The Mafia Boss' Heart

CHAPTER 2

The twenty-four-year-old accountant, Haze Manzano, was busy arranging the papers on her table. Pagkatapos niyang ayusin ang mga papel sa kaniyang lamesa, sunod niyang inayos ang kaniyang mga gamit. She put her laptop and her phone in her laptop case. Then she retouched her makeup. She wanted to look fresh even after work and not haggard. Kahit wala naman siyang pinapagandahan gusto niya pa ring maging maganda.

“Bye, Haze! See you tomorrow, girl! Congrats again!” Paalam ng mga ka-trabaho ni Haze sa Accounting Department kung saan siya nagtatrabaho.

Haze smiled and waved her hand. “Bye! See yah.”

After retouching, she took his bag and laptop and went home. Before she went home, she stopped at the supermarket to buy something to cook for her dinner. Pagdating niya sa kaniyang apartment, natigilan siya nang makita niya ang kapatid ng kaniyang yumaong ina na nasa labas ng kaniyang apartment at mukhang hinihintay siya. Napabuntong hininga na lamang siya dahil mukhang alam na niya kung ano ang sadya nito sa kaniya.

Tinanggal ni Haze ang suot na salamin saka ito inilagay sa lalagyan.

“Finally, you’re home. Give me money.” Inilahad ng Tiya ni Haze ang kamay upang humingi ng pera.

Haze could only sigh. She opened her bag and took two hundred pesos from her wallet.

“Ito lang ang ibibigay mo?! Hoy, Haze! Baka nakalimutan mo na simula ng mamatay ang nanay mo, ako ang nag-alaga sa’yo. Hindi ka man lang marunong tumanaw ng utang na loob!” Sumbat ng ginang sa kaniya.

Haze was silent and closed her eyes. Tumalsik pa ang laway ng kaniyang Tiya sa kaniya. Nakaramdam siya ng hiya sa kaniyang mga kapitbahay sa katabing unit nang makita niyang lumabas ang mga ito upang tignan kung ano ang nangyayari sa labas. Sa lakas ba naman ng boses ng Tiya niya, mukha itong may kaaway. Ngunit wala naman siyang balak makipag-away rito. Para matahimik na ang kaniyang Tiya, inabutan na lamang niya ito ng limang daan.

Her aunt snorted and took the money from her hand. "Ganiyan dapat. Dapat marunong kang tumanaw ng utang na loob.” Sabi nito saka umalis.

"Pasensiya na." Hingi ni Haze ng paumanhin sa kaniyang mga kapitbahay saka siya pumasok sa loob ng kaniyang apartment.

She lives alone in her apartment. It has a small kitchen and a living room. There is also a room and the bed is a single space. When she got a job, she left her aunt's house. Pero kahit umalis na siya sa bahay ng kaniyang tiya, sinusundan pa rin siya nito upang hingian ng pera. Ayon rito, ang mga pera na kinukuha nito sa kaniya ay bayad raw ng pagtira niya sa bahay nila.

She was just ten years old when her mother died because of blood cancer. She doesn’t know who her father is. At wala na siyang balak na kilalanin kung sino ito. Her mother left her insurance money and she used it to study at college. While studying, she also worked part-time to support the money for her daily necessities.

Ramdam ni Haze ang lungkot ng nag-iisa pero wala naman siyang magagawa dahil mag-isa lang talaga siya. Inilagay niya ang mga pinamili sa kusina saka siya pumasok sa kaniyang kwarto upang magpalit ng damit. Pgkatapos ay bumalik siya sa kusina upang magluto ng kaniyang hapunan. While she cooks, she watches animations. It’s not because she is being childish. It seems like that's her only relaxation time, especially since she's alone in her apartment. Watching animation has become her routine. Ganito na siya sa loob ng tatlong taon simula ng umalis siya sa bahay ng kapatid ng kaniyang ina. She doesn't go out either, to have fun or party. Ayaw niyang lumalabas kahit pa inaaya siya ng mga katrabaho niya.

