Chapter 4
2049 Words
Ahma said I'm going to the Philippines... but I never thought that I'm going there as soon as possible.
I did not attend my graduation, one day after Ahma and I talked, I flew to Ahia's second home. Well, not attending that graduation is not a big deal, I even had the graduation photo shoot before I left China.
"Make yourself familiar with that country. That place would be your training ground."
Those were Ahma's words. Halos hindi ko na nga lang maalala nang tuluyan na akong makabalik ng Pilipinas. I'm more than excited, hindi dahil makakasama ko na si Ahia kundi dahil makikita ko na ulit ang rare gem na natagpuan ko rito years ago.
Did I have a crush on my brother's friend? Siguro. Sa kabila ng pagiging abala ng schedule ko, ni kahit minsan ay hindi nawala sa isip ko si Alfonso. I even dreamed of him! I and him!
But of course, hindi ko rin puwedeng kalimutan ang bilin ni Ahma. Alam kong hahayaan n'ya akong gumawa ng desisyon habang nandito ako pero isang pagkakamali ko lang, babalik ako ng China.
"So... this is what freedom tastes like..." I murmured while eyeing the surrounding outside the car's window.
Freedom. I never thought I'm craving for that. Matagal ko ring inakalang nasanay na ako sa de-susing takbo ng buhay ko.
"This is Narie, Young Miss. S'ya ang magiging assistant mo habang nandito ka sa Pilipinas..." pagpapakilala ni Mori sa akin.
My brother's busy with his graduation preparation, that's why his butler is the one who accompanied me from the airport to this coffee shop.
I eyed the woman. She's on her late twenties, I think.
"This is her paper..."
I eyed the documents before scanning all of them. Just like what I expected, the woman's background is humble yet outstanding. Hindi na nakakapagtaka lalo na at mataas ang standards mg mga Liu pagdating sa pagpili ng mga tauhan. They are handpicked by my parents or Ahma.
"Can I have a word with her, Mori?"
Mori stood and went to the far side of the coffee shop.
Inilapag ko ang file ng babae at pinasadahan s'ya ng tingin. She looks tensed.
Ahma will going to pay her a large amount of money just to make sure that her granddaughter would never commit mistake. Wala akong nagawa noong nasa Beijing ako because that is her home ground. But here...
"How much is your salary?"
I saw how the woman frowned. Sandali n'ya akong tinitigan bago mabilis na nagyuko, mukhang nakalimutan n'yang hindi maganda ang tumitig sa mga mata ng taong pagsisilbihan n'ya.
"Your job description is not just about accompanying and assisting me, ensuring my safety but also a daily report of my life her to my grandmother, right?"
Nakayuko s'ya kaya hindi ko makita ang reaksyon n'ya pero nakita ko ang bahagyang pamumutla ng kulay n'ya.
"Look, Narie..." My voice made her lift her face but still avoiding my eyes. "I don't want a complicated life while I'm here. We can live in peace, you know..."
"I will do my best, Miss—"
I waved my hand. "No, I don't want you to do your best."
Hindi ko pinansin ang gulat sa mukha n'ya.
"I want you to pledge your loyalty to me, not toy grandmother." I saw how she flinched. "Hindi n'ya malalaman. Wala ring magbabago sa pagre-report mo sa kanya but I need you to report to me first. I will also give you some things you can tell her na ikatutuwa n'ya sa 'yo."
This time, nakatitig na s'ya sa akin. I need her loyalty so I dismissed the irritation of having a stranger looked at me.
"If you agreed, I can add another zero to your salary. And I can promise you a harmonious relationship between us but if you didn't..." I grinned, eyeing her. "I'll make sure to make your work the most hated job in this land."
She gulped and didn't answer. Alam ko nga lang na pinag-iisipan n'ya ang mga sinabi ko.
"I really need this job, Miss..." Her voice trembled a bit. "My loyalty will be yours only, Miss."
I smiled.
Loyalty is a big word but even money can alter that. My way may not be right but this is for my freedom.
