"Kid, where's your stuff?" Maiko asked Seira as he stood up from his seat.
"Nasa storage room po." Sagot nito habang pinupunasan ang mga pinggan saka nililigpit.
"Pagkatapos mo, pick up your stuff and see me at my study." He blurted out and went ahead towards the second floor.
Naguguluhan man sa mga nangyayari, she didn't question his order any further and just followed what he told her. She took her suitcase out of the storage room and carried it upstairs. Medyo nahirapan pa nga itong iakyat ang maleta dahil sa mga librong pakalat kalat sa hallway. After knocking a few times, she finally heard a click saka bumukas ng kusa ang pintuan.
Just like earlier, she saw him sitting on his swivel chair. His glasses reflected the email he was reading. Maiko lifted his gaze to see her standing in the doorway. He pushed another button from the controller and the lights flickered on. Seira's eyes scanned the whole room that was painted in black and white. The entirety of the room exuded simplicity. Her eyes then landed on him once again but his eyes went back to the monitor in front of him as his fingers were busy typing a reply to an email he received from the publisher.
"You can use the bedroom. If you don't feel comfortable, lock the door." He said nonchalantly as he went on with typing.
"Nako wag na po sir! Okay naman po ako sa baba. Tsaka pano po kayo?" She waved her hands repeatedly as she refuses Maiko's offer. Nahihiya din kasi ito lalo na't alam niyang nasa labas lang ng silid si Maiko nagtatrabaho. Ayaw niya din kasing mag cause ng disturbance sa trabaho nito.
"Just use it. I can't just let my employee sleep in the storage room, should I? I can manage. The couch here is a makeshift bed anyway. Plus, I don't really use the room that much." He shifted his eyes at her one more time. "Go to sleep, I wouldn't be needing anything tonight."
"Alright." She resigned, she knew her qualms wouldn't be addressed either way kaya sumunod nalang siya dito at pumasok na sa silid.
Her eyes twinkled at the sight of the bedroom. It was surprisingly neat and everything was in order. A huge flat-screen TV was installed on one of the walls and a shelf stood beside it with a bunch of video games occupying each space. On the left side of the television also stood another shelf that had character figurines in it. His room was twice bigger than his study room and he also had a medium size bookshelf. Led lights were installed in every corner of the ceiling and another door on one side of the room.
She walked towards the door and opened it out of curiosity. There, she saw a walk-in closet that made her in awe. She quickly stepped back and lock the door behind her and took her time taking in the surroundings.
A king-size bed laid on the further back of the room. A side table with a lamp and a couple of cigarette boxes and ashtray sitting on top of it.
Seira dragged her suitcase once again and laid it on the floor upang buksan ito. She needed to retrieve some fresh clothes and her uniform for school tomorrow. Upon realizing na wala palang bathroom sa loob ng bedroom, she was slightly hesitant to go out. It took her a good few minutes before finally giving up on her conscience and just took her towel and clothes with her.
Maingat niyang binuksan ang pintuan saka bahagyang sinilip ang labas. "What are you doing?" The sudden voice made her jump on her feet and lost her balance resulting in her bum meeting the floor. Buti nalang talaga at naka carpet ang lapag.
Maiko stood before her with a folder in hand, in the middle of the room with his brows in a deep frown. Di niya naman maiwasang mapatingin sa mga gamit na nagkalat sa sahig ng matumba ang dalaga. His ears turned crimson as he suppressed his embarrassment. He quickly turned his head away at napalunok nalang ng bahagya, making his red ears visible to Seira's line of vision.
She immediately caught up and looked at her things that got sprawled on the floor.
'Shit!' She cursed inwardly as she picked up her pink laced undergarments and her SpongeBob pajamas swiftly like a ninja. Her face became so red that she even felt the hot sensation. Agad agad naman siyang tumayo at napatakbo palabas ng study, patungong banyo. She got rid of her clothing and turned on the shower hastily. The cold water didn't even bother her as she recalls the embarrassing scenario. Di niya maiwasang takpan ang mukha dulot ng kahihiyan at magreklamo sa katangahan niya kanina.
"Seira tanga ka, ang tanga mo jusko! Kahiya ka!" She mumbled repeatedly under the shower.