Solvane: Bound by Sin and Silence

Episode 10: The Beautiful Lie

( Serenith's Pov )

Hindi ako dinalaw ng antok kagabi. Paulit-ulit na naglalaro sa isipan ko ang bawat detalye ng interview na iyon.

“Tomorrow, the real work begins.”

Paulit-ulit 'yun sa utak ko na parang sirang plaka. At yung amoy niya? Nakakapit pa rin yata sa ilong ko. Para sa isang intern na tulad ko, ang "real work" ay madalas na photocopying o pagsasaayos ng mga resibo. Pero bakit pakiramdam ko, hindi ganoon ang naghihintay sa akin?

Hays!! bakit kasi ako pa napili!!..Sa dami-dami ng interns doon na mas magaling, mas bihasa, at mas mukhang sosyal, bakit isang hamak na katulad ko pa ang napansin ng lalakeng iyon?

Diko na alam kung anong oras akong nakatulog kagabi. Ang huling alaala ko lang ay ang pagtitig ko sa kisame habang pilit na inuunawa ang bawat salitang binitawan nang supladong gwapong boss namin si sir Nyxeron. Pero pagdilat ng mga mata ko ngayong umaga himala hindi ko na ulit napa-naginipan yung babae sa panaginip ko. Sa halip, isang nakakapanibagong sigla ang bumungad sa akin. Napaupo ako sa kama at napahawak sa ulo ko.

“Anong nangyari?” bulong ko sa sarili ko.

Ni isang bakas ng anino ng babaeng sumisigaw sa panaginip ko, wala na . Para akong binigyan ng pansamantalang pahinga . Pero bakit ngayon pa? Bakit kung kailan papasok ako sa pinaka-stressful na linggo ng buhay ko, doon pa ako binigyan ng ganitong kasarap na tulog. Mabilis akong tumayo para mag-ayos at pagkatapos ay dali-dali na akong nag-paalam sa magulang ko bago lumabas nang bahay.

Pagpasok ko pa lang sa lobby ng kompanya, ramdam ko na ang kakaibang tensyon. Ang mga security guards ay mas pormal kaysa dati, at ang mga katrabaho ko na dati ay palabati ay abala sa kanya-kanyang trabaho. Hindi na si Wendy ang sumalubong sa akin sa department namin. Sa halip, sa tapat mismo ng elevator, nakatayo ang assistant ni Boss si Atem.

Atem ba talaga pangalan nito? hays bahala na nga yun kasi narinig ko eh.

Walang emosyon ang mukha, at tila ba pati ang paghinga niya ay kontrolado.

Pero infairness kahit ang sungit pogi niya din, ay! ano ba itong naiisip ko.

“Miss Del Rosario. You’re exactly on time,” sabi niya habang tinitingnan ang kanyang relo. “Follow me.”

Hindi na niya hinintay ang sagot ko at agad siyang tumalikod at naglakad patungo sa private executive wing isang lugar na bawal sa mga tulad naming interns.

“Ah, please wait a moment, Sir Artem. I haven’t finished Ma’am Wendy’s Excel sheets yet the logistics report is still in progress."habol ko habang pilit na binibilisan ang lakad dahil sa haba ng hakbang niya.

Sandali!! grabe namang lalaking to hindi makapag-antay.

Huminto ito nang hindi lumingon. “Forget those,” malamig niyang putol sa sasabihin ko. “You’re not here to be a typical intern anymore. Within this day, you will either prove that you are an asset to the high-level operations of this company, or you will be out of this building by Friday with a terminated contract. Mr. Nyxeron does not have room for mediocrity.”

"Huh?!." Parang gumuho ang mundo ko sa narinig.

Pisti, hindi pa nga ako nakakapag-kape, tatanggalin na agad ako?

Dinala niya ako sa isang silid na malayo sa ingay ng main office. Pagpasok ko, may tatlong makakapal na folder na nakalatag sa mesa. Hindi naman ito bundok ng papel, pero sapat na para mangatal ang kamay ko nang makita ang mga technical terms na nakasulat. May mga shipping manifests at blueprints na mukhang plano ng isang malaking bodega o warehouse.

“These are the audit reports for the coastal project,” malamig na paliwanag ni Artem. “I need you to cross-reference the serial numbers in these manifests with the digital database. One digit off, and the whole shipment is compromised. You also need to summarize these contracts. Clear, concise, and no errors. You have until 5:00 PM.”

Hindi na niya ako hinintay sumagot. Lumabas din ito agad pagtapos niyang ibigay ang instructions na dapat kung gawin ngayon.

