The Princess in Disguise

Yumie handed off her old ID card sa security personnel. Pinalitan nito iyon ng gold card. It's an indication that her access have been upgraded to a higher authority. She said her thanks and lumakad palayo sa counter. Nakasalubong niya si Rigor. Tila patapos na din ang shift nito.

"You were moved to Higher Office?" turan nito.

"Talk about coincidence. I'm now the official EA of the VP," ani Yumie. She's not excited about it but she doesn't hate it either. It's like pros and cons at the same time.

"Hindi 'to ok, Mayumia," may bahid na pag-aalala na turan ni Rigor. Even though she have been his guard for 12 years and she learned independence yet hindi ito nawala sa tabi niya.

"12 years ago was not ok either. But I got by. This may not be ok, but think of it as an opportunity," ani Yumie.

"That's risky!"

"Huh? I'd been living at risk for 12 years, kuya," she sounded sarcastic but very platonic. Sanay na siya sa kalagayan niya and she's ready to face whatever dangers lies ahead of her.

Rigor seemed very much worried. Yet, hindi ito ang tamang venue para magbatuhan sila ng debate. May sasabihin pa sana ito ngunit natanaw nito ang security na lumabas sa security office. Palapit ito sa kanila.

"Sa bahay tayo mag-usap," mabilis na bulong ni Rigor saka mabilis na lumakad palayo sa kaniya.

"Ms. Arguellez?" tawag kay Yumie ng lumapit na security officer.

Humarap siya. Natigilan naman si Rigor, weighing in kung may kapahamakan na bang magaganap kay Yumie.

"Hinahanap po kayo sa VP's office. ni-radio po rito."

Nilingon muna ni Yumie si Rigor saka sinagot ang security. "Please advise, I'm coming up." Lumakad na siya papuntang main lobby.

Rigor just calmly took a deep breath, then continued walking.

Yumie got back to Zeek's office. The floor lobby receptionist informed her na kanina pa siya hinahanap, tila natataranta pa ito. Yumie just smiled and went straight to Zeek's office. She knock first on the door but did not wait for Zeek's reply, pumasok na din siya agad.

"You called me?" kalmadong turan niya.

"Where were you?" ani Zeek na hindi siya nililingon. May binabasa itong dokumento.

"I told you, I was at the HR Office to update my status then they ask me to go to the security office para palitan yung access card," she explained. She doesn't want to sound like reasoning out yet parang ganun ang naging tema niya.

Nilingon siya ni Zeek. His one eyebrow raised.

"...sir," dugtong niya sa litanya niya trying to sound respectful towards her boss.

Napaangat ng pagkakaupo si Zeek, sumandal sa swivel chair. It seemed that he needs to establish authority on Yumie. Mukhang hindi eeffect ang bossy attitude niya rito. She's a boss in nature. Tila natural dito na nagpapasunod kung sinuman ang utusan nito. Kung sa iba, he doesn't really like that. But with, Yumie, it seemed ok. But he don't want to let her be.

"You have a problem with me, Mayumia?" ani Zeek trying to establish authority.

"None. ---Sir," tila hindi ito sanay na tumatawag ng sir.

"Do you hate me, Mayumia?" Zeek asked in a naughty smile.

"Can you not call me by my full name, sir? I am not used to it, sir and only family ang tumatawag sakin ng pangalan na yan, sir," Yumie said na may pagdidiin kapag binabanggit niya ang salitang Sir. She may have told Zeek his real name but him repeating it was not a good idea. Mahirap na baka may ibang makarinig.

Zeek naughty smile widened. It's as if he's enjoying teasing Yumie. He likes saying her real name. It's like she's giving him the right to own her.

"Does it bother you, Mayumia?" pangungulit niya.

Tumalim ang tingin ni Yumie kay Zeek. Lalo lang napangiti si Zeek.

"Ok fine, I won't call you, Mayumia. Should I call you, darling?" Panunukso ni Zeek. Nangunot ang noo ni Yumie. "I don't like that endearment, it sounded old fashion. Babe was overused and not very endearing. Honey? Sweetheart? very much common," ani Zeek.

