DUCANI LEGACY SERIES #2: KONNAR

Kabanata 2

Kabanata 2

Konnar

"Ducani ka?"

I tried my best not to crackle when I saw her eyes remained, well, narrow despite her surprised reaction. Bakit kasi ang singkit ng haponesang 'to?

Hinubad ko ang sumbrerong suot ko't pinasadahan ng mga daliri ang aking buhok. "Oo... kasi sa Ducani Empire ako nagtatrabaho." I smirked, trying my best not to laugh at her reaction. "Sabi ng bossing ko, lahat kami Ducani basta trabahador ng Ducani. Ayan na. Nakakilala ka na ng Ducani, Miss."

Her eyes quenched, her thin lips pursed, and her fists tightly closed as anger flickered in her beautiful brown designer eyes.

"Iyong legit na Ducani ang sinasabi ko, hindi 'yong promoted bilang Ducani, gago!"

I laughed.  I swear she thought about slapping me with her bag. "Ay 'yong legit ba?" Umismid ako. Legit din naman ako.

Umirap sa akin ang masungit niyang mga mata saka siya inis na inis na nagmartsa paalis. I held my broom again and grinned. Look at her slaying in her cute floral skirt and black off-shoulder top? Last time I saw her, she wore nothing but jeans and loose shirt.

"Balik ka bukas!" sigaw ko. Nang lumingon siya habang matalim ang tingin sa akin ay lumawak ang ngisi sa mga labi ko. "Libre silay ulit sa Ducani mo."

She showed me her middle finger before she walked faster. Muntik pa siyang matapilok, kaya nang lingunin niya ako ay namumula nang lalo sa galit.

"Malas ka sa buhay!"

Natatawa na lang akong umiling. Aba, sinisi pa ako? Kasalanan ko bang nagsuot siya ng takong?

I wore my mask again and just continued sweeping. Panay ang lingon ko sa direksyon niya hanggang sa nakaliko siya sa sumunod na kanto. Nang mawala na siya sa paningin ko, dinampot ko ang dust pan at sisipol-sipol na pumasok ng building.

My phone has been buzzing for the last five minutes. Whatever it was about, I'm sure it's important. Keeno doesn't have the patience to keep calling me if it wasn't after all.

Sumakay ako ng elevator at nagtungo sa top floor. Nang masigurong walang empleyadong makakakita sa akin maliban sa sekretarya ni Keeno ay pumasok ako sa loob.

His secretary locked the door before handing me the documents I had to sign for the construction of our newest branch of Hotel Khallisa.

"Your ex is making another threat," bungad ni Keeno nang makaupo ako sa sofa.

I signed the documents and gave it back to Cielle. "Ano na namang dahilan? Lumabas na ang DNA test."

"She said you paid the clinic to make the result negative." Natatawa siyang umiling. "Remind me why you dated her again?"

I sighed and grabbed myself a cup of coffee. Nagprisinta si Cielle na siya na ang magtitimpla ngunit tumanggi ako.

"We were young, dumb, and broke. She chose someone who has a stable job. I moved on. She got pregnant, I reunited with our family." I settled the teaspoon on the saucer and lifted my cup. "Some women will only love you for the name you're carrying."

Keeno groaned. "As if I have no idea, hmm? I spent nine months of my life inside the wrong womb."

Natawa kaming pareho. "Just block every photo of mine that she will try to post on social media then leave her be. Mapapagod din 'yon." Sumimsim ako ng kape. "Where's Khalila right now?"

"Probably in Cebu."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Akala ko ba nasa Benguet kahapon? Puta, lumilipad ba 'yang kapatid mo?"

"She lied. Pasusundan mo na naman. Why don't you just let her do her thing? She's more badass than the rest of us. She can handle herself."

"Oh, no no. Not when Prieto and Egracia are killing each other for her." I sat on the sofa and crossed my legs in a manly way. "Tawagan mo pala ang supervisor ng maintenance department. Ako lang magwawalis sa labas."

Keeno sighed. "How long are you gonna keep doing this? I don't mind being your front as the CEO, but I can't enjoy your office without feeling guilty every time I'm seeing you mopping floors, kuya."

I smiled and sipped on my coffee. I'd probably do this as long as I could. Hindi lang naman dahil ayaw kong iwanan ang naging buhay ko noon bago kami nakasama ulit ng mga kapatid ko at ni Daddy.

I wanted to keep a low profile so I could see how the empire does from the ground up. When you're in a janitorial uniform, you become invisible to those who don't really give a damn about the empire.

My Dad burned down his father's company and started from zero. I vowed to protect his legacy no matter what when I inherited his position, kaya walang lugar sa kumpanya ang mga taong sarili lang nila ang iniisip nila. By blending in with the rest of the lower-ranked employees, I get to see who treats the guards right, and those who only respect the ones in power.

"I think I'm gonna have to keep mopping floors a bit longer than expected."

Keeno leaned on his swivel chair then tapped his fingers on the table. "Is it because of that girl?"

"Who?" patay-malisya kong tanong.

"'Yong palaging tumatambay sa labas ng building."

"Ah, 'yon?" I grinned. "Yup," I said, popping the p.

He sighed and stared at me as if he's losing faith in my sanity. "You know you could get all the girls you want, only if you will finally reveal yourself, right?"

"It is more fun this way." Humikab ako saka tuluyang nahiga sa sofa. "Gusto niyang makapangasawa ng Ducani. I am a Ducani."

"Exactly."

Iniangat ko ang ulo ko. "'Yon nga ang problema, Keeno. Kung malalaman niya ngayong Ducani ako, she will only love me because of my last name, not for who I am."

He groaned and rubbed his palm on his face. "Does it even matter? Come on. We both know what our parents have is rare."

I clicked my tongue and stared at the ceiling. "It does matter. Saka ko na sasabihing Ducani talaga ako kung pagkatao ko na talaga ang minahal."

Cielle smirked. "Ang tanong, Sir Kon, papayag bang ligawan mo?"

Umismid ako. "Huwag mong minamaliit si Kanor Baltazar, Cielle." I yawned and covered my cap on my face. "You'll see. I'm gonna get that girl soon, with or without me bragging about the Ducani surname."

"And how exactly, Sir Kon?"

Itinaas ko ang cap at sinilip siya. "Like I said, you'll see." Ibinalik ko ang pagkakatakip ng cap sa aking mukha saka ako umayos ng higa sa sofa. "Wake me up once you're done tracking my sister. Ain't no way I'll let Egracia nor Prieto have a bite of her lips this early."

"Just leave her be," ani Keeno.

Umismid ako. "Fine. I won't stick my nose on her hair anymore, pero sabihin mo diyan sa mga anak nina Tito Lee at Tito Jigo na magsanay na silang umiwas sa rumaragasang kotse, sa suntok, at sa lumilipad na bola ng soccer." Muli akong humikab. "Hindi lang ako ang anak ni Daddy na hindi pumapayag na magkaroon ng boyfriend 'yang si Lila."

Keeno sighed. "That's why she loves me more than the rest of you."

I smirked under my cap. "Kapag may nagpaiyak diyan, tignan ko lang kung hindi mo palunukin ng camera ang magiging boyfriend niyan."

Umismid siya. "Hindi lang camera. Pati tripod kasama."

I waved my hand. "Exactly. Now find her and send a dozen of bodyguards before our younger brothers decide to secure her place themselves..."