Secrets

Chapter 1- Her Secrets

Rhie's POV
My name is Rhie Ann Vallente. An office worker in Crisostomo Company. I'm 23 years old. I wear eye glasses and usually, makikita niyo kong mag-isa. Yes, I don't like to be with people but since I have to work I got no choice. I've been working here for 2 years pero iilan lang ang mga nakakausap sa akin but I don't consider them as friends. Kapag kaharap ka nila, they are friends but when you're not around they are really stabbing you in the back, talking about you being different and weirdo. Anyway, i'm use to it and I know that I am. I just have to ignore them before something worst could happen.

Aside from me being silent, I am a secretive person. Inside me were secrets nobody should know.

"Uy, ayan na si sir,"

Napalingon ako sa tinutukoy ng officemates ko na mga babae na animoy may nga puso sa mga mata. Tiningnan ko din yung tinutukoy nila. It's Mr. Uzziah Jed Crisostomo, the one and only son of the owner of this company and at the same time the CEO.

Unlike other girls, I just look at him without expressions on my face but I can't deny it, my heart just flip when I heard his name. He's handsome and everything a woman could wish for. He's also kind.

And that is one of my secret. I have a crush on the CEO just like any other girls in this company.

"Oh, c'mon, stop dreaming about him, wala kang pag-asa sa kanya,"

Napalingon ako sa nagsalita and saw Juliana, she's his secretary that's why I wonder ba't andito siya.

Umiling lang ako at naupo na sa aking upoan at hinarap agad ang monitor ng computer.

I already know about that, He will never notice me. In fact, he already had a fiance and they are getting married kapag bumalik na ito from Paris.

Here's another secret, on my 23 years of existence, nobody courted me or even have a crush on me. Maybe that's how ugly I am. I am no longer hoping that I will get married, In fact I can't get married because of another secret.

*Sigh*

==========

Gabi na ngayon, kakalabas ko lang ng opisina at naglakad na para maghintay ng taxi sa tabi. Medyo malayo kasi ng kunti rito yung room na tinutuloyan ko.

Natigil ako nang may narining akong sigaw ng isang babae and I think she's asking for help. Kumilos ako ng kunti but then stopped myself. Napalunok ako and close my eyes. I can't get involve. I tried to calm myself and counted from 1-10 but the girl shouted again and this time tumakbo na ako papunta sa pinanggalingan non. It was dark.

Napunta ako sa makipot na lugar. Hingal na hingal ako ngayon. Nakatakong ako and an office attire pero di iyon hadlang sa akin para makatakbo. Napahinto ako nang makakita nang dalawang addict ata na mga lalake trying to rape a girl. Napahinto sila nang mapansin ako at napalingon sa akin.

"Help me, please," pagmamakaawa nong babae. Napangisi lang yung dalawang lalake.

"Let her go," -I said

"At ba't ka naman namin susundin?,"

"Just let her go,"

Nagkatinginan silang dalawa at binitiwan yung babae at ako yung hinarap nila.

"Tumakbo ka na. " Sabi ko do'n sa babae at agad naman siyang tumakbo,  nong una nag-aalangan pa siya maybe she's worried about me but I know I will be fine.

Binaba ko yung bag ko sabay kuha ng eyeglasses ko at nilagay iyon don. Mula sa bulsa ng bag ko kinuha ko yung blindfold at piniring iyon sa aking mga mata. I heard them laugh. I close my eyes at nakinig sa paligid, nakiramdam.

"Nagpapatawa ba tong babae na to, ibigay na nga nating gusto niya."

Alam kong palapit na sila through the sound of their footsteps, their breathe and the air being disturbed.

Rhie, anak, mula ngayon kailangan mong matutong lumaban sa dilim.

Sinipa ko yung isang sumugod at tumilapon ito. Alam kong gulat sila pero sinugod din nila ako and I fought back.

This is my third secret, I fight in the dark.

Nagulat ako nang mahablot nong isa yung blindfold ko. Bigla akong kinabahan and I lost my focus. Kaya nasipa ako nong isa sa sikmura at napaupo ako sa sobrang sakit. I managed to close my eyes, nanghihina ako at nahilo. Napaatras ako at napasandal sa pader. Alam kong lumapit sa kin yung isa. I can feel him.

"Walang hiya kang babae ka,"
Hinawakan niya yung mukha ko.

"Buksan mo yang mata mo!," Hinigpitan niya pa yung hawak sa mukha ko. I tried to stop his hand.

"Buksan mo sabi," sabi niya sabay sampal sa akin kaya naibuka ko yung mga mata ko. My heart burned because of the pain. I look at him straight with fierce in my eyes.

Nanlake naman yung mga mata niya at mahina niya akong nabitawan ta's napatayo siya ng mahina and stepped backward habang ang kanyang mga mata'y wala ng kinang. He put both of his hands on his head as if he's trying to twist it. Nanginig ako, I can't even control myself.

"Itaas mo ang iyong kamay!," Tsaka pa ako nabalik sa ulirat nang marinig ang sigaw na yun. Napalingon ako sa pinanggalingan non. Mga pulis kasama nong babaeng tinulongan ko. Natigil naman yung lalake at parang gulat din sa ginagawa niya. Agad akong tumayo at pinulot yung mga gamit ko and wear my eyeglasses at tumakbo palayo do'n.

This is my ultimate secret, my ability. I can hypnotize people and make them do things unconsciously. That's why I wear eyeglasses because through it I can't look at their eyes directly. I can't control it when I'm angry or if I have a strong feeling or when my heart beats fast that's why I can't get married.

You can't runaway from your fate!
You're a curse!
Can you just die!

Those voices.....

Napaiyak ako habang tumatakbo. Nagulat ako nang bigla akong matapilok and fell on the ground. Napaupo ako. Nabali pala yung takong ko. I found myself alone, I cried hard.

Here's another secret. I'm a murderer.

I killed 10 men in a bar.

I killed my own mother.

I killed my own father.

That's why I am a curse!

Napalingon ako sa tabi. Natigil ako nang makakita nang puti na panyo sa gilid ko. Pinulot ko naman iyon and used it. Parang medyo gumaan yung pakiramdam ko, like feeling ko may dumadamay sa akin. I felt the cold breeze of air. Is it you pa? I miss you.

Those were my secrets, now tell me a reason why should I tell others about it? That's how ugly I was and my past.

<End of Chapter 1>