Quest For Justice

CHAPTER 13: PERSONAL ASSISTANT FOR A DAY

We asked to know.

Alas-kuwatro pa lang ng umaga ay nakabihis na si Jarred ng dark blue suit niya. May out-of-town lakad kasi siya. He’ll be shooting a magazine interview and some photoshoots. He’ll be the cover model for a certain magazine. He was somehow excited about doing it.

Someone knocked on his door.

"Come in!" he said.

Jelo entered the room in his pajamas and was still yawning.

"Why did you wake up?" Jarred couldn’t hide his smile, appreciating his little brother’s effort.

"Of course, your handsomest brother is here to bless you." Jelo winked at him.

Jarred patted his head. Then his phone rang. He immediately picked up the phone.

"Hello?" He put the call on speaker.

"Sir, I’m sorry. The assigned personal assistant for you on this shoot had to get on the earliest train to her hometown because of an emergency. I can’t find one, " ani ng isa sa mga empleyado ng CPM in a worried tone. He could hear how stressed she was. Hindi rin ito pupwede dahil kailangan ito sa opisina ngayon.

"Don’t worry. It’s okay. Just go back to sleep. " He hung up the phone.

"Wow! What an angel boss, " Jelo said.

Napahilot na lang siya sa kanyang sintedo.

"How about your personal secretary?"

"She’s on a one-month leave."

"What? You allowed her when you were desperately in need of your assistant. " Jelo shook his head.

Napailing na lang si Jarred at tila nag-iisip, pagkatapos ng iilang minuto ay nag-angat siya ng tingin sa kapatid sa mga matang nanghihingi ng pabor.

"Oh no! Don’t look at me like that. May practice ako mamaya. So definitely, I’m not available. " Jelo waved his hand.

"Grabe naman, Jelo. Parang hindi kita sinusuportahan sa mga laro mo, ha. Sige na. " Inakbayan niya ang kapatid at agad naman nitong tinanggal ang braso niya sa balikat nito at lumayo.

"’Wag ganyan, Kuys. Buong puso naman ‘yong suporta mo sa akin, eh. Pero pasensya na talaga, hindi buo ang puso ko para samahan ka. Sorry. " Ipinagdaop nito ang mga palad at bahagyang yumuko.

Jarred crossed his arms over his chest as he stared at his brother disappointingly. "Jelo Guzman, I will never forget this day."

Jelo nodded. "Of course, you won’t."

Jarred smirked, which slowly turned into a laugh. He couldn’t do something with his little brother. How could Jelo not pity him? If only this magazine cover wasn’t his dream, he would have just gone back to sleep.

Jarred let out a big sigh when the door suddenly opened without a knock. Sabay silang napalingod ni Jelo sa pintuan at bumungad sa kanila ang mukhang antok na antok pang si Olivia na may dalang lunch boxes.

Mukha naman itong nagulat nang makita silang dalawa.

"Sorry po, mga sir. Inaantok pa po kasi ako kaya nakalimutan kong kumatok ng pinto. Take 2 po, mga sir. " Then she went out of the room and closed the door.

Nagkatinginan ang magkapatid na parehong nagpipigil ng tawa. Then, they heard three consecutive knocks on the door.

"Come in," Jelo said.

Then she stepped into the room again.

Nagkibit balikat si Jarred. "You didn’t have to go out again." He flashed an amazed face.

Olivia smiled shyly at them. "Ah, ito nga pala, sir. Para raw sa breakfast niyo. Gawa po ni Chef Alexa, ininit ko lang po 'yan. " Inabot nito ang paperbag na may lamang mga lunch box sa kanya.

"Thank you, Olivia."

She yawned once more, then smiled at him. Pagkatapos ay tumalikod na ito papunta ng pintuan.

"Wait," Pinigilan niya ito.

Nilingon naman siya nito. "Sir, matutulog ho ako ulit."

Ikunagulat nilang magkapatid ang bahagyang pagtaas ng boses ni Olivia na mukhang naiirita na ito. Hindi ba siya namalikmata nang nakita niya itong umirap?

"Did you just yell at us? " He frowned.

