Quest For Justice

CHAPTER 11: Heart Beats Fast

Not all rich families are happy families.

“A---Ako,” Cassandra could not speak straight and she hated that.

“Who are you?” Jarred asked again like he was suspicious of her.

Cassandra tried her best na labanan ang presensya nito.

“Bagong kasambahay po, sir.” Sa wakas ay nakasagot din siya nang hindi nauutal. She wouldn’t let herself be intimidated by him again.

Unti-unting nawala ang kunot sa noo ni Jarred.

“I’m sorry. I thought you were a…” Jarred left the sentence hanging.

“Magnanakaw? Hindi po ako magnanakaw.” Cassandra shook her head.

“No, I didn’t mean to say that.” He said with a straight face. He seemed to be someone na mahirap pangitiin o patawanin.

She tried to read him pero may mga libro lang talagang may komplikadong konteksto. Jarred was that kind of book. Hindi niya ito nabasa sa isang tingin lang. He was deep. A book that needed to be read over and over again.

“What are you doing in the library by the way?” Humalukipkip ito at sumandal sa book shelves.

“Dito po kasi ako pinapunta ni Ma’am Karina para po sa orientation ko.” She gulped.

Jarred just nodded, tumayo ng matuwid at nilagpasan siya nito. Nilingon niya ito at nakita niyang naghahanap na ito ng libro ngayon. She blew air from her cheeks and moved to the table at the right corner of the library. She still thought of how nervous she was when she met his gaze for the first time. What happened to her?

She snapped when Jarred occupied the seat at the same table she was sitting at. There were other tables though. She straightened and couldn’t stop herself but to stare at him as he folded his long sleeves after he placed his book on the round table. When he sensed that she was examining him, he met her gaze.

He flashed a questionable look. “What?”

“Wala po, sir.” Cassandra looked away.

She was still a little nervous but it was lighter than the uneasiness she felt a while ago. She needed to outpower Jarred’s presence.

He ignored her and started to open his book. Cassandra was not looking at him. She bit her lower lip as she stared at the door and prayed that Karina would come in. She felt awkward here for no reason.

“Actually I know you.” Binasag ni Jarred ang katahimikan, without looking up from his book.

What he said added speed to the beating of her heart. Napabaling siya rito at abot-abot ang tahip ng kanyang puso sa naisip na baka ay nakita nito ang itsura niya noong araw na iyon sa bahay ampunan at na-recognized siya nito.

She saw him grin before he looked up at her. “I know you.”

Napalunok si Cassandra sa kaba. Dito na ba magtatapos ang lahat? Hindi pa siya nagsisimula. Paano na ang hustisyang gusto niyang makamit para sa mga magulang niya? Hindi pwede. She thought of an alibi. If Jarred would say that she was that girl sa bahay ampunan ay idi-deny niya ito.

“Ano po ang ibig niyong sabihin, sir?” She forced her voice not to sound nervous.

“I knew that you were our new maid. I was just pranking you. Were you scared?” He smiled.

Cassandra blinked, she completely lost it. She found him cute that her heart fluttered. Ngayon lang siya naka-encounter ng lalaking nakaka-intimidate, na cute. The duality of this man. She found herself smiling back at him. She thought he was a cold person. Akala niya ay suplado ito at hindi siya papansinin. Well, because that’s what he heard about him. Or maybe depende sa mood nito. Damn, he was difficult to read.

All of a sudden the door opened. Parehas silang napalingon. It was Karina who entered the room.

“Hi, Nana!” Jarred greeted the head servant in a respectful tone.

“Hi, anak. Why are you early today?” Karina started toward them after she closed the door behind her.

Tumayo si Jarred upang bumeso kay Karina.

Jarred glanced at her, then turned back to Karina. “Is she Olivia?” he asked.

“Yeah! How did you know her?” Karina shrugged.

“Verno talked to me to ask dad to fire her,” he said, almost laughing. Maybe he found the situation between Verno and her funny.

Cassandra took a deep breath. She’d probably kill Verno the next time they’d cross paths.

