The pain he now know (TPHNK Book 2)

#3

Chapter 3

"Ipaalala mo nga sa'kin. Ano nga ulit ginagawa natin dito?" Narinig ko na namang tanong ni van sa aking gilid.

"Sinabi ko na sayo ilang beses na! Sasali nga sa auction!"

"Kelan ka pa naging intiresado sa mga lumang bagay?"kunot noo niya.

"Hindi 'to mga lumang bagay tanga!" Luminga-linga ako para makahanap ng upuan. Nang may makita ay agad kong hinila si van doon.

"Eh ano pala? Sigurado ka ba dito? Worth it ba talaga ang ibaba—"

"Mga lalaki"

"Walang duda. Worth it nga!" Ngiti-ngiti ng mokong at umayos ng upo na tila naging interesado. Inirapan ko lang siya.

I pushed my hair to my back at bahagyang inayos ang mahabang dress. Nilabas ko ang maliit na compact mirror sa aking purse at nag retouch ng lipstick. Sakto namang nag dim yung lights. hindi siya gaanong madilim, sakto lang para makita ang mga audience, the number paddles were glow in the dark kaya siguro kita naman iyon sa auctioneer mula sa intablado.

"This is it!"

"I'm so excited!"

"Sa tingin mo, sinong iooffer nila?"

"I don't have the slightest idea. But one thing's for sure. I'm getting laid tonight!"

Napangiwi ako dahil sa narinig mula sa mga babae sa aking likuran. What the heck? Sumali sila dito for plain s*x?! And come to think of it, hindi nila alam kung sino ang mga sasali, so they would just bid kung sinong matitipuhan nila?!

Bahagya akong nabahala. Pano kaya kung matipuhan ng isa sa kanila si kage? With his charm, hindi imposible! No! Hindi ako papayag. Hindi ako papayag na makuha nila si kage! Kung mamumulubi ako dito, then so be it!

In dad's card, i trust.

"It's starting" bulong ni van. Hindi ko siya nilingon at nakapokus lang yung tingin sa stage. The auctioneer entered and said some things.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen! welcome to tonight's highlight of the party—The most awaited auction! The names john and I will be your auctioneer today! What a great auction we have for you, yeah ladies?" He winked at the audience and almost everyone squealed. Pati yung lalaking maharot sa gilid ko.

"You must pay for your purchases today. We accept cash, checks, credit and debit cards. Be sure to settle-up before you leave." He discussed, " lastly! Once I say, "Sold!" you own it, so carefully inspect items before you bid!" Napahalakhak ako dahil doon. Oh i will!

"Let the auction begin!"

At nagsimula na nga. Ang unang mga lumabas ay walang itulak-kabigin pagdating sa itsura. All of them were worthy of their titles as bachelor, lahat sila ay mukhang mga playboy. Everytime they would flash a smile, the crowd would go wild! Except for me, kinakabahan ako dahil iniisip ko ay anytime lalabas lang bigla sa kage sa gilid ng stage.

Saglit akong luminga at dumapo yung tingin ko sa pinakaunang row ng upuan. There i saw tita bianca, tito alfonso and my dad seating together in one row. Tito and dad were busy chatting and tita was looking at me, and when she saw me looking at her back, tumango siya na tila may pinapahiwatig.

"He's next" she mouthed. Bumilis yung t***k ng puso at mas lalong kinabahan. Tumingin ako sa stage at ilang segundo lang ang hinintay ay lumabas na doon si kage.

He broadly walked to the center and stood there with his all bored face, halatang napipilitan lang. wala sa sarili akong napangiti. That was the same face he showed no'ng nagsha-shopping ako dati at kailangan niyang maghintay ng ilang oras at kapag may mga gusto ako na ayaw niya but would end up doing it for me. Nakakamiss.

I was being cut by my sudden reminisce nang mas lalong nag-ingay yung mga tao. Mga babae, to be specific. At tama nga ako, tumili nga yung mga babae sa aking likuran even though majority of them got themselves their own man 'for tonight'.

"This fine man owns ZLA pharmaceuticals all over asia and U.S. Famous for being Top 5 on the forbes. And—"

Nagtaka ako ng bigla na lang inagaw ni kage yung mic mula sa host.

"Come on now john, there's no need for introduction, you can already tell by their squeals" he said in a cocky tone then smirked. I was shocked by his change of attitude, his sudden haughtiness.

The host laughed. "I'm afraid you're right mr.."

