CHAPTER 3

"Goodmorning." Sabi ko nung nakita ko si Zachary sa baba.

"Goodmorning, bakit hindi ka pa bihis akala ko mag gro-grocery tayo?" Takang tanong n'ya napatingin naman ako sa suot ko. Oo nga pala sinabi n'ya nga pala kagabi kasi raw wala na kaming stock.

"Nakalimutan ko, anong oras na ba? Maaga pa naman." Sabi ko tumingin naman s'ya sa relo n'ya.

"8:50." Sagot n'ya ng biglang tumunog ang cellphone n'ya.

Nanlalaki pa ang mata n'ya habang may kausap sa cellphone.

"Okay okay, nakalimutan ko. Papunta na ako. Sige." Saad n'ya sa kausap sa cellphone napakunot naman ang noo ko.

"Ano 'yun?" Tanong ko.

"Tao. Mamaya na lang tayo mag grocery nakalimutan ko may meeting nga pala kami." Saad n'ya at nagmamadali sa pag akyat para magbihis.

"Ano?" Tanong ko habang nakatayo sa tabi ng kotse n'ya nagbihis na rin ako.

"Ano?" Tanong n'ya pabalik habang kinakabit ang necktie.

"Sasama ka?" Tanong n'ya ng mapatingin sa akin. Tumango naman ako.

"Sakay na." Sabi n'ya at naunang sumakay sa driver's seat pero nakatayo pa rin ako.

Halatang nagmamadali 'to.

Hindi pa rin ako kumibo dahilan para mapataas ang kilay n'ya.

"Sakay na." Ulit n'ya.

"Hindi mo ako pagbubuksan ng pinto?" Maarteng tanong ko napahilamos naman s'ya sa mukha at lumabas para pagbuksan ako. 'Yan gan'yan sumunod ka sa maganda.

Sumakay naman s'ya ulit pagkatapos at saka nag suot ulit ng seatbelt.

Hindi pa rin ako pumapasok, bet ko lang mang-inis.

"Joke lang hindi ako sasama. Sige alis na." Sabi ko at agad isinara ng malakas ang pinto narinig ko pa na napamura s'ya dahilan para mapatawa naman ako.

Agad akong pumasok sa bahay pagkaalis n'ya. Wala naman akong gagawin kaya manonood muna ako.

Nasa kalahati pa lang ako ng pinapanood ko ng biglang mag ring ang cellphone ko, tiningnan ko naman kung sino 'yon. Napairap na lang ako ng mabasa ang pangalan ni Zachary.

"Oh?" Tanong ko sa kabilang linya.

["How are you? What are you doing? You alright?"] Sunod-sunod na tanong niya sa kabilang linya.

"Ayos lang ako. Nanonood." Sagot ko narinig ko naman na nagbuntong hininga siya.

"Akala ko ha nasa meeting ka?" Tanong ko.

["Nagpaalam lang ako saglit para kamustahin ka."] Sagot niya tumango-tango naman ako kahit hindi niya nakikita.

["Sige na, balik na ulit ako ingat ka d'yan ha! Saraduhan mo 'yung gate."] Paalala niya saka pinatay ang tawag.

Napa tsk nalang ako. Sayang naman hindi ko pala nasabi na bumili ng prutas. Naubusan kasi kami kasi nga binigay ko sa mga kumare ko.

"Oh? Tapos na kaagad ang meeting n'yo? Bakit 'yun lang ginawa mo roon?" Takang tanong ko ang aga niya kasing nakabalik.

"May dapat pa akong tapusin pero umuwi talaga muna ako kasi baka hindi ka pa kumakain, tamad ka pa naman." Saad niya habang nagsusuot ng apron. Hindi pa 'yan nagpapalit ha.

"Anong akala mo sa akin bobo para gutumin ang sarili ko? Hello p'wede nang magpadeliver ng food ngayon." Sarcastic na tugon ko at kinaway-kaway pa ang cellphone ko.

"Maniwala sa 'yo. Anong gusto mong kainin?" Tanong niya.

"Si Kyungsoo." Seryosong saad ko. Nagulat ako ng may lumipad na sandok. Pero hindi itinapat sa pwesto ko.

"Ano ba! Matatamaan ako e!" Reklamo ko at kinuha 'yung sandok para ipukpok sa kaniya.

"Iwasan mo pagiging baliw mo, bilisan mo anong gusto mo? Gutom na ako." Reklamo niya. Hinampas ko naman 'yung sandok sa braso niya.

"Kahit ano, hindi naman ako maarte sa pagkain." Saad ko.