The next morning, Haze went to work early. She was promoted in her job. As she was promoted to work, nagkaroon siya ng pagkakataon na pumunta ng ibang bansa, though it was for work. Of course, she didn't want to miss it.

Today, she will start her new position in the company she works for. In the afternoon, everyone went bar hopping. Bar hopping is not Haze's thing. She didn’t want to go but her co-workers pulled her so she couldn't do anything but join them.

Pumunta sila sa isang bar. Ang isang lugar na ayaw saang puntahan ni Haze pero wala na siyang nagawa ng hilain siya ng kaniyang mga katrabaho. Hindi siya umiinom dahil ayaw niya sa lasa ng alak. It’s not being picky. She just doesn't want to be harmed by other people. She was just protecting herself. Hindi niya alam kung paano ang takbo ng utak ng ibang tao lalo na ang mga lalaki. Ever since she nearly got raped in college, she has never trusted any man again. Her mind was already jaded. As if all men were the same, and wanted to harm her.

“Haze.”

Napatingin si Haze kay Jade. The man smiled and then gave her a glass of wine. Haze just took the wine glass but didn't drink it.

"Aren't you drinking?" Jade asked, then sat next to Haze.

Umiling si Haze saka inilagay ang hawak na baso sa may lamesa. She slightly pushed herself away from Jade to give the distance between them. She’s not comfortable sitting with a man. Tinignan niya ang kaniyang mga kasamahan. Some of them were chatting, singing, and laughing together.

“Come on, Haze. It’s just one sip,” Jade said.

"Hindi ako umiinom," sabi ni Haze, kumain na lamang siya sa chips. "Excuse me." She said to Jade and then looked at Janine, who became her friend at work, but they were close. She gave Janine a subtle look.

Naintindihan naman ni Janine ang tingin na ibinigay niya rito. Iniwan ni Janine ang kausap nito saka ito lumapit sa kaniya.

“Aalis na ako," Paalam ni Haze. Talagang hindi niya matagalan ang ganitong lugar.

"Aalis ka na?" tanong ni Janine. She knew that Haze was not interested in such parties. Haze has been like this since she met her. Haze was like an isolated person. "Let's go."

Haze smiled. “It’s okay. You can stay. I can manage myself.”

"I can give him a ride." Jade volunteered, hoping that this time he would get the chance.

Bago pa man makatanggi si Haze, nauhan na siya ni Janine. “No need. Haze will ride with me." Janine took her bag. She doesn't trust that a man would send her friend to her house. "I'm still single, so my parents still have a curfew on me,” she joked.

Haze smiled. She knew that Janine was joking. Playing along with her.

Napabuntong hininga na lamang si Jade. He missed another chance to talk to Haze and confess his feelings to her.

Nagpaalam na si Janine at Haze sa mga kasama nila at saka sila umalis. Fortunately, Janine had a car. They had no problem going home.

"It's a good thing we're going to Italy together with our boss for the conference," Janine said happily.

Haze smiled and nodded. “It was a good opportunity to travel abroad though we’re going there for work.”

“But still, it’s a rare opportunity,” sabi ni Janine habang nakapokus ang atensiyon nito sa daan.

Sumandal si Haze sa kinauupuan. Gumuhit ang ngiti sa kaniyang labi. “Anyway, thank you for backing me up earlier.”

Janine smiled. “You’re not really comfortable with men?”

Haze nodded. “I nearly got raped before, so, I am wary of their kind. I don’t trust them easily.”

Janine nodded. She understood why Haze was like that. Haze may look like a complicated person sometimes, but she was just protecting herself from the people who may harm her. Naiintindihan niya ang kaibigan dahil kapag nangyari sa kaniya ang nangyari kay Haze, bago ganun rin ang gagawin niya.

After Haze got home, she took a shower and started to pack her clothes. She felt excited about going to Italy. But unbeknownst to her, Italy will change her life forever.