The Happy Prince

2. Casual

So stupid!

I jerk up, throw my whole body onto the soft mattress and kick my feet in the air.

What the hell just happened? I messed everything up! And now? My goodness me!

Napuno ng mura ang isip ko at panay ang g**o ko sa buhok.

And now what's next? Paano ko siya mahaharap bukas? Paano?

"Sylvi, hija," ang boses ni Tiyo Estefan.

Mabilis akong napabangon mula sa pagkakahiga at tinitigan siya.

I pouted like a baby when our eyes met. He then looked at me from head to toe and laughs! Pinagtatawanan niya ako ngayon dahil sa hitsura ko at naabutan niya kanina.

"Tiyo! Kasalanan mo 'to! Hindi sana ako napahiya kanina." Sabay padyak ng paa ko. Talagang hindi pa ako tapos at parang ito na yata ang simula ng totoong bangungot sa buhay ko.

I have no idea what Alessandro looks like. I haven't seen any of his photos because he chooses to hide his identity from the public.

Yes, he's one of the best writers in the country but the heck, but no one knows his identity.

I admire his name for years when I started my writing journey.

Hindi sana ito ang landas na gusto ko, pero noong magsimula akong magsulat online ay nagustuhan ko. Kaya heto, nandito ako sa bansang ito para sa isang trabaho. . . ang maging assistant ni Alessandro.

"Don't worry to much, Sylvi. He will forgive you. Alessandro is the happy prince, and the happy prince always forgives," lawak na ngiti niya. Humakbang siya at inilagay sa ibabaw ng maliit na mesa ang brown envelop na bitbit niya.

Tumaas ang kilay ko at nakatoon ang mga mata ko sa brown envelop na ito. Kung hindi ako nagkakamali ay ang kontrata ko ito na galing kay Alessandro.

Tiyo already told me about the rules and regulations I have to do when it comes to the Ladrosvodski family. They're high-ups in the society, and that only means one thing. . . I have to act decently!

"You are free to use everything around the mansion of Alessandro, Sylvi. You can cook, do the garden, clean the house, and attend to Mr Alessandro's needs as per orders. You can use the gym and the indoor pool." Kindat niya.

My eyes widened, and my brows crossed. And what does he mean by that? Cook, do the garden, and clean the house?

What the - am I servant? Maliban ba sa pagiging assistant ko kay Sir Alessandro ay katulong din ba ako?

Tiyo Estefan can read between the lines by looking at me.

"No, no, my dearie. You are not a servant but a personal assistant of Mr Alessandro with freedom on board," he smiled, assuring me, "of course, it is only right to clean if needed since you are living at his place for free. You might as well attend to Alessandro's needs. What do you think?"

Nakataas ang isang kilay ni Tiyo at pormal ang tayo niya sa harapan ko. It seems like he was talking to a dignified person in front of him while giving his suggestion. I rolled my eyes and exhale a heavy air out from my system.

"Ugh, Tiyo!" Padyak ng paa ko. "I know, I know that, but the heck, Tiyo, I'm deeply embarrassed!" I said and looked down, worried.

I wasn't worried about myself getting to do all these things because I'm okay with it. Sanay na naman ako maging katulong dahil lahat naman ng gawin ay ginagawa ko. Hindi uso ang katulong rito. Ang kinababahala ko ay ang bukas. Kung paano ko siya haharapin pagkatapos ng pangyayari kanina.

"You will be fine, Sylvi." Tumalikod na siya para makalabas ng pinto, pero humarap siyang muli sa akin.

"Read the contract and sign it. Give it back to me tomorrow. As of the moment, you can go downstairs, down the kitchen, and cook your meals. Mr. Alessandro is not around, nasa kabilang palasyo siya ngayon at mamayang gabi pa siya babalik dito."

I could no longer smile while we stared and just pressed my lips together. Tiyo Estefan smiled, a kind of smile that gave me comfort.

"You are safe here, Sylvi. Just lock your room before going to bed. Read your schedules with Mr Alessandro, and if you need me, give me a call. . . I'm only a few hundred meters away from you," he winked.

I twisted my lips and nodded. Ano pa nga ba ang magagawa ko? E, sa ginusto ko rin naman ito.

"Salamat, Tiyo. Thank you," I formally said and smiled. He then turns around and shuts the bedroom door.

I can do this! My mind speaks, and my eyes dart to the brown folder on top of the table.

___

Nine o'clock

Eleven breaks to twelve

One o'clock to three

Four finish.

