《The Secret of the Secret Boss》Chapter 9
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"welcome to my secret place" aniya, sabay hatak sa akin palabas ng sasakyan.
"nagustuhan mo?" siya
"napakaganda, sobra" namamangha pading sagot ko.
Tumawa siya ng bahagya.
"i want us to enjoy here" sabi niya.
Fear and excitement ruled over my body. Ayoko munang isipin ang mga bagay bagay.
Ayokong isipin na dahil walang sinasabi si Reigan ay wala na siyang alam. Nakakagulat ang mga ginagawa niya ngayon. I can manage myself.
"what do you want to eat?" malambing niyang tanong.
"anything"ako
"may kubo sa likod ng bahay. Ako na ang bahala sa pagkain. Doon na tayo." sabi niya
"okay"
Itinuro niya ang daan papunta doon kaya dumeretso na ako. Hindi na ako nagtanong kung kailangan ba niya ng tulong kasi parang hindi naman.
Paglabas ko sa pinto, sumalubong sa akin ang malamig na hanging dala ng dagat, nakita ko ang kubo, hindi ako pumasok doon, naupo ako sa may pinto nito. Hindi ko tuloy mapigilan ang magreminisce dahil sa ambiance. I remember, before, my life is very simple. Us, my family, living happily. Hindi kami ganun kayaman, sapat lang para makapamuhay kami ng maayos, my father is a businessman and my mom supports him in our business. Sa kanila ko natutunan ang ikot ng negosyo. Kaya ako kumuha ng course na iyon, which led me to the most terrifying part of my life.
Akala ko, hindi ako makakatapos ng pag-aaral. Akala ko dahil propesor siya ay wala na akong laban. I was so young then, I'm just 18. My mom and dad did everything para makuha ang hustisya para sa akin, pero hindi tumigil ang issue kahit tapos na ang paglilitis kaya napagpasyahan ng mga magulang ko na mag migrate sa US. They helped me in regaining my old self pero maski ako ay nahirapan. I am no longer that girl, that very fragile lady na walang ibang ginawa kundi magmakaawa at hindi nanlaban. Wala akong pinagsisisihan sa mga naging desisyon ko. This is me now, I've changed. I will prove to the world that I am no longer that girl, yung babaeng sirang sira ang imahe. I've heard na binayaran halos lahat ng tatay ng walang hiyang yun ang mga tao para hindi lumabas ang pangalan ng anak niya sa media. Pero wala siyang nagawa noong napatunayan na guilty nga siya. Hindi ko natanggap ang public apology na hinihingi ko, kapalit noon ay ang pagkakakulong niya ng sampung taon. Masyadong maiksi, pero anong magagawa ko?. ganun ang sistema eh.
Sinira niya ang buhay ko. I was depressed. I keep on having nightmares and I am afraid it might occur later dahil hindi ko katabi si Marco. No one will wake me up.
Bumalik ako sa ulirat nong may tumikhim sa harap ko.
"ang lalim ng iniisip mo", siya. Habang dala dala ang tray ng pagkain.
"ah, wala. Uhm. This place is nice" sabi ko.
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"pasok na tayo sa loob" siya
Pumasok na kami sa loob ng kubo. Iniayos niya ang pagkain. Naupo na ako at kumuha ng kubyertos.
"anong iniisip mo?" tanong niya habang sumusubo ng kanin.
He cooked chicken adobo tsaka some soup. Okay nadin to.
"wala, just, the past",
Tumahimik nalang siya. Parang tinatantiya niya kung magsasalita paba siya o hindi na. Kahit ako, hindi ko alam kung paano magbukas ng topic sa kanya. After that dinner with his family, parang naging awkward na. I don't know, pakiramdam ko may nagbago sa kanya.
"i'm sorry for not calling last week" sabi niya.
"okay lang, sana nakapag catch up kayo ng kuya mo" sabi ko.
"yeah" malamig niyang sabi.
"hindi ka pumasok last week?, I heard from Marco" siya, habang ngumunguya. Tsss. Table manners mo po.
"yep, masama pakiramdam ko." tipid kong sagot sabay balik sa kinakain ko.
The meal was peaceful. Super peaceful. Tssss
Siya na daw ang magliligpit sa mga pinagkainan pero nagpumilit ako kaya wala na siyang nagawa. Pinanood niya nalang ako habang nag huhugas ng pinggan.
"pwede ba akong bumalik sa likod mamaya" tanong ko habang naghuhugas ng pinggan ,
"bakit? So you can reminisce more?" mapagdudang tanong niya na may halong pang-aasar.
"hmmm, pwede rin. I find the place peaceful" sagot ko
"sige, pagkatapos mo dyan. You can go. Susunod ako".
Pumanhik siya sa 2nd floor, may binuksan siyang pintuan at pumasok siya doon. Doon siguro siya matutulog. Pagkatapos ko maghugas ay bumalik ako sa likod. High tide na ngayon pero maluwang pa naman ang buhanginan kaya naupo ako doon. Malamig na, oo, pero ayos lang. Masarap sa pakiramdam, lasang fried chicken. Haha. De, joke lang.
