I turned to him as he spoke again.
"I'm going to the market, sir, to buy groceries. Our food supplies are running low, and Manang was supposed to come with me, but she had to go to the city hall for something you asked her."
Would he stay here later? For dinner maybe? There's a drinking session there in Klari's birthday, for sure. Suddenly, I had a question for Rozzean.
"Are you eating dinner here, sir?"
"Yes, why?" he asked. Oh... he answered fast.
"Because a pretty woman invited you. She's the one Manang mentioned, our neighbor, who seems to like you. She's beautiful, right?" I don't know what gotten into me that I've said those words maybe I wanted to here more of his opinion about his beautiful neighbor.
Rozzean didn't say anything; he just looked at me, slightly raising his eyebrow. His gaze made me feel a bit embarrassed.
"I'm eating here, Tali. I won't be going out. You can prepare dinner later," he finally said and passed by me to go upstairs.
So... he's not going? I started to smile slowly. As I realized my smile was growing, I bit my lower lip.
I glanced at the orange on the coffee table and smiled.
Sorry, orange girl. Better luck next time.
I walked outside and made my way to the corner to catch a tricycle. I had a bit of trouble finding a ride because there weren't many passing by. I ended up walking to the main road to find one.
By the time I reached the market, it was around five o'clock. I started shopping, and with the long list of groceries I had, I knew it would take me until evening.
"Ma'am, five kilograms of pork?" the vendor asked.
"Yes."
I was used to wet markets as I was the one who usually bought our food supplies. The market was clean, but it was crowded due to the number of shoppers.
When the lady handed me the pork, I paid for it immediately. Then, I moved on to the poultry section to get drumstick, breast, and wings.
"Thank you."
I wiped the sweat from my forehead. How did I end up in this situation again? darn!
"Miss, some cooking oil, please. That big one over there," I told the vendor.
I had bought a lot, and my arms and shoulders were aching from carrying the bags.
The vendor put the soy sauce and vinegar in my bag, saying, "Here, ma'am, let me help you. You have so much to carry."
I stood up, and she placed the items into my bag. I then reached for the money in my hand. Even though I was struggling with all the bags, I made my way out of the market after finishing my purchases.
As I exited, I noticed that it had gotten dark, which I expected because I had been at the market for a while. When I tried to take my cellphone from the back pocket of my pants to call Manang, I couldn't find it.
"Huh?"
I set down all the bags I was carrying and began frantically searching through all my pockets for the cellphone.
"Where could it have gone?"
A tricycle driver nearby must have noticed my distress, so he approached me and asked, "Ma'am, do you have a problem?"
"Well, you see, I lost my cellphone."
The driver shook his head, saying, "Oh dear, ma'am, there are a lot of thieves inside the market. It looks like your cellphone may have been stolen."
"What?! Oh my gosh..."
It wasn't even mine! Oh no!
"Where do you live, ma'am?" the tricycle driver asked.
I told him the name of the village where Rozzean's house was. The driver assisted me in loading all my purchases into his tricycle. After everything was loaded, I asked him for the time.
"It's 8:35 pm, ma'am."
Oh no, it was already late! I hadn't realized the time had gotten because I had been focused on finishing the list of thigns I need to buy. I should have sent a message to Manang earlier, informing her that I might be late because I had trouble finding transportation earlier.
"Okay, thank you."
I was sure I would arrive home quite late tonight. I couldn't call Manang because I had lost my cellphone, and I also didn't have her number memorized.
Rozzean had mentioned earlier that he would be dining and cooking at home, but it was fine now since I had told Manang that she would take care of dinner if I were running late.
When we reached the village, I asked the driver for the time again.
"It's 9:20, ma'am"
Time passed quickly, and even though the tricycle driver was speedy, the journey felt longer. Is Rozzean gonna scold me? gosh.
"Ma'am, which way do I go? Right or left?" he asked me.
"Turn right, please," I said.
As we got closer to the house, I became concerned and puzzled. I noticed a police car parked outside Rozzean's house. I began to feel anxious. W-Why were the police there?
"Did something happen? Why are there police officers?" I mumbled to myself.
I immediately thought of Mr. Vidar. My hands trembled, and I fumbled to hand two hundred pesos to the tricycle driver as I quickly entered the house.
"Ma'am! Oh, ma'am, you forgot your groceries!" the driver yelled after me.
I went straight inside the house, and when I saw three police officers facing Rozzean, intense anxiety washed over me. Were they here to arrest me?
But when Rozzean's eyes met mine, I saw his lips part in shock. Tears welled up in my eyes from a mixture of fear and anxiety. W-Will the old pervert put me in jail?
"S-Sir, are t-they here to arrest me?" I asked, but I couldn't finish my sentence. Rozzean swiftly walked towards me and embraced me tightly. W-What...
H-He is hugging me so tight. I could feel his heavy breathing.
"Thank God you are okay..." he whispered.
What... what the hell was happening?
"I thought something bad happened to you."
S-Something bad?
When Rozzean finally let go, I was left feeling bewildered. Weren't the police going to arrest me?
"Sir, the police?" I asked.
He looked me up and down, inspecting my face, neck, arms, and hands. I was confused. What is Rozzean's doing?
"S-Sir? What happened? Why are the police here?"
Instead of answering, he took a deep breath. As the police officers approached us, I hid behind Rozzean. I am scared!
"I'm sorry, officers. I think I just overreacted. Thank you very much," Rozzean said to the police.
"No problem at all, Mr. Valleje. We're glad nothing bad happened to your wife."
I was shocked by what I heard.
W-Wife?! I'm a maid here, officers!
I glanced at Rozzean, but he didn't correct the officer's statement. He merely thanked and bid farewell to them. When the police left, I was still utterly confused and couldn't grasp what was happening. I turned to Rozzean about to speak when I heard Manang's voice.
"Tali! Oh my, Tali!" she ran toward me.
Manang hugged me, and I felt her shoulders shaking. She was crying.
"I thought something bad happened to you."
I looked at Rozzean, my eyes filled with questions. I still couldn't make sense of the situation.
"I called your cellphone to ask where you were because it was already seven, and you hadn't returned. I was surprised when a man answered, and when I tried calling again, your number was unreachable."
Oh no! My cellphone got stolen!
"Manang--"
"I was so worried. It was already eight, and you hadn't returned. I immediately told sir that a man had answered your phone, and I couldn't reach you. I remembered that you're new here, so we sent for you with the police in the market and even in the nearby town, but you were nowhere to be found. I was so anxious, dear, we thought something happened to you."
I glanced again at Rozzean, who was looking in a different direction.
I can't believe this...
I gulped, and my heart raced.
So, the reason there were police officers at his mansion was because of me?
Because he was looking for me?