Mafia Lady: Layla Dominiq

Kabanata 1

"Omg girl! Trending ka na naman sa school wall. Well always naman!"

Ka- video call ko si Alison at Elisha habang inaayos ko ang proposal ko kay Miss Albaladejo.

"Our special subject teacher seems strange. Parang kilala ko siya." Si Elisha na hindi makaget over.

Makikita mula sa camera na nakahiga ito at tila bored na bored samantalang nasa bar si Alison. Every night naman ito doon.

"Seriously, Alison? Monday night nasa bar ka at naglalasing." Puna ko na tinawan niya lang bago binaliktad ang camera that focusing on the couch.

Medyo magulo ang lights pero dahil maganda ang camera nito, I can see who's she is referring to.

"Gagi! May quiz bukas 'wag mo idamay si Layla." Si Elisha pero nakatayo na ito siguradong maghahanda na papunta doon.

Tinignan ko ang porfolio kong kailangan pa e- arrange at ang pinasang litrato ni Alison na tempting nga.

"I'm not---"

"Guess who he's with right now." Anito na bahid sa tono ang tukso.

Vincentious Alijandro is with our special subject professor.

Napakuyom ang kamao ko at pilit na kinalma ang sarili. Napatawa ako sa sariling iniisip.

Vincentious Alijandro knows what he was doing. He's mature enough to know that this is clearly angering me. How dare that b***h come near him!

"Layla Dominiquea Brittany, hindi mo pa rin kilala ang babae?" Halakhak ni Elisha at tapos na sa pagbihis at palabas na ng kwarto niya.

Napatigil ako.

I know.

I damn know!

Isa siya sa nakaranas ng mga pangmamalupit ko.

She's brave enough to show her face in my damn hell.

"Don't wait for me." Saad ko at pinatay ang tawag.

No, I will not sulk here while overthinking. I'll finish my task and bring her to my hell.

I am Layla Brittany and I bring hell on whoever get besides Vincentious Alijandro Hendrich.

Napatingin ako sa umilaw kong phone at mensahe ito mula kay Alison.

Alison: Are u okay with this?

Napataas ang kilay ko sa message niya kaya kinuha ko ang phone at tinungo ang walk in closet ko.

Her message pop up again.

Alison: I know u don't sulk in your bed and letting your thoughts anger u. Party House Club. See u, Thornhill.

Napangisi ako at pinindot ang numero ng driver ko.

Dalawang ring palang nang sumagot ito. Napatingin ako sa relo sa pagtataka. 9 pm. Still early though.

"Prepare my car. I want to have a drink with Alison." Saad ko at pinatay ang tawag.

Nang pababa na ako ng hagdan ay napatingin ako sa apat na malalaking litrato. My father's portrait, my mother's angelic face, my sister's prettiest smile in the portrait and mine.

"Miss your car is ready." Anang servant ng bahay at nginitian ko lang ito.

They say, they can't distinguish my smile if it's true or not but I should believe when my mom's say my smile is the sweetest she ever seen.

Nang masara ko ang pintuan ng kotse ay mabilis na pinaharurot nang driver ko ang sasakyan patungong Party House ni Siri Hernandez. It's a mansion and inside is the elite club and party. Lahat gusto makapasok sa bahay na ito. Nang mapatingin ako sa labas makikita ang malaking gate.

My driver shows our VVIP card and we enter, it was like 300 meter and you'll reach the most fascinating fountain and at the back of it is the royalties mansion and I am one of the royalties.

Nakabukas ang malaking pintuan kaya makikita ang mga sosyal na damitan and the elite people entering the place together with other rich people.

"Miss Layla, let me escort you on the VVIP floor." It was the head manager of the place. He escorted to the second floor and people keeps staring at my presence.

I wore the latest work of Valentina Hermosa. She top at designers list and everyone wants her masterpiece but not everyone can get it.

"Layla!" Alison giggles when she saw me and walk towards me.

She acts kissing my cheek when in fact she's whispering, "Ali Hendrich is in my table with our professor!" She giggles once again and I smirk.

Nilapitan ko ang VVIP room at nandoob nga sila.

Napatingin ang lahat sa akin.

Even the professors eyes lift when she felt my presence.

But he didn't.

He's paying attention on his phone.

"Oh! The gorgeous Layla Thornhill is joining us tonight! Wow!" Si Manuel, he's not straight, he walks towards me and kiss my hand as a sign of respect and joke.

I laugh in amusement with his gestures.

"Y'all are crazy, guys!" Natatawa kong niyakap sila.

They laugh at my remarks.

"Wow, is this a Valentina Hermosa's work?" A girl socialite friend ask and I nodded.

"Nah you should not say work, Elaine! It's a masterpiece!" Si manuel na tinawanan at inagreehan ng lahat.

