Under the Skin of a Platinum

Four

Chapter 4: Order

Pagkatapos ng interview pinauwi kaagad ako nila dahil bukas pa daw ako magsisimula. Hindi na ako nagtaka dahil alam kong ipapasunod nila ako para makilala talaga ako ng mabuti. Buti na lang talaga at nagawa namin ito ng maayos. Nag Taxi ako papunta sa apartment na nirentahan sa akin para doon matulog. Hindi naman siguro pwede na umuwi ako sa bahay ni Alessandro.

When I got there I saw an old building complex. Isang langaw na lang ata at magigiba na ito.The place is pretty old and is located at the edge of the city. Hindi na ako nagtanong dahil binigyan na ako ni Niccolas ng susi. Alam namin na mangyayari to kaya na planado na ang lahat. We set out different plans in different situations. Mas mabuti na lang na naka prepare na ang lahat. Hindi naman malayo ang kwarto kaya nakarating kaagad ako. The room is very small and dusty. Napabuntong hininga na lang ako at nilapag ang mga gamit ko sa maliit na lamesa sa gilid. I cleaned my hand gun and then arranged my things. I went to the shower to clean myself and opened the refrigerator. May pagkain na nakalagay doon at naayos na ang mga gamit. Hindi naman ako magtatagal dito dahil may titirahan daw ako doon sa trabaho ko.

I was in the middle of eating when my phone rang. Kaagad ako napabaling sa phone ko at nakita ang number ni Niccolas doon. Yes it was unregistered but I memorized their number so that when people check my phone they will have a hard time finding who it was.

"Queen, go to the drawer beside your bed and get your new phone. Do not bring your phone," yun lang ang sinabi niya at binaba ang tawag. Hindi na ako nag aksaya ng oras. Ginawa ko na kaagad ang dapat gawin.

I went to the files one more time and then went to bed. Hindi pa sumisikat ang araw ay gising na ako. I went outside to walk. Paglabas ko pa lang ay nararamdaman ko na ang mga mata na nakasubaybay sa akin. I relaxed my body and then started walking to a nearest convenient store. I brought a coffee and a few snack before heading back to my apartment. Sumusunod parin sila sa akin at ramdam ko ang kakaibang titig nila. I can't see them but I know they're watching. When the sun came up I immediately stood up and prepared for my things. Hindi na ako naglinis dahil sabi nila sila na daw ang bahala. Sumakay na ako sa taxi at hinanda ang sarili ko.

I'm already prone to travelling back and forth. I don't stay at one place for too long because after another assignment my father would immediately send me to another one. He always keeps me preoccupied, kaya hindi na ako nakakatulong sa paghahanap kay Kendy.

I looked outside and saw how people live their lives differently. How other people starve themselves to have a beautiful body and how other people are starving because they can't buy food. We are living on the same planet but have different points of views, different dreams, different status and different definitions of success.

Nakarating ako sa malaking bahay. The house is an example of industrial houses. It's made of concrete without any paint. This house is made for a man, the black and gray accent is very manly.

"Good morning," bati ko sa lalaki na bumukas ng gate. Hindi niya ako pinansin at kaagad na tinalikuran. Buti na lang pala nakinig ako sa pinagsasabi ng babae nayun kahapon. Sinunod ko lang siya habang naglilinis. One of the first thing that I noticed is that there no guards walking around. Inikot ko ang paningin ko at nakitang maraming mga CCTV ang nakapalibot sa buong lugar. I didn't wear any earpiece because I know they would immediately noticed it.  Tumigil ang lalaki sa harap ng isang maliit na cottage. Napatigil rin ako sa paglalakad at ngumiti nung bumaling siya sa akin.

"This will be your room. I'll wait for you outside. Your uniform is already in your bed," sabi niya sabay bukas ng pintuan.

"Thank you," bati ko sa kanya at ngumiti. He didn't give me any expression, blankong nakatingin ito sa akin. I entered the room and locked it. Ang unang ginawa ko ay tinignan kung may nakalagay na camera or recorder sa kwarto na ito. The room is very small. One single bed, kabinet and a small bathroom. It didn't took long when I saw a small recorder attached to the flower vase beside my bed. May nakita rin akong maliit na camera na naka attach sa gilid ng pintuan. I acted naturally and continued arranging my clothes. I have to act like I don't know anything. Dahil sa mga nakita ko alam kong mas marami pang nakatago sa loob ng lugar na ito. I took a deep breath before slowly removing my shirt and jeans. Tinignan ko ang damit na nakalagay sa higaan ko. I'm used to wear revealing outfit pero I still find it uncomfortable when I'm out in public. Wala rin naman akong choice kaya sinuot ko na lang.

