The Underworld Prince Next Door

CHAPTER 3

CROW'S POINT OF VIEW

I am Crow. A newly-appointed editor of Rhys' Publishing House. Actually, I appointed myself into this job. It is kinda bold and rude for me to threaten the owner and kick the editor out of this company, but as I can remember, I can make their sales fly up unlike before.

Honestly, I decided to do this for one reason. And that is to meet in person the writer whom wrote a very beautiful novel I have read online. And now, she is with me. Letting me to know herself behind her fantasy-based stories.

Harriet pretty and hardworking. Sometimes cautious that I really understands. But most of all, Harriet is one of a kind and beloved by human beings. I am very amazed yet still restraining myself to show her my side who is her fanboying.

"So, you are my little girl's new boss?" Biglang tanong sa akin ng lalaking kaharap ko.

Deity Chrys ang pangalan o tawag sa kaniya ng karamihan. Ayon sa research ko, walang nakakaalam kung saan siya nanggaling, but he can make the impossible to possibility. He adopted Harriet when she was five years old. The age that matches the incident of her and her family.

"Yes I am." Maikli kong sagot sa kaniya. Ayokong magsalita ng napakadami dahil baka mahalata niya na madami na akong alam sa kaniya at kay Harriet. It's creepy but I am used to search about her.

"What can you say about her? I know that sometimes, she is too stubborn. I hope you can take it well."

"Harriet is an amazing writer. I read the story she wrote, and I really love it. She has the talent and courage to stay there despite of—"

"Master! Sir! Kain na po kayo. I'll prepare the salad." Singit ni Harriet.

Hindi ko alam kung talaga bang sinadya niya ang pagputol sa sinasabi ko. Pero para bang binibigyan niya ako ng hint na huwag ng magbanggit tungkol sa trabaho.

"I think my little girl heard it." Nakangising sabi ni Deity Chrys.

"Huh?"

"As you can see, we have a rule here. 'No one can talk about work while eating', or else, the one who speak up will be fined for 100 dollars."

Natulala ako sa nalaman ko. Pero wala naman akong magagawa dahil wala naman ako sa bahay ko.

I pulled out a 100 dollar bill. And put it in the fishing bowl with other bills inside.

"I'm sorry if I ask this. Who is the one who have fined with lots of hundred dollars?" Kuryoso kong tanong ng makita ang napakadaming pera sa loob ng fishing bowl.

"Master." Sagot ni Harriet na nagmula sa kusina.

Dumaan ito sa amin at nagpunta sa gazebo kung saan naroroon ang mga tauhan ko. Dala nito ang ilang cake slices at juice para sa mga ito na ipinagpasalamat naman ng mga tauhan ko.

"Siya ang palaging napaparusahan sa aming dalawa. Palagi niya kasi akong kinukulit kaya palagi siyang nagbabayad." Paliwanag ni Harriet ng makaupo na sa tapat ko.

"What should I do? I heard that you are being bullied in—"

Naputol ang sinasabi ni Deity Chrys ng bigla siyang subuan ng pagkain ni Harriet sa kaniyang bibig.

"Kain!" Saway ni Harriet sa matanda.

Pinigilan kong tumawa sa pinakikita ng dalawa. Hindi natapos ang pagkain namin na panay ang pangungulit ni Chrys kay Harriet. Pilit na gustong sabihin ni Chrys ang salitang 'trabaho' pero pilit na pinipigilan ito ni Harriet.

Nasanay ako sa pagkain ng mag-isa sa harapan ng magarbong hapag at madaming pagkain. Pero lahat man ng gusto ko ay nakukuha ko, hindi ang nararamdaman ko ngayon. Masaya ako.

Nasundan pa ng ilang beses ang pagpunta ko sa templo. Sometimes, I visit there with Harriet around, and sometimes, she's nowhere to be found.

"My little girl is in her school. I think you need to spend your time with an old man like me."

I raised my brow with the word 'old' that he said. How old is he? He looks so young despite of her silver hair. His skin is not yet wrinkled like my father have. He looks so young to be called, 'old man'.

"Is it okay to ask, how old are you?" I politely asked.

"You don't need to know the exact number. I am dying, anyways." Sa pagkakasabi nito, animo'y normal lang iyon. Pero ang hindi ko maintindihan, sa pamamaraan ng pagkakasabi niyo ay para bang wala siyang iiwan na mahal sa buhay.

Paano na si Harriet?

"Okay." Tanging nasagot ko.

"Master! Nandito na ako!" Sabay kaming napalingon sa bagong dating. Naka-uniporme pa ito at may hawak na isang kahon ng cake. "Oh? Andito ka rin pala, Crow." Puna niya sa presensya ko.

Sa tagal na rin ng pagbisi-bisita ko, nawalan na ng tuluyan ang pagkailang niya sa akin. Maging sa trabaho ay kaswal na nag-uusap kami. Ni hindi na namin napapansin ang kapaligiran dahil palagi na lamang akong sumusunod sa kaniya sa pag-uwi, maliban sa pag may pasok siya sa eskwelahan.

Kahit paano, nagkaroon naman ng dulot ang pakikipaglapit ko sa kanilang mag-ama. At pinasasalamatan ko iyon.

Noong una kong nabasa ang istorya niya, akala ko ay naglalakbay ako sa ibang mundo sa bawat salita na nakatala. Pero hindi ko inasahan na babae pala, at tao pa ang nagsulat nu'n. Mula noon, kahit maging ako ay natatakot na sa pinaggagagawa ko, lagi ko siyang sinusundan.

Umupo sa tabi ko si Harriet. Namahinga ito at habol ang hininga. Pareho lang namin siyang pinanuod ng kaniyang ama.

"Didn't I told you not to walk from your school to here? You are sweating so bad!" Chrys scolded her.

He stood up and walk to the room, and he came back with a face towel in hand. Lumapit siya kay Harriet at masuyong pinunasan ang pawis nito na tumatagaktak.

"Sorry, Master. I just want to save money for you. Ayoko naman na ariin ko lang ang pera na ito. I want to save money to buy you even a cake for your own birthday." Malungkot na pagdadahilan ni Harriet.

Ibig bang sabihin, ang kahon na hawak niya ay...

"Happy birthday, Master." May luha sa mga mata na pagbati ni Harriet kay Chrys.

Tiningnan ko ang kandila na nakalagay kasama ang cake. At doon ko nakita ang 4 at 5 na numero na magkatabi.

'He only have five years before he...'

"What a stubborn girl. You don't need to do this. Having you is the best gift I've ever received." Mangiyak-ngiyak na niyakap ni Chrys si Harriet na naging dahilan para lumakas ang pag-hagulgol ni Harriet.

My heart ached because I saw her crying. But at the same time, my heart flutters that I have the privilege to see this side of my idol.

"Happy birthday, Chrys. I am sorry if I didn't bring any gifts." I greeted him with an awkward smile.

He looked at me and opened his closed smiling eyes. I saw how red his pupils are, and I thought that Chrys is not just someone that we thought. But I shut myself up, for expecting that he will be the one who will confess to her when the time comes.

"I just need you to be nice to my little girl. That's all you can give me, Mr. Philips."

'Even though you didn't tell me that, I will protect her, no matter what.' I thought while still watching the two of them fight and reconcile with each other.

"I want a husband like my Master."

Those words were kept in my mind after that night. She wants a man like his Master to be her husband? What does she mean by that?