Nanny

  "THUNDER, meet your nanny," Nag-angat ako nang tingin sa babaeng nakatayo sa may harapan namin ng anak ko. Pain crossed her impressive eyes when she heard what I said.

"Nanny?" Thunder repeated after me.

I nodded and scooped his chubby cheeks.

"Yes, big boy. She's your nanny, and her name is Asher," saad ko.

Pinagmasdan ko ang balak gawin ni Asher at nagulat ako nang lumuhod 'to at hinawakan ang kamay ng anak ko. Maluha-luha na ang mga mata niya, ilang segundo na lamang ay maaaring tumulo ito.

"H-hello! Ako si Asherah," basag ang boses na aniya.

Thunder pulled his hand from Asher's grasp before hugging me tightly. Nakita ko ang pagdaan ng sakit sa mata ng huli. Bumuntong hininga ako at hinawakan sa braso ng anak ko.

"Bud, you should greet your nanny, you know? She will be the one who will take care of you when I am not around,"

Ngumuso ang batang makulit at unti-unti lumuwag ang pagkakayakap sa akin. He, then faced the latter and extend his hand for a shake hands.

"Hello po, nanny!"

Asher's face lightened, but there was still a lack of positivity in her eyes. I shrugged it off because I didn't care about her at all.

"H-hi," she greeted.

"Hello, nanny!"

Mga ilang segundo silang magkahawak kamay bago ako tumikhim, dahilan upang bumitaw sila pareho. I transferred my son to my side before gesturing for Asher to come with me to the corner. Sumunod naman ito agad pero sumulyap pa sa anak ko ng isang beses bago makalapit sa akin.

"You're now the official babysitter of Thunder," I said as my hand slid into each arm, creating an infinity.

"Your responsibility is to take good care of my son. Hindi mo kailangan labhan ang mga damit niya. May pumupunta rito every week para gumawa ng trabahong 'yon. Your job here is to bathe him, feed him and take care of him. That includes making him sleep. You don't have the right to take my son out of the mansion without my consent. But you don't have to ask since I will always say no. I don't trust someone easily, especially you."

"Hindi ako masamang tao," mariing niya. "Hindi ko ipapahamak ang anak ko," dagdag niya.

My brows arched. "Oh, really? Bakit? Nakalimutan mo na ba kung ano ang ginawa mo? You left my son on a stormy day, you fucking risk his health—his life!" pigil ang gigil na sagot ko.

Her face paled as I saw her swallowing hard. I strike a point, 'e?

"If you think I will trust you. . . dream on," I smirked.

"Hindi naman ako kagaya ng iniisip mo, Sir Dustin. Kahit naman galing ako sa mahirap na pamilya, hindi ko ipapahamak ang kahit sinong tao, lalo na ang sarili kong anak. Po-protektahan ko siya sa kahit anong kapahamakan, ipinapangako ko sa 'yo."

I shook my head in disagreement.

"Looks can be deceiving, Asherah," I answered before walking out.

Napahinto ako mula sa paglalakad nang bumaba mula sa hagdan ang mga magulang ko. Madilim na sa labas at oras na nang hapunan.

"Oh, we have another visitor?" Mom said.

I followed where she was looking at. My eyes almost bulged out of my skull when a woman walked towards us. Asherah's eyes met mine—that's her cue to stop walking.

I clear my throat, "She's not a visitor, Mom."

"Then, who is this beautiful lady?"

Mom gestured for her to come closer, which she reluctantly did. When Asherah was in front of us, she respectfully bowed her head.

"Magandang gabi po, ma'am, vice president," she greeted my parents.

I silently scoffed. "She's the babysitter of Thunder, Mom, Dad. . ." I clarified quickly.

Mom gasped. "What? Nanny? You got a nanny for Thunder?"

I nodded, "Yes, I did."

"What's your name, hija?" Dad asked.

"Asherah po, vice president."

"Just call me, sir Daniel," Dad answered elusively.

Tipid na ngumiti ang huli.

"Take your seat, Asherah." Mom pointed to the chair next to where I was sitting. "Come on, join us for dinner."

My jaw tightened, "Mom— "

"Not a word, Dustin," she warned me. Nahulog ang panga ko sa sahig dahil sa nangyari. "Come on, Asherah, have a seat. Ikaw na ang magpakain sa apo ko. Give him a bath after the meal,"

"Huwag na po, ma'am. Mamaya na lang po ako kakain," tanggi ng huli.

"I don't take no for an answer, lady. Have a seat." Mom said firmly.

Wala nang nagawa si Asherah kung hindi ang sumunod. Sa inis ko, inutusan ko siyang dalhin sa kusina ang anak ko. Inutusan ko na rin siyang timplahan ng gatas para makatulog 'to agad.

