The J.A.P

J.A.P's

"WHAT'S THE CATCH?"

In the twenty-three years of my life, I never heard anyone ask me this question – especially if I am the one offering them a home and a couch – not just a couch but an expensive Italian couch that is the center-piece of my living room. My friends even say that I love this particular couch more than anyone else in my life – well they are wrong, because besides that couch, there is someone that I love and hold dearly to my heart...

I smiled at the woman in front of me. I just happen to overhear her talk with the cashier and I had noted how difficult it is for the golden scholar to talk to the cashier in charge that day. Maybe my father – the biggest stakeholder of this school would love to hear about how some people treat students here... But maybe I'm just like this because it's too early. I don't know. I just feel like I need to do something. I feel like I need to give her a place to stay just because I want too.

"What's the catch? Hindi mo ba ako naririnig?" Pumailanlang ang boses ni Divina Gracia at napahinto ang pag-iisip ko pero hindi naman ako nakapagsalita dahil nananatili akong nakatingin sa kanyang mukha. "Anong problema mo? May dumi baa ko sa mukha?" Sa pagkakataong iyon ay kunot na kunot na ang kanyang noo pero abala pa rin ako sa pagtitig sa kanya. I was looking for something – a mole, near her nose, just a tiny mole that makes her different from everyone else in this school, or a heart-shaped scar... Never mind, I found the mole.

Lalong lumuwag ang pagkakangiti ko sa kanya. I even crossed my arms to assert dominance, but I didn't see her backing down. Tinaasan niya pa ako ng kilay. That's exactly what I needed. I need someone that will never be afraid of me. Karamihan sa mga tao sa university na ito ay takot sa akin dahil sa apelyidong dala ko. But this woman, I can see it in her eyes, she doesn't fear me. I could see something else in there too, pero sa ngayon ay hindi ko naman kayang pangalanan.

"The catch? Well... let me think." Kunwari ay nag – isip pa ako, but I already know what's coming out of my mouth next and I really hope that she finds it appropriate enough to come to my house and live there because she looks like she needs it and I have this urge to take care of her.

"You need to clean my house, cook for me, do the groceries and all that shit because I am too busy to do that by myself and I don't have time to look for another maid." All of it was true. Wala akong time para sa lahat ng iyon. I used to have a housekeeper, but I recently discovered that he is reporting everything to my father. Isang bagay na ayoko. Kung anuman ang ginagawa ko at gagawin ko sa labas ng mansion ng mga Castillo ay wala nang kinalaman iyon sa kanya o sa pamilyang pinanggalingan ko. I want my own name, and my own identity.

"Wala ka bang maid?" Ahhh! Sabi ko na nga ba at tatanungin niya iyon. I only nodded at her.

"Come on. Think about it. It's late. I can see that you need a place to stay. Kukunin mo pa ang mga gamit mo sa dorm, right? It's a ten-minute drive from here. I can drive you there and help you get your things." Also, I want to show her roommate that she just didn't mess with anyone. She would see me, and she will realize who she's dealing with.

"Is cleaning your house, doing groceries and cooking for you are disguised phrases of you want to have sex with me?" I had to laugh. I wasn't expecting that, pero bakit ng aba hindi ko inasahan? Divina Gracia don't look innocent at all, she may know things and she may have experience in that field but when I told her that she will be only cleaning my house and all that shit. I meant it.

"No, it is not. I am serious. You just need to take care of the house. Most of the times, wala naman ako sa bahay na iyon, You can do anything you want, you will have access to free internet for your classes, food – you'll be eating the food you cook too, and plus that expensive couch, I can even pay you if you want. It is just a wholesome proposal. I can talk to some of my lawyers to draft a contract para pwede mo akong idemanda kapag naramdaman mong hindi ka safe o nag – take advantage ako sa'yo. I am serious."

"Pero bakit ako?" Parang hindi pa rin siya naniniwala hanggang ngayon. Sinagot ko naman siya ng:

"Bakit hindi ikaw? You need it right? I am harmless. I won't do anything you don't like. Do you trust me?" I suddenly wished that she will say that she does, pero sino nga ba ang niloloko ko? She doesn't know me – well she does. Everyone in this school does know me. But I just hope she'll see something in me that others fail to see.

"So? What do you say?"

"Alright." Hindi ko mapigilang mapangisi nang pumayag siya. I won't deny that I am pleased. I am so used to getting everything I want at isa ito sa mga iyon. "We need to get my things. You said you'll drive there?"

"I am. Let's go. It's getting late and I am hungry."

"Okay." Inayos niya lamang ang mga gamit niya pagkatapos ay naglakad na kaming dalawa. She was leading the way and I stayed back because I wanted to watch her walk away.

Everyone that knows me, knows that I always calculate things before I decide on something. I always use my head for decision making. Mahalaga kasi sa business na palaging ginagamitan ng utak ang bawat desisyon na gagawin. Isang pagkakamali lamang, maaaring maging Malaki ang epekto noon sa negosyo at maaaring ikabagsak iyon ng lahat. Iyon ang isa sa mga pangunahing itinuro sa akin ni Papa, that is why I am always careful when it comes to my decisions, but today, deciding this thing with Divina Gracia – this is impulse. This is not something I do ion a daily basis and if my friends or my father knows about this, then I am doomed, But do I care? No. I want her with me.

Sumakay kami sa kotse. She seemed awkward. I didn't ask her for directions because I already know my way around – but also because she looked as if she doesn't want to talk to me. That's fine pero natatawa ako. Kanina sa labas, mukhang hindi siya pahuhuli nang buhay pero ngayong kaming dalawa na lamang ay tila ba isa siyang bubwit na nasama sa isang tigre sa loob ng kuweba.

