The Puzzle Of Ocean Lilies

Chapter 2

We are now having dinner. After the introductions earlier, I immediately sat down beside my father.

I'm looking at my plate, trying to calm my rapid heartbeat because of those purple eyes that feel like they’re intentionally piercing through my soul.

They were talking about business, pero ako, parang si Mark, tahimik lang. I'm avoiding her gaze. Ramdam ko ang tingin niya sakin simula pa kanina.

"Right, Xavienne?" I was stunned when Papa abruptly asked me. I looked at him, nervously.

“H-huh?” I asked, clueless about his question.

“You're single until now, right?” tanong ni Papa.

I immediately nodded. “Y-yes, right,” I replied, my nervousness eating at my entire system.

Me and Amyra are not out that's why we choose to be private. Kaibigan lang namin ang may alam.

“Let’s talk about your salary.” Agad akong napalingon sa nagsalita, na sana hindi ko na ginawa. Because she’s staring directly at me.

Sheet of paper! Ayan na naman ‘yung puso ko! Feel ko may sakit ako sa puso.

“H-huh?” Parang tangang saad ko. I immediately tried to collect myself. “W-what salary?”

Too much embarrassment today. I badly want to disappear into thin air.

“I’m going to pay you for teaching my siblings. Name your price,” she said, her eyes locked onto mine.

“My price? Are you going to buy me?” I blurted out before I could stop myself. She looked puzzled, her brows furrowed.

“Xavienne,” tawag sakin ni Papa. Agad akong napalingon sakanya. “What are you talking about?” tanong niya.

“Name my price daw, Pa. Binebenta mo na ba ‘ko?” tanong ko pabalik. Bahagya din namang nangunot ang noo niya, hindi makapaniwala sa mga pinagsasabi ko ngayon.

Ewan ko kung nasa outer space ang utak ko o sadyang may jetlag ako, dahil hindi ko talaga makuha ‘yung tinutukoy nila. ‘Name my price’ daw e hindi naman ako binebenta. Atsaka kung ibebenta ako, priceless ako ‘no. Duh.

“Xavienne,” napabuntong-hininga si Papa at napahawak sa sentido.

Ano na namang ginawa ko? Nagtatanong lang naman ako, e. Malay ko ba sa ‘name your price’ na yan, eh hindi naman ako bagay para lagyan ng presyo.

“Dimwit.”

My eyes widened. Parehas kaming napalingon sa nagsalita, si Cathalea.

Did she just call me dimwit? As in i***t? Stupid? What the heck?! Ang ganda ko namang tanga kung ganon. Okay, hindi ko inaamin na tanga ako pero medyo… medyo tanga lang.

“Name your salary. Two hundred thousand? Three? Name it,” aniya at nagpatuloy sa pagkain. Agad na napaawang ang bibig ko.

Sheet of paper! Nakakahiya talaga ang araw na ‘to. Gusto ko nalang kainin ako ng lupa ngayon, like, right now! Isang Cathalea Lyrixa Vireaux called me dimwit! What a three ducklings!

Pero, wait? Did I hear that right? Two hundred thousand? As in? Just for teaching her siblings?! O to the M to the G! Magiging mayaman na ‘ko!

“Y-you can decide,” mautal-utal kong saad. Kahit sa loob loob ko ay pinag iisipan kona kung ano ang una kong bibilhin.

Nashock pa rin ako sa ibabayad sakin. Can you imagine that?! Two hundred thousand!

“Two hundred thousand a month. Is it enough, Mister Vexmoor?” tanong niya kay Papa.

“That’s too high a salary, you can decrease it,” saad ni Papa.

“No, it’s fine. I can pay,” parang wala lang na saad niya.

Sana all mayaman. Inggit ako, gusto ko rin maging mayaman. Yung tipong hihigaan ko lang yung pera, ganung level.

