The Goner (Tagalog)

Chapter Sixteen

“You seem close with Michael kahit na kakikilala nyo palang sa isa’t-isa. He even hired you as his maid, wow.” Hindi ko mawari kung gusto niya ba akong magkomento sa sinaad niya kaya mas minabuti kong tumahimik nalang. Ngumiti lang ako at yumuko ng bahagya pero hindi niya naman iyon napansin dahil nakatuon ang atensiyon niya sa pagmamaneho. Ngumisi si Lucy na tila may naalala. “Michael is really a softie with the vulnerable ones.” She sighs and turns the steering wheel.

Tama siya. Naaawa lang sa akin si Jann kaya niya ako tinutulungan. Kapag alam niyang may maitutulong siya, gagawin niya. One trait of his that made me fall for him even more. “Do you know Michael had a girlfriend?” Tanong niya sa akin na mas diniinan ang “had” sa kung anumang dahilan. “H-hindi,” pagsisinungaling ko. Saglit niya akong nilingon. “She’s dead now. After his girlfriend’s death, hindi na tumino yang si Michael. Girls, liquors— who knows what was the worse. He really has suffered the most,” she says in a much more serious tone.

“B-bakit mo sa akin sinasabi ito?” She turns the car to the left, “Do you like Michael?” Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa tanong niya at awtomatikong napalingon ako sa kanya. “H-ha?”

“I just need to make sure that you are not in my way. And frankly, I want to ask for your help. To spill you the tea, I love Michael. So much. If I had fight for my love and did not let him go, maybe he is not in the state he is right now. I don’t want to make the same mistake.” Napayuko ako at pinaglaruan ang aking mga daliri. Siguro nga. Siguro kung sila ang nagkatuluyan ni Jann, at hindi naging kami…

Siguro kung hindi ko siya binigyan ng pag-asang maghintay at pinigilan ang nararamdaman ko sa kanya

Siguro kung sinabi kong hindi pwedeng maging kami kasi gusto siya ni Lucy, baka sakali…

Hindi siya nagkakaganito ngayon. Wala sana siyang pakialam kung sakaling mamatay ako. Hindi sana siya miserable at masaya sana sila na magkasama ni Lucy hanggang ngayon.

Lucy is right.

I was on their way.

Dahil sa abala ako sa aking mga iniisip, hindi ko namalayang nakahinto na pala ang kotse at nakapark ito sa gilid ng kalsada. Tinanggal ni Lucy ang nakasuot na seatbelt at humarap sa akin. Seryoso siyang nakatingin sa akin ngayon at binabasa ang mukha ko nang masinsinan. Tiningnan ko siya sa mga mata at ngayon alam ko na kung gaano siya kadeterminado sa lahat ng mga sinabi niya.

“Do you like Michael?” Pag-uulit niya. “Either yes or no, I will still carry on with my plans. I will make him sweep off my feet.”

Napalunok muna ako bago nagkalakas ng loob magsalita. “H-hindi. Kelangan ko lang talaga ng pera at nagkataon na si Jann ang nandiyan para bigyan ako ng trabaho.” Napansin ko ang pagliwanag ng awra niya sa sagot ko.

“Great! And about that, I made a little background check so I know the current situation you are in right now. I know how badly you need money. So… I am offering you a job.” Napakunot-noo ako sa sinabi niya. “I need your help to make Michael fall for me. I’ll compensate you for the trouble of course. Once my plans work, we will end the contract. Still depends on you if you want to accept my offer. I pay good you know.”

The offer seems promising. Ito na ba iyon? Ito na ba ang mission ko? Masakit mang isipin na baka sila talaga ni Lucy ang para sa isa’t-isa at naudlot lang iyon dahil sa akin. Maybe it is time to fix things. At least I would be happy na si Lucy ang makakatuluyan ni Jann, hindi pa man nangyayari yun ay boto na ko kay Lucy. Okay. We’re doing this. “Yung sa pera, hin--“

Halos masapo ko ang noo sa muntik ko nang sabihin. Sasabihin ko pa sana na hindi niya ko kelangan ng bayad at tutulungan ko siya kahit wala nun. Ano namang idadahilan ko kung sakaling hindi ko kunin ang pera? Baka magduda lang sa akin si Lucy.

