Falling for the Ice Genius (Barkada Series)

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Eighteen                           Party * Auction

KAUSAP NI EIRA SI CHANTAL NANG MGA ORAS NA IYON SA ISANG CAFÉ. Bakit? Actually, kaninang madaling araw pa siya binubulabog ng babaeng ito. Pagkauwi niya galing sa prom ay tumawag ito pero kaunti lang ang naintindihan niya kasi panay tili lang ito sa telepono. Kaya naman sinabi niyang bukas nalang sila mag-usap. Akala niya tatawag lang ito ulit, pero sinundo ba naman siya nang napakaaga sa bahay. Kaya ngayon nandoon sila sa isang café na nagseserve din ng agahan. Hindi pa kasi sila kumakain dahil sa kagagawan nito.

Kinukwento kasi nito ang nangyari daw kagabi. Na ang buong akala nito eh nasa prom si Micco tapos selos na selos daw ito dahil baka kung sino na ang lumalandi sa nobyo nito. ‘Yon pala ay hindi dumalo si Micco. Instead, he brought the prom to her. Ang sweet talaga ng dalawa.

“Kyaaaah! Kinikilig talaga ako, Ate! Ang sweet niya sobra! Kinuntsaba niya pa nga si Dad at Tita.” kinikilig parin na saad ni Chantal. Kanina pa iyon ganoon at hinahayaan niya lang kasi nakakatuwa itong tingnan.

Actually, nagpaalam sakanya si Micco na hindi ito dadalo. Dahil kailangan daw nitong samahan ang mommy nito. Hmmm, he lied about that huh? Makausap nga iyon sa lunes.

“Alam mo, Ate.” Napatingin siya dito nang magseryoso ito. “I am so glad that I met him. Sobrang swerte ko sa kanya. Hindi ko lubos maisip na may lalaking dadalhin ang prom sa bahay para lang ako ang makasama at makasayaw kesa sa iba. Akala ko walang magmamahal sakin ng ganito. Alam mo naman na bunga ako ng isang pagkakasala—”

“Chantal—”

“Iyon naman ang totoo, Ate. My mom got pregnant with a married man. Isa akong pagkakamali. Kaya nga dati natatakot ako. Paano kung hindi ako tanggapin ng mga tao sa paligid ko? Paano kung walang magmamahal sakin dahil sa nagawang kasalanan ng Mama ko? I feared to get bullied na nangyari nga on my childhood days. But my Mom made me feel that I was never a mistake.” She smiled. “And then dumating pa si Kuya Arjh. Akala ko talaga magagalit siya sakin. But it was the totally opposite. He loved me as her own sister. At simula non, marami na ang nagmahal at tumanggap sakin.” Kinusot nito ang naluluhang mata. “Ano ba yan! Ang drama ko. Hahaha!”

She chuckled and gave her an encouraging smile. “You are a gift, Chantal. Never think as if you were a mistake.”

“Thanks, Ate.”

“You’re welcome.”

“By the way, when will you tell the others about your situation?” tanong nito maya-maya.

She smiled lightly and stirred her hot cup of milk chocolate. “The sooner the better.” Yes, handa na siyang harapin ang mga ito. Kung papatagalin niya pa kasi, mas lalo lang silang masasaktan at mahihirapan, pati narin siya.

Nag-isip ito at waring may naalala. “May party nga pala sa mansion mamaya kaya gusto din kitang makausap ngayon. It’s some kind of a charity party. May mga auctions, donations, at iba pa. Para ito sa mga charity nila Tita. Dadalo ang mga pamilya ng barkada ni Kuya. And I’m sure the boys will bring their dates. That is the right time para sabihin mo sa lahat ang totoo.”

Napaisip siya. She is right. Pwede nga mamayang gabi. “Pero hindi naman ako invited eh.”

Natawa ito. “Silly! Siyempre ako ang nag-imbita sa’yo. Kaya nga nandito ako.”

