Kaway-kaway muna sa mga pinagbasehan ng main characters ko po.

Hawwu, Katrina Graciadas!

My dear pretty madamz, nawa'y magustuhan mo po itong story na dedicated po sa iyo. At nawa'y makakilala ka ng Vynzent mo po in real life. Always stay safe, Kai-Kai! Love ya!

Sincerely being sincere,
Hadlee Zircon

~~~

CHAPTER TWO

MAG-AALAS singko pa lamang ng umaga ay nasa loob na ng sasakyan ni Mary Raven sina Joffy at Katrina. Parehong inaantok pa ang dalawang babaeng sakay, pero mga wala naman silang choice na manatiling gising nang dahil sa dare na mangyayari. "Are we there yet?" Kai even yawned after asking the question.

Mahina namang natawa si Mary Raven. "At what time did you sleep, huh? I told you we'll leave early."

Kahit inaantok ay nakuha pa ring umirap ni Katrina. "Shut up. It wasn't my fault that the Netflix series I watched was already completed. I enjoyed binge-watching it."

Joffy's half-hooded eyes looked at Kai. "Which series?"

Katrina smiled, with her eyes closed this time. "Wednesday." Para namang natuwa si Joffy sa narinig saka na silang dalawa ay tuluyan nang nagising at nagkwentuhan patungkol doon sa palabas.

Finally, after hours of travel, Mary Raven's car slowed down and all of the ladies' eyes settled on the tall metal gate. May malaki pa roong nakasulat na Royalty Village. Mary Raven then parked under the tree across the gate. Kinuha nito ang cellphone saka may tinawagan. "Hello, Charm? I'm already outside the gate of the compound, mind picking my friend up?"

Tumango-tango lang naman si Mary Raven saka nila nakitang ibinaba nito ang tawag. "So... How would I enter?"

Nilingon naman siya ng kaibigan. "Charmaine, one of the HR staff, would come and pick you up. Then they'll give you a business pass valid for a couple of hours, strictly for interview purposes. If you got the job, which we predicted that you would, you'll meet us here and we'll give you your things. And then the office would give you a different pass, an employee's pass."

Wala namang nagawa si Kai kundi ang pakinggan at intindihin ang mga sinabi ni Mary Raven. Sa isip niya ay kailangan niya talagang makapasa para magkaroon siya ng moment with Nathan. And maybe he'll finally see me and we could be together!

Kai was currently in her dreamland when she suddenly felt a finger poking her forehead. "Kai, are you even listening? Charm's already here," ani Mary Raven.

Mabilis namang kumilos si Kai. Kapag mas maaga siyang matatanggap ay mas maaga niyang mahahanap si Nathan, mas mapapabilis ang proseso ng pagpapapansin niya sa binata. "I can do this," bulong niya sa sarili habang nakatingin sa gate.

Narinig naman iyon ng mga kaibigan niya na siyang tinawanan nila. "Good luck, Kai," sabi pa ni Joffy bago walang lingon-lingon na naglakad si Kai papalapit sa gate.

Tama nga si Mary Raven at may babaeng naka-office attire na itim at puti ang naghihintay sa kaniya sa kabila ng gate. She couldn't hear the exact words that the woman named Charm was saying to the guard, but she saw the gate opening which made her feel even more excited and nervous at the same time.

"Thank you, Kuya. Sabihan mo na rin ako kapag dumating na ang shuttle ng iba pang mga maga-apply ha?" rinig ni Kai na sabi ng babae bago siya nito hinarap at tiningnan. "You must be Kai Graciadas, one of Mary Raven's housemaids. If she recommended you then you really must be great at your job."

Pigil na pigil naman si Katrina na malukot ang mukha sa harap ng babae saka siya tumango at ngumiti. Right. This is my punishment. Of course the easiest way in would be using Raven's family business. Ang pamilya kasi nila Mary Raven ang namamahala sa isa sa mga kilala at pinagkakatiwalaang agency para sa mga naghahanap ng maid, gardener, mechanic — in short, a manpower agency. So of course a recommendation from that agency would build up Katrina's skills.

Sumakay silang dalawa ni Charm sa isang golf cart saka ito minaneho ng babae pakanan. Sa bungad pa lamang ng village ay makikita ang isang malaking fountain na napaliligiran ng mga naggagandahang halaman at maliliit na puno. Halatang alagang-alaga ang lugar na iyon at napakaganda niyon tingnan.

May isang establishimento sa kanan niya ang pumukaw ng atensyon niya at hindi niya napigilang mag-react. "You have—" Natigilan siyang saglit nang lingunin siya ni Charm na para bang nawi-weirduhan ito sa kaniya. "I mean — este, may apartment dito? A-Akala ko mga mamahaling mansyon lang."

