IBUKAKA MO (RATED SPG)

Unveiled Tension

CHAPTER 4

DAYRIT’S POV

Pagbukas pa lang ng pinto ng mansyon kanina, alam kong may kakaiba. The air felt heavier, like something was pulling me into a memory I couldn’t fully grasp. It’s been years since I left this place, but stepping back felt like a puzzle being put together, piece by missing piece.

I didn’t want to come back, honestly. My life in the U.S. was meticulously built—structured, cold, and efficient. But the business here demanded my attention. At kung ako ang masusunod, mas pipiliin ko na lang manatili sa mundo kung saan walang nakakaabot sa akin. No emotions, no distractions.

Pero sa sandaling makita ko ang babaeng iyon—si Heaven—parang may kung anong pamilyar na damdamin ang pumilit sa akin na bumalik sa nakaraan. Hindi ko siya agad nakilala, pero may kakaiba sa paraan ng kilos niya, sa boses niya. Ang mga mata niya...

Damn it.

“Sir, I’ve prepared the reports for your review,” sabi ni Felipe, ang bagong manager ng negosyo namin dito sa Pilipinas, na naghintay sa akin sa study ng mansyon. Tumingin ako sa papeles, pero hindi ko magawang mag-focus.

Instead, my thoughts wandered back to her. Heaven.

“She’s... intriguing,” sabi ko sa sarili ko, halos pabulong.

“Sir?” tanong ni Felipe.

“Nothing. Leave the documents. I’ll review them later.”

Pagkaalis niya, tumayo ako at lumapit sa bintana. Mula dito, tanaw ang hardin kung saan maraming alaala ang naipon noong bata pa ako. Hindi ko man gusto aminin, pero ang lugar na ito ay isang bahagi ng akin, kahit gaano pa kalayo ang narating ko.

Napailing ako. I don’t have time for nostalgia.

Pagdating ng gabi, naisip kong maglibot sa mansyon. Most of the staff were already retiring for the night, pero naroroon pa rin si Heaven, nag-aayos ng mesa sa dining room. Hindi ko maiwasang mapansin kung paano siya gumalaw—mabagal ngunit maingat, tila ayaw makagawa ng kahit anong mali.

“Why are you still working this late?” tanong ko, na nagulat pa yata siya dahil sa biglaan kong pagsasalita.

Nagmadali siyang tumayo nang diretso, halos matapon ang mga hawak niyang kubyertos. “Ah, Sir Dayrit! Pasensya na po, inaayos ko lang po ang mesa.”

I raised an eyebrow. “It’s already clean. You don’t need to overdo it.”

“Pasensya na po, Sir. Gusto ko lang siguraduhing maayos bago po kayo umalis.”

Her voice wavered, and for a moment, I felt a strange pull. Like I wanted to reassure her. Pero agad kong pinalitan ang emosyon ng malamig na tono. “Fine. Don’t stay up too late. You’ll just exhaust yourself.”

“Yes, Sir,” sagot niya, sabay yuko. Pero habang palabas na ako, naramdaman kong tumingin siya sa akin. Nang lingunin ko siya, agad siyang umiwas ng tingin.

What is it about her?

Hindi ako nakatulog nang maayos. The question kept playing in my mind. How could someone feel so familiar, yet I couldn’t pinpoint why? At ang mas nakakainis, bakit ko iniisip ang isang kasambahay?

The next morning, maaga akong bumangon at pumunta sa study upang basahin ang mga report. Pero hindi pa man ako nakakapagsimula, may narinig akong mahihinang pag-uusap mula sa kusina. Lumapit ako, at nakita ko siya muli—si Heaven, kausap ang ibang staff.

“Ang gwapo pa rin ni Sir Dayrit, ‘di ba?” sabi ng isa.

“Pero grabe ang lamig niya,” sagot ni Heaven.

I smirked. That’s not the first time I’ve heard that, and honestly, I don’t care. Pero may kakaiba sa tono niya—hindi galit, hindi rin purong paghanga. Parang may halong lungkot.

Bumalik ako sa study, pilit na nilalabanan ang urge na magtanong. But later that day, habang nag-aayos siya ng mga libro sa library, hindi ko na napigilan.

“You,” tawag ko, at agad siyang lumingon, mukhang nagulat na naman.

“Sir?” sagot niya, halos mahulog ang hawak niyang libro.

Lumapit ako sa kanya, ang mga mata ko’y hindi umaalis sa kanya. “Do I intimidate you?”

“Ano po?” tanong niya, halatang kinakabahan.

“You always look like you’re about to faint whenever I’m around.”

“Hindi po, Sir,” mabilis niyang sagot, pero halata sa boses niya ang kaba.