“Okay. Pero, tulungan mo ako mamaya ha?” Natatakot pa din naman kasi siya. Kailangan niya ng moral support.

“Ako ang bahala, Ate. Nandito lang ako.” she said with certainty.

The night came and she was nervous as hell. She was breathing deeply most of the time, trying to calm and relax her nerves. She can do this. She felt a hand on her shoulder and found Tita Merdel looking worried.

“Are you sure you can do this by yourself?”

Nginitian niya ito, “I have to, Tita. Wish me luck!” biro niya sa tiyahin.

“You don’t need it. Kaya mo na yon. You’re my niece after all.” she said proudly. Narinig nila ang busina sa labas. Marahil iyon na ang sundo niya gaya ng sinabi ni Chantal. “Mukhang sundo mo na iyan. Ingat ka. Magtext ka sakin kung sakaling magkaproblema.” she said as she walked her outside.

Binuksan ng driver ang pinto. Nilingon niya ang tiyahin. “Alis na po kami.” Tumango lang ito. She went in then they drove towards Arjhun’s residence.”

“Stunning as always!” bati ni Chantal pagkababa niya palang ng sasakyan. Nakaabang kasi ito sa kanya doon. She kissed her cheeks and welcomed her in.

“Saan pa ba ako nagmana? Edi sa’yo.” Tumawa ito sa sinabi niya. Pansin niyang maraming magagarang sasakyan na nakapark. Mukhang maraming mayayamang bisita ngayong gabi. “Nakakahiya naman ata.” pabulong na saad niya nang mapansing napapatingin sa kanila ang ilan sa mga bisita.

“Come on! Ang ganda natin para mahiya. Hahaha!” pahayag ni Chantal. Ang hangin din nitong si Chantal. We’ll, she has every right to be. Haha! Naiiling nalang siya dito. “Let’s go?” Aya nito at hinila na siya papasok ng mansion.

Nasa may garden area ng bahay sa likuran ginaganap ang party. Pagkapasok nila ni Chantal sa bulwagan ay marami rami narin ang bisitang nandoon. Her eyes settled on the three luxury cars lined up at the side of the stage. Ang yaman! “Para saan ang mga sasakyan na iyan?” tanong niya kay Chantal.

“Oh, that? Those are for auction.” Nanlaki ang matang tiningnan niya ito. She laughed, “The black Porsche is owned by Tita, iyong white and silver Lamborghini naman is from Dad. And the Bugatti is from Mr. Cinco, a good business associate.”

“Gaano ba talaga kayo kayaman?”

Natawa ito at hinila na siya ulit. “Hindi kami, sina Dad at Tita lang.”

She pouted, “Pareho lang din naman iyon.” Dinala siya ni Chantal papunta sa parents nito at ni Arjh. “Good evening po Si — Tito, Tita!” bati niya sa dalawa.

Niyakap siya ng mama ni Arjh at nginitian, “Mabuti naman at nakadalo ka, hija. I hope you’ll enjoy tonight’s event.”

“Oo nga po. Maraming salamat sap ag-imbita sa akin. At panigurado pong mag-e-enjoy ako. I would love to participate in the auction too if only I had enough money. Gusto ko din naman po na makatulong sa mga charities ninyo.”

Mukhang may naisip ito because she was suddenly grinning. Umakbay si Tita sa kanila ni Chantal. “Actually… you can help.”

“Po?”

“Hon—”

Sinamaan lang ito nang tingin ni Tita kaya natahimik. “Napansin ko na maraming mga binata tonight. And I was trying to come up with something na mag-eenjoy din sila. So,” She had a bad feeling about it. Tumingin ito sakanila ni Chantal. “I was planning to let girls be a part of the bidding.”

“PO?” sabay nilang sigaw ni Chantal. Teka lang tama ba ang dinig niya?