Napaupo ako sa swivel chair, ramdam ang bigat ng katahimikan sa paligid. Sinimulan kong buksan ang unang folder. Pero habang nagbabasa, may kakaibang pakiramdam na nanunuot sa batok ko yung pakiramdam na may nakatingin sa akin.

Dahan-dahan kong inangat ang paningin ko sa glass wall sa itaas. Kahit medyo madilim doon, anino pa lang ay kilala ko na. Si Sungit. Nakatayo siya doon, nakapamulsa habang pinapanood ang bawat galaw ko. Hindi ko mabasa ang ekspresyon niya, pero ang presensya niya ay sapat na para mapuno ng tensyon ang buong silid.

Anong tinitingin-tingin mo dyan? gusto ko sanang isigaw, pero pinigilan ko ang sarili ko.

Imbes na matakot sa pressure na binigay niya, biglang uminit ang dugo ko. Gusto niya akong subukan? Sige. Akala niya siguro ay susuko ako sa hirap ng mga technical terms na 'to. Inayos ko ang upo ko, binuksan ang laptop, at nagsimulang mag-type. Kung kailangang mag-overtime ang utak ko para mapatunayan sa kanya na hindi lang ako basta intern, gagawin ko.

( Nyxeron’s POV )

I stood by the window of my observation office, my eyes fixed on the girl below. Serenith looked so small sitting at that oversized mahogany desk, surrounded by files that most people in this building wouldn't dare to touch. The task I gave her wasn’t just work it was a test. It was a calculated move to see where she would crack.

“She’s focused,” Artem’s voice broke the silence from the corner of the room. “She hasn’t left her seat for three hours. Most interns would have asked for a break or a simpler explanation by now. But the technical jargon in those reports... it’s a lot to take in for someone with her background.”

I looked back at Serenith. She was currently leaning over the blueprints, her fingers tracing the lines of the structural integrity reports. She was struggling, her jaw clenched in frustration, but she hadn't stopped. She was a fighter wrapped in the guise of a simple intern.

“Good,” I replied, my voice devoid of emotion. I watched her through the glass as she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, she was currently leaning over the blueprints, her fingers tracing the lines of the structural integrity reports. She was struggling, her jaw clenched in frustration, but she hadn't stopped. She was a fighter wrapped in the disguise of a simple intern.. “I don’t need someone who follows instructions, Artem. I need someone who survives them. If she’s going to be part of the coastal acquisition, she has to be more than just competent. She has to be unbreakable.”

I remembered the way she looked at me in the conference room. She was trembling, yes, but she never looked away. There was a spark of defiance in her eyes that intrigued me a silent refusal to be intimidated.

Suddenly, my phone vibrated on the desk. I picked it up, expecting a security update, but the name on the screen made my grip tighten.

Azrik

I opened the message.

“When are you heading back? I heard you’re bringing the new intern with you. Don't take too long. I want to see if she’s actually worth the trouble you’re going through.”

I stared at the screen for a moment before locking the phone. My brother was never one for patience. He was already anticipating her arrival, and his standards were far more brutal than mine.

“Is there a problem, Sir?” Artem asked, noticing my silence.

“Nothing ,” I said, looking back down at Serenith. She was currently leaning over a blueprint, her brow furrowed as she cross-referenced the data. She looked exhausted, but she didn't stop. She was pushing through the fatigue, driven by a need to prove herself.

“If she finishes even sixty percent of that by 5:00 PM, prepare the travel documents,” I commanded. “We’re taking her back to Russia. I want to see how she handles the reality of the field.”

“Understood,” Artem said. “And if she fails?”

I watched her take a deep breath, squaring her shoulders before diving back into a thick stack of papers. There was a quiet strength in her movements, a stubborn resilience that you couldn't teach.“She won’t fail. She has a resilience that most people in this building lack.”

( Serenith's POV )

Eksaktong 5:30 PM nang mailapag ko ang huling folder. Tuyot na ang lalamunan ko at ramdam ko ang ngalay sa likod at feeling ko ay nag-cross-eyed na ako sa dami ng numero., pero nawala lahat 'yun nang may kakaibang sarap sa pakiramdam nang makita kong maayos ang mga reports.

“You’re finished,” Artem noted, his voice flat but I could see him double-checking my translations with a critical eye. “The terminology is... accurate. How did you know the specific term for maritime liability?”

“I looked it up in the company’s digital archive during my break. I also called my former professor to clarify some technicalities,” sagot ko habang pasimpleng nag-iinat. Hindi ko na sasabihin sa kanya na muntik na akong magka-acid reflux dahil nakalimutan ko nang kumain sa sobrang focus.

