Chapter 8

Before my boss left, he listed a few things that I should strictly follow and obey his orders o kung hindi, I will be spanked!

One, look after Antonio—he simply calls him Tonton but we're not that even close to call him on his nickname so I think I'll just stick with his full name.

Second, cook lunch and dinner for him. It wasn't that hard. Madali lang 'yon. Araw-araw ko namang ginagawa kay Trent so that wouldn't be a bother for me.

Third, if Antonio asks or requests something I should do it. Hindi rin naman mahirap. I always does it to him. And he just reminded me if things gets personal and touchy, he would fire me. There should be no attachments o kung ano mang mangyari.

And lastly, be patient 'cause just like what he said, they grow up on a different culture and I still don't have an idea what could that be. Ibang-iba naman kasi ang hitsura nilang dalawa.

I can easily distinguish Trent to having a Japanese blood because of his pierce eyes and his attitude and on the other hand, Antonio looks like full-blood pinoy and I'm still in doubt because I'm not so sure about that. They maybe calling each other cousins pero baka magkaibigan lang sila?

But whatever their ancestry is, problema na nila 'yon.

"Nasa kubeta ako ngayon, kunyaring jume-jebs habang busy pa ang mga amo. So, anong chika mo r'yan ngayon? Kumusta nag hang-over natin sis!"

"You won't believe it," ngisi ko pa.

"Oh, talaga ba? Pinapasapik mo ako ah! Ano nakapag-horse racing na ba kayong dalawa ng boss mo?"

"Gago ka talaga, hindi 'yon," bulyaw ko pa sa kanya, hindi ko lang nilakasan ang boses ko dahil baka magising si Antonio. "Bakit naman kami maghohorse racing? If I would be the one doing it, bull riding na agad para hard at may pagbubulagbog. But anyway, hindi naman iyon ang punto ng pagtawag ko sa 'yo and to interrupt your duty."

"Mahalagang thing ba 'yan?"

"Possibly, yes," sagot ko sa kanya. "Makinig ka na lang, mamaya ka na chumika kapag tapos na ako, okay?"

"Yes, madame!" hagikgik pa ni Sasa. "So, push? Let me hear the chika."

"Trent has a visitor and it's not just anyone. It's his cousin and I don't know where he comes from pero mukha siyang pinoy from the way he looks. O baka assuming lang din ako. He supposedly come later pa pero nagulat kaming dalawa ni Trent na maaga siyang nakarating."

"Teka, lalaki 'yan 'no kasi ang tawag mo ay he?" She asked and I hummed to answer her question. "Teka, Lav? Ba't gano'n?! Pulos boys ang mga kasama mo ngayon? Mukhang lapitin ka ng boys ah! Makiki-share naman diyan uy!"

"Baliw ka talaga, Sasa," ngisi ko pa. "Trent's cousin, Antonio is just 20. Bata pa 'yan. Ilang taon ka na? 24 ka na 'di ba? Gurang ka na."

"Ay! Ang harsh magsalita ah. Hindi pa kaya gurang ang 24 years old. Hindi bale, marami pa namang iba riyan. So, nasa'n na si Antonio baby ngayon?"

I grunted when she mentioned that. Ang sarap batukan. Kung katabi ko lang 'to ngayon, I would totally ngungud her face sa floor.

"He's not your baby and will never be," matabang kong sagot. "Antonio's in his room sleeping. Baka dahil may jetlag."

"Ay akala ko malaki betlog," usal pa ni Sasa at kung nakakasapak lang thru call, bulagta na siguro si Sasa kanina pa. "Anyway, gwapo ba siya?"

"Ewan ko. Wala naman akong interes sa bagay na 'yon. And I think hindi naman siya magtatagal dito. I know Trent wouldn't permit that. He might be here for some vacation lang din. Hindi ko naman inaalam. Mas uunahin ko na lang asikasuhin ang trabaho kaysa alamin pa ang mga bagay na 'yon."

"E 'di tanungin mo, gising mo na ro'n sa kwarto niya," utos pa nito sa akin.

"I won't do that," paninindigan ko. "At saka ang kulit ah? Buti nga ichinika ko sa 'yo na nandito pinsan ni Trent. I wouldn't even say a single word again kapag hindi tumagal 'yang maharot mong bunganga."

"Ito naman, minsan na lang ako humarot e," hagikgik pa nito. "Anyway, maiba naman tayo. Kung ayaw mong pag-usapan si Antonio—ang lakas talaga ng dating ng pangalan niya. Feeling ko isa siyang aktor na bumida sa mga xxx film sa cubao noon. Oooh, yummy!"

"If we're speaking about a guy who's under 18, I'll be probably calling the cop on you now."

"Pero hindi," hagikgik pa ni Sasa. Halatang pinipigilan niya lang din ibuga ang tawa niya dahil nga nasa loob siya ng kubeta. Kapag nalaman ng amo niya na nakikipag-chismisan lang pala siya sa banyo, she would totally get fired. "Ito na talaga, seryoso na ako."

"Sure ka na ba r'yan?"

"'Di mo rin sure, Lav," ngisi pa nito, she might rolling into their bathroom floors rights now. Nakakabuang ang babaeng 'to.

