One Last Crime

Kabanata 6

Bag

"Ma'am, a package for you." My secretary said when she entered the office.

"Leave it on my table." Utos ko.

I trudged towards my swivel chair. This is my first day at the office and I'm late. How could I handle this company if I'm not even efficient on time?

This is because of that f*****g Mary! She's the reason why I'm late!

I feel so f*****g tired already because of what happened at Adrian's house.

"Takte mabuti naman at andito kana! Kanina pa ako tinatawagan ng mudrakels at pudrakels mo!" saad ng kakapasok lang na si Rich.

Huminga ako ng malalim. "Oh anyare? Bakit lukot yang mamahalin mong mukha?"

"I'm just exhausted." Hinilot ko ang sentido. Sumakit ang ulo ko sa pag iyak sa kotse kanina. Doon ko inilabas lahat ng luhang pinigil sa harap ni Adrian.

Nilapit niya ang mukha sa akin. "Teka, takte parang namumugto ang mata mo."

I looked away. "It's not."

"Oo kaya! Ayan oh!" Tinuro niya pa ang ilalim ng mata ko.

"Rich get out of my office I'm going to work," mariin kong saad.

"Takte ka e mukhang gagaling mo lang sa pag iyak, masakit pa yang ulo mo tapos mag tatrabaho kana agad?"

"My eyes are fine so leave them alone. I need to know everything about our company. Time is not gold, it's precious than that. I won't take it for granted."

"Gan'yan ba talaga pag mayaman hindi nagsasayang oras?"

"Those who not take time for granted are the ones successful. When your about to plan everything their already done with it. Those who treasure time are already successful during the process. You're already behind if you procrastinate."

"Kaya pala mahirap pa rin ako hanggang ngayon kasi ang tamad ko!" He chuckled.

I laughed at his banter. Maybe I need to loosen up a bit. Im not a killer anymore. I need to be fine so no one would even think that I killed someone.

"Ironic, your name is rich but your not." I bantered.

He's full name is Richard but since she's a woman trapped inside a man's body. I just called her Rich.

"Papunta nako don no! Hindi naman kasi ako pinanganak na katulad mong tagapagmana ng malaking company!"

"Bakit ba kasi andaming utang ng pamilya ko! Ang hilig kasi magsugal ni papa hindi naman nagbabayad, pag naman pagsasabihan ko ngingitian lang ako tapos susugal ulit!" reklamo niya.

Even though his the manager of the most famous international model in the world. His salary is still not enough. He can't buy any property, he can't even do what he wants to his money because they have tons of debt and that's where his salary is going.

"How's Kalilah?" It's her younger sister.

"Ayun nasa hospital pa rin, ewan ko ba kasi sa batang 'yon! Ang sabi ko ayusin ang pag aaral pero unang taon palang sa kolehiyo may problema na agad!"

"Andoon sa hospital at may nangyari daw na kung ano sa school. Mabuti nga at sinagot mo ang bayad sa hospital niya. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko kung wala akong kaibigan at hinahandle na kagaya mong maarte at mabait!" natatawa niyang saad.

"Takte kasi 'yon, kahapon nga nung binista ko doon, nahuli kong nakatingin sa bakat ng isang gwapong doktor, takte ang batang 'yon, kebata bata pa malantod na!" naiinis niyang sigaw.

"I can't blame your sister, Rich. The doctors there are quite handsome."

"Gusto ko na nga ring ma-confine sa hospital na 'yon para naman mawala ang stress ko kaso ang mahal! Pero sigurado akong makita ko lang ang mga poging iyon okay na agad ako!" kinikilig na saad niya, niyakap pa ang sarili.

"It's Monteclar hospital, doctors are like greek goddesses." I've been there maybe once or thrice.

Monteclar hospital is the best hospital in the country. I want to have a dermatologist from there but I can't just fire my international dermatologist because she's my doctor since I was a teen. She knows my skin better than others.

"Ano to?"

Rich is holding my package.

"My package." I answered. Kinuha ko iyon mula sa kan'ya at binuksan.

I groaned when I saw it.

"Bakit ba hindi nila ito makuha ng tama?!" padabog kong binaba sa lamesa ang bag na hawak, bumaba doon ang titig ni Rich.

The bag is precious with the gleaming crystals on it. The soft and shiny cloth is stunning but I don't like the color of it.

I told my secretary to buy me a channel bag when I was still in America. I told her that i want that beg in red so why the f**k it's not?

"Oh bakit?" si Rich.

"They always made this mistake!"

"What mistake?"

Sinulyapan ko ang bag na nasa lamesa. "Just look at that."

Kinuha niya iyon at sinuri. "Oh Anong problema dito? Takte ang ganda nito ah! Ito yung gusto mo hindi ba? Nakadating na pala?"

I rolled my eyes. "Thats not what I want!"

"Ano bang gusto mo? Maganda naman itong dilaw!"

"I want it red. Not yellow," I sighed exasperatedly.

"Ang gusto kong kulay ay pula, napakalayo ng pula sa dilaw! Ano bang mahirap intindihin don?

Lagi na lang nangyayari ito!"

Binaba niya ang bag sa harapan ko. Nanatili ang titig ko doon.

"Kumalma ka nga Chant! Kulay lang 'yan. Baka nagkamali lang talaga."

I push it to the side. "I don't want that!"

"Akin na nga yan, ito ang arte arte talaga e! Kulay lang naman ang hindi mo gusto, mahal parin 'yan kaya maganda!"

Muli niyang kinuha ang bag mula sa lamesa at sinukbit sa braso at maarteng minodel iyon.

Nanatili ang titig ko doon, nang huling mangyari ang pagkalamaling ito ay may nangyaring hindi maganda.

I pressed my lips together and shooked my head to get rid of that thought. I sighed heavily.

No, this is just nothing. All coincidence. My secretary is just dumb. This is not some kind of pattern. That thing won't happen again.

On the back of my mind I can't help but think about it... It already happened Chantrea, Mariya's sister is here. Who knows who will show up next?

"Takte bagay sa akin no? Titig na titig ka e!" si Rich.

I rested my back at my swivel chair then crossed my arms. "Ano bang problema mo?"

"Nothing." I looked away. I glance at my clammy palms.

"Nothing? Eh yang itsura mo e parang may namatay!" I hope no one will die just because of this coincidence.

Pinusod ko muna ang buhok na nakaladlad bago siya sulyapan. "May naalala lang ako."

"Ano naman yang naalala mo?"