Embracing Khaos

Kabanata 3

"Hindi po talaga kayo pwedeng pumasok,"

"What are you saying? Hindi mo ba ko kilala?"

"Pasensya na po. Hindi po talaga kayo pwedeng pumasok."

"You! Do you wanna die?"

"Kawawa naman. Nandito na naman kasi si, Miss Alexis."

"What is happening here?" I asked coldly.

Nanlaki ang mata ng mga ito at yumuko. It's early in the morning and there's a freaking commotion here. This is the reason why I hate leaving my castle. I want peace of mind and this place is not for it.

"S-si, Miss Alexis po kasi. Nagpupumilit pong pumasok sa library. But the teams are having a meeting there."

Hindi ko na pinansin ang empleyadong nagsalita. Naglakad ako papunta sa mga ito. Hawak-hawak ng kung sinong babae ang buhok ng empleyado.

I smiled devilishly at hinawakan din ang buhok ng maarteng babae. Everyone gasps at tila gulat sa ginawa ko.

"O-ouch! Who are you?" Maarteng daing nito.

I grin.

"Crazy bitch." Mas hinigpitan ko pa ang kapit sa buhok nito.

"Ouch! Let me go, you crazy b***h!"

I laughed because of her voice. Dinig sa buong building ang sigaw nito.

What a nosy b***h.

"Don't do unto others what you don't want others to do unto you. Aren't you familiar with that phrase or you're just plain stupid?"

She let go of the girl so I also let go of her dirty hair.

"Y-you! Don't you know who I am?" Namumula ang mukha nito.

I caress my collector's knife. Walang emosyon na tiningnan ko ang mukha nito.

"I'm not interested in your name. This whole place is mine. So, I can do whatever the hell I want."

Tumawa ito at tiningnan ang mga empleyado na nanonood lang sa amin.

"Who is this weird girl? The whole place is yours? My father is Archie Knight and he's the owner of this company." She boastfully said.

Tsk, so she's the daughter of that old man? I don't care if she's my cousin or whatever. I hate her face. Seriously? This b***h is my cousin?

She's ugly.

Tumawa ako dahilan para maasar ang mukha nito.

"Your father? Your father just owns a 20 percent share in my company. And if I wanted to, I can kick him out of here," I said. "Together with you."

Magsasalita pa sana ito nang may magsalita sa likuran ko.

"What is happening here?"

"Dad! This b***h just pulled my hair. Ipinahiya pa ko sa mga tao rito!" Maarteng sumbong nito sa ama. "And she's being delusional. She's telling me that she owns this company."

Humarap ako sa mga ito. Yumuko ang mga kasama nito sa akin para gumalang.

"Miss Knight, you are early. And why are you holding a knife?" Tanong ng isa sa kanila.

Psh, they're too many so don't expect me to memorize their useless names.

"This?" I smiled at itinaas ang hawak kong collectors knife. "This is one of my favorite and I would love to use it with some useless b***h and assh*les out here."

Nanlaki ang mata ng mga ito dahilan para mapatawa ko. Their reactions are hilarious. Hmm, I bet it's good to be their playmate.

They will be my toy while I'm here.

"Anastasia, I'm sorry for what your cousin did. Ako na ang humihingi ng pasensya."

"Cousin? Dad, what are you saying?" She asked at galit na tumingin sa akin.

I rolled my eyes.

Ang sakit nila mag-ama sa mata. I hate insects. Should I use this knife for this b***h?

Tumalikod na ko.

"I don't want to see her face in my company ever again." Pahayag ko at naglakad na paalis.

Narinig ko pa ang sigaw nito but I just shrugged my shoulders. Those insects will be my playmate. I will make sure that they will taste my wrath.

"Anastasia, I think the project is such a waste of time. There's no chance na papatok sa mga tao ang ganoong set-up."

Ibinaba ko ang kutsilyo na hawak ko at saka tumingin sa mga ito.

"It's Miss Knight for you, Mr. Archie. So you're saying that the project will fail because?" Nakataas na kilay na tanong ko.

Tumikhim ito at nagsalitang muli.

"Mabuti pa na magstory-telling nalang tayo. Hire some professional authors for the event."