"So, how long have you been here?" Hindi na rin ako nakatiis. I want to make a small talk. Thankfully, sumagot naman siya.

"Seven – eight months, mga ganoon. I am the golden scholar."

"I know. I saw your form earlier."

"Is that why you know my name?" Biglang tanong niya. I was caught off-guard, but I nodded. "Wow! You have a clear vision!" Komento niya pa.

"I do. I always get my sight at something that I want, and I get it. Clear vision." Makahulugan ang ngising binigay ko sa kanya. Hindi na naman siya nagsalita. Maybe I caught her off-guard too, or maybe because we're already here and I saw a bunch of things outside their dorm building. Divina Gracia cursed loudly. Palagay ko, gamit niya ang mga nakita niyang iyon. I parked the car and let her out. Nang makababa siya at nang maiayos ko ang pagkaka-park ng sasakyan ay sumunod ako sa kanya. She only had one suitcase and some books, but she seemed like she was really pissed. Kahit naman siguro sa akin gawin iyon ay makakaramdam din ako ng inis. Sino ba sila para itapon ang gamit niya?

These people. I could only shake my head. Just because some people don't fit their way of living and their standards, they think that they gained a right to hurt and bully them. This is outrageous.

Inis na kinuha ni Divina ang mga gamit niya. I was about to help her but didn't step in when I saw tears coming out from her eyes. Ngayon lang kami nagkita, palagay ko ay hindi niya gugustuhin na makita ko siyang umiiyak. I went at the back side of the car to open the trunk and waited for her. It took about three minutes bago ko siya makitang maglakad papunta sa akin. Inayos ko ang pagkakalagay ng suitcase niya pati na rin ng mga libro saka kami muling umalis na dalawa.

The ride to my house is extremely quiet. She is visibly upset. Nakakuyom ang mga palad niya habang nakatingin sa labas. She was also silently crying. In her head, maybe she was telling herself that she doesn't deserve this. Nobody those. Those brats don't know the feeling of having no home, no family or a food to eat. Masyadong matataas ang mga tao sa paligid namin, Divina doesn't deserve this.

"We're here." I said after parking the car on my parking space inside that residential building my father owned. It's just fifteen minutes away from the school. Napaka – convenient para sa amin ang location ng building na ito. It's near the school, the coffee shop, the city library and the malls. Ako ang unang bumaba ng sasakyan. I took her suitcase and books, hinintay ko siyang maging maayos. Kinalma niya lang ang kanyang sarili pagkatapos ay humarap na muli siya sa akin. Halata pa ring naiirita siya pero wala na ang saglit na kahinaang nakita ko sa mga mata niya kanina. She smiled at me, took her books and signaled me to lead the way.

Sumakay naman kaming dalawa sa elevator. My unit is at the top of this building – the penthouse. My father insisted that I stay on the top because I deserve to be on top – why? Because I am his son. He told the press those exact words after he introduced me to the world as the sole heir of the Castillo Group of Companies.

"Thank you." I was kind of confused when Divina spoke. "I don't know why you're doing this. Pero kung may agenda ka, please bukas na lang. I will face you gain head on tomorrow, it's just that..." Paliit nang paliit ang tinig niya.

"You don't deserve this." Wika ko na ikinatigil niya. She is now staring at me like she's trying to burn holes in my head. "I'm just saying, no one deserves this. Especially you, the golden scholar."

"Yeah, Being golden and all doesn't make any difference. I still wear worn out unbranded clothes and no matter how pretty I am, people just know that I am different. I don't come from money and that makes them treat me like this."

Sakto namang bumukas ang elevator. We walked out and I watched her as she leads the way. I wanted to tell her that from now on, she doesn't have to think about anything else. Even if she doesn't come from money, it will never matter because she's now with me and I will never let her walk alone.

But how do I say that without sounding like a creep?

I opened the door with my fingerprint. Bukas ko na lang ire-register ang fingerprint ni Divina para Malaya siyang makapaglabas – pasok sa bahay na ito. She waited for me in the foyer while she was holding her suitcase. She looked like a scared little girl while waiting for me. Nang makalapit ako sa kanya ay kinuha ko ang suitcase niya saka ko siya niyakag pumasok sa loob ng bahay.

My house is huge. It has a spacious living area, a huge window, ceiling to floor curtains. It had a classic but modern look – my father made sure that everything in this house will remind me that I am his son, he is my father and I don't have anywhere else to go to but this place which still reminds me of him and everything he did for me.

"So... where's the couch?" That was the first thing she told me. I thought that she'd ask me about the view or the curtains. My friends who seldom com here always ask me about the curtains, but I guess Divina is more interested in my couch than anything else.

"Here." Tinapik ko ang mahabang couch sa gitna ng living area. "You will be sleeping here." Itinuro ko ang kanang bahagi ng bahay. "Doon ang kitchen. Sa kanan noon, naroon ang common bathroom, you can use that. There's an empty cabinet near the bathroom's door, you can put your clothes there. If you need anything, just yell. Doon ang kwarto ko." Itinuro ko naman ang kabilang bahagi ng sala. Napatango siya.

"Okay. I'll get settled then." She told me. I guess that's my cue. I left her in the living room and went to the bedroom. I closed the door, but I stood there for another minute, asking myself what the fuck did I do. Am I sure of this? This will surely complicate things and what if my father finds out about this? What will he say? He wouldn't want the present to mix up with my past...

"Dindin... do you not remember me?" That was the question I've been dying to ask her the moment I realized that she is Dindin... My Dindin.