ROOMMATES WITH MY BOSS

Kabanata 7

"Ma'am Yvaine, sigurado po kayong hindi kayo nasaktan kanina?" Tanong ng driver ko rito ng makababa na siya ng sasakyan.

Tumango lang siya bilang tugon.

We're in her place now.

"S-Sir, thank you po sa paghatid." Baling niya sa akin.

"Pumasok ka na."

"P-Po?" Sagot niya na parang wala sa sarili.

"Pumasok ka na sa loob." Ulit ko.

"S-Salamat ulit po ulit." Nagmamadali niyang kinuha ang susi sa loob ng bag niya at binuksan ang gate.

Lumingon pa siyang sandali at kumaway bago tuluyang pumasok sa loob.

Napasandal ako at ipinahinga ang ulo sa sandalan. What the hell am I doing? Kanina pa dapat ako nakauwi at nakapagpahinga if it wasn't for her.

"Tara na, Manong."

Dumaan muna kami sa isang drive-through at nag-order ng takeouts. Pasado alas dies na ng gabi ng makarating ako sa condo ko. I ate and had a shower.

I rechecked my phone, and it was now 11:24 pm. Nilapag ko ulit ito sa dinner table, at napatingin sa takeouts na hindi ko pa naliligpit. I'll leave that for tomorrow.

Sumampa ako sa couch at natulog.

I wasn't even deep in my sleep when my phone suddenly rang.

Fûck! Who the hell?

Inis akong bumangon para kunin ang phone. I'm expecting it's Lukov at baka nagpapasundo nanaman sa club dahil sa kalasingan, but the name flashing on my phone screen isn't my brother, but my secretary, and it's fücking 12:37 am!

"What, Ms. Madrigala?!" Inis kong sagot. "I hope you know what time it is now!" I shouted.

"S-Sir," Pakiramdam ko ay lumipad ang antok ko ng marinig ang mahina, pero natatarantang boses niya sa kabilang linya. "S-Sir, please help me." She pleaded, crying.

Kumunot ang noo ko.

"Ms. Madrigala, I'm your boss. Kung may problema ka, ask for help from someone else. Hindi kita responsibilidad at," Natigilan ako ng may narinig na kalampag at para bang may gamit na bumagsak.

"G-Get out of here, p-please! T-Tatawag ako ng pulis!" Narinig ko ulit ang boses niya, but this time parang nasa malayo ito.

"Hello?! Madrigala?!" Napatingin ako sa cellphone ko. The call is still connected, pero hindi niya ako sinasagot.

I grabbed my keys and went to get my car. Nagmamadali ko itong pinaandar at umalis. Kung hindi namin siya hinatid ulit kanina ay hindi ko matatandaan ang lugar na tinitirahan niya kung ibabase lang sa una naming paghatid sa kanya nung nakaraang araw. I'm driving 100 to 120kl/h.

"Hello?!" Pinapakinggan ko pa rin ang kabilang linya.

May mga naririnig akong kalampag, tunog ng pusa, and other noises I can't comprehend. After pressing the loud speaker ay binalik ko ang atensyon sa kalsada.

"Aaahhhh!" Nagulat ako ng bigla siyang sumigaw matapos ng ilang minutong hindi ko siya narinig. "Get out! N-No! G-Get away from me!" Mas lalong nagdiin ang apak ko sa accelerator pedal ng marinig ko iyon.

What the hell is happening?

"Mga kapitbahay, tu-hhmmpphhhhh!" Her cry was muffled.

"Stop it, Yvaine! Come here, you!" Boses ng isang lalaki ang sunod kong narinig.

"N-No! Please, A-Austin ano ba! Bitawan mo ko!"

"I said come here!"

"Aaahhhh!"

"Acckk! Fúck off!"

I'm driving 140km/h now.

"Please, wag! A-Austin, no! Parang awa mo na!" She begged, whoever that asshôle is.

I hope it's not what I'm thinking right now.

"Bakit? Di ba gusto mo naman to? Hhmm?" He even moaned.

"No! No! Please!" I can hear her struggling. "Stop, aackk! No, I don't want it! Stop! You're hurting me! Tulo-hhhmmppphh!" Muli nanamang naputol ang pagsigaw niya at napalitan ng pagpupumiglas, samantalang umuungol naman ang lalaki.