"Ano nga 'yong sasabihin mo bago ka pa mahuli ng amo mo r'yan?"

Before she could gone back serious, I heard her over the phone and took a deep breath—a way she could calm herself from her nonsense jokes and statements.

"So, what about that Fredrick last night? May nangyari na bang masama sa 'yo? Tell me more, spill to me something."

"No, nothing happened and that's a good thing. If he ever told a single soul back in the Philippines. All hell will break loose. Sinasabi ko pa lang ngayon but if that happens, hindi ko na alam kung anong gagawin ko. Hopefully, hindi mangyari but Fredrick seems kinda nosy. Close 'yon sa mga kapatid kong lalaki but let's just hope na hindi niya sasabihin," I said and crossed my fingers. "I'm literally crossing my fingers now."

Napasinghal naman si Sasa. "Okay... parang ang lala naman? Ano ba kasing mangyayari if they even find it out?"

I didn't get to answer her question when I heard someone opens the door. Nang silipin ko naman ang hallway ay nakita ko si Antonio na lumabas.

"Teka, mamaya na lang ulit kita kausapin. Gising na si Tonton."

"Tonton? Sino naman si Tonton?"

"Ay pucha! Si Antonio 'yon," bulong ko sa phone na halos ngarag sa pagmamadali. "I'll call you later, okay."

"Okay pero ha... mukhang bet mo, may nickname—" hindi ko na tinapos ang sasabihin ni Sasa at pinatay ko na ang tawag.

I left my phone in the center table saka dinaluhan ko si Antonio nang makarating sa living area. Nakasando lamang siya ng punti at boxer shorts. Feel na feel at home na siya. His hair is shaggy, halatang kakagising niya lang din. I smiled at him but he just gave me a quick glance at saka niya binagsak ang sarili sa couch. He grabbed the remote control and turned on the TV. Nakabukaka pa ito na kaunti na lang ay masisilip ko na ang itim niyang brief sa super ikli niyang boxer. I mean I'm already seeing it and good thing he's not doing commando—like his cousin.

"Sir Antonio," pagtawag ko sa pansin nito. Dahan-dahan pa akong nilingon nito na halos tutok ang mata sa TV. Kahit hindi naiintindihan ang lengwahe ay hindi niya maalis ang mata ro'n. "I've already cooked lunch for you and say anytime when you want to eat so I can prepare the table for you."

"Oh! That's fine, you don't have to prepare it for me," aniya.

"No, it's my job—literally."

"I know, but you don't have to," pagpupumilit pa nito pero dahil do'n ay hindi rin ako magpapatalo.

"But sir—" and still he interrupted me.

"You're pinay, right?" pagtatanong nito. Nag-alinlangan pa akong tumango sa kanya dahil hindi ko sure kung hahayaan kong ibulgar ang cover ko rito sa Japan. "Sabi ko na nga ba e."

"Oh... okay. And why did you thought of that, sir? Is it because most of the helpers in Japan are pinay workers?"

His eyes widened kasunod ng mabilis na pag-iling ng ulo. Nawala na ang atensyon niya sa TV.

"No, no! Pa'no mo naman nasabi 'yan?" he asked and surprisingly he talks in our native language.

"Because it is the reality."

"I see but I don't mean to offend anyone who works as helpers here in Japan. They are doing a great job so I don't belittle anyone who works just to earn money and send that to their families. I know how hard life could be. I'm a full-blood Filipino but I was born here Kobe—it is in central Japan. But I grew up in the Philippines and from time to time I visit here but I'm here for good now."

"So you're going to stay with your cousin now? Is he even your cousin? Hindi kayo magkamukha."

"Of course he has a Japanese father. Hinding-hindi talaga kami magiging magkamukha. Our mothers are siblings though and they live in Kobe now."

"Do you mean... half-Japanese and half-filipino si Trent? I mean ang pinsan mo?"

Natawa pa siya ng itama ko ang sarili ko. "Yes, he is and don't forget that he can speak and understand tagalog as well. Did he spoke to you in tagalog or did you ever talk to him in tagalog?"

"He never spoke, but I did..." I muttered na halos tulala nang alalahanin ko ang mga pinagsasabi ko kay Trent noon. I thought he wouldn't understand it. Pucha! Wala akong ka-idea-idea! Siguro tama nga. I should've known him first before getting here. Hindi 'yong ngayon na para akong natatangahan sa mga nalalaman ko. It's shocking. Hindi agad ako nakaimik.

Antonio laughed. "He must be laughing at you when you're not around."

"Does he really understands and speaks tagalog?"

Antonio nodded his head. "Yes. He does. Gusto mo pa bang ulit-ulitin ko ng ilang beses?"

"No, you don't have to," pagpigil ko sa kanya. "I guess you can have your lunch now."

"Join me?" pag-aaya nito sa akin.

Umiling naman ako sa kanya. "No. I can't join you."

"Please, I insists," he said.

"Ikaw bahala..."

"You cook the food, you deserve to eat it too."

