Quest For Justice

CHAPTER 15: BEAUTIFUL

Don’t treat people badly ever, dahil may kalalagyan ka.

The shoot ended. Jarred did very well. He was confident, he was handsome, and he was smart at answering interview questions.

Nagpaalam muna siyang mag-CR dahil naiihi na siya kaniana pa na hindi niya nagawa hangga’t hindi pa natatapos ang photo shoot because she was told to stay in his sight. Jarred just told her to hurry kasi uuwi na rin sila. He was in the waiting room having his makeup removed.

She entered a cubicle comfort room for ladies. Bumungad sa kanya ang interviewer na nakaharap sa malaking salamin habang naglalagay ng lipstick.

Hindi niya ito pinansin at pumasok na siya sa pinakamalapit na cubicle. Nang matapo at makalabas ng cubicle ay naroon pa rin ang interviewer sa harap ng salamin. She looked at the interviewer’s reflection in the mirror. She was glaring at her.

This b*tch was obviously picking a fight with her. No, she didn’t have any intention of stooping down to her level. Pero kung kailangan, ano’ng magagawa niya?

Tatalikuran na lang niya sana ito dahil ayaw na niya ng gulo.

"Pay for my dress, hampaslupa!"

She took a deep breath and turned to her. Nakahalukipkip ito, her foot pointing habang tinitingnan siya ng masama.

"Ayaw kop o ng gulo, ma’am. Hindi ko po sinasadya ‘yong kanina. Kailangan ko na pong umalis. " She bowed.

"Anong tingin mo sa sarili mo? Maganda ka? Bakit mo nilalande si Jarred? ANg kapal ng mukha mo. Akala mo ba hindi ko nahahalata. " The interviewer scowled.

"Wala po akong nilalandi, ma’am. Si Sir Jarred ay boss ko po, normal lang naman na malapit ako sa kanya. " Hindi na niya naiwasan ang pagtaas ng kaliwang kilay niya.

"How dare you raise your brow at me?" The interviewer fumed, pointing at her.

Napahilot siya ng sentido. When she looked up at her, her eyes were burning. "Do you know what I hate the most? It’s when people point at me. Put your finger down while I’m still being nice to you. " She clenched her teeth.

Sinusubukan niya ang makakaya niya para pigilin ang sariling magalit ng tuluyan. This girl can’t ruin her quest. She wasn't even worthy of her precious time. But, this girl was provoking her.

The interviewer arched her brows. Sa loob-loob siguro nito ay hindi ito makapaniwala na nakakapagsalita siya ng banyagang wika.

"Tama nga ang dinig ko. May private tutorial ba ng English ang mga katulong sa mansiyon ng mga Guzman? " sarkastiko nitong saad.

"Tapos ka na? Sir Jarred was waiting for me. Ayaw pa naman kasi no’n na nawawala ako sa paningin niya. " Umangat ang gilid ng labi niya.

"How dare you!" Inangat nito ang kanang kamay para sana padapuin sa pisngi niya ngunit hindi ito umabot doon dahil naagapan niya ito.

She pressed hard against the interviewer’s wrist.

"Don’t you ever lay your dirty hand on my face!" Tsaka niya iwinasiwas ang kamay nito.

She hurried to the cubicle at kumuha ng tabo roon. Pinuno niya ito ng tubig gamit ang gripo. Nang makalabas doon ay tinapunan niya ito ng tubig.

The interviewer was stunned by the water soaking her face and down to her body.

"How much is that dress? And that ugly dress you wore? " A devilish grin split her face.

She was even more satisfied when the interviewer cried.

"If I were you, I would not treat people badly ever again. Dahil palagi kang may kalalagyan kapag ganyan ang pag-uugali mo. Maganda ka pa naman. " She turned her back on her and started toward the door.

She shook her head when she noticed that the b*tch had locked the door. Inikot niya ang doorknob and pulled it open.

Nagmadali siya papuntang waiting room pero wala na roon si Jarred.

"Olivia, nasa sasakyan na kanina pa si Sir Jarred. Bilisan mo na," ani ng driver na naghihintay pala sa kanya roon.

"Manong, ikaw pala. Sige, tayo na po. " Sabay na silang mabilis na naglakad palabras ng building na iyon at patungo sa sakyan na nakaparada na sa harap ng entrance.

Nang makasakay na sa front seat ay nilingon niya si Jarred na tahimik na nagbabasa ng magazine sa pwesto nito habang naka-dekuwatro.

"Sorry po, sir. Natagalan ako. "

Nag-angat ito ng tingin sa kanya sa blankong ekspresyon. "Bakit sumakit na naman ang tiyan mo?"

"Gano’n na nga, sir." Tumango siya at tsaka binalik na ang tingin sa harap.

