Charmed by the Unseen

Chapter 4: Unexplained Fear

The day went fast. Just a few more hours and Francine's grand 18th birthday celebration will finally start. Kasalukuyan akong naghahanda para sa debut ng kapatid ng bestfriend ko. My mom even hired a make-up artist for me. She said she wanted me to look stunning and splendid, just like how I had looked like during my very own debut celebration. Kahit kaya ko namang mag-ayos ng sarili ko. Still, she doesn't trust my make-up skills. I giggled at the thought. Sa lahat siguro ng mga babaeng kasing edad ko, ako lang yata ang hindi magaling mag make-up. Isa din yan sa mga bagay na ipinagkaiba namin ni Freya.

The thought of putting on so much on the face irritates me. I only wear heavy make-up when it's really necessary. Kapag may mga big events lang. Pero pag sa school lang? Nah! Pressed powder, brow liner and liptint will do. Kunting blush-on pag may time.

After giving me a smoky, shadowy look, I changed into my evening gown. It was a silver, sequined off-shoulder gown with a slit on the right leg, showing just enough of my fair skin. It glimmers like a thousand bucks when hit by light. My dark brown hair was soft-curled. I put on my silver heels and some jewelry. Then I grabbed my purse and the invitation card, kiss my mom goodbye and drove off to the party. 

Manong Raffy drove me to a luxurious 5-star hotel kung saan ang venue ng engrandeng event. 

"I'll text you to pick me up nalang po" sabi ko sa kanya.

"Sige ija, mag-enjoy ka na lang" sambit niya. Sumilay ang ngiti niya sa mukha. Nginitian ko na lang din siya pabalik at nagpaalam na ako sa kanya para lumabas na ng sasakyan. 

I saw Brent who just handed his BMW's key to the valet. He looked handsome in his black tuxedo suit. It enhanced his already oozing s*x appeal. I'm sure, marami na naman 'tong mauuto mamaya. He saw me at nakangiti siyang naglakad palapit sakin. 

"Wow! Look at you, Ally! You look great!" malakas na sabi niya sabay thumbs up. The grin on his face was unfading, halatang maganda ang mood ni mokong.

"I don't know if that was a compliment or an insult." I raised my brow while looking at him.

"Think of both at the same time." He grinned and winked. "Tara na, baka magsimula na ang party."

Pumasok kami sa ballroom ng hotel. I was astonished with the beauty and grandeur of the venue. Pagkapasok palang namin sa loob, tumambad sa amin ang isang malaking red carpet with pretty floral decorations on both sides. The stage was beautifully decorated with red roses and red tulips na may malaking arch pa. The chairs, tables and all the decorations were all exquisite and noticeably expensive. Freya's family owns The Grand Bliss Hotels. A group of hotels, theme parks and resorts with hotel properties not only in the Philippines but also abroad. Sila din ang may-ari ng hotel na ito. Kaya ang yaman nila.

"Ally!" a high-pitched voice called out of nowhere. Nakita ko si Freya na naglalakad sa direksyon namin ni Brent na napalingon din sa kanya. 

She looked sultry and stunning in her fierce red, deep neck gown, revealing her cleavage. She immediately hugged me and gave me a quick kiss. Marahan niya namang hinampas sa braso si Brent na ngumisi lang.

"I'm glad you guys made it on time. Go get your food na. The buffet's right there!" She pointed to the right side of the hall. "I've already reserved a table for us." 

Kumuha na kami ng pagkain habang nakikipag-usap pa si Freya sa iba niyang kaibigan. Kunti lang kinuha ko. I'm not that hungry and I'm feeling kind of off. Ewan ko ba. Parang may mangyayaring masama. Apparently, Im overthinking. 

"Dude!" may dalawang lalaki ang bigla nalang sumulpot sa likuran namin ni Brent at umakbay sa kanya yung isa. Namukhaan ko yung isa, si Angelo. Yung isa naman hindi pamilyar.

"Uy, Dex! Tangina, buhay ka pa pala?" Banat agad ni Brent na natatawa na.

"Ulol! Siyempre! Nawala lang ako ng isang buwan pinagkamalan mo na agad akong patay?" sagot naman noong tinawag na Dex. 

