Argent et Pouvoir

Chapter 1

The whole room was filled with a gentle woody notes of Camari’s favorite Diptyque scented candle that reflect the scent of books piled high outside antique stores with a herbal, lavender-spiked accord transports you to the tree-lined banks of the Seine. This scent really calm her nerves.

Nagising siya nang mas maaga kesa sa inaasahan. Camari always set her alarm at 7am pero ala-singko pa lang ng umaga ay dilat na dilat na ang kanyang mga mata. The school year will start today, and she’s not excited. She’s seriously not excited.

Sino ba’ng sira ang maeexcite sa araw ng pasukan? Start of school year means start of homeworks, projects and boring lessons from the boring professors. Nagising lang siya dahil bet ng diwa niya na gumising ng mas maaga, ‘yon lang iyon.

Her mother, Celeste, is the only one who’s excited. She even bought her a lot of Designer bags and clothes to flaunt in the school yard. Pampaganda na naman daw ng “Image” ko kuno.

Hindi naman sa pag-mamayabang, kahit na hindi siya gaanong kainteresado sa pag-aaral ay magaganda pa rin ang mga grades ni Camari. She’s always one of the Dean’s listers, and of course it's because of her own efforts, mayaman ang pamilya niya pero hindi siya nagbabayad para pumasa. Her father, Joaquin, value studying. He value talents. Ayaw niya sa bobo at walang silbi dahil wala daw ganoon sa pamilya.

Camari’s family loves spotlight. Her mother is a former Prima Donna, she’s the best Prima Donna that the country ever had. While her father is a Senate President, a lot of people are watching his moves may be it his supporters or his archenemies kaya importante ang Image ng pamilya para hindi ito gamiting panlaban sakanya.

Her parents are both perfectionist, kaya nga siguro sila nagpakasal. Camari’s father came from a political family, it was the Divata’s legacy dahil mag mula sa great grandfather niya hanggang sakanya, ay interesado sa politika. Her mother is also from a powerful family. Anak ng isang sikat na businessman who earns billions everyday, they were the major supporters of Divata’s kaya hindi na nakapagtataka na ipagkasundo sila sa isang kasal.

Camari heard a knock from her door. Nang tignan niya ang orasan ay agad siyang napasimangot, bakit ang bilis naman yata ng oras?

She could hear Manang Dora’s voice outside of her room. “Ma’am Camari, pinapababa na kayo ni Señiyora para mag-almusal.”

Manang Dora is one of the original maids of this house. Isa siya sa nag-alaga kay Camari simula pa noong bata siya.

Sakto namang tumunog ang alarm clock niya sa side table. It's already 7am. Ilang oras din pala siyang nakatunganga.

“Okay, Manang Dora. Pakisabi kay Mommy bababa ako after kong mag-shower!” She answered back.

Agad naman itong sumunod kaya naghanda na siya sa pag-ligo. She already undressed herself nang biglang tumunog ang phone niya. Daiki is calling me via video call. Agad niyang sinagot ang tawag, when Daiki appears in the screen ay agad itong napasipol nang makita nito ang ayos ng dalaga.

“Really, Baby? Seducing me early in the morning?” Nakangiseng wika nito.

Camari rolls her eyes. Ang aga-aga ang landi.

“Tumahimik ka. Bakit ka napatawag? maliligo pa lang ako.”

He chuckled. “I just wanted to say good morning, that I miss you and I love you.”

Nangingiting inirapan ni Camari ang kanyang nobyo. Kailangan ipakita niya na hindi siya kinikilig dahil paniguradong aasarin na naman siya ni Daiki.

She can see him through the screen. He is topless, mukhang kakagising lang din. Camari could see the modern background of Daiki’s apartment, her boyfriend lives alone nasa province kasi ang pamilya nito. Sanaol independent.

Camari really envy Daiki and Dareios freedom, they can do anything that they want. They can live and breathe freely. Camari’s parents wouldn't let her to live alone and their reason was to avoid any mistakes on her part.

“Are you blushing?” Nakangiseng tanong ni Daiki sakanya

Camari rolled her eyes. Damn. Not again...

“Pwede ba stop it, Daiki. I’m going to hang up I need to take a shower dahil inaantay nako nila Mommy sa dinning area.”

“Oh really? I'm sorry, just say hi to them for me. I'll see you at school?”

She nodded and smile at him lazily. “Yeah. See you at school babe, I love you.”

After hanging up Camari took a quick shower. Her parents hates making them wait, ayaw nilang nasasayang ang oras nila especially her Dad because according to him, his time is really precious.

“You finally arrived. What took you so long? Hindi dapat pinag-aantay ang pagkain.” Seryosong saad ng kanyang ama habang nagbabasa ng news sa ipad niya.