I was thankful that the road was empty, and I was able to get into her place in 15 minutes, pero nakasarado ang gate. Hindi naman ako nahirapang silipin ang loob dahil mas mataas ako rito. Her front door is open. I jump over the fence at pumasok sa loob. I saw an open room and ran inside. I found a man hovering over my secretary and touching her in inappropriate places, and kissing her even though she was resisting.

"Get off her, you bastard!" I grabbed his collar and pulled him off the bed.

"S-Sir!" She screamed in relief. Napayakap din siya sa braso ko at napatago roon at nanginginig.

"Fix yourself," I told her, dahil nakababa ang saplot niya sa ibaba. "Then call the police," I instructed, but she wasn't moving and kept trembling.

"Wag kang makialam dito!" He pounced and landed a punch on my face since I wasn't paying attention.

Madrigala screamed in horror seeing the blood from my busted lips.

"You piece of s**t!" There is a list of things that I hate, and attacking someone behind their back like a coward belongs to my top five.

I wasn't in any bit intimidated by him, so when he threw another punch, I was able to block it and landed a jab on his jaw na agad niyang ikinatumba sa sahig. He was struggling to get up, so I took the chance to check on her. Tinulungan ko siyang ayusin ang sarili pati na rin ang suot niya. She was still in shock and barely moving.

When I looked back, the asshole was already running away. Kung hindi lang mahigpit ang kapit ng secretary ko sa akin ay hahabulin ko ito.

I called the police, at makalipas ang ilang minuto ay dumating na ang mga ito. Pareho kami ngayong kinakausap na dalawa.

Fúck!

Kanina pa ako paulit ulit na napapamura sa isipan. Nang nagdesisyon akong umuwi ng Pilipinas, the least I wanted to happen is to get any attention, and now I'm being interviewed by a police officer.

"Sarge, tapos na po namin kunan ng pahayag yung babae." Lumapit ang isa pang police sa amin. "Medyo hindi siya makausap ng maayos." Dugtong nito at nag-abot ng folder sa kausap kong pulis.

"Sir, hindi nyo po ba talaga kilala yung suspect?" Ulit na tanong sa akin ng kaharap kong officer.

"I told you, his name is Austin." Iyon ang narinig kong tawag sa kanya ng secretary ko. "I have his plate number on my dashcam. Why don't you run his plate to see who it belongs to, then arrest him!" Paulit ulit na ako rito at tumataas na rin ang boses ko dahil walang pag-usad kahit ilang minuto na nila kaming kausap.

"Sir, kaano ano nyo po si," He flipped the papers given to him and scanned it. "Ms. Yvaine Madrigala?" He asked.

"I'm her," Saglit akong napaisip. If I tell them I'm her boss, wouldn't it be weird na ako ang pumunta dito to help her? "I'm her boyfriend." Sagot ko.

The officers gave me a look.

"She said you're her boss." Ani ng pulis na kumausap kay Madrigala.

Damnit!

"We're keeping our relationship a secret." I lied.

They gave me another look before the officer interrogating me speak again.

"Sir, we'll give you an update. Pupuntahan namin ang suspect pagsikat ng araw." Ani nito.

"What? Anong sa pagsikat pa ng araw? Pano kung tumakas na yung ungas na yun!?" Tumaas ulit ang boses ko.

I'm trying to keep my cool, dahil dumadami na din ang nakikiusyoso sa paligid, but damn pinipikon ako ng mga kausap ko.

"Pre, di ba pamilyar yung lalaki?" Narinig kong bulong ng isang pulis na nakatayo sa di kalayuan at nakatingin sa akin.

Umiwas ako ng tingin at bahagyang tumagilid para hindi nila direktang makita ang mukha ko.

"Oo nga no. Di ba sya yung dating asawa nung sikat na artista? Yung nangbabae kaya sila naghiwalay?" Narinig kong sagot nito sa sinabi ng katabi.

Napakuyom ako ng kamao dahil sa sinabi nung huli.

"Just give me an update." Umalis na ako at lumapit kay Madrigala. Hindi na ako naghintay ng kahit na anong sagot mula sa kanila dahil naibigay ko na rin naman ang contact details ko.

She's still in shock. Her hands are still trembling, at humihikbi pa rin siya. She's holding a black cat with a white print on the chest. Ito siguro yung naririnig ko sa tawag kanina.

"Are you alright?" A stupid question to ask, pero hindi ko alam kung pano kukunin ang atensyon niya.

She nodded.

Liar!

"Come with me." Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya at inalalayan siyang tumayo.

"S-San?"

"To my place. I can't just leave you here." Sagot ko.