"What was that, Li? I think we irritated you. We’re sorry because you had to wake up early. It’s just that my brother has an important shoot. Actually, we’re having trouble here because he can’t go without an assistant, " Jelo said.

Nakita niya sa reaction nito na mukhang naalimpungatan ito. Binalewala na lang niya iyon dahil kahit sino naman ang maestorbo ang tulog ay talagang maiirita.

She awkwardly laughed. "Naku, sir. Mataas lang po talaga ang boses ko minsan. Singer po ako, eh. Hindi ho ako galit. Tsaka pwede ho akong assistant ni Sir Jarred. "

Parang nabuhayan siya ng dugo nang marinig ang sinabi ni Olivia. Sa wakas, matutuloy na rin ang pangarap niyang magazine cover. Hindi niya napigilan ang tuwa kaya nilapitan niya si Olivia at hinawakan ang kamay nito as he gently squeezed her hand.

Hindi niya nahalata ang biglang pamumula ng pisngi nito. Napaubo ito at binawi ang kamay nito.

She looked away. "Haha... ano bang sinabi ko?" She whispered as she scratched the back of her neck.

"I’ll give you 10 minutes to prepare then. I’ll wait for you downstairs, " he said.

"Okay, so as for me, I’m going back to sleep. " Jelo left.

*         *         *

           Wala ng nagawa pa si Cassandra, kung hindi ay magpatianod na lamang sa agos ng buhay niya. Swear, her mind always worked so well, except at times when she hadn’t gotten enough sleep.

She glared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror after she washed her face. "What the hell, Cassy? I’m still sleepy for Pete’s sake! "

She kept complaining in her head while fixing herself.

After she got dressed, she hurriedly went down to the living room, which was as big as the lobby of a 5-star hotel, where Jarred was waiting for her.

She smiled when she saw him checking his watch in the living room while he waited for her. She shook her head when she noticed herself smiling. She thought that she only had to force a smile para hindi mapaghalataan na naiirita siya dahil naestorbo at nasira ang mahimbing niyang tulog.

"I actually gave you 10 minutes, but it took you 30 minutes," Jarred said.

Why complain when I’m doing you a favor? She thought.

"Sorry po, sir. Sumakit kasi ‘yong tiyan ko kaya napabanyo ho ako. " In her mind, she was knocking on the wood, ‘wag naman sanang magkatotoo na sumakit ang tiyan niya.

"So, ayos ka na? Okay ka lang ba?"

He was genuinely worried, wasn’t he?

Nilapitan siya nito. At akma nitong ilalapat ang palad nito sa noo niya.

"Okay na okay na po, sir. Tara na po." Mabilis siyang nakailag kaya hindi nito naramdaman ang normal niyang temperatura.

Nauna na si Cassandra palabas ng pinto habang nakabuntot naman si Jarred sa kanya.

Sa labas ay naroon na ang driver at nakabukas na ang pinto ng van na sasakyan nila.

Nauna siyang sumakay sa van at umupo sa eksaktong upuan ng boss. That chair was supposed to be occupied by the boss, who was Jarred. Nakalimutan na naman ni Cassandra ang fake role niya.

Komportable siyang naupo, as she crossed her legs, sitting pretty like a queen.

Natulala si Jarred sa kanya, napanganga ito habang nag-iisip kung tama ba ‘yong nakikita nito.

Napatingin siya kay Jarred who was looking at her questionably. Napalunok siya when she had made another big mistake. Napasapo na lamang siya sa kanyang noo. She shyly climbed down from the car.

"Sorry, sir. Sa front seat pala ako dapat." Napakamot siya ng ulo.

"Exactly. Thanks for realizing that, " Jarred coldly said, pagkatapos ay sumakay na ito ng sasakyan.

Napatalon naman siya nang mapatingin siya sa driver na nakatayo sa gilid niya. Umiiling-iling pa ito sa kanya.

"Hay naku, iha! Inaantok ka pa ba?" anito, at saka isinara ang pinto ng van.

"Opo, manong. Antok na antok. Kaya tara na po at matutulog ako sa byahe," aniya, at saka mabilis ng sumakay sa front seat ng van.

Umandar na ang van. Agad siyang pumadausdos para maisandal ang ulo sa back rest ng upuan ng sasakyan para matulog.

