Hired by seven billionaires heirs

CHAPTER 3: "WELCOME HOME, PROBLEM #6"

YNA'S POV - DAY 7 SA V MANSION

One week. One whole week.

At buhay pa rin ako.

Achievement unlocked: Survivor ng V Mansion.

Pero pagod na pagod na ako, Lord.

Pagod na katawan ko. Pagod na utak ko.

MONDAY

Pinaglinis ako ni Zion ng studio niya ng six hours.

May basag daw na salamin.

Six hours akong naghanap, wala naman pala.

Yung pride ko lang pala yung basag.

"Tatapos na po, Sir. Makinis na sahig niyo."

"Good. Tomorrow, clean it again. Practice."

Napalunok ako. "Practice? Dapat may allowance yun, Sir. Five hundred per practice."

He didn't answer.

"Wala."

Ngumiti lang ako. "Sige po. Practice din ako mag-resign bukas."

TUESDAY

Dalawang beses naaksidente si Kai sa kape. Basang-basa uniform ko.

"Oops, gravity," sabi niya habang nagse-selfie. "Wet looks better on you. More aesthetic."

Pinipiga ko uniform sa lababo.

"Sir, gravity lang ba? O galit ka sa saya ko?"

Ngumisi siya. "The mug on your head would look better too. Wanna try?"

Hindi ako sumagot.

Sa isip ko lang, oo nga.

WEDNESDAY

Fifty shirts. I-iron ko isa-isa. May number pa.

After four hours, pawis na pawis ako.

"Tapos na po, Sir Hart. Naka-hanger na rin, per color."

He looked at it. "Put them back. One by one. Alphabetical order."

Halos maduling ako.

"Sir, alphabetical order ng 'puyat' at 'pagod'?"

"Don't be smart."

Sa isip ko, oo nga. Mas smart sana kung sinapak na kita.

THURSDAY

Pinakanta ako ni Jun habang nagluluto. "Para masarap daw. Science daw yun."

Kumakanta ako ng Despacito habang naglulugaw.

"Louder, Ate! Let the pan feel it!"

Dumaan si Reign. "Miss Reyes, you're not a singer. You're a maid."

Hindi ako nagpatalo. "Sir, hindi din po kayo doctor. Pero ang dami niyo sinasabi."

FRIDAY

Pinaglaro ako ni Jun ng basketball. Naka-maid uniform ako.

Lima sila, ako lang isa.

"Dribble, Ate!"

Nadulas ako.

"Rebound, Ate!"

"Foul yun, Ma'am!" sigaw ng team niya.

Umupo ako sa sahig.

"Hindi foul yun. Labor code foul. Pagod na ko. Foul na buhay ko."

SATURDAY

Pinag-ayos ulit ni Reign yung dining. Two degrees lang daw mali yung spoon.

Gamit pa ng protractor.

"Sir, two degrees lang. Hindi naman two months."

"Precision is key, Miss Reyes."

Ngumiti ako. "Sir, precision is key. Pero sweldo is life. Asan na po yung life?"

SUNDAY

Rest day ko dapat.

7:58 AM, katok na si Reign.

"You're two minutes late for breakfast."

Binuksan ko pinto, naka-robe, buhok gulo.

"Sorry po, Sir. Naligaw po ako. Ang laki kasi ng mansion. Akala ko Narnia."

"There is no Narnia here."

"Buti naman po. Takot ako sa lion eh."

"Two minutes late is two minutes late. Deduction."

"Sir, two minutes late is two minutes. Yung pag-ibig niyo sa pera, two hours. Sino mas malala?"

Pero may napapansin na ko. Maliit lang.

Hindi na nagkakalat si Zion. Sa laundry basket na niya nilalagay damit niya.

May note pa: Wash cold. Do not shrink. - Z

Sinulatan ko pabalik: Copy, Sir. Do not shrink din ego. - Y

Next day may reply: Too late. - Z

Si Kai bumili ng tatlong bagong uniform para sakin.

