Liebestraum: The Switch

Chapter 3- Taste of Hell

TASTE OF HELL

"I can make both heaven and hell. I can bring you wherever, even in the middle of those two. If you will only choose me."

-Luna(EndJail)

"Hi tita we're sorry na late kami. Ito kasing si Luke.." wika ni Reina sa maamong tinig sabay nguso kay Luke "nag-aya pang mag breakfast"

Humagkhik siya at tila ba aliw na aliw sa breakfast nila. Her eyes is sparkling as beach as the sun radiates into it. She's tall and she has long legs. Her hair is straightened down to her shoulder. She's wearing a white fitted shirt and a black short, topped with a black cardigan. Her gladiator shoes that reached her knees completed the look. She's elegant and mesmerizing. Beside him, is of course a demon Luke Pascal.

"It's okay Leila! Luna have you met them already? I know that you're working in Pascal" wika ni mommy na nakalahad ang kamay na tila ipinakikilala kami sa isa't isa. She called her Leila.

Yes I met them, and it wasn't a good impression. Agad ko namang tinapunan ng tingin ang dalawa. Napansin kong nakahawak pa rin sa mga braso ni Luke si Leila. Inangat ko ang aking ulo, napansin kong matalim at mapanuri akong tinitigan ni Luke. Bahagyang nagtama ang aming mata na kanya naman agad iniwas. So what now Luke? Are you intimidated by how Luna look? Oh well, you should!

"I've met them of course, mom! Leila is my student and Luke is my boss" ngiti ko.

"Leila, are you studying?" Namilog naman ang mata ni mommy na nagtataka. She faced Leila's direction.

Kitang kita ko naman ang pag-bagsak ng kanyang kamay mula sa braso ni Luke. Kapansin pansin din ang pamumutala ng kanyang mukha. What now Leila? Did I say something wrong? Tinatago ba niya na nag-aaral siya sa Pascal? Oh c'mon Leila. What are you up to?

"N-no t-tita." aniya sa utal utal na tinig "Me-maybe ka-kamukha ko Lang yun Luna! You know after all what happened to me I decided to focus on modeling! Because this is the only place that I can breathe. Yes, I was in their school to fetch Luke"

Nilakbay ng kaliwang kamay ni Mrs. Merida ang ere upang abutin ang kamay ni Leila upang himas himasin.

"Yeah tita she's always at school. She keeps on following me I guess" dagdag ni Luke na nakisali na rin.

"I see Leila, maybe you're wrong Luna anak" Sabi ni Mrs. Merida at tinapunan ako ng pekeng ngiti.

How could I be wrong? Am I hallucinating? Is she really hiding her studies? Oh, I remember the day before Luna's soul was taken by the dark spirits she wanted to talk about her studies. Her parents disagreed with her studies. That's why, maybe! This brat lack support at home.

I saw Mrs. Merida hugged her, the lady is nodding while Leila is whispering something on Mrs. Merida's ear. While Luke is patting her back. Is she trying to persuade Luna's mother? Not not her! Not Luna's mom! Not my mom, she's temporarily my mom. And I am Luna, temporarily! She's an angel!

Umubo ako na agad nag-pabaling ng atensyon nila saakin. Kumalas si Mrs. Merida sa pagkaka akap kay Leila. I mean si mommy, I will call her mommy, from now on.

"It's maybe purely coincidence that my student and you has the same voice, hair cut, face and both of you..." wika ko sa sarkastikong tinig at ipinako ang tingin kay Luke Pascal "is fond of one person"

Reina Sy doesn't like my existence because she wanted Luke Pascal. She even started a fire between us during my class. She walked out of the room like a teenage b***h. Perhaps, that incident made a bad impression for my student. And this girl Leila, is like a leech glued on Luke.

"Luna..." wika ni mommy at hinigit ang aking kamay patungo sa isang room na puno ng samu't saring damit. " She is still sick Luna, sorry I didn't tell you. But let's not provoke Leila, anak."

Nalaglag ang panga ko sa sinabi ni mommy. Tila ba ipinaparating saakin na Isang fragile na baso si Leila at sa bawat salita ko'y maari siyang mabasag.

"I don't understand po mom"

"Luna, she's one of my top model. After the incident years ago, she decided to stop her studies at nag focus sa modeling. Halos mag fi-five years pa lang sya sa pinas. She's close with Luke kasi siya ang nagtrain dito, when she's just starting. " paliwanag ni mommy. " You're busy Kasi anak sa school at di ka pumunta rito mula noon kaya di ko nasabing nakauwi na si Leila. Sorry anak ha"

I don't understand. What did happen to Luna and Leila years ago? I don't care about Luke. But it seems like there's a mystery hiding between Luna and Leila that I couldn't decipher. Jusmiyo! Sana mahanap na ang kaluluwa mo Luna ng makawala na ako sa katawang lupa na ito.

