Tempted [Tagalog]

Chapter 9: A Rather Peculiar Night

“MY goodness, anak!” bungad sa akin Mommy, the moment I stepped inside our mansion. “Kanina ka pa hinihintay ng Daddy mo.”

“Anong meron and why are you dressed like there’s going to be a party?” I asked while an eyebrow arched heavenwards.

“Silly you!” natatawang sagot ni Mommy sa akin. “I’m dressed like this because there’s indeed, going to be a party.”

My mom might be in her early 40s but she still looks stunning especially when she dolled herself up. Right now, she’s wearing a simple body fitted white dress but there’s no doubt that she’s glowing. Doon ko lang napagtanto na anniversary nga pala nila ngayon and maybe this is Dad's way of celebrating it.

Napangiti na lamang ako sa naisip. About time, Dad!

“I’ll explain everything later,” she said. “For now, go upstairs and get dressed. Okay?”

“Good evening, Tita!” bati si Clarkson na nasa likuran ko na pala. I immediately turned to him and saw him wearing a white tuxedo, like he’s aware of this party even before I did.

Nakipagbeso siya kay Mommy at mabilis na dinaluhan ang parents niya na halos kasabay lang niyang dumating. Sina Tita Carina and Tito Antonio are one of my Dad’s closest business partners, kahit noong mga bata kami ni Clarkson. The same reason kung bakit ko naging kaibigan ang mokong na ‘to.

We actually decided to split up earlier in the clinic dahil siya mismo ay nakatanggap din ng text message sa Daddy niya at tingin ko’y para iyon dito. I guess, ako lang ang parang nabigla sa totoong dahilan ng mensahe ni Daddy.

“What the hell is happening at bakit pati kayo, invited?” pabulong na tanong ko kay Clarkson pero nagkibit-balikat lamang siya.

“I smell something fishy about this,” sabat ni Belle na halos kadarating din lang, kasama rin ang parents niyang sina Tito Augusto at Tita Morisette, na halos ngayon ko lang ulit nakita.

“Alison, get dressed!” bulong ulit ni Mommy bago sila naglakad palabas sa garden namin kung saan sa tingin ko’y kasalukuyang ginaganap ang party.

“Clarkson, stay with Alison and Anabelle. Okay?” rinig kong bilin ng Mommy ni Clarkson sa kanya. He just nodded his head at them kaya tumalikod na si Tita Clarisse at mabilis na sumunod kay Mommy.

I feel so confused. Ano'ng meron? Well, considering that this is my parent’s silver anniversary kaya siguro naisipan nila mag-host ng party? That’s quite odd, to be honest.

Kasi unang-una, hindi naman sila 'yung tipo ng mag-asawa na gagawa ng ganitong klase ng celebration. Tuwing magpe-prepare nga ako ng intimate anniversary dinner para sa kanila noon, halatang si Mommy lang ang nasisiyahan.

So, what's really going on?

Parang may hindi tama and I can really feel it. Hindi ko tuloy maiwasang kabahan. And I don't freaking understand why!

“Allie, I'll help you get dressed?” Belle insisted. Ngayon ko lang halos napansin that she’s wearing a bloody-red cocktail dress which perfectly suit her almost fair complexion. Binagayan pa ito ng pula niyang wedged-heels at black purse.

“Pwedeng sumama?” tanong ni Clarkson. “Sabi ni Mommy, keep you guys company raw e—”

“Don’t even dare!” May halong pagbabanta kong sabi. Clarkson just raised both of his hand as if he’s surrendering himself to the police.

Gago talaga.

Hinila na ako ni Belle paakyat sa aking kwarto habang si Clarkson naman ay naiwan sa may hagdanan at kasalukuyan na naman siyang may kausap na ibang babae. Juice colored! Napaka talaga ng animal na 'to. Sobrang bilis!

Malas talaga ng susunod na official jowa ng lakaking ito. Tsk!

"SOMETHING smells fishy," sabi ko kay Belle habang inaayos ang zipper ng damit ko.

Kanina kasi nang makarating kami sa kwarto ko, may nakahanda nang damit at sapatos sa bed ko mismo. I assumed that my mom already prepared it beforehand.

"Kahit naman ako, gan'yan din ang pakiramdam," ani Belle saka siya tumayo para tulungan akong mai-zip ang damit ko. "But let's give your parents the benefit of the doubt. Who knows? Baka may business deal lang na nai-close ang daddy mo, right?"

I nodded in pretense.

As much as I want to convince myself na may point naman si Belle, there's something inside that just won't agree with her idea. Parang feeling ko talaga, may mangyayaring hindi maganda. I mean, they're parents after all. May kung isang tao man ang lubos na nakakikilala sa kanila, it's none other than me.

Kaya sana, tama nga si Belle at mali ang nararamdaman ko.

"Are you guys done?" bungad ni Clarkson sa may pintuan. "Hindi na ako kumatok dahil nakabukas naman ang pin—"

"Pervert!" Kaagad ko siyang binato ng hawak kong accessory na mabilis naman niyang iniwasan.

"H-hey! What was that for?" reklamo niya pero inirapan ko lang siya. I was in a middle of a deep thought tapos susulpot na lang siya bigla? Kaasar!

"Ano ba kasing ginagawa mo rito, Clarkson?" mapanuring tanong ni Belle matapos akong bigyan ng tapik sa balikat.

"Pinapunta ako ng mommy mo, Allie. Sunduin daw kita tapos mananakit ka na naman?"

I immediately shifted my gaze on Clarkson with one eyebrow raised. Alam kong medyo nagmamadali na sina mommy na simulan ang party. Pero kung tama nga si Belle sa iniisip niya kanina, bakit kailangan nandoon din kami nina Clarkson gayong wala naman kaming magiging papel doon?

"Guys, I really think something is off..."