Pinaandar na ng driver ang sasakyan.

Pangalawang beses na siyang nagsinungaling tungkol sa pagkakaroon ng masakit na tiyan. Sana ay ‘wag namang magkatotoo.

Tahimik lang sila sa biyahe ng iilang minuto nang binasag ni Jarred ang katahimikan.

"Did you have a fight with the interviewer?" Seryoso ang pananalita nito.

Bumuntong hininga siya. "Paano mo nalaman, sir?" She looked at him in the rearview mirror. He was looking there too.

"I just guessed. Mukha kang galit, eh. " He snickered.

Hindi na talaga ito natapos sa pang-iinis sa kanya. Wala naman siyang nakuhang kapakipakinabang na impormasyon ditto maliban sa ayaw nito sa iced latte at may time itong makipag-date. What a useless information?

Hindi na lang niya ito pinatulan at baka kapag pinatulan niya pa ito ay kung ano-ano na ang masabi niya rito na hindi maganda at talagang ipatanggal pa siya sa serbisyo.

"Masakit ba ‘yong pagkadapa mo kanina?" Seryoso na naman ang pananalita nito.

"Okay lang ako, sir. Hindi mo naman po sinadya, di ba? " She rolled her eyes.

"Actually, sinadya ko." He grinned from ear to ear.

She gave a grimace when she heard him admit to it.

She scratched her collar bone. "Bakit mo naman ginawa ‘yon, sir?"

"A boss does not have to explain himself, Oli. I just did it because I wanted to. " He smirked.

Bumuga siya ng hangin sa ilong. Handan a sana siyang patulan ito nang biglang tumirik ang sasakyan.

Kunot noo ang driver habang hinihintay na tuluyang huminto sa pagtakbo ang sasakyan sa gilid ng daan.

"Naku, nagkaaberya yata tayo, sir." Bumaba ito.

She flashed a satisfied smile. Maaasahan talaga si Tony kahit saan, kahit kalian. She was so proud of him.

What happened was, she called Tony nang makarating na sila kanina sa venue ng shooting na sumunod doon because she might need him. Agad namang sumunod si Tony roon. Nang malapit ng matapos ang interview ay tinawagan niya si Tony na wala siyang maayos na impormasyong nakuha and so Tony came up with an amazing idea, at ito ‘yon.

Tony manipulated the van na naging sanhi ng pagtirik nito sa daan. She didn’t agree to it at first because she thought it could be dangerous for those who are passengers in the van, but Tony assured her it was safe. Naisip kasi niya kanina that she had to spend more time with Jarred to find out more about him. So, si Tony naman ay naisipan na kapag nasiraan sila sa daan ay magkakaroon siya ng oras na chikahin si Jarred. Isa pa ay walang malalapit na talyer sa daan dahil puro puno lamang ang madadaanan nila. They were passing through a tree-lined road. There was no signal there either.

Bumaba na rin siya pati si Jarred upang matingnan ang sasakyan.

Napakamot ng ulo ang driver. "Kondisyon naman ito kanina, sir. Pasensya na po talaga. Makiki-hits na lang po ako sa dadaang sasakyan para makatawag ng mekaniko. Wala kasing signal ditto, sir. Hintayin niyo na lang po ako rito."

Tumango-tango na lang si Jarred.

Ilang minuto pa ay may humintong itim na Land Rover pickup sa likod ng sasakyan nila nang parahin iyon ni Jarred mismo dahil kanina pa pumapara ang driver ng mga dumadaang sasakyan at walang humihinto.

Nang makasakay na ang driver ay tumungo si Jarred sa van at may kinuha roon. Hinayaan lang nitong nakabukas ang pinto at sumandal sa van sabay sindi ng kinuha niyang sigarilyo.

Pinanood niya lang itong bumuga ng usok mula sa sigarilyong hinihiphip.

She gulped. She was supposed to start a conversation, pero natuyo yata ang lalamunan niya sa kakapanood kay Jarred. He looked so hot just leaning on the van, clipping the cigarette between his index and middle fingers. He put his left hand in his faded dark denim jeans’ front pocket.

"What are you looking at?" He frowned.

She walked closer to him and tilted her head. "Naninigarilyo ka?"

He looked away. "Can’t I?"

She leaned her back against the van and folded her arms.

Bumuga ulit ito ng usok ng sigarilyo. She coughed. She was allergic to the smoke of cigarettes.

Jarred turned to her. Nagkatinginan silang dalawa sa mata.

Jarred shook his head and tossed the cigarette on the road at tinapakan ito.

"Hindi mo pa nakakalahati ‘yon, sir." Bumaba ang tingin niya sa paa nitong tinatapakan ang upos ng sigarilyo.

"You coughed."

