CHAPTER 5

ATLAS COLLAZO

"No, we can't send you more if you don't want the price to increase," seryoso kong sambit sa kameeting ko sa isang video conferencing app.

"Atlas—"

"How many times do I have to tell you about this?" matigas kong wika at napahilot na lang sa sintido dahil nararamdaman ko na umaakyat ang aking dugo sa ulo. "Bakit ba ang tigas ng ulo niyo? We've been working with you on this for many years, nakakaintindi ka naman pero bakit hindi kayo nakakaintindi? Your crates will be there next month, walang dagdag at walang kulang. Kung ano lang ang pinagusapan natin at nakasulat sa kontrata 'yon lang ang makukuha mo."

He kept his mouth shut when he heard my cold voice. Tumikhim ako at pinaglalaruan ang ballpen sa 'king daliri bago magsalita.

"This meeting is done. Next time you want this request, siguraduhin mong maayos ang pagpapalitan ng bigayan natin sa isa't isa kung ayaw ko makarating 'to kay Cronus" mariin kong wika. "Goodbye."

Hindi ko na hinintay ang kanyang sagot at binaba na agad 'yon. I closed the laptop and let out a deep sigh before leaning my back against the swivel chair I'm sitting on now.

Inangat ko ang aking ulo at napapikit habang hinihilot ang aking sintido ng maramdamang kumikirot 'yon.

"It's so annoying," I whispered to myself.

"Noying, pops?"

I automatically opened my eyes when I heard a small and sweet voice. Natuwid ko ang aking upo ng makita si Demetria na nakadungaw sa nakabukas na pintuan ngayon, There was a hint of a question on her face as her ash-gray eyes stared intensely at me.

"What are you doing here, baby?" malambing kong tanong sa kanya. Umangat ang aking kamay at sumenyas na lumapit siya sa 'kin. "Come here."

Sumilay ang ngiti sa kanyang labi at lakad takbong nagtungo sa pwesto ko. Binuhat ko siya at patagilid na pinaupo sa aking hita.

"I'm with my mommy, pops. Daddy is not home, that's why she brought me to her work," masigla niyang tugon.

I stroked her black, curly hair tied in pigtails before kissing the top of her head.

"Where's your mommy? Kumain ka na ba?"

Bumagsak ang kanyang balikat at niyakap ang hawak nitong dragon na stuff toy. I chuckled softly as I stroked her hair.

"What's with your face?"

"Nag-work na agad siya, pops. I'm sad because I want to play with my mommy pa," mababa ang tono ng kanyang boses.

I just shook my head and let her complain to me. Ang bata bata pa pero ang dami na agad problema.

Pero agad din na napalitan ng masiglang tono ang mababa niyang boses sa sunod nitong sinabi. "But I'm already done eating my favorite bagel that Tita Ria made!" she squealed.

Demetria is Hexia and Helios daughter. She's already 4 years old and turning 5 this year. Paminsan minsan ay dinadala siya ni Hexia rito dahil kahit naman na nakatira na siya sa mansion ng mga Zevallos ay kailangan niya pa rin na magtrabaho rito dahil hindi naman 'yon natapos simula ng pakasalan niya ang anak ko.

Demetria inherited his father eyes pero ang hugis no'n ay kay Hexia, big and round eyes that she make looks innocent. Ang buhok naman nito na mahaba at kulot ay nakuha naman kay Hexia. Morena ang kanyang balat na akala mo ay laging nakintab sa tuwing tatamaan ng araw.

My granddaughter is a cheerful, happy, bubbly child. Her emotions are easy to read, like an open book.

"Well, When you weren't born yet, that's how your mom's job was here, and it's still the same now, Demetria. Why don't you wait for her to have a break so she can play with you later?"

Dahan dahang tumango si Demetria at sinandal ang kanyang ulo sa aking dibdib. Mahina akong natawa at hinayaan siyang gawin 'yon. I knew what was coming next. In a while, she would fall asleep because this is what she likes to do when she's being sweet to me while both her parents are busy.

"Pops, I'll stay here with you muna. Sabi ni mommy, kids are not allowed inside the laboratory," mahina niyang wika at bakas pa rin sa tono ng kanyang boses ang lungkot. "Ano ba kasi ang work ni mommy inside sa laboratory, pops? Nagbebenta ba kayo ng medicine for sick people? Everytime I asked them they kept telling me that I'm still a child."

"They're telling the truth, Demetria. You're still a child."

Humaba ang kanyang nguso. "I'm a big girl na kaya!" maktol nito.

I just shook my head at what she said. I leaned my back against the swivel chair while gently rubbing her back, knowing she would fall asleep. Ang dami niya pang tanong at lahat ng 'yon ay hindi ko sinasagot, gumagawa na lang ako ng paraan para mapunta sa ibang topic ang lahat ng katanungan niya.

Silence filled the entire office, and all that could be heard was the soft snoring of my granddaughter. Hinayaan ko na lang din na nasa gano'ng posisyon kaming dalawa para hindi siya magising.

While I was savoring the silence in my office, I didn't realize that I had fallen asleep with my granddaughter. I only woke up when someone suddenly knocked on the door and it opened.

"Atlas, nakita mo ba si Demetria? Sabi nila dumiretso raw dit—oh, there she is," nakahawak sa dibdib si Hexia at napabuga ng hangin ng makitang mahimbing na natutulog ang kanyang anak sa akin.