“Ibig kong sabihin. M-magkano ang offer mo?”

“Tell me how much Michael is paying you and I’ll pay you the same amount or higher than that.”

Hindi ko na masyadong inintindi ang sinabi niyang iyon. “A-anong gagawin ko para matupad ang plano mo?”

She smirks, “Okay. First things first.”

Michael.

I check my watch for the umpteenth time. Bakit ba ang tagal niya? I’m pretty sure malinaw ang instructions ko kay manang and she should be here by now pero hanggang ngayon hindi pa siya dumadating. Baka kung ano na ang nangyari sa kanya. Tawagan ko kaya si manang? I stop for a moment and shake my thoughts off my head. Why am I so worried? Ang dami ko pang kelangan gawin but here I am worrying about that girl.

Napahawak ako sa sentido ko. “What is going on with me?”

“Michael!” Dazed when I found Lucy and Trisha together, I still feel relieved when I saw her.

Kakabukas lang nila ng pinto ng office ko pero agad kong nilapitan si Trisha. “Bakit ang tagal mo? Kanina pa kita hinihintay dito.” My forehead creases after seeing her reaction. What’s wrong with her? She can’t even look me in the eyes. It’s like she’s hiding something and avoiding my gaze.

“Jann—I mean, sir Michael! Ano kasi—“

“We got stuck in the traffic. I was looking for you and I thought you’re home. E nalaman kong pupunta sa opisina si Trisha kaya hinatid ko na din siya. You hired her as your personal maid pala?”

Hindi pa rin niya ko matingnan sa mga mata. Para siyang tuliro na di alam ang gagawin. Michael. Kelan pa siya natutong tawagin ako nun? I even warned her before about calling me Jann but she still didn’t listen. But now...

“Michael?”

“Oh, yes.” I almost forgot Lucy’s here. “She badly needed the job kaya tinanggap ko siya. Right, Trisha?”

“A-ah oo! Ito na nga po pala yung mga files na pinapadala mo,” kinuha ko ang hawak niyang paper bag, still not taking my eyes off of her.

“I got you soup right here. You won’t mind if I join you right? I really need to discuss with you some important matters.”

I turn around and smile. “Thanks. Why don’t you settle yourself in the conference room? Dun na tayo kumain. I’ll ask my secretary to bring the utensils there.”

Her expressions makes it seem like she did not like what she heard. “E ikaw? Hindi mo ba ko sasabayang pumunta dun?”

“Susunod nalang ako. I just need to talk to my personal maid.”

She nods at my response and proceeds to the conference room. I immediately called my secretary to help her.

“Michael, huh? That’s new.” I told her as soon as we are left alone.

“Diba yun ang gusto mong itawag sa’yo, s—sir?” I try to step closer but she steps back. Step after step until I pinned her against the wall placing my right hand beside her head.

“J-jann.”

I can’t help but smirk after hearing it. “Better.” I move away from her and I can clearly see how she heaves a sigh of relief. I smile at the thought of how my action affected her. I cross my arms while she is still sighing with her hand on her chest.

Trisha.

“Nagpack up ka na ng mga gamit mo?” Umiwas ako ng tingin sa kanya. Pakiramdam ko pinagtataksilan ko siya dahil nakipagsabwatan ako kay Lucy. Pero bakit ba ako nakokonsensiya? Para kay Jann naman yun—Michael. First rule ni Lucy: Call him Michael. I heard you calling him Jann when we are at his mansion. His ex-girlfriend used to call him Jann so I am commanding you not to call him that way. It only brings back bad memories on his part.

Sinusubukan ko nang gawin yun, pero hindi ganun kadaling iwasan ang mga bagay na nakasanayan.

Kalma Tin.Wag kang magpapahalata. Wag kang mauutal. Para naman ito kay Jann—Michael. Binaba ko ang kamay na nakahawak sa aking dibdib at tumayo nang matuwid. Huminga ako nang malalim bago magsalita.

