His Secret Child (Del Fuego Series 2)

Kabanata 8

Grand ball

“Is Lilliene the name of his wife?" I heard Diego whisper.

Lumingon ako sa kanya. “Maybe…” nagkibit ako ng balikat.

Hinatid ko si Izzie sa playroom at nagulat nang makita roon si Elle. She tilted her head to our direction and smile when she saw us.

“Keira!"

May mga bata siyang kasama na halos kasing edaran lang ni Izzie pero isang babae na sa tingin ko’y mas matanda kay Izzie ng ilang taon. Hindi na ako magtatanong dahil alam kong mga pamangkin niya ang kasama.

“Tita Elle!" Lumapit si Izzie kay Elle.

"Izzie, I want you to meet Ate Sage. She's the daughter of my brother, Zane," malambing na ani Elle sa mga bata. “Sage, this is Izzie."

Izzie smiled and instantly waved her hands. “Hi, Ate Sage! I am Isobel Madison Senvaños, 7 years old. You can call me Izzie."

I couldn't help but chuckle at the way my daughter always introduced herself to others. Sage on the other hand, smiled too bago kinuha ang kamay ng anak ko.

“I am Sage and you can call me Ate. I’m the oldest here so I will take care of you while you're here along with Louis, Atlas and Tiffany."

“I know Louis, he's sweet and I like him," ani Izzie.

“Oh, really? Come here. Let me introduce Atlas and Tiffany to you."

Hawak ang kamay ni Sage ay sumama sa kanya ang anak ko. Pumunta sila sa dalawa pang bata na naglalaro. I know Louis, his the son of Snow and Seth, kapatid ni Elle. Si Atlas at Tiffany ay hindi ko kilala pero sa tingin ko’y hindi sila magkapatid.

I was smiling when I noticed Elle walk towards me. Tumingin ako sa kanya.

“Akala ko mamaya ka pa."

“Hindi. Kanina pa ako dito. Kuya Zane and Ate Bonnie is currently discussing their wedding kaya ito…” she laughed. "Ako muna ang bantay kay Sage.”

I frowned. "Bonnie? Is she the daughter of Ava and Blake?” Tanong ko.

I knew Aragon and Herrera's family. They're living at Isle Esme, pero kilala ang pangalan nila sa bansa dahil pamilya ni Ava ang may-ari ng isa sa mga sikat na hotel and I currently brought one of their penthouse in Manila. Habang si Blake ay sikat na chef. He's restaurant is one of the best in the world.

Tumango siya. “Yep! And they're getting married!"

My eyes widened. “Wow! Say my congratulations to them! I remember before, palagi lang nasa Isle Esme si Kuya Zane."

Elle giggled. “Nambabakod katulad ni Kuya Seth kaya usually ako lang mag-isa sa bahay."

I laughed. I remember that. Pag nasa kanila ako, palagi siyang mag-isa dahil malaki rin ang agwat niya sa mga Kuya niya. Palaging si Kuya Seven lang ang nakikita ko.

“How’s Kuya Seven?" Hindi ko mapigilan na tanungin.

Kuya Seven is one of nicest man I’ve ever know. Matalino, responsible sa kaniyang pamilya at sobrang bait na lalaki. And I kinda had a crush on him before.

He's just nice and sweet and caring. Then, I realized he likes someone. That's why I uncrush him.

She sighed. “He just came back a few months ago and he's fine."

Napangiti ako. “That's good. May asawa na ba siya?" Tanong ko pa.

Nanliit ang mga mata niya sa akin. “Hey, Keira! Sinasabi ko sa’yo hindi na available ang mga kapatid ko.”

Ngumuso lang ako. “I’m just asking…"

“Naka-reserve na ‘yon kay Ginny.” She laughed.

Umawang ang labi ko. “Oh my god! He still likes her?"

After so many years? Maraming nangyari sa kanila sa pagkakaalam ko pero grabe…

Elle just scoffed. “Ang Kuya ko pa, sa lahat ng Kuya ko siya ang pinakanagmana kay Daddy."

I can't believe this!

