Memory in the Street (Paraiso Series #3)

Kabanata 6

Kabanata 6

“Sino ka?” Kunot noo kong tanong sa taong nakatayo sa harapan ko.

“I am Enoch Sybil Dante, Atty. Lorcan’s secretary, Ma’am. You can call me Enoch or Sybil.” Aniya at inilahad ang kamay.

Hindi ko iyon tinanggap bagkos tumitig lang ako sa kanya. Pinag-aaralan ko ang emosyon sa mukha niya at ang mga salitang lumabas mula sa bibig niya. Maingat siya sa mga kilos at salita niya.

“Anong kailangan mo sa akin?” Walang emosyon kong tanong.

Imbis na sumagot, may inilabas siyang envelope mula sa loob ng coat niya at inabot iyon sa akin. At dahil wala akong tiwala sa kanya, hindi ko iyon tinanggap.

“Buksan mo at basahin.” I commanded.

I thought he’d protest but it was the opposite. Pinunit niya ang gilid nito at maingat na inilabas ang nakatuping papel sa loob. Nang makuha niya ito, binuklat niya at binasa sa harapan ko habang nakinig naman ako sa bawat bigkas ng mga salita.

“…You are hired as Atty. Zhimbax Riegor Lorcan’s personal assistant.”

I clicked my neck before staring blankly at the man who told me his name was Sybil. But when I remembered what he just read, umakyat lahat ang dugo ko sa ulo.

“That’s why I am here, Ms. Bambini. I’ll fetch you. Utos ni Mr. Lorcan.” Pormal na saad niya.

Huminga ako ng malalim bago sumagot. I need to calm myself down or else I’ll snap. Kanina pa kasi ako nabubuwesit kay Zhigor.

“Mr. Dante, please tell your boss that I am not accepting his job order as his PA because as far as I could remember, he rejected my application this morning.”

Hindi nakaimik si Sybil sa naging tugon ko at tumango lang bago yumukod.

“If that is what you want, Ms. Bambini. I’ll take my leave now.” Sabi niya at umalis.

I just shrugged off my shoulders before going back inside my apartment to continue what I did. But still, I cannot stop myself from thinking. Why would he hire me if he already declined my application?

Ayaw na nga niya akong makita tapos pinapasundo ng secretary niya para maging PA niya? Aba’y bobo rin siya ah. Walang paninindigan.

Siguro kung hindi ko lang nakita kung gaano katalim ang titig niya sa akin kaninang umaga, baka tinanggap ko iyong offer. But I saw how livid his matched eyes were. They were promising annihilation.

Sa totoo lang, part of me wanted to take the job because he pays good. Malaki ang sahod. But I do not want to create more fire. If I work for Zhigor, it is not far-fetched that we’ll burn each other with fire for sure. Galit siya sa akin at maiksi lang ang pasensiya ko. We’ll crash and break each other if no one will warrant ceasefire.

“Pera na sana naging bato pa.” naiiling na sambit ko habang sinusubo ang chips.

Well, nakakapanghinayang naman kasi talaga. That was my only shot to earn my keep. Bread and butter na sana kaso… hindi pwedi. Magkakasakitan lang kami.

When I got bored at the show in the TV, I did not realized I dozed off to sleep until I woke up sneezing. Kinapa ko ang ilong ko at doon ko lang napagtantong may residue ng chips na kinakain ko kanina. It smelled cheese though.