Lumabas na kaagad ako dahil baka maghinala ang lalaki sa akin. I smiled at him when I faced him. Hindi siya makatingin sa mata ko at kaagad akong tinalikuran. Naglakad lakad kami papasok sa loob. It's weird because the outside dimension of this house outside is too big but the inside is too small. The hallways are narrow and it's odd to see this type of hallway in a rich man house. And basing from Sven's personality he likes extravagant things.

"We are going to serve the people inside and clean up after." Tumango lang ako sa kanya at ngumiti. Nangangalay na rin ang bagang ko dahil sa kakangiti. When I entered the room, a lot of men are sitting in a chair and I think the discussion is too serious. Mayroong mga upuan na naka reserve para sa butler at mga secretary nila. We started serving food and beverages to the people inside. I tried to act normal with the kind of stares that this perverted asshole are giving me.

"Coffee or whiskey sir?" I asked to the man that I'm serving right now. Unti-unti siyang bumaling sa akin. Those gray, cold yet mesmerizing eyes looked at me. Na estatwa ako ng makita ko iyon. I couldn't even give him a big smile.  Madilim ang mukha niya habang titig na titig sa akin. He didn't answered my question. Hinintay ko siyang sumagot pero mukhang wala naman siya balak magsalita. I smiled at him and bowed a little. I was about to leave when he held my hand. The softness and warmth of it, is weird.

"What are you wearing?" tanong niya.

"Uniform, Señorito," maikling sabi. Lumuwag naman ang pagkakahawak niya  kaya mabilis akong naka-alis. Matapos kong gawin ang trabaho ko ay kaagad na ako pumunta sa gilid. Hindi kami magtatagal sa loob kaya kailangan ko magplanta ng recorder. The recorder is a size of a beans. Pero kahit maliit lang ay mahihirapan pa rin akong maglagay dahil napapalibutan ng CCTV ang buong kwarto at alam ko rin na may nakatagong mga camera sa paligid. Luckily I managed to put under the table near the door. Hinihintay kong matapos ang lalaki bago umalis.

I remember their faces, isa sila sa mga kilalang tao sa buong mundo. I'm not surprised to see them here. Those idiots are hungry for power and money. Tumayo lang kami sa labas ng room na iyon. We waited for more than an hour. At sa wakas ay natapos rin ang meeting nila. The men in the room started leaving. We waited for them to leave, hindi pa nakakalis ang lahat ay pinapasok na kami sa loob. Mabilis kaming pumasok at nagsimula ng maglinis.

"Dad, would kill me if he finds out about Mr. Rondaliya's affair," Sven said in annoyance. He brushed his hair and continued moving back and forth.

"Calm down, and can you stop doing that," inis na sabi ng lalaking kasama niya.

"How can I calm down, Alton? Rondaliya is one of the most valued buyer of my father. If he found out that I f****d up the deliveries. He's going to kill me!" sigaw niya sabay tapon ng mga papeles. Napatingin ako sa kasama ko kanina dahil siya ang kumuha ng mga gamit na iyon. Pinagtataka ko lang ay hindi siya natatakot habang lumalapit kay Sven na galit na. He calmly took the papers and placed it in front of me. Hindi ko rin nakitang nag react si Sven. Napabaling ako kay Alton at nakitang nakatingin ito sa akin. Kaagad kong iniwas ang tingin ko at bumalik sa paglilinis.

When I finished my chores I immediately bow down and then left the room. Our plan is really simple, get into the system without them knowing.  The only thing that I brought is two sig sauer p238 handgun and two tanto point knives. Nakatago ito sa maleta ko at alam kong hindi nila ito mahahanap. Tumayo ako sa labas at naghintay ulit ng signal na pwede ng pumasok. Akmang papasok na ako ng lumabas si Sven. Nagtama ang mata naming dalawa pero kaagad ko rin itong iniwas. I moved away to give a way but he didn't move. Hindi talaga siya gumagalaw. Nakatingin lang ito sa akin na nakataas ang kilay. I smiled to him before looking down, kung hindi pa siya tinawag ni Alton ay baka hindi pa siya gagalaw doon.

