"I will let you live here for as long as you need to."
Iyon pa lang ang winika ng Señor, alam ko na ang sagot ko. Tiyak na papayag ako sa ano man ang sabihin niya.
"I'll handle your necessities. Food, shelter, consider water and electricity too. At the same time, you'll be able to pay me by helping here. Let's say I'm thankful because you brought me to the hospital that night and I'm giving you a second chance."
That sounds great. Kung ganoon, hindi ko na kailangan mamroblema sa titirahan, kakainin at trabaho.
"Ngunit paano ang trabaho ko sa aklatan?" tanong ko sa lalaking kanina pa palakad-lakad sa aking harapan.
Lumipas ang maulan na gabi. Ngayon ay narito kami sa kaniyang opisina upang pag-usapan ang alok.
"If you'll accept my offer, you will need to quit. If you don't want to do my offer, I have no right to force you."
Nakahahanga talaga na kailanman ay hindi ako pinuwersa ng lalaki. Kahit malaki ang utang ko sa kaniya. He's not pressuring me.
Gusto ko ang alok niya. Ngunit paano na si abuelo? Kahit isang linggo pa lamang ang lumilipas ay napalapit na ako sa kaniya. Sino na lamang ang magbabantay sa Esperanza kung lilisan ako?
"I will ask someone to find a person who will replace you." Tila nabasa niya ang nasa isip ko nang sabihin iyon. "I'm sure that there will be a person who's in need of work. Madali lang humanap ng kapalit mo."
"Are you saying I'm replaceable?"
"We're talking about work here, Solen."
"I'm talking about work." I said.
He rolled his eyes. Lumapit siya sa kaniyang lamesa at may kinuha siya sa kabinet. Tangan ang isang papel ay bumalik siya sa aking harapan.
"So have you made up your mind or do you need time to think about it?"
Nag-isip ako. Siguradong mas mahirap maging katulong niya sa bahay, higit sa trabaho ngunit mas malaki naman ang kita.
"One, two, three . . ." He started counting. When he reached ten, he looked at me. "Our brain needs ten seconds to decide. Have you decided? Or are you still troubled?"
I have decided right after he asked me. Iniisip ko lang kung magagawa ko ba nang maayos ang trabaho. Ngunit wala namang masama kung susubukan ko.
"Nakapagpasya na ako. Magtatrabaho ako rito, señor."
"Are you sure?"
I nodded.
Bumalik siya sa lamesa at may kinuha.
"Ano iyan?"
He handed the paper to me which appeared to be . . . a list of reminders.
"Let's talk about your tasks as my household assistant."
Pinasadahan ko ang papel. May sampung paalala roon na isa-isa niyang binanggit.
"First, inside this house, you're only allowed to call me señor."
Sampung beses akong kumatok sa pintuan ng opisina niya. "Señor."
"Second, make me a coffee every morning. By six, I'm already at my office. I need my caffeine before working."
Nang walang sumagot ay hinawakan ko ang platito gamit ang isang kamay, samantalang binuksan ng isa ang pintuan niya.
"Good morning, Senor! Your coffee is here."
YOU ARE READING
Been Hunting Home | Suarez III
Romance[SLOW EDIT] Soliesse Adelina is a sophisticated woman from a private family of de Andrades. For the last five years, she was caged at their mansion which most may call a dream-perhaps a home. She knew she was missing a lot about life and she wanted...