Napatango ang mga board dahil sa sinabi nito.

I laughed.

"Do you think that project will also succeed? Napaglipasan ka na, so your stupid idea is also old. Your generation is far from this generation. So don't expect people to like your traditional story-telling. If we hire professional authors for that, I think it will be a waste of money and time. This project is the perfect project for the event. They will write their own story and people will love it. Why? People love to write their loved ones a letter. And one more thing, I see this project as an opportunity." I explained. "If this project succeeds we can make a platform. A platform that will help people to make their own stories. We will mold professional authors in this company. We will launch an online platform, where they can read and write online. We will help writers to discover and develop their talents. We will help them to enhance it. We will develop professionals instead of hiring one."

"Wow, you surprised me. I think let's give it a chance,"

"She thinks as her father. I support your project, Madam."

"I think she's right. The project has a good plan,"

Tiningnan ko ang uncle ko na ngayon ay nakayuko at nagpipigil ng galit. That's right, old man. Soon, I will kick you out. To the point that all you can do is suppress your anger.

Magsasalita pa sana ang iba nang abutin ko ang kutsilyo sa lamesa. Tumayo ako ngunit bago umalis ay nagsalita ako.

"Shut your mouth if you are against my plans. Don't take this as a warning, but it is good if you will just shut your mouth."

That old man and his followers. They will be a hindrance to my plans. I need to be ready for them.

I can smell a war between me and him.

----

Yakap-yakap ko ang aking sarili. Malakas ang kulog sa labas and it scares the hell out of me. The rain scares me the most.

Umuulan din noon. Noong gabing 'yon.

Napahiyaw ako dahil sa lakas ng ulan at kidlat sa labas. Nanginginig na tumakbo ako palabas. The whole castle is dark but I don't care. I'm more scared in the rain. Mabilis akong tumakbo pababa sa basement.

Nanghihinang dumausdos ako sa lapag habang sinasara ang pintuan

I have no tears left to cry.

I'm all alone and the sky is crying and mad. Kahit gustuhin ko man na umiyak ay hindi ko magawa. I'm f*cking scared and I can't do anything about it. Tumayo ako at inilibot ang paningin ko sa buong basement. I stop when I saw the painting.

The painting of my mother and father.

Naglakad ako palapit dito at hinaplos ang lumang painting. Their memories are all here. I put them here. I know I'm selfish for wanting to forget them.

Kusa na lang tumulo ang luha sa mga mata ko.

"Dapat isinama n'yo nalang ako. I'm alive but I feel like I'm also dead. I'm alive pero dala n'yo naman ang puso at kaluluwa ko," I whispered.

Dapat namatay nalang din ako noong gabing 'yon. Instead of being alone here. Instead of being stuck in the darkness.

Paano nga ba ko nabuhay sa anim na taon?

Pinunasan ko ang luha sa mga mata ko at tumayo. Walang emosyon na tiningnan ko ang pintura sa tabi. Inabot ko ito at tumingin sa painting ng mga magulang ko.

I want to forget everything. I badly want to leave their memories.

Binuksan ko ang takip at hinagis ang laman sa painting. I just watch how the red stain ruins the painting. Tiningnan ko ang kamay ko na may bahid na pulang pintura.

I can't feel anything.

Unti-unti akong tumalikod ngunit napatigil ako. May bumagsak sa likuran ko na kung ano. Kumunot ang noo ko at tiningnan ang mga gamit. Puro alikabok ang mga gamit at ang buong basement. Ngunit natigilan ako sa itim na kurtina na nakadikit sa pader. The black curtain is hypnotizing me. Para akong hinihila palapit sa kung anong meron sa likod nito.

Mabilis akong lumapit dito at hinila ang kurtina. Kasabay nang kidlat ay ang panlalaki ng mga mata ko.

That man.

Ang lalaki sa painting. That man is the one who saved me that night.

W-who is he?

Ang itim na itim na mata nito ay nakatingin sa akin. His black eyes are hypnotizing me. Para nitong kinukuha ang kaluluwa ko. His silver hair, his pointed nose, his sculptured jawline, and his stare.

That stare feels like death.

Sino ang lalaki sa painting? Sino ang lalaki sa basement ko?