“Kuya Seven is such as good catch. He's a good man, a responsible person… may crush nga ako roon dati.”

Mabilis akong hinampas niya sa braso. Nanlalaki ang mga mata na tiningnan ko siya.

"Gaga ka, Keira! You can't have a crush on my brother right now! Hindi ka magugustuhan no’n!”

"Ang sama mo, a?”

Umiling-iling siya. "Ah-ah! Off limits ang mga kapatid ko…"

Umiling na lang din ako sa kanya habang nakangisi. Wala naman na akong crush na kay Kuya Seven. It's all in the past. I was young and naive pa noon.

“Halika na. Wala si Kuya Cade dahil pupunta ng Isle Esme ‘yon," aniya pagkuwan.

I raised my brows. “Isle Esme?"

Tumango siya. “Yeah… pag nasa Isle Esme ‘yon, si Ali at Seline ang pinupuntahan no’n doon.”

Nagsalubong ang kilay ko. "Seline?”

She seems familiar to me.

"Kapatid niya.”

So, who's the Lilliene who called him earlier? Nasa Isle Esme rin ang anak at asawa niya? Kasama ang kapatid niya?

Dumating ang araw ang grand ball. I was wearing a black dress that showing my back. Nakalugay ang mahaba kong buhok na may kulot sa ibabang bahagi. I put a light makeup to balance my dress.

“Are you ready now?" I heard Diego walk towards me.

Lumingon ako sa kanya at ngumiti. “Very much ready. This is my first grand ball."

“My god, Keira! You're exquisite!"

Mas lalong lumawak ang ngiti sa labi ko. Even though, my dress is simple, my face card would never decline.

I have a white pale skin, kasing kulay ng gatas ang mga balat ko na hindi nagbago simula pa noon. With my ginger long hair, my fox eyes na bagay lang sa makurba kong labi at maliit kong mukha.

“Let's go now. Nandoon na raw sila Ms. Inna at Snow.”

I grabbed my black Versace Medusa 95 handbag, tumayo na ako at lumabas ng kwarto ko. I saw Izzie waiting for me outside.

“Mommy, good luck tonight! Have fun!"

Lumapit ako sa kanya at hinalikan siya sa pisngi. She giggled and I chuckled.

"Baka tulog ka na pagdating ko."

“I’ll be okay with Yaya. You have fun tonight."

I kissed her again. “I’ll go now," sabi ko saka tumingin kay Yaya Mercy. “Patulugin na siya ng maaga. Hindi siya natulog kaninang hapon."

Tumango ang matanda. “Ipaghahanda ko lang siya ng mac and cheese tapos diretso na kami sa kwarto niya."

Lumingon ako kay Izzie. "Don't eat too much, baka hindi ka matunawan.”

She pouted. “Mommy, I know. You go now!"

I bid my good-bye to her before we went outside the penthouse. Si Diego ang maghahatid sa akin sa ball at aalis din pagkatapos.

“Pag nakita mo si Red, sampalin mo agad!" He joke while where on our way to the said event.

“Gaga ka! I won't stood that low for her."

“But seriously, if she mention you or you two meet again, ikaw na lang ang lumayo. Kakabalik mo pa lang sa Pilipinas…”

I rolled my eyes. "I know what to do and besides, I won't be going to see her or David, kung magkasama sila. I might puke.”

"You better be careful, Keira!”

Napangisi na lang ako kay Diego. He’s sometimes over protective lalo na't alam niyang malaki ang galit ko kanila Red at David. He was there when I was in my lowest point of my life.

Isa siya sa mga dahilan bakit ako nakarating sa tinatapakan ko ngayon. He helped me build Keira's Cosmetics and be part of modeling and I am very thankful for his gratitude.

"Don't worry about me. Para namang hindi ako dumadalo sa ganitong events sa US.”

He sighed. "Nabalitaan ko na invited din pala sila Lorenzo at Flor…”

Napatingin na ako sa kanya na nanlalaki ang mga mata.

"What?”

"I heard that your parents are joining the event alongside with Red and David.”

I felt a hole in my stomach. Unti-unting sumikip ang dibdib ko sa mga sinabi niya.