Si Yumie naman ang natawa. "Requirement ba na magkaron tayo ng endearment, sir? I'm ok with you calling me Yumie and me calling you, boss. Lahat ba ng EA mo tinatawag mo with sweet endearments?"

Zeek cutely pouted and shrug his shoulder off, "No. I prefer them calling me as, sir."

"Then let's settle on that."

"I just thought you're not used to calling others as boss or sir. Baka lang gusto mo ng ibang tawagan," Zeek said sarcastically ulit.

Yumie get it. It is really obvious na hindi siya nagpapabully dito, therefore she's creating an armour that shielded her sa pambubully nito neglecting na hindi pala siya prinsesa sa palasyong ito. She felt ashamed pero hindi niya yun pinahalata.

"I'm sorry for neglecting my boundaries. It won't happen again," she said sincerely apologetic. Napayuko pa ito. Umiwas sa malalim na tingin ni Zeek.

Zeek's face was all serious, tuwid lang niyang tinitigan si Yumie. Naramdaman niya ang submission ni Yumie. It felt good. Marunong naman pala itong sumunod. He stared at him making sure that Yumie would somehow melt down. He want her to obey him. She may fight back but it won't mean na hindi niya ito mapapasunod. Besides, it's more fun to take the challenge.

Napatingin si Yumie sa glass wall. Kulay dilaw na ang kalangitan, indikasyon na papalubog na ang araw.

"What? Do you want to leave now?" ani Zeek.

Binalik ni Yumie ang tingin kay Zeek. Ngunit di siya nagsalita. Bagkus, dahan-dahan lang siyang napailing to inform Zeek she doesn't think that way.

Zeek made deep breaths. Stood up and walked towards the door ngunit huminto sa tabi niya. Nakapamulsang humarap ito sa kaniya. Bahagya niya lang itong nilingon.

"Guess what? You can't end your shift now. You're on mandatory overtime," mapang-uyam na halos bulong nito sa kaniya na may kasamang ngiti teasingly. Nakangiti pa rin ito nang lumabas ng opisina.

Naikuyumos ni Yumie ang kamao sa inis kasabay na pagbusangot ng mukha. Ngunit wala itong magawa. Sumunod ito kay Zeek na nagngingimi sa inis.

**********************************

Nagkikim pa rin ng inis si Yumie as she watched Zeek from behind sa maingay na bar na iyon. Kung nakakahiwa lang ang talim ng tingin niya siguro kanina pa hiwa ang katawan ni Zeek at yung babaeng nakakulumpoy dito, for sure na nagtitili na.

Hindi niya alam kung part pa ng trabaho niyang samahan ito sa gimik nito but she knows trabaho niyang protektahan ang image nito bilang executive assistant/personal assistant nito. Thus, kasama sa pagbabantay kung may gagawin bang kalokohan ito sa kung anumang aktibidades nito.

Zeek was only drinking kanina nang biglang may babaeng lumapit dito. Kanina nakaupo siya sa tapat nito but she couldn't bear looking at the girl na parang ahas that seemed to be slithering towards Zeek. Hindi niya alam kung kanino siya mas inis. Sa babae ba for being disrespectful on their gender na obviously a flirt o kay Zeek that did not do anything and let the girl do whatever she's doing. Whatever it is, she can't do anything but to watch.

"Ms. Yumie, kung naiinip ka na, pwede ka na umuwi. Kami na bahala kay sir," ani ng driver ni Zeek na si Jhun. Kasama nito ang personal security ni Zeek na si Don. Napalingon si Yumie. Tinawagan niya ang mga ito kanina just to ensure na makakauwi ang boss niya ng ligtas incase man malasing ito. But then, ayaw niyang umuwi hanggang hindi ito nakakaalis.

"Naku Kuya. I wish I could. Pero baka pestehin lang ako niyan. Kapag nawala ako sa paningin niya. Ok pa naman ako. I just want to make sure na makakauwi pa kami kapag luglog na yan. Hindi ko yan kaya akayin," ani Yumie.

