DUCANI LEGACY SERIES #3: KEENO (Exclusively Available In The VIP Group)

Simula

Simula

Keeno

There is something about serious relationships that scares me. Probably because I know what my Dad and my step-mom have is something that doesn't come to every person in the world, no matter how bad we wanted to feel it, too.

I threw the condom in the bin before I stepped under the shower. My phone's been buzzing for the last thirty minutes, but I was so high in lust that I couldn't pay attention to it. 

"You're leaving?" the woman I met at a bar asked.

Isinuot ko ang t-shirt ko saka ako tumango. "Thanks for the time."

Naupo siya sa kama habang nakatapis ng kumot. "Can't you stay for the night? I don't wanna feel lonely."

"Before we went here, I already made it clear to you that I don't spend the night with the women I hook up with. You agreed to my terms, didn't you?"

She sighed. "Why are you so difficult?"

Hindi ko na pinansin pa. I placed ten thousand pesos on the table before I left the suite. I don't use our hotel whenever I'm bringing someone out. I didn't want to stain my stepmom's legacy by sleeping with a temporary woman in one of our hotels. Pakiramdam ko ay dinudumihan ko ang pangalan ng babaeng minahal kaming magkakapatid kahit na hindi kami nanggaling sa kanya. 

I picked up my phone the moment I got inside my car. "Ma."

"Keeno, anak? Nasaan ka ngayon?"

"I just went out for a drink, Ma." 

"Wala ka namang nakaaway, anak?"

I smiled. Mama Khallisa often gets anxious whenever I'm not home yet. Siguro ay dahil napaaway na ako noon at nabugbog. God, I will never forget how Mama, a five feet and two inches girl, exploded in anger when she saw what happened to me. 

"I'm fine, Ma. May babalikan lang ako ngayon sa opisina tapos uuwi na rin ako."

She sighed. "Marami ka bang nainom? Gusto mo bang ipasundo na kita sa Daddy mo?"

"No need, Ma. I swear I'm fine."

"Pasensya ka na, Keeno ha? Alam ko minsan naiirita na kayo sa akin."

My brows furrowed. "Bakit mo naman 'yan nasabi, Ma? We love you a lot, and we're grateful that you care about us the way you care for Kuya Kon and Lila."

"Mahal ko kayo, Keeno, kaya oras na may mangyari sa inyong hindi maganda, masasaktan ako. Mag-ingat sa pagda-drive, anak ha? Pakisabay mo nang umuwi ang kuya mo. Mukhang nag-overtime na naman 'yon."

A small smile made its way to my lips. Why are we so lucky to have her in our lives?

"Yes, Ma. I'll see you later. Love you."

"I love you, too anak."

Napatitig ako sa wallpaper ko nang maputol ang tawag. It was our family photo, at sa tuwing naiisip ko lahat ng masasakit na alaalang dinulot ng totoo naming ina nina Klinn, Kreige at Keios, para akong bata na gustong sumiksik palagi sa tabi ni Mama Khallisa. 

My childhood was so rough that even now, there are still times that I'd wake up in the middle of the night, shaking in fear while my real mother's voice echoes inside my head.

"Papatayin kita, Keeno! Anak lang kita!"

She would often say that whenever I was making a mess or if I was trying to get her attention. Minsan na niya akong sinakal at ikinulong sa closet habang nasa business trip si Daddy, at hanggang ngayon, walang nakakaalam ng nangyaring iyon.

People might call me ungrateful for loving my stepmom more, but if they could only wear my shoes, they'd surely do the same.

I parked my car in the basement. Sinalubong naman ako ng kapatid kong si Kon na nagpapanggap na janitor.

"Bakit nandito ka pa?" I asked.

"Overtime mga kasama ko kaya nag-overtime din ako." He grinned. "May aplikante ka raw na hindi nakarating on time. Kanina pang alas sais naghihintay. Hindi raw aalis hangga't hindi mo nai-interview."

I sighed. "We don't need incompetent employees."

"Come on. She's cute." Tumaas-baba ang mga kilay niya. "Pagbigyan mo na. Nilibre ako ng coke."

I groaned. "Napakabilis mong mauto. Para coke lang, you're willing to vouch for her, hmm?"

"May kasamang Choco Mucho, bro kaya pinaakyat ko na sa opisina mo. Sabi ko hintayin ka na lang kasi babalik ka naman."

"Isusumbong na talaga kita kay Mama. You keep on making my life so hard."

He laughed as we walked towards the elevator. Bumaba siya sa fifteenth floor at sisipol-sipol na naglampaso. Nang sumara ang elevator ay napailing na lang ako. If there's a competition about the craziest siblings, I'd drag his ass and claim the prize to pay for my therapies. 

Lumabas ako ng elevator at dumiretso sa opisina ko, ngunit nang makapasok, lalo lang yatang umakyat lahat ng dugo sa aking ulo nang makita ko ang babaeng natutulog sa sofa. She wasn't even sitting properly, and her CV was already on the floor.

I picked up her CV and read it. 

Maricielle Solevario

My brows furrowed. Ano ba naman 'to? Wala man lang work experience? She didn't even graduate with flying colors. There's nothing special to brag about. Everything is so basic, hindi katulad ng isang nag-apply bilang executive assistant ko na tatawagan na ng HR bukas. 

The girl woke up. Nang magtama ang tingin namin ay parang biglang nagising ang diwa niya. She immediately stood up and fixed her cheap coat before she spoke. 

"Sir, masipag po ako, Sir. Willing to learn and adapt--"

"Wala kang work experience."

Kitang-kita ko kung papaano siyang lumunok. "K--Kaya nga ako nag-a-apply, Sir kasi... wala akong work. Kapag nag-work na ako rito eh 'di... may experience na." Alanganin siyang ngumiti. "'Di ba, Sir?"

My eyes narrowed. "Pinipilosopo mo ba ako?"

"Ay hindi po, Sir. Ano po... nagsasabi lang nang totoo." She sighed. "Sige na, Sir kahit subukan mo lang ako ng isang buwan. Kahit hindi mo muna ako pasahurin, okay lang basta... bigyan mo lang ako ng chance, Sir." Her eyes seemed pleading. "Nangako ako sa step-nanay ko na makakakuha ako ng magandang trabaho. Ito ho ang pinakamagandang kumpanyang pangarap naming mapasukan ko."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Step-nanay?"

She nodded. "Si Nanay Tere, uhm, step-mother ko ho siya. Siya na lang ang kasama ko sa buhay simula no'ng... no'ng iniwan kami ni Papa para sumama ulit sa iba."

"Why didn't your Dad take you with him?" I regret asking her about it, kaya lang ay huli na ako nakapag-isip.

"Eh, salbahe naman ho iyong Papa ko. Nananakit 'yon kaya hindi hinayaan ni Nanay Tere na bitbitin ako. Mas gusto ko na rin 'yon, Sir dahil buti si Nanay, pinaaral ako at inalagaan--masyado na akong madaldal, Sir. Anyway, kahit wala po akong experience pa dahil kaga-graduate ko lang, naging student assistant ho ako sa university namin. Palagi nga akong paboritong SA ng mga Dean dahil masipag daw ako at mabilis matuto. Isa pa, magaling akong magtimpla ng kape--"

"Sige na, sige na." I sighed. I hate that her story pushed me to do a bias decision, but my gut feeling is telling me that she's worth giving a chance to. "Be here by nine tomorrow. Kapag late ka, I'm sorry but I cannot let you work here anymore."

Her face lightened up. "Interview bukas, Sir?"

"No." Kinuha ko ang kailangan kong balikan sa opisina. "You're hired, Cielle."