"What? Are you going to sleep? " sabi ni Jarred.

Napalunok siya sa inis at unti-unting tumuwid sa pagkakaupo.

"What the hell? Can’t I sleep? " She complained in her mind.

"Yes, you can’t sleep!" Jarred said with authority.

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya at napalingon siya kay Jarred nang nakakunot ang noo. Sa isip niya ay may super powers ba itong lalaking ito at naririnig nito ang nasa isip niya?

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Jarred’s forehead creased as she examined her confused facial expression.

"Will you stop looking at me like that?" Jarred looked away. He seemed uncomfortable with the way she looked at him.

"Did you just hear what I said in my mind?" She wanted to ask him, but she didn’t.

"Pasensya na po, sir." She looked back at the road.

"Bakit hindi ako pwedeng matulog?" She whispered, but both the driver and Jarred heard her.

"You can’t sleep because you have to pick up calls on my phone because I’ll be the one to sleep."

"I know you’re the boss here, but could you not have at least a little consideration for a maid who favored you?" She badly wanted to argue with him, but she couldn’t. She couldn’t argue without using English terms.

"Okay po, sir," she said.

She was praising herself in her mind because she could manage her temper well. At the same time, she felt sorry for herself because her throat hurt from swallowing some curses and irritations.

She looked in the rearview mirror and saw Jarred sleeping in the back. She felt her heart skip a beat at Jarred’s innocent but handsome reflection. He looked so hot, just sleeping like that.

"Gwapo ni, sir, no? Wala kang pag-asa diyan. ‘Wag ka na mangarap. " The driver laughed as he thought she was fantasizing about him.

Mas lalo siyang namula.

"Gumagawa ka ng kwento, Manong. Pwede ba? Hindi ko siya gusto. " Inirapan niya ang driver.

"Sus, nahihiya ka lang umamin dahil wala kang pag-asa."

Sobra siyang nairita sa tinutumbok ng driver.

"Bakit parang sigurado ka na wala akong pag-asa, Manong?" Napataas ang boses niya.

Ang pinaka-ayaw niya sa lahat was people who put down other people’s confidence. Like, how much do you know that person for you to confidently speak like that? That’s what she thought.

The driver did not respond, as he felt a little intimidated and sort of humiliated. Kahit ganyan ang mukha niya at pekeng estado niya, hindi pa rin maaalis sa kanya ang kanyang malakas na aura. She could still intimidate people as Olivia.

She realized she was harsh. She felt sorry for him. At least he was allowed to think that way because he knew her as Olivia, an uneducated maid who came from the province.

"Sorry, Manong."

"Okay lang, ma’am. Hinusgahan kita, eh. May mali rin naman ako."

"U-hum..." Jarred coughed while his eyes were still shut.

She panicked a little. What if he wasn’t asleep? What if he heard their conversation? Baka isipin nito na umaasa siyang magustuhan siya nito? She examined him through the rearview mirror. He seemed to be really asleep.

What the hell was going on? She hadn’t foreseen scenes like this before. Parang may mali sa mga nagaganap. She felt shy. Her heart was beating so fast, not because she was afraid, she felt tense around Jarred. Now, she figured out that this could be a real situation. She had to deal with it properly, or else all her efforts would go to vain. This was actually new to her.

After a two-hour drive, they finally arrived at the place.

Now, she regretted that she regretted to come here. A very nice place, a true representation of nature. It was very refreshing for her to be there. For a brief moment, she forgot why she agreed to come. It was to get to know Jarred more, to gather facts about him she could use against him.

She inhaled the fresh air. After a long time, nakahinga rin siya ng malinis na hangin. Ibang-iba sa hangin na nalalanghap sa siyudad.

"Ang ganda ganda ng tanawin, Manong." When she turned around, the driver who was standing beside her was gone, and now there was Jarred, staring at her.

They locked eyes, and although fresh air was freely available, she felt that she was losing her breath.

"Get the bags." He was emotionless.

"Hindi ba pwedeng I-enjoy muna anag tanawin, sir?"

"Hurry up and get the bags." He pointed at the van parked behind him.

