Chapter 15
2608 Words
Chapter 15
The gala was surrounded by people in different kinds of masks.
It was a masquerade theme at halos hindi magkakilala ang lahat dahil sa patakaran na bawal hubarin ang maskara nang magsimula na ang gala.
Marami na ang tao noong tumigil ang sasakyan ni Alejandro. Napatingin siya sa sariling repleksyon sa rear mirror. Nakasuot siya ng puting suit na sumakto sa itim niyang bowtie. Because I can’t tie a tie. His hair is also brushed up pero nang mapansin niya ang mukha niya ay hindi mapigilan na mapabuntong hininga siya.
He looks like a walking zombie. Kahit na ay nilagyan siya ng konting make-up para kahit somehow ay matabunan ang masamang sitwasyon niya ay parang hindi talaga maitago. Resulta ng ilang araw na niyang hindi pagkatulog at kahit na nga sa pagkain ay nawawalan na siya ng gana. His thoughts are surrounded by that poor child. Roxxan. Na ngayon ay nasa pangangalaga for a while ng Hope Orphanage.
And maybe it is a good thing na sumakto ang tema ng gala sa mukha niya. Masquerade. At least hindi makikita dahil tatabunan iyon ng maskara—at sakto rin na inabot sa kanya ni Peter ang maskara niya.
It is a black one but it was elegant and full of black stones. It is shining with the pink feather at the upper right of the masks that gives such an elegant vibe.
“Jan. I need you to say those things we have talked about. You need to clear your name.” Peter couldn’t hide the terrified worries of expression at this moment. “There are medias. There are politicians. There are actors and actresses. You would be so powerful tonight if you use it right. Do you understand?”
He understands Peter. Hell, always. He has never been a selfish one ever since they were a kid. The loyalty of Peter to him was just like the loyalty of his father to Alejandro’s Father. Kaya ni Peter magsinungaling sa mga magulang nito para lang kay Alejandro. Kahit bata pa lang ay inihahabilin na ng mga magulang ni Alejandro eto kay Peter kahit halos magka-edad lang sila. Everytime he seeks some enlightenment he is always there. Peter is his brain and he just do the things he should do but he knows na hinding hindi siya pagtataksilan ng kaibigan and that is why he always nod on his suggestions. They weren’t like a command at all—it is a suggestion and it is always up still to Alejandro if he’ll follow and consider the suggestion.
“Ja—”
“I am fine, Peter. I can do it.”
Bubuksan n asana niya ang pinto noong inabot ni Peter ang braso niya. “Jan, you need to step up your game. By keeping quiet makes your enemy even more powerful. You need to do this.”
Napalunok si Alejandro. Somehow, the situation of this flashback those moments noong kampanya. Noong kinaladkad siya ng kaibigan just to campaign. Sa totoo lang ay ayaw niya nang tumakbo at iyon ang kinatatakutan ni Peter. Kalaban niya si Santiago at hindi siya pwede umurong.
“Santiago likes to play mind game, Jan. Remember that. Show him na hindi ka na aapektuhan.”
He hum because Peter is right. “I can do this.” He murmured at tuluyan ng isinuot ang maskara bago tuluyang lumabas ng pinto ng sasakyan nila.
Sinalubong siya kaagad ng camera flash ng media.
--
She is late. She knew.
The gala has already started and some people are already chattering and getting to know each other. Drinking expensives wines and act almighty and classy.
The receptionist has scanned her QR Invitation and she instructioned her to wear the mask that she already holding. It is a little uncomfortable but at least it lessened the thoughts that she might see his father or his fathers minions and kill her on the spot. Well at least hindi lang ang tatay ko ang pwedeng pumatay sa akin. As she remember Daniel might kill her too because she haven’t passed anything yet and she haven’t also answered his calls.
She grab a champagne from the waiter who is carrying trays of the drink and then she saw her designated table kaya agad siyang nag tungo doon at saktong pag upo pa lang niya ay may tumikhim sa linya ng mikropono.
“Mic check. Mic Test.”
Biglang tumunog ang cellphone niya at nakita niya na unknown number ang tumatawag kaya pinabyaan niya lang iyon.
“Good evening everyone! As we have mentioned earlier we will have a bidd—“
Naagaw na naman ang atensyon niya noong tumunog ang cellphone niya pero sa pagkakataong iyon ay isa ng text message ang pumasok sa kanya.
FROM: unknown
Ma’am Samantha.
Si Toni po eto.
May pumuntang mga lalake rito at hinahanap ka.
Oh f**k!
“The highest bidder to the certain person will have a special dinner with her! All of the bids will proceed to the orphanage. But for now, let’s hear from the guest speaker! The Honorable Gover—” at umugong ang palapakan sa loob ng venue at hindi na magkarinigan.
Walang ano ano ay napatayo at napatakbo palabas si Samantha. Nagtungo siya sa lounge ng hotel at agad na dinial ang number ni Toni. Ngayon niya lang na alala na binigyan niya pala eto ng business card matapos siyang ihatid nito sa airport.