Ganito lang ka-simpli ang lahat ng nakasulat at madali lang ito. Malaki ang sweldo. Iyon nga lang bawal na ipagpaalam ko o ipagkakalat sa mga kaibigan at kakilala ko na nagtatrabaho ako kay Alessandro Ladrosvodski. Ganito na raw talaga ang patakaran ng buong pamilya. Kaya mas mabuting manahimik na ako para sa kapakanan ko.

I woke up early as my eyes were like an alarm clock at six-thirty. I open the sliding door that leads to the small patio. The sun greets me, and the wind is cold. The view is breathtaking, and the river ahead glimmers from where I stand.

Alessandro's mansion is enormous enough for me, and I couldn't imagine living here alone like him. I bet it's lonely, but if you think about it, this is the reality, and the place is like a dream. Everyone wants to have this type of living.

Amoy ko agad ang kape sa hangin at napatingin ako sa baba. Nasa ikalawang palapag kasi ang kwartong ito at mula rito, sa kinatatayuan ko ay nakikita ko ang buong harden sa bahay ni Alessandro. Nasa baba ang kusina at napansin kong nakabukas ang pinto rito. Kaya amoy na amoy ko ang preskong amoy ng giniling na kape.

I went back inside and did my morning routine before going downstairs. Everything was quiet, and when I reached the kitchen door, I paused briefly.

Napansin ko kasi si Alessandro at nagsimula ang kaba sa puso ko. Natulala akong saglit at hindi ko alam kung babalik ba ako sa kwarto ko at magkukunwari na hindi siya nakita.

I was about to turn around but was too late because he caught me off, guard.

"Good morning," he smiled, "how do you like your coffee?"

Kinuha niya agad ang kulay ginto na tasa at inilagay ito sa coffee maker machine. Napakurap ako at napalunok sa sarili bago nagsalita.

"Uhm, c-cappuccino. Thank you."

Nanginig ang tuhod ko at wala sa sariling humakbang ako papasok sa loob, patungo sa lamesa. Tahimik ko siyang pinagmasdan sa ginagawa hanggang sa nilagyan niya ng katamtamang coffee bean and grinder ng coffee machine.

Ang likod na niya ang pinagmasdan ko ngayon. Buo, matipuno, matangkad at pormal ito. May halong Pinoy si Alessandro, ito ang sinabi sa akin ni Tiyo Estefan nang magtanong ako tungkol sa kanya.

Scottish ang ama niya pero purong Pilipina ang ina. Kaya siguro maitim ang buhok ni Alessandro at naghalo na ang kulay ng balat niya. Kaakit-akit ang ayos at tindig, at gwapo nga naman siya.

"Any sugar?"

"T-two, please. Thank you."

He nodded and put two cubes of sugar.

"Here." Sabay bigay niya sa akin nito. "Give it a little time for the sugar to melt. Plus, it's hot. Be careful," he said, and then his eyes darted to my lips.

I bit my lower lip and nodded a little bit. "Thank you."

Sabay kaming naupo at pareho kaming tahimik. Ang kape ko lang ang tinitigan ko at hindi siya. Ininom na niya ang kape niya at tumikhim siya sa sarili bago nagsalita.

"We can start at ten. I need to ring a few people before we start. I believe your Uncle Estefan has told you the things you could do?"

"Y-yes, he did." I nodded and tasted my coffee. It isn't enjoyable. I think it's the type of coffee bean and that it's pretty intense.

"I have no rules when it comes to work, Sylvi. I want you to double-check everything. Please have a look at my drafts and check their pages. Read my works as you proofread them."

I swallowed the most bitter part of the coffee and my mouth twisted. Napatingin siya sa kape ko dahil sa ekspresyon ng mukha ko.

"H-hindi ako experto, Sir Alessandro at nagsisimula pa lang po ako," salitang tagalog ko. Alam ko na marunong siyang magsalita ng tagalog dahil Pilipina ang ina niya.

Bahagya siyang ngumiti at mahinang tumango.

"Alam ko, pero mahalaga sa akin ang opinyon mo," titig niya. At napakurap ako sa sarili.

"As I've said, read my drafts and give me your feedback. I want your honest opinion, Sylvi. Let's learn from each other, okay?" He said and stood up while we stared.

Walang guhit na ngiti sa labi pero nakikita ko ang ngiti sa ekspresyon ng mga mata niya. Tumayo na rin ako tanda ng pag-galang sa kanya at bahagya ang ginawa kong pag-yuko sa sarili.

"I'll see you later." Sabay talikod niya.

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C.M. LOUDEN