" Yes I'm sorry po on how I acted" nginitian ko si mommy at napawi ang pag-aalala sa kanyang mata. Gulong gulo ako sa kung anong merong sekreto ang bumabalot sa Leila na ito. Basta ang alam ko, sa ngayon, she's not a friend.

Naglakad kami paalis sa dressing room at pumunta na sa hallway kung saan gaganapin ang picking ng mga modelong nais mag training. May limang upuan na naroon na nalamang ay uupuan ng panel na mamimili. Sa harap ay mahabang mesa na kung saan ay may mga papel, ballpen at bottled water. Unti unti na ring dumating ang balisang mga modelo at nag prepara ng susuotin. Ayon kay mommy ay kasama ako sa panel. Syempre kasama rin ang dalawang top model 'kuno' si Luke at Leila. Syempre si mommy at ang isa ay si Cee Jay Perez, isa ring modelo na under sa agency ni mommy. Wala na akong pakealam sa presensya nila. I'm just trying to get Luna a life. I'm just adding flavors to Luna's tasteless life.

Umupo ako sa pinakadulong upuan ng panel para sana'y wala akong makatabi na kung sino, hinihiling ko na lang na Sana ay si mommy ang tumabi saaking tabi. But then... It's not. Isang lalaki ang natanaw ko saaking peripheral view na umupo sa upuan na nasa tabi ko. Not Luke, please!

"Hi, Luna you look stunning"

Nilingon ko ang pinang-gagalingan ng tinig. It's not Luke. Nakahinga ako ng malalim it must be Cee Jay Perez.

"Hi, you must be Cee Jay Perez! '' nilahad ko ang kamay ko, para abutin ang kanya. He has thin lips. A manly cut hair that freshen up his whole damn face. Malamlam ang kanyang tingin. Like Luke, this man infront of me is one of the great greek gods too. Oh well, He is a model! Dang this models! They are giving me wild thoughts!

"It's been a long time Luna, you're still pretty" sambit nya sabay abot saaking kamay. Namula ako sa sinabi nya. godammit if Luna needs a boyfriend, I bet this one would be perfect.

Nginitian ko sya. Luna's smile is pretty awesome. It's intimidating! You should be intimated by now, Cee Jay Perez!

"I've been busy in the university that I forgot that there is a greek god that lurks under my mom's agency, Mr. Perez" biro ko.

Nakita ko ang pamumula nya sa sinabi ko. Ang aming mga kamay ay nanatiling nagkakamustahan sa ere. I want him to remove his hand first. I pressed it lightly by the use of my powerful thumb.

"Dude!" Pinaghiwalay ng kamay ni lukas ang aming palad sa pamamagitan ng paghampas niyon gamit ang kanyang kaliwang palad.

"Dude, late ka!" Nagfist bomb sila gamit ang kamay ni Cee Jay na kaninang nakahawak saakin.

"Leila's here?" Tanning ni Cee Jay.

This man is seriously ruining my romantic moments. Tinapunan ko ng masamang tingin si Luke at inirapan.

"Yas! I told you to fetch her she keeps on following me. I can't date because of her" sagot ni Luke na natatawa.

"Sshhh, I think I'm done with her" wika ni Cee Jay at tumingin sa direksyon ko. Pumunit ang kanyang ngiti na halos tumunaw saaking puso. Oh my gosh Luna, the greek god is smiling at you.

Observing from what he said he's courting Leila, but it seems like I got the attention. 'Di ko alam kung tatawa ba ako o ma f-flatter. Nilingon ko si Luke at tinapunan ng mapanuksong titig, nakataas ang aking kaliwang kilay at sarkastikong nakangiti. Nakaigting ang kanyang mga panga at nakatitig saaking mukha pababa sa aking dibdib. Marahil kitang kita ang aking collarbone at kunting parte ng dibdib sapagkat naka off-shoulder lamang ako. Bumuga sya ng hangin sa ere.

"Tita Merly wanted to see you Cee Jay, btw. About sa shoot mo sa international brands, nag complicate and schedules mo yata. You should see her to fix bago mag simula. mahirap ng mahagilap yun after the picking, she will be sorounded by models" wika ni Luke sa malamig na tinig!

"Oh yes, oo nga pala!"

Tumungo naman si Cee Jay sa office ni mommy. Naiwan kami ni Luke sa panel seat. Bumuntong hininga na lamang ako sa naudlot kong romantic moment kay Cee Jay Perez. Chester Luke Pascal is a nuisance, kahit dito ba naman!

