Quest For Justice

CHAPTER 12: Insomnia

Knowing your enemies is one way you can defeat them.

Itinapon ni Cassandra ang pagod niyang katawan sa kama niya. She was too tired to learn from Myka and Rima because she couldn’t do any single housekeeping task correctly. Tapos na ang shift nila. It was already 5 pm. Hindi pa siya nakaka limang minuto sa pagpapahinga ay pinatawag ulit sila. May early dinner daw ang family Guzman. 6 pm. At tuwing may family dinner ang pamilya na nangyayari lamang sa isang araw sa isang linggo ay dapat lahat ng kasambahay ay naroon sa tabi ng dining table. So manunuod siyang kumain ang mga ito habang nakatayo silang mga kasambahay the whole time. She couldn’t even stand for a few minutes because she was lazy. Tapos ganito? She almost screamed because of annoyance. She punched her pillow at sumunod na sa labas. Makikita niya na naman si Verno and of course, she would meet the Chairman for the first time, it made her excited.

Nakalinya na ang mga kasambahay sa tabi ng long table, may sampung kasambahay ang naroon. Limang kasambahay sa kaliwang bahagi at lima rin sa kanang bahagi. Ang mga amo nila ay hindi pa dumarating. Cassandra sagged her shoulders.

"Stand straight, Olivia." Mando ni Karina na nakatayo sa uluhan ng lamesa at tinitingnan ang bawal galaw nila. Cassandra shook her head and stood straight.

Maya-maya ay dumating si Doña Victoria, followed by Jelo. Jelo smiled at them. He was always the smiling type that could brighten your mood. Naupo na ang dalawa. Dumating na rin sina Verno at Jarred. Umupo si Verno at Jarred sa kaliwang bahagi ng lamesa at siya naman ay nakatayo sa kanan kung kaya’t magkarap silang tatlo. She watched as Verno stared at her.

"What the hell is wrong with this guy?" Cassandra thought. She felt uncomfortable.

Kumibot ang labi ni Verno and she was able to read his lips. He said, "Panget". Pinukaw na naman nito ang iritasyon niya. Kung pwede lang itong saksakin ng tinidor ngayon ay ginawa na niya sa sobrang panggigigil niya rito. She has anger issues that she has been working out to manage. Tiningnan niya ito ng masama. She saw Jarred beside Jelo leaned closer, his voice barely more than a whisper. Then they both smiled naughtily. What the hell? Were they talking about her?

Naputol ang atensiyon niya roon nang pumasok sa dining hall ang haligi ng tahanan at mataman niya itong tinitigan. Chairman Sebastian Guzman - the killer. Target locked. The heinous evil.Walang kwentang tao. He was wearing a formal suit. That was not the first time she had seen him in person. Ang kagalang-galang nitong pananamit ay hindi angkop sa tunay nitong pagkatao. Dalawang beses na niya itong nakita mula sa malayo noon. At ngayon niya lang ito nakita ng malapitan. He looked young for his age. He was muscular and fit. He had no mustache. He was a handsome person. No wonder kung saan nagmana ng itsura ang mga anak nito. Don Sebastian sat at the head of the table.

They prayed first before they had their food.

Kailan pa natutong manalangin ang demonyo? Cassandra thought, smirking at the sight of the old man closing his eyes while praying.

At first, the family quietly started their dinner. When suddenly, the Chairman talked, breaking the silence.

"What have you been up to these days, Verno?"

"Doing photo shoots." Tipid na sagot ni Verno nang hindi man lang nag-angat ng tingin sa ama.

Verno didn’t talk with respect toward the chairman. Cassandra’s eyes shifted to Jarred. He was silent, but she could see the slight distress in his expression.

"Dad, I heard Kuya Jarred has been working on a new project and it’s doing well. I’m proud of you, Kuya!" Jelo made Jarred’s spirit lift.

Cassandra thought that Jelo did great.

"If only Verno---"

"Stop it, Dad!" Verno rose from his seat, he sounded grating.

Cassandra folded her arms as she satisfiedly watched the scene. Umangat ang gilid ng labi niya. This family is indeed one of those wealthy but chaotic families.

What a nice drama to watch. Cassandra thought, smirking.

"Verno!" Saway ni Doña Victoria sa anak.