Nagtaka ako ng makita ko na tinatanggal niya ang apron niya.

"Oh? Akala ko magluluto ka? Bilisan mo na gutom na ako." Reklamo ko napakamot naman siya sa batok niya.

"Wala na pala akong mai-iluto." Ani niya kung noon siya ang napapahilamos sa mukha ngayon ako naman.

"Diba nga dapat mag gro-grocery tayo kanina pero dahil matanda ka na nakalimutan mo na pati ang meeting mo! Ngayon sige parehas tayong magutom! Uuwi na lang kaya ako at hahayaan ka ritong magutom dahil kasalanan mo naman!" Sigaw ko sa kaniya bahagya naman siyang napaatras.

"Okay, okay kalma! Saglit lang diba ikaw na nga ang may sabi na p'wede na ngayong magpadeliver kaya eto na saglit lang chill." Saad niya at kinuha ang cellphone niya umupo na lang ako.

"Anong gusto mo?" Tanong niya habang nakatingin sa cellphone.

"Si Kyungsoo, Baekhyun, Sehun--" Hindi ko na natapos ang sasabihin ko ng batukan niya ako pero mahina lang.

"Ayusin mo kasi puro ka kaharutan nagugutom na 'yung tao." Ani niya napahawak naman ako sa ulo ko.

"Ikaw bahala!" Saad ko at umamba pa na su-suntukin siya.

"Salamat po, sa inyo na po 'yung sukli." Rining kong sabi ni Zachary sa nag deliver ng pagkain.

Nakita ko siya papasok kaya naman umupo na ako.

"Oh, kumain ka na kakahiya naman sa aking amo." Sarkastikong saad niya.

Inilapag na niya ang mga pagkain sa lamesa. Merong pizza, spaghetti 'saka fried chicken.

"Dahil hindi tayo natuloy mag grocery kanina ngayon tayo mag gro-grocery kaya pagkatapos natin dito mag ayos ka na." Sabi ni Zachary. Tumingin naman ako sa kaniya at umirap.

"Hindi ka na ba babalik don?" Tanong ko pagkatapos kumain.

"Dumating si Eros kaya siya na ang bahala roon sinabi ko kasi na may importante pa akong gagawin dito sa bahay." Sagot niya. Nung matapos na akong maghugas ng kamay umupo ulit ako.

"Sino 'yung Eros? Pogi ba? Hot? Pakilala mo naman ako!" Pagbibiro ko sa kaniya napasingkit naman ang mata niya.

"Tigilan mo nga 'yang trip mo. Bilisan mo na d'yan." Saad niya at tumayo na para linisin 'yung pinagkainan namin.

"Ayusin mo naman 'yung damit mo ha, 'yung ka tanggap-tanggap." Saad niya. Inirapan ko na lang siya at tumayo na nga para mag-ayos.

"Ops?! Ayan ang suot mo?" Tanong niya at tiningnan ako mula ulo hanggang paa. Tumango naman ako.

"Balik." Saad niya at itinuro sa taas.

"Bakit? Ayos naman ah." Saad ko, tinaasan niya naman ako ng kilay.

"Mag gro-grocery tayo hindi makikipagdate kung kanino ha?"

"Ano naman? Okay naman ang suot ko. Wala kang FASHION." Saad ko, agad naman niya akong hinila pataas.

"Magpalit ka." Saad niya wala na akong nagawa kundi ang pumasok sa loob para magpalit.

Pumunta na ako sa walk in closet saka tumingin sa salamin. Ayos naman talaga ang suot ko. Rubber shoes tapos off shoulder saka high waist short.

Tumingin tingin na lang ulit ako nakita ko naman ang crop top saka kulay pink na sweat pants. Kinuha ko 'yon saka sinuot. Pagkasuot ko aba malamang lumabas na ako.

Jeje na kung jeje.

Nagulat ako ng bumungad sa akin ang impakto. Chour.

"Umamin ka nga, kinukulang ba sa tela ang mga damit mo?" Tanong niya.

"Zachary ano ba~ Wala na matatagalan tayo makaalis e." Saad ko, tinaasan niya naman ako ng kilay.

"Ano bang gusto mo?" Tanong ko at umarte na naiiyak.

"Gusto ko? Saglit. Hintayin mo ako d'yan." Saad niya at umalis para pumunta sa kwarto niya.

Maya-maya bumalik na siya na may dala-dalang damit.

"Ayan, ayan ang gusto ko." Ani niya at iniabot sa akin ang damit. Tinitingan ko lang 'yon.

Damit na kulay itim. Damit niya!

Narinig ko naman na nagbuntong hininga siya saka binawi ang damit.

