Embracing The Lies

Chapter 6

"He actually told that to you?! What a jerk, huh."

"Pucha, Ely, sinasabi ko sa'yo! Huwag na huwag mo sa akin ipakita 'yang matapobreng artista! Toknening! International artist, 'yan? Gano'n ugali! Ibash ko 'yan, ipopost ko talaga sa f*******:!"

I laughed upon seeing their reactions. We are having a video right now and I told them about what happened last night. Kung paano ako inalipusta ng kumag na 'yon! Argh! Mugtong-muto pa mga mga ko ngayon dahil sa kakaiyak kagabi, mabuti nga nakatulog ako dahil sa iyak. Kung hindi, talagang hindi ko siya papatulogin sa guilty! Nakakainis siya.

And as of now, I'm planning to finally leave this place. Tapos na ako mag-impake ng mga gamit ko, I just rest on bed for a while to update them what was happening to me right now.

Mabuti pa nga sila naghahanda para sa mamayang klase, while me? I'm having a hard time looking for a place to stay. Bakit ba kasi dumating sa akin ang araw na 'to? Ang inaasam ko na pagsama sa kanila ay hindi ko na magagawa kailanman dahil nakakulong ako dito. At sobrang nakakainis kasi wala naman akong ginawang kasalanan, parang ako pa ang sobrang agrabyado ngayon!

Napatingin ako sa pinto when I heard a knock, so I bid my goodbyes to them and turned off my phone.

"Pasok lang," I said as I fixed myself. Inayos ko ang buhok kong magulo at ang damit ko para hindi naman maging bakat 'yong bra ko.

Tumambad sa akin ang malaadonis na mukha este demonyong mukha pala. He was wearing his casual attire na akala mo may business meeting. Wala ba 'tong taping? Mag-aalas otso na ng umaga yet he was still here. As far as I know, he's a busy celebrity dahil sa kaliwa't kanang project nag-ooffer sa kaniya. Sige lang, pakasaya siya ngayon. Naghahanap lang ako ng tyempo.

I glared at him and stood up to close all of my luggages.

What is he doing here, by the way? To insult me again? Or will he be sorry about last night?

I wanna shout and cuss him so bad right now but I don't have energy yet. Masyadong naubos ang lakas ko kagabi sa kakahagulgol dahil sa sobrang sakit niya magsalita. But, that doesn't mean that I won't forgive all of his actions! Babawi talaga ako. Maghihiganti talaga ako. May oras siya sa akin at kung dumating man 'yon, hinding hindi ako papayag na hindi masira buong career niya. Legit galit ko ngayon mga one hundred percent.

"Look, if you're leaving right because of what I said last night, don't. Lots of broadcasters are waiting for you outside of the ville. Anywhere in the street, they might appear just to get an information about you."

I looked at him confusedly. Ang kapal talaga ng amog ng lalaking 'to, hindi man lang nagsorry! He was not even sorry for what he has done to me!

I crossed my arms as I stood up.

"Do I look like I care?" I raised my brows. Argh! Ang kapal talaga. Nanggalaiti ako sa inis. Grr. Pigilan niyo ako!

"You should care because this is your life now." I scoffed and laughed so hard after.

"Life?! I didn't choose this. YOU PUT ME IN THIS SITUATION! You ruined my life!" I yelled.

He looked away and put his both hands on his pocket. Chill lang na parang wala siyang may narinig na ginagalitan siya.

He is starting me now. Kumukulo 'yong dugo ko sa inaakto niya ngayon, sobrang sarap niya ingudngod! Nanggigigil ako. Sobra. Grr!!

"Just don't leave, not today, not tomorrow or anytime you want. Before you leave, ask me first."

Mas lalong uminit dugo ko. I walked towards him and pushed him with all of my force. Pero siguro hindi ako ganoon kalakas at isang hakbang lang ang napalayo niya.

"I hate you! I f*****g hate you! You put me in this situation, and now you are contradicting what I am doing! You don't have the right to tell me what to do, you don't have the right to ask me where I will go, because in the first place, I don't know you and I don't f*****g trust you!" I yelled my lungs out.

He just stared at me blankly. That dull eyes which you couldn’t see any emotion. It was painless, lifelessness, and.... just nothing.

Kaya mas lalo akong nainis dahil parang wala lang ako sa kaniya. Parang hindi ako nag-e-exist and I really really really hate it. For all the things he had done to me? Parang wala lang? Ano ako para sa kaniya? Tauhan?! Close kami? Ano akala niya sa akin, hahayaan na lang siya ganitohin ako porket na gwapo, mayaman at artista siya?! Pwes, I will prove him wrong!

