Chapter 3: His redundancy

"Miss Velrama."

Nagmulat ako ng mata. I heard the voice of a man in an almost whisper tone na tinawag ako. I opened my eyes only to find myself na nakapatong ang ulo sa lamesa at naharap sa gilid. Seems like nakatulog ako nang hindi ko namamalayan. How come kilala niya ako?

Nagkusot ako ng mata sa pag-upo. I even yawned kaya tinakpan ko ang bibig gamit ang isang kamay. I saw a glimpse of a man na nakatayo sa tapat ko. Lamesa ang nagdidistansya sa amin.

My eyes widened when I realized what just happened. Someone familiar is standing in front of me with hands in his pocket. Basa ang buhok niya at nakaayos in a way that it was pushed back. May mga iilang hibla ng buhok nito na nakalugay sa gilid niya. Now, it seems like he has a side bangs on both sides. He's also wearing a bathrobe, meaning... kakatapos niya lang maligo.

"You fell asleep when you were supposed to be studying those papers," sabay tingin nito sa lamesa. I looked at it, and shocks, oo nga pala. Nagbabasa ako kanina just to familiarize everything but how come nakatulog ako nang hindi ko namamalayan.

"I will be resuming with this until evening," I looked at him but there are times I can't, nakakahiya. Bakit ako nakatulog? And what am I even doing here dba?

"There's no time," he checked his watch. May ipinatong siyang isang paperbag sa lamesa. Doon nabaling ang atensyon ko. The size is way larger pero hindi naman ganon kalaki. It has a white ribbon as a seal and also cream-colored. May tatak din ang paperbag, "SERENE."

"Time to work," bumalik sa kanya ang atensyon ko.

What? Kumunot ang noo ko. Hindi ba nagtratrabaho na ako sa lagay na 'to?

"What?" I asked.

"Take a shower in my room. We'll be leaving in a few minutes. Our client is waiting."

"Ha? Wala akong dalang damit at pampalit."

"Stand up," sagot niya na sumenyas pa gamit ang kamay nito. I might not understand why I have to stand but I did it anyways. Tumayo ako habang nakatingin sa kanya. Humakbang siya papalapit. He was scrutinizing me from head to toe. Napahawak pa siya sa baba nito habang nasa bulsa ang isang kamay. What is he doing?

"Is there something wrong with my outfit?" para kasing hindi niya gusto. Eh ano naman? Tinignan ko ang sarili. I look fine naman, hindi showy ang suot ko, hindi rin naman mukhang pang-manang. It's a pastel pink coat. Naka-tube din ako na kulay puti. Yet, my feet is dirty. Paanong hindi, inakyat ko lang naman ang bundok para sa bahay niya.

"No, but I don't prefer the color of your style while you work with me. And I can't bring you either to the house with those dirty feet."

Hindi ko alam kung dapat ba akong masaktan as if he's trying to insult me or baka sinasabi niya lang 'to para alam ko sa susunod ang isusuot. Bakit ba kasi ako nandito?

I was about to ask my purpose for being here not until, "Take a shower in my room, and bring the paperbag with you. That's what you should wear."

Napatitig na lang ako sa kanya since ngayon ko lang nakita ng malapitan ang mukha nito. He's cute but at the same time, so deadly serious. Tumama sa sinag ng araw ang mata nito. Now, I could clearly see the brown orbs of his eyes.

"I don't like the way you look at me, Miss Velrama," I snapped when he spoked. Agad akong umiwas ng tingin. Can't help but to admire his eyes kase.

"Make it quick or I'll leave you," he added.

Tumango ako at nilagpasan siya. Kinuha ko agad ang nasa lamesa. I went straight to his room and just like what he said. I took a shower. Dito ko na rin isinuot ang laman ng paperbag. And I was shocked when I opened it.

It's a dress— but no. May puting tube, cream-colored coat and same with the skirt na may konting slit, may ribbon din 'yon sa bandang front side. Ang ganda nga ng pagkaka-disenyo. But why do I need to wear this? Akala ko bang trabaho? This clothes do not seem to be for work. Masyadong maganda para sa isang trabaho.

I washed the thoughts away at isinuot na lang 'yon. It's a full package na nga. May mga underwears, even heels and accessories from Channel which are white in color. Nag-ayos na ako sa loob ng cr. It's weird naman kasi kung ilalock ko ang pinto ng kwarto niya knowing that he's also inside this room. Yep, pagpasok ko sa cr, sumunod din siya dito sa loob. Maybe, magbibihis na rin or what. Pinatuyo ko ang buhok ko at nag-ayos ng sarili. Sinuot ko ang damit, maski ang accessories and sandals na kulay puti. It also has a small shoulder bag na hindi ko magagamit dahil wala naman akong dala.

I was holdapped, remember?

Nagpakawala ako ng malalim na hininga at maayos na tinignan ang sarili sa salamin. I look so good, omg.