"The old one is ugly. It ruins the aesthetic of the house... like you."

"Thank you, Sir. Sana pati ugali niyo bumili din kayo ng bago. COD po ba?"

Ngisi lang siya. "Touché. Next purchase."

Si Hart hindi na ako sinisita pag nakaupo ako sa pantry.

"Chair is for sitting. Even maids sit. But only fifteen minutes."

"Wow, philosophy. May scholarship po ba?"

"Shut up before I make it ten minutes."

Si Jun hinahatid ako sa room pag overtime.

"Baka mapagod ka, Ate. Who will cook? Who will be my teammate in Monopoly?"

"Concern ka? May sakit ka ba?"

"Wala. Natatakot lang ako kay Kuya Reign pag walang kape. Pag wala ka, siya magkakape. Pag siya nagkape, kawawa kaming lahat."

"So hero pala ako? Dapat may cape ako."

"Meron ka. Apron mo yun."

Progress? Ewan.

Basta hindi pa ako tinatanggal.

3:00 PM - LIVING ROOM - FAMILY MEETING

Formal silang lahat. May announcement daw si Lolo.

Ako, nagpupunas ng vase na two million daw.

Lord, kung mabasag to, installment ako habang buhay.

"I have an announcement," sabi ni Lolo.

"Your cousin is coming home today. From New York."

Tumigil yung mundo. Pati hangin.

"Raven," dagdag niya. "He'll take over the company... and this house. Including all of you."

Sabay-sabay silang nanigas. Pati yung lima naging bato.

"Sino po si Kuya Raven?" tanong ko habang hawak pa rin basahan. "Bagong janitor po ba?"

Sabay-sabay silang napalingon sakin. Para akong nasa horror movie.

"You don't need to know," malamig na sabi ni Reign.

"He's none of your business," sabi ni Zion.

"Stay away from him," bilin ni Kai.

"He hates maids," bulong ni Hart.

"Tago ka, Ate," bulong ni Jun. "Mas grabe siya samin."

"...Bakit? kumakain ba siya ng maid?"

"Worse. He fires them in five minutes. World record," sabi ni Jun.

Great. Another problem.

As if 5 wasn't enough for my resume.

Napatawa ako ng mahina. "Masungit pa sa inyo? Impossible. Kayo na CEO ng Sungit Inc. Siya ano? Chairman?"

Narinig ni Reign. Umalta ugat sa noo. "I heard that, Miss Reyes."

"Good po. At least malakas pandinig niyo. Sana all pati sa sweldo."

Napatawa si Lolo. "I like her. She's the only one who talks to you like you're human. Not gods. Because you're not."

6:47 PM - MAIN DOOR - THE ARRIVAL

Black SUV. Tinted.

Bumaba si Raven Villarosa.

24 years old. 6'2. Black coat.

Mukhang CEO, villain, at Greek god pinagsama.

Amoy snow at pera.

He looked like... like if Reign had a colder, meaner, richer twin who got bitten by a CEO vampire.

Visual: CEO, Villain, and Greek God had a baby. Then that baby went to Harvard and got a PhD in Making People Cry.

Pumasok siya. Bumaba yung temperature.

Even the chandelier seemed scared. Tumigil sa pag-ilaw for 2 seconds.

"Lolo," tipid na bati niya.

Tumayo si Lolo. "Apo! You lost weight! Ah, this is Yna. She made welcome juice for you."

Napako mata niya sakin. Parang may nakitang ipis.

"Who are you? Why are you in my house?"

Walang emosyon boses niya. Walang init.

Deep breath. Ngumiti ako. Customer service mode.

"Ako po si Yna Reyes, Sir. Maid po. At kayo po? Yung bagong problema ko?"

Tahimik. Mas tahimik pa sa library ng 3AM.

Narinig ko si Zion: "She's dead. Book her funeral."

Si Kai: "Cause of death: no filter."

Si Hart: "White or black flowers?"