"Come in."

"I'm sorry, Atlas. Mukhang binuhusan ka na naman ng maraming tanong niyang si Demetria," sambit nito ng makapasok ng tuluyan sa opisina.

"No. It's fine. I enjoyed seeing your daughter's face turning red whenever she's irritated."

Napailing na lang siya at lumapit sa akin. Maingat niyang binuhat si Demetria at kinarga habang tulog.

"Dinala ko muna siya rito dahil pumunta ng Iraq si Helios. Aabutin pa ng ilang araw bago siya bumalik dito sa Pilipinas. Hindi ko rin naman kayang iwan siya ng mag isa sa bahay kahit na may mga helpers doon, I wouldn't feel comfortable doing that."

Dahan dahan akong tumango. "It's okay. You can bring her here, pero huwag na huwag mo lang talaga hahayaan na makapuslit siya sa laboratory. She can watch Barbie in the living area later after she wakes up. Magpapabili na lang ako ng pagkain niya mamaya para hindi siya mabagot kahihintay sa 'yo," tugon ko.

Hexia nodded at me and gave me a small smile before she turned her back to me and walked towards the door.

"Thank you, Atlas. I'll go ahead. Idederetso ko na lang siya sa kuwarto ko sa baba para tuloy tuloy ang tulog niya."

"Okay. Sino kasama niya roon?"

"Sasamahan muna siya ni Ria. Sakto matutulog din siya kaya ako muna ang papalit sa kanya sa laboratory hanggang magising siya."

"Okay," tipid kong tugon habang pinagmamasdan na siyang maglakad. "You should give her a baby brother or sister soon, Hexia."

Narinig ko ang sunod sunod nitong ubo dahil sa aking sinabi. Mukhang hindi niya inaasahan ang sinabi ko.

"W-what?" nauubo niya pa ring tanong sa akin.

Bahagyang naalimpungatan si Demetria sa kanyang bisig kaya umungot ito ay siniksik ang sarili sa kanya.

"Mommy..." mahinang wika ni Demetria.

"Shh... mommy is here," pag-aalo niya sa kanyang anak.

"Speaking of my daughter's siblings. Helios and I are still working on that. It takes time, Atlas. Kung bibigyan kami ngayon ay salamat pero kung hindi naman ay ayos lang din," sagot niya sa akin at bumaba ang tingin kay Demetria. Hinalikan niya ang noo ng kanyang anak bago ako balingan ng tingin. "I also want to spend more time with her while she's still a child. We will never know, baka mamaya ay selosa pala itong bulinggit namin kapag nagkaroon na ng kapatid."

"That's good. Nasa sa 'yo pa rin naman kung susundan siya o hindi, but I see in my granddaughter eyes that she feels lonely. Baka mamaya ay bumalik na naman siya rito sa opisina pag nagising dahil wala siyang ibang makausap sa living area."

"Does she bother you while you're working here?"

I shook my head. "No. okay lang din sa akin na nandito siya kaya ayos lang."

Napabuntong hininga na lang ito at muling bumaba ang tingin sa kanyang anak.

"I'm really sorry, my baby. Mommy will spend more time with you I promise that," dinig kong bulong niya sa kanyang anak.

Hinayaan ko lang siyang makalabas sa opisina at niligpit ang mga gamit sa ibabaw ng lamesa. Maya't maya ay pumasok sa loob si Red at may dalang puting folder, muhkang alam ko na kung ano ang laman no'n.

"Kumusta na 'yong pinaguutos ko sa 'yo?"

"All done," sagot niya at naupo sa isang upuan malapit sa aking lamesa.

Nilapag niya ang dala nitong puting folder at kinuha ko agad 'yon.

Binuksan ko ang folder at binasa ang nilalaman no'n. I ordered Red to background check Avah Sienna Andrada. Nagpatulong siya kay Pallas para mapadali ang lahat.

I didn't even know why I did this. I feel like there's something about that woman that made me do this. I don't usually do this, especially with those who don't work at El Orden Del Abismo.

Nakasulat na lahat dito ang tungkol sa kanya. She's a teacher at Austria Kiddie Academy, it's a daycare and preschool for children. Nakalagay na rin dito ang address ng kanyang bahay. She's 34 years old and turning 35 this year, her age doesn't match on her face, her face looks young despite her age.

I briefly glanced at her picture. She was wearing a white inner top, covered by a jumper in neon orange with a pattern that you couldn't quite understand, and it had various colors.

What in the world... paano niya nagagawang magsout ng ganitong kakulay na damit sa init ng panahon ngayon?

Her hair was in a messy bun, and a few strands of her white hair were falling loose. Nakangiti ito sa picture kaya kitang kita ko ang kanyang ngipin. I also noticed her colorful feather earrings.

She's weird but there's something in me that I find very interesting in how she styles herself.

There are some people who are really weird, but her weirdness is different. White hair, feather earrings, and her colorful clothes.

Habang tahimik na pinagmamasdan ang hawak hawak kong papel ay hindi ko maalis ang aking paningin sa kanyang pangalan. Alam ko naman kung ano 'yon pero natutulala pa rin ako.

Avah Sienna Andrada.

Her second name is Sienna.

Sienna...

SHANGPU