"Now, I am going to leave this f*****g place and no one can stop me even you!" I pointed my finger at him.

I grabbed my luggage and passed by at him. I never looked back anymore, I just ran downstairs up to get out of his f*****g house. Damn it! Ramdam ko ang mga tinginan ng helper ni Maximmo pero wala akong pakialam.

I heard Cole's calling my name but I didn't mind him but to walk even faster. The guard of his mansion stopped me and didn't want to open the gate because Maximmo ordered not to. Ambilis niya talaga makapag-utos. Siguro ganito na lang kadali sa kaniya na mag-order nang gano’n na gano’n lang sa akin kasi nasanay siya na sa isang utos niya lang ay nasusunod kaagad.

What a spoiled asshole.

“Ma’am, hindi po talaga pwede kayo lumabas ‘e. Pasensya na ma’am, ayokong sawayin si sir, ayoko mawalan ng trabaho.”

Mas lalong nanginig kalamnan ko sa loob dahil sa galit. Ganito na ba siya ka heartless?! Will he make us a prisoner, especially me?! He f*****g ruined my whole life, and I am here right now trying to live my life even though I have no place to stay with! At ngayon, ayaw niya na akong palabasin dito?! Ano akala niya sa sarili niya, Lord?

Naiiyak na lang ako sa galit. Damn it. I should be enjoying my school, not stressing about something that is not even connected to me!

Putang ina lang.

Hindi ko pinansin si manong guard at tinulak ko siya para lamang makalabas. Sorry manong guard, gusto ko makalayo sa impyernong ito. But when I came out, lots of cameras and reporters pushed me to have interviews.

"Ma'am, what can you say after involving yourself to the famous celebrities?"

"Madam, is it true that you were the mistress? You ruined their career."

"Inagaw mo lang daw si Maximmo kay Clear?"

"Gold digger ka at nakilala ka niya sa bar para makipag-one night stand pero kinareer mo at ayaw mo na siyang pakawalan?"

"Ma'am we need your information..."

Hindi na ko na marining ang ingay dahil halos isiksik nila sarili nila sa akin. Nagsimula na rin akong nahirapang humingi dahil sobrang dami nila at tila ata wala na akong hangin pang nakukuha.

“Please, excuse me,” ani ko at sinubukan pang lumabas sa kanila pero masyado silang mapilit at nag-uunahan ilagay ang mga microphone sa bibig ko.

Nasupalpal pa ang ngipin ko dahil sa pagpush nila ng mic.

“Aw!” I groaned and touched my lips.

Inangat ko ang kamay ko para tignan kung may dugo but my vision gets blurry and I can't even think right anymore. All I can see is their double burred faces and heard inaudible sounds. Sobrang gulo. Sobrang crowded. Sobrang nahihirapan na talaga ako humingi. Wala ng hangin nakakapasok dahil sobrang siniksik nila sarili nila sa akin. I know that in any minute from now, I am going to collapse.

Later on, nakaramdam ako ng paghihilo. Bago pa man ako natumba ay naramdaman ko ang paghigit sa kamay ko papasok ng gate at nakarinig ako nang pagsarado nito.

"How many times do I have to tell you that you should take care of her!"

"I apologize, Mr. Maximmo."

"Apologize, damn it! That's bullshit! Look what you have done! Pinabayaan mo sa kalye, umiwing lasing, nagkaroon ng hangover, at ngayon naman ay hindi mo man lang nagawang pigilin siya makalabas! And now she's getting all the bacterias that the people have! She is sick right now!"

"I'll be better next time."

"Yes, you should! Because if you're not? I cab replace you. Get the receipt and note that her Doctor gave to us. Follow that note, understand?!"

Then, I heard a door creaked and banged. Slowly, I opened my eyes and just stared blankly at the white ceiling. Ramdam ko ang bigat at pagod ng katawan ko ngayon, ramdam ko rin ang pagkasobrang init ko. Pero mas ramdam na ramdam ko kung gaano kasama ugali nitong Maximmo na 'to sa tauhan niya.

Correct me if I am wrong ha, but he was scolding Cole for something that he hadn't done. Ano kasalanan ni Cole sa paglabas ko? Labas na siya doon, ako ang gumusto nito.

Poor Cole, naging amo niya ang pinakamasamang nilalang sa mundo.

Maximmo is a childish jerk, mean, ruthless, heartless and cruel.

