Chapter II.4: The Manor

"Iho, eto na yung medical kit." Ipinatong ni Arnold sa table ang isang container at umupo rin sya sa harap ni Bryan.

Binaba na ni Bryan ang tela na may yelo sa lalagyan at kinuha ang salamin. "See? It doesn't look bad."

Binuksan ni Arnold ang box at kinuha ang mga nasa loob nito. "Tsk, it may look good for you but not for your wife. Have you ever thought about what she's going to say?"

Bryan smiled. "Wag kang mag-alala, bago pa sya makauwi dito, magaling na to at wala ng peklat."

"Kahit ang presidente ay hindi kayang manghula kung kailan uulan at aaraw, ibig sabihin lang nyan ay pabago-bago ang panahon at walang makakapagsabi sa mangyayari." Arnold shortly responded.

Bryan sighed in return as if he understands what he means.

"Anong sinabi ko sayo about sa extreme kindness? Disaster diba?" Paalala ni Arnold nang may halong dismaya.

Bryan smiled to reassure his side opinion and raised his hand. "A little."

But Arnold doesn't look convinced and just sighed. "If Madam learned about this, definitely, she'll send someone right away for investigation and fire---."

Binaba ni Bryan ang salamin at tiningnan sya na may kasamang ngiti. "Kuya Arnold, let's keep this a secret." Kindat nya.

"Alam mo ba Bryan, kung saan ka nagkamali? Kung hinayaan mo na lang sya sa harap ng gate na yun, tanging mga village security personnel lang ay may responsibilidad sa pangyayaring ito pero nung niyaya mo syang makatuntong sa lupain na 'to, lalo na sa bahay na 'to, imbes sa maids' headquarters. We are on the same level and in danger as them. Have you forgotten the Mayordoma of this house?" Paalala ni Arnold na nagpatigil kay Bryan. "She works for your wife but still loyal to the old lady. I hope you won't forget about that."

Tiningnan sya ni Bryan at ngumisi. "Alam mo ba Kuya Arnold, isa sa kahinaan ng kahit anong nilalang ay---"

"Pagkain." Patuloy ni Arnold at napailing na lamang. "But that doesn't work all the time. We eat when we want to and when we need to, not when someone impelled us, just to bury their mistakes. Lucky for you, she's with the Queen right now."

He even looks older now as frustration is fully written on his face and clicks his tongue. "Sa panahon talaga ngayon, mas pinapaniwalaan natin ang sinasabi ng iba kaysa sa mga taong mas kilala natin kaya madali tayong madala ng mga pangamba at takot na hindi naman dapat pinapairal."

Pinagmasdan nya muna si Bryan na sobrang tahimik lamang at pawang may iniisip bago pinahid ang gamot sa sugat nito.

"Aruy, masakit pala." Bryan reacted.

"Anong balak mo ngayon sa asawa ni Wally?" Arnold wondered.

Tiningnan sya ni Bryan nang may kalakip na paninigurado at bituin sa kanyang mga mata.

"She'll be our honored guest."

♥♣♠♦♠♣♥

My new home isn't small.

Because I live in a huge and extravagant villa with its four floors, eleven bedrooms, six bathrooms, an old world style library, two exclusive offices, spacious living room, a modern movie theater, a dirty kitchen, private wine cellar, two gourmet kitchens, wide space outdoor garden and house garden, a luxurious 50-foot glass tile swimming pool with spacious pool house, three garages, six housekeeper & staff cottages, two guest house and a wide, unexploited and unexplored open lands.

You will almost think that we're on an undiscovered province in Philippines on how vast this land is.

All owned by my wife.

She has ten bodyguards, eight housekeepers, a mayordoma, two chefs, two gardeners and other unknown staffs limited to my knowledge, employed in this nearly palace.

Sa totoo lang, kahit isang taon, isang buwan at walong araw na simula ng tumira ako dito ay nalilito pa rin ako sa pasikot-sikot, daan at bawat parte ng mansion na ito, meron kasing off-limits ang ibang lugar.

Kaya naman ang paborito ko lang na lugar ay kitchen, dining room, bathroom, living room, wine cellar, my bedroom, althea's room, playhouse, garden, library at yung open area kung saan makikita mo ang mga nagniningning na bituin sa madilim na kalangitan.

To make this secluded house really a warm home, kinaibigan ko lahat muna ng mga tao rito, sa una ay umiiwas sila at masyadong pormal makipag-usap, minsan nga ay isang salita lang ang maririnig ko sa tuwing may tinatanong ako o sinasabi sila sakin, they really act like servants alone, bound to rules and orders and that upsets me.

But that's okay, after all they didn't know me.

The heaven bestowed me a great power, I know magic!

I don't have a wand but I have a magic sandok.

And I introduced to them the miracles of food, the so-called 'friendship'.

Our friendship began because of my mighty and powerful sandok.