"ONE MILLION FOR KADEN!" napatingin kaming lahat sa pinanggalingan ng boses. Biglang tumaas lahat ng dugo ko sa aking ulo nang makita si charm iyon. Ang pesteng si charmaine! Anong ginagawa niya dito!?

I looked back at kage and i saw his lips rose up. May kung anong kumurot sa puso ko. Does he find that satisfying? f**k!

"Ano? Magpapatalo ka ba?" May demonyong bumulong sa gilid ko. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin.

"Hell no!" Puno ng poot kong sabi. Tumingin ako kay tita at nakita kong nakatingin pa din siya sa akin, like she was expecting. Tumango ako sa kaniya. Full of pride, i raised my paddle and as of cue, the spotlight turned to me.

"FOUR MILLION" i said then turned to kage. I saw his face darkened. I smiled sweetly as return.

Wala pang ilang segundo ay umalis na kaagad ang ilaw mula sa akin dahil bumalik na naman ito sa bruhang si charm nang sumigaw na naman ito ng.. "5 million"

I saw her facing me then secretly showed me a mocking smile. Napalunok ako sa galit. I raised my number once more while looking at her darkly.

"10 million"

I heard multiple of murmurs because of it.

"Zeph, sigurado ka ba dit—"

"I DID NOT f*****g CAME HERE TO PLAY VAN!" mariin kong sabi.

"do i hear 11 million?" I auctioneer asked.

"11 million" said by a random b***h I didn't know.

"FIFTEEN" shouted again by charm. Tumaas baba na yung dibdib ko sa galit. Napatayo na ako at napakapit ng mariin sa upuan. Inalalayan ako ni van na umupo pero iniwaksi ko yung kamay niya.

"Zeph"

"ONE MILLION" i flipped my hair. And i heard the auctioneer laugh and so did the audience.

"One million? Lady, are you kiddi—"

"DOLLARS" i announced loudly and the laughing turned into a murmur. Tumingin ako sa stage at nanlalaki yung mga mata ng host. Kage was gaping at me unbelievably. Humalukipkip ako. "Wait..." i looked back at charm at nakita kong para na siyang bubuga ng apoy.

"make that two million dollars"

"I..ah—"

"Going once, going twice" i took the line from him.

"Sold! Sold to the lady in red!!!" agad niyang sabi.

I smiled triumphantly. I see to it that charm was looking at me before i flip my hair teasingly. I even mouthed 'he's mine b***h' childishly.

I looked at the front row and my smile faded when i saw dad glaring at me. Tito laughed and tapped his back. f**k! Mukhang wala akong mauuwian mamaya ah? Papalayasin na nga ata ako.

Tinawag ko si van. "Pautangin mo 'ko ah?" I grabbed him by the collar and whispered sideways while still looking at dad's back.

"At bakit ko naman gagawin yun?"

"Madami kang pera! Wag kang kuripot! Besides, tinulungan kita kanina sa dad mo."

"Okay fine!" He sighed.

I was called to the front to bring my cheque that van just signed, forcefully. I came face to face with my 'prize' there.

"What were you thinking?!" He finally uttered after a long staring.

"I did not want to lose baby, i never intended to. I always win." I smiled seductively at unti-unting lumapit sa kaniya. I stopped inches away as i met his gaze. He was furiously looking back at me. "And now, I'm thinking on some ways on how...and what to do with my prize"

I winked at him as i watch him almost glaring at me. Tinaas at pinakita ko sa kaniya ang tinuping papel at nilagay iyon sa pocket ng coat niya. "Call me, and I'll tell you the details of our date"

"ZEPHYRINE LINNET NAVA!!" Ani ng isang maitoridad na boses. I acted as if didn't hear anything and just continue to walk hastily.

Bahagya akong napatalon nang maabutan niya ako. Hinawakan niya ako sa braso at hinarap sa kaniya.

"Daddy! Yes? What is it?" Ngiti ko.

"Saan ka pupunta? Uuwi na tayo" he glared.

"Uuwi na nga ako. Ihahatid ako ni van" turo ko sa tabi ko pero paglingon ko ay wala na siya sa kinatatayuan niya. Nilibot ko yung tingin ko at nandoon na siya sa may corner, may kinakausap na lalaki.

Tiningnan ko siya ng masama at minura na sa isip ko. I turned at dad as i sighed in defeat. Wala na akong nagawa kundi sumunod sa kaniya sa paglalakad.