He deserves to be humiliated. He deserves to suffer the things that he was giving to others. He deserves hell. He deserves to die.

Tonight, I will make you cry. Pagsisihan mo talaga ang ginawa mo sa akin!

"Mrs. Ely, it's your time to drink your medicine." Hindi ako tumingin sa kaniya pero ramdam ko ang pagtitig niya. Nanatili lang ako tumingin sa kawalan. Wala akong gana.

"Please just call me if you need something." Then, I heard footsteps walking away.

Napatingin ako sa side of the table ko and saw the tray of foods. Tinignan ko rin ang pinto na nakasarado. Huminga muna ako nang malalim bago gumalaw. Ang sakit talaga ng katawan ko. Am I being harsh to myself? Bwesit talaga ‘tong Maximmo na ‘to. Kasalanan niya ang lahat.

Bumangon ako at kinain ang pagkain na hinahain sa akin. I took the meds not because he wanted to, but because I need to make myself strong. Kailangan kong magpakalakas para sa mga susunod na araw.

Lalo na mamayang gabi

I'm going to interview all of the people here in his mansion, and will secretly recording their voice. Why? To ruin his image. Alam ko na minamaltrato niya mga tao niya dito. Just because he has wealth, doesn't mean he can do everything he wants. Hindi ako papayag na may tinatapakan siyang tao dahil lamang nagtatrabaho ito sa kaniya. Pera lang ba ang umiikot sa mundo niya? Pwes, ilalabas ko ngayon ang baho niya.

I am going to make sure that it will go viral so that he will be the topic of the week. Walang makukuha na sa kaniya dahil sirang-sira na siya.

It's 2pm now and I have decided to go downstairs. As usual, all I can is his maids cleaning his living room. Wala naman dumi, pinaglilinis pa rin. Ganito ba siya ka perfectionist?

I went straight to the older maid. Nang makita nila ako ay nginitian nila ako. Well, we are all friends here. Buti na lang nabigyan ko sila nga mga damit na pinabili ko, hindi na ako mahihirapan pang kausapin sila na parang kaibigan at hindi mahahalataan na magrerecord ako. I opened my phone and went to the recording app. I clicked it and it started recording. I hid it on my jacket and went to Aling Cyntia.

"Aling Cyntia, kamusta?" I asked her, so she stopped wiping the floor.

"Ikaw dapat tanongin ko, kamusta ka? Pasensya kana kung medyo mainitin ulo ni sir ah? Gano'n talaga 'yon kapag bagong gising."

"Bagong gising lang? Ganoon na ugali niya talaga kamo," I laughed. "Sobrang sama, napakaselfish, nang-aapi!"

I thought that she will be agreeing to my statement but she just shrugged.

"Hay nako, nagkakamali ka. Hindi siya gano'n. Sa umaga lang talaga, bakit? Kasi laging kulang oras ng tulog 'yon. Maiintindihan ko naman dahil kapag kulang oras tulog mo, nagiging mainitin ulo mo, pero sobrang bait 'yan!" She chuckled.

Napangiwi ako. Talagang mabait ha, o baka nahiya lang siya siraan amo niya sa akin?

"Aling Cyntia naman. Hindi na ho kayo iba sa akin. You can tell me naman po kung minamaltrato kayo ng gagong 'yon. So, sabihin mo, iniinsulto po ba kayo, kulang sweldo, late kumain, o anong kawalang hiyaan na ginagawa niya!"

Tumawa ito nang napakalakas, kaya napakunot ako. I never joke, but why did she laugh so hard as if I made a joke?????

"Nakakatuwa ka talaga ija, kaya baka ikaw gusto pakasalan ni Max 'e. Hindi tulad sa Claire na 'yon, sobrang matapobre! Siya, siya! Siya 'yong kabaligtaran ng ugali ni Maximmong alaga ko. Kaya hindi na ako nagtaka kung bakit ikaw ang babaeng inuwi niya dito."

Natahimik ako. 'Yong purpose ko sana na makipag-usap sa kaniya para sirain si Maximmo napalitan ito ng curiosity. Oo nga 'no? I am always mad at Maximmo for doing this to me but never have I thought about his reason why he was doing this.

Tho, wala naman akong pakialam kung ano pa 'yan reason na 'yan, sisirain ko talaga buhay niya dahil sinira niya buhay ko! Pero, hindi ko rin maiwasan ngayon tanongin kung bakit? Kung bakit niya sinuway magulang niya? Kung bakit ako pinili niyang babae when he can rent ang girl who is willing to do everything for him?