“You don’t have to worry girls. This is safe. I have conducted this several times. Date lang naman for tonight. You will have to keep the company of your bidder for the rest of the night. Pinakamahaba na hanggang six in the morning. May magbabantay sa inyo to make sure you are all safe. If anyone tries to force themselves or do any malicious things on you, the contract is void immediately. And of course, baka makasuhan din sila.” Mukhang napansin nitong nag-aalinlangan sila—siya lang pala kasi si Chantal mukhang papayag. Oh she forgot, Chantal loves thrill. “You can help the charities through this way, Eira.”

She groaned. Ginamit pa talaga nitong rason ang charity, eh. “P-Paano kung walang magbid saamin?”

Tumawa ito na parang hindi naniniwala sa sinabi niya. “I doubt that very much. Trust me on this and you’ll see.”

She sighed. Ano pa baa ng magagawa niya? Napasubo na siya at nahihiya rin siyang humindi dito. “Sige na nga po.” Malaki naman ang tiwala niyang hindi sila ipapahamak ng mama ni Arjh, ganoon din ang asawa nito.

She clapped her hands at iginiya sila ni Chantal sa backstage. May ibang babae din na nandoon na. “This is Ariella, Arjhun and Chantal’s cousin, Dianne, Mr. Cinco’s daughter and Zoey daughter of Mr. Ishmael.” pakilala ni Tita.

“Are you somehow related to Zeke Ishmael?” tanong niya nang marinig ang apilyedo nito.

“He’s my cousin.”

Kaya pala. “Ladies, this is Eira Chen and of course kilala niyo naman si Chantal. They will also be a part of the auction. So, maiwan ko na kayo dito. I have to inform the MC first. Kayo ang mauunang i-bid.” iyon lang at mabilis na itong umalis.

“Tara, doon tayo.” saad ni Zoey iginiya sila sa bakanteng sofa. “So, bakit kayo sumali?”

“Ang hirap hindian ni Tita.” sagot niyang ikinatawa nito.

“You got that right.” She agreed as she composed herself. “Balita ko ikaw iyong nililigawan ni Arjh? Is that true?” Namula siya sa naging tanong nito. How did she know? She gigled, “No need to answer it, I already know.” natawa din pati si Chantal.

“P-paano mo nalaman?”

She shrugged her shoulders, “Family friends din namin sila. And with a cousin like Zeke, malalaman mo talaga ang nangyayari sa mga kaibigan mo.”

Zeke and his big mouth. Napapailing nalang siya. “Ikaw? Ba’t ka pala sumali sa auction?”

She shrugged and crossed her legs and arms, “I wanted to help. And besides, I want to try something fun and exciting, I guess.”

Nag-kakatuwaan pa silang tatlo sa backstage habang hinihintay ang bidding. Madali niya lang din naging kapalagayan ng loob si Zoey. Tatawa tawa lang silang tatlo nang lumapit sa kanila ang dalawang babae na ipinakilala ni Tita kanina, si Ariella at Dianne.

“The three of you should just back out. You’re wasting your time joining the auction. Walang magbibid sa inyo.” saad nung pinsan ni Chantal at Arjh na si Ariella.

Ang sama naman pala ng tabas ng dila ng isang ito. Ang layo ng ugali niya sa magkapatid. May pinsan pala si Arjh na ganito ang ugali? Tsk!

Zoey turned her head towards them and smiled sweetly in which the two found annoying. “Oh? Were you talking about yourselves, dearie?” she feigned an innocent look but surely she was smirking on the inside.

Halatang napikon ang dalawa. “You should watch who you’re talking to Zoey. Doesn’t mean you’re older than us means you’re on more power than we are. I am a Cinco, you don’t know what I am capable of doing.” Dianne threatened.

Zoey just looked at her, bored, “So? Cinco ka diba? Hanapin mo muna si piso at diyes at nang may makausap ka.” she said smirking.

Dianne was fuming mad, her face red. “You—”

She was cut off by Ariella, “Come on now, Di. They aren’t worth our time.”