"You really talked to your assistant?"
That night, Ahia took me out for dinner. Biglaan lang iyon dahil nag-aalala s'yang baka may jet lag pa ako but I insisted.
Sinulyapan ko ang lamesang nasa kanan namin. Nandoon si Mori at ang bago kong assistant na si Narie.
"I'm so inggit, Ahia..."
He chuckled. "Hm?"
Binalingan ko ang kapatid bago bahagyang umiling. "Mori's a loyal servant."
Ahia wiped his lips.
"Mori's not a servant, Corrine. Butler ko s'ya, also my secretary."
I shrugged. "That's the same."
He sighed.
"How's your papers? You're graduating na so I think, it's time to go home, right?"
Kusang tumaas ang kilay ko nang makitang natigilan s'ya. Sa halip na sagutin ang tanong ko, mas pinagtuunan n'ya ng pansin ang kinakaing steak.
"Aren't you going home, Ahia?" ulit ko. "That's the initial plan. You'll just study and train here then babalik ka sa China. To lead the company..."
"I'm going to visit Beijing after graduation."
Visit. He's just going to visit his home. He's not going to stay or settle there.
"I'll talk to Ahma and Papa. I want to train more here. The company expanded here and Philippines economy is stable. There are lot of opportunities for our market here—
I almost rolled my eyes. "That's not the plan."
Nagkunwari rin akong abala sa paghihiwa ng karne kahit pa nakakaramdam na ako ng gigil.
Bakit hindi? My brother here is on his first step of ruining his life!
"The plan is to return to China and marry Luceanna—"
"I'm still young, Corrine." His voice is controlled yet deep. "I'm planning to study again. I'll do that habang nagte-training ako."
"So, are you telling me na mare-reschedule ang kasal n'yo ni Luceanna?" I smirked and eyed my brother.
He's four years older than me. Ngunit dahil dalawa lang kaming magkapatid, nanatili pa rin kaming malapit sa isa't-isa. I can say that we will always have each other's back. Mula pa noon.
That's why I am going to remind him of who he is, his responsibilities, both to the family and to Luceanna.
"Hindi mo kailangang problemahin ang tungkol doon, Corrine. The food's getting cold, let's eat."
Sa halip na kumain, iniabot ko kay kuya ang steak knife.
Ahia frowned. "Want a replacement?" tanong n'ya at kinuha iyon.
"No. You can use that to stab yourself, Ahia."
Mas lalong nangunot ang noo n'ya.
I smiled at my brother, malungkot nga lang iyon.
"That's what you're going to do to yourself the moment you decided to go against Ahma."
I may be younger than my brother but I also know how scary Ahma can be. She's not just strict, she's too much—everything and all negative things that defines that word.
My brother's happy, maybe happier than the last time I saw him. But I'm scared of what Ahma will do when she learned that my brother is no longer interested with the marriage to the Tans.
I don't need to ask him, it's so obvious. And I don't want him to ruin himself.
"Miss!"
I smiled after Narie handed me an envelope. This is her first task as my assistant.
"Is this the legit thing?"
She nodded from the driver seat. Hindi ko muna binuksan ang envelope.
"Don't tell Ahia." Siniguro kong nasa loob iyon ng bag bago muling tiningnan ang paligid.
We're on our way to my school. Wala naman akong gagawin doon, plano ko lang talagang gawing pamilyar ang sarili sa lugar na iyon. Nai-enroll na ako ni Mama bago pa ako makausap ni Ahma. The school and the course—both are Ahma's choice.
It's fine with me. I don't have any idea of the things I wanted to do or achieve. All I know is I have to please the family and follow Ahma.
But for now...
"Nandito na tayo, Miss Corrine."
"The students here are called Luna..."
Ang dami pang sinabi ni Narie pero hindi ko na pinakinggan ang mga iyon. I'm looking at the huge arc of the school. Colegio del Luna.
"Stay here..." I told Narie when I got out from the car. Tumango lang s'ya at muling isinara ang pinto ng passenger seat.
