Jack Of All Trades | COMPLETED

Chapter 01

Kung kumpetisyon lang ang pagkakaroon ng mahaba na pasensiya, siguro gold medalist na ako.

My new boss keeps on calling me Asti even though I told him multiple times that my name is Aster. Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin pagkatapos ng ilang beses na pagtatama ko sa kaniya. Halata naman na naririnig niya ako, sadyang gusto lang talaga niya akong tawaging 'Asti'.

Pagkatapos namin doon sa may seashore, napagpasiyahan ni Loki na bumalik na ng mansion para kumain ng snack. Nawala muna siya nang ilang minuto para magbihis ng black slacks at maluwag na puting dress shirt. When he came back, he sat at the center of the dining table while I remained standing at the entrance of the dining hall.

"Come and sit."

Sinenyasan niya ako na umupo kasama siya. Hindi muna ako kumibo pero sinenyasan niya ulit ako na lumapit kaya naglakad na lang ako papunta doon at umupo na. To avoid doubts, I have to act like the faithful and trustworthy bodyguard.

Nilapitan kami ni Isabel tsaka tinanong kung anong snack ang gusto ni Loki.

"Two grilled cheese, please," sabi ni Loki. "Make one for yourself too, Isa."

Tumango naman si Isabel bago pumunta na ng kitchen na makikita lang dito sa dining area.

"Are you on a diet, Asti?" tanong ni Loki.

I shook my head.

"Great! You're not allergic to cheese, are you?"

"Hindi naman, sir."

Loki visibly cringed. "Ew, please don't say that."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Say what, sir?"

"That."

Naguguluhan ako. "Please be more transparent."

Loki exhaled a breath. "No need to call me 'Sir', it makes me sound older than I am and I'm only 27."

Tumango-tango ako, suddenly realizing why he was so worked up. Ang liit naman ng rason na 'yan.

"Ano naman ang tatawagin ko sa'yo?"

Loki's brows shot upwards. "You're Filipino?"

"I guess?"

"You can just call me Loki," sagot niya sa tanong ko kanina. "How young are you, Asti?"

"Secret."

"No fair," ngumuso siya. God, ito ba ang bagong boss ko? Parang bata.

My face soured when a sudden realization hit me. This guy I was talking to... I am assigned to assassinate him.

Napatingin ako sa gawi ni Loki. He was so lost in thought while he kept mumbling these things I couldn't hear because of the loud ringing in my ears. Napansin ko kung gaano ako naging kampante na kasama siya ng ilang minuto, hindi ko man lang naalala na hindi ako nandito para makipagkaibigan sa kaniya.

"Asti."

I snapped out from my thoughts. Napakurap-kurap ako kay Loki na nakatingin sa'kin na may ngisi sa mga labi.

"Are you okay?"

I faked a smile. "I'm good."

Napabuntong-hininga si Loki bago sumandal sa upuan niya. "That's great... Did you understand everything I said?"

I reluctantly shook my head. I spaced out earlier so I couldn't hear anything.

"I was asking if you know about the Sarmiento case going on in the Philippines."

Before I can even think of it, I instinctively nodded. Paano ba naman, ilang araw ako nakaabang sa kasong 'yan dahil hinhangaan ko si Greta Sarmiento. She was one of the few successful businesswomen in the entire world. She paved a way for equality and proved most misogynistic remarks wrong.