Argent et Pouvoir

Chapter 2

“What’s with the long face?” Tanong ni Dareios nang makapasok si Camari sa tambayan nila. He’s not even looking at her dahil nakatutok ito sa phone niya.

Camari gave him a glance and she rolled her eyes. Hinagis ni Camari ang bag niya sa sofa atsaka umupo sa tabi ni Dareios.

“Wala akong maayos na tulog.” She put her chin on her free hand hanggang ngayon kasi ay hawak pa rin niya sa isang kamay niya ang bugkos ng mga puting rosas na binigay ni Daiki sakanya kanina at nakapangalumbaba tinignan si Dareios.

Darieos didn't answer and he kept on smiling on his phone. Naningkit ang mga mata ni Camari.

What is he doing? Camari leaned a bit para silipin ‘yong phone ng katabi niya.

“What the hell are you watching?” Camari arched her eyebrow.

Darieos just smirk. He tilt his phone to show her his screen.

“What the hell?!” Camari shout at the top of her lungs.

She slap Dareios’ shoulder kaya napadaing ang kaibigan.

“Kadiri ka! Why are you watching gay porn at school? Umayos ka nga!” Camari glare at Dareios pero wala namang pake ang Isa. He’s even laughing dahil na eenjoy niya ang reaksyon ng kaibigan.

“Okay. There’s nothing wrong watching porn if you feel like it. Honestly I don't care.” Camari is explaining with visible disgust on her face.

“You like it go watch it but please, mamili ka naman ng oras at lugar. It's early in the morning at nasa school tayo. My god, Darieos! Where’s your manners?”

Dareios snorted. “Manners my a*s. I’m sorry 69 lang kasi ‘yong grade ko sa GMRC dati.” He sarcastically smile at her bago muling itinutok ang mata nito sakanyang phone.

Camari couldn't believe it. Dareios is the worst!

Sakto namang dumating na si Daiki kasama sila Eunice at Callahan. Napansin ni Camari na may kulang, wala pa si Azalea.

“Where’s Azalea?” Nagtatakang tanong niya. Kadalasan kasi ay ito ang nauuna sa tambayan ni hindi nga niya napansin agad na late na ito sa usual arrival nito dahil kay Dareios.

No one answers her. Halos lahat sila ay nagtataka din she was about to ask Dareios nang biglang tumunog ang phone nito.

Dareios answer his phone immediately.

“Hello?” Kunot-noo nitong sagot sa kabilang linya.

Darieos stay silent for a minute.

“Okay.” He said on the other line atsaka ibinaba ang tawag. All of them are staring at him, inaantay na magkwento siya, nagbabakasakali na si Azalea ang tumawag.

“She got an emergency. Hindi daw siya papasok pero pupunta siya sa party.” Tipid niyang sabi. Dareios shrugged at muling pinagpatuloy ang panunood sa phone.

All of them frown. Parang hindi niya girlfriend ang nakausap. Well, let's say na nagpapanggap nga lang silang dalawa na may relasyon sila but still, Azalea is their friend. Azalea is Dareios’ best friend, mas nauna silang dalawa na magkakilala pero kung umasta si Dareios eh parang wala siyang pake sa kaibigan.

Camari shook her head, she’s disappointed in Dareios. He doesn't deserve a good friend like Azalea.

The first to third classes ended smoothly. Since unang araw nang pasukan ay walang masyadong pinagawa all of the students are talking about the party that will happened tonight. Sa Hotel na pagmamay-ari nila Eunice gaganapin ang party at lahat ng estudyante ay imbitado. Back to school party happens every school year at sa Hotel talaga nila Eunice ang venue dahil ang tatlo niyang mga nakakatandang kapatid ay naging mga organizers din ng party.

“We have a lot of new students huh?” Callahan murmurs while observing the students in the locker area. Madadaanan kasi nila ang locker area papunta sa tambayan nilang magkakaibigan.

“Palagi naman maraming bagong estudyante tuwing school year. Azalea is good at advertising their school.” Saad ni Eunice habang busy itong nakatutok sa phone niya.

Azalea’s family owned the Aragon International School. This school has been passed down through generations at ang grandfather niya ang kasalukuyang chairman. Azalea’s mother is a former beauty queen while her father is a great and famous lawyer pero parehong hindi pasok ang parents niya sa qualifications na hinahanap nang lolo niya sa isang taga-pagmana. Kaya isa si Azalea sa pinagpipiliang maging taga-pagmana ng mga ari-arian ng mga Aragon.

The battle of succession in Azalea’s family are no joke. Halos tatlo silang nag-lalaban laban para sa posisyon ng chairman. Aragon’s wealth are also no joke. They had an International School, they also had Aragon Art Center where the world class performers perform. They also have an airline which is one of the top airlines here in the country, the Aragon International Airport. And lastly, the most profitable business that they have right now is the Aragon’s Construction.