"Follow me. Mr. Nyxeron wants to speak with you.”

Gusto ko sanang magpahinga saglit pero wala na akong magawa kaya, sinundan ko nalang siya patungo sa executive lounge. Nandoon si Sungit, nakatayo sa tapat ng malaking bintana habang pinagmamasdan ang unti-unting pagdilim ng kalangitan sa labas.

“You did well today, Miss Serenith,” panimula niya nang hindi lumilingon. “But as I told you, that was just the beginning. I’ve reviewed your performance. You’re more capable than I initially thought.”

Humarap ito sa akin, ang mga mata niya ay malamig at walang mababasang emosyon. “Tomorrow afternoon, you’re leaving for Russia with us . But this isn't for an inspection. I’m transferring you to our main operations there—permanently.”

Halos mawalan ako ng balanse sa narinig ko. Russia? Permanent? Napalunok ako at pinilit kong hindi mautal.

“Sir? With all due respect, I am just an intern,” sagot ko sa kanya . “I haven't even finished my credentials here. Moving to Russia permanently is... it's a huge commitment. I need to discuss this with my family first.”Ang utak ko, nasa bahay na agad naiisip ko na ang magiging reaksyon ni Mama.

“Everything has been settled, Miss Del Rosario. Your contract has been upgraded, your relocation package is ready, and your flight is booked for 2:00 PM tomorrow,” he said, stepping closer until his presence completely overwhelmed me. I looked at him, trying to find any sign of a joke, but his face remained a wall of ice.

“But Sir, it’s too sudden. I can't just leave my life here in less than twenty-four hours.”

“This is not a request, Miss Del Rosario.” he said, looking down at me. “In this industry, opportunities don't knock twice. They break the door down. If you want to prove you're worth more than just an intern, you show up.”

Napalunok ako. Hindi ko magawang umiwas ng tingin.

“Go home. Pack your things,” he continued, his gaze intense. “Tell your parents you are working for the future of your career. Tell them you are safe.”

He looked into my eyes, and for a fleeting second, his gaze darkened.

“Tell them whatever you need to... even if it’s a lie.”

Pag-uwi ko, ramdam ko agad ang bigat ng sasabihin ko. Habang naghahapunan kami, pilit kong inuubos ang pagkain. Nakatingin ako kina Mama at Papa, alam kong ito na ang huling gabi na makakasama ko sila.

“Ma, Pa... may gusto po sana akong sabihin,” panimula ko. Sinikap kong maging kalmado ang boses ko.

“Ano 'yun, anak? Mukhang seryoso 'yan ah,” puna ni Papa.

“Yung kompanya po, kinuha ako para sa isang permanenteng posisyon. Pero sa main office nila sa Russia at bukas na ng hapon ang flight ko.”

Natigil si Mama sa pagkain at napatingin sa akin, hindi makapaniwala. “Russia? Anak bakit biglaan naman yata? Napakalayo niyon,

“Ma, safe naman po ako. Malaking kompanya po ito, hindi po sila gagawa ng masama. Kasama ko po yung assistant ng boss ko at iba pang staff,” pagsisinungaling ko. “Professional po sila. Sayang naman po ang chance.”

Matapos ang mahabang paliwanagan, iyakan ni Mama, at mahigpit na bilin ni Papa, pumayag din sila. Pero ramdam ko ang bigat sa dibdib ko, alam kong nag-aalala sila para sakin. Pagkatapos ng mahabang bilin at paalala pumasok na ako sa kwarto para mag-ayos ng gamit.

Habang nag-eempake, pumasok sa isip ko 'yung gising ko kaninang umaga.

Bakit kaya hindi na ako dinalaw ng panaginip na 'yun? Kung kailan ako aalis at malalayo sa pamilya ko, doon pa naging tahimik ang isip ko. Weird...

Hindi ko alam kung dapat ba akong matuwa ? bahala na ang importante makatulog na ako nang mahimbing.

( Nyxeron’s POV )

I stood by the window, watching the rain begin to blur the city lights. My phone vibrated on the desk. A message from my brother Azrik.

“When are you heading back? I heard you’re bringing the new intern to Russia. Don't take too long. I want to see if she’s actually worth the trouble you’re going through.”

I stared at the screen for a moment before locking it. My brother was impatient, as always. He didn't understand that some things required a delicate touch before they were shattered. I looked at Serenith's profile. Innocent. Unprepared.

“Is everything ready for tomorrow afternoon, Artem?” I asked without turning back.

“Yes, Sir. The private jet is scheduled for 2:00 PM. Miss Del Rosario’s travel papers are in order.”

“Good. Let’s see how she handles the cold.”