I leaned closer, testing her reaction. Nakita ko kung paano siya lumunok ng malalim, at para bang gustong umiwas pero nanatili siyang nakatayo. “You’re lying,” sabi ko, mas mababa ang boses ko.

Her cheeks flushed, and for a moment, I felt... something. Pero bago pa lumala ang sitwasyon, umatras ako at tumingin sa bintana.

“You seem... familiar,” sabi ko, bahagyang bumaling sa kanya. “Have we met before?”

Nanatili siyang tahimik. Ang tagal bago siya sumagot, at nang magsalita siya, parang pilit ang tono. “Hindi po siguro, Sir.”

I didn’t believe her, but I let it slide. For now. “Fine. But if you’re lying, I’ll find out soon enough.”

I walked away, pero hindi ko maiwasang lingunin siya. There was something in her eyes—something that spoke of a past I couldn’t remember.

Kinagabihan, habang naghahapunan ako, sinadya kong tawagin siya. Gusto kong makita kung paano siya magre-react.

“Heaven,” tawag ko, na agad namang nagpatigil sa kanya.

“Yes, Sir?” tanong niya, mukhang nagulat.

“Sit,” utos ko, sabay turo sa upuan sa harapan ko.

“P-po?”

“I said, sit,” ulit ko, at wala siyang nagawa kundi sumunod.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit ko ito ginagawa, pero gusto kong makita kung hanggang saan niya kayang itago ang takot niya sa akin. O baka naman, gusto ko lang makita kung paano siya mag-react kapag magkalapit kami.

“Why do you seem so nervous around me?” tanong ko, habang nakatingin sa kanya.

“Hindi po ako kinakabahan, Sir,” sagot niya, pero halata naman sa boses niya ang kaba.

“You’re lying,” sabi ko, bahagyang ngumiti. “Why do you keep lying to me?”

Nanatili siyang tahimik, pero kita ko ang paghigpit ng hawak niya sa kanyang palad. “Wala po akong sinasabi na hindi totoo, Sir.”

I leaned back in my chair, observing her. “You’re hiding something.”

Her eyes widened, but she quickly masked it. “Wala po, Sir.”

“Fine,” sagot ko, pero sa loob-loob ko, alam kong hindi ito matatapos dito.

Pag-akyat ko sa kwarto ko, dala-dala ko pa rin ang tanong na iyon. Sino si Heaven, at bakit parang may koneksyon kami na hindi ko maintindihan?

Humiga ako, pero hindi ko maiwasang maalala ang mga mata niya—ang paraan ng pagkakatitig niya sa akin, na parang may gusto siyang sabihin pero hindi niya magawa.

And that thought lingered until I fell asleep.

The next morning, I made it a point to observe Heaven discreetly. She was an enigma I couldn’t shake off, and it irked me. I wasn’t the type to let anyone distract me—especially not someone like her. But there was something in the way she moved, spoke, even avoided my gaze.

As I walked down the hall towards the study, I spotted her in the living room, carefully wiping down one of the antique vases. Her focus was intense, but there was a softness to her expression that made her look... peaceful.

For a second, I allowed myself to watch her. Why does she seem so familiar?

Bigla siyang nag-angat ng tingin at nakita akong nakatayo sa hallway. Halos mabitawan niya ang hawak niyang basahan.

“Sir Dayrit,” bungad niya, agad na yumuko bilang pagbati.

“You seem to work harder than everyone else here,” sabi ko, lumapit ng ilang hakbang sa kanya. “Why is that?”

She blinked, seemingly caught off guard by my question. “Gusto ko lang pong gawin nang tama ang trabaho ko, Sir.”

“Tama?” I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms. “Or are you trying to prove something?”

She hesitated, and for a moment, I saw something flash in her eyes—pride, maybe? But she quickly looked away. “Wala po akong pinapatunayan, Sir.”

“Really?” Lumapit ako nang kaunti pa. “Because from where I’m standing, it seems like you’re trying to make up for something.”

Halata ang kaba sa kanya, ngunit hindi siya umalis sa puwesto niya. “Pasensya na po, Sir, kung ganun ang dating. Pero trabaho lang po talaga ang iniisip ko.”

“Hmm.” My gaze lingered on her for a moment longer than necessary. “Let me know if that changes.”

Without waiting for her response, I turned and walked away. I couldn’t quite place it, but something about her answers didn’t sit well with me.

Later that day, habang abala ako sa pagbasa ng mga papeles, napansin kong muling dumaan si Heaven sa may pintuan ng study. Nasa tray niya ang tasa ng kape na tila para sa akin.

“Come in,” I called, not looking up from the papers.

Narinig ko ang mahina niyang yabag papasok. Naramdaman ko rin ang paglapit niya sa desk ko, ngunit nang tumingala ako, nakita ko ang bahagyang panginginig ng kamay niya habang inilalapag ang tray.