Sandali kong pinasadahan ang paligid bago dumiretso sa loob ng eskwelahan. I don't have any expectation from this school, lalo na sa taong makakasalamuha ko rito. I came from an exclusive-all girls school in Beijing. This one is not that good compare to my former school.
Ano pa nga bang aasahan ko kay Ahma? This is part of my training.
Since this is my first time here, I walked slowly. Paminsan-minsan ay tumitigil din ako para tingnan ang bawat bahagi nito.
I don't know where I am but I'm not really worried. I'm still in the process of feeling of finally being free. I really want to taste every bit of it.
"Gosh!" I almost screamed when someone bumped into me.
"I'm sorry!"
"What the hell?" I eyed the long haired-girl. "Parte ba ako ng road, huh?"
The girl's things were scattered. Kaya muli s'yang nag-sorry bago nagmamadaling pinulot ang mga gamit.
I saw the name on her ID. Zaragosa? I tried to read the name but she suddenly stood.
"Sorry ulit. Hindi ko sinasadya." Maliit na ngiti ang ibinigay n'ya sa akin bago nagmamadaling tumakbo paalis.
I tilted my head.
Is Zaragosa a common surname? I think not. Is she a relative of Alfonso?
I shook my head. I doubt it. She looks ordinary. Her things are not even luxurious. A local brand, maybe? I don't know.
I didn't wander any longer. Ilang minuto lang at bumalik na ako sa sasakyan.
"Ahia's school is just around this area," I said after Narie poured an alcohol on my hands
"Five minutes away from here, Miss Corrine," Narie replied politely before closing the door.
Five minutes. But it took us around thirty minutes before we arrived at my brother's school! Even here, the traffic is terrible!
I stared at the huge and rusty-colored gate. Ganitong-ganito rin noong unang beses na bumisita ako rito. Ito rin ang unang beses na...
I shook that thought away. I might be curious but I shouldn't dwell on that. Wait, curious? Really, Corrine? Fine, I have a bit of crush on him!
"Gusto mo bang tawagin natin si Mr. Mori, Miss?"
I almost jumped when I heard my assistant. Gosh! Sandali akong nawala sa sarili!
"No need na. Gusto kong makita ang inside ng school ni Ahia."
Ang dami-rami nang tumatakbo sa isip ko pero pilit ko iyong itinataboy.
Katulad kanina, I told Narie to stay outside. I'm so used of always having an assistant behind me but that was in Beijing.
Mas malaki ang eskwelahan ni Ahia kaysa sa papasukan ko. And there are lots of students here! Halo-halo at nagkalat sa malawak na vicinity ng eskwelahan!
"Naku! Ga-graduate na nga lang, may nakasuntukan pa sina Sebastian!"
"Alam mo naman ang mga 'yon, kahit walang ginagawa, away ang kusang lumalapit!"
Nagpatuloy ako sa paglalakad. Hindi ko nga rin alam kung ano ang ipinunta ko rito. To see my brother? Nah.
"Ang guwapo kasi ni Sebi, talagang laging pinagseselosan," dinig kong sabi pa ng mga tsismosa. "Muntik na nga s'yang pagtulungan, mabuti at dumating sina Alfonso at Josiah!"
My head snapped. Napatitig ako sa mga babaeng estudyante na sandaling natigil sa pagtsitsismisan. They looked at me weirdly. Nagtaas ng kilay ang isa bago bumulong sa mga kasama at sabay-sabay silang umalis.
My eyes followed them then the direction they came from. Alfonso?
Bago ko pa mapag-isipan, nakita ko na lang ang sarili na tinatahak ang pinanggalingan ng mga babae. I really don't know kung tama ba itong daan...
O kung tama ba itong ginagawa ko...
I stopped on my track when that question hit me.
"Kiddo?"
I'm still looking for an answer when a tall man stood in front of me. He bent a bit so he can see me better.
"What's up, Corrine? Long time no see." A bruised Alfonso smirked.
- Writer
