CHAPTER EIGHT

NANG idinilat ni Kai ang mga mata ay bumungad sa kaniya ang pinahalong puti at kulay kremang kisame. Pakiramdam pa nga ni Kai ay nasa loob siya ng isang ospital pero imposible naman iyon dahil walang ospital sa loob ng village, just a clinic.

After adjusting her sight, Kai slowly pushed herself up. Once seated, she heard footsteps approaching her bed covered with curtains. Nananalangin naman na siyang hindi si Dave ang papalapit sa pwesto niya kaya laking luwag ng dibdib niya nang makita si Levi pagkahawi ng kurtina.

Nakataas naman ang mga kilay habang halatang natatawa ang binata na tumingin sa kaniya. "Oh, buhay ka na. Mukhang nakahinga ka nang maluwag ah," joke pa nito na sinamaan niya ng tingin. "Akala mo si Dave, 'no?"

Umiwas naman na ng tingin si Kai bago nagtanong. "Am I in the clinic?"

"Ah wala, nasa kwarto kita." Mabilis namang nilingon ni Kai ang lalake na siyang tumawa dahil sa reaksyon niya. "Just kidding, you're too serious, Miss Rabbit. Syempre nasa clinic ka. Himatayin ka ba naman pagkakita mo kay Nathan."

Agad na pumasok sa isip niya ang mga nangyari sa opisina ni Ma'am Estela bago siya himatayin. Nathan really did ask her — He really looked at me and talked to me!

"Oy! Kalma lang," natatawang sabi ni Levi nang makita ang pamumula ng mukha ni Kai. "Ang hina mo rin pala. Akala ko naman bigla mo na lang siyang susugurin, or at least, you could've talked to him tapos hihima-himatayin ka lang pala." Umiiling pa ito saka bumuga ng hangin na akala mo eh grabe ang disappointment sa kaniya.

"Shut up. You're as annoying as Gio." Late na nang ma-realize ni Kai ang sinabi. "I-I mean—"

"Kilala mo si Gio?" Umiwas naman ng tingin si Kai kaya hindi niya nakita ang emosyong dumaan sa mukha ni Levi. "Paano kayo nagkakilala?"

"I don't wanna talk about it," iniiwas pa rin ang tingin na sagot ng babae. Ayaw niya namang ikwento sa lalake ang kamuntikanan niyang kamatayan dahil sa kalokohan niya 'no. That'll be too embarrassing.

Medyo saglit namang natahimik si Levi bago tumikhim at iniwas din ang tingin. "Mag-ex ba kayo ni Gio?"

Mabilis namang nilingon ni Kai sa lalake saka tiningnan ito na parang iyon ang pinakawalang kwenta nitong tinanong sa buong buhay nito. "Just where did that come from?" Napailing na lang si Kai nang tumingin sa kaniya si Levi. "He said we're friends."

Levi, knowing that if Gio describes the person as a friend, then that person is indeed a friend, smiled charmingly. "That's great. Masayang maging kaibigan 'yon. 'Wag mo lang yayayaing mag-food trip, maarte sa pagkain 'yun." Sinundan pa iyon ng tawa ng lalake.

Napailing na lang naman si Kai saka may naalala. "Hold on. Did... Did Nathan carry me all the way here?" And yes, she's very much hoping that indeed. But then again, kapag umasa ka, masasaktan ka lang sa dulo.

"Si Nathan? Bubuhatin ka? Managinip ka na lang ulit. Asa kang bubuhatin ka nun. Pasalamat ka na lang siguro na nasalo ka niya bago ka nahulog sa lapag, pero nuncang bubuhatin ka nun at ihahatid dito sa clinic."

Sa sobrang haba ng sinabi ni Levi, isa lang ang naintindihan ni Kai. Na hindi siya binuhat ni Nathan. Na hindi nito ipinalupot ang mga braso nito sa kaniya at maingat siyang hinatid sa clinic. Walang ganoong nangyari. So in the end, Kai pouted and her shoulders fell.

Ang pagbabago naman ng emosyon sa mukha ni Kai ay pinanood lang ni Levi hanggang sa napabuga na lang siya ng hangin saka napailing. He was about to tell her something when he heard a tummy gurgling and he was sure that it wasn't his. Kaya naman hindi niya napigilang matawa nang mahina nang makita ang nakayukong Kai na may namumulang tenga. "Tara, kain tayo. Late na oh. Mukhang hindi ka pa rin naman naghahapunan." But of course he knew about that, siya lang naman ang nagbantay sa babae buong hapon.

Nag-angat naman ng tingin si Kai saka hindi na umangal. She was indeed hungry, but also curious with what time it was. Hindi na niya kasi sinuot ang relong nagpahuli sa kaniya sa Chris. "What... What time is it?"

Tiningnan ni Levi ang oras sa phone screen nito. "Maga-alas diyes ng gabi."

Ilang beses namang napakurap si Kai. She slept for almost eight hours! "W-Why did no one wake me up?"