Si Jun: "Ate, takbo! Ako na mag-eexplain sa family mo!"

Si Reign pumikit na lang. "Lord, forgive her."

Lumapit si Raven. Amoy pine trees at judgment.

"You have a smart mouth for a maid."

Ngiti lang ulit. Bahala na si Batman.

"Thank you, Sir. Smart mouth, hardworking hands, no savings. Package deal po ako."

"Raven. Raven Villarosa. This is my house. My rules."

Ngumiti ako ulit.

"Nice to meet you po, Sir Raven. Ako po si Yna. This is my... work place. For 300k a month. My rules: Bayad muna bago sigaw."

Tumingin siya sa akin head to toe. Walang blink. Parang CCTV.

"Lolo, why is there a maid who talks back?"

Natatawa si Lolo then smirks.

"Because the ones who don't talk back, pinapaalis ng mga pinsan mo. This one? She sends them to therapy."

Lumingon siya sa lima. Isang tingin lang.

Sabay-sabay nagsalita:

"She saved Lolo's life."

"She doesn't cry when we bully her."

"She folded two hundred shirts in one hour."

"She doesn't steal. I counted the spoons."

"And... and she's pretty!" si Jun.

"Enough," isang salita lang. Tahimik lahat.

Tumingin siya sakin. Parang job interview sa impyerno.

"You. Kitchen. Coffee. Black. No sugar. No mistakes."

"Opo, Sir. Black coffee, no sugar, no mistakes, no love life, no problem. Got it po."

"..." natahimik siya.

KITCHEN - 7:15 PM

Ginagawa ko yung coffee niya. Nanginginig kamay ko.

Hindi sa takot. Sa inis. At sa kape.

Bakit ang mahal ng beans nila?

Biglang sumulpot yung limang bruha sa likod ko. Parang mga multo.

Jun whispered: "Ate, okay ka lang? Si Kuya Raven kasi, sobrang sungit— he once made a waiter cry for using the wrong fork—"

Reign: cuts him "Shut up, Jun. Miss Reyes, be careful around him. He's not like us. He's worse."

Tumawa ako. "Ay thank God. Kala ko po same kayo. Isa lang kaya kong tiisin. Pag dalawa na kayo, magre-resign na ako."

Then Raven appears sa doorway. Bilis din timing nito eh. Walang ingay. Ninja yarn?

"What are you all doing in MY kitchen?"

Sabay sabay nagsalita yung lima: "NOTHING!"

Sabay takbo. Parang mga daga.

Naiwan ako mag-isa. With Satan's favorite grandson.

Iniabot yung coffee.

"Sir, eto na po. Black. No sugar. No spit. I promise. 100% saliva-free guaranteed."

Takes it. Sips. Pauses. One eyebrow raised.

"...This is good."

Nabigla ako. "Thank you po. First compliment ko in 7 days. Iiyak na ako? Permitted po ba?"

Tiningnan niya ulit ako.

"Don't. You'll ruin my floors. They're Italian marble."

"Ay sorry po. Sa labas na lang ako iiyak. Sa kalsada. Para aesthetic. Para free."

Smirks. Raven tiningnan naman ako. Katakot talaga mga tingin niya.

"Why are you... like this?"

Then tumawa ulit ako pero mahina baka magalit.

"Like what po? Tanga? Mahirap? Maganda? Risk-taker? Specify po, Sir. Dami kong issues. Naka-bullet points pa sa resume ko."

"...Dismissed. Before I change my mind and fire you."

Paglabas ko, narinig ko siya bumulong:

"She's... exhausting. And... different."

SAME, SIR. SAME.

You're exhausting din. And... amoy yaman.

Paglabas ko ng kitchen, nakasandal ako sa pader. Huminga ako.

Si Zion sumulpot sa tabi ko.

"Record ka. Three minutes. Hindi ka niya pinaalis agad."

Ngumiti ako.

"Progress, Kuya Zion. Next goal: three hours. Then three days. Then retirement."

END OF CHAPTER 3