The Paintbrush Deal

CHAPTER 10

Kagaya ng nasabi ko kay Zoe ay balak kong kausapin ngayon si Skyler tungkol sa plano kong paghahanap ng trabaho. I don't know if he will agree or not, but I have to take a chance. Hindi pwedeng buong summer ay titingala lang ako rito sa bahay niya, no matter how awesome the AC may feel or how delicious the food may taste. I need to find a new job.

Buti na lang at mukhang walang lakad ngayon ang mokong. Habang nagluluto ako ng agahan ay bumaba naman siya, nagkape, at nagbasa ng balita. Usual routine niya kapag wala siyang lakad.

"You're free to do whatever you want today," sabi niya sa 'kin habang naglalatag ako sa mesa ng agahan namin. "Wala ka naman nang tatrabahuin at parating ngayon ang gardener."

"Actually, I want to talk to you," sabi ko pagkaupo ko.

Skyler raised an eyebrow but didn't tear his eyes away from his tablet. "I'm listening."

"I want to look for a job."

In an instant, Skyler's hazel-brown eyes locked onto me. "Why?"

I looked away to avoid his piercing gaze. "Well, I usually work full-time during school breaks in order to earn money. Graduating na rin ako sa pasukan, kaya kailangan ko rin talagang mag-ipon ng pera. I just really need to work dahil hindi kakayanin ng savings ko ang gastusin namin sa pasukan."

"Hindi ko naman tatakasan ang mga obligasyon ko rito sa bahay," dagdag ko naman agad. "Hindi ko naman siguro kailangan na mag-general cleaning araw-araw. I know how to manage my time well. I can assure you that I will never neglect my housekeeping duties. I just really need to find a new job. . . please."

Skyler just stared at me blankly for several moments. After what it seemed to be ages, he produced a small piece of paper before writing on it. He then handed over the paper to me.

"This is just an address. . . and your signature," I said, flipping the paper several times in confusion.

Skyler was already eating. "Go to that address if you want a job. Just give them that paper. They'll know what to do."

"At pwede ko bang itanong kung anong trabaho ang papasukan ko?" tanong ko naman agad.

He just stared at me with his bored eyes. "If you want a job, go to that address. Kung ayaw mo, then don't go. Looking at you, mukhang tatanggapin ka naman nila kaagad. They like people like you."

Pinadaanan niya ako ng titig mula ulo hanggang paa.

Agad ko namang tinakpan ang sarili ko ng mga braso ko. "What the hell are you planning?! What kind of job are you offering me?!"

"Don't interrupt me when I'm eating. Simple lang naman ang gagawin mo. Pumunta ka diyan and you will get hired almost instantly. Just dress up nicely para naman presentable ka. Kung wala ka sa 'king tiwala at gusto mong mag-aksaya ng panahon sa job hunting at interviews at walang hanggang hintayan ng appointments, 'wag kang pumunta," sagot ni Skyler.

I just growled at him irately as he enjoyed his breakfast. Nakangiti lang siya nang bahagya habang kumakain samantalang ako naman ay nag-iisip na ng pinaka-epektibong lason na gagamitin ko sa susunod kong pagluluto ng agahan niya.

●●●

Skyler's POV

"Ako na ang maghuhugas nitong mga pinagkainan natin. Pumunta ka na kung pupunta ka para makapagsimula ka na as soon as possible kung sakali man na tanggapin mo ang trabaho," sabi ko matapos naming makakain ni Elio.

"Ano nga kasi ang trabahong papasukan ko?!" singhal niya sa 'kin.

I shrugged my shoulders before picking up the dishes and utensils. Elio just growled at me before marching out of the dining area and heading towards his room.

"Elio Azores Rivera. 21. Graduating student. Consistent top performer in their class. Running for latin honors. Single. The only child of Eva Azores and Robert Rivera. He's been working in that restaurant for nearly three years before he was fired," sabi ni Kelly.

"I see."

"That pretty much sums up his personal information. Nandiyan naman po ang full information niya sa file na ipinadala ko sa inyo," dadag pa niya. "Apparently, his parents separated when he was still young. Wala akong nahagilap tungkol sa nanay niya, pero may kinakasama na ngayon ang tatay niya. Elio actually lived with them for a few years, but for some reason, he suddenly left."