"You shouldn't wear that at school" sambit nya sa tinig na nagpapakita ng awtoridad. Hindi iyon pag-magmamakaawa o suggestion. Isa 'yong utos.

"Why? Am I not..." umubo ako at tinignan sya sa mukha "stunning?"

Tiningnan ko sya na walang ekspresyon sa mukha. Unlike Cee Jay na mabilis mamula ang mukha. This one's strong. Maybe his mind is not clouded by wild thoughts. I wonder, did I ever make this man's blood raise? How can I make this man drool over Luna? I know I'm making a sin. I just wonder.

Part of my mind says that I wanted to own this man. Sobrang lakas ng epekto ng presensya niya sa katawang tao ko, and I hate that. I hate being vulnerable and to be dependent. I don't want to depend my happiness with him.

"Oh I'm sorry! Oo nga pala you're taken already by Leila. Sayang naman, An angelic face of yours deserve the taste of heaven not the taste of hell with Leila " usal ko.

Ang walang ekspresyon nyang mukha at napalitan ng mapang-akit na ngiti. Nilapit niya ang kanyang ulo saaking tenga "Leila's not my girl. And yes I am stunned. Tell me, how can I taste the heaven with you?" he whispered in my ears.

Tumayo ang balahibo ko sa pagbulong na iyon. Ang buong katawan kong kanina'y nilalamig dahil sa aircon at manipis na damit ay tila dinadarang sa impyerno sa sobrang init. Rinig na rinig ko ang lakas ng kalabog ng aking dibdib. Damn this body! Why would this body act weird infront of this guy? Of all people?

Siguro nga ay may nararamdaman si Luna sa lalaking ito. I couldn't hide it. I couldn't hide how her body is being responsive infront of him. Kaya ba lahat ng pabor nya Luna ay sinusunod mo? Maybe, I should flirt with this one, I should get him to make Luna proud, when she's back with this body.

"You froze Ms. Luna Psychee Merida. Tell me, what will I do to taste that heaven of yours?"

"I d-didn't tell that it's from me, but if you wanted it from me... " wika ko habang nakatitig pa rin siya saakin ng malalim. "...then leave the hell you're in right now. I can make both heaven and hell. I can bring you wherever, even in the middle of those two. If you will only you choose me. Btw, I know

that girl is my student. She's a liar!"

Mas lalong nag igting ang kanyang mga panga sa sinabi ko. Ang kanyang mga mata ay mas lalong dumilim, nag babadya ng panagib.

Everyone will surely think that Leila and Luke is together. The way how she clung her hands on his shoulder is intriguing. Every night she fetch him and they would drive together. Well, I don't care about them. I just wanted to tease him and to make Leila out of the picture. If this will make Luna be happy when she gets back at this body, then I am willing to sacrifice this mortal body to Luke Pascal.

He moved away from me. Inayos nya ang upo at umiwas ng tingin saakin. Did I crossed the line? Did I provoke him? Did I pull the trigger to silent him?

"Oh, you suddenly froze?" I hissed.

But he remained silent.

I realized, Leila is the softest part of him that I shouldn't touch. This makes everything more interesting!

Silence spread all over us the whole time. Nagsimula ng dumating lahat ng panels at models. Inisa isa at masusi namin silang pinili at inasikaso. They ramp and pose. The photographer took picture. After evaluation ay pinauwi na rin ang mga di tanggap. I felt bad for them. But this is how the world works, this world has a high standard for everything.

Nagkayayaan mag dinner after mag wrap up. Nagkwentuhan ang team ni mommy sa isang malaking mesa. I often stare at Luke but never did he try to throw an eye through the whole show. Tila na offend yata sa sinabi ko tungkol kay Leila. This man that Luna likes is head over heels sa isang two faced b***h at mukhang one sided pa. Narinig ko sa kwentuhan ng team na pinopormahan ni Cee Jay si Leila. Leila the whole time, is smiling brightly naghihiya hiyaan pa ang babaita.

Ewan ko kung saan nag-mumula ang galit sa puso ko. Marahil naiwang galit sa mortal na puso ni Luna. The mystery I couldn't decipher a while ago is perhaps a disaster. Or perhaps that mystery is a lurking anger behind the mind of Luna that she doesn't like to let out. But I couldn't help it.

While Luke, he stopped modeling two years ago nang mamatay ang kanyang ama at nag focus sa business ng kanilang pamilya. He trained Luna when she's just a newbie sa modeling. Luke, Cee Jay and Leila are one of the most paid models in the Philippines. They didn't seperate ways nor leave the agency eventhough they can stand on their own as a loyalty to my mother.