“Woman need a lot of time to dress themselves, honey. Hayaan mo na si Camari.” Her mother scan her appearance at huminto ang mata nito sa suot niyang sapatos.

“But sweetie, your look would be perfect if you wear a leather loafers instead of sneakers.” Camari looked at her Gucci's Ace leather sneakers.

Too bad, She’s much more comfortable wearing this sneakers mas magaan kasi.

“Yaya,” Celeste called their kasambahay. “Get the Prada loafers that I bought yesterday.” Saad ng kanyang ina sa katulong na agad naman nitong sinunod.

“It will be perfect to match your uniform. You need to learn how to dress yourself properly, Camari.” Patalak ng kanyang Ina na si Celeste ngunit hindi naman ito masyadong iniintindi ni Camari.

She really hate dressing up like this. Okay na sakanya ‘yong mukhang presentable ‘yong suot pero ayaw ng Mommy. Her Mom wants everything to be glamorous. Gusto nito na puro sikat na brand ang damit na mga suot ni Camari dahil ayaw nitong isipin ng iba na naghihirap na ang pamilya nila.

‘Kailan ba kami naghirap?’

Bumalik ang katulong bitbit ang sapatos. The maid even wants to help her to wear the loafers pero agad itong tinanggihan ni Camari. She can wear her shoes on her own.

“Tapos na ba kayo? Let's eat already wala akong panahon para sa ganyang bagay.” Her Dad's strict voice filled the dinning area.

Agad na tumahimik ang kanyang Ina. It's really suffocating to be with them.

Tahimik na natapos ang almusal. Camari honestly had a hard time swallowing her food, sobrang tahimik kasi ng buong dinning area at tanging tunog lang ng kubyertos ang maririnig. Nakahinga lamang siya nang maluwag noong tumayo na ang kanyang ama para pumasok sa trabaho, maging ang Mommy niya ay may lakad din kasama ang mga kaibigan nito kaya nakakain lang siya nang maayos ng makaalis ang mga magulang niya.

Camari was waiting in the front door ng pumarada sa harap niya ang isang pamilyar na kotse. The car window are slowly opening at tumambad sakanya ang mukha ng kanyang driver s***h bodyguard na si Oswald.

He was smiling and gesturing his hand to her to get inside the car.

Oswald is a Half filipino and half american. He is a retired US Military, which is Camari don't really understand. He is only 25 and already retired. Scratch the 25 he even only looked a freaking 23 years old!

Camari just shrugged it off and she get in the backseat. A song from Sleeping with Sirens’ If you can't hang welcomed her playing loudly inside the car. Oswald is a secret fan of rockstars.

Camari even caught him hiding a ticket of Paramore’s concert inside his wallet, it's not that he is not allowed to be a fan nakakagulat lang talaga dahil kung titignan mo kasi si Oswald you would imagine him watching a WWE match on the front seat not in a VIP seat of a concert.

Oswald has a huge built. Mukha siyang napabayaan sa loob ng gym, he was so tall and has a lot of muscles mukhang kayang-kaya ka niyang ibalibag ng paulit-ulit.

“Oswald, I’m going to a party later.” Saad ni Camari habang busy sa pagtipa sakanyang cellphone. She was texting with Daiki, ayon kay Daiki he’s already at the university’s parking lot.

“Are you going straight there after class or you still need to change?” He asked.

“Yup. Uuwi pa ako but you're already free after mo akong ihatid sa bahay after class. I will be with Daiki siya na ang bahala na maghatid sundo sa'kin.”

“Oh. So it's a date?” Oswald teased.

He really like to tease Camari, madali kasing mapikon ang dalaga kaya tuwang-tuwa siyang asarin ito but Oswald know his limits he still respects Camari as his boss and that also the reason why Camari let's him tease her kahit na minsan ay gustong-gusto na siyang tirisin ng dalaga.

“Back to school party, my friends organized it so I need to be there.”

He chuckled. “Noted.” Mukhang ayaw pang maniwala.

Oswald and Camari are close even if he’s 5 years older than her. Oswald does his job well at mabait itong tao. He’s like the older brother to Camari that she never had, he always give her advices mula sa problema sa pamilya, sa school, sa kaibigan, at pati na din sa mga problema nila ni Daiki kung minsan. He is a trustworthy person. Tatlong taon na din siyang nagtatrabaho sa mga Divata kaya komportable at nagtitiwala ang dalaga sakanya.

“Oo. Para ma-date mo na din ‘yong girlfriend mo.” Now it is Camari’s turn to smirk. She also knows his relationships.

Oswald always talk about his girlfriends, with “s” kasi madami sila at papalit-palit siya ng babae. Babaero, tsk!

“Break na kami.” He said as if it was nothing.

Gulat siyang tinitigan ni Camari. “Break agad? Bago lang kayo diba? You changed girlfriend last month tapos break na agad?”