"Kung ayaw mo nito sige isuot mo lahat ng gusto mong isuot." Ani niya. Nagningning naman ang mata ko at akmang pipihitin na sana ang doorknob ng bigla ulit siyang nagsalita.

"Pero 'wag kang sasama sa 'kin." Dugtong niya pa dahilan para mapatingin ulit ako sa kaniya.

Kainis naman! Wala na akong nagawa kundi kunin 'yon nakita ko naman na napangisi siya.

Pagkapasok ko sa loob nagpalit na kaagad ako ng damit at pantalon saka tumingin sa salamin. Napa padyak-padyak na lang ako dahil sa inis. Hindi bagay!

Lumabas ako ng nakabusangot ang mukha.

"Hindi bagay! Wala ka talagang alam sa mga fashion fashion!" Sigaw na bungad ko sa kaniya.

"Laki naman ng problema mo, ikaw ang walang ka fashion fashion. I tuck in mo 'yan dito sa unahan." Saad niya at itinuro pa ang damit. At dahil uto-uto ako ginawa ko naman.

"Ayan edi bagay." Saad niya at bumaba na.

Hinihintay n'ya pa talaga ako sa sala ha, nice one.

I took everything I wanted to get. I didn't even hear or get any complaints from him and he just let me go. He's just pushing cart hehe.

When when we were in the cashier I just realised it got too much.

"It's all 17, 600 sir." The cashier said. I looked at Zach but just nodded and smiled. Wow he's really rich.

As soon as we arrived In the house, Zach take all the things we bought and i also help him to sort out what we had bought.

"Wow what did you eat?" He asked me.

"Nothing, I just want to fix it." I replied while still going through the foods we bought.

"We've to go in the grocery every day so you're going to work hard." He said with a smile as he helped to arrange.

"Sure, but I don't even need your help to fix this. I can do this on my own." I said and even acted as if he was laughing.

"It's always yours. 'cause you're so beautiful" He said with a smile.

"I know you're just giving a compliment because you want me to clean the house to. Am i right?" I said and turned around. I was immediately stopped because there were two people smiling at me.

"Son. You didn't say you're with your girlfriend here." A woman said. It looks like Zach. But girl version.

"What a beautiful girl." A one guy added.

"Mom? Dad, why are you here?" Zachary asked. Oh, so that was his parents.

"Ah, we decided to visit you here because we went to Mr and Mrs Albrecht. They also says that their daughter came back here in the Philippines and so it's only a matter of time." His Mommy answered.

"Do you also want to eat a dinner here? I'll cook." He asked them but they just shake their heads.

"We just want to visit you here to see how are you. If you're okay. But I think you really do because someone is taking care of you." His Daddy said. And smirk.

I pouted and look at Zach but he's also smiling.

"Uh, no. Ma'am, Sir. I'm just his maid." I defended. But they just all laugh.

"Ah, don't be shy. It's okay hija. You're so nice, what's your name?" Zachary's mother asked.

"I'm Bella, Bella Sandigo." I answered

"Im, Jeanne Saigon. Zachary's mother. She introduced herself and I nodded and smile. He hug me and whispered "I like you, for my son." Then he smiled again. Wews, weird.

"I'm Clifford Saigon. Zachary's Daddy." The guy said. He also extended his hand for a hand shake. I also did the same.

"You can call us Mommy and Daddy." Zachary's mother said. "Dad, Mom!" Zachary complained. But they just laugh again at him. We both pouted.

"Omg! Look at you two! You're so cute! You really good at each other!" Zachary shouted excitedly.

I cooked first and I was really hard-working not just obvious.

I don't know where Zach is. I said he do what he wanted to do and I'm going to cook our dinner. So he was really happy. Duh.

I've tasted the sinigang I've cooked but it tastes like nothing so added a salt and some seasoning.

"Well, it's nice. This is really good!" I said and turn off the fire.

"Zach, come on! Let's eat! It's ready!" I call him while preparing our food.

"Nice, I'm going to buy that whole mall for you now." He's said with a smile in his face. I just took it for a while.

We sat down and pray before we start eating.

I wondered what Zach looked like because he had repeatedly taken broth, does it's not good?

"Why?" I asked a question and take my spoon to also taste the sinigang. Our viand. My forehead's creased and taste the soup again.

There is no taste.

"Why is it tasteless?" Zach asked. I also look at hem

"I didn't know earlier it was okay and so good." I replied that but he was laughing. I confusedly look at him.

"I'm watching you cook upstairs." He said and pointed the CCTV camera.

"That's how you do oh." He said and took a spoon.