She stood to their level to defend herself.

“Sir, I did not--” Mariin siyang napapikit when she realized she did start her sentence in English.

“I do not? Did not? Do not? Don’t?” She pretended she did not know the correct grammar nang pinilig niya ang kanyang ulo at umakting na parang nahihirapan siya sa pagsasalita ng Ingles.

“Talk in Filipino.” Karina felt ashamed on her behalf.

“Sir, wala po akong ginawang masama sa kapatid ninyo. Pinagtanggol ko lang po ‘yong sarili ko, sir. ‘Wag niyo po akong ipatanggal sa trabaho.” The corners of her mouth drawn down. She tried her best to make her face look pitiful.

“Why are you scared? I won’t.” He smiled again. Bakit ang Jarred na kaharap niya ay pala-ngiti while the Jarred he heard about was a cold person?

Karina shook her head and turned to her. “Anyway, Olivia. Bukas na lang ‘yong orientation natin. 8 a.m. sharp, bawal ma-late marami akong trabaho. Pwede ka ng magpahinga or you can study English grammar here, you’ll start working tomorrow.”

Tumango lang si Cassandra sa Mayordoma. Nagpaalam na rin ito kay Jarred at nilisan na ang kwartong iyon. Naiwan silang dalawa roon.

Jarred turned to her.

“You know what? You are the first maid in this household who had a fight with my brother.” Jarred said in an amused tone.

“Sorry po, sir. Alam kong wala po akong karapatan na makipag-away sa amo ko, pero hindi ko po hahayaan ang kahit na sino na bastusin ako. Tao rin po ako. Sana maintindihan ninyo.” She gave him a lazy smile.

“No. I don’t despise you. To be honest, hinahangaan ko ang katapangan mo.” He folded his arms and looked at her seriously.

Her heart fluttered again. He hated that her spirit lifted up just because of one praise from Jarred when it didn’t flutter from the previous hundreds of praises she received before. It made her want to do better to get more praises from him. For Pete’s sake! She just met him in person. How could he have had that effect on her? Parang gusto niya itong iwasan muna to gather her thoughts.

“Salamat, sir. Pero mauna na po ako sa inyo.” She excused herself.

“Yeah, sure. Good luck sa trabaho mo. Don’t worry about Kuya, I talked to him already.” 

She just nodded at him at nagmadali na itong lumabas ng library. When she closed the door behind her, doon niya na naibuhos ang panggigigil sa nararamdaman niya. She wanted to deny it, but she wasn’t the person who denied things. She only said those things that were true. At that moment, she admitted she could fall in love with Jarred pero bago pa mangyari ay susulusyunan na niya ito. Ito na ba ang sinasabi nilang crush? She shook her head. No, it must not happen.

She hurriedly went up the fourth floor through the elevator. When she opened their room door. Rima and Myka were already there.

“Hi, ate Olivia!” Maligayang bati sa kanya ni Myka.

“Hi, Myka!” She closed the door behind her.

“Wala na kayong trabaho?”

“Ganito dito, te. Shifting ang trabaho. MWF 7 a.m. hanggang 5 p.m. kami. Pagka naman TTHS, 5 p.m. hanggang 11 p.m. kami. Sana magka-shift tayo.” Paliwanag ni Rima.

“Sana nga.” Cassandra smiled as she went to her bed. Si Myka naman ay naroon pa sa higaan ni Rima at nagbabasa sila ng pocketbook.

“Te, na-meet mo na ‘yong mga amo natin?” Rima’s eyes sparkled.

“Bakit? May crush ka sa kanila no?” Cassandra teased.

“Ay, oo, Te. Crush niyan si Sir Jelo. Ayieee!” Kiniliti ni Myka si Rima sa tagiliran nito.

Natuwa naman si Cassandra sa mga batang kasama niya, feeling niya ay bumalik rin siya sa pagka-bagets.

“Eh, ikaw, Myka?” she asked.

“Naku, wala, te! Masasaktan lang ako. Sino ba namang mayaman at gwapo ang magkakagusto sa tulad kong hindi nakapag-college at walang ibubuga sa buhay?” negatibong wika ni Myka.