Iniwan ko na lang silang nagkwekwentuhan doon at umupo na lang ako sa table namin. Mukhang tuluyan na ngang nadagit si Brent noong mga kaibigan niya at iniwan ako rito. Buti na lang bumalik na si Freya at umupo sa tabi ko kaya may nakausap na ako. Hindi nagtagal nagsimula na ang program. Lumabas na ang debutant na si Francine, wearing a beautiful sweetheart ballgown naparang nagpi-fade into black sa may hemline nito. She looked like a princess. Then the emcee started to call out names for her 18 roses. 

A guy slowly walked towards Francine. He was holding a red rose in one hand at inabot ito sa celebrant. She accepted the rose and they started to dance. Matangkad at maputi ang lalaki. Nakangiti siya habang isinasayaw si Francine, may ibinubulong pa siya rito that made her laugh. 

"That's my cousin Keith" bulong ni Freya like I should know. 

"So?" I arched my brow. The emcee called another name para pumalit doon sa Keith. It was the guy Brent called Dex a while ago. Kakilala din pala 'yon nila Freya. After a few turns sumunod na si Brent.

"Wala lang." Freya laughed. "Baka lang interesado ka. Baka lang naman. Available 'yan sis. Gwapo na, mabait pa. I assure you! Limited edition package nga lang kasi baka bukas makalawa, baka may may-ari na." She giggled.

Ngumiwi ako. She sounds like she's selling this cousin of her. Natawa ako. "Gaga ka talaga Freya. Human trafficking na 'yang ginagawa mo!"

Tinaasan niya lang ako ng kilay. Then an evil smirk formed in her lips. "I'll introduce you to him later sa afterparty." 

"What? Sabi mo hindi ko kailangan um-attend doon? Papatayin ako ni mommy!" 

"Oh, come on Ally! It's gonna be fine. Ngayon lang naman eh. And I'm gonna be there. Trust me, I'll take care of you. At baka ngayon ka lang makakatapak sa ganitong party kaya please just come. It's gonna be fun! You don't have to stay for long. Kahit 30 minutes lang." She pouted. 

Nag-isip ako. Pwede naman siguro 'yon. Kahit ilang minutes lang. Natatakot ako kay mommy pero there's also something in me that just wants to go with Freya and enjoy this night. I've been dying to be able to feel what people feel on parties. Total ngayon lang din naman. 

"I don't have anything to wear." I told her.

"Like that's a problem?" She grinned and took out her phone. "I need to make a call. Leave everything to me" 

***

Freya handed me a paperbag. Tapos na ang formal program kaya mostly young people nalang ang natira. Pumasok ako sa suite ni Freya sa hotel para magpalit. She bought me a silver off-shoulder cropped top and black high-waist shorts. I did a quick retouch at sabay na kaming pumunta sa party. Freya was just wearing a hot pink bodycon dress. 

Pagpasok namin sa loob, marami ng sumasayaw at marami na ang lasing. Some are even making out already. I know parties could get dirty pero iba pala talaga yung feeling kapag nasa mismong lugar ka. I saw Brent with his friends habang nag-iinuman sila. May babae pang nakaupo sa binti niya. Tsk. Ang bilis talagang makasungkit. I noticed Freya's stare on them pero agad din naman siyang bumaling sa ibang direksiyon.

She pulled me to an empty table sa tapat lang ng table ng kapatid niya at mga kaibigan nito. She greeted them and took a shot from her sister. Then umupo na kami sa table namin. 

Freya ordered drinks for us. Since alam niyang hindi ako umiinom ng alcohol, she ordered cocktails for me. Uminom lang kami doon at nagkwentuhan ng kung anu-ano bago niya 'ko inayang sumayaw. Gusto ko rin namang sulitin ang moment kaya hindi ko pinalagpas. We went down the dancefloor and Freya started doing crazy moves. It was almost a perfect evening until someone grabbed my ass. Gulat akong lumingon sa lalaking nakangisi lang ng nakakaloko, kala mo naman gwapo. Gusto ko sana siyang suntokin sa pagiging bastos niya ng may humarang.

"Is this guy bothering you?" tanong niya sakin bago tiningnan ng masama ang lalaking nambastos sakin. "Do we have a problem?" Tinaasan niya ito na kilay.

"Wala dude" sagot nito at agad lumayo sa amin. 

The guy faced me. 

"Are you okay? You look like you're new in this kind of environment." 

Tumango lang ako at hindi nagsalita. I'm still confused on why is he helping me. 

"I'm Keith anyway," he said and offered me his hand. Tinanggap ko naman iyon at nakipagkamay.