“You aren’t worth ours either.” Zoey said grinning as they watched the two move away from them. “They thought they can bring me down. Tss! Those girls picked the wrong one to mess up with.” she scoffed and stared at Chantal. “I can’t believe you and Arjh have a cousin like her!” she snorted obviously in distaste of Ariella.

Chantal shrugged, “Can’t believe it either.”

Zoey rolled her eyes and stood up. “Come on now. Let’s just get ready.”

The MC had announced the certain rules about the bidding. And as she took a peek outside, it surely caught the attention of those young bachelors in the party. Kinakabahan na tuloy siya. Chantal’s cousin was up first.

She stopped in front of them with Dianne on her side. “We’ll see who gets the highest bid, losers.” They smirked and went on.

“Just you wait and see, ‘lil devil.” pahabol ni Zoey sa kanila.

They heard Ariella’s name being called and she was asked to say something to the crowd and to her possible bidder. “Ang landi talaga!” Zoey hissed as she heard what Ariella said.

The bidding started on five thousand pesos, then higher, higher and higher. Napanganga nalang siya nang marinig ang nag-bid ng one hundred thousand pesos. One hundred thousand for a freaking date and for just how many hours?

“One hundred seventy-five thousand pesos, going once. Going twice... Sold! The young man in black suit from table three. Please step up on stage and process your payment at the backstage. You can claim your date once the payment is secured.” pahayag ng MC.

Nakita nila si Ariella with a smirk on her face. “I bet you can’t even get any higher than that.” she walked past on them.

The auction continued. Dianne got a hundred fifty thousand pesos. Now it was Zoey’s turn to be up on stage. Bago ito umakyat ay humarap ito sa kanila ni Chantal. “If I glare at you, you have to find a man and let him bid for me, half a million pesos.” Say what? “Don’t worry, it is my money that will be used. You just have to find someone as props... No more buts and just do as I say.” iyon lang at umakyat na ito.

“Anything you want to say?” the MC asked.

“Let’s just get this over and done with.” Zoey muttered.

She and Chantal chuckled at her remark. Paano ito makakakuha ng malaking bidder kung ganoon ito? Si Zoey talaga.

“Fifty thousand pesos!” sigaw mula sa crowd.

Napanganga sila ni Chantal sa narinig. Like duh? First palang pero fifty agad?

“Seventy-five thousand pesos!”

“Ninety thousand pesos!”

“One hundred fifty thousand.”

Hindi sila halos makapaniwala sa mga narinig. Sobrang laki at dami ng nagbibid kay Zoey. “One hundred fifty thousand pesos... Going once.”

“Two hundred thousand pesos!”

She gasped. That is so huge! Napansin niyang napatingin sa kanila si Zoey, her eyes glaring at them. That’s the signal! Hinila niya ang lalaking nakita niya kanina na sigurado siyang isa sa mga organizer. “Five hundred thousand!” she shouted in a manly voice.

Mabilis na itinaas naman ni Chantal ang kamay ng lalaki at sinabihan ito na sumunod nalang. Napatingin sa kanila ang MC na nakakunot noo. Mukhang kilala nito ang lalaking hinila nila. Well, binabae actually. Para pa nga itong kinilabutan nang sabihin nilang magbid. Kaya siguro nagtaka yung MC.

“Five hundred thousand. Going once. Going—”

“One hundred thousand.” putol ng isang lalaki.

“Sir? We are higher than one hundred thousand now.”

The young bachelor came into view right in front of the stage. He looked quite foreign with his British accent and looks. He was so handsome and she was sure she heard the ladies in the crowd gasped. “One hundred thousand… US dollars.”

Eira was dumbfounded at what he said. Even the MC’s mouth was hanging open. That’s equivalent to four million pesos or more!

“T-Teka, tumatanggap ba tayo ng dolyar? Oh, heck we do! One hundred thousand US dollars. Going once, going twice… SOLD!” mabilis na saad ng host.