“So, sinasabi mong wala akong pag-asa kay Sir Jelo? Napaka nega mo.” Rima crossed her arms and pouted her lips.

“Alam niyo, girls, pasensya na kayo wala akong maipapayo tungkol sa love love na ‘yan pero lagi niyong iisipin na ginawa kayo ng diyos na special at wala ng katulad mo, Myka, sa mundong ito. Kaya ‘wag mong ida-down ang sarili mo.” Payo niya sa mga kabataan.

“Salamat, Te, ha. Nakapag pagaan ng loob ko ‘yong sinabi mo.” Myka smiled.

“Oh, sino na ang crush mo?” Rima teased.

“Gwapo naman silang lahat, eh. Pero kasi cold si sir Jarred, minsan hindi namamansin.”

“Cold tsaka hindi namamansin?” Casandra’s forehead creased. Parang hindi naman cold ‘yong Jarred na nakausap niya kanina, ni-prank pa nga siya nito.

“Oo, Te.” Myka said in a disappointing look.

Ano ba talaga ‘yong Jarred?

“Hindi naman, eh. Ang bait-bait nga no’n. Sa tuwing magkakasalubong nga kami binabati niya ako. Mas palangiti pa nga si Sir Jarred kaysa kay Sir Verno, eh. Sinasabi niyo lang na hindi namamansin kasi minsan marami ‘yong iniisip sa trabaho niya.” Pahayag naman ni Rima.

“Gano’n ba?” Cassandra frowned upon a thought.

Marami naman palang makukuhang impormasyon si Cassandra sa mga kasamahan niya kaya nilubos-lubos na niya.

“Si Sir Jarred ba may girlfriend?” tanong ni Cassandra. She didn’t make it sound like she was interested in him.

“Ayieeeee, Ate. Crush niya si Sir Jarred.” Ngunit binahiran pa rin ito ng malisya ng mga ito.

“Hoyyy, hindi ah. Baka anong isipin ninyo. Hindi talaga.” She shook her head.

Actually, she only asked that question for her reference. That question actually applied to all brothers. Because she was planning na ang una niyang gagawin ay ang paghiwalayin ang mga ito sa mga girlfriend ng mga ito kung meron nga. Hindi ba’t magandang ideya ‘yon dahil it could affect their mental health. Pwede nilang ika-depress ‘yon. At kapag depress ang mga anak, it could bring destruction to the father at hindi ito masyadong makakapag-isip ng mabuti at doon na siya mas makaka-atake sa kalaban. That’s just for Plan 1. Marami pa siyang plans sa totoo lang.

Cassandra’s Plans:

PLAN 1: Guluhin ang buhay ng mga magkakapatid / Inflict pain to them in any way possible

PLAN 2: Gather shreds of evidence about the murder of her parents

PLAN 3: Gather shreds of evidence about the corruption of CPM company

PLAN 4: Send the Chairman and those who were involved in the murder to prison

*         *         *

Naalimpungatan si Cassandra nang biglang tumunog ang kanyang cellphone na nakalagay sa ilalim ng unan niya. She blinked as she checked the caller. It was Tony and it was 2 p.m.. She told Tony before that if he had to contact her, it must be that time to assure that everybody was asleep. She carefully went out of the room. It was bright in the hallway because the lights were on. She moved to the bathroom sa pinakadulo ng hallway.

“Hello, Ton?” She answered the call nang makapasok na siya ng banyo at ni-lock ang pinto.

“Good morning, ma’am.” She heard him yawn.

“What is it?” Mas hininaan pa niya ang boses.

“Hindi na ako magpapaligoy-ligoy pa at inaantok pa ako. Listen carefully, atty.. You need to look for a certain hard copy documents on Don Sebastian’s office. Ititext ko sa 'yo kung ano ang itsura no'n, alam na alam ng informant natin. Then, take a picture of those documents and send it to me.”

“What document, Ton?” Her forehead creased.

Tony explained to her. That document contained some illegal transactions that they could use as evidence against CPM corruption.