“Hindi pa. Sinabihan ako ni manang Julie na umuwi at mag-impake pagkatapos ko dito. May iba pa po ba kayong ipapagawa sir Michael?”

Nakakunot-noo niyang binaba ang mga kamay at tinitigan lang ako. I stare back so he won’t notice. “Kung wala na po, uuwi na muna ako para ilipat ang mga gamit ko.” Napaisip ako. Parang wala naman akong mga gamit na kelangang ilipat. Mabubuhay naman ako sa mansion ni Jann kahit wala nun. Napabuntong-hininga ako. Sa isip ko nalang siguro siya matatawag na Jann.

“I really don’t know what’s going on with you. Whatever that is, I’ll figure it out.” Napakagat-labi ako sa sinabi niya. Wag naman sana. Tumalikod siya at may kinuha sa drawer niya na puting box. “Here. Gamitin mo ito. Nilagay ko na ang number ko diyan. I will call you whenever I need you to report to me. I will give you your allowance for transportation and all other expenses when I get home. And for your daily tasks, I’ll have my secretary write it down for you. Just get it tomorrow.” Grabe. Nakakapanibago pa rin talagang isipin na ang former boyfriend ko ay boss ko na ngayon.

“Michael? You’re not done yet?” Parehong kaming napalingon sa may pinto kung saan nakasilip si Lucy. “I want to spend some time with you and I still do have a duty in the hospital,” she says smiling, not taking her eyes off Jann. Tumingin ako kay Jann at wala pa rin siyang kibo.

Yumuko ako at saka ngumiti, “Sige po sir Michael. Aalis na ako. Tawagan niyo nalang ako pag may ipapagawa kayo.” I silently excuse myself to them and leave. Napasandal agad ako nang makapasok sa elevator. I can do this. All for Jann, my loves.

Lucy.

“Michael? Let’s go?” I ask Michael when I saw him still busy with his thoughts. I just shrug off whatever it is he might be thinking while staring at the blank space of the door. My plans are all set now. I am sure it is going to work. It should.

“What is it you want to talk about?” I put up a smile and give him the spoon. Of course it was just a front so I could see him – that “important matter.” But I do have something to say so I’ll tell them anyway.

Umupo ako sa tapat at binuksan ang glass tupper na pinaglagyan ng soup at saka nilagyan ang bowl ni Michael. “Tito. He’s visiting Philippines from LA and gave me call yesterday. Gusto ka daw niyang makausap pag nagpunta siya dito. He wants to invest in your business.” I see how his expression lightens up. Tito is a very influential business man. Tito is BIG TIME. He will bring a really good reputation on Michael’s business. This is going to be a huge deal for him. Well, glad to help. After all, this is Michael I am helping.

“Which business?” He asks, confused and excited.

I smirk and giggle. “Nga pala, madami ka nang businesses. I forgot about that one.” I hand him the bowl filled with soup while regaining my memory of the call I had with tito. “If I remember it right, he wants you to open a resto in LA. I don’t think you would be worrying about its feasibility. You are dealing with tito should I remind you. I am pretty sure you don’t need to do the research.” Knowing that tito and Michael will be working together makes me want to giggle. Sigurado akong tutulungan ako ni tito na makasama sa business plans nila para mapalapit lalo kay Michael. I’d definitely do that.

“When is he paying a visit? Or should I call him directly?” I smirk and eat the soup. He is really excited.

“I’ll give you his number as he told me to do. He also asked me to send you the business proposal for you to sign or you want to meet him first?” I shriek a bit when I accidentally spilled the soup on my dress.

Next thing I knew, kaharap ko na si Michael at busy sa pagpunas ng dumi sa scrubs ko. He is so close. I can feel his breath under my skin. “s**t! Ayaw matanggal. Puti pa naman ang damit mo. Do you need to go to the bathroom? I’ll take you there.”

He was about to leave out of my sight when I tight grip his necktie, pulling him closer to me. We are an inch apart from each other. I can’t help but stare at his tempting lips. I put the sweetest smile I could muster and look straight into his eyes. You will soon be mine, Michael. I promise you that.