Umalis na siya kasama ang lalaking kasama ko kanina. Sasama na sana ako sa kanila pero pinigilan ako ng guards ni Sven. Napatigil ako at pumasok na lang sa kwarto para maglinis. When I got inside I almost forgot that Alton is still there. It's my first time hearing his name. Hindi ko siya nakita sa listahan na ibinigay ni Zeus sa akin. I bowed to him and then continued sweeping the floor. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako kinakabahan ngayon. Nakatitig lang siya sa akin habang ginagawa ang trabaho ko. Akala ko ay maiiwan akong mag-isa pero hindi pala. Balak ko sanang kunin ang recorder na nilagay ko kanina pero hindi ko na lang ginawa.

When I finished sweeping the floor. I hurriedly walked out of the room. Hindi pa ako nakakalayo may humawak na sa kamay ko at hinila ako papunta sa kaniya. Kaagad kong hinawakan ang palapulsuhan niya at inikot iyon but before I could do that he gripped my hand with his other hand and pinned me in the wall. Nagulat ako dahil sa ginawa niya.

"I didn't know a maid like you could do that," he smirked.

Shit!

"I'm sorry, sorry, Senorito," I acted. If I'm going to remain calm it would be suspicious. He looked into my eyes like he was digging something. Doon na ako kinabahan. I need to put my act together. Remember your Allisa not Yaeko.

"What's your name?" he asked.

"Allisa," simpleng sagot ko. Binitawan na niya ako at bigla na lang umalis sa kwarto. Napabaling ako sa pintuang nilabasan niya. Kailan ko pang itodo ang pagiging Allisa ko. Naiwan akong mag-isa sa loob ng kwarto. I looked around and noticed a few red laser blinking everywhere. Hindi na ako nanatili doon dahil alam kong napapalibutan ito ng sensors, camera and recorders.

I went to the maids quarter and saw a few women wearing the same uniform as I am. Lumapit ako sa kanila ara makipaghalubilo.

"Hello," I greeted and then smiled.

Napahinga na lang ako ng malalim ng mapagtanto na mabait silang lahat at ngumiti rin pabalik sa akin. I chatted with few of them. Not bad, there all nice but I'm not letting my guards down. I didn't have a hard time knowing all of them since Allisa is a friendly persona. Napatigil lamang kami sa pag-uusap ng pinatawag na ulit ako.

I walked back inside the hallway, I actually do not have any idea about this job. I thought it was all cleaning pero mali ako. Mas marami pa ang oras ng pahinga namin kaysa sa trabaho. Maganda iyon pakinggan pero ang weird.

We entered a room and saw a lot of computers lining up. Mas lalong naging weird dahil walang tao sa loob. Napabaling ako sa lalaki na kasama ko kanina. I still do not have any idea who he is.

"We are going to clean this area, do not touch anything in the computer just clean," saad niya at nagsimula ng maglinis.

Hindi narin ako nagtanong pa dahil mukhang ayaw niya naman makipag-usap sa akin. I started cleaning the desks and the computers. Nag linis-linis lang ako doon. This is weird, a newly hired maid is sent to a room full of computers that contains a lot of information about them or literally anyone. I think they are still suspicious about my existence. Nahirapan ata silang hanapin ang ibang information tungkol sa akin kaya nila ito ginagawa.

I was in the middle of cleaning when someone entered the room. Kaagad napunta ang atensyon ko sa pinto. Alton came in, and he's looking straight at me. He looks unwell and I don't like the expression in it. Rekta rekta siyang naglakad papunta sa akin. Nagsimula na akong kabahan dahil baka nabuking na nila ako. He stopped in front of me. I smiled at him before looking down. Hindi ko kaya ang intensidad ng mata niya.

"Get out," sabi niya.

Kaagad akong nag-ayos at humakbang paalis pero napatigil nung nagsalita ulit siya.

"Not you." Kaagad ako napatigil sa gilid niya. My heart is beating widely and when I slowly looked at his direction I saw blazing fire in his eyes.