TAINTED (SPG)

CHAPTER 2

BELA'S POV

She turned around to have a full view of herself in the mirror in front of her. She smiled at herself feeling contented at how she looks.

She's wearing a white and dark-blue ombre mermaid gown made by one of the famous designers in the country. It is a turtle-neck backless gown, which perfectly hugged her body, showing her beautiful curves and form. She paired it with her dark-blue Louboutin heels,which makes her more taller than her 5'6" height. She also wears a diamond set of jewelry from Pragnell. Her hair was made in a braided-bun style, with some curled strands left on her right face. Her make-up artist just put on minimal make-up on her but it definitely emphasizes her angelic face.

"You look so gorgeous darling, siguradong maraming mabibihag ang ganda mo ngayong gabi," sabi ni Athena, ang kanyang make-up artist.

"Thanks Athena," i smiled at her.

"Hey princess, are you ready yet,the program is about to start," said dad as he entered my room.

"Im done dad."

"You look so beautiful my princess," he said with teary-eyes.

"Im afraid the one you're going to introduce to us today will ask for you already sooner or later," he added.

"Dad, you are overly-dramatic sometimes. Its not as if today is a proposal day for me. Its just my birthday, come on Dad. I dont want to ruin this day with us having our drama here on my room, instead of going out to celebrate," i joked at him.

"Okay princess, i'll go ahead, be ready okay and come down after me. Happy birthday , i love you princess," he kissed me on the forehead before exiting my room.

I take one last look in the mirror before taking in deep breaths and putting back a smile on my lips.

I slowly walked towards the door to the stairs as i already hear my dad talking in the microphone outside.

"And now,ladies and gentlemen, i present to you our celebrant, our only princess, the sole heiress of the Carlson Group of Companies, Bela Carlson," i heard my dad said followed by a grand applause from the visitors.

Its my cue to slowly walk down the red-carpet laid stairs. Mas lalo pang lumakas ang palakpakan ng mga tao as i reached the middle of the stairs and they are able to see me. I slowly descended to the bottom of the stairs and walked towards the make-shift stage.

I smiled while looking around the lawn which was filled with guests.

The program starts with the usual flow well and good. The last part is the 18 roses. My dad is my first dance, and comes my relatives and friends afterwards.

I go back up to my room to change. I put on an umbrella cut dress and pumps. I retouched my make-up before going back outside to meet my friends.

Inilibot ko ang paningin ko sa paligid at nakita ko sila na nasa sulok sa kanang bahagi ng lawn,malapit sa may gazebo. I waved at them when they looked at me as i rushed to their place.

"Happy birthday Bee," agad na bati ni Alyana while enveloping me in a tight embrace.

"You look so gorgeous Bee, nasa legal age ka na aba," pabirong sabi naman ni Kenneth habang palapit sakin.

"What a joke,"i rolled my eyes at him and hugging him too.

"Happy birthday Bee," anas naman ni Hannah habang yakap-yakap ako.

"Thanks, Hannah." I said to her.

Also in there are Chelsea, Althea and the twins Hugo and Christian.

Kanya-kanya silang bati sa akin at nag-abot ng kanilang mga regalo.

I am the youngest of them, lahat sila may mga trabaho na, maliban kay Hannah na kagagraduate lang last month. Paano ko sila naging kaibigan despite the age differences? Well, ganun siguro talaga kapag ang mga magulang niyo ay magkakasosyo sa negosyo, kayong mga anak din ang magiging magkakaibigan.

Alyana is a doctor, both doctors din ang parents niya at pagmamay-ari nila ang Montefalco Hospital kung saan intern din si Alyana.

Kenneth and Althea are siblings, anak sila ni Don Alejandro Carbonell, ang may-ari ng pinakamalaking shipping line sa bansa.

Chelsea is half-chinese, daughter of Mr. Richard Teng, ang nagmamay-ari ng mga sikat na fast-food chains at grocery stores.

The twins are both architects managing their own companies.

Hannah is the 2nd child of Mr. & Mrs. Almodovar, kaka graduate lang niya sa business management last month. Pagmamay-ari naman ng pamilya nila ang iba't-ibang malls and casinos sa bansa.

We were busy chattering when dad and mom approached our table.

"How are you doing kids?," dad asked na ikinaungol naming lahat. Bukod-tanging siya lang ang kung ituring kami ay mga bata pa rin. Siya din ang pinaka loose sa lahat ng mga tatay namin.

