TAINTED (SPG)

Bela's POV krrrrnggggg. krrrrrnnnggg. krrrrrnnngggg. Bela slowly opened her eyes, adjusting to the brightness of her room,before searching for her alarm clock to stop it from ringing. Today is her special day, she's turning 18 already, and she is so excited para sa kanyang party mamayang gabi. She slowly got out of bed and fixed it before facing the mirror to smile at herself while humming the 'happy birthday song'. Hindi pa rin maalis ang ngiti sa kanyang mga labi habang papasok sa kanyang bathroom para sa kanyang morning routine. Dali-dali siyang nag shower at nagsipilyo ng kanyang ngipin. At dahil espesyal ang araw na ito, kinuha niya ang bagong croptop at jogger pants na binili niya nung nakaraang-araw at yun ang isinuot. Hindi siya yung tipo ng babae na mas gugustuhing magsuot ng mga dress, dahil mas prefer niya yung malaya siyang makakagalaw dahil ay pagka taklesa siya. Humarap siya sa kanyang vanity mirror at naglagay ng konting powder at lipgloss bago sinuklay at inayos ang kanyang buhok in a messy bun. She's almost ready to go down for breakfast when she hears someone knocking on her door. "Who's there?",she asked. "Maam Bela,hinihintay na po kayo ng inyong Daddy at Mommy sa dining room,gusto daw po nila kayong makasabay sa breakfast ngayon," ani ng kanyang yaya Yolly. "Sige po yaya,bababa na po ako,"sagot ko sa kanya habang tumatayo para magsuot ng sneakers bago lumabas ng aking kuwarto at sumunod sa kanya pababa sa dining area. "Good morning princess,happy birthday",bati ni Daddy ng makita akong papasok ng dining room. "Morning Dad"i greeted him and pecked him on the cheeks. "Morning Mom,"bati ko naman sa Mommy ko na nasa kanang side ni Daddy sa hapag-kainan at hinalikan din sa pisngi. "Hi princess,good morning",ganting bati niya sa akin. "Are you ready for you party tonight princess? I've already had the reception done and everything is set as planned." Dad said. "Dad, i told you already, I dont want a lavish party,i just want to celebrate with my family and friends. I am excited, of course, but you dont need to invite all your fellow businessmen. Its my birthday, not a business meeting", i told him while rolling my eyes. "You are our princess,you deserve to have all these stuff,and besides, ngayon lang naman ito iha. In the past,we celebrated your birthday on a simple gathering. But now that you are turning 18 already, di ako papayag na hindi kita ipakilala sa lahat anak. Ikaw ang kaisa-isang tagapagmana namin ng Mommy mo kaya dapat simulan mo na ring makihalubilo sa mga business associates natin because sooner or later,ikaw na ang mamamahala sa mga businesses natin," ang mahabang litanya ni Daddy. "But Dad, im still young and i still have 2 years to finish my degree, that can wait. Nandiyan naman kayo ni Mommy, so why the rush? Please Dad, i promise, pag naka graduate na ako, papag-aralan ko na ang tungkol sa negosyo. But now, let me just enjoy my youth,my life," i stated and sigh. "Dad, princess, that's enough. Tama naman si Bela, di pa naman siya nakakapagtapos kaya di pa natin siya dapat i force about business", sawata ni Mommy sa amin ni Daddy. "Let's eat, dahil maya-maya lang darating na ang ibang mga kamag-anak natin who will be coming to attend your party princess," dagdag pa niya. "Im sorry princess," Dad said before serving my mom food. I smiled at him before starting to eat breakfast. Diko naman masisisi si Dad. Kaisa-isa akong anak at alam ko na sooner or later, aki na ang magma manage ng mga negosyo ng pamilya. But im still young, ang i still want to enjoy habang wala pang malaking responsibilidad na nakaatang sa mga balikat ko. After eating breakfast, i go out to the front of our home to see the venue for my 18th birthday party. Its all set. I can see the mixture of white and blue flowers everywhere, kaya napangiti ako. White and blue are my favorite