Behind Curtains (COMPLETED)

Kabanata 62

Kabanata 62

Obedient

After I left Sir Killian's penthouse, and while on my way to the airport, Lady Linda confronted me.

Hindi ko alam kung paano ko ipinagkasya noon ang mga gamit. I didn't bother folding anything. Basta-basta ko lang ipinaslak ang lahat sa maleta. At hindi ko rin alam kung ba't ako nagmamadali. Pakiramdam ko ay hinahabol ako ng itak. Bahagya lang ako tumigil nang natantong nahihirapan na akong huminga.

Bahagya akong natigil nang natantong umiiyak na ako. My head was empty, but the tears kept falling. I wasn't dry-heaving, but the tears came running like they're nothing!

I wasn't ready. Leaving didn't even cross my mind until this night. Kung pinag-isipan ko 'yon at plinano ng mas maayos ay nakabili pa ako ng mas malaking maleta sa Landmark. Mas niramihan ko pa sana ang pagbili ng gamit na sa syudad ko lang nakikita at ng mga hindi ko agad mahahanap kapag umuwi. Pero hindi.

Kailangan munang may mangyari na ganoon bago ako magdesisyon umuwi. It needed to be something drastic so I'd even consider it.

Sana hindi nalang. Hindi ko kailanman inisip na umuwi. Kung sumagi man, hindi 'yong ganito.

When I decided to get this job, I just thought a roof on my head, food to eat, and water to clean myself with, were already more than enough bonuses to top off my salary. When I applied, I didn't think I'd want to stay forever. Pero noong medyo tumagal at naging mas kumportable ako, ay naisip kong pwede na rin. Na kayang-kaya ko ang mga gawain. Hindi gaanong mabigat na nahihirapan akong gumalaw o makapag-isip.

I realized then that I was fine doing anything... as long as my compensation exceeded my effort. And my job at Floirendo's did, by tenfold. Unlike University. Kung saan ang pamilya ko ang nagbabayad, pero ang naging hantungan ko lang ay kabobohan at pagkamuhi sa sarili. Kung saan, sumusunod naman ako sa mga pinapagawa, pero bakit marami pa rin akong hindi naiintindihan? Na kahit hindi ko na nga naiintindihan, nagsusumikap pa rin akong pumasok. Hanggang sa hindi ko na kayang tiisin.

Noong natanggap ako sa trabaho, hindi ko muna inisip kung papaano ako aalis. Inisip ko ang magiging ipon ko at kung saan 'yon pwede ilagak. Inaral ko ang lahat at ginawa ko ng mas maayos kaysa sa mga inuutos. I had no distractions, so I was sure as hell that I would be there long before I could consider leaving. 

I knew cleaning would be an easy job for me. Not because I was brilliant or crafty, but because I was obedient. I followed orders like breathing. It was where I stood above the rest.

Well, that's what I believed until— Killian.

Isang pagkakamali. Isang pagkakamali na ang naging katumbas ay mabigat na parusa.

A punishment that equated to death and lifelong suffering.

"I would strip your family of livelihood,"

If the Devil had tongue... 'yon na siguro mismo ang mayroon siya— si Lady Linda.

A face and name so utterly beautiful you'd think she was divinity. But had threats that would drive you insane.

Ito pala ang pakiramdam ng nabato sa kinauupuan. The way she spoke felt like she owned even my very gravity. I couldn't speak. I stopped breathing. And I just sat there like statue. Like I was glued in place.