Her front door was forcefully opened kaya sira na ang lock nito ngayon. And even if it's not, who the hell will leave her alone after what happened?

"S-Sir, s-sorry talaga. Wala lang talaga akong ibang matawagan kanina. I'm so sorry at nadamay ka pa sa problema ko." Her tears flowed down her pale cheeks.

"Save that for later. Let's go." Isinakay ko siya sa kotse ko.

I just really want to leave the place.

I drove a bit slower this time. When we arrived at my unit, it was already 2:39 am.

"Do you want some coffee?" Alok ko sa kanya.

She declined by shaking her head.

"Do you want to rest now? It's late."

"Sir, sorry talaga." Ulit nanaman niya.

"I said save that for later." Siguro dahil na din sa gusto kong makaalis kaagad sa lugar na yun dahil nakikilala ako ng mga pulis kanina ay hindi ko napansin na nakayapak lang siya at may punit din ang pang itaas niya.

Bumaba ang tingin ko sa hawak niyang pusa. That's the only thing she brought with her.

"I'll go get you something to change. Wash up." This time, she nodded.

I went through my closet and could only find my suits and other formal wear. Some casual clothes I wear at home and a few pairs of pajamas which are all big for her size. Luckily my personal shopper dropped the new clothes she shopped for me today. I took out the smallest sleepwear I could find from the paper bags, a boxer shorts, and I also got her a clean towel.

It took her 30 minutes to finish, and when she got out of the shower, she was looking around. And when she saw me, standing and waiting for her ay agad siyang lumapit.

"Sir Vladimir, sorry ulit sa nangyari." Ang agad niyang sinabi.

"Madrigala, you're always good in following instructions, but you're awfully annoying right now." I told her.

"S-Sorry po. Hindi na mauulit."

Damnit, ilang sorry ba ang dapat kong marinig mula sa kanya?

Dahil sa pagod ay hindi ko napigilan ang paghikab ko. It's past 3am after all.

"Let's get some sleep first, and talk about this later." Napatingin ako sa couch. I only have one of these.

Fuck it! Wala nga pala akong mga gamit dito sa condo.

"Follow me." Pumunta kami sa taas at pumasok sa isang kwarto.

I haven't really gone upstairs dahil ang ibaba lang ang ginagamit ko. But the room I opened is probably the master's bedroom.

"Wait here." I left her there at kumuha ng comforter, kumot, at unan na binili rin ng shopper ko.

Nang makabalik sa master's bedroom ay nilatag ko ang mga iyon sa sahig. She even helped me do it.

"Pagtyagaan mo muna to." I told her.

"S-Sir sobra sobra na po ito." She panicked.

"Rest. I'm tired. If you need something, I'm on the couch." Napahikab ulit ako.

Lumabas na ako at dumiretso kaagad sa hinihigaan ko at pumikit na.

But I think today is indeed not my lucky day. Lumampas lang ng isang oras ang tulog ko ay nagising nanaman ako ng panibagong ingay. Loud meows echoed from upstairs paired with loud scratching noise.

Fuck! Pang-ilang mura ko na iyan.

Bumangon ako at umakyat. The cat is outside the master's bedroom and is trying to get inside.

Binuksan ko ang pinto para matapos na, but the cat is surely taking its time to enter the room. Nang ibaba ko ang tingin, doon ko lang nakita na iika-ika ito ng lakad dahil mukhang masakit ang isang paa nito sa harapan.

"Ugghhmm," She groaned in her sleep.

"Madrigala?" Lumapit ako to check on her.

She let out another painful sound, and keeps on rolling on the comforter breathing heavily.

Is she having nightmares?

Lumapit sa kanya ang pusa at sinusubukang pumatong sa sikmura niya, but it was having a hard time because of its injured paw. Binuhat ko ang pusa at pinahiga sa sikmura nya, and it started purring loudly.

Her movements stopped and her breathing became normal almost instantly.

Pero sa halip na lumabas ng silid at bumalik sa pag tulog, umupo ako sa sahig at nanatiling nakatitig sa babaeng, sa wakas, ay mahimbing ng natutulog.

Damnit, what am I doing with my life just now? She isn't my responsibility. I could just leave her there since I already did my part saving her from being s3xually assaulted. I even called the cops, and lied about being her boyfriend para lang kumilos sila. I should have stopped there.

Pero ngayon nasa pamamahay ko ang isang babaeng halatang walang maidudulot sa buhay ko kundi gulo.