Her eyes narrowed. In her mind, she was telling him to stop pretending to be so nice because if he were really nice, he would not have tripped her at the set.

"Who are you really, Oli?" He gave her an unrelenting stare.

Her heart thudded inside her chest. "Ano po ang ibig niyong sabihin, sir?" She tried her best to stay calm, or else he’ll notice her tension.

Mataman siya nitong tiningnan. Umiling-iling lang siya na para bang hindi niya niintindihan kung anong sinasabi nito.

He smiled. "Nothing. Nagugulat lang ako sa ‘yo minsan na parang hindi ka takot sa amin. I don’t mean na kailangan mong matakot sa amin. It’s just that you’re unlike any other maid. " He shrugged his shoulders.

Unti-unting kumalma ang puso niya.

"Ganito lang talaga ako, sir. Ano ako, eh, extrovert. Palakaibigan gano’n kaya feeling close ako kahit kanino. Sorry po, sir. " She avoided eye contact.

Tumango-tango lang ito sa kanya. He leaned his back against the van again.

"Alam mo ba, Oli, I don’t feel comfortable being with girls, except from my secretary, who’s now mad at me. Ngayon lang kita nakasama, and I’d say I’m comfortable around you. But, sometimes it pleases me to tease you. Gustong-gusto kitang asarin." He shook his head, smiling.

Her whole face lit up. Pakiramdam niya ay nag-init ang mga pisngi niya. Hindi siya makatingin ditto ng diritso.

"Naku, sir. ‘Wag niyo na po akong asarin. Pikon ako, eh. Kaya sorry kung minsan nasusungitan ko po kayo. " She looked down.

"Kaya nga gustong-gusto kong inaasar ka. Because you look cute kapag napipikon ka." Ginulo nito ang buhok niya.

Napapitlag siya sa ginawa nito at agad na dumistansya. Sandali silang nagkatinginan at sabay ring nag-iwas ng tingin sa isa’t-isa.

She checked her wristwatch and discovered she was not wearing any dahil lahat ng mga relo niya ay mamahalin at hindi niya pwedeng suotin. Nasanay kasi siyang palaging chini-check ang oras sa wrist watch niya.

"Haha…Wala pala akong relo. Anong oras na ba?" She bit her upper lip at tumingin sa kawalan.

"It’s 4 p.m." ani Jarred.

She turned to him. "Baka matagalan pa si Manong, sir, no? Bakit hindi ka kaya muna magkwento ng mga bagay-bagay tungkol sa ‘yo. Para mas makilala kita at alam ko na kung ano ‘yong mga ayaw at gusto mo." She smiled.

Tumango-tango ito. "Sure. Pero hindi dito. Sa loob ng van. Pagod na ‘kong tumayo, eh."

Binuksan na niya ang front seat door but Jarred grabbed her hand.

"Mag-uusap tayo tapos diyan ka? Dito ka sa tabi ko." Pinanlakihan siya nito ng mga mata.

She gulped as she closed the door. Binitiwan na rin siya nito. Nauna itong sumakay at sumunod siya.

"Okay, what do you want to know about me?" Nakaharap ito sa kanya at seryoso ang mukha.

Hindi niya alam pero nahihirapan siyang magsalita kapag ganito sila kalapit. His beautiful hooded brown eyes are intimidating to her. Kahit sinong babae in her position, would not be able to speak. He’s so damn gorgeous, lalo na sa malapitan.

She cleared her throat. "May nililigawan ka na ba, sir?"

Unti-unting umangat ang magkabilang gilid ng labi nito. "’Yan talaga gusto mong malaman?"

She knew he wasn’t dating anyone, so she just asked if he was courting anyone. Para makagawa siya ng paraan para siraan ito sa nililigawan at ma-basted. He’ll crumble if he really is in love with someone and gets rejected by that girl. Mapapabayaan nito ang trabaho at mas mapapadali ang inside job niya. Hindi lang si Jarred, she’ll make sure to find ways to disturb the other boys too, and their mother. Panghuli na ang ama.

"Wala, Oli. I am not courting any girls right now. " He licked his lower natural, red lip.

She was supposed to feel frustrated dahil wala siyang magagamit to hurt him, pero bakit pakiramdam niya ay natuwa siya sa naging sagot nito? Binalewala na lamang niya ito.

"Ikaw, Oli? May nililigawan ka na ba? " He laughed.

Kung alam lang nito na ang tunay niyang ganda ay pinagtitiisang ligawan ng ilang taon ng mga manliligaw niya noon.

Inirapan niya ito. "Hindi ako nagpapaligaw, sir. Hindi ako maganda."

They maintained eye contact.

He leaned his body forward towards her. "The first time I saw you, I thought you were beautiful. Not just beautiful. Absolutely gorgeous. " His pupils dilated.