Chapter 6

The kitchen was warm, filled with the comforting aroma of simmering dishes that Selene had carefully prepared.

Hindi dapat maalat at hindi matabang.

Steam rose gently from the pots, and the soft clinking of utensils echoed in the quiet space. Nakaplanong mabuti ang lahat, mula almusal hanggang hapunan. A daily planner was neatly pinned on the wall, listing every meal she had to cook only for him. She made sure to follow it strictly. This was not just any household, it was the President’s residence.

Nagpunas si Selene ng kamay sa kanyang apron na suot.

“Malapit na,” aniya sa hangin habang binibilang ang pagkisap ng dalawang tuldok sa digital alarm clock.

She quickly arranged the last dish on a serving tray, making sure everything looked perfect. Presentation mattered. Everything here had to be flawless. Para siyang mauutasan ng hininga dahil sa ginagawa. Nakakamatay na pala ang pag-table setting ngayon.

Sa kabilang bahagi ng palasyo, may sariling kusina ang mga gwardiya at tauhan. May cook doon na nakatalaga para sa mga iyon, but Selene’s responsibility was different. She cooked directly for the President and that alone made her nervous.

After finishing the dishes, she moved to the dining area. The long table gleamed under the soft lights. She carefully placed each plate, each glass, each piece of cutlery with precision. Her movements were gentle but calculated, as if one wrong placement could cost her everything.

“Fork on the left… spoon and knife on the right…” she murmured, double-checking everything.

Alam na alam niya ito dahil naging representative siya noon para lumaban ng table setting. At dahil mukhang binunot na ngipin ang disenyo ng itinuro ng guro niya na pagkakatiklop ng table napkin, naka second place lang siya.

Matalino naman siya at panlaban siya parati kaya lang mahirap lang sila kaya nawalan siya ng kinabukasan, at kaya siya nagsusumikap ay para hindi matulad sa kanya ang kanyang kambal na anak.

When she was done, she stepped back and observed her work.

Perfect, or at least she hoped so.

Biglang tumunog ang alarm na tila bomba sa kanyang pandinig kaya napapitlag siya.

“Jusko, oras na.”

Her heart immediately started pounding. It was time to call the President. Kailangan na niyang akyatin si President Hudson sa opisina nito.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, but her hands were already trembling. Nanlalamig ang mga iyon at pinagpapawisan. Haharap siya sa Presidente ng Pilipinas. Kung tutuusin ay tagapagmana ito ng bansang Pilipinas.

“Ikalma mo lang, Selene trabaho lang ‘to…” she whispered, placing her hand on her chest.

But no matter how much she tried to reassure herself, the fear remained.

Naglakad siya papalabas ng kusina. Ang kanyang bawat hakbang ay pabigat nang pabigat. Habang paakyat siya, mas lalo siyang kinakabahan. Her heartbeat grew louder in her ears.

When she reached the second floor, she paused. She looked around.

Tatlong kwarto lang ang naroon. She remembered Leticia’s instructions. Sa gitna, doon ang opisina ng ng pangulo at ang kanan na pinto ay kwarto nito. Her eyes landed on the door in the middle. She slowly walked toward it. When she finally stood in front of the door, she froze.

Huminga siya ng malalim.

“Okay… kakatok lang ako… tatawagin ko siya… tapos bababa na kami… Ano bang nakakakaba doon, ha?” Aniya sa sarili.

She raised her hand but before her knuckles could even touch the door there was a click.

The door suddenly opened. Napaatras siya sa gulat at nanlaki ang mga mata. Selene’s breath hitched. For a moment, the world seemed to stop.

Hudson stood there, tall and commanding. His presence alone filled the entire space. He was wearing a perfectly tailored suit, his posture straight and his expression was calm yet powerful. Pero hindi lang ang awtoridad nito ang nagpatigil sa kanya, it was his face.

“G-Good morning, sir, eh, afternoon? Afternoon na ba?” she stammered, her voice barely audible.

Walang sapat na salita para ilarawan kung gaano ito kagwapo sa personal. He looked even more striking than she had imagined and based on what she saw from TV. And then there was his scent. It was a subtle, expensive fragrance lingered around him.

