached to anyone. Being left alone is one of the things I hate. So I prefer not letting them get inside my heart. The last time I cried was at my mother's funeral. I promise to her grave that I will be strong for Dad.

“Let’s buy some new clothes again and shoes!” si Baby na mukhang excited sa lakad namin ngayon. Nakahalumbaba lang ako sa gilid ng sofa. “I like the coat from Givenchy! Gusto ko rin bigyan ng gift si Craige.”

I nodded boredly. “Okay…”

“Ugh! Dapat excited ka ngayon Sianna. Women love shopping and partying!”

“And I am not one of them.”

“Tito! She can’t be serious!” Tinuro ako ni Baby tila naiinis na sa akin. Wala kasi akong pakielam dahil mas prefer ko sa kwarto at magpahinga. “Bakit ba ganito anak mo Tito Luis!”

Dad laughed. “No idea, Babylyn.”

I rolled my eyes. I am not really interested in shopping everyday like a spoiled brat. Ang sweldo ko sa drugstore ay napupunta lang sa charity for Philippine Breast Cancer Foundation. That is where my wages go— to help women who are suffering from breast cancer.

My face is still in stoic expression while we are walking in the mall to see any signature brands. I have one paper bag from Gucci. Hinahanap na namin ngayon ang Givenchy para bumili ng coat na gusto niya.

I mean… Why does she need a coat? Walang snow sa Pinas.

We waste our whole day shopping in signature brands to buy some clothes and heels for nothing. Marami ng paperbags sa kamay namin ni Baby at mukhang hindi pa siya nakukuntento sa binili namin.

Hanggang sa dumapo ang tingin ko kay Mr. Montepalma. But there is another woman picking some heels while the sales lady entertains them. I squinted my eyes to check if he really is the man who stuck in my mind.

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad nang hindi ako tumuloy. Napakunot ang noo sa akin ni Baby halatang nagtataka sa kinikilos ko. My heart begins racing wildly in my chest. Umiling ako at akmang tatalikuran nang simulan na ako hatakin ni Baby.

“May maganda silang heels sa Celine, Sianna! Come on!” she grunted.

I shook my head. “Let’s find another brand. Not that one.”

“Boomer! Come on!”

Nagawa niya ako hatakin sa store na iyon. Napansin ko na napalingon sa akin si Mr. Montepalma. His eyes widened in a brief time. But the smirk stretched on his lips. Pero kinausap siya ng babae na kasama niya kaya nawala ang atensyon niya sa akin.

“Hmm. Alin kaya rito? Can you choose one for me?” Baby asked.

Nilingon ko na siya pero halatang tumitindig ang kaba sa dibdib ko. Nararamdaman ko iyong tingin sa akin ni Mr. Montepalma sa likod. May sales lady na lumapit kay Baby at tinatanong ang size niya.

“M-Maybe that one…” I replied. My words were almost a whisper.

Kinakalabit ako ni Baby. “Are you okay?”

“O-Of course. Bilisan mo na.”

“Susukatin ko lang. Relax ka lang diyan!”

Lumayo siya sa akin at umupo siya sa maliit na couch para suotin ang heels. Naglakad papunta sa gawi ko ang babae hudyat na titingin naman sa side ko. Nakasunod lang sa kaniya si Mr. Montepalma sa likod.

His eyes were very intense as he watched me like a prey. His hand was inside his pockets. He stood gracefully beside the woman he was with. The sales lady was gawking at him very obviously.

I am not gonna deny that he is a handsome man standing in the women's boutique. My eyes pierced at his directions like daggers. How dare he flirt with me in our intimate meeting! Tapos may girlfriend pala siyang kasama ngayon?

“Does this look good on me?” the woman asked. Her voice was very elegant and softer. Nilingon niya si Mr. Montepalma ngayon na nakatingin sa akin.

“Yes, Gwen,” Mr. Montepalma answered.

How dare you talk to her while looking at me as if I am yours! I turned my back on him before I walked out of this store. A bitter smile etched on my face.

Men… they always get what they want.