Yumuko ako at pumikit. Nabigla na lamang ako nang may telang bumalot sa aking katawan mula sa likuran ko.
"lumalalim na ang gabi. Di kapa ba pagod?" tanong niya sabay upo sa tabi ko.
"hindi, ikaw ang nag drive. Natulog lang ang ginawa ko. Ako dapat ang nagtatanong sayo niyan" sagot ko.
Nakatingin siya sa dagat kaya ganun din ang ginawa ko.
"salamat at sumama ka sa akin dito" sabi niya ng hindi tumitingin sa akin.
"kailangan kong makapag isip-isip, tsaka, may tiwala naman ako sayo" ako
Tinitignan ko na siya ngayon pero siya, sa harap padin nakatingin. Ang mahal naman lingunin ng lalaking to.
"pasok na tayo sa loob?" pag aaya niya sa akin.
Pumayag na ako dahil nakasando at shorts lang siya, halatang nakapag shower na. At malamang nilalamig na kaya atat na atat pumasok sa loob.
Sinusundan ko lamang siya, nagkaroon ako ng pagkakataong pagmasdan siya mula sa likuran nito. How can this man be so good looking?. ang tikas niya, regular siguro ito sa gym. He finds time hah?. hindi ko maiwasan ang mag daydream, pero laging naaantala iyon dahil sumisingit lagi ang isang masamang ala-ala. Damn it.
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"dito nga pala yung kwarto mo" siya
"salamat". binuksan niya iyon na pumasok na ako. Paano na kaya ito?. can I handle myself here alone?. napakaluwang ng kwarto tapos mag-isa ko?.
Nakita ko ang bag ko sa higaan. Eto siguro yung inasikaso niya kanina bago sumunod sa akin sa dalampasigan.
Nagshower na ako at nagbihis ng pantulog. Humiga ako at pumikit.
***
"halika dito. I will punish you. hahahahha" masamang wika ng lalaking humahabol sa akin,
Kanina pa ako takbo ng takbo sa kawalan pero napakabilis niya.
"layuan mo ako! Wag mo akong hawakan!!". sinakal ako ng lalaking hindi ko makita ang mukha.
*****
"waaah!" hah, huh. Tigil!" napabalikwas ako sa higaan., hiningal ako doon. What was that!. sino siya. Walang hiya. Pati sa pagtulog, bangungot talaga siya.
Pagtingin ko sa oras, 10:30 na. Tulog na kaya si Reigan?. hindi pwede to. Nakakahiya ang iniisip ko ngayon.
"Marc",
"napatawag ka?" anang Marco sa kabilang linya sabay hikab.
"nanaginip na naman ako"
Narinig kong nagmura si Marco sa kabilang linya.
"Don't sleep Val. Wala ako diyan para gisingin ka" concern na wika ni Marco
"i know, bad idea ata itong pag a unwind na ito. Ikamamatay ko ata"
"why don't you go to Reigan instead?" suhestiyon ni Marco
"nababaliw kana ba?" bulong ko sakanya. Sana narinig niya ng maayos
"hindi, pero mababaliw ako pag may nangyaring hindi maganda sayo" Marco
"subukan mo lang, tanungin mo kung pwede bang tabi kayo matulog" wika ni Marco.
Hindi ko alam kung matutuwa pa ako sa mga pinagsasasabi ni Marco dahil parang ibinubugaw na niya ako. Tsss
"fine, ikaw na ang bahala sa kumpanya Marco. Nasa last will and testament kita" seryosong sabi ko sa taong nasa kabilang linya.
"are you freakin' serious?, Val, kung pwede lang lumipad diyan ngayon, ginawa ko na.. now, as your bestfriend, I suggest, you knock on his door kasi gising pa yun"wika ni Marco
"pag hindi mo ginawa itong sinasabi ko Val. Lugi na ang kumpanya mo pagbalik mo sa bakasyon mong yan". pagbabanta ni Marco,
Really, Marco? You can do that huh?!. fine . fine. Kakatok na ako. Pinatay ko ang tawag ko kay Marco, kumuha ako ng isang unan at nagmartsa papunta sa harap ng pinto ng kwarto ni Reigan.
"Okay lang yan, Val, matutulog ka lang. Kailangan mo pang mabuhay. May kumpanya ka. Magtatabi lang kayo. Kailangan mo pang mabuhay" Paulit ulit kong pagreremind sa utak at sarili ko. Inhale, exhale. Whooo! Kaya ko ito.
Kakatok palang sana ako nang biglang bumukas ang pinto, naiwan ang kamao ko sa ere!. kaya agad ko itong ibinaba at inilagay sa likod ko sabay ngiti.
"hi" naka full smile ako niyan
"okay ka lang?" tanong ni Reigan. "pasok ka"
"thanks"
"anong kailangan mo? Gutom ka?" tanong niya.
