Bahay ni Kuya Chapter 2: Ang Bahay ni Kuya (a)

Chapter 2: Ang Bahay ni Kuya

Two weeks bago ang pasukan ay natapos na ang renovations sa old house, pag titignan sa labas talagang mukhang luma ang bahay pero design nalang, di ko binago ang itsura nya pero talagang pinaayos ko ang lahat ng laman ng bahay. Sa labas natapos na din ang landscaping, may magandang garden na sa harapan at nakatayo narin ang matagal ko nang gusto, ang maliit na kubo, gusto ko tawagin ang aking Hang out.

Sa kubo may isang billiard table kasi yun ang hilig namin ni Tonio na laro, malapit ang kubo sa pool kaya parang cottage narin ito pagkat may maliit itong salas at dining area. Sa likod ng bahay kung nasan ang pool ginawa ko itong parang beach type, ginaya ko ang concept ng bahay ni Erap, Jeff’s little Bora naman ang tawag ko sa lugar na ito. Tiyak na magugustuhan ng mga boarders ko ang lugar na ito, ang tangin difference sa bahay ni Erap ay walang buhangin dito pero kumpleto sa gamit na parang maliit na resort.

Dumating ang mga magulang ng mga prospect boarders, kasama nila si Tonio na dumating sa mini bus. Akala mo kung nagtuturista sila, sinalubong ko sila sa gate at medyo nagulat ako pagkat mukhang bibigating tao ang iba sa kanila. Napansin ko ang itsura ng iba na parang nandidiri agad sa itsura ng bahay, natatawa nalang ako pagkat di pa nila nakikita ang loob.

“Good morning to everyone, my name is Jeffrey Mendez and this is my house” sabi ko sa kanila at yung iba ngumiti at bumati pero madami parin ang nagtataas ng kilay at siguro pinagdududahan kami. “Alam ko madami kayong mga tanong pero mag tour muna tayo sa loob ng bahay at mamaya ko entertain ang mga tanong niyo.

Pumasok kami lahat sa bahay at tinabihan ako ni Tonio, “Pare naman masyado ka strikto, relax konti” bulong nya sa akin pero tinaasan ko sya ng kilay at hinarap ang mga bisita. “This is the living room, I know surprised kayo sa itsura ng labas at loob, and I can see now that you are all smiling di tulad ng kanina at akala niyo siguro kung gigiba tong bahay. Well as you can see the whole flooring is made of marble, the living room is very spacious. We have nice couches, a giant lcd television, opo may cable po yan. I don’t go for much decoration so you will notice wala ako masyado pictures on the walls, the room is fully airconditioned. Follow me to the dining area” sabi ko at nabibighani parin sila sa ganda ng living room ko.

“Here in the dining area we have an ample large dining table that is capable of seating up to twelve people, but there will be only eight of us here, me and my trusted manang and only six boarders. I know there are many of you but I can only accommodate six since there are only ten rooms in this house, one is mine, one is for Manang Aurelia here, and six for the boarders, one guest room just in case I do have guests or you will be coming for a sleep over to visit your daughters. And the other room is the room of my grandfather, no one shall stay there, it shall remain closed.” sabi ko at tahimik lang sila lahat at siniko ulit ako ni Tonio. “Pare naman relax konti” bulong ulit nya.

“There are two bedrooms here in the first floor, my grandfather’s room and manang’s bedroom. We have one laundry room at the back, so let us proceed upstairs to the second floor, please follow me” sabi ko at umakyat kami lahat sa second floor.

“Here in the second floor we have four rooms, just the same number of room as upstairs. The biggest room is mine and is found at the back of the floor, it has a terrace overlooking the pool. There is a small living room area here at the center and it shall be used for studying purposes only or chitchat before they go to sleep. There are computers ready for use with internet access here and at the third floor, but upstairs instead of having a small living room we do have a study area. There are two toilet and baths here, one is in my room for my personal use only, and the other one is for everyone. There is another toilet and bath downstairs and one more upstairs so walang problema pag magsabay sabay sila pumasok sa umaga” sabi ko at sinilip nila ang mga kwarto at nakapagpahinga din ako at tinabihan ako ni Tonio.

“Pare good job so far” sabi nya. “Pero pare bakit ang dami nila?” tanong ko at tumawa sya. “Hayaan mo na, basta anim lang kukunin mo, malamang may aayaw din mamaya” sabi nya. Tinour ko sila sa taas at pagkatapos bumaba kami sa pool area at dumiretso kami sa kubo kung saan may mga palamig at meryendang nakahanda. Naupo sila lahat at nagsimula na ang mga tanong nila.

“Jeff how secure is my daughter here?” tanong ng isang tatay, “Sir, as you noticed exclusive compound po ito, may mga guards bago kayo pumasok sa area na ito at sa gabi may rumuronda. No extra charge yon at ako na may ari ng bahayang bahala don” sabi ko. “E how about the transporation for them going to school?” tanong ng isang nanay. “Well if they are early I can bring them to school, I am the CEO of my company so I can be late for work, I cannot promise picking them up in the afternoon but there are rides once you exit the gate. They will be provided ID cards just in case gusto nila magtaxi para pwede nila ipasok dito” sabi ko.