Mukha namang ipinasawalambahala na lamang ni Charm ang una nitong napansin saka siya sinagot. "Apartment 'yan ng mga nagta-trabaho sa village na 'to. Maids, gardeners, chefs, and other employees stay there for a month."

Hindi naman naitago ni Katrina ang pagkamangha bago inilipat ang tingin sa katabing establishimento nito na siyang mas nagpagulat sa kaniya. "An exclusive restaurant, fast food chains, and convenience store?" Titig na titig si Katrina sa building na siyang kasalukuysng nilalapitan ng sinasakyan nilang golf cart.

Ipinarada naman na ni Charm ang golf cart sa tama nitong paradahan saka nauna nang bumaba. "Yes, this building is the office building as well as the other amenities that were made to somehow satisfy the employees' needs. Nandito rin ang clinic ng village. Mr. Hagen made sure that his employees are well-treated as they stay inside this village for a whole month before their day-offs."

Napatahimik na lang naman si Katrina saka patuloy pa ring namamanghang tiningnan ang lugar habang nakasunod ng paglalakad kay Charm. Hindi siya makapaniwalang mayroong ganoon ka-exclusive na village sa bansa. Now I'm curious of the prices of the lots in this village.

"Here we are," ani Charm nang matigil sila sa tapat ng isang opisina pagkalampas sa reception area. "Now, Ma'am Estela will interview you. Mabilis lang siyang magdesisyon. She'll tell you straight if you passed her standards or not, kaya naman good luck." Ngumiti pa sa kanya ang babae bago siya nito sabihang pumasok na sa loob at tuluyan nang iwan.

Huminga muna nang malalim si Katrina bago pinihit pabukas ang doorknob saka pumasok na sa loob. May dalawa pa siyang nakitang babae na naroroon at nakaupo. Mga mukhang maga-apply rin dahil may mga hawak na folders. Tahimik na umupo na lamang si Katrina sa sumunod na bakanteng upuan.

There was a mirror in front of her and Katrina couldn't stop but judge herself. She was wearing a simple pair of jeans, a baby blue blouse, and white sneakers. Not to mention na lahat ng iyon ay hindi branded na mga damit. She had to act a bit poor so a costume is a must.

The lady took a short breath before looking at the clock inside the office. A woman inside a room shouted "next," so the woman before her stood up and went inside. Hindi pa man nakatatagal ng limang minuto ay agad lumabas ang babae na parang pinagsakluban ng langit at lupa. Mukhang sa paraan pa lamang ng paglalakad nito ay masasabi na ni Katrina na hindi natanggap ang babae.

When the woman, most likely the one called Ma'am Estela, shouted "next" for the second time, the other woman ahead of Katrina stood up and entered next. But just like the first one, halatang hindi rin ito natanggap. And those expressions made Katrina anxious. "Next!" Mas lalo pa tuloy dumoble ang kabang nararamdaman niya, but Kai had to force herself to stand up and enter the room. Ito na lang ang pwedeng ticket niya para mas mapalapit kay Nathan, kailangang magtagumpay siya.

"Good morning, Ma'am," magalang na bati ni Kai sa babaeng nakaupo sa swivel chair. Isinara niya ang pinto saka naglakad papalapit sa upuan. She waited until the woman told her to sit down. Isa kasi iyon sa mga pinractice nilang magkakaibigan.

The beautiful woman who seemed to be around her forties seemed pleased when she waited for her permission. "You may sit." May bahid ng otoridad ang boses nito.

Pasimpleng huminga muna nang malalim si Kai bago tuluyang umupo. Nang ilahad ng matandang babae ang kamay nito ay saka iniabot ni Katrina ang folder niyang nalalaman ng fake biodata niya.

Medyo matagal namang tahimik ang matandang babae habang binabasa ang file niya. "So, if you're already working under the Lara Family," pagtukoy nito sa pamilya nila Mary Raven, "then why change your environment? Unlike in that household, you could only leave the compound once a month."

Katrina sat up straight and plastered her game face. "Ma'am, it would be my greatest pleasure to work in one of the most exclusive and well-known villages in the world. I know that amateur workers are not the ones you look for as an employee in this prestigious place, and so I assure you that with my experience under the Lara Agency, I can maintain the cleanliness of this place to make sure that Royalty Village would maintain its golden reputation." Plus, I really want to see Nathan and make him love me too, please.

Matagal-tagal naman siyang tinitigan ni Ma'am Estela. Walang emosyon itong ipinakita na ikinakaba ni Kai. Oh, please, please. For mine and Nathan's love against the world, I need this. After what seemed to be an eternity, Ma'am Estela lowered her gaze back to her file before closing it and giving it back to her. Kakabahan na sana si Katrina nang marinig niya ang mga salitang lumabas sa bibig nito. "You can get your things now and proceed to Charmaine's desk to gather your employee's pass and temporary ID.