"You put it on the broth and you've got a ladle in the samplied mix. Then you feel like you're a little bit salty and it's okay with you of course you've taken that and then you put it into the bowl and put it on the table." He's going to tell me. I smiled a fake. And he's right.

"YOU'RE SO GOOD AT IT THAT YOU'VE SEEN IT BUT YOU DIDN'T EVEN TELL ME, YOU CAN SEE I DIDN'T NOTICE IT RIGHT? THEN NOW YOU'LL SAY THANK YOU FOR SOFTENING THE MEAT? HA! YOU'RE REALLY NICE TO BE! SO NICE I WANT IT TO POUR IN YOU!!" I screamed and almost ran out of breath. He stepped back.

"You're just going to have a nice name and that's what you're doing," he said. What about that? He's a genius, okay.

"You're funny, it's not just my name. I'm also beautiful too." I walked out.

I went upstairs first and went to my bedroom I had a bath earlier but I wanted to bath again because of that man.

After I took a bath my phone also ring.

I saw my brother's calling.

"Oh?" I answer it with the eyebrow up even though he couldn't see it.

["Good evening too.]" He sarcastically said on the other line.

["You're going to be here tomorrow a few days without going home, but you're looking for a place where you're living in a lot of cars and a big houses.]" He replied on the other side I was blinking an eye.

"K, fine then i know some people are spying me right? Bruh, it's none sense. I can also knows it. It's just as ugly as your face, another reason why there's an observer because I feel like I've done something bad to watch me." When I answered I heard him laugh softly.

["Have you eaten?]" He asked.

"No, it's just going to eat, bye!]" I didn't wait for his answer because I knew Zachary was up.

"Come on, let's eat." Zach call me outside.

"K, I'm going downstairs too." I sat down and removed the towel from my hair. Then I went downstairs and didn't bother to comb.

As soon as I got down I smell so good.

"You're really good at cooking Zachary," I compliment into him. He cook adobo. How possible it is. I cook sinigang earlier then our viand now is Adobo?

"I'm good at everything." He's so proud. I just ignore him and sat down.

"I'll be home tomorrow." I said straight to him and nodded.

"Okay, I let you go, you don't have a contribution here at home."

"Well, I'm not going to come back here because I've found another job." You thought you were the only one? I smiled to see that he was a little surprised.

"What? What's going to go away you're not done yet!" He's going to say that. I looked at him straight away.

"When I want to leave I don't care. I'll leave." I'm joking but I want to laugh.

"No, you're not allowed to."

"Why can you do something?" I'm still scrambling. He got his eyebrows up.

"You're going to go back to what you don't want or what you want. The conversation is over." He answered and then stood up first. Luh, attitude? He's not even consuming it.

"Zachary?" I call it a soft voice. I just hope it's a bit of a squeaky voice. I'm just so proud of it.

"Oh?" He asked me a question and faced me.

"Think about the plates before you leave after I finish eating." I replied then i eat fast.

"You're going to hang on to that." He said then walk away again.

"Well, this is the last time I've been here." I answered and take a deep breath.

"Last time you never cleaned up, you said you're not going to leave. You'll come back here just go home." His voice was obvious as I stopped laughing.

"You don't care about my life." I'm still going to keep going.

"I'm not going to report you to you so you can't find a job." I'm still here.

"Report me. I don't care. I have my money on you. So come on. Pay me for that." I even said and put my hand up. He gave me an evil look.

"Pay? You don't work so you don't have a wage.

"What? Don't you say to me and you don't reduce it?" I was upset. I could see that he smirked.

"I changed my mind so I reduced it because you're lazy." He said as we scramble to eat.

I'm ready to walk out but he suddenly speak.

"I know you're not going to leave because you can't leave me." He's got a good eyebrow and still smirking. I was scrambling and my eyebrow also raised.

"Who says that. You thought you were a loss, who are you?" I asked him, a good question and even held on to his chest because I was worried like something bad was going on here.

I was about to speak when he also speak before i do.

"Yes, I am? Who I am?" I still raised my eyebrows. I thought we were just joking but why did he was just like he was hurt?

"It's just a joke Zach I thought we were just joking about it."

"Am i not okay with you?" He's asking in a sad tone.

"It's just a joke. Of course you're important to me." I said and smiled and he look back at me and saw the joy in his eyes.

"Really? True? Maybe it's just a prank." He turned around but I saw that he was smiling secretly. I smiled too.

"Yes it's true because I'm a boss." I scrambled up and rush into the room then laugh. I saw the joy in his face when I said that.

"Yessy yes today is the day that........" Of what?