Umupo ako sa dulong parte ng kama niya, samantalang siya ay umupo sa sofa. Oo, may sofa sa kwarto niya.
"may pabor akong hihingiin". kaya mo to Val. Okay lang yan.
"ano?" seryosong tanong niya
"pwede bang dito ako matulog?" nakayukong tanong ko. Shemay, nahihiya ako. Kay Marco, okay lang. Pero sa kanya? Hindi eh.. ang awkward. Val, para ito sa kumpanya. Kailangan mong mabuhay!. whoo!
"bakit?, hindi kaba kumportable sa kwarto mo?. ako nalang doon" wika niya.
"no!, I mean, no. Hindi. Ano kasi, sana ano. Ahm." diko masabi! Ano ba.. para sa kumpanya!
"pwede bang tabi tayo?" pulang pula nako. Ang init ng pisngi ko. Ano ba naman! Ano ba!?. nakakahiya.
Hindi siya sumagot kaya nag angat ako ng tingin at naabutan ko siyang nakakunot ang noong nakatingin sa akin. What?!
"ano kasi, I'm having nightmares" pagpapaliwanag ko. "walang gigising sa akin pag alam mo na" dagdag ko pa.
"okay. sige" pag sang ayon niya.
Hindi narin siya nagtanong.
"may pupuntahan kaba sana?" tanong ko dahil parang lalabas siya bago ako pumunta dito.
"sa kwarto mo" turan niya
"bakit?" ako.
"nagtext si Marco"
Oh, great Marc. Just great.
"anong sabi?".
Inabot niya sa akin ang phone niya. Walang password kaya malaya kong nabuksan iyon. Pumunta ako sa messages nito at nakita ang text ni Marco.
Pumayag ako sa outing na yan kaya pumayag ka din sa kundisyon ko. Binabangunot yan madalas kaya tabi kayong matulog. Huwag na huwag kang mag-iisip na gawan siya ng masama dahil oras na malaman ko yan, ipupull out ko lahat ng shares ko sa kumpanya mo. Thank you. Alagaan mo siya.
-Marco
Great! Marco. Ang galing mo din mang black mail bestfriend!. grrrr
"ano ba talagang meron kayo ni Marco?" tanong niya, lumakad siya palapit sa akin at naupo sa tabi ko.
"We're bestfriends" sagot ko dahil iyon naman ang totoo.
"talaga? You're so close?." mapagdudang tanong niya.
Nahiga na ako sa kaliwang parte ng kama. Samantalang siya ay naka upo padin.
"we are. Very close." sabi ko. Hihikab hikab narin ako. Nararamdaman ko na ang antok.
"matulog kana. Mamamalengke tayo bukas ng pagkain tapos pupunta tayo sa sanctuary, malapit lang dito. Sa palengke na tayo bibili ng rubber shoes mo dahil nakalimutan kong sabihin sayo. Okay lang ba sayo kahit yung mumurahin lang?" tanong niya sabay lingon sa akin.
"oo naman." sagot ko.
"goodnight Reigan, sana makatulog ka ng maayos. Don't mind me. Hindi naman ako humihilik pag tulog" wika ko
"paano mo naman nalaman?" pilosopong tanong niya.
"basta! Alam ko lang" saka ako bumaling sa kabilang banda para hindi ko na siya makita.
Naramdaman ko nalang ang paggalaw ng kanang bahagi ng kama. Hudyat na nahiga nadin siya.
"goodnight, love" wika niya sabay halik sa noo ko.
Hindi ko na pinansin iyon dahil antok na antok na ako. Goodnight Rei. Sabi ng utak ko.
*************
goodnight everyone:)
hanggang kailan kaya sila ganyan ni Reigan?:)
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8 205Don't Come Inside, Okay?
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8 124Astrayed Absolution
I hav? lift?d th? curtain to show th? t?uth about th? Kingdom. I am disclosing ou? f?llowm?n ou? d?f?cts, ou? vic?s, ou? culpabl? and cowardly indiff???nc? ??sulting in ou? own mis??y. In my l?tt??s, I t?i?d to co???ct th? ha?mful accusations against ou? p?opl?. I b?ought out in th? op?n th? sad stat? of ou? count?y, all ou? g?i?vanc?s and f?ust?ations. Thos? g???dy f?ia?s, thos? co??upt l?ad??. Th?y who gov??n ou? land, you say w? should app?al to th? Celestial Kingdom, but how? Th? Kingdom is d?af and blind, th?y won’t h?a? ou? c?i?s, and th?y won’t s?? ou? suff??ings. Inst?ad, th?y s?nt imb?cil?s and c?iminals to gov??n us. W? a?? t??at?d lik? animals. I know most of you a?? af?aid, but f?a? mo?? fo? you? famili?s. A?? w? going to simply watch ou? child??n b? kill?d? Ou? wom?n abus?d, ou? fi?lds plund???d, ou? id?ntiti?s and dignity ?obb?d b?fo?? taking action? A?? w? to ??main sil?nt?
8 190Earth II: Starting From Zero
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