“Relax,” sabi ko, pinipilit na huwag ipakita ang amusement sa mukha ko. “I don’t bite.”

Napatingin siya saglit sa akin bago mabilis na ibinaling ang tingin sa tray. “Pasensya na po, Sir.”

I studied her, taking note of how her features softened under the warm light. She had a kind of beauty that wasn’t just surface-level—it was something that made you pause and wonder.

“You seem tense every time you’re near me,” sabi ko, leaning back in my chair. “Why is that?”

“Hindi po, Sir,” mabilis niyang sagot, halatang pilit na kinakalma ang sarili.

“Don’t lie to me, Heaven,” I said, my tone dropping. “I can see it in your face.”

“Pasensya na po,” ulit niya, pero hindi na nagdagdag pa ng paliwanag.

It was frustrating. I wasn’t used to being ignored or brushed off. People usually answered my questions immediately, but with her, it felt like pulling teeth.

“You’re not very good at hiding things, you know,” dagdag ko, hoping to push her just a little further.

Bigla siyang tumingin sa akin, and for the first time, there was a flicker of defiance in her eyes. “Hindi po lahat ng iniisip niyo, totoo.”

That caught me off guard. “Excuse me?”

Her gaze faltered, and she quickly looked down again. “Wala po, Sir. Pasensya na.”

“Interesting,” I muttered, watching as she fumbled with the tray before turning to leave. “You intrigue me, Heaven.”

She stopped in her tracks, her back stiffening.

“Do you know why?” tanong ko, not expecting an answer.

“Hindi po, Sir,” sagot niya, barely audible.

“Because you’re hiding something,” I said, standing from my chair and walking toward her. “And I’ll find out what it is.”

Nagulat siya nang tumigil ako sa likuran niya, malapit na malapit. Narinig ko ang bahagya niyang paghinga, tila nabigla sa proximity namin.

“Be careful, Heaven,” I whispered, my voice low but firm. “Secrets have a way of coming out when you least expect them.”

Without waiting for her response, I turned and left the room. My chest felt tighter than usual, but I ignored it. This wasn’t the time for distractions.

That evening, habang naglalakad ako sa garden, hindi ko maiwasang mapaisip tungkol kay Heaven. There was something about her presence that stirred memories I couldn’t quite reach. It was frustrating. I didn’t like feeling unsure about anything.

Then I heard footsteps behind me. Turning around, I saw her standing a few meters away, holding a watering can.

“Sir, pasensya na po kung naistorbo ko kayo,” sabi niya agad, tila nag-aalangan kung lalapit o aalis.

“You’re not disturbing me,” I said, watching her closely. “What are you doing out here?”

“Nagdidilig po ng halaman,” sagot niya, pilit na ngumiti.

I gestured to the watering can. “At this hour?”

“Opo, Sir. Mas maganda po kasi kung sa gabi na didiligan.”

I nodded, pero hindi ko siya iniwan. There was something calming about the quiet of the garden and the way the moonlight softened her features.

“You’re different,” I found myself saying.

Napatingin siya sa akin, halatang nagulat sa sinabi ko. “Sir?”

“You don’t act like the others,” I clarified. “You’re not afraid to speak your mind, kahit pilit mong itinatago.”

Her lips parted as if she wanted to respond, but she quickly looked away.

“It’s not a bad thing,” dagdag ko. “But it makes me wonder—why do you work here?”

“Para po sa pamilya ko,” sagot niya, diretso ang sagot pero may lungkot sa tono.

“And yet, you seem out of place,” sabi ko, stepping closer. “Like you belong somewhere else.”

She didn’t respond, and the silence stretched between us.

“Do I scare you?” tanong ko, my voice dropping lower.

“Hindi po, Sir,” sagot niya, pero halata ang pagkabalisa sa boses niya.

“Then why can’t you look me in the eye?”

Slowly, she lifted her gaze, and for a moment, our eyes locked. There it was again—that strange pull, like I’d known her all my life.

“I should go,” bulong niya, breaking the connection and stepping back.

But as she turned to leave, I couldn’t stop myself from calling her name.

“Heaven.”

She froze, her back still turned to me.

“Be careful,” sabi ko, the words leaving my mouth before I could stop them. “Because once I figure you out, you won’t be able to run anymore.”

She didn’t respond, but I saw her clench her fists before walking away.

I stood there for a while, the cool night air doing little to calm the storm brewing inside me. Heaven was more than just a mystery—she was a challenge. And I wasn’t one to back down from challenges.

No matter what it took, I would uncover who she really was. And why, despite everything, she made me feel like I was standing on the edge of something I couldn’t control.