"Are you really gonna be okay there? Lalo na’t may chance na makita ang mga magulang mo?”

I sighed. "Edi, magkasama sila.”

Diego turned his head to me. "Keira, I’m asking…"

Malungkot lang akong ngumiti sa kanya. “I’ll be okay, Diego."

Umiling na lang ako bago tumingin sa bintana ng kotse. Actually, I don't know what I’m going to do if I see them together. I don't know what would I feel.

Tonight is probably the first time I’m going to see them. Ang magulang ko na inabandona ako at ang dalawang tao na niloko ako. Kaya hindi ko alam kung anong mararamdaman ko.

Nakarating ako sa lugar at marami na agad na reporters ang nandoon. When they saw me, naging ako ang apple of the eye nila. I just smile at them and walk through the entrance while they're taking pictures of me.

The event’s theme is very a starry night and also minimalist. There's a red carpet down through the hallway, dim lang ang lights at maraming mga palamuti sa paligid. Marami na ring tao ng makarating kami.

“It's good to finally meet you, Keira!" Inna exclaimed.

Sila ang una kong nakita nila Elle at Snow. Parehas silang model ng Florence at magpinsan sila.

“Me too. I’m a big fan of your mother," ani ko sa kanya.

Luna Brielle Montreal is Inna’s mother. Luna is a beauty queen and she's extremely beautiful. Bata pa lang ito ay talagang sumasali na sa pageant at mga photoshoot.

She's wearing a white medieval dress that suits perfectly with her soft features, long wavy hair, magaganda ang mga mata at mapula ang labi. Pinaghalong Montreal at Herrera si Inna.

She smiled. “She would love to meet you. Sayang at nasa ibang bansa sila ni Daddy."

Gumawi ang mga mata ko kay Snow na mas mahinhin tingnan kesa kay Inna. Mas soft siyang tiningnan at nakakaakit ang maliit niyang mukha. She's indeed a goddess.

"It's good to see you, Snow,” I greeted her.

She smiled at me sweetly. "Me too. You're lovely."

“You too. You're a goddess."

She laughed. Pati ang tawa niya'y mahinhin din.

“Hindi naman."

“Sayang wala si Ms. Thea. I'm hoping I would see her tonight," sinabi ni Inna.

Elle just scoffed. “She won't be here. She's living in London now."

“Yeah… but Mrs. Celeste Ravonte is here. I saw them with Mr and Mrs. Robinsons earlier."

“Ate Thea is happy right now, so let's just talk about other things," ani Elle.

Nagsimula ang ball. Marami akong kinausap na panauhin at ang iba sa kanila ay kagaya ko rin na model. Ang iba nama'y may-ari ng mga kompanya. I also had a chance to talked to Mr and Mrs. Ravonte.

Muli akong lumapit kay Elle nang makita ko siya. Kumuha ako ng white wine sa nag-iikot at tumabi sa kaibigan.

“Where's Cade?" Tanong ko sa kanya.

Nanlalaki ang mga mata na lumingon siya sa akin. “Wow! You're asking for my cousin?"

Umirap ako sa kanya. “I’m just curious… I haven't seen him tonight.”

He's invited. Ang dami ko ng nakausap na entrepreneur, model at businessman kaso wala talaga. Not that I want to see him… I just want to know.

Ngumisi siya. “He's still at Isle Esme. Sa makalawa pa yata ang dating."

Napatango ako bago ininom ang wine. “Ah… he must be very busy with Lilliene and their daughter.”

"Keira, I am telling you—”

"No, it's fine."

Damn it! Bakit pa kasi ako nagtanong.

The night went on and I was fine not until I saw my parents. Kasama nga nila si Red at David at mukhang masaya sila.

"Keira…" I heard Elle’s whisper.

Iniwas ko ang tingin sa magulang at tiningnan ang kaibigan. Tinaasan ko lang siya ng tingin at ngumisi.

“What?"

“Are you okay?" She sounds worried.

“I am fine…"

I drank my wine again and gritted my teeth.

Fuck! I'm not okay!