"A true royalty is here. Conservative and pure."

Napailing nalang ako sa kanila at naupo sa bakanteng space sa tabi ni Vincentious. I smile at him and he lift his head when he noticed me sitting besides him.

"How's work, Mr. Hendrich?" Pag- uumpisa ko ng conversation.

I smile at my professor behind her mysterious face. She's still pretty as she is when we were young.

"Good." Sagot nito na muntik ko nang ikinaismid ngunit inilingan lang ito girlfriend niya.

A good girlfriend, profesora.

"Hmm..." I smile and sit sideways to face my professor who is on the other sides of Vincentious, "Mi profesora! It's sad that I can't talk normally towards you, Miss Albaladejo. You're still my teacher even outside the school!"

Natawa ang mga kasamahan namin.

"She's just one year older than you, Layla. I think it's okay with you diba, Cassie?" Diego with enthusiastic voice at magiliw naman na napatango ang profesora.

"Of course, Diego. It's okay, Layla." Magiliw at mabait nitong sang ayon.

I giggles and Elisha smirk like evil at me kay mas napatawa pa ako.

"I finish my research proposal before coming here so I guess you all are free from workloads too?" Tanong ko at sabay naman nagpa- oo ang mga ito.

Itinaas ko ang ang wine glass ko at, "All glasses are on me. Let's enjoy tonight everyone!"

We clink our glasses except for Vincentious. It was two hours of drinking dancing and any exibition when they start getting drunk but I did not. Nanatili lang ako sa upuan at pasimpling sumisipsip sa wine glass habang naaliw sa kanilang mga ginagawa at ganoon din si Cassie Albaladejo, my professor.

Vincentious keeps texting like he wasn't enjoying such this kind of party at all.

"You are not a drinker Layla?" Medyo namamangha na tanong ni Miss Albaladejo.

I look at her way and shake my head gently.

Every movement I move is with class. That's an etiquette that even when I'm drunk, I always remember and move with etiquette.

"No, I am much a pretty control drinker." Sagot ko at ngumiti sa kaniya, "How about you?"

Natawa ito at umiling bago napatingin kay Vincentious.

"My boyfriend hates drunk ladies so I am lying low." She laughs and Vincentious lips form a gorgeous smile.

He is my professor's boyfriend.

"Wow, I should find a man like Mr. Hendrich then! Or maybe I should get someone who'll carry me on his bed because I'm so drunk to walk!" Natatawa kong balik at napatawa naman ito.

"You're such a role model for every students Layla. Ikaw lang ata nakikinig sa klase ko!"

Napatawa naman ako.

"I love the way you teach us. More entertaining and good source of knowledge thant the previews lecture I had! This is my way of saying thankyou, Miss Albaladejo." May kalakasan ko nang sabi due to the louder sound of music and give her a whiskey, a new brand.

Ininom naman nito nang deretso at binigyan ko siya ng dalawang beses pa bago pinigilan ni Vincentious ang kamay ko. Napatawa ako at kinuha ang isang shot glass at nilagyan iyon.

"Do you want some?" Tanong ko ngunit walang emosyon niya lang tinignan ang shot glass and he look at me with mysterious eyes.

I can't find out what's he's thinking.

"Come on, Ali. We may not a friend but I treat you as my brother!" I look genuinely telling the truth.

He raised his brows.

"Fine!" Suko ko at napatingin sa lasing na Miss Albaladejo. She's sleepy.

Nilagay ko ang maliit na baso sa lamesa at kinuha ang wine bottle. I refill his wine glass and mine.

"I miss hanging outs with my cousins! Damn." Bulong ko at sumipsip sa baso ko.

He's still silent but he's not focus on his phone now. Nakatingin din ito sa unahan namin. It was a glass but outside that glass are socialte people who enjoy their life on its limits.

"I remember hanging outs on your place too. I played with Selene, how was she anyway?" Baling ko sa kaniya.

"You were in the same school with her." Anito at mysteryosong tingin lang ang binigay sakin.

Ngunit napakunot ang noo ko.

Selene is in my school? How come I don't know about it?

"Really? I don't remember having a sight of her." Nagtataka ko paring tanong at naparelax nalang, "Maybe the school is too big for us to see each other."

Nanatili kaming nakatahimik hanggang basagin nito ang katahimikan namin.

"Your father keeps asking me."

Napalingon ako sa kaniya.

"He did?" Gulat kong tanong.

He keeps quiet and silent means yes.

"I did not know about it, Vincentious. I never thought that my father loves me that much for him to keeps pursuing you." Napatingin ako sa unahan at nakikita ko si Alison na tangay na ng isang lalaki.

I remain in my seat.

"You know my stand about it, Obri."

Napatango ako.

He really stand in his decision.