Still Hunt

ichi

6 months later

All Sachii wanted to do at that moment was to sleep. She placed her suitcase near the wardrobe before diving to the queen-sized bed.

She had flown for almost six hours continuously from Tokyo to Manila and Manila to Severino City without a decent sleep. She should have taken her Ojiisan's offer to use his private plane. As a result, her perfume was not the only thing named regret.

BZZT. BZZT.

She slowly crawled up on the bed to the side table.

'Mom-in-law Calling'

Fuck. In a blink of an eye, she gathered all the grace and etiquette she crammed for a week before her flight.

"Hello... Tita?" Ang totoo, hindi niya pa nakausap ang babae in person. It was all through video conference because she and her husband were busy flying all over the Asian countries for business trips. It was the same with her fiancé. It was all in pictures sent by her in-laws and the boy's public social media accounts she voluntarily stalked. After all, she would have quite a connection with him.

"Sachii, darling! I've heard you've arrived in the mansion. How are you? Did you find anything unpleasant? Feel free to have the butler and maids replace them. What about your room?"

"It's okay, Tita. Everything's fine," she assured the older woman.

"That's good. Anyway, your Tito and I sincerely apologize for making you all go through this."

"No, it's okay. I'll just treat this as a long vacation."

"Are you sure? We can still sign you up for your wanted course."

"No thanks. I can manage," Sachii gave her signature smile. It never failed to charm other people in following her instructions.

"Ok, then. I already talked with the Headmaster. He is very open to arrange any of your requests so don't worry of putting him in inconvenience."

"Thank you for everything, Tita. I appreciate it."

"You are very welcome. If only we can be with you during these times," the older woman sighed, " Anyway, you should sleep right now. I'm sorry for bothering you."

"You didn't, Tita. Thank you again."

She slumped back to her bed. She had used enough politeness for a day that she felt so tired thus she decided to let Morpheus do his job.

•••

Ilang beses nang napuntahan ni Denzel ang mansyon ng mga Madrigal at mas marami pa ito kaysa sa average number of years ng human lifespan. At sa dami nito ay ito ang unang pagkakataon na nasaksihan niyang tila buhay na buhay ang paligid. It was more alive than the days their group of friends were present and messed around inside.

Unang hakbang niya papasok niya sa main door ng mansyon ay kaagad na niyang natanaw ang mga kasambahay na nagkukumpulan sa gilid ng landing ng grand staircase na patungo sa second floor. Dati'y nakapokus ang mga ito sa paglilinis pero ngayon ay parang mga presong nabigyan ng isang araw ng amnestiya. Kahit ang mga gwardya sa may gate ay tila agad mong makakagaanan nang pakiramdam sa kawalan ng istriktong awra.

Malayo sa pandinig ni Denzel ay ganito ang usapan ng mga kasambahay.

"Pang-Miss Universe ba, Manang?" tanong ni Mara, sa araw ay nagtatrabaho sa mansyon at sa gabi'y nag-aaral sa kolehiyong pagmamay-ari ng mga amo.

"Pwede! Pero mas bagay ang maging prinsesa ng Britanya!" sagot ni Manang Leni, tagalinis ng mga silid sa mansyon, nasa sesenta na at matagal na rin sa trabaho.