Jarred was so tall. Looking at his face this close, he was really handsome and manly. Hindi imposible na humanga siya rito because any woman in her position would be smitten by him?

Pinilig niya ang kanyang ulo sa salitang nabuo sa kanyang isipan.

"Smitten?" she muttered to herself.

"Anong smitten?"

She looked at him disgustedly.

I will never be smitten by him. Handsome, he is. But fall for his handsomeness? No way!

"Hey, why are you staring at me like that? May dumi ba sa mukha ko?" Kinapa ni Jarred ang sariling mukha.

She shook her head and walked toward the van. Jarred followed her while still wearing a questionable look, probably thinking why she looked at him that way.

Cassandra took the heaviest bag. Jarred was standing behind her.

"Dahan-dahan lang, mabi—"

Nabitawan niya ang bag at napatalon si Jarred.

"Ouch!" He lifted his foot at napatalon sa sakit.

"Oh my gosh!" Mabilis niyang dinaluhan si Jarred.

Jarred put his arm around her shoulder. At inalalayan niya ito. Nang mag-angat siya ng tingin kay Jarred ay malapad ang ngiti nito.

"Joke lang, hindi ako natamaan." Nagpipigil ito ng tawa.

She glared at him. For Pete’s sake, her heart almost exploded. She thought she had hurt him. She was supposed to hurt him intentionally, not unintentionally.

"Hindi nakakatuwa, sir." She was blushing.

Jarred removed his arm from her shoulder and stood straight.

"It was funny." He was still laughing.

How could he look cute and handsome while he laughed? That was ridiculous! She didn’t notice herself watching him again.

"Sir Jarred Guzman?" A woman who looked younger than them and who was holding a note, approached Jarred.

"Yes, that’s me," Jarred said as he faced the woman.

"I’m Claudia. One of the staff of the magazine. Please proceed to your waiting room, " nakangiting anito.

"Yeah, sure. Thank you. "

Cassandra started to lift the heavy bag again, and Claudia noticed she was having difficulty.

"Miss, just leave the bag there. I’ll have some men carry those. " Claudia offered.

Cassandra let out a big sigh. Thank God!

"No, don’t bother. She can handle it. " Jarred gave her a smirking look.

Claudia shrugged her shoulder and left.

"Sir, kung ayaw niyo akong tulungan. May mga mabubuting loob na handing tumulong. Napakabigat ng bag mo at isa lamang akong payat at mahinang nilalang." She fumed, totally disappointed.

"Busy ang mga tao dito, Olivia. Maawa ka naman sa kanila."

She could see in his face na pinaglalaruan siya nito. He’s worse than Verno. She didn’t expect that Jarred was a bully too.

You just have to wait, Jerk. May tamang oras ka sa akin! She was evilly laughing in her mind.

She just went back to lifting the heavy bag. Nauna ng maglakad si Jarred at medyo malayo na ang distansiya nito sa kanya. She was glaring at his back. Hindi man lang siya nito nililingon.

It took her a while to arrive at the small building where Jarred’s waiting room was. It was the hardest physical work she had ever experienced. She kept pausing on the way and would massage her aching shoulder. The bag was double the weight of the dumbbells she lifted at the gym.

She just put the bag on the floor of the room. Jarred was having his make-up done for the photoshoot. Then, the interview would follow.

She saw him glance at her, nang sandaling natigil ang makeup artist sa ginagawa at may hinanap itong gamit.

Namaywang siya habang masama pa rin ang titig kay Jarred.

The makeup artist finally found the brush she was looking for and went to work. It was taking quite a while. So Cassandra looked for a seat. There was a small cushion in the corner of the room. Finally, she could sit. Nangangalay na ang mga binti niya na hindi sanay tumayo ng matagal. Hinilot hilot niya ang kanyang binti.

"Oli, I need a cup of coffee."

Napairap na lang siya. Hindi na siya nauubusan ng trabaho. Ang daming inuutos sa kanya ni Jarred. She hoped she could contain her annoyance, or else she might argue with him. Wala rin naman siyang karapatang magreklamo dahil personal assistant siya nito ngayong araw.

She went out of the room. She had no idea where she would get a cup of coffee. Was there a coffee vending machine in that building, or did she have to order and have it delivered? She couldn’t ask Jarred either.

