MAALINDOG NA XXL (SSPG)

CHAPTER 6

Kinabukasan, pagpasok ni Kaylyn sa factory, napansin niyang tila may kakaiba. Ang mga katrabaho niya ay nagbubulungan habang nakatingin sa kanya. Pagdating niya sa locker room, hinarang agad siya ng floor manager na si Mrs. Sanchez.

"Kaylyn, huwag ka nang magsuot ng hairnet at apron," bungad nito na kasing lamig ng yelo ang boses.

Kinabahan si Kaylyn. "Bakit po, Ma'am? Tatanggalin na ba ako?"

"No. Actually, starting today, you are promoted," maikling sagot ni Mrs. Sanchez habang iniabot sa kanya ang isang folder. "Mr. Russo requested for a personal secretary while he's here. At ikaw ang pinili niya. Pack your things from the production line. Magre-report ka na sa main office sa taas."

Para namang binagsakan ng langit si Kaylyn. "Po?! Secretary? Pero Ma'am, wala akong experience sa ganyan! Bakit ako?"

"Don't ask me, ask the Boss. At bilisan mo, ayaw ni Mr. Russo ng pinaghihintay siya," sabi ni Mrs. Sanchez bago tumalikod nang walang kaabog-abog.

Walang nagawa si Kaylyn kundi sumunod. Habang naglalakad siya paakyat, ramdam niya ang matatalim na tingin ng mga katrabaho niya, lalo na yung mga matagal na doon na nagnanais din ng promotion. Pero higit sa lahat, ang nararamdaman niya ay ang matinding inis.

Pagdating niya sa harap ng pinto ng opisina ni Russo, hindi muna siya kumatok. Huminga siya nang malalim para ihanda ang sarili sa pakikipagtuos sa mayabang niyang boss. Pinihit niya ang pinto nang walang katok.

Dinatnan niya si Russo na nakatayo sa tapat ng bintana, nakatalikod sa kanya habang humihigop ng kape.

"You're late, Secretary Obligado," malamig nitong sabi nang hindi lumingon.

"What is the meaning of this, Sir?" matapang na tanong ni Kaylyn. "I heard from the manager that you want me to be your secretary. You know I don't have experience in this kind of job. Why me?"

Dahan-dahang humarap si Russo mula sa bintana, bitbit ang kanyang tasa ng kape. Isang mapang-asar na ngiti ang sumilay sa kanyang mga labi.

"I don't care about experience, Kaylyn," sagot ni Russo sa kanyang baritonong boses. "I can hire anyone with a degree, but I want you. I want you where I can see you. It's easier to give orders when my secretary is just outside my door."

"This is not about the job, right?" bulyaw ni Kaylyn. "You are just doing this to annoy me! You want to punish me because I told you that what happened in the hotel was a mistake!"

"Punish you?" Russo chuckled, stepping closer until Kaylyn could smell the expensive scent of his perfume again. "Why would I punish someone who gave me such a good time? I am actually rewarding you. You get to sit in an air-conditioned office instead of packing boxes all day. You should be thanking me."

"I am not your toy, Mr. Russo!" sigaw ni Kaylyn, ang kanyang dibdib ay mabilis na tumataas-baba dahil sa galit. "You said you only like my body. You are arrogant and selfish! I am here to work, not to be your display!"

Russo leaned in, his face just inches away from hers. "And you are very loud for someone who is just an employee. Yes, I like your body, I told you that already. But I also like how you talk back. You remind me of someone... someone very stubborn."

Naaliw si Russo. Habang tinititigan ang nanggagalaiting mukha ni Kaylyn, naaalala niya si Iridessa Callantes-De Villa. Noong unang panahon, ganito rin niya inisin si Iridessa—ang babaeng palaban at hindi basta-basta nagpapatalo. At sa pagkakataong ito, nakikita niya ang parehong apoy sa mga mata ni Kaylyn.

"Go to your desk, Secretary Obligado," utos ni Russo, bumalik ang malamig nitong awra. "From now on, you handle my calls, my coffee, and my schedule. If you fail, I will make sure your stay here is miserable. Do we have a deal?"

"I have no choice, do I?" inis na sagot ni Kaylyn.

"None. Now, leave. I have a meeting."

Padabog na lumabas si Kaylyn at isinarado ang pinto nang malakas. Naupo siya sa kanyang bagong desk, feeling out of place. Kinuha niya ang kanyang phone para mag-vent sa tanging taong nakakaintindi sa kanya.

Kaylyn: "Ledger, I'm so angry! My boss made me his secretary just to bully me more. He is so arrogant and full of himself! He said he only likes my body. I want to quit, but I need the money for my family."

Sa loob ng opisina, kinuha ni Russo ang kanyang phone. Nakita niya ang message ni Kaylyn at napangiti. Lalo siyang naging interesado dahil ang lahat ng sinasabi ni Kaylyn sa app ay ang eksaktong nararamdaman nito sa kanya sa personal. Walang filter.

