I Was The Mafia's Runaway Bride

Run 5: ⚠️⚠️⚠️

ARKISHA MIRABELLA'S POV

Tumunog ang tiyan ko na parang nasasabik sa pagkain na nakikita ko sa mesa. Naglalaway na lumapit ako sa buffet table. Kahit sa malayo pa lang ay amoy ko na ang savory notes of garlic, butter, and slow-roasted meats na tinutukso ako, hinahatak patungol sa mesa kung saan nabibihisan ito ng puting tela na tila hindi madapuan ng kahit anong gamu-gamo sa paligid.

Nang tuluyan na akong makalapit, tila nag-rebelde at kumalam ang sikmura ko sa sobrang gutom. It was that painful, hollow kind of hunger that makes your head light and your temper short. I tried to maintain my composure, adjusting the strap of my dress and smoothing my hair. Hindi naman ako mukhang patay-gutom, at least I hoped not, pero kanina pa talaga nag-aalburuto ang tiyan ko. I had skipped lunch for a three-hour fitting, and now, my body was demanding compensation. Feeling ko, kapag hindi pa ako nakakain sa mga sandaling ito, baka mangagat na lang ako bigla ng kung sino sa paligid.

“Hello po, Ma’am Arkisha,” a polite voice chirped. It was one of the catering crew, her smile bright and professional as she held a stack of ceramic plates. “Ano pong gusto ninyo?’

I gave her a small, polite smile, though inside I was screaming. Gagi, nakakahiya! Did she see me staring at the roast beef like I wanted to marry it? Halata bang gutom na gutom ako?

Patay gutom ka, Arkisha! Para bang hindi ka anak-mayaman.

“Uhm, hindi ako makapili sa sobrang dami ng pagkain na nakahain eh,” nahihiyang wika ko.

I looked over my shoulder and noticed the crowd starting to swell. The socialites were drifting away from their champagne towers and heading this way.

Kailangan ko nang magmadali; bago pa man mag-anunsyo si Daddy ng kahit anong importanteng bagay, dapat busog na ako para hindi ako mawalan ng gana mamaya. My father’s speeches were notorious for being long-winded, and I didn't want to faint mid-applause.

“Pwede niyo naman pong tikman lahat, Ma’am, at sigurado po ako na hindi kayo magsisisi,” wika pa ni ate, gesturing toward the endless rows of silver chafing dishes. I just nodded at her, my hands finally seizing a plate.

I went into survival mode. Kumuha na ako ng kanin, ulam, at sinalihan ko na rin ng dessert para 'all-in-one' na. I piled a golden-brown fried chicken wing on top of a mountain of paella, added some braised beef, and tucked a slice of chocolate gateau on the side.

It was a chaotic mess of flavors, but I didn't care. Ayoko nang tumayo pa mula sa mesang uukupahin ko dahil balak kong mag-concentrate sa pagkain. I needed to eat in peace, away from the prying eyes of Titas asking about my love life.

Nang makuha ko na ang lahat ng cravings ko, humanap ako ng puwesto sa isang tahimik na sulok, shielded by a large decorative fern.

I settled down and carefully placed my plate on the table, let out a sigh of relief, and picked up my fork. But before the first morsel could reach my lips, a blur of movement caught my eye. Laking gulat ko nang biglang may dumekwat sa fried chicken na nasa plato ko!

“Hoy, akin 'yan!” impit na sigaw ko. My heart nearly stopped from the sheer audacity of the theft. I looked up, and my blood pressure instantly spiked. At ang lintik—si Euan na naman ang bumulaga sa akin.

He stood there looking effortlessly handsome in a tailored suit, but his personality was as ugly as ever. Nasa bibig na niya ang chicken wings na kinuha ko, and he was tearing into it with a smug look of satisfaction. Halos kalahati ng plato ko ang laman niyon! The audacity!

“Isa lang ang kinuha ko. Kung makasigaw ka diyan, parang buong plato mo ang ninakaw ko ah?” pamimilosopo niya. He didn't even wait for an invitation before pulling out the chair and sitting in the vacant spot directly in front of me.

Bwisit talaga ang lalaking ito, kahit kailan! He has this uncanny ability to appear exactly when I’m about to enjoy myself, just so he can ruin it.

"Eh kung ipalamon ko sa'yo itong plato ko kasama ang mesa at upuan? Gusto mo iyon?" inis na sambit ko. I grabbed my utensils with a thud, making the silverware clang against the china, and started eating aggressively. If he wanted to be a pest, I would just ignore him and focus on my carbohydrates.

Isang pilyong ngisi lang ang ibinigay ni Euan sa akin, showing off his perfect teeth that were currently busy devouring my chicken. He leaned forward, his eyes shimmering with a mischievous, dark glint that made my skin prickle.

“Kung iyang butas mo ang ipapakain mo sa akin, baka tanggapin ko.”

The world seemed to stop for a second. Agad na nangunot ang aking noo. My brain processed the words, and then the heat climbed up my neck. My blood boiled at his choice of words. I glared at him with pure annoyance, my fork trembling in my hand.

“Anong butas!?”

Imbes na sagutin ako, ngumisi lang siya lalo, a low chuckle vibrating in his chest. He looked like the cat that swallowed the canary - or in this case, my chicken wing. Inirapan ko na lang siya. Argument with Euan was a circular trap; you never win, you just get more frustrated. Ayaw kong masira ang gabi ko, kaya bago pa ako tuluyang mawalan ng gana ay inatupag ko na ang pagkain ko.

The clinking of a glass echoed through the hall. Eksakto namang umakyat si Daddy sa mini-stage, standing under the warm glow of the spotlight. Naagaw niya ang atensyon ko, his presence commanding the room as it always did. Hinayaan ko na lang si Euan sa sarili niyang mundo, hoping he’d choke on a bone or something equally inconvenient.

Nang iabot kay Daddy ang mikropono, umalingawngaw ang feedback niyon sa buong hall, a sharp screech that made everyone wince. Natigil ang mga usapan at lahat ng mata ay natuon sa kanya.

“Good evening, may I have your attention, please?” panimula ni Daddy. His voice was booming, filled with the pride of a man who owned the world. Unti-unting nagsilapitan ang mga bisita sa gitna, forming a semi-circle around the stage. I stayed put in my corner, hoping to remain invisible, but my peripheral vision caught Euan reaching for my plate again. I kicked his foot hard under the table.

“Nakakarami ka na ah! Bakit hindi ka kumuha ng pagkain mo doon?” singhal ko sa kanya in a harsh whisper. Inilayo ko ang plato ko at hinarangan ito ng braso ko, protective as a lioness with a kill, habang ang tinidor ko ay nakatutok sa gawi niya - handang manaksak kung susubok pa siyang magnakaw.

“Nah, too lazy to do that. Mas gusto ko ang pagkaing nasa plato mo,” he whispered back, his voice smooth and irritatingly calm.

“Ulul! Ang tamad mo talaga. Pero pagdating sa pakikipagbasag-ulo at babae, ang bilis mo!”

“Iba ang usapan sa dahas at sarap, Arkisha,” makahulugang wika niya. He leaned in closer, his scent - a mix of expensive cologne and something rugged - drifting into my space. I just rolled my eyes, feeling a flutter of nerves I refused to acknowledge.

“Tse! Kumuha ka ng sarili mong pagkain!”