Nakakahilo ito… nakakahilo sa bango.

Agad siyang napatungo nang tila ba siya ay matauhan.

“I-I’m sorry po… nahuli po ako ng ilang segundo bago kumatok…” agad niyang hindi ng paumanhin habang magkahawak ang mga kamay sa harapan niya.

Takot na takot siya. She couldn’t even bring herself to look at him. Baka siya nito hamakin o kaya ay pagalitan dahil sa kaliit-liitang pagkakasala niya.

She felt a gentle but firm touch under her chin. Her eyes widened.

Iniangat nito ang kanyang mukha?

“Look at me.” Ang boses nito ay malalim at natural.

Selene hesitated.

“Sir… I—”

“I said, look at me.”

Slowly, Selene raised her gaze. Their eyes met. And in that moment, her heart completely lost its rhythm. Para siyang aatakihin.

“H-hindi ko po sinasadya…” she whispered, “huwag niyo po akong palayasin.”

Hudson studied her face for a second. His expression softened just a little.

“It’s fine,” simpleng sabi nito sa kanya na agad niyang ikinakurap, “You’re not late. I came out earlier than expected,” he added.

Relief washed over her, but her nervousness didn’t disappear.

“O-okay po. Salamat po.”

Hudson released her chin, and she immediately looked down again, her cheeks slightly flushed.

He turned away from her and stepped out of the office.

“Let’s go. I’m hungry.”

Agad siyang natauhan.

“Yes po, Sir president!”

Agad siyang sumunod rito kahit na magmukha siyang aso. Habang naglalakad sila pababa, hindi niya maiwasang mag-isip.

Hinawakan niya ako…

Her heart started racing again.

Ano ba ‘to, Selene… trabaho lang ‘to…

Hudson suddenly spoke, breaking her thoughts, “You prepared lunch?”

“Yes po, sir. Sinunod ko po iyong meal plan na binigay ni Ma’am Leticia,” agad niyang sagot na parang hindi siya huminga.

“Good.”

Pagdating nila sa dining area, agad na naghila si Selene ng upuan para rito.

“Sir…”

Hudson glanced at her briefly before sitting down.

“Thank you.”

She nodded, “W-welcome po.”

She moved gracefully, serving the dishes one by one.

“Ito po ay grilled salmon with lemon butter sauce and vegetable medley po,” aniya rito.

Hudson picked up his fork.

“You cooked all of this?”

“Opo.”

He took a bite.

Selene held her breath. Her hands were clasped tightly in front of her.

Naghintay siya ng salita nito. Seconds felt like hours.

“It’s good.” Tango nito, “hindi ako magkaka kidney disease.”

Napangiti siya sa sarili niya.

“Salamat po.”

She stepped back, feeling a sense of accomplishment, pero hindi pa rin nawawala ang kaba niya.

She stood quietly at the side, ready to assist if needed. Nagpatuloy sa pagkain si Hudson at kapagkuwan ay sumusulyap sa kanya.

“You cook well.”

She lowered her head again, trying to hide the small smile on her face. For someone like him, even a simple compliment felt overwhelming.

After a few moments, Hudson finished his meal. Ibinaba nito ang mga ginamit na kutsara at tinidor saka nagpahid ng bibig.

“That will be all.”

Agad na nagtanong ang dalaga rito, “May kailangan pa po ba kayo, sir?”

“Nothing for now.”

“Sige po. Nandito lang po ako kapag kailangan niyo.”

She began clearing the table, her movements more relaxed this time, but deep inside, she was still processing everything that had happened.

Ang bait niya. Hindi naman pala siya masungit. Nang maglakad ito papalayo ay napatunganga siya sa bulto nito. Her mind replayed everything, the way he looked at her, the way he lifted her chin, the way he said it was okay. Ang dami niyang icha-chat sa kanyang nanay mamaya pagkatapos ng trabaho. Makakamusta na rin niya ang kanyang mga anak na nami-miss na rin niya kaagad.