“I need you to sign a contract. But the contract isn’t with me,” saad nito kaya napalingon ulit ako sakanya.

Siguro kung may sakit ako sa puso, kanina pa ‘ko patay. Lagi na lang bumibilis ang t***k ng puso ko kada magkakasalubong ‘yung mga mata namin. Dati yatang abnormal ‘tong puso ko. Baliw yarn.

“O-okay lang,” aniko at umiwas ng tingin.

Hindi ko kaya, hindi talaga. Kahit ipilit kong titigan siya, feel ko matutunaw ako sa kinauupuan ko. Ang ganda niya masyado, parang hindi ko deserve makita ‘yung mukha niya. Her beauty is extraordinary. Parang hindi sapat ‘yung isang linggo sa paggawa sakanya ni Lord, masyadong ginalingan. Feel ko tuloy may favorite si Lord. Hindi ako naiinggit, Lord ha? Sinasabi ko lang po.

“Talk to Agnes later. I’m going to give her the contract before my siblings arrive so you can meet them,” saad niya at tumango naman ako.

After the conversation, bumalik ulit sila sa pag-uusap tungkol sa business kaya tahimik na naman ako. Wala naman kasi akong alam sa business. Kaya nga education ang kinuha ko kasi wala akong interest sa negosyo. I love teaching, it’s been my ambition since I was little.

My Abuelo was a professor during his prime, one of the great professors in a famous university in Spain. That university used to be my dream workplace. Kaso dito muna ako nagbase sa Pilipinas. Then my father interfered, galing diba? Sa inis ko sakanya noon, naglayas ako at pumunta ng Spain ng hindi niya alam. Pero eventually, nalaman din nila. Hinayaan lang nila ako kay Abuela kasi alam ni Papa na malaki ang sama ng loob ko. Parang nasayang kasi ‘yung pinag-aralan ko, sinong hindi maiinis, ‘di ba?

Pero kahit papaano, namiss ko rin ang Papa ko. Itong si pareng Xavier, walang pinagbago. Nasa loob pa rin ang ka sweetan. Distant lang naman minsan si Papa dahil sa business pero sobrang caring at sweet niya. I grew up seeing him hugging my mother from the back while my mom's cooking. Every anniversary nila, mayroong celebration. He loves my mom deeply and he is the true definition of a good husband to me. Kaya kung magkakaasawa ako ng lalaki, si Papa ang ideal man ko.

Kalaunan ay natapos na rin ang dinner. Nagpaalam na rin si Papa na aalis na siya, and I bid him goodbye with a kiss on the cheek before he left.

Now, I’m with Agnes talking about the contract Cathalea mentioned earlier while we were having dinner. Nasa sunroom kami na nagsisilbe rin yatang interview room. Puro salamin ang dingding kaya't kitang kita ang malawak na hardin at iba't ibang uri ng halaman sa labas.

Agnes handed me the contract, and I immediately started reading it.

CONTRACT FOR EMPLOYMENT OF MS. HEXARA XAVIENNE VEXMOOR AS A PROFESSOR OF THE VIREAUX TRIPLETS

This contract is entered into on June 19, 20×× by and between:

Cathalea Lyrixa Vireaux

Madam

Hexara Xavienne Vexmoor

Professor

ARTICLE 1: TERM OF EMPLOYMENT

The Employer agrees to employ the Teacher as the educator for the Viréaux triplets for a period of five (5) years, commencing on June 19, 20×× and ending on June 18, 20××.

ARTICLE 2: COMPENSATION

The Employer shall pay the Teacher a monthly salary of PHP 200,000, payable on or before the 15th day of each month.

ARTICLE 3: RESTRICTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

3.1 The Teacher is not allowed to go out except on weekends (Saturdays and Sundays).

3.2 In case of a genuine emergency or urgent matter, the Teacher must request permission prior to going out.

3.3 The Teacher shall devote their full attention to the education and well-being of the Viréaux triplets.

3.4 The Teacher shall maintain confidentiality regarding the Viréaux family’s personal affairs.

ARTICLE 4: TERMINATION

This contract may be terminated by either party with two (2) years and six (6) months written notice.