“Hello po?”
“Hello? Toni? Good evening. Sana hindi ako nakaabala.”
“Naku hindi po, Ma’a—Samantha. Gusto ko lang naman po sabihin at ipaalam ang nangyari.”
“May ginawa ba silang masama sa iyo? Sa kapatid mo?” the last time they had met ay na open up ni Toni ang kapatid niyang lalake na kung saan ay may kapansanan iyon.
“Wala naman po. Nagtanong lang kung may dayuhan bang Samantha ang pangalan. Masyado kasing kaduda-duda ang mga galaw nila at kahit na ang tiya ko ay sinabing huwag sabihin ang tungkol sa iyo.”
Napahinga ng maluwag si Samantha sa narinig. Matapos ang tour nila sa bayan noong simula ay nasundan pa iyon ng iba’t ibang adventure at gala sa isla bato. They hiked the top of Island and Samantha couldn’t deny that it is so pretty but the fact that this island will lost its beauty in few year makes her sad.
“Kinausap na rin naming ang mga tao sa bayan at nangako naman sila na hinding-hindi magsasalita tungkol sa iyo po.”
“Thank you so much, Toni. I owe you a lot.”
“You’re welcome, Samantha.” At hindi mapigilan ng babae ang humigpit ang hawak sa cellphone niya sa narinig. His tone are more likely in worried tone or was she fooling herself? “Ingat ka po palagi at nandito lang po ang Isla Bato para sayo.”
She wasn’t able to thank him on this situation when he ended the line already.
Napa buntong hininga siya sa narinig. What does her father wants with her? The audacity to go at her vacation house. Does he finally wants her dead?
How I wish. Tumalikod na siya at nasimulang maglakad papasok sa loob venue. Hindi niya mapigilang mapataas ang kilay niya nang may babaeng sumalungat mula sa opposite direction niya. She is wearing the same gown design.
Fuck. Stolen idea?
She needs to tell Clara about it. Kaya napatigil siya sandali para imessage ang kaibigan nang walang ano ano ay may humablot sa braso niya na lubusang kinagulat niya.
Agad siyang napalingon sa taong iyon at tumaas ang kilay niya nanaman dahil hindi iyon naka maskara dahilan na pina nanlakihan siya iyon ng mata. “Where do you think you are going?”
“What?” Nagulat siya ng walang ano ano ay kinaladkad siya nito at hindi siya makawala sa pagkakawak nito sa braso sa sobrang lakas. “Aray! Stop!”
“Ang mahal mahal mo na nga tapos ang arte mo pa!”
“s**t! Get off me!” she did tried her best to push him or to let go from his grip but the man was way to more powerful.
Nanlaki ang mata niya ng tinulak siya nito papunta sa—stage?!
Ano ang ginagawa niya sa stage?!
“And now! The lady in black swan dress!”
“Twenty thousand!” nanlaki ang mata ni Samantha sa narinig at nakita niya ang isang tao sa crowd ay itinaas ang parang cards niya.
“This dress has been designed by the famous House of Jin and you can see every piece of it is wonderful!”
Wait—House of Jin? It was Clara’s House!
“Twenty five thousand!”
“Twenty Five thousand for the black swan! Going once, going tw—”
“Forty thousand!” dahil nga hindi naka salamin o naka contact lense si Samantha ay hindi niya maaninag ang pinagmulan ng boses at dahil na rin sa spotlight na nakadirektang tutok sa kanya.
“Oh! The black swan lady is the most anticipated one so there is no denial that her bid starts high! Forty Thousand for a dinner with her!”
“Dinner?!”
“Fifty Thousand!” sumakto ang sigaw ng isang lalake sa sigaw ni Samantha dahilan na parang hindi siya pinansin. Masyadong maraming tao ang nakatingin sa kanya and he couldn’t stop her self start to shake as her stage fright and anxiety starts hitting off.
“Fifty thousand! Going onc—“
“One hundred thousand.”
Natahimik ang lahat ng biglang itinaas ng isang lalakeng nakaputing suit sa harapan ang card niya.
“Sold.” Mariin niyang dinagdag.
At lumipad ang tingin ni Samantha sa pinagmulan at nagtagpo ang mga mata nila. Sa likod ng maskara ay mararamdaman ang warmth at pag-aalala?
Tila natauhan ang host matapos ang ilang segundo at agad napatikhim sa mikropono. “Ah! Yes! Yes! One hundred thousand! Going once! Going twice! Sold! Mr. White please get your blackswan.”
Umugong ang palakpakan at parang matutunaw na si Samantha sa kinatatayuan. Para siyang tuod na nanatili sa kinatatayuan at hindi man lang magawa na tumakbo. Pero nakita niya ang lalakeng tumayo mula sa first row ng mga lamesa at agad na umakyat sa stage.
There is a warm—familiar hand held her hand and he softly grip it and caressed her palm and she can’t deny it—it soothes her and calm her even just a little bit. She step forward as he guided her towards the exit door of the backstage.