Levi just shrugged. He wanted to say something but he chose to shut his mouth. He was sure that he shouldn't be letting this woman know about the current chaos he experiences because of her. Baka kasi nalilito lang din naman siya. "Basta, tara na. Gutom na rin ako. Ayos naman na ang pakiramdam mo, diba?" Tumango naman si Kai. "Then, let's go."

Inalalayan pa ni Levi ang babae para makababa ito mula sa kama bago sila sabay na lumabas ng clinic. Nakasalubong pa nga nila si Doc Justine na kinumusta lang naman ang nararamdaman ni Kai bago ito pumasok sa clinic.

"Aakyat ka ba muna para makapagpalit ng damit?" tanong sa kaniya ni Levi na siyang ikinatingin ng dalaga sa sarili.

Right, I've been wearing this the whole day. I have to change. "I want to change, but would it be okay for you? I mean you can go ahead and eat—"

"Nah, ayos lang naman. Plus, you even seemed hungrier than I am." Napailing na lang si Kai saka tuluyang nagpaalam muna sa lalake para umakyat sa unit niya at makapaglinis man lang ng katawan bago nagpalit ng simpleng damit.

For some reasons unknown to Kai, she could feel that she was comfortable with Levi. It's like she found a friend in him, but that's still impossible. We only just met. Napabuga na lamang ng hangin si Kai saka bumaba na at nakaramdam na rin naman siya ng hiya sa lalakeng hinihintay pa talaga siya bago kumain.

"So... Saan mo gustong kumain?" tanong ng lalake habang naglalakad sila palabas ng apartment building. Kai glanced at the surroundings. There were no other people other than the two of them and the guard. "Nagpapahinga na ang mga tao nang ganitong oras."

Naoatango na lamang si Kai saka may naisip. "Then would there still be food in the fast food restaurants?"

Umiling naman si Levi. "Eight PM nagsasara ang mga fast food."

Kumunot naman ang noo ni Kai. "Then where would we eat?"

Sumakay naman na ng golf cart si Levi na walang driver saka ito na mismo ang nag-drive nun at sumakay lang si Kai sa may kanang likuran nito. "Sa Red Diamond."

"Then why ask me where in the first place?"

"Trip ko lang," anito na nakatanggap ng mahinang hampas sa braso mula sa babae. "Joke lang. Baka kasi gusto mo ring sa bahay ko kumain."

Umiling naman si Kai saka sumandal at pinagkrus ang mga braso. "No, thank you. The Red Diamond offers great dishes as well." Mahina namang natawa si Levi.

Nang makarating sila sa Red Diamond Restaurant ay sila lamang ni Levi ang naroroon — maliban sa mga nagtatrabaho roon. At para sa katulad ni Kai na alam lang ay kakain lang talaga sila, hindi niya napansin ang ilang mga pares ng mga matang nakamasid sa kanilang dalawa.

Once settled, both ordered their meals and Levi could not help but observe Kai. Her posture, her confidence, and her way of speaking, really did not look like she was just a normal maid in the village.

"So habang hinihintay ang pagkain, magkwentuhan muna tayo," nakangiting sabi ng lalake kay Kai na nakararamdam na talaga ng pagkagutom. She just nodded her head and let her guard down. "Bago mo naisip na magtrabaho rito, what do you do?"

Katrina took a deep breath and completely forgot about her act. She was really hungry, still on cloud nine because of her interaction with Nathan, and could not deny the warm feeling of casually talking to a friend that was coming from the man in front of him. "Uhm... I was just staying in my home. My parents weren't around that much so I spent most of my days alone or with my two best friends."

Tumango-tango lang naman si Levi. "You don't go out? Or do you just feel easily tired going out?"

"The latter one. Unless of course if Nathan is the reason why I have to leave the house, the other reasons just kinda exhaust me. I'd rather stay home and shop online." Katrina's last words caught Levi's attention.

"Really? What do you mostly buy then?" he asked, trying to see if she'll slowly open up to him and let him know who she really is.

Kai shrugged at the question. "Mostly bags and shoes, I think I bought a couple of dresses last time."

Hindi naman pinahahalata ni Levi ang medyo pagkatuwa at tama nga ang hinala niya nitong mga nakaraang araw. "Do you have any preferred brands?"

Akmang sasagutin na iyon ni Kai nang sakto namang dumating ang pagkain nilang dalawa. And of course, since both of them were really hungry, they no longer continued their talk and just focused on their foods — at least, Kai focused on hers, while Levi kept on glancing at the woman in front of him.

When they finished their meal, Levi offered her a ride back to the apartment before he went home.

VYNZENT, who just woke up and went out to grab himself some cup noodles at the convenience store, bumped into Dave, and had a short chat with him about the maid that the latter man scolded yesterday. Nalaman niya kasi ang tungkol doon mula kay Levi na sa hindi malamang kadahilanan ay binantayan pa ata ang maid sa clinic.