"Saan ka kumuha ng pera?" He opened the topic nang makasakay na kami pareho sa sasakyan na maghahatid sa amin pauwi.

"Van" i simply replied.

"Saan naman kumuha si van ng pera?"

"He's rich daddy. Kuripot lang talaga siya"

Ilang minuto din kaming natahimik. Tanging ang tunog lang sa labas ang aming naririnig.

"So you decided to make your friend lend you a million dollar and spend it to some useless auction?" He said unbelievably. "That's like 50 million pesos zeph! 50 freaking million! What was going on with that head of yours?!"

"Actually daddy, the accuracy's 48.07, so it's just 48 million and seventy thousand." Naituptop ko yung labi ko nang makitang masama yung tingin niya sa'kin.

"That's still a lot of money"

"It's not useless daddy. A charity will make use of it. It can help a lot of people"

"Anong charity ba ang napili mo?" He massaged the bridge of his nose.

"YouNited Care for kids with cancer. It's located here in the country. Dahil pansin ko na hindi gaanong marami yung equipments nila do—"

Napatigil ako sa pagsasalita nang tapikin ako ni daddy sa balikat. Saglit ko siyang tiningnan ng ngumiti siya ng marahan sa akin. I cuddled close and leaned in his shoulder. Umakbay naman siya sa akin at hinaplos ng bahagya ang aking kabilang balikat.

"I'm proud of you"

"Praises aren't necessary dad. It's a win-win situation. I donated a fund, and i'm three steps closer on winning back my man."

"Are you sure about this?"

"What do you mean dad? Nagtiis ako, naghirap ako kaya ako nandito ngayon, kasi nilabanan ko yung mga sakit na pinadama sa'kin ng lesteng sakit na 'yun! I welcomed every pain, every operations. Humalo na nga ata lahat ng gamot dito sa katawan ko sa dami ng tinurok nila sa aki—"

"Hindi mo kailangan magalit, nagtatanong lang ako" he chuckled. Inayos ko naman ang nakabusangot kong mukha.

"It's just frustrating that everyone thinks that I'm not sure on what I'm doing" i frowned childishly.

"The boy's fine. I think he's moved on. Don't you think.."

"Na mag move on na din ako?"

Nilabas ko yung singsing na binigay sa akin ni kage mula sa purse na dala. Hinimas ko iyon saglit at pinakita kay dad.

"You see this dad? This ring symbolizes his love for me a few years ago. Hindi man kami nagtagal, alam kong totoo yung pagmamahal namin sa isa't-isa. And I'm holding on to that love. He—he was the best thing that has happened to me. And I'm not going to let him slip off. I'm gonna wear this ring soon. Kapag sinabi niyang mahal niya na ulit ako"

"And if he doesn't?"

"Kapag sinabi niyang hindi niya na ako kailangan sa buhay niya. With that exact same words, I'm gonna bury this ring. Then That's the time I'll let him be"

Na alam kung hindi mangyayari.

Sinipa ko yung unan paalis sa aking kama out of frustration. Sinamaan ko ng tingin ang aking phone at gayundin ang ginawa sa inosenteng bulaklak sa taas ng night stand. Everything..everything angers me! Even the plain, unmoved ceiling angers me! Tila may bunganga ito at tinutudyo ako na bleh! Buti nga sayo!

I felt like I'm completely out of my f*****g mind! I can no longer take this! I would not just lay in here thinking that i spent millions on a man that didn't even bother to hit me up with a single text days after the auction!!

"Yes? Arguelles' residency, how may i help you?"

"Can you please get your lady boss for me?"

"Who?"

I rolled my eyes. Girl, wag mo kong pikunin. Hindi maganda yung gising ko ngayon.

"Your boss! Tita bianca?"

"Maitanong ko lang po. Sino po ito?"

"pakisabi manugang niya"

Natahamik ng ilang minuto ang sa kabilang linya. Hanggang sa may narinig ako nagsasalita.

"Manugang niyo daw po madame?" The helper stated in confusion.

"I'll take it from here thank you" i heard her saying. "Charmaine, hija! Didn't i already told you. Stop calli—"

"Charmaine who?"

"Zeph?! Is this you, zephyrine?"

"Yes tita, it's me" i glared sideways realizing that charm also gets her way to kage's mom . "I just called to ask you kung saan ang location ng main building ng anak ninyo. He didn't contact me for days now since that night" sumbong ko.