colors. I was disturbed from my trance when i heard my phone ringing from the pocket of my jogger pants. I take it out to see who's calling me. "Happy birthday Bee", matinis na sabi agad ng nasa kabilang linya, walang iba kundi ang bestfriend kong si Hannah. "Thanks Hannah, but can you please tone down a bit? Masisira ang eardrums ko sa'yo eh", i said to her while rolling my eyes. "Ready for your party tonight Bee?", she inquired. "Im excited and happy Hannah, kasi magkikita-kita na tayo with the girls after 1 month of not seeing one another, but you know me,i love parties,but i hate minggling with people i dont even know. But i dont have a choice because its my party",napabuntong-hiningang saad niya. "Im so excited Bee,"anito na tila di man lang nabanaag ang pagkabalisa ko. "By the way Bee, baka ma late lang ako ng konti sa pagpunta because i have to wait for kuya and ate Sam to fetch me here since dipa nakakabalik ang driver namin from vacation. Mom and Dad will come straight from work tonight kaya di nila ako maisabay", she informed me. I felt something when she said 'kuya' but i disregarded it. Ayokong mapansin ng bestfriend ko yun. "Well then Hannah, see you later na lang. I still have to go prepare myself for tonight," i casually replied. "Bye Bee, see yah," she said before hanging up. Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako while staring at my phone. Its as if, i can see the images and scenes thats been going through mind. May kurot akong nadama sa puso ko, but i preferred to push it aside. Im not supposed to be sad and sulking today, i should be elated, i think to myself before deciding to go back inside. "Yaya Yolly, where's mom and dad?" i asked her as i enter the house and she's about to enter the kitchen. "Nasa study po sila maam,tamang-tama po dahil pinapatawag din po kayo ni Sir,gusto daw po kayong makausap," she told me. " Thanks yaya", i curtly nodded at her before going up to the 2nd floor to the study room, wondering what my parents would like to talk about. "Dad,mom?" i knocked before opening the door. "Hija, please come take a sit. We have something to tell you," my mom told me with a serious face. I strode inside,sit infront of my parents who are sitting beside each other on the sofa in front of my dad's study table. I stared at them, who are both seriously waiting for me to settle before talking. "What is it Dad?" i asked him, feeling a little bit nervous. They are not usually like these unless, it is something so important. "Princess, the Almodovar's will be coming over tonight at your party," Dad started. "And," i casually asked, but the truth is my heart is pounding im afraid they will even hear it. "Blaire and Samantha is back already from the US, and they will be attending your party," sabi ni mommy, i know that they are waiting for my reaction, but i tried not to show them how i feel. "Oh, really? Thats good to hear," i smiled at them like its just nothing to me. "Hija, are you okay with it? I mean, yeah, its been 2 years since then, but we thought na baka hindi ka pa okay to meet them?" dad asked. "Eversince, wala ka pang ipinapakilala sa amin ng dad mo na boyfriend, o kahit manliligaw man lang," sabi naman ni mommy. "Dad, mom are you kidding me? Its been two years already, nakalimutan ko na ang anumang nangyari noon. I was young and impulsive at that time, but im a lady now, wala na sa akin ang lahat ng iyon," i plastered a fake smile while telling them. "And besides, may balak nga po akong ipakilala sa inyo mamaya. He's not yet my boyfriend because i dont want to rush things, i want us to enjoy what we have at the moment, but im happy with him. Im sorry for not telling you sooner but i just want to make sure that everything between me and him is smooth before telling you guys," i lied, still plastering a sweet smile on my lips. Di nakaligtas sa akin ang