Nakita niya ang pag-akyat ng lalaki sa stage. The way he looked and moved around Zoey, she knew something was off. And Zoey’s face was as pale as white. She looked as if she had seen a ghost.

“Ms. Ishmael, you may go backstage.” pahayag ng MC pero inagaw nung lalaki ang mikropono. Staring up at him on the stage, he seemed quite familiar.

“I’d like to correct that... Ms. Zoey Ishmael-Bretaña.” he muttered on his emotionless face before giving the mic back and dragging Zoey to the backstage. “Stay here, Zoey. And no more chasing.” saad nito bago iwan si Zoey sa kanila upang mag bayad.

Now that she’d seen him up close, he looked like that man on the magazine. One of the youngest billionaires in Europe, and slowly making it to the world. He is the Luke William Bretaña. What is his relationship with Zoey? Is he her brother? He mentioned his surname on hers, earlier.

But could she be, his wife? She turned to Zoey. “Are you... Are you his wife?”

Zoey bit her lips and nodded. Their mouths hanged open at the news. How? When? A lot of questions were running in her mind. “Why didn’t you tell us?”

Yumuko ito at huminga ng malalim. “It’s complicated. Mahirap ipaliwanag. I’m sorry.”

She tapped her shoulder at seeing Zoey’s sad eyes. She is hurting, that she knew. Tinanguan nalang nila ito when she went out with that man following after her.

Napabalik lang ang atensiyon niya sa event nang tawagin ang pangalan ni Chantal. She looked at her.

“Guess I’m up.” she smiled. She gave her a nod and a good luck before she went up on stage.

The bidding went on and remarkably she had four hundred thousand pesos. Unfortunately, it wasn’t Micco who got her. Micco did tried to bid up to three hundred fifty thousand. It’s just that he was no match for some young businessman who was already earning millions.

“Hey.” She greeted Chantal. Ang ipinagtataka niya lang ay nakangiti parin ito kahit hindi si Micco ang highest bidder nito.

Lumapit sa kanila ang lalaking nagbid kay Chantal. He immediately gave her a hug na ipinagtaka niya. Binatukan ito ni Chantal nang bumitaw ito sa yakap. Okaaay?

“Bwiset ka Kuya Gerald! Hindi mo man lang ako inabisuhan na darating ka! Kainis ha!” pagtatampo nito saka bumaling sa kanya. “Ate Ei, I want you to meet Gerald Alvarez, my childhood friend. Kuya Ge, meet Eira Chen, ang nililigawan ni Kuya Arjh.”

“Really?” he said smiling and offering his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

She smiled in response. “The pleasure’s mine.” Narinig niya ang pagtawag sa pangalan niya mula sa stage. She gave them an apologetic smile. “My turn. I’ll see you two around.”

She tried to calm herself before taking a step towards the stage. Napalunok siya ng malaki nang makita ang maraming tao. Mukhang mas lalong dumami ang bisita. She tried to keep her smile kahit kinakabahan na siya ng sobra.

“Anything you’d like to say doll?” tanong ng MC. Naiilang na umiling siya habang nakangiti. He chuckled, “Shy, are we? Anyway, let’s start the bidding? We’ll start off with five thousand pesos.”

“Twenty thousand!”

“Thirty-five thousand!”

“Fifty thousand!” pahayag ni Micco. Why would he bid on her? But she is grateful. Mabuti sana kung ito ang manalo. She wouldn’t mind kasi kaibigan niya naman ito.

“Seventy thousand!”

Napalingon siya sa lalaking nagbid. Kanina pa ito nagbibid sakanya. At ito din iyong palaging lumalamang kay Micco. Who is he? Nakasmirk kasi ito kay Micco.

“Eighty thousand!” Zeke muttered, glaring at the same man.

Akala niya ay titigil na ito pero nagbid pa ulit. This time napanganga na siya sa sinabi nito. “One hundred fifty thousand.” he muttered.