"They were really poor and lived in the slums. Nang magkaroon ng ibang kinakasama ang tatay niya, lumipat rin sila. Their life improved a bit, pero umalis pa rin si Elio. Baka pakiramdam niya ay wala siyang lugar sa bagong pamilya ng tatay niya kaya siya umalis. This sounds sad, pero nagpalaboy-laboy siya for quite some time after leaving his father. Eventually, nakahanap siya ng trabaho doon sa restaurant. Nagkaroon din siya ng scholarship grant. Doon siya humuhugot ng pera para suportahan ang sarili niya. Hindi ko alam kung may contact siya sa tatay niya, but it seems na wala siyang plano na magpakita pa sa kanila kahit kailan."

I sighed.

"Sir, alam ko po na gusto niyong tulungan si Elio, pero sigurado ba kayo na atraso lang niya sa inyo ang rason kung bakit tinutulungan niyo siya? You basically asked me to unearth everything about him," sabi ni Kelly.

"Gusto ko lang na makasiguro. Besides, baka may iba siyang kamag-anak na pwede niyang matuluyan," sabi ko.

"Unfortunately, wala po siyang ibang kamag-anak."

"Do me another favor, okay? Alamin mo kung saan ang address ng tatay niya. Kung kakayanin mo, hanapin mo rin kung nasaan ang nanay niya. Alamin mo kung ano ang nangyari sa kanya, kung buhay pa siya or what," sabi ko.

I heard Kelly sigh. "Well, wala sa trabaho ko ang magtanong. Consider that done, sir. I will do my very best."

Nagliligpit na lang ako ng mga pinagkainan nang bumaba si Elio. In fairness, formal ang hitsura niya. He's wearing pants and a plain white long-sleeve shirt. Maayos rin ang buhok niya.

"I'm leaving," he said. "Also, let me just tell you that if this job is something shady, I am going to break every single bone and tear every single muscle fiber in your body."

Dumiretso na lang ako sa ref at kumuha ng ilang pagkain bago ko 'yun inabot sa kanya.

"What the hell are those?" tanong ni Elio habang nakatitig sa mga iniaabot ko.

"Tuna sandwich and orange juice. Baunin mo. Baka magutom ka sa daan. Take care," sabi ko sabay lagay sa bag niya ng mga pagkain. "May pera ka ba? I can lend you money kung wala kang pamasahe."

Elio just glared at me before snatching his bag back. "I'm fine. Thanks for nothing. Aalis na ako. Bahala ka sa buhay mo."

He then marched towards the door, slamming it shut in the process.

"You're welcome, you ungrateful little brat."

●●●

Elio's POV

"I'm going to freaking kill that guy."

Hawak-hawak ko na ang papel na ibinigay niya sa 'kin kanina habang nakatingala ako sa building na nasa address na nakasulat sa papel. Restaurant lang naman pala ang nandoon. Hindi ako kaagad na nagpunta rito. In fact, nakipagkita muna ako kay Adrian para kausapin siya tungkol sa offer ni Skyler. In the end, napapayag niya akong pumunta. Lagpas tanghali na nang pumunta ako sa address na nasa papel.

Akala ko naman kasi ay kung ano na ang trabahong tinutukoy niya. I know that he deliberately used those shady words to make me feel nervous. That must've been his way of getting back at me for the sour treatment that he's been getting from me. Despite his uncaring behavior, marunong naman pala siyang gumanti.

"You could've just told me that it's only a freaking restaurant, but no, you had to be mysterious! You had to kill me first with anxiety! You wanted to see me all sweaty and nervous!" I whispered irately as I walked towards the restaurant.

"Good afternoon, sir. Table for one?" bungad sa 'kin ng receptionist.

I shook my head before smiling. "Uh, no. Skyler Alba actually sent me here," sabi ko sabay abot ng papel sa kanya.

"I see," she said, checking the paper. "Please have a seat and wait for a while."

She then led me to a table before entering the kitchen. Habang naghihintay ako ay tumingin naman ako sa paligid. Dalawang palapag ang restaurant at malawak. Halata ring high-end lalo pa't nasa business district. Maganda naman ang lugar lalo pa't nasa classy side 'to ng city kung saan may malalaking mga business. Mukhang hindi ko naman poproblemahin ang tip dito.

Makalipas ang ilang minuto ay lumabas na ang receptionist. Nakasunod naman sa kanya ang isang lalaki na agad kong nakilala na kaibigan ni Skyler. May dala siyang isang plato ng pasta at agad na ngumiti pagkakita sa 'kin.

Even yesterday, I already noticed this guy's good looks. He's the type to really stand out in a crowd, unlike the subtle and quiet features of Skyler. As I remembered my conversation with Kelly last night, pansin ko nga sa aura at mga galaw ng lalaking 'to na magaling 'tong dumiskarte sa mga natitipuhan niya.

