His Sweet Karma

Chapter 2

                                                                                         MAHALIA

I was brought to the present when I heard the doorbell ring. I was still in the bathroom but I did finish cleaning it. I washed my hands first before I ran toward the door.

“Who is it?” I peered at the peephole and was surprised to see Juana. She wore a black winter jacket that almost reached her knees. Her boots were high and comfy. Her once dark hair was having gray streaks and was in the usual low bun. If I wasn’t wrong, she was already in her late forties. She’d been serving my family since before I was born. Or was it since before I was picked up on the street? My parents didn’t have a child until two years of marriage.

“It’s me, Mahalia! Open up, mi chica!” she called out with a smile.

I couldn’t help but smile, too. I removed the chain lock and turned the knob, pulling the door wide open. She hugged me when she saw me, and I did the same with a grateful smile.

“What are you doing here so early, Juana?” I saw her pick up a couple of paper bags and close the door, depositing the bags on the low table at the living room.

“I brought you some food and a gift,” she said and smiled. However, her eyes were sorrowful. She took pity of me, I just know it. She put a hand on my cheek and patted it softly. She looked like she was going to cry anytime now.

“Juana, I thank you for everything. Even though I’m not my parents’ daughter…”

Her eyes became fiery all of a sudden. “¿Que?” Then a series of Spanish curses left her mouth to my amazement and confusion. “Who said that? Was it Julie? I want to shove chili peppers in her mouth!”

“S-so is it true?”

She sighed. “Of course not!” Then her eyes softened. “I was there when your mother Dorinne was pregnant of you. She was so beautiful then, glowing,” she recounted with a smile on her lips. She was obviously playing the memory in her head. “Your father wouldn’t have wanted to even get away from her for a minute. She had a difficulty carrying you in her womb. I think she already had her early symptoms of her sickness at the time but she strived hard to get through the pregnancy and delivery. I must say she was a very strong woman, Mahalia. And she loved you so very much that she named you that. She told me Mahal in Tagalog means love. That’s where she took your name from. Your middle name Marie, she said she always loved the French version of Mary. She never skipped reciting the Holy Rosary every single evening, where I fail, you know?”

The corners of my eyes went hot as tears threatened to spill. I blinked fast and sniffled.

She looked at me with pity. “You shouldn’t be here. You have the right to stay in the mansion because you’re the heiress of Miller Group. It’s not Julie or Ryder. I swear, I saw your father sign his testament about a month before he died. So, why don’t you—”

“The lawyer said it was her and Ryder, Juana. Maybe he changed it afterward,” I said, shrugging my slender shoulders. “I do want to contest it… but I have no means to do that for now. I think… maybe I’ll just leave it at that. It’s enough for me to be a clerk at the company while I go to the university.” At least I had the scholarship, which I didn’t want to lose. It was good that I wanted to prove myself to my father that I could be his smart daughter, not depending on his money, when I applied for it.

Juana hung her mouth open before she spoke. “And you think you can keep even that low position at the company? Mahalia, Julie will do everything to kick you out of there, too! Believe me, mi chica. She’s not done with you!”

I swallowed. “Just don’t do anything stupid, Juana. Promise me.”

She sighed. “Okay. I promise. I… Let’s not talk about it for now. I wanted to make this a birthday surprise but here we are. I’m sorry. I am just… I am so angry with what she’s done to you, mi chica. You have to live in this…” She paused, looking at our small apartment. It was almost as big as my entire room back in the mansion. “This small place and share with your pregnant best friend.” She pursed her lips. “How is she? When is she due?”

I thought she was really just worried that I had to study, work and will be pressured because of the baby on the way. How much more when the baby’s delivered? We could just imagine how it’d make my life even more difficult.

“In March. I’ll be fine, Juana. I’ll be fine. Thank you for coming. I really appreciate it very much. I even forgot it’s my birthday today.” I hugged her with teary eyes. I blinked them fast to get rid of them but I couldn’t. Instead, I broke down.

“How could you forget it? It’s in the eve of Christmas!”

“Yeah. I was just… thinking a lot lately.” I wriggled out of her embrace. I didn’t add ‘I am getting depressed. I’m losing hope,’ so she wouldn’t worry about me more than she already was.

Christmas was always the happiest time for me. I always got two presents from my parents when they were still alive. But now… it was only Juana and maybe Sarah who would give me gifts from now on. Still, I was grateful to both of them, who stayed by my side even though at tough times like this.

“Your parents used to bring you out to dinner and celebrate your birthday at the hotel they owned. Your friends and employees were invited and were also given gifts in your name,” Juana recalled. “Your parents were good people. I still can’t believe they left you all alone with nothing. You deserve more, Mahalia. I wish that everything will be alright with you soon! I wish you won’t have to suffer like this.”

“Juana, I’ll be fine. But I’m worried about you. You’re still working there.”

Her face went hard. “I have to! I want to find your father’s real testament. I’m not going to rest until I do!”

“I told you to let it be. I don’t want you to get into trouble, Juana. You promised!” I said, wiping away my tears.

