Mr. Billionaire

Kabanata 14

Taboo

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"What?" maang na tanong ni Fatima. What's with Venda's reaction? "Why do you look so scared?"

Pumikit nang mariin ang kaibigan at saka lumayo sa kaniya. "You just don't walk around this mansion while blabbering things like that, Fatima. You might get yourself into trouble!" litanya nito habang palakad-lakad nang nakapameywang.

Nanatili namang naguguluhan si Fatima. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang nagawa niyang mali. Tila ba isang malaking kasalanan ang nagawa niya.

"Wait, I don't understand, Venda. Enlighten me," nasabi na lamang niya habang nakakunot ang noo.

Venda walked past her and grabbed the picture frame. She stared at it for a couple of second. Fatima was patiently watching her friend.

"Laurents were an epitome of a perfect family," Venda started as she looked intently on the photograph. Fatima nodded, she couldn't agree more. "Master Hugh, as a rich businessman, provides everything money could buy. But they were not very materialistic. Instead, they donate more on charities and those who are in need."

Hindi napigilan ni Fatima ang pagkamangha sa mga amo. Mr. Hugh Laurent do look nice, an almsgiver and his son, well, his son is good looking as well but a big jerk. Napaismid na lamang si Fatima sa naisip. Guess he'll be the biggest jerk she's ever met.

"But something happened. I don't know, only Valdis and the elders know. I was young then, still at my hellhole before Master saved me," pagpapatuloy ni Venda. Hindi niya napansin ang hiling sinabi nito, tumatak sa isip niya na may nangyari kaya hindi niya nakikita ang 'mother' ni Scott. "After that tragedy, the woman just disappeared. That's all I know."

She sighed. Mas lalo lamang siyang na-curious dahil sa sinabi ni Venda.

"Is it true that she's a Filipina?" hindi mapigilang itanong ni Fatima.

Venda shrugged. "That's what they say. Probably why Master has a soft heart for Filipinas."

"Oh," nasabi na lamang niya. "But Ma— Young Master seems like the exact opposite of his father."

Napatango si Venda at bumuntong hininga. "Since then, he became a racist. He doesn't like Asians, especially Filipinos."

"Yeah," said Fatima. It's pretty obvious, actually.

Venda smiled apologetically. "But it's a wonder why he chose you as his personal servant!" she excalaimed and squinted her eyes on Fatima. "There must be something about you..." Lumapit pa ito na tila sinisipat si Fatima na ikinailang naman ng huli. "Are you two an item?" she smiled slyly.

Nanlaki naman ang mata ni Fatima. "What?! Of course not! We hated each other's gut!" At mas lalo siyang nainis dahil nagmukha siyang defensive.

"Okay," sabi ni Venda ngunit naroon pa rin ang mapang-asar na ngiti.

"Really!" pagpipilit niya. Natawa naman ang kaibigan sa kaniya.

"Yes, I believe you, Fatima!" Oh, how Fatima wants to wipe off that teasing smile on Venda's face. "But you're blushing," And Fatima blushed even more.

"Oh, please." Natahimik silang dalawa. "What about Young Master's mother?"

"There's a rule here regarding that," Venda said, her face suddenly serious. She squinted her eyes at Fatima. "Talking about Young Master's mother is forbidden. Especially when Young Master's around. He's really sensitive about that topic so her name or even the mere mention of her is considered a taboo," she sighed.  "He's really nice but he had fired several servants here because of mentioning his mother. I had witnessed three of them! And I don't want to follow their path," she added while waving a hand in the air dramatically.