I mean, what was his reason to all of this?

I shrugged!

Whatever his reason may be, hindi na mawawala galit ko sa kaniya. At pagbabayaran niya ang lahat ng 'to.

I was about to speak again but all of the maids, including Aling Cyntia, rushed immediately to the main door.

I watched how they got panicked and formed their line in front of the close door and properly stood up straight.

Napatingin ako sa pagbiglaang bukas ng malaking pintoan ng mansion ni Maximmo.

Then, two beautiful ladies showed up.

The lady in a blonde hair, who was called Claire, and the mom that was forcing him that time.

My heart beat so fast as they entered the house confidently. They were wearing branded maxi dresses and heels. Even their hair was perfectly fixed by gel. Plakadang-plakada aura nilang dalawa na tila kapag lumapit ka ay mapagkakamalan ka na lang nilang alipan. I admit, they are both stunning and gorgeous.

Habang naglalakad naman sila ay parang nagra-run away sila sa isang malaking entablado. Rampa 'yan girl?

They stopped in front of me and stared fiercely.

"What are you doing here?! At talagang kinareer mo ang pagiging kabit?" Claire asked.

"You don't know who you messing up, young woman!" His mom added.

Umayos ako ng tayo at hinarap sila ng matapang.

"Mawalang galang na po, pagsabihan niyo po muna ang anak niyo bago kayo kumuda," walang gana kong sabi kaya biglang napakunoot noo. "At saka, mind if you introduce yourself first to me? I don't even know the two of you. I don't talk to strangers pa naman," I added which made their face turned red.

"You don't know us?! Oh my god, what are you?! An alien? Where planet do you live?" Claire trailed off.

"I am Claire Dominguez, the one and only famous model, endorser and international celebrity! And this sophisticated lady?" He pointed Maximmo's mom. "She is Sarah Morozova, mom of Maximmo! Oh my god! You are calling yourself as Maximmo's mother yet you are not acknowledging her? Gosh, sabagay, you are cheap and poor who lives in squatter area, mga mabaho at pera lang naman habol niyo sa amin!" She sarcastically laughed, so as Mrs. Morozova.

Tanginang babae 'to, ang gaga! Hindi niya ata alam na sa subdivisions ako nakatira? Pero kahit pa man, how dare she judge the people who are living in that place?!

I was about to speak again but Mrs. Morozova preceded me first.

"What do you want in exchange of my son? Hundreds, millions, name it so that you can get out of our lives now." I scoffed.

Really? Aba, kung pera pag-uusapan ay willing naman ako ibigay sa kaniya ang gago niyang anak! Gano'n lang naman kadali pala 'e.

"Total, mukha ka namang pera." Nalaglag panga ko sa sinabi niya.

"Mukha ka ngang katulong. Haggard, ugly, and looked so really cheap."

Aba, namumuro na 'to ah! Napapikit ako dahil sa inis. Isa pa talaga at masasampal ko na 'to. Wala na akong paki kung bastos. I have the respect to every people I have met, it will just lose it the moment they stepped on me.

Ngayon, sobrang wala na akong respeto sa kanila. Pati buong pagkatao ko, binaboy na.

"And a b***h!" Claire added and pulled my hair.

Geez, not again!

Hindi ako nagpatalo at sinabunotan ko rin siya ng balik. Nagsigawan na ang mga tao including Mrs. Morozova, but that doesn't make us stop from fight. Since siya una nakasabunot sa akin, napasupalpal ako sa sahig at pilit niyang nginungod-ngod. I moaned in pain as she scratched my face with her long nails.

Tinulak niya ulit ako sa kadahilanang nahulog ang cellphone mula sa wallet ko.

And it showed the recording session. Nagulat din ako nang makitang still recording pa ito. Muntik ko na 'tong makalimutan!

Tinignan ko sila at sobrang nanlaki mga mata nila sa nakita nila. They couldn't even move because of it.

I immediately reached my phone and stood up as I saved it right away.

"A—Are you... are you recording?" Claire asked in disbelief.

I smiled. "Yep, and you both will go viral tonight."

Nagkatinginan silang dalawa, at binalik ulit tingin nila sa akin. But, Claire just smiled.

"No way! It's just recording! They wouldn't find out if that is really us."

I scoffed. "They really won't," I smirked.

"If you didn't introduce yourselves to me earlier." Then I turned my back and laughed like a devil.

"Goodluck to the both of you! You will be the headline of the Internet this week and that will ruin your image!" I said happily and left them dumbfounded.