"We're sorry pero kailangan muna naming hiramin si Bela for a while para ipakilala sa iba pang guests, she'll be back in a bit. Suit yourselves and enjoy,okay," my mom smiled at them.

As i stand from my chair, humahangos na papunta sa tabi ko si Gio.

"Happy birthday sweetheart, im sorry for being late, i kinda stuck in a heavy traffic on my way here," sabi niya na may konting hingal pa sa boses bago ako niyakap at hinalikan sa pisngi.

I hugged him back and i didn't let him go kahit nung pakawalan na niya ako,kaya nagtataka siya sa ikinikilos ko,

"Its okay sweetheart, at least you managed to come". I said to him while looking at him with such longing while keeping my arms loosely draped on his waist.

Tikhim ni daddy ang sunod naming narinig at lahat ay napatingin sa kanya.

"So, who's this man na mukhang nakabihag sa prinsesa namin," he asked while intently eyeing Gio.

"Ah ano po, i think there's,"--Gio

"Ah yes dad,mom. He's Gio, my special someone. Sweetheart, meet my mom and dad," agad kong putol sa sasabihin sana ni Gio.

Di nakaligtas sa pandinig ko ang mga singhap ng mga kaibigan ko.

"Whoaahh"

"For real?"

Narinig ko pa angga bulongan nila.

"What do you ---"

Kinurot ko sa tagiliran si Gio at pasimpleng binulongan na na umayon na lang.

"Nice to meet you, maam, sir. Im Gio Hernandez," aniya sa magalang na boses at inabot ang kamay sa aking ama na mataman pa ring nakatitig sa kanya.

"Its nice to finally meet you ,hijo," sabi ni mommy na siyang unang nag-abot ng kamay ni Gio.

"You better take good care of my princess young man, and dont you dare na lokohin siya," warned my dad habang inaabot ang kamay ni Gio.

"Dad naman, tinatakot niyo naman si Gio," i blurted out dahil hindi pa rin nakahuma si Gio.

"Amh, are those flowers for me sweetheart?" tanong ko kay Gio while looking at the bouquet on his hand.

"Ah yes sweetheart, im sorry, here, flowers for you," agad naman niyang sabi ng makabawi sa pagkabigla.

"Happy birthday hija," someone greeted me from behind.

Ang mga magulang pala ni Hannah kasama ang kuya neto at hipag.

"Thank you so much tita," i smiled and hugged her.

"Happy birthday Bela," bati ni ate Sam at hinalikan din ako sa pisngi. Agad naman akong nagpasalamat sa kanya.

"What a fine lady you've grown into," saad naman ni Tito Drake, Hannah's dad.

"Ohh thank you so much tito,".

"Happy birthday baby," madiin namang bati ni kuya Blaire and pecked me on the cheeks.

I was caught off-guard. 2 years, 2 long years na hindi niya ako tinawag sa endearment na yun, ngayon lang ulit.

Pilit akong ngumiti at biniro siya.

"Kuya naman hindi na ako baby, malapit na nga akong magka jowa tapos baby pa rin," with matching pouting ko pang reklamo na ikina tawa naman ng lahat.

"Princess, lets go meet the other guests then you can come back to your friends," putol ng business-minded kong daddy sa usapan namin.

Ibinigay ko kay yaya Yolly na nasa may di kalayuan at naghihintay ng iuutos ko ang mga ibinigay nilang regalo at flowers sa akin bago ako nag excuse sa mga kaibigan ko at sumama sa mga magulang ko.

Paraan ko na din yun to get away from Blaire. Dahil after 2 years, may kirot pa rin sa aking puso sa tuwing nakikita ko siya. He is happily married now. I am happy for them pero hindi ko lang maiwasan na makaramdam pa rin ng sakit sa tuwing makikita ko sila.

I disregarded all those feelings and wear a sweet smile habang ipinapakilala ako ni dad sa iba pang mga guests na mostly ay mga kasosyo nila sa negosyo o kaya naman ay mga nasa pulitika.

Matapos ang ilang minuto ng pakikipag-usap sa huling table, nagpaalam ako dahil nakakaramdam na ako ng tawag ng kalikasan.