She approached Claudia, the magazine staff member who appeared to be nice to her.

"Excuse me po, Miss Claudia, tama?"

Nakangiti itong tinanguan siya.

"Ah, kasi nagre-request ng kape si Sir Jarred. Saan po ba ako pwedeng makakuha ng ka—"

"Claudia, come! Hurry up. " Tawag ng isa pa sa mga staff kay Claudia.

"I’m sorry, I have to go." Nagmadali si Claudia papunta sa tumawag dito.

"Wait, Miss." Pero hindi na siya nito nilingon.

Napasapo na lang siya sa kanyang noo. She was stressed just because of a cup of coffee.

It was a hassle for her to ask everyone who was busy where to get a cup of coffee. Lahat yata ng mga tao sa set ay nag-uunahan. Wala man lang ni isa na hindi nagmamadali. Well, she had not experienced this one yet. She also once dreamed of being featured in a famous magazine, but it was not possible, not before the Guzman family and CPM crumbled.

She approached another one of the staff. "Excuse me."

Nilingon lang siya nito sandal. "Sorry nagmamada---"

Bago pa man makalayo ito sa kanya ay hinigit niya ang sleeve ng t-shirt nito na may naka-imprinta sa likod na malalaking letra ng salitang "STAFF".

"Kanina pa ako nagtatanong. So please lang, where can I get coffee? " She looked at him with her eagle eyes.

Napalunok ito at saka niya binitiwan ang sleeve ng t-shirt nito.

"May café diyan sa tabi ng building. Hindi kalayuan." He blinked owlishly as he looked at her.

"That’s it! Thanks! That’s all I wanted to know. Did it take you an hour? My gosh! " Tinalikuran niya na ito.

That person did not know her anyway, so it was perhaps fine if she talked in straight English, wasn’t it?

She lightly slapped her face. "D*mn it!"

She ordered an iced latte because it was her favorite. Who cared if Jarred liked it or not? She didn’t know his taste for coffee anyway.

"It’s 390 pesos, ma’am." That’s when she realized she had to pay for it. She only had 500 pesos in cash with her. Yeah, sure. It was enough, but that’s all the cash she had. What if she needed to spend it on herself later on? She’s forbidden to use her cards dahil kailangan niyang maging maingat.

She paid for it and was just planning to ask Jarred for a refund. It’s his coffee anyway.

She walked back to the building, and everyone was still as busy as ever. She shook her head. These people were the most productive at the end of the day.

Nang makabalik siya sa waiting room ni Jarred ay mabilis niyang inabot ang kape nito, pero meron na itong iniinom na kape.

Napatitig si Jarred sa inaabot niya iced latte, pagkatapos ay nag-angat ito ng tingin sa kanya. "What took you so long?"

Hindi na niya inantay na abutin ni Jarred ang kape dahil may hawak na itong kape at siguradong hindi na nito tatanggapin iyon.

"Nag-hanap pa po kasi ako ng mabibilhan, sir." She rolled her eyes, buti na lang at hindi nakatingin sa kanya si Jarred at ang makeup artist nito.

"Girl! Kita mo ‘yan?" Tinuro ng makeup artist ang coffee vending machine na nasa kabilang gilid ng kuwartong iyon lang nakalagay.

Napaawang ang bibig niya. She went through all those hassles just to figure out that what she was looking for was inside that room.

Napatingin siya kay Jarred at nagpipigil ito ng tawa. She bet he was mocking her in his mind.

"Bakit hindi mo ako tinawag?" Galit na siya. She didn’t bother to add the word "sir" when she talked to him.

"Oli, we asked to know," Jarred said without looking at her but at his handsome reflection in the mirror.

She bit her tongue because she couldn’t talk back. She was afraid that their argument could go further.

Then suddenly, he was finished with his hair and makeup at tumayo na ito.

Nang dumaan ito sa tabi niya ay inagaw nito ang iced latte na hawak niya.

"Don’t worry. I won’t let your effort be wasted. I’ll drink this. " He smiled widely as he moved his face closer to hers.

At that very moment, it was hard for her to even gulp. She was nervous for a reason that even her gifted mind could not process.