Ledger: "I'm sorry, my queen. He sounds like a real jerk. But don't let him win. Stay strong for your family. One day, you won't have to deal with men like him. Just remember, I appreciate you for who you are, not just your body. You are beautiful inside and out."

Nang mabasa iyon ni Kaylyn, tila natunaw ang lahat ng inis niya. Huminga siya nang malalim at nag-reply.

Kaylyn: "Thank you, Ledger. You are the only good thing in my day right now. I wish my boss was a gentleman like you."

Napahalakhak nang mahina si Russo habang binabasa ang reply nito. "If only you knew, Kaylyn... if only you knew."

Maya-maya pa, pumasok ang floor manager sa opisina ni Russo para i-check ang transition ni Kaylyn. Agad na nagbago ang mukha ni Russo—naging kasing-lamig ng yelo ang kanyang ekspresyon.

"Is everything settled with her papers?" tanong ni Russo, ang boses ay seryoso at walang bahid ng emosyon.

"Yes, Sir. She is officially your secretary," sagot ng manager, medyo kinakabahan sa aura ng boss.

"Good. Tell the accounting to increase her salary by thirty percent. But don't tell her it came from me. Just say it's a standard raise for the position," malamig na utos ni Russo. "Now, get out."

Kahit gaano siya ka-arrogante sa harap ni Kaylyn, may bahagi kay Russo ang gustong tumulong sa pamilya nito, lalo na't alam niya ang bigat ng responsibilidad na dinadala ng dalaga.

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Gabi na at halos wala nang tao sa factory, pero ang ilaw sa opisina ni Mr. Russo ay nananatiling bukas. Pagod na pagod na si Kaylyn; ang kanyang mga mata ay tila gusto nang pumikit habang tinitignan ang tambak na papeles na pinapaayos sa kanya.

"Mr. Russo, it’s already late. I need to go," sabi ni Kaylyn habang inaayos ang kanyang bag. "I still have another shift at the restaurant. I cannot be late."

Lumingon si Russo mula sa kanyang mesa, ang kanyang tingin ay malamig at puno ng awtoridad. "You are not going anywhere, Secretary Obligado. We are not yet finished with these reports."

"But Sir, I have another job! I need that income," giit ni Kaylyn sa English. "I have a family to support, and I cannot just skip my other work."

Tumayo si Russo at dahan-dahang lumapit sa kanya, ang kanyang mga kamay ay nakapamulsa. "That restaurant job... how much do they pay you there? A few thousand pesos? A pittance?"

Nairita si Kaylyn sa tono ng boses nito. "It doesn't matter how much it is. It's honest work and it helps my family."

"I’ll tell you what," Russo said with an arrogant smirk, stopping just a few inches away from her. "Resign from that cheap restaurant. I will double—no, I will triple whatever they are paying you there. Just stay here and focus on being my secretary. You don't need to tire yourself out serving food to strangers."

Lalong uminit ang ulo ni Kaylyn. Imbes na matuwa sa alok na pera, naramdaman niyang minaliit ang kanyang pagsisikap.

"You really think money can buy everything, don't you?" bulyaw ni Kaylyn. "You are so arrogant! You think you can just control my life because you have a thick wallet? That 'cheap' restaurant, as you call it, treated me with respect long before you came here and started bullying me!"

"I am not bullying you, I am offering you a way out," Russo countered, his voice remaining calm which made Kaylyn even angrier.

"No, you are trying to own me!" Kaylyn snapped back. "I don't care about your money, Mr. Russo. I am keeping my job at the restaurant because I don't want to be completely dependent on a man who only sees me as a body he can buy. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m leaving."

Napatigil si Russo, tila nagulat sa talim ng dila ni Kaylyn. Pinanood niya ang dalaga habang padabog itong lumalabas ng opisina. Sa halip na magalit, lalong sumilay ang isang kakaibang ngiti sa kanyang mga labi.

Paglabas ni Kaylyn, mabilis niyang kinuha ang kanyang cellphone para mag-message kay Ledger sa app habang naglalakad patungo sa sakayan ng jeep.

Kaylyn: "Ledger, my boss is the most arrogant person on earth! He tried to buy my time and told me to resign from my other job like it was nothing. He thinks money is everything. I am so tired of him!"

Sa loob ng opisina, kinuha ni Russo ang kanyang phone at binasa ang message. Napabuntong-hininga siya.

Ledger: "I'm sorry, queen. Some men are just too blinded by their own power. But I admire your dignity. Don't let him break you. You're doing the right thing for your family. Be safe on your way to your next job."

Nang mabasa iyon ni Kaylyn, huminga siya nang malalim. "At least, may isang Ledger na nakakaintindi sa akin," bulong niya sa sarili, hindi alam na ang lalakeng katatalo lang niya at ang lalakeng nagbibigay sa kanya ng lakas ng loob ay iisa.

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~ITUTULOY