Binuksan ko ang pintuan at lumabas na ng cr. I roamed my eyes until I saw him standing in front of me. Nakatalikod siya sa akin. He's holding something habang sa labas ng bintana ang tingin. What is he doing? Lumapit ako ng dahan-dahan hanggang sa makita ko na may hawak siyang camera. It is not just a typical camera, mukhang mamahalin ito.

Then he clicked. The camera flashed.

Maayos niyang tinignan ang kinuhanan niya at sandaling ngumiti yet he suddenly looked beside him only to find me. Agad naglaho ang kanyang ngiti a ipinatong ang hawak na camera sa kama nito.

Tuluyan niya akong hinarap. Again, he looked at me from head to toe. Actually, I am uncomfortable every time I feel like I am being observed. I was about to look down dahil sa hiya pero napansin ko ang suot niya. We actually have the same color of what we are wearing. He's also wearing a cream suit. Why? Bakit terno kami ng suot?

I mean, ganyan din ang suot niya kaninang umaga but the one he is wearing now looks so elegant. Plantsadong-plantsado ito.

"Closer," he said.

"H-Ha?"

"We don't have time."

Ginawa ko na lang ang sinabi nito. Pagtapat ko sa kanya, inikutan niya ako, "Maganda sanang tignan sa'yo but you don't even know how to properly wear it," he disclosed habang nasa likuran ko siya.

Did I wear it in a wrong way? Paano?

Ramdam ko na tumigil siya sa harapan ko. Hinawakan niya ang ribbon sa bandang skirt at maayos na itinali.

Credits.

"Something's missing," dagdag niya, "Where's the bag?"

Kailangan din ba 'yon?"

"Ah hindi ko naman kailangan dahil wala naman akong dalang gamit."

"How come? I've always seen women almost bringing their whole house inside their bag."

Natawa na lang ako, "Yes. Totoo naman. But... I lost my things on my way here."

"Because?" mukha ngang binabasa niya ako. Nakatitig siya sa akin.

Umiling na lang ako, "Nothing."

Tinalikuran niya ako at pumasok sa loob ng cr. Paglabas niya, hawak na niya ang bag, "Bring it," kinuha ko 'yon sa kanya at isinuot. Wala namang laman eh.

Then may inilahad siyang isang bagay. Tinignan ko 'yon, "Always bring this in work. When you're at the House," It's a black card na hindi ko alam kung para saan. Tinignan ko ito.

"The House," ang nakasulat sa harap at sa likod naman, "V.C.C"

What is this for? And what's the house? Hindi ba ito ang house na tinutukoy niya?

Inilagay ko na lang 'yon sa bag na bitbit ko.

Now, we're in his car. May sasakyan pala siya at nasa likuran ng bahay nito. At least, hindi ko na need maglakad pababa. Akala ko pa naman maglalakad pa kami.

Sumilip ako sa labas at palubog na ang araw. Maybe, pa-alasais na ng hapon. Nasa driver's seat ako habang katabi ko naman siya. He insisted that my place should always be beside him every time we work.

May binuksan siya sa taas ng kotse, malapit sa front mirror at iniabot sa akin. I took it. Isang puting maskara na kalahati ng mukha ang natatakpan. May nakaukit din ditong disenyo.

"Wear it when we go inside. Do not ever remove it not unless I say so. Do not talk to clients not until I command you to speak. Do not leave my side. And don't do anything unless I say so. Understand?"

Hindi ko man nakuha kung bakit ganito siya ka-strikto, but I guess I have to agree, "Okay."

He handed me another thing at ipinatong 'yon sa mga hita ko kaya napatingin ako rito. It's a file folder, "That's where you're going to write my upcoming schedules for the week. Write everything they will offer me including their name, their gestures, body language and even the time. List down every detail they do."

Why does it have to be sooo strict? Is he an investigator? Bakit pati body language ay kailangan? At bakit ako?

"And in your bag, there is a small camera. Take as much pictures as you can," dagdag niya habang abala sa pagdradrive. Sumilip ako sa loob ng bag at may camera nga. Maliit lang ito.

"Every time we finish our transactions for the day, give me the SD card inside the camera and insert a new one. Make sure you will be taking pictures. I won't be receiving an empty SD card or else you will be taking a selfie of yourself until it reaches 500MB."

What?!

"Each card only has 500MB. It won't last more than 12 hours."

For the whole time, puro paalala at abiso ang sinasabi niya. I don't know if my brain remembered them all pero ayaw ko namang tanungin ulit dahil ayaw niya ng paulit-ulit.

"Last but not the least, instead of giving me business reports and paperworks, give me the photo albums instead. Business reports and paperworks are all your job."

My jaw literally dropped. From that moment, I found myself waking up on a wet hard bed.

Nananaginip lang ako.

...3ieguno...