When Dave left, Vynzent just continued jogging. It was his daily routine to jog around the compound at five in the morning. Nagkataon lang na kailangan niyang dumaan sa convenience store dahil ubos na ang binili niyang cup noodles. Vynzent was blaming it on the man who kept on ruining his days, and so he spends his time either lounging at the Royalty Hall or just eating some cup noodles.

Kasalukuyan naman siyang nagbabayad ng cup noodles niya nang may mahagip ang mga mata niya. The woman outside the convenience store seemed familiar to him. And her familiarity did not just have a simple effect on Vynzent but a huge impact to the point that he had to quickly leave the store and look for the familiar woman.

Unfortunately, he wasn't able to find her amongst the people on the first floor and even outside the building. Napailing naman si Vynzent saka inisip na baka pinaglalaruan lang siya ng imahinasyon niya.

But why would it mess with him? Why now? It has been years since he last saw her, after that, wala na siyang naging balita sa babae. Kaya bakit kung kailan maraming taon na ang lumipas, saka pa siya pagti-trip-an ng isip niya?

Muling sinubukan ni Vynzent na iikot ang tingin sa paligid pero wala talaga kaya napailing na lamang siya saka bumalik sa bahay niya. Hanggang sa makauwi tuloy siya sa villa ay ang mukha pa rin ng babaeng 'yon ang nakaukit sa isip niya.

Kahit na nang napagdesisyunan niyang maligo at matulog na lang muna saka subukang kalimutan ang mga alaalang iyon ay wala pa ring naging pakinabang. "Mierda!" Napabangon naman si Vynzent saka napahilamos ng mukha. Why am I suddenly thinking of her?

Napabuga na lamang ng hangin si Vynzent saka muling bumangon at lumabas ng bahay niya. Tinawagan niya pa ang mayordoma ng mansyon niya para sabihing maglinis ng bahay niya dahil sigurado siyang hindi muna siya babalik doon. Pagkatapos makipag-usap ay pumunta muna siya sa Royalty Hall.

Vynzent wanted to distract himself, and do something, but he has no idea what he wantsto do. Nagsisimula naman nang uminit ang ulo ni Vynzent. Kailangang ma-distract siya at alam niyang mangyayari lang iyon kapag nag-practice siya. "I just need a distraction."

Lumapit si Vynzent sa bar ng Royalty Hall saka kumuha ng baso at nagsalin ng whiskey. He had to calm down. With the glass in his hand, Vynzent left the Royalty Hall and took out his phone from his pants pocket. "Where are you?"

The man on the other line groaned. (Who the fvck is this?)

"It's Javier. Where are you, Russo?" aniya habang naglalakad na pabalik sa mansyon niya. Tuluyang nawala sa isip ni Vynzent na nagpadala nga pala siya ng housekeeping sa villa niya.

(I just woke up, man. 'Nong problema mo?)

Kunot ang noong parang nagsumbong si Vynzent sa kaibigan niya. "I need to distract myself."

(Ano na namang pinag-awayan niyo ni Nathan?)

Mas lalo lang tuloy nag-init ang ulo ni Vynzent. Akmang mumurahin niya si Levi nang makita niya ang nangyari sa pinakamahal niyang vase na basag na at nasa lapag. "What the—

(Oy, Javier. Anyare?)

"Como — Porque—" Nalipat ang tingin ng lalake sa maid na nasa tapat ng basag niyang vase. "You... What did you do?" Damang-dama niya ang paglala ng init ng ulo niya.

"Sir, it was an accident," sabi ng nakayukong maid.

An accident‽ Sinubukang pakalmahin ni Vynzent ang sarili pero hirap na hirap siya. This day is too much! "You do know you have to pay for that, Miss. And I bet you won't have the means to pay for it with money. Besides, you're nothing but a lowlife maid. I'll tell the HR about this and fire your ass as early as today." Masyadong mahalaga sa kaniya ang vase na iyon kaya hindi niya matatanggap na nang dahil sa katangahan ng ibang tao ay masisira iyon.

"Sorry po, Sir. Don't fire me, I'll do better next time. I'm sorry, Sir—"

Ibinato naman ni Vynzent ang basong hawak niya sa sobrang galit. Hindi na niya kayang kumalma pa. "Can your sorry fix the vase‽ Huh‽ Can it‽" Nang hindi umimik ang maid ay saka lang pumasok sa isip ni Vynzent ang kinwento ni Levi na maid na pinagalitan ni Dave. That maid belonged in the Red Mansion — His mansion. Pati na rin ang sinasabi sa kaniya ng mayordoma niya na baguhan. So, she's that maid. "I've heard about you. You've been causing trouble inside my mansion, inside the village, but the curious thing about it is that no one has ever complained about you yet. Nakatakas ka pa sa pagrereklamo ni Dave." Humakbang siya palapit sa babae. "I wonder why." Naiirita siya at kinakausap niya ito pero hindi siya tinitingnan. So he held her chin and forced her to look at him.

When Vynzent finally saw her face, his breathing hitched. Can't be... She can't be her. She can't be Vynzent's first love. Katrina?

H | Z

L-Levi?