After they talked she went back to their room and slept again. Maaga pa siyang nagising kinabukasan for her orientation. Ang shift niya ay katulad ng kina Rima at Myka kaya magkakasabay sila sa trabaho.

May chef ang household kaya hindi niya poproblemahin ang pagluluto. She was tasked to clean the rooms, the pool, and the living room along with Rima and Myka. Today, she’ll be cleaning the room of the brothers. Kung tinatamad siyang magligpit lang ng sariling higaan, ngayon ay lilinisin niya ang tatlong buong kwarto sa buong araw. Iniiisip niya palang ang gagawin ay napagod na siya agad. Lalo pa’t ngayon na ipapalabas sa Netflix iyong inaabangan niyang Season 3 ng paborito niyang series. But at least, siguro naman ay hindi gano'n kahirap maglinis. Alam naman niya siguro kung papaano.

“Te, hindi ganyan. Anong ginagawa mo?” Puna ni Myka sa kanyang ginagawang pagtutupi ng mga damit ni Jelo na inaayos nila ang pagkakalagay sa cabinet nito.

Myka demoed the correct way of folding the shirts that Cassandra had not done before.

“Hindi ka marunong mag-tupi ng damit, Te?” kuryusong tanong naman ni Rima habang nag-vavacuum ito.

She couldn’t deny it from the girls dahil hindi talaga siya marunong. Kaya nag-isip siya ng pwede niyang I-alibi.

“Ah, hindi, eh. Kasi sa dati kong trabaho nagluluto ako.”

“Hindi ka nagtutupi ng damit mo?” It seemed like Myka was not convinced. Sino ba naman kasing tao ang lumaki sa hirap ang hindi marunong magtupi ng damit? Kung meron man isa lang ito sa sampung tao.

Mabuti nalang at biglang pumasok si Jelo. Kaya nawala ang atensiyon sa kanya ng mga kasamahan dahil parehas nang namula ang mga pisngi ng mga ito.

“Hi! Good morning!” Bati ni Jelo tsaka tumuloy ito sa kanyang kama at tinanggal ang kanyang medyas. Kagagaling lang nito sa pagjo-jogging.

Cassandra shook her head, smiling at the sight of the girls na pawang hindi na naka galaw at parehas nang napatitig kay Jelo who was busy taking off his socks and shoes.

He looked undeniably handsome kahit na pinagpapawisan ito. Nang mag-angat si Jelo ng tingin ay siya ring paggalaw nina Rima at Myka. Bumalik ang mga ito sa kanilang mga ginagawa.

“Nag-breakfast na kayo?” tanong ni Jelo as he checked his wristwatch.

“It’s almost 9 a.m.. Tara samahan niyo akong mag-breakfast.” Yaya nito.

“Sir, tapos na po kami, eh.” malungkot na sagot ni Rima.

“Ganon ba? Ikaw, Li?” Baling nito kay Cassandra. Li kasi ang tawag nito sa kanya.

“Tapos na rin ako. Pero kung kailangan mo ng kasama, samahan kita.” Ngiti niya. Tinatamad na kasi siyang maglinis. She was that type of student na sasabihing sinisinat siya para ipadala siya ng teacher sa clinic dahil tinatamad siyang makinig sa lecture.

“Nice! Lezgo!” Jelo just left his shoes and socks under the bed and wore his slippers tapos ay lumabas na ito ng kwarto.

Cassandra was so happy that she was able to escape work. Myka and Rima looked jealous.

“Happy cleaning, girls!” Cassandra teased the girls before she closed the door.

The breakfast was prepared at the dining. Hindi na kumain ulit si Cassandra dahil tapos na siyang mag-breakfast at may sinusunod siyang diet. Hindi siya kumukain ng rice sa umaga. Ang usual breakfast niya ay magbiblend siya ng selected fruits and vegetables with chicken breast at ‘yon ang iniinom niya. Na hindi niya masunod-sunod dito sa mansyon. Kung ano lang ang pagkain para sa kanilang mga maid ay ‘yon lang din ang choices niya.