I excused myself and walked towards the house. Para akong nakahinga ng maluwag ng mawala sa paningin ko ang mga bisitang halos diko naman matandaan ang mga pangalan. I love parties and get aways, but parties to me includes only me and my friends. Madalas kaming pumunta sa mga bar na pag-aari ng pamilya nina Hannah pero laging nasa VIP room. Lumalabas lang kapag may mga tama na ng alak para sumayaw.

I go to my room to do my business, so i can go back to my friends. I was on my way out ng makita ko si Gio na galing sa guests washroom sa baba.

"Hey," i acknowledged him.

"Hey your face." he said with a scowl.

"Thanks Gio, you saved me bigtime a while ago," i said to him all smiles.

"At ano naman ang pumasok sa isipan mo at kung anu-anong drama ang pinaggagagawa mo Bela?" he only called me by my name pag seryoso na siya.

"Gio please, i just needed someone na pwede kong ipakilala kina mommy dahil nadulas ako kaninang umaga. And besides, wala ka namang jowa as of the moment diba? so whats the fuss?"

"Walang problema sa akin yun sweetheart, but im just worried na baka makarating sa parents ko ang dramang ginawa mo. I told you already they are so into finding someone na ipapakasal sa akin. And they are even here. Malaking problema to pag nagkataon sweetheart" he sighed while carresing my cheeks.

I looked up to him and sadly smiled. Hindi lingid sa kanya ang mga nangyari sa nakaraan. Maliban sa pamilya ko at sa pamilya nina Hannah ay tanging siya lang ang nakaka alam ng lahat.

"Dont worry, sasabihin ko na lang kina mommy na hindi tayo nag click kaya hindi kita sinagot pag magtanong ulit sila. Wala naman kasi akong maipapakilala sa kanila kaya ikaw na lang ang naisipan ko kasi ikaw ang hindi pa nila kilala sa mga kaibigan ko."

"Does it have something to do with Blaire again?" nang-aarok ang kanyang mga tingin. They are friends since high school. Pero 2 years ago ko lang siyang naging ka close, dahil siya ang naging kuya ko ng mga time na kinakailangan ko ng malalabasan ng sama ng loob at mula noon ay lagi na niya akong binabantayan lalo pa at ang pinapasukan kong university ay pag-aari ng kanyang pamilya.

I just nodded at him.

He sighed and pulled me into a tight hug.

"C'mon sweetheart, cheer-up. Hindi ka dapat malungkot sa birthday mo. Lets go outside, your friends are waiting for you," he dodged me.

"Okay", i said before taking his hand on mine and we both go outside to be with my friends.

"Hey you two, spill it out," agad na sabi ng isa sa mga kambal ng makitang paparating na kami ni Gio sa mesa namin.

"Bakit wala kaming alam sa mga nangyayari?" tanong naman ni Chelsea.

"Seryoso ba talaga yan?" tanong ni Althea at bukod-tangung siya lang ang seryoso sa mga naroroon.

"Why babe, are you jealous?" tumatawang balik-tanong naman ni Gio sa kanya kaya tinampal ko sya sa balikat.

"Guys, take it easy. Nangungulit lang kasi ang parents ko this morning kung bakit wala daw silang alam na manliligaw ko. Nadulas ako at nasabi ko na may ipapakilala ako sa kanila tonight and since Gio here is the one whom they aren't familiar with kaya siya na lang ang biglang pumasok sa isip ko. But you do know well na kahit kailan di ako papatol sa babaero," sabi ko at tumatawang tumingin kay Gio na may hawak ng wine glass.

Huling-huli ko na pasimple siyang nakatitig kay Althea at kinindatan ito na ikinapula naman ng mukha ng kaibigan namin.

Aha, I smell something fishy.

"Akala pa naman namin totoo na brod," saad naman ni Kenneth na tinapik-tapik pa sa balikat si Gio.

The night went smoothly and the good thing is hindi ko na muling nakita pa ang mag-asawang Blaire at Samantha hanggang sa unti-unti ng nagpaalam ang mga bisita.

Pabagsak akong nahiga sa kama ko pagkatapos kong maligo at magbihis ng pantulog. I felt drained for todays event. Medyo nangangalay din ang mga paa ko. Sinulyapan ko ang wall clock at nakita kong past 2 am na pala.

I sighed.

Flashbacks of todays earlier scenes played on my mind.

A wiped the tears from my eyes and hugged myself curling into a ball before drifting to deep sleep.