sabay na unti-unting pagbuga ng hininga ng mga magulang ko. "Is it true princess? You will introduce someone to us? Well then, thats a great news," dad said, finally with a smile on his lips. "Yes dad," i smiled at him. My mom came to me and hugged me. "Im so happy to hear that Bela, akala ko kasi hindi ka pa rin nakakawala sa feelings mo kay Blaire. Im very happy for you princess," she told me while staring at me smiling. "Mom,as i said, i was just young and infatuated way back then thats why, but i afterwards, i realized that i just mistaken that what i thought i feel at that time was love and not merely a teenage infatuation. And im sorry for what had happened at that time" seryoso kung turan sa kanya. "Well, i think i have to go and get some beauty rest before our relatives will start to show up," i simply told them. Letting go from my moms hug, i kissed them both before going out of the study. I slowly closed the door behind me and leaned on it for a while. I let go of my breathing that i wasn't aware i was holding, trying to calm my heart from its fast beating. I straightened myself and walk towards the door to my room. Once inside, i slowly walk towards my vanity mirror and sit on the stool. I felt like a candle, na unti-unting nauupos. Memories of the past played like a movie inside my head. I looked up only to see my face were already tear-streaked. Hindi ko namalayan na umiiyak na pala ako. Hinayaan ko muna ang sarili ko na ilabas ang nararamdaman ko, bago pumasok ng banyo para maghilamos at ayusin ang sarili ko. 'Past is past. You have to get hold of yourself Bela. Forget everything and just be happy'. Paulit-ulit niyang sinasabi sa kanyang isipan. Nang matapos ay saka niya naalala ang sinabi sa mga magulang na may ipapakilala siya sa mga ito. Napatutop na lang siya sa kanyang noo. Nag-iisip ng kung anong pwede niyang gawin o mas tamang sabihin na kung sino ang pwede niyang kausapin at ipapakilala sa kanyang mga magulang. Yes. She is single at walang espesyal na relasyon sa kahit kaninong lalaki at the moment, at kahit noon pa man. May mga nanliligaw naman sa kanya pero agad niyang tinatapat ang mga eto, dahil ayaw niyang magpaasa ng tao, lalo pa at alam niya sa sarili niya na hindi pa niya kayang ialay ang kanyang pagmamahal sa ibang lalaki. Tunog ng kanyang cellphone ang nagpabalik sa kanyang atensyon sa kasalukuyan. Kumunot ang kanyang noo dahil hindi naka register sa kanyang contacts ang taong tumatawag. "Yes,hello?" tanong niya sa nasa kabilang linya at humakbang palabas ng kanyang bathroom at naupo sa sofa malapit sa veranda ng kanyang silid. "Happy birthday,sweetheart," ani Gio Alvarez sa kabilang banda. "Thanks Gio, hey i miss you dude,". "I miss you too sweetheart, can't wait to see you tonight," sabi neto. "Hey,wait. Why are you using a new number, its not the one registered on my contacts?" i asked Gio. "Its a new one sweetheart. I lost my phone at the bar a couple of nights ago." "Gio!.siguro naglasing ka na naman ano? Tsss! kahit kelan talaga. When are you going to stop that vise of yours? Di ko pa rin talaga lubos- maisip kung paanong ang CEO ng isang kumpanya ay akala mo teenager kung pumasok at maglasing sa isang bar" mahaba kong litanya while rolling my eyes at pakumpas-kumpas pa ng kamay na akala mo naman nasa harap ko ang kausap ko. "Hey,hey,hey! Stop there sweetheart. Baka kung saan na naman mapunta ang panenermon mo na yan. Nagcelebrate lang naman ako ng Independence day ko the other day, dahil single na ako,"he said chucking from the other line. DING!!! Unti-unting may sumilay na ngiti sa kanyang mga labi dahil sa sinabi nito. "Okay,okay. Tama na ang palusot. Just make sure that you're not going to come late for my party tonight. And can you please bring for me a bouquet of flowers?" she asked sweetly na ikinasinghap nito. A devilish smile was formed in her lips.