“Are you sure hindi ka na kakain ulit, Li? You’ll just watch me?” Pinipilit kasi siya nitong sabayan ito sa pagkain.

“Hindi na po, sir. Sasamahan ko lang po kayo.” Ngiti ni Cassandra.

Sana araw-araw walang kasama si Jelo sa pagkain at siya ang sasama rito nang makaiwas siya ng ilang minuto sa trabaho.

“Li, magkwento ka nga tungkol sa life mo,” ani Jelo habang naglalagay ng pagkain sa plato nito.

“Hindi po ako nakapagtapos ng high school, sir. Hindi rin po ako marunong. Tsaka mahirap lang po ang buhay namin.” Lahat ng sinabi niya ay kabaligtaran sa totoo niyang buhay.

Nilunok ni Jelo ang una niyang subo.

“Alam mo, Li. Sa totoo lang. Whether you believe me or not. I once dreamed na sana hindi ako mayaman. Magulo, eh. Hindi naman kami ‘yong happy family. Not all rich families are happy families. Dad and Kuya Verno always fight because dad wants him to enter business. Then Kuya Jarred would feel bad kasi all his life binuhos niya lahat para ma-please si Dad tapos si Dad naman kay kuya Verno ang attention.” His face saddened.

Cassandra found it useful for her to hear that information from Jelo. But she was somewhat confused why he was telling her that.

“Bakit mo sinasabi sa akin ‘yan, sir?” She frowned.

“Ikaw lang naman ang bago sa bahay na ‘to, eh. Lahat ng tao dito alam na nila ‘yon.” Jelo scoffed.

“Ikaw? Kumusta ka?” Hindi alam ni Cassandra kung saan siya nanggagaling. Why did she sound concern?

“Alam mo, Li. Ikaw lang ang nagtanong sa akin kung kumusta na ako. I don’t actually remember the last time I heard that.”

They locked eye contact. Smiling at each other.

“Ang sweet niyo, ha. Mag-jowa kayo?” They didn’t notice Verno entered the dining hall, smirking at them.

Tumuloy ito sa ref at nagsalin ng malamig na tubig sa baso. Pagkatapos nitong uminom ay bumaling ulit ito sa kanila.

“What’s your problem, Kuya? Why are you rude to Olivia?” Jelo sounded like napipikon na ito.

“Because she’s ugly?” He mocked.

Don’t start with me Verno Guzman. Cassandra thought.

Tumayo siya para sana umiwas na lang sa gulo at baka magkamali na naman siya.

“Sir Jelo, balik na po ako sa taas.” Paalam niya.

Jelo nodded at her. But when she was about to walk out ay may mahigpit na humawak sa palapulsuhan niya and made her turn around to face him. It was Verno. Halos magdikit ang mga tungki ng kanilang ilong sa lapit nila sa isa’t-isa. She smelled his fresh breath. He was looking straight at her eyes, examining her face. Hindi niya alam pero biglang lumakas ang pintig ng kanyang puso. Siguro ay dahil sa gulat.

“Bitiwan mo ako.” She tried to escape from his grasp only to realize na ang isang bisig nito ay naka-alalay pala sa likod niya. Para siyang kinikiliti.

“Bastos!” She slapped him at nabitiwan siya nito.

“Kuya, anong ginagawa mo!” Singhal ni Jelo at hinila si Cassandra papunta sa likod nito.

Napalunok siya nang makawala kay Verno at ngayon ay nakatayo sa likod ni Jelo. She smoothed the creases in her uniform. She was tensed. When she looked at him, he was smirking at her. She shook her head amusingly at Verno’s serious gaze.

Gusto niya itong suntukin. Napaka manyak nito. Pati ba naman siya na pangit ang itsura? As if she didn’t see him before na nakikipaglandian sa bar. Napaka bastos!

Patabog siyang nag-martsa palabas ng dining hall. Her hand was on her chest, she felt the fast beating of her heart. It did not calm down yet.

“How could he?” Cassandra annoyingly mumbled to herself as she walked toward the elevator.