Verno showed his frustration when he marched out of there. Jelo called him, but he didn’t stop.

Cassandra was amazed that the chairman did not even shout at his son for being ill-mannered. Kitang-kita kung gaano ito ka pabor sa kanyang panganay. After Verno walked out without even finishing his dinner ay naging tahimik na ulit ang family dinner ng pamilya. But, the tension was still present.

Pagkatapos niyon ay niligpit na ng mga kasambahay na nasa night shift ang pinag-kainan at bumalik na sina Cassandra sa kwarto nila. Cassandra massaged her feet. Napagod siya sa tatlumpong minutong kakatayo.

"Te, nagulat ka ba kanina? Actually, sanay na kami do’n. Ganun palagi ang eksena kapag kumpleto silang pamilya," ani Rima.

Cassandra just lazily smiled. Hihiga na sana siya nang biglang bumukas ang pinto kaya napabalik siya sa pag-upo. Nang pamusok ang mayordoma ay sabay silang tatlo na napatayo.

"It’s OK. Si Olivia lang ang sadya ko. The chairman wants to meet you. Let’s go."

Will she finally get to meet her target face-to-face? She tried to calm herself at baka hindi niya mapigilan ang kanyang sarili mamaya ‘pag nagka-harap sila. Hinatid siya ni Karina sa opisina ng Chairman na nasa ikalawang palapag.

"Pumasok ka na. Wala pa ang Chairman sa loob. HIntayin mo na lang siya," ani Karina nang nasa labas na sila ng pinto ng opisina.

Pumasok siya sa loob ng opisina nito. His office had a dark theme. It looked elegant. There were glass bookshelves sa magkabilang corner ng opisina.

Kinapkap niya ang bulsa ng kanyang maid uniform, naroon ang tinatago niyang Android phone na hindi niya pinakita kahit kanino at nakatago lang sa kanyang mga gamit. All she had to do was look for the documents and take photos of them. Mabilis siyang lumapit sa desk ng Chairman at nanghalungkat. Under the table were boxes of paper documents. She couldn’t find it. Her heart was beating so fast that the Chairman would enter the room at any moment. Habang nanghahalungkat siya ay panay rin ang silip niya sa pinto at baka bigla itong bumukas. Abot-abot ang tahip sa kanyang dibdib. Pinagpapawisan siya habang nanghahalungkat sa mga papeles.

All of a sudden, she heard footsteps coming. Mabilis siyang lumayo roon sa desk. Then, the door opened. The Chairman came in. She bowed before him to show a maid’s respect.

"You are Olivia?" he asked.

"Yes, Don Sebastian." She was told to address the chairman that way.

"No offense, Iha! But you look ugly, though. You have a nice body and height. " Puna nito sa kanyang pisikal na kaanyuan.

Cassandra was glad she looked ugly to him at nang hindi siya nito mapagnasaan. So pinapunta lang siya nito para punahin ang kanyang physical appearance?

"Makakaalis ka na," anito sa kanya.

Pinanood niya itong naglakad papunta sa desk nito.

"I said you may leave." The Chairman frowned.

"Wala na po ba kayong kailangan, sir?" She forced her fingers to not curl into fists.

"Hindi kita kailangan. I can’t even look at your face. " Pintas nito sa kanya saka ito umupo sa swivel chair nito.

Cassandra went out of his office. She was so mad at him that she wanted to kill him at that very moment. But she was not a murderer like him. Wala pa siya sa kalagayan para patayin ang Chairman. But someday, he will die of his own desire.

Hindi niya inaasahan na magiging ganon kasama ang pakiramdam niya pagkatapos niyang maka face-to-face at makausap ang mortal niyang kalaban. Hindi siya makatulog kakaisip sa mukha ni Don Sebastian. Panay ang balikwas niya sa kanyang higaan. She checked the time and it was already 1 a.m.. Kung sa bahay lang siya at ganitong may insomnia siya ay lalabas siya upang magpatimpla ng gatas sa kasambahay.

Dahan-dahan siyang bumangon sa kama upang hindi maestorbo ang masarap na tulog nina Rima at Myka at lumabas ng kwarto. Bumaba siya ng kusina, and she found fresh milk in the fridge. Nagsalin siya nito sa kanyang baso. Hinugasan niya ang ginamit na baso pagkatapos. Gusto niya munang magmuni-muni para mas madali siyang antukin kaya tumuloy siya sa pool area.