“This woman is hard-headed, Lia. You just leave her be.” We heard Sarah’s voice behind us. She smiled at me and hugged me. “I’m sorry, I didn’t want to butt in to your conversation. But I have to greet you a happy birthday!” Sarah gave Juana a hostile look. “You think I’m a bad influence on Lia, don’t you? That’s why you seldom see her here. This is just your third visit here, right?”

Juana pursed her lips but didn’t say a word. She just clasped her gloved hands together.

“Come on, Juana! You used to be so sweet to me! How could you see me like an enemy now? Your favorite pet is not going to get pregnant like me. She has no boyfriend, and she’ll definitely finish college with flying colors!”

That made Juana burst out laughing, glancing my way. She reached out a hand to touch Sarah’s belly. “I hope you’ll be fine delivering the baby.”

“Oh, I will. All the food you sent for Lia, she made me eat them. So I’m quite complete with Go, Glow and Grow foods!”

Juana squinted her eyes at me. “Is that true? Is that why you look like a skeleton?” She looked me up and down. It was an exaggeration, really. I was slim all right but I wasn’t skinny. It was just that Juana was voluptuous.

“I just have a fast metabolism, Juana,” I assured her.

“Let’s eat our birthday girl’s breakfast!” Sarah suggested smilingly.

“Oh, you mean…” I was awed. I didn’t expect she’d prepare something for me.

“Of course. If I prepared something for John even though he didn’t like it…” She grimaced, remembering her ex. “I should do the same for my best friend!” I could see now why she took her time to come to the living room for some minutes. “Besides, you’ll come home late, so I don’t think we can have dinner together.” She was right, of course.

We saw our small dining table filled with a lot of food. There was a baked whole chicken, chili con carne, toast bread, jam, chocolate peanut butter, deviled eggs and meatballs. Plus, coffee, as well as cake that Juana brought with her. And to think it was breakfast, it was all too much! But I couldn’t complain. I was happy to have these people I loved the most with me at this moment, now that my parents were gone.

“By the way, Juana. Have you seen my father’s favorite coin?” I asked while we were eating baked chicken. She was seated next to me while Sarah was opposite us.

Her brows furrowed. “His lucky charm? I’m not sure. Maybe it’s gone along with his things. Julie disposed of them.”

“What?” I almost shrieked.

She nodded. “But don’t worry. I took some of his things into my room. I can’t be sure if it’s among those things. The attic is cleaned up, you know?”

“What? But what about my mom’s things?”

Juana sighed. “Julie sent them to the scrap yard.”

I could only put my hands on my face and cry. There were many things that held sentimental value to me. And to think they were all gone, it hurt so much! My heart was twisted inside my chest I could barely breathe. Then I felt Juana’s warm and strong hand rub my back, consoling me.

***

It was my birthday but I still had to work. We had a day off at Christmas and the day after that. And then, we would have another break during New Year’s Eve, New Year and the next day. As for my studies, we had a two-week vacation. To specialize in Business Economics was not an easy choice for me because I wanted to take up Management but then I thought this field would be much more helpful to my father’s company if I learned how to focus on the economic issues and problems specifically associated to his business organization, management, as well as strategy.

Most of the cubicles at the office were already abandoned and a few lights were left on. I was inputting some information on the computer when the supervisor, Luke, stood in front of my desk with his hands in his slacks pockets. It was already past six in the evening, so it was only us who were left behind. Everyone was already home but I wanted to finish what was tasked for me.

“Mahalia, aren’t you going home now?”

“I’m finishing it in a few minutes. You can go ahead, Luke,” I told him without raising my eyes. My fingers were fast tapping the keyboard, mostly numbers, which I entered in an Excel sheet.

“Okay.” He turned around but he faced me again when he remembered to tell me something. “Happy birthday, Mahalia.”

I stopped tapping the keyboard, and I raised my eyes to look at the middle-aged man. He knew my father and there was this pity that crossed his blue-green eyes. His wide forehead slightly furrowed before he smiled tightly.

“Thank you, Luke.” I smiled toothlessly at him and he left.

I was saving the file when I heard some footsteps behind me. I didn’t look back, thinking it was Luke who must have forgotten something to take with him. I copied the file to the network for easy search and access. I shut down the computer and gathered my things.

“Working hard, little sis?”

My blood ran cold when I heard that familiar raspy low voice. Why was he here? He didn’t usually come into the company premises, like Julie. They just go to the main office in the West Side, not here in the South Side. That was why it was fine for me to work here. Then I remembered Juana’s words. Julie was not done with me. Who knows what she was going to do after she kicked me out of the mansion? But here was another problem, which is Ryder.

I was frozen in my chair when I felt him so close behind me, sniffing my hair. He then kissed the top of my head, which gave me goosebumps all over.

“I missed you, little sis. It’s your birthday. Shall we go have dinner to celebrate it?” He leaned closer to me, face so close to mine.

My throat went dry when he easily turned my chair to fully face him. His eyes were filled with lust that I wanted to throw up.

“I have a gift for you. I heard you were looking for something,” he said, grinning evilly.

I blinked, almost couldn’t believe what he was saying. “W-what are you talking about?”

He took out something from his slacks pocket. I noticed he was wearing an expensive gray three-piece suit and a trench coat paired with black winter office shoes. He slowly opened his palm, and my eyes grew wider when it glinted.