"Good afternoon," he said. "You must be the Elio, right? I'm Mico Flores, owner and executive chef of this restaurant."

"Elio Rivera po," sagot ko naman at nakipagkamay ako sa kanya.

"Kain ka muna," sabi niya sabay latag sa harap ko ng pagkain. "Actually, kinausap ako kanina lang ni Skyler tungkol sa 'yo. Before we talk about your new job, did you really ruin his painting? I'm just curious."

I smiled sheepishly. "Opo."

Mico laughed. "I see. You are a legend. Wala ka bang bali sa katawan? Sugat? Are you okay? If it were me who ruined his painting, Skyler would've killed me without a second thought."

Yeah. I'd rather not remember that, thank you very much, bulong naman ng utak ko.

"Anyway, nasabi na niya sa 'kin ang lahat. Pinadala na rin sa 'kin ni Kelly ang personal information mo, so there's no need for you to submit those unnecessary papers," dagdag pa niya.

Agad na nangunot ang noo ko. How the hell did they access my personal information?!

"Are you a working student?" Mico asked.

I nodded. "Opo, pero bakasyon naman po kaya I can work full-time. Nagtrabaho na rin po ako dati sa isang restaurant, so there's no need for you to train me. I can start as soon as possible."

"That is great. Si Skyler mismo ang nag-recommend sa 'yo kaya kailangan kong gumawa ng ilang exceptions. Kapag may pasok ka na, you can work with a flexible schedule. Kung sakali man na kailanganin ni Skyler ang tulong mo habang nagtatrabaho ka, you can always leave. Ayoko namang makaabala sa kanya lalo pa't mas malaki ang obligasyon mo sa kanya," sabi niya.

I wanted to tell him that I couldn't care less about Skyler's emergencies, pero tumango na lang ako lalo pa't mukhang may special treatment ako rito dahil sa koneksyon ko kay Skyler.

"If you want to start right away, kukunan ka na namin ngayon ng measurements para sa uniform mo. May mga aasikasuhin din kami for your employment. Si Olivia na ang bahala sa orientation mo. You can return here tomorrow para naman maipakita na niya sa 'yo how things run here," sabi ni Mico.

"Sige po."

Mico offered a hand to me. "Well, that's it. You are hereby hired. I look forward to working with you, Mr. Rivera."

Nakipagkamay naman ako sa kanya at ngumiti. "Maraming salamat po."

"You should really thank Skyler for this," he said before standing up. "He seems to really care about you. Anyway, may mga gagawin pa ako. Susukatan ka na lang ni Olivia once you're done eating. Olivia, I'm leaving this cute little guy to you," baling niya sa receptionist.

Natigilan na lang ako dahil sa mga sinabi niya.

He seems to really care about you.

I stabbed my pasta forcefully with my fork. "As if. Nawalan ako ng trabaho dahil sa kanya. Natural lang na tulungan niya rin ako."

Bumalik na rin ako sa bahay pagkatapos. Kinumusta naman ako ni Adrian via phone call tungkol sa naging lakad ko. Pinakiusapan ko kasi siyang samahan ako kanina, pero hindi siya pumayag at sinabi pang ako raw ang bahala na mag-discover kung ano ang sorpresa sa 'kin ni Skyler.

Tila walang tao sa bahay pagkauwi ko. Lagpas alas-tres na ng hapon. Pagkababa ko sa kusina matapos kong makapagpalit ay doon sumalubong sa 'kin si Skyler na nagsasalin ng juice sa isang pitsel. Hindi ko siya pinansin at dumiretso ako sa ref para kumuha ng ice cream.

"How did it go?" he asked.

"I got hired," I replied.

"Good. Kailan ka magsisimula?" tanong pa niya.

"Monday. Next week."

"Okay. Congratulations. Good for you. Now, I have some work to do. Also, close that fridge already. You're wasting electricity," he said.

I balled my hands into fists before turning around and facing him. "Uh. . . Well. . ."

Skyler stared at me flatly. "What? You wanna argue with me?"

I couldn't muster the strength to look at him, so I just frowned and looked away. I know that what I'm about to say won't really match with my facial expression, but I still tried to say it.

"Th. . . Thanks. . ."

He raised an eyebrow. "For what?"

"Don't be stupid," I snapped at him. "Thank you for. . . for helping me get a job. I'm sorry for all the trouble."

Skyler just let out a sigh and shrugged his shoulders before turning around and walking away, carrying his pitcher of juice.

"Just close that fridge, you midget."