She saw Verno sitting on the edge of the pool, habang nakalubog ang mga paa nito sa tubig. May bote at baso rin ng alak sa tabi nito. From her view, she saw him sniffling. Was he crying?

She started toward him. She’d start befriending her enemies. Knowing your enemies is the only way you can defeat them.

"Hindi ka makatulog, sir?" sabi niya.

Napalingon ito sa kanya. "Leave me alone."

"Leave me alone." She repeated what he said in a funny tone as she sat beside him. She also let her feet sink into the water. Nakasoot naman siya ng hanggang tuhod na shorts.

No one can intimidate the one and only Cassandra Bernardo.

He stared at her, magkasalubong ang kilay. Kaya tinitigan niya rin ito sa mata.

"Akala ko ba matapang kayo, sir? Iyakin naman pala ka’yo, eh." She held her laugh.

"Leave!" He shouted at her.

She just ignored him and rolled her eyes.

Binalewala niya ang pagtaboy sa kanya nito at kinuha ang whiskey glass nito at nagsalin ng alak mula sa bote.

"Balita ko gamot daw sa insomnia ang alak. Hindi ako makatulog, sir,eh!" She raised the glass and drank the alcohol.

Pinanood lang siya ni Verno. Nang ma-realized nito na hindi na siya nito mapapaalis ay yumuko na lang ito at pinanood ang asul na tubig na kumukinang sa repleksyon ng liwanag ng bilog na buwan. His feet were swaying under the water.

"You are mad at me, aren’t you?" he said without looking up at her.

"Hindi ako galit sa ‘yo, sir," Cassandra smiled at tsaka nilapag ang baso.

I’m mad at your dad, but since you are his son, I’d like to apologize. She wanted to say that, but couldn’t.

Nag-angat ito ng tingin sa kanya. This time his eyes were warm. It was hard for her to evade those eyes because it felt warm to look at those eyes.

"Panget!" He laughed.

This time, she didn’t feel bad like before. Komportable niya itong sinuntok sa braso. Napahawak naman si Verno sa braso nito.

"Aray!" Pinanlakihan siya nito ng mga mata.

Like, how could a maid punch him?

She found herself laughing.

"Sa lahat ng naging katulong namin ikaw pa lang ang walang hiyang nakasuntok sa akin. Gusto mo ipatanggal kita sa trabaho?" Verno scrunched his nose.

"Edi, ipatanggal mo." She raised her brow.

Verno wasn’t the man she expected him to be. He was a warm person. A kind person. He was a book that was easy to read. Hindi komplikado ang konteksto nito. Madali niya itong naintindihan. She was comfortable around him. That was her assessment. She was hoping he was a worse man. It would have been easier to grow some hate on him if he was the bad boy she first thought he was.

"Hate mo ba ‘yong Tatay mo?" She looked straight into his eyes.

"Saan ka kumukuha ng tapang? Kapag ikaw narining ng Daddy ko." Verno shook his head.

"Wala siya rito. Tayo lang dalawa." She sat closer to him.

Nang mag-angat ng tingin si Verno sa kanya ay malapit na lang magdikit ang tungki ng ilong nila kaya nanlaki ang mga mata nito at napaatras.

"Ano ka ba? Lumayo-layo ka nga!" His face flushed.

"Sir, ano ka ba. Magkuwento ka na. Hindi naman ako tsismosa," halos pabulong niyang sabi.

"Sa lagay na ‘yan?" He smirked.

Marahas siyang napakamot ng ulo. She felt frustrated that she couldn’t make him tell his story. Kailngan niya munang mahuli ang loob nito. Although he was an easy book to read, Verno was not an easy man.

Cassandra got to her feet.

"Matutulog na ako, sir." She excused herself at tumalikod na.

"Olivia!" He called her.

She stopped walking at nilingon niya ito, nakangiti.

"Panget ka pa rin." Umangat ang gilid ng labi nito.

She shook her head and left him there. If only she hadn’t held back herself, she would have given him a standing ovation from her middle finger. "Panget" was never her nickname.

"Where did my insomnia take me?" she muttered as she headed back to their room.