“Two hundred thousand pesos.” si Micco ulit.

“Two hundred thousand. Going once. Going—”

“Three hundred fifty thousand!” that same man.

Mukhang wala ng ma-i-bid si Micco. Then that would mean she’d be dating that man. Well, it can’t be helped.

“Half a million pesos.” said a cold voice from the dark area at the back. Kilala niya ang boses na iyon.

“Five hundred thousand pesos. Going once. Going twice. SOLD! Please do step—” Napatigil sa pagsasalita ang host at bumaling sakanya. “You may go to the backstage now, Ms. Chen. Please wait for further instructions. Thank you.” he turned his attention back to the audience and thanked everyone for the active participation.

“Ms. Chen?” Napaangat siya ng tingin sa babaeng nagsalita. “Your date is waiting for you outside. Have a good night, miss.” she nodded and left her.

Tumayo na rin siya at inayos ang sarili and walked her way. She knows, no, she’s sure it was Arjhun’s voice she heard earlier. Kaya may kaunting idea siya na ito ang nagbid sakanya at ang magiging date niya for the rest of the night. Napakunot ang noo niya nang mapansin na hindi si Arjh ang nakatayo sa labas. She looked around trying to find him. She’s sure it was him. Nagtaka pa siya nang lumapit sakanya ang lalaking nag-bid kanina na muntik niya ng maka-date. “Hi.” he greeted.

“Umm.”

He chuckled. “I’m sorry. It’s so rude of me not to introduce myself first. Kenneth delos Reyes.” he stretched his hand.

Delos Reyes? Although hesitant ay tinanggap niya ang nakalahad nitong kamay. “Eira... Eira Chen.”

He smiled and stared at her keenly. Napakunot noo na siya when he didn’t let go of her hand still. “You are one innocent lass.”

“Excuse me? Will you let go of my hand now?” she tried to hide the irritation slowly building in her.

Pero imbis na bitawan ay mas inilapit nito ang mukha sakanya causing her to back off. What the hell? Just then, she felt her back hit a warm chest and an arm circled around her waist before pulling her away from the man’s grip.

“I believe I have won the bidding, Ken.” saad ni Arjhun. Thank God he’s here.

Ken grinned and raised his two hands in surrender. “Chill out, cousin. I was only being nice to this lassie.” He then tapped Arjh on the shoulder. “I’ll see you around, cousin, Eira.” he said before leaving them.

“Umm.” saad niya at nilingon si Arjh. He let go of her waist and stared at her intently.

“Why did you have to join that auction?” he asked frowning.

She looked around anywhere but him. Eh sa kinakabahan siya. Hindi niya alam kung galit ba si Arjh o hindi. She felt his finger under her chin and tilted it up causing her to stare back at him.

“Look at me when I am talking to you, Eira.” he said in a command. God! Those eyes! “Now, answer my question.”

“Kasi... Ano...”

“Stop that commanding voice of yours Arjhun. I am responsible for having her join the auction. Now do you have a problem with that?” tanong ni Tita na bigla nalang sumulpot sa likuran nito at batukan si Arjh.

“None, mom.” Arjh.

She then smiled sweetly, “Why don’t you go around the guests and introduce your girlfriend? I am sure everyone will be ecstatic to meet Eira. Have fun on your date, you two.” iyon lang at umalis na ulit ito to entertain other guests.

“Shall we?” tanong ni Arjh habang nakalahad ang braso nito sa kanya. He took her hand and wrapped it around his arms. “You have to be my date for tonight.”

Walang problema! Eeeeh! She blushed and managed a smile. Hindi na siya nagsalita because she doesn’t trust her voice at the moment. Baka kasi magsisigaw siya sa kilig doon.

He smiled. Oh good, Lord! He leaned forward and whispered, “You look lovely, like you always do.” then he kissed her on the cheek before pulling her towards some of his relatives and guests.