Nang makapasok sila sa loob ng backstage ay parang nanghinayang si Samantha sa naramdaman noong binitawan ng lalake ang kamay niya—pero dahil sinugod niya ang isang lalake—ang lalake na kumaladkad sa kanya papuntang stage.
Nakita niya na kinwelyuhan niya iyon at ibinuggo sa pader.
“Sinabi ko sa iyo na walang prostitute nor exploited women on this bidding. I clearly said that those woman who volunteer—“
“L-Lahat naman p-po n-nag v-volun—“
“Lahat? Three out of ten girls are shaking in fear while you are doing the bidding. And what? They will give a dessert after the dinner. Are you out of your mind?! This is a gala for a cause not brethren house! Oras na may mangyaring masama sa gala na eto at may nasirang buhay—huwag mo ng iisipin na matatapos mo pa ang taon na buhay. Naiintindihan mo?”
“Opo! Opo! Opo!” ang lalakeng kumaladkad sa kanya ay napaluhod at halos mapahalik sa lupa dahil sa sinabi ng lalake.
Hindi mapigilang mapahanga ni Samantha sa ginawa ng lalake. It is so… nice. That this person are standing for the rights of women.
Halos mapasinghap sa likod ng masskara si Samantha ng bigla etong lumingon. Ang ganda ng masskara niya—it is filled with beads and the pink feather suited with the aura of the man.
“I am sorry that this needs to happen.” His voice—is so familiar but Samntha couldn’t just pinpoint kung saan niya iyon narinig. “Kung ano man ang sinabi nilang amount ng pera na ibabayad nila sa iyo just to do this—here—I will compensate it to you. So you can go now.”
Nagulat siya ng abutan siya nito ng calling card at aabutin niya na sana ng biglang bumukas ang pinto ng backstage at pumasok ang isang lalake na nakasuot ng blue suit at blue na maskara na bumagay ang beads noon kagaya sa lalakeng nakaputing suit.
Lumapit ang nakablue na suit at tila bang may binulong siya rito dahilan na marinig niya ang mahinang tawa mula rito.
Dahan dahan etong umayos ng tayo at tumingin sa direksyon ni Samantha. At kahit may maskara ay nakita ni Samantha sa mga mata nito na binigyan siya ng isang ngiti na halos tumakbo ang panty niya sa kilig.
Isang ngiti na para bang napakatamis at para bang nanalo ng lotto. At parang naramdaman iyon ni Samantha kahit sa ilalim ng balat niya.
There’s this something… in her guts. Na hindi mapakali.
“Pero dahil na rin na nandito na tayo. Do you want to have some dinner, Lady Blackswan?”
Nakita sa peripheral vision ni Samantha ang pagtaas ng tingin ng lalakeng nakwelyuhan ng Mr. White at tila ba nagulat sa sinabi nito. Right. Hindi pa pala siya nakalabas ng kwarto.
That wasn’t an invite and it was more likely a statement. Telling her that she needs to go with him. Hindi pa man siya nakasagot ay hinawakan na ng lalakeng nakaputing suit and kamay niya and—he intertwine it and—and Samantha could swear, her stomach are getting crazy right now.
Hindi niya alam kung natatae siya o kung ano pero hindi niya maiwasan isipin na namamawis ang kamay niya. Hindi ba iyon nakakahiya sa Mr. White?
She couldn’t even protest when he walked with her inside of the elevator.
The elevator ride is silent… f**k. It’s familiar. Déjà vu? Napalingon siya sa lalake at laking gulat niya at nakatingin na pala eto sa kanya.
Napasinghap siya at napaiwas lang ng tingin. Naramdaman niya na that man gently caress the back of her hand with his thumb.
Fuck. If it was a different case, if nasa manila lang kami. We could be making out now. She couldn’t deny it. The s****l chemistry of them is sparkling.
Napatingin lang siya sa LED na nagiindicate kung nasaang floor na sila. Luckyly, dirediretso sila at walang pending na floor na dadaanan.
A little Ding of the elevator made Samantha sigh.
The moment they enter the rooftop of the hotel they saw this candlelit dinner beside of the railings.
What she feels right now is so funny.
She was in the bid, saw how this man made someone on his knees and now they are in the rooftop to grab some dinner?
Cliché?
Weird?
And there is something fishy.
Samantha couldn’t even see if that man was smiling or not—it was more likely seeing the stoic face of the mask.
“After you.” He whispered and he offers the opposite side of the chair. They sat infront with each other and Samantha’s stomach can’t stop bubbling in curiosity.
“Who are you?” Because you are madly familiar.
She can hear a muffled sound between giggle and chuckle. “I think you know me, Miss Samantha.”
Samantha.
That voice.
That always alluring kind of voice.
“Lacson.”
Oh no.
Oh f*****g no.
To all of the odds.
To all of the f*****g odds.
Fuck.
- Writer