This is the reason why Azalea is always busy. This makes Camari thankful sometimes that she’s an only child. Azalea is not close to her siblings, mga bata pa lang kasi sila ay tinatak na sa isipan nila na maglalaban-laban sila para sa mana.

One of the students caught Camari’s eyes. That student was tall and beautiful. She has a slim physique that fits to be a model, she has a bleached shoulder hair length and what caught Camari’s attention the most is her mysterious gray eyes. That student stand out the most because of her western look.

Nawala ang atensyon ni Camari sa babae nang biglang magsalita si Daiki sa tabi niya.

“That student is Sky Stevenson.”

Agad na kumunot ang noo ni Camari sa narinig. “And how did you know her name? Do you know her?” Seryosong tinitigan ni Camari ang nobyo.

Daiki sighed. “I don’t, okay? Narinig ko lang sa mga estudyante dito. That student is a transfer student same year as us and a transwoman.”

Nagkaroon nang saglit na katahimikan sakanila. Well there’s nothing new meeting people belongs to l***q+ when you have a bisexual friend. They met a lot in party especially if that party was organized by Dareios. But she’s so beautiful, that you won't recognize her as a former man.

‘Woah. Technology are so scary. She’s so beautiful but also scary.’

“I won’t attend the next class wala naman ituturo since first day pa lang naman si Dareios nga kanina pa tumakas. How about you Camari? let’s go shopping!” Nakangiting inangkla ni Eunice ang braso niya kay Camari.

Eunice noticed how Camari looked at her boyfriend Daiki. Kaya taas kilay na binalingan ni Eunice ang kaibigang si Daiki.

“Hey. Baka nakakalimutan mo, I am Camari’s friend first bago kayo naging dalawa kaya wala kang karapatan na pagbawalan siyang sumama sa'kin.” Mataray na saad ni Eunice na ikinatawa lang nang binata.

“Hindi ko naman kayo pipigilan.” Naiiling na sabi ni Daiki dahil masama pa rin ang tingin sakanya ni Eunice.

“Talagang hindi dahil sasama ka sa'min, and you're also going Callahan.”

Daiki sighed while Callahan scoffed. Pero wala namang nagreklamo sakanila.

Eunice and Camari stroll around the mall that Callahan’s family owned. Callahan belongs to the Dañioso clan, they have a huge family tree at ang pamilya nila ang may-ari nang Dañioso Shipping Company, ang pinaka malaking shipping company dito sa pilipinas.

Like Azalea’s family ay marami rin ari-arian ang mga Dañioso na kailangan paghatian nilang magpipinsan, there are currently nine Dañioso children who’s possible to be the successor but unlike Azalea’s grandfather, Callahan’s grandfather, Phoebus wants to divide all of his assets to his grandchildren equally.

“As far as I remember. I am the owner’s grandson and not your alalay, Heralyn Eunice.” Nakabusangot na saad ni Callahan.

He’s been following Eunice and Camari with Daiki for half an hour. Kanina pa sila paikot-ikot sa loob ng mall at lahat nang nabibili ni Eunice ay sakanya pinapabuhat ng dalaga. He didn't even did this for his ex-girlfriend’s sadyang makapal lang talaga ang mukha ng kaibigan niyang si Eunice.

“Tama na ang karereklamo, Callahan. Bilisan mong maglakad were going to Dior and Chanel I need to pick up my orders.”

Callahan’s forehead creased. “Pick up? eh pwede naman ipa- deliver ‘yon sa bahay niyo eh. Sagot ko na ‘yong shipping fee basta tapusin na natin ‘tong pag-iikot na 'to pagod na pagod nako.” Inis na wika ni Callahan atsaka padabog na ibinaba sa sahig ang mga hawak niyang shopping bags.

Eunice halt kaya napatigil din sa paglalakad si Camari at Daiki.

“Yah! Dañioso. Are whining like an immature kid?” Eunice said in a cold tone.

Callahan flinched while Camari step away from her and hid behind Daiki’s back.

Eunice can be quite a bit scary when she’s serious. Dareios sometimes call her crazy.

Patay malisya lang si Callahan. Callahan snorted at Isa-isang dinampot ang mga paper bag na binitawan niya.

Eunice stop in a one spot. Para siyang nanigas na ewan, nang sinundan nila nang tingin ang tinitigan niya ay nakita nila ang Daddy ni Eunice na papalabas ng Cartier. He’s holding a paper bag from the shop at may malaki itong ngiti sa labi. Eunice was too shock to react, ngayon lang niya ulit nakita ang Daddy niya na ngumiti nang ganon kalaki after mamatay ng Mommy niya sa sakit two years ago.

