Arrange To You (Tagalog)

It's already noon time when we get back in the house. Niyakag rin ni Wayde ang mga pinamiling pagkain habang ako ay inaayos ang pinaka-unang kwarto na tutulugan ko sana kahapon.

I'm busy brooming the floor and getting rid of the dust in every corner. Hindi naman madami ang lilinisan ko dahi ginawa na iyon ni Wayde kahapon. Which I'm thankful of.

***

Daddy, look! I already know how to used the broom. Manang Glenda taught me!" magiliw na aniya ng isang bata habang nakatingin sa ama niya. Kinuha ito ng ama at pinugpog ng halik sa mukha. The child can't help but to giggle. "Wow! I'm proud of my princess. Show daddy how you do it?"

"First, you need to listen very carefully, okay?" kumuha ito ng isa pang walis at inilahad iyon sa ama.

"Alright, princess. Daddy will lend his ears for you."

"That's good! So first step, hold the broom properly. Be sure to be comfortable when holding it, okay, Daddy?"

****

I smiled bitterly.

Those were the times that it was only I and him. Before Roseanna came into the picture, his girlfriend. I didn't completely understand why he chose that woman who basically just wanted money from him.

Narinig ko ang pagtikhim ng kung sino sa likod ko. My eyes darted to Wayde who's bringing a new set of blankets and pillow.

"Wayde."

"Tinawag kita ng ilang beses, you seems spacing out," napakurap ako at pinilig ang ulo.

"Pasensya na, I'm just thinking about something. Thank you for your effort in bringing this blanket and pillow," kinuha ko sa hawak niya ang mga iyon at nilapag sa maliit na bedside table.

Malapit na rin naman akong matapos sa paglilinis kaya ma-ilalagay ko na ang mga pinamili sa mga lalagyan niyon. Ngayon ko lang din napansin na marami-rami pala ang nabili ko. Masyado akong nawili sa mga kagamitan sa bayan. "How long are you staying here?" umupo siya sa kama ko.

I sat at the sofa in front of him, "hindi mo pa naman ako papa-alisin rito diba?" Wayde shook his head.

"You can stay if you want, you're doing me a favor, anyway."

"Bakit nga pala ayaw mo ng babae na makasama rito sa bahay mo? I mean, Diego mentioned it to me the first day we met."

Those intimidating looks made me scared, I admit. We always tend to have a bad impression about someone in the first meeting. It turns out na mali pala ang hinuha ko sa kaniya.

"Not to boast, but there are certain women from the outside who went here just to see me. It's not the first time that it happened and I didn't like it. Kaya simula 'nun ay hindi na ako nagpapa-pasok rito," he answered. "I don't want to lend my kindness to the wrong people or they will abuse it."

Napatango-tango ako. If that was the case before, then even I myself wouldn't want someone in my own property. Ang ayaw ko rin sa lahat ay nang-aabuso ng kabaitan.

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"Am I? Hindi ko napapansin. I'm too busy to even notice." Ibinagsak niya ang sarili sa kama ko at inilagay ang braso sa mga mata.

"Sooo... wala ka man lang naging crush? or even starstruck to such beauty?" lumapit ako sa kaniya at umupo sa upuan na gawa sa kahoy kaharap niya.

"Wala." He blandly said.

"You should have one! Alam mo, having crushes can make your day two times brighter!"

I and my dad would always talk about my crushes in school way back then. I'm a picky chooser. Ang pinipili ko lang ay tahimik lang sa gilid pero hindi naman maarte sa paligid. Looking back at those memories was fun and cringe at the same time.

"And why is that?" napangiti ako sa tanong ni Wayde.

"Well, you have an inspiration to go to work every day because you can see your crush. Pwede mo pa siyang maka-usap, masulyapan or whatever would you like to do. Find at least one, Wayde." Speaking from my experience, a little admiration could make me energize.

"My world don't work that way, Celestia. Masyado akong abala sa mga gawain ko at marami pang mga conference ang kailangan puntahan. Not unless, I would hire someone to work on that."