Hindi naman naitago ni Katrina ang panlalaki ng mga mata niya saka tinanggap ang folder niya at tumayo para magpasalamat. "Thank you so much, Ma'am. I won't let you down."

Hindi naman na muling nagsalita ang babae saka siya sinenyasang lumabas na ng opisina nito. When she got out, her supressed grin also showed up. I'll finally see you, Nathan, my baby. We'll be together now!

Nakangisi rin siyang naglakad papunta sa desk ni Charmaine saka sinabi ang mga sinabi sa kaniya ni Ma'am Estela. The lady congratulated her, gave her the pass and the temporary ID, and showed her way out. May golf cart naman doon na naghihintay, with a driver, that is. Kaya naman hindi na nahirapan si Katrina na maglakad papunta sa main gate.

Ipinakita naman ni Katrina ang pass at ID sa guard para masiguradong papapasukin ulit siya bago siya naglakad papunta sa nakaparada pa rin na kotse ni Mary Raven. "How was it?" agad na bungad sa kaniya ng kaibigan niya.

Hindi naman na pinigilan ni Katrina ang kanina pang kinikimkim na tili nang makapasok siya sa loob ng kotse. "I got in! I got in!"

"Well, that seemed easy," komento ni Joffy bago tiningnan si Mary Raven. "Fake my data and recommend me too. I want to see my Vynzent."

Katrina rolled her eyes but her grin was still there. "I bet they won't let you in at all. It's just me because I'm so great," pang-aasar niya sa kaibigan.

Nagkwentuhan lang naman silang tatlo saglit saka ipinaalala sa kaniya nila Joffy at Mary Raven ang tungkol sa dare ng mga ito. "Make sure to stay for a month, Katrina. They'll fire you immediately if you don't do your job properly, so we'll still know if you actually played as a maid or not," nakangising paalala sa kaniya ni Mary Raven.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Wala naman na sa isip ni Katrina ang pagtatrabaho dahil para sa kaniya ay madali na lang iyon, ang mahihirapan siya ay ang hanapin si Nathan at magpapansin dito. "I'll head inside, guys. See you in a month," kampanteng bigkas niya pa na ikinailing ng dalawa.

"She'll surely get fired," bulong pa ni Joffy kay Mary Raven habang pinapanood si Kai na pumasok na sa loob ng gate.

As for Kai, she happily hopped onto the golf cart and asked the driver to send her to the office in order to sign all the needed contracts and fill up the final form. When she got to that same building and went to Charmaine's desk, the woman informed her to wait for a moment before starting the briefing. Hinihintay pa rin daw kasi ang iba pang mga nakapasa and Kai really couldn't care less. Masyado siyang na-stuck sa happy bubble niya na makikita niya na nang malapitan at personal si Nathan at hindi lang sa TV o internet.

"GOOD day, everyone. First of all, I would like to congratulate you for passing the interview and final test. So since you're all here and complete, we'll start the orientation," panimula ni Charmaine. Nakinig naman nang husto si Katrina para malaman niya kung nasaan ang tinitirahan ni Nathan. "Let us begin with the introduction of the whole village. We are all inside the famous and exclusive Royalty Village. The home of some of the most famous and wealthiest bachelors in the world. They are currently nine in number and so we have nine villas inside the village, besides the lot in between the owner's mansion and the Royalty Village's Hall. We all need a pass in order to enter this village to secure the privacy of these bachelors." Charmaine flashed the next slide of her presentation. "This is the whole map of the village, later on, we'll give each of you a printed copy of it. Make sure to study and memorize the places since the owner and some of the bachelors do not like random employees roaming around the place."

Marami pa itong ipinaliwanag tulad ng pagkakaroon ng sariling mini restaurant, fast food chains, clinic, and convenience store sa loob ng mismong village para sa mga employee. Since they're not allowed to leave the premises, they built the common necessary establishments for the people inside.

"Now, always remember, guys. You are assigned to only one villa, therefore, you really don't have any other means to roam around. Just stick to where you are assigned, do your job properly, and there will be no problem." May tinawag naman itong babae na kanina pa tahimik sa gilid. "This is Keisha Mabida and she's one of the oldest maids in the compound."

Nagtaka naman si Katrina dahil mukhang kaedaran niya lang ang Keisha na iyon pero binanggit na isa ito sa mga pinakamatagal nang nagtatrabaho roon. But anyway, Katrina noted that in her mind so she'll know who to possibly approach and ask around.

"As for your designated villas, here they are." Ipinikit naman muna ni Katrina ang mga mata saka nanalangin na sa villa ni Nathan siya mapunta.

Unfortunately, when she opened her eyes, her jaw dropped at what she read. "Vynzent Javier‽" She couldn't help but loudly exclaim, making all of the people inside the room look at her.

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