Tumayo naman siya sa kinauupuan niya at saka ko siya sinundan papuntang dining area. Nahihiya pa akong sumunod sa kanya dahil hindi naman dapat ako makikisabay na kumain sa kanila. I did it once with Trent at hindi na naulit 'yon. I know he'll just ask questions kapag nagkataon kaya ako na mismo ang umaalis matapos ko siyang asikasuhin.

When we bound to be in the dining, he helped me setting up the table and he's kind, nice, and funny at the same time. Napapangiti ako kapag nahuhuli kong nakangiti siya. I thought he'll be the kind of person who will I hate dahil sa estado nito sa buhay but he's absolutely now who I think of.

"How did you learn to cook?" tanong niya saka siya kumagat sa meatloaf.

Napataas naman ang kilay ko sa sinabi niya. "You know it's not hard to fried the meatloaf. But I can cook other dishes as well."

"Oh, really? What's your best dish?"

"Well, it's my alfredo pasta. I just learned that when I go to Italy."

"Really? So you work in Italy before you work here in Japan? What made you changed your mind?"

"Oh, no! I didn't work in Italy. I was there for a vacation and being a nanny is my first job."

"Wow, you surprised me," he said, chuckling. "How did you find Trent's job posting?"

"Well, I just found it online and then I think I had to go for it and luckily, he didn't require me too much things kaya mabilis kong naasikaso ang mga gamit ko. I know I'm not the best suit for the position but I'm happy how it went here."

"I'm sorry, I only get to know your first name. What's your whole name?"

"It's Seilaverne Rieche Mercondia. What about my name?"

He grinned then he laughed and nodded his head. He even pointed his finger at me like something he actually known of. Hindi ko naman siya ma-gets kaya napakunot na lamang ang noo ko.

"What are you doing? Bakit parang ang big deal naman sa 'yo ng pangalan ko?"

He smiled and then he shook his head. "Oh, nothing."

Tumaas ang kilay ko sa kanya. "'Yong totoo?"

"Wala nga," tawa pa nito. "But you look beautiful in personal though. Hindi agad kita nakilala."

"What do you mean, Tonton—I mean Antonio?"

"Tonton? Narinig mo 'yan kay kuya 'no?"

I smirked. "Yes, he did. Pero 'wag tayong malalayo sa usapan. Why did you ask for my name?"

"Wala nga. Hindi naman big deal."

Napangiwi na lang ako. "Ewan ko sa 'yo."

"Yes, let's just eat," aniya at nagpatuloy sa kanyang pagkain.

When we finished eating, hindi pa rin maalis sa isipan ko kung ano 'yong gustong sabihin ni Tonton but he's not just saying it out loud. He'll be only here for the weekend and next week he'll be gone to Kobe where his family lives. Doon din nakatira ang parents ni Trent which I just found out. Gusto ko man magtanong pa kung anong meron sa kanyang pinsan. I'm more interested why would he ask for my name?

But I have an idea...

Does he actually have an idea who I am? Hopefully not and that he's just joking around. And all throughout the day, I have been asking and helping me to some things but he didn't want me to do something for him.

And then at later afternoon, I found him exercising from Trent's gym corner. He's topless and sweaty. I watch him take heavy weights and then his arm muscles are so freaking tight. Doon ko lang din na-realize na sobrang fit ng katawan niya. He has defined abs and his v-cut show perfectly. Though mas bulky ang katawan ni Trent, Tonton's body is cut so he has more defined muscles—lumalabas din ang ugat sa kamay niya at sa gilid ng leeg.

But I immediately hide when he's about to turn from my direction. Naramdaman ko naman ang malakas na kabog ng dibdib ko and then a moment later, I was about to move out of my position when someone shows up in front of my face. And it's the sweaty, manly smell Tonton.

Nagkatitigan kaming dalawa. When his smile grew lopsided.

Oh god, I already have an idea where this will go.

"Do you like the view, Seilaverne?"

I swallowed so hard na hindi pa rin ako nakasagot sa kanya. He then move closer to me at nakakailang pikit na ako ng mata ko. I'm trying not to sway my eyes away from him dahil baka kung saan lang maglanding ang mata ko. But then he suddenly laughed, patting my shoulder.

"Kuya won't like this," he said. "He'll be crazy about you, Seilaverne."

"Ha?"

Muli niya akong iniwan na parang tanga at bumalik siya sa pagbubuhat ng mga barbell. Tumungo naman ako sa kusina at uminom ng isang baso ng tubig. Mabilis pa rin ang kabog ng dibdib ko. Why would Tonton be weird like this to me? Anong alam niya na hindi ko alam?

Should I worry about him to?

Or should I worry about my attractions to him? I mean, dalawang taon lang naman ang tanda ko sa kanya and that's not a problem—but I won't do it. He's the cousin of my boss and I shouldn't do crazy things.

And if things could go wrong, ang sarili ko lang ang sisisihin ko so I better keep my hands to myself until I figured out what's going on. Hindi pa rin natatapos ang worried ko kay Fredrick so there's those problems.

I just hope Tonton wouldn't tell this to Trent. I will be so embarrassed! I should just continue what he asked me to do and not other things.

Focus, Lav. Focus. 

***

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoy this chapter!

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