Eunice turn her gaze away at muling nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. Huminto sila sa tapat ng isang Salon dahil need daw mag-paayos at magrelax ni Eunice dahil na i-stress daw ito kay Callahan kanina. Camari, Daiki and Callahan didn't dare to utter any words at tahimik lang silang sumunod sa talaga. They know something is going on in Eunice’s life and all they need to do is to wait her open up.

•••



•••

The party started at exactly seven pm. Puno nang estudyante mula sa AIS ang Hotel de Soledad. Eunice family’s Chain of hotels are named after the womens in her grandfather’s life. May pagka-babaero kasi ito noong kabataan nito at masasabing minahal daw nito nang tunay ang mga babaeng ‘yon kaya bilang pag-alala sakanila ay ipinangalan niya ang mga hotel branch niya sa mga ito. And of course their main and the largest branch Casa de Isabella are named after her late grandmother, Isabella.

Loud music filled the Hall. Nagkalat ang mga estudyanteng sumasayaw, umiinom at nakikipaghalikan sa buong paligid. The lights are dim and colorful neon lights shot out in the whole area. Azalea is ten minutes late. Galing kasi siya sa isang private meeting, she’s been so busy this whole summer break to strengthen her power in their company. All of her siblings are already successful, mga nakapagtapos na nang pag-aaral at may napatunayan na kaya she’s doing her very best to catch up to them.

She’s only in her third year, walang karanasan at kulang sa supporters kung tutuusin ay wala talaga siyang laban sa mga kapatid niya pero masyado na siyang maraming na sakripsyo para dito. She can’t just stop because she’s tired. Maraming oras at tulog din ang na sayang niya mula sa pag-aaral nang mga business proposals at ang mga business deals na pinaghirapan niya dahil hindi ito basta-basta nakukuha. She can't afford to lose everything without a fight.

She received a text message from Darieos asking where she is. Nakangiti siyang nag-reply na nandito na siya bago niya isinilid ang phone niya sa purse niyang hawak. She saw the restroom sign and she decided to stop there for a while.

“Stay here.” Tipid na saad niya.

Agad na tumayo sa gilid ng pinto nang restroom ang tatlo niyang bodyguards. Her grandfather built a security department for his family, hindi na kasi bago ang pagtatanggka sa buhay nila noon pa man. The department currently had six teams.

Team 1, is assigned to protect the chairman. Team 2, is assigned to the chairman’s children and their spouses. Team 3, is assigned to Azalea’s older brother Anthony. Team 4, is assigned into her older sister, Christina. Team 5, is assigned to Azalea, while Team 6 is assigned to her cousins.

Azalea retouched her make-up. Her dark under eyes are getting visible, bakas na din sa mukha niya ang pagod. Azalea took a deep breath and let it out slowly to calm her mind.

“You are strong. You’re amazing, Azalea.” she murmurs to herself.

She got out of the restroom and heard a strange sound coming from the men’s restroom.

“No! Don’t touch me!”

Azalea could someone’s scream. Bakas din sa boses nito ang pag-iyak at takot.

“N-No! I don’t want this! Let go of meee!” Azalea felt alarmed. Agad niyang sinenyasan ang mga bodyguard niya na pumasok sa loob nang restroom.

She could hear a loud commotion inside. The sound of someone beating up and the sound of getting beat up. Pumasok si Azalea sa loob upang tiganan ang pangyayari she’s finding someone, she could still hear the faint cry that she heard earlier. Nang makarating siya sa isang bathroom stall ay agad siyang napasinghap.

There’s someone there lying in the floor almost completely naked. She’s shivering while trying to cover up herself. Magulo din ang mahaba at bleached nitong buhok, her mascara is already messy from crying her lipstick is also smudged and Azalea could see a blood stain on her lips.

They forced her. Agad siyang napapikit nang mariin. Walang pag-aalinlangan niyang hinubad ang kanyang suot na coat, reveling her sexy black lingerie top that compliment her white skin.

She gently approach the girl in front of her.

“Hi, need some help?” Alanganing tanong ni Azalea.

The woman stare at her. Mas lalong lumakas ang pag-iyak nito nang magtama ang paningin nila kaya mas lalo siyang nataranta. She immediately grab her and gave her a hug.

“It’s okay, I’m here now. You're already safe.” Marahang hinaplos ni Azalea ang likod nang babae.

One of her bodyguards approached her.

“What should we do to them, Miss?”

“Take care of them and ready the car, let’s go to my house.” Saad niya habang patuloy na marahang hinahaplos ang likod nang babaeng hindi niya kilala.