Asherah came back with the food already served. She's already carrying my son's milk bottle. Naupo ito agad at kumain lang nang sumubo na ang mga magulang ko.

"Sausage, dada. I want sausage," kalabit ng anak ko.

Tutusukin ko na ang sausage na nasa lamesa nang maunahan ako. I looked up only to see Asherah offering the sausage she stole to my son. Naningkit ang mga mata ko sa nangyari.

Habang kumakain kami, pasimple kong sinusulyapan ang mga kilos ng babaeng 'yon. Kitang-kita ko ang pagsalin niya ng tubig sa baso ng anak ko, pinunasan niya ang amos nito sa labi at ang pag-alalay nito sa anak ko.

Thunder smiled, "Thank you, Nanny!"

Napailang ako habang may munting ngisi sa labi. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin nang dumapo sa akin ang mata ni Dad.

"Good to know na magkasundo na agad kayo ni Thunder," Mom noticed.

I saw Asherah's smiling. "Napakabibo po ng apo niyo, Ma'am. Hindi po ako nahirapan na kuhanin ang loob niya kaya magkakasundo po talaga kami."

Both of my parents smiled.

"Hindi nga pasaway at sutil ang batang 'yan. Mababaw din ang kaligayahan kaya siguradong magkakasundo talaga kayo," Mom said with an assuring smile.

Nang matapos kaming maghapunan, umakyat na ako sa kwarto para kuhanin ang isang importanteng bagay. Bumaba rin ako nang makuha 'yon. Naabutan kong nag-uusap ang dalawa habang nakaupo sa sofa.

My brow arched.

"Here's the copy of our contract. Read it carefully and tell me if you have objections," I placed the three pages of bond paper in front of Asher.

She looked up at me. "Ah, okay,"

I watched her reached for the papers and read it. Bahagyang tumaas ang kilay niya at ang medyo rosas na labi ay nag-isang linya. Tumingila siya sa akin pagkaraan ng ilang minuto.

"Naiitindihan ko lahat nang nakasulat dito," aniya.

The corner of my lips rose. "Good. 'Cause I will fuck you every time I want in exchange for getting close to my son. I will use your body to release my heat. You are going to be my whore. Do you understand, Asherah?"

Nagtaas ako ng tingin sa kaniya, bahagya kong tinaas ang papel. Nahuli ko ang paglunok niya at ang paglalaro niya sa mga daliri. Ngumisi ako nang makita kung gaano siya ka kabado.

"About the last rule. . . May schedule ba 'yon? Ah, ang ibig kong sabihin ay araw-araw ba? Baka hindi ko makaya—"

My ears instantly became incandescent.

"The fuck, woman? What do you think about me? Satyromania?" Inis kong sabi. "Basta tatawagin kita kapag kailangan ko maglabas ng init, okay? No more questions. Whatever I say, you can't say no," matigas kong sabi.

Her shoulder flank and her eyes exude pain. Tumango rin siya nang marinig akong bumuntong hininga.

"Don't worry, I won't force you to do something you don't want. I'm not a fucking rapist, okay? But by signing the contract, ibig sabihin ay pumapayag ka sa mga gusto ko. I won't use force on you... because you'll do it heartedly."

Kinagat niya ang pang-ibabang labi bago tumango. "O-oo na,"

Ngumisi ako, "Mabuti naman."

While crossing my arms, my eyes narrowed as I looked at those two. Pinagmamasdan ko ang babaeng 'yon habang nakikipaglaro sa anak ko. I don't know why I feel something odd about this girl.

This is confusing because she's a stranger, yet I feel like I know her. Not totally know her, but she feels familiar.

She has mysterious dark brown orbs—it was a little slanted and upturned. She has a pinkish two-tone round-shaped lips. Her nose is narrow and cute.

Her straight hair was jet black, reaching under her chest, looking smooth and silky. She has full bangs, but it suits her face-shaped structure.

Her skin reminds me of honey and coffee but with a touch of two spoonfuls of cream. She possessed such a dark and mysterious beauty.

I gulped before looking away because she almost caught me staring at her when she glanced in my direction. Fuck.

"Dada, look!"

Tumingin muli ako sa direksyon nila. Thunder was looking at me with a smile on his lips. He was holding his truck toy. Ngumiti ako pabalik bago nalipat ang tingin sa babaeng katabi niya. Nakangiti ito habang nakatuon ang mga mata sa anak ko.

Kailangan kong malaman kung bakit siya biglang bumalik. . . oh, kung totoo ba ang sinasabi niyang siya ang ina ng anak ko dahil hindi ako naniniwala.