By signing below, both parties acknowledge that they have read, understand, and agree to abide by the terms and conditions outlined in this contract.

Signature of Teacher: ______________________

Signature of Employer/Parent: ______________________

Date: June 19, 20××

What the—? I’m not allowed to go out even if my classes are done? The fudgee bar?

“It’s the Señor who asked that condition,” sabi ni Agnes, breaking my thoughts.

Mukhang tinutukoy niya ‘yung clause na bawal akong lumabas unless it's urgent or weekend.

“Bakit?” I asked, still confused.

“Your father is ensuring your safety,” saad nito. “He knew that you love to roam around.”

Pansin ko lang, may accent sila. I really can’t point out what kind of accent that is, pero I know I’ve heard it somewhere. Hindi ko lang matandaan kung saan.

I sighed before grabbing the pen and signing the contract. Five years actually sounds fun. Sa tagal kong hindi nagturo, I missed fixing lesson plans.

“Are we good?” Agnes asked. Tumango ako. Pareho kaming tumayo at nag-shake hands.

“Good luck, Hex,” she said and smiled sweetly. Kaya napangiti narin ako.

It felt so warm.

Lumabas kami at nagtungo sa elevator. I planned to go downstairs to get some milk, gabi na rin kasi. Hindi ako umiinom ng kape or tea. Sumasakit ang tyan ko sa kape, atsaka baby pa ‘ko kaya gatas gatas muna.

Nang bumukas ang elevator, bumungad sa amin ang ingay mula sa living room. Naglakad si Agnes papunta roon kaya sumunod ako.

At bago pa ako makatingin, tili ng isang dalaga ang narinig ko.

“Wahhh! Agnes!!” tili nito.

Agad kong tinignan ang dalagang patakbo kay Agnes at niyakap ito.

“I missed you! I told you to come with us!” aniya, habang parang batang nagpapadyak sa sahig.

I was taken aback as I caught sight of the girl clinging to Agnes. If I’m not mistaken, I saw her grey eyes, otherworldly pale grey, like misty dawn skies. Ang… ganda… wow.

This family never fails to amuse me to the core.

I immediately snapped back to reality when the teenage girl looked at me, shock written all over her face.

“OMG?!” tili niya ulit habang nanlalaki ang mata at nakatakip ang dalawang kamay sa bibig, gulat na gulat.

Nakahiwalay na rin siya kay Agnes, at si Agnes ay nakagilid na. So now, I’m peacefully staring at the face of this young girl.

Her face was soft and bright, the kind that made people feel at ease at first glance. May pagka-doll-like ang features niya, but not in a fragile way, more on lively and warm. Her lips curved easily, her cheeks slightly lifted as if she was always one second away from smiling. There was something light about her presence… parang ang dali niyang lapitan.

“Who are you looking at?” tanong ng kung sino mula sa likod niya.

I heard footsteps, and then a guy stepped beside her.

He had sharper features, clean, defined, almost intimidating at first glance. His grey eyes were darker than hers, steady and observant, like he misses nothing. His expression stayed neutral, but it didn’t feel cold… just controlled. Para siyang SSG president namin noon nung high school na mas mahigpit pa sa teachers.

Then, on her other side, another guy.

He had a youthful charm that was hard to ignore, his grey eyes bright with quiet confidence and a hint of mischief. Hindi katulad ng isa, he looks more approachable. Siya yung mukhang playboy nung high school na paiba iba yung pinopormahan.

Napapagitnaan nila ang dalaga, na hanggang ngayon ay nakatingin pa rin sakin, though her expression is now calmer.

Now, I think I’m facing the triplets of the Vireaux family.

I think Vireaux Family is going to be the death of me.