Humilig ako sa upuan at pinagkrus ang kamay sa dibdib. Wayde seems to be really busy at his work. Mukhang pagtra-trabaho lang ang inaatupag niya buong magdamag.

He needs to have a little break too.

Speaking of break...

"Hey, I have a proposal for you."

"Ang lalaki ang dapat gumagawa niyan, Celestia," a smile crept on his lips with what he said. Hindi ko alam na palabiro pala si Wayde.

Tumawa lang ako sa kaniya at napa-iling.

"Help me to find a job, then I'll help you with your paperworks. You're a businessman, I assume?" Mukhang napukaw ko naman ang atensyon niya dahil inalis niya ang braso sa mukha at tumingin sa kaniya. The side of his lips rose.

"And in what way would you be able to help me with that?" May panghahamon sa boses niyang saad.

Maarte ko siyang pinagtaasan ng kilay.

"With the things that I can help you with?" I sarcastically said. "Tinuruan na ako ni daddy kung paano mamahala sa murang edad. Ang pasikot-sikot at ang pagkilatis sa mga taong nasa industriya natin."

High school pa lang ako ay tinuturuan niya na ako sa mga kailangan kong paunti-unting matutunan. My mom died when she gave birth to me and dad has no other choice but to teach me those things. Which I didn't even regret. Lumaki akong pinagsisilbihan and the only thing that I could be proud of was the knowledge I have regarding the business industry.

I may not be the best employee that my dad could ask for but I surely know in myself that I am capable of something.

Which I can carry through my whole life.

"Hindi ka naman mapili sa trabaho? You're starting from scratch and in a rural place you're in, mahirap maghanap ng trabaho na ka-lebel ng kalidad mo." Kahit anong trabaho ay tatanggapin ko.

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Malaki ang na-ipon ko sa pagtra-trabaho sa kumpanya at kayang tumagal ng ilang buwan pero hanggang doon na lang iyon. I need to work and earn money. Besides, I'm here to have my escape and to feel the tranquility of the place. "Deal. Could we make it next week? Pwede kitang tulungan sa mga gagawin mo ngayon. Gusto ko munang suyurin ang lugar bago maghanap ng trabaho." It's always been a dream I've had since then.

To travel like how my dad used to. But when that woman came into my life, it all vanished like a bubble. Hindi ako maramot sa atensyon. I was even supportive of them, before.

Not until Roseanna became controlling and it affected everyone in the house. Even my dad. The only person that I looked up and the person that I could give my life to. Napabuntong-hininga ako.

"Wayde, could you teach me how to cook?" tanong ko, umaasa na sana pumayag siya.

"What's the sudden urge to do it?" nahihimigan ko ang kyuryusidad sa boses nito.

"Ang sabi mo nga ay dapat kong matutunan ang ganyang mga bagay dahil kasal na ak—"

Wayde cuts me off, "Hey, I didn't mean it that way. I'm sorry if you interpret it like that," nakita ko ang pagka-alarma sa mga mata nito. "Gawin mo dahil gusto mong gawin. And I'm sure that your husband won't let you do the work alone." Usal niya na parang sigurado na itong hindi siya pagtra-trabahuhin siya ng asawa. Asawa. That certain word even makes her shiver.

"I don't even know him. At wala akong planong kilalanin siya," naramdaman kong natigilan ito. Siguro'y hindi makapaniwala sa sinabi ko.

"Hindi mo kilala ang asawa mo?"

"It was an arranged marriage and can we not talk about it, please? Hindi ko gustong pag-usapan ang parteng iyon." Mahina siyang tumango sa'kin at nagpaalam na ihanda ang mga kakailanganin sa pagluluto.

I heaved a sighed.

****

"Is there anything we could do para hindi 'to tumalsik? It's freaking hurting my skin!" napangiwi ako sa sakit nang natamaan na naman ang braso ko ng mantika.

Pulang-pula na ang bahaging iyon ng braso ko at mas humahapdi pa nang humupa.