Natawa nang malakas si Oswald sa reaksyon ng dalaga. He just shrugs. “Things happened. Ganoon talaga.” Pa-cool nitong sabi kaya pinaningkitan ito nang mata ng dalaga.

‘Ibang klase talaga ito lalaki na 'to.’

Camari don't blame girls who likes Oswald. Oswald is handsome. He is charismatic and has a sexy aura as his daily wear. Tindig pa lang nito ay alam mo nang tigasin, but he is not Camari’s type.

Ayaw niya sa mga lalaking mukhang napabayaan sa loob ng gym. Camari like slim type of guys kasi para sakanya ay masarap itong yakapin, puwede din ‘yong may 6 pack abs dahil why not? It's good for her eyes.

Oswald dropped her off in the parking lot. Usually kasi sa front gate lang siya nito hinahatid pero dahil nandoon sa Daiki ay doon na siya nagpababa. Oswald even teased her. Huwag daw nilang kakalimutan na gumamit ng condom at nagbigay pa ng tips for car s*x. Well sorry siya, they already did it inside Daiki’s, and she won't tell him about it. Never.

“I missed you.” Daiki said habang paulit-ulit na hinahalikan ang pisnge ni Camari.

Natawa ng mahina ang dalaga. “We saw each other yesterday. We even video called earlier.”

“Kahit na. I still miss you. Gusto ko kasama kita palagi, gusto ko palagi kitang katabi. I love to see you next to me when I wake up in the morning. God, para akong mababaliw.” Daiki pouted and he hugged her.

He rest his head on Camari’s shoulder, she can feel him sniffing her scent and leaving a light kiss on her neck.

“Gosh. You're so in love with me.” Natatawang sabi ng dalaga. Camari hugged him back trying to hide her blushing cheeks. Ang aga-aga naman magpakilig.

Humiwalay mula sa pagkakayakap si Daiki at naglakad ito papunta sa kotse nito binuksan ng binata ang backseat ng kotse niya at kinuha mula doon ang isang bugkos ng mga puting rosas.

“Flowers for my beautiful, Camari Solace.” He said while grinning widely.

“Para saan 'tong bulaklak? What's the occasion?” Takang tanong ng dalaga. Hindi naman naman nila anniversary, not even their monthsary.

Tinaasan lang siya nang binata ng kilay habang nakangisi.

"Kailangan ba na sa tuwing may okasyon lang kita bibigyan? I can give you flowers everyday if you want, because you deserve it."

Agad na umiling si Camari. Anong gagawin niya sa ganon kadaming bulaklak?

"Thanks but, no thanks. Okay na 'yong bibigyan mo lang ako tuwing may okasyon, because i want every flowers from you became special. Kung aaraw-arawin mo hindi na siya nakakaexcite. Gusto ko na kikiligin ako sa tuwing makakatanggap ako ng buklalak mula sa'yo, pero kung araw-araw eh mawawalan na nang meaning 'yon. Atsaka balak mo ba'ng gawin flower shop 'yong kwarto ko?" She roll her eyes at Daiki pero tinawanan lang siya ng binata.

"Okay fine, hindi na. Ikaw na nga itong binibigyan ng bulaklak ikaw pa itong nag tataray. Ibang klase ka talaga, baby."

"Pasalamat ka, mahal kita." halos pabulong na saad ni Daiki pero hindi pa din ito nakatakas sa pandinig ni Camari.

"What? Anong sabi mo?" taas-kilay na tanong ng dalaga sakanya.

Daiki chuckle. Rinig na rinig ni Camari ang malalim na tawa nitong masarap sa tenga. She clear her throat. Pinipigilan niya ang kanyang ngiti at muling nagtaray.

"Let's go inside. Kanina pa sila nag-aantay ang aga-aga ang landi landi."

Muli itong natawa at binigyan siya ng malanding ngiti. Nang aasar pa talaga si Daiki. He's wiggling his eyebrows habang nakakaloko itong nakangisi sa dalaga. Ang gwapo-gwapo pero ang sarap sapakin sa mukha.

Camari roll her eyes at him at na unang maglakad papasok sa loob ng campus.

"Hey, baby. May nakakalimutan ka, wala man lang ba akong 'I love you too'?" Nang-aasar na tanong nitong habang humahabol kay Camari.

"Wala! Manigas ka d'yan!" Inis na saad ng dalaga.

"Pero summer pa lang, matagal pa bago mag taglamig."

Napahinto si Camari sa paglalakad at kunoot-noo’ng tinignan si Daiki.

Camari glare at him. "Edi manigas ka kahit summer! Gawan mo ng paraan, i don't care!" Galit na sigaw ng dalaga at tuluyan iniwan si Daiki sa may parking lot.