24Karat Virgin

Chapter 18. The World at her Feet

Note: So ayun na nga guys...napakatagal na panahon...pasensya na. Huhu.

Ares

I was trying to concentrate on sending emails and a series of instructions to my trusted Capos in Moscow, pero hindi ko magawa dahil bigla na lang sumulpot sa harapan ng pinto ko si Rosita. Nakasara ang pinto, pabalik-balik siya na parang pinag-iisipan kung kakatok ba o hindi. I could see her clearly from the CCTV installed in front of my office door.

It was hard for me to read this woman. I hated that she wouldn't recognize my authority or flinch one bit in front of me, even when I raised a tone. She went to the doctor yesterday, and I watched her every move as she scanned the boutique and the arts store. There was one dress she particularly liked in that boutique and a whole lot of items in the arts store. She didn't buy any of it, though. She just stared at the prices as if they cost a fortune.

She was the second daughter of Roman Ferrer de Sandoval, and yet nothing of her actions showed that she was a mafia princess. Totoo hindi na ganoon kaimpluwensiya at kalakas ang sakop ni Roman pero hindi pa rin naman sila maituturing na naghihikahos na pamilya para umasta si Rosita ng ganoon sa harapan ng mga simpleng bagay na may kakarampot na presyo. The more I realized that she had been treated unfairly at that house since the beginning, even abused. Hindi lang sa emosyonal na aspeto kundi pati na rin pinansyal. Rosita had been deprived of so many things all her life. Kaya ganoon na lamang ang lungkot na nababasa ko sa kanyang mga mata kapag tinititigan ko siya. Malalim ang pinanggagalingan niyon na alam kong hindi basta-basta mawawala gaano man kalaking pera ang gastuhin ko. O gaano man karaming tao ang pagdusahin at patayin ko mula sa angkan ng mga Ferrer de Sandoval.

I asked Cindy to review the footage I sent her and make sure that every item in those stores that Rosita spent a two-second glance at was bought.

She was mine. And I would make sure that she had the world at her feet. Kung ako lang ang masusunod, tupok na ng apoy ang bahay ng mga Ferrer de Sandoval ngayon.

Napahawak ako sa noo. Ano bang ginagawa ko, nag-aaksaya ako ng panahon kakabasa sa mga kilos at galaw ng isang babae gayong napakaraming bagay ang dapat kong asikasuhin? The sites in Moscow were not exactly serene.

Matapos ang ilang buntong-hininga, pinindot ko ang automatic lock ng pinto, nagbukas iyon. Tila nagulat pa siya at akmang tatakbo.

"What do you need?" nilakasan ko ng kaunti ang boses ko para marinig niya.

Pamaang siya. Pumihit pahaap sa akin at saka dahan-dahang pumasok ng kwarto. "Are you talking to me?"

Gusto kong matawa. She was pretending that I was the one who needed her. "Kanina ka pa pabalik-balik sa pintuan ko, anong kailangan mo?"

She bit her lip in embarrassment. I caught her off guard. I watched as she swallowed a lump in her throat. Everything about this woman was intriguing...and fascinating. I couldn't believe I was waiting for her response, like I was hanging by a thread. What could she need from me right after she gets off her bed?

"Ikaw ang naglagay ng bandaid sa sugat ko kagabi?"

Umangat ang kilay ko at bahagyang ngumisi. Why would I do that? At bakit niya naman iisipin na ako nga ang naglagay?

"No. I did not put a bandaid on your wound, Rosita. Cindy checks on you every day, even before you wake up. Bakit hindi siya ang tanungin mo?"

I watched her as her face brightened and her tongue came out to lick her lower lip. Damn, I want to lick it too. Napahiya siya pero pilit pa rin niyang tinatatagan ang mukha. Gustong kong tumawa ng malakas pero pinigilan ko din iyon. Tiningnan ko ang orasan, alam kong marami akong nakalinyang gagawin sa araw na ito pero hindi na siguro masama kung maglalaan ako ng isang oras sa kanya. Sinulpayan ko ang cellphone ko na nakapatong sa mesa nang tumunog iyon. It was Cindy. Sabi niya ay dumating na ang mga items na pinabili ko sa kanya. Tumayo ako at inayos ang pagkakatiklop ng manggas ko hanggang sa siko.