Nagkayayaan sila after mag dinner sa isang bar. Hindi na sumama si mommy dahil pauwi na raw ang Daddy ni Luna, o si Daddy galing Madrid, Spain para asikasuhin ang personal matters ng hospital. Pinilit ako ni mommy sumama sa kanyang team para naman daw makapag enjoy. Di na ako tumanggi kasi this is a step to spice Luna's life.

"Ms. Luna it seems like you rose from the dead after the incident at the school" sambit ni Rodney iyong photographer ni mommy.

Nasa isa kaming high end bar. Nakaupo kami sa isang U-shaped na cushion at sa harap ay isang table na puno ng sari saring inumin. Nakaupo ako sa pinakadulo ng U-shape cushion at sa kabilang dulo ay ang tatlong modelo, si Leila, Luke at Cee Jay. Of course, pinapagitnaan nila si Leila. Love triangle huh?

Kasama ang buong team ni mommy, ang make up artist, photographer, editor at stylist at iilang modelo. Ang mga batang modelo ay pinauwi na ng maaga pagka-tapos ng dinner.

"Oo nga Luna, you rose stunningly!" gatong ni mama Jay, ang baklang make-up artist.

Oh well, the attention is finally mine. Kanina pa ako di makarelate sa sinasabi nila pagkat di naman ako modelo. My height absolutely tells it.

"Thank you, naku di naman. Maybe the show isn't over yet for me" sambit ko nangingiti at nilagok ang isang basong alak na nasa harap ko. This people shouldn't know that Luna couldn't drink. Ang pait ng alak ay tumarak saaking lalamunan na nagpapainit sa aking dibdib. Walang hinga-hinga ko itong inubos.

"You must love teaching!"

"no, not really. It's just I fell in love with the subject that I was able to recognize and decipher the emotions of people." lumingon ako sa direksyon ni Luke na ngayon ay sa wakas tumingin na saakin. "I was able to understand people with mental issues, as fragile object that I shouldn't break'' nilapag ko ang ngayon ay wala ng lamang baso sa lamesa.

"Mukhang wala kang stress sa trabaho mo iha. Look at you, no signs of aging. Your skin isn't flawed. Iba ka talaga sa empleyado mo Luke" wika ulit ni mama Jay.

Tiningnan ko si Luke na mariin akong tinitigan at walang ekspresyon ang mukha.

" Thank you mama Jay. Stressed din po, kung alam nyo lang."

Yes, kung alam nyo lang how this man try to stop me from resting at home. How he disliked my fashion that lowered my self esteem.

"Naku, Mr. President you shouldn't stress this angelic face. " Pambibiro ni Cee Jay.

"I didn't she create her own stress" sagot ni Luke sa sarkastikong tinig, nilagok nya ang isang basong alak na nasa harap nya. "She is loaded this semester. All job, shoulders stress and responsibilities" iginala nya ang kanyang paningin patungo sa dance floor.

" Ooooh! You sounded so mature! sabagay, Luna choose that Job because she loves that. If it's stressing her then she should quit. I bet that job would fit her" ani Leila.

Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi nya. She sounded like she's insulting me. Right in front of this people? Yes, I couldn't do modeling like her. Yes, I am fit for teaching. But she couldn't tame her mouth like me.

"Hindi mo maiwasan minsan, may mga brat na estudyante. Hindi marunong rumespeto" mariin kong tugon.

I saw Leila rolled her eyes.

"You should be professional, Luna! It's part of your job. Bago mo pinasok ang trabaho mo dapat alam mo na ang mga factor na ganiyan. Like me modeling, maraming paparazzi na sumusunod saakin minsan. Hindi ako pwedeng mainis" Leila chuckled in a cute tone "kahit nagtatake sila ng pictures minsan, without my consent. Thank fully, I always turned out beautiful"

Yes, she's pretty. But she doesn't have to brag about it. I envy her that she's tall and she has a lot of friends.

"Yes, ako yata ang mentor mo" ani Luke.

They chuckled together.

I couldn't deal with this people. I stood up.

"Can I dance?" Everyone stare at me with blank expression. Maybe they felt that the words thrown by Leila is kinda heavy.

"Yah sure, sure, hija. Have fun!" wika ni mama Jay.

I know the team's eyes were glued on me. But dancing is very beneficial to this human body. It can lift mood and ease anxieties. I am pressed into confusions these past days, I need to dance away the sadness and confusions.

I set my foot on the dance floor. I feel free. Finally, I can breath out the frustration. It is making me alive.