"All-" hindi ko natapos ang sasabihin ko ng may mabasag na bote sa may paa ko. Keith pulled me away para hindi ako masugatan.

"Omg! What was that?" Nagmamadaling lumapit si Freya sa amin. Nabigla siya ng makitang hawak ng pinsan niya ang braso ko. Binitiwan rin naman ni Keith agad. Tinakpan ni Freya ang bibig niya, mukhang natatae ang bruha kasi hindi maintindihan ang ngiti niya. 

"Oh, I see you've bought the package- Ay! Er- I see you've met each other na pala," parang tanga niyang sabi.

Gusto ko siyang sakmalin ng makita kong nagmamadali si Brent na palabas ng area.

"Hoy! Sa'n kana? Ang aga pa ah?" sigaw ni Freya ng madaanan kami ni Brent.

"Uwi na'ko" parang kinakabahang sagot ng pinsan ko.

"Ha? It's still 10:30! What's the rush? You usually go home like around 3:00." Freya crossed her arms over her chest.

"Alam na alam ah," mahinang sabi ni Keith na halatang pabulong lang kay Freya pero narinig ko pa rin.

Freya ignored him at hinintay ang sagot ni Brent.

"I don't know. I just feel like I should go home," sagot ni Brent.

Natahimik ako. Kanina pa rin ako hindi mapakali sa hindi malamang dahilan. Parang bigla nalang akong nininerbyos nang wala sa oras. My heart starts pounding. Something is wrong. 

"Sa susunod nalang ulit Freyang." 

"WHAT DID YOU JUST CALL ME?" pag aalburuto na naman ni Freya tuwing tinatawag siya ni Brent ng ganyan. 

"Wala, una na'ko. Ikaw Ally, di ka pa ba uuwi? Sabay kana sa'kin! Ano'ng oras na. Baka hanapin ka na ng mommy mo." 

Brent was right. Mom's probably looking for me by now. Kailangan ko nang umuwi. At gaya ni Brent, hindi rin maganda ang pakiramdam ko. 

"Alis kana rin ba?" malungkot ang mukhang tanong ng bestfriend ko. 

"Ooh sis. You know my mom. Baka mag-alala na yun. Don't worry, I had so much fun. Sa susunod na lang din ulit. Kung may susunod pa." I hugged Freya. I just gave Keith a slight nod at ngumiti lang siya sa'kin. Then sumunod na'ko kay Brent palabas ng hotel.

"Should I drive you home?" tanong niya  nang makalapit ako.

"No, Manong Raffy's here" sagot ko. "Are you okay?" Tanong ko sa kanya. Hindi parin kasi siya mapakali. Panay hinga siya ng malalim.

"Ewan. Kinakabahan ako eh. And I don't like this kind of feeling. Na para bang may mangyayaring masama." Bumuntong-hininga siya.

"Ako rin," pag amin ko. Tiningnan lang ako ni Brent ng may pag-aalala. 

"Umuwi kana. Baka hinahanap ka na ng mommy mo. See you, Ally" paalam niya at naglakad na papunta sa parking.

T-in-ext ko na si Manong Raffy at 'di nagtagal dumating na din siya. Sumakay ako agad sa kotse. Habang papalapit kami sa bahay ay mas lalo akong kinabahan. My heart pounded even more faster, na para bang may nagpupukpok ng kung ano doon. Sumasakit na ang dibdib ko. My spine starts to send cold chilling sensation all over my body. I told Manong Raffy na bilisan ang biyahe. Gusto ko nang makarating ng bahay agad.

Ilang minuto pa ang nakalipas bago kami nakarating sa bahay. I immediately went out of the car and ran inside the house only to find my mom crying while holding a picture frame. Nakatalikod siya sa'kin kaya hindi ko makita kung kaninong litrato 'yon. Yakap-yakap niya ito habang hindi matigil sa pag-iyak.

"Mom?" mahinang tawag ko.

Dahan-dahang humarap sa'kin si mommy. Namumula ang mata habang panay daloy ang mga luha mula sa mga mata niya. 

"Mom. . . what's wrong?" tanong ko. Lalong sumasakit at sumisikip ang dibdib ko.

"Ally. .  . it's your grandma," patuloy ang paghikbi na sabi niya.

"Why? What happened?" kinakabahang tanong ko.

"You're lola Mercedes is gone, Ally. She's gone."