"Naku, hindi nalalasing si Sir. Hindi naman nagtatagal yan dito," ani naman ni Don.

Napalingon si Yumie sa relos, halos maghahating gabi na. Ganun ba yung hindi magtatagal?

"Ngayon pa lang siguro..." dugtong ni Jhun nang mapansin nitong napasulyap siya sa suot na relo. Sabay pa ang mga ito na matawa. Napangiti din si Yumie.

Napalingon siya kay Zeek. Lalo siyang nabwisit when she saw Zeek snuggling the girl. It made her felt like nauseated. She couldn't take it. Tumayo siya.

"Can I stay in the car? Nahihilo na ko eh," aniya. Inabot ni Jhun ang susi sa kaniya. "If he looked for me, tell him I'm at the rest room, sumusuka ng bituka. And tell him, na mukhang hipon yung tinutuka niya. Bigyan niyo ng flashlight baka nadidiliman eh," ani Yumie as she walked out the bar. Naiwang natatawa lang ang dalawa.

Yumie headed to the parking lot and went to Zeek's car. Sa likod siya naupo. Binuksan niya bahagya ang bintana saka humilig sa upuan. She took out her phone. Binasa niya ang text message galing kay Rigor. Hinihintay daw siya nitong umuwi. Napangiwi si Yumie.

Rigor have always been protective of her. Kung tutuusin napakalaki ng utang na loob niya rito. Rigor didn't leave her nung panahong walang-wala siyang matatakbuhan. Ito ang tumayong bread winner sa kanila ni Nana Felicia. And they build a small family kahit pa hindi sila magkakadugo. Kahit na sobra-sobra ang pagpapasalamat niya rito, hindi niya minsang maiwasang mainis rito. Kadalasan nakakasakal ang pagiging protective nito. At katulad ng magkapatid, minsan umaabot din sila sa bangayan. Isinantabi niya ang text nito at muling hinilig ang ulo sa headrest ng upuan.

Napansin niya ang mini compartment kit sa sasakyan ni Zeek. Out of curiosity, binuksan niya iyon. It's like a mini storage for all emergency necessities. From tissues, medicines, disenfectants and the like, kumpleto iyon. But what caught, Yumie's attention was the small purple bottle of ointment na kilalang-kilala niya. Kinuha iyon ni Yumie. Namimilog ang matang ininspeksiyon ang maliit na botelya. It was half used, but she was so sure what's that bottle for.

It was a calming oil na specially formulated ng Mommy niya nung nabubuhay pa ito. Ginagamit iyon ng mommy niya kapag inaatake ito ng stress. She remembered how she loved the smell. At kahit 12 years na ang nakakalipas, she still remember that her mom made it. She knows pretty well na mommy niya ang nagformulate niyon. It was named after her.

"Mayumia's Scent..." she read the label.

Napalitan ng pagtataka ang pagkamangha niya. Hindi niya alam pano nagkaron si Zeek niyon. Her mom handcrafted the scent on her own. And it seemed well scented just how like she remembered. Hindi niya alam kung sino pa ang possibleng nakakaalam ng formula nun but she knows na hindi iyon nabibili kung saan. She was looking for it matagal na. Eventhough her mom have died, she still wished na makakuha ng calming oil na yun. She decided to keep the bottle. Hindi niya sure kung mapapansin ni Zeek na kinuha niya iyon, but she doesn't care. Then it hit her. That's why Zeek have this somehow familiar scent on top of the manly perfume. She just couldn't figure out.

Nayakap niya ang maliit na botelya. She missed her mom even more...

"Mommy..." she whispered in a teary eye.

************************************

NAPALINGON SI ZEEK. Yumie wasn't there. Nakita niya si Don at Jhun. Yumie must've called them. Naging malikot ang mga mata niya. Looking for Yumie. But she's nowhere in sight. Napaangat siya sa pagkakasandal sa sofa na inuupuan niya. Kinalas niya ang nakalingkis na kamay ng babaeng nakapulupot sa kaniya.