“How about the eating arrangements?” tanong ng isa. “Yes, you will be paying for board and lodging, food will be taken care of manang, breakfast and dinner is for sure but if they are around for lunch then that shall be taken care of too” sagot ko. “Sorry Jeff but I am still worried, this seems to be too perfect. I am hesitant to leave my daughter in your care, tell me something to make me feel comfortable, I am really sorry kasi madaming scam artists or bad people na baka ikidnap ang anak namin at mamaya nasa bar na nagtratrabaho o binubugaw sa kalye” sabi ng isang tatay.

“I understand po, if you think I am a s*xual predator well let me tell you wala ako hilig sa babae. Ibubugaw? Well I don’t really need your money,I have my own company so go figure. Itong ginagawa ko para lang may titira dito sa bahay. Masyado malaki kasi and its only me and my manang. I grew up here and I used to remember having lots of people here, masaya noon. Paglipas ng panahon tanging lolo ko nalang ang si manang ang natira. I want this house to be happy again. I am not forcing you to let your daughter stay here, I am sure madami naman boarding house dyan na mas maganda. I am just offering something better. Here its not your usual boarding house where kanya kanya ang gawain. Dito kasibahay ito parang isang pamilya ang mangyayari. I wont be here all the time because of work, they will not be here because of classes. But when we are here rest assured they will be safe and wala na silang ibang gagawin dito kundi kumain, matulog, maligo, magbihis, mag aral at pag wala klase may sapat naman na facilities for them to have fun. I am strict as you noticed so expect them to be disciplined” sumbat ko at natahimik sila.

“As you can see si manang lang ang kasama ko dito so expect your daughters to help out in cleaning and doing all the chores here. They will do their own laundry, walang magpakaka senyorita dito. If you expect your daughter to be pampered here better find another place. If di marunong maglinis ang anak niyo pwes dito matututo sila, and by the way walang lugar dito ang tamad at maarte. There will be a curfew, and of course no male visitors at night, by day pwede pero kailangan may kasama sila lagi and they are not allowed to step foot inside the house. If your daughters fail several subjects they are out of here, if they do drugs sorry they are definitely out” sabi ko at parang nagustuhan nila ang patakaran ko.

“So magkano naman ang monthly?” tanong ng isang nanay at ngumiti ako, “Four thousand pesos only, complete board ang lodging na po yon” sabi ko at nanlaki ang mga mata nila. “Are you serious?” tanong ng isa pagkat napakamura ng presyo ko. “Yes I am serious, I told you I don’t need the money. Yung pera na makukuha e isipin niyo magkano gagastusin sa pagkain nila. Plus the water bill, the kuryente, lahat naman pwede nila gamitin dito e. Your daughters will enjoy all the luxuries of my house, and they will be kept fed, I cannot guarantee their health sa kakainin nila sa labas but definitely four thousand lang yan at din a tataas. No hidden charges whatsoever, in total twenty four thousand a month income but deduct expenses, kung may matira dagdag sa sweldo ni manang yon. I pay manang 15 thousand a month, kung ano matitira sa kikitain ng bahay sa kanya na yon.” sabi ko at naging maingay ang kubo pagkat gusto na nila lahat ang alok ko.

“Excuse me pero madami ata kami dito, so how will you choose?” tanong ng isang tatay. “I am willing to pay more just let my daughter in” sabi pa ng isa. “Sorry walang palakasan dito, may screening process po tayo, academic standings and attitude is important. My assistant has the files of your daughters that you submitted and we shall be choosing the six we see fit to stay here. No discriminations sana but may priority ang less fortunate and I hope you do understand kasi mura tong alok ko and the rich ones can afford something better. Don’t even try to bribe me since I don’t need your money, If you do try automatically your daughter is out. So lunch will be served in an hour, for the mean time please enjoy the facilities of the house. You can go back inside and check the rooms again baka isipin niyo may mga hidden cameras ako, hindi po ako manyakis” sabi ko at umexit kami ni Tonio at tawa sya ng tawa.

“Pare ang taray mo. Alam mo ba yung sinupalpal mong isa judge yon tapos yung isa pare police yon” sabi nya at natawa narin ako. “Ano may prospects na ba sa anim na papasok?” tanong ko at ngumiti sya. “Ay pare magugustuhan mo sila, tara sa loob at nandito sa flashdisk ko ang files” sabi nya at pumasok kami sa bahay at humarap sa computer.

Napakita nya lahat sa akin yung anim at di ko nagustuhan yung panghuli, “Pare bakit kamukha ni Nadine yan?” tanong ko. “O ayaw mo nyan pare at least may kamukha pa ni Nadine” sabi nya. “Ayaw ko yan, alisin mo yan palitan mo” sabi ko. “Pero pare kamukha ni Nadine yan, malay mo makajackpot ka dyan o at least malalaman…” sabi nya pero umentrada ako. “Ingatan mo ang susunod na mga salita na lalabas sa bunganga mo” banta ko sa kanya at tumahimik sya at pinatay na ang computer. “Sige pare papalitan ko nalang ng iba” sabi nya. “Good, wag mo announce ngayon sino nakuha or else magkakaproblema. Saka mo nalang sila inform pag nakauwi na sila” utos ko at bumalik na ako sa mga bisita.