"Hey!" apila ng babae.

He looked everywhere, Yumie wasn't really there. Inabot niya ang baso ng alak na iniinom niya. Inisang lagok iyon. And without a word, tumayo.

"You're leaving?" pasigaw na turan ng babae.

He didn't even bother to look. Nilapitan niya si Jhun at Don.

"Alis na tayo, sir?" Jhun asked. Zeek did not answer. Dire-diretso lang siyang lumabas. Sumunod na si Jhun. Don settled the bills.

Nauna sa paglalakad si Jhun patungo sa sasakyan. Zeek silently followed Jhun. Hindi niya alam but he was pissed knowing Yumie didn't stayed like he expected. Parang pinamukha nito sa kaniyang wala itong pakialam and she won't bother looking after him. She's supposed to be her Executive Assistant. It's part of her job to look after him. Pero umalis ito na hindi nagpapaalam sa kaniya.

But then, Yumie made sure na may aalalay sa kaniya. She called Jhun and Don. It maybe right but it just feels so wrong for him.

'Mayumia, you'll gonna die tom---' naputol sa isip niya ang planong banta sa bagong EA nang matanawan niya itong natutulog sa sasakyan. The window was slightly opened. Nakahilig ito sa backseat and peacefully napping. Hindi niya napigilang mapangiti. He felt elated. But then, winasiwas niya yun sa isip.

Akmang lalapit si Jhun sa sasakyan at gigisingin si Yumie ngunit pingil niya ito.

"Let her sleep..." ani Zeek.

Umikot siya sa kabilang side and went inside the car as silent as possible. Jhun did the same thing tila napagtanto nitong ayaw ni Zeek na maabala ang tulog ni Yumie. Sinenyasan din nito si Don nang pumasok sa sasakyan.

Yumie was still asleep kahit pa umaandar na sila. Zeek got the chance to look at Yumie with full of admiration. Ayaw niyang putulin ang pagkakataon niya. He didn't know but its as if Yumie has powers over him. He want to look at her as long as possible. She had this beautiful face that he really can't deny. Her eyes was doll like round with thick long eye lashes. Her lips was thin and looking soft. She has this solid aura of a queen. At kahit nakapikit at tulog, she's oozing with sex appeal. Zeek was so mezmerized that when Yumie suddenly moved, mabilis niyang nasalo ang yumukyok na ulo nito. Sinalo niya nang palad ang ulo nito and he was able to gauge how small her face was. Slowly, inayos niya ang pagkakahilig nito. Hindi ito nagising.

All throughout hindi niya naalis ang tingin kay Yumie. He feasted on the opportunity that he can look on this beauty without interruption. He enjoyed it a lot. Hanggang sa bigla itong umingot, unti-unting napadilat ng mata. And Yumie woke up. Mabilis itong napaigtad nang mapansing nasa byahe na sila.

"S-sorry. Napahimbing ako," she explained. It was her mother's magic calming oil. For 12 years, ngayon lang siya nakatulog ng tila kalmado. Just like before. Pakiramdam niya she was home again with her mom's scent.

"You're sleeping on the job, Mayumia," ani Zeek still looking straight at her.

"I'm sorry," aniya.

Mapang-uyam na ngiti lang ang sinukli ni Zeek. Saka nagsalita kay Jhun. "Jhun, ihatid muna natin si Yumie before me."

"Oh no! You can drop me off on the next bus stop, I can call a cab," awat niya.

Zeek eyebrow raised. Kung sa iba, wala siyang pakialam. But for Yumie, he's obligated to ensure that she'll be home safe.

"It's either your home or my place, Mayumia. I won't let you ride a cab this late."

Sinalubong ni Yumie ang tingin ni Zeek. Tinatantiya niya kung makikipagmatigasan siya dito. In the end alam niyang, mas mamimilit ito.

"Ok, then. Pahatid na lang po, Kuya Jhun." Sumandal siya sa upuan and looked away from Zeek.

Zeek's smile widen.