Grievous: Dhenmer Ramos

Chapter Ten

Why am I even here? Bakit ako nandito sa isang party sa Spain? Bakit nandito ako sa Palacio de Catripeun? Hindi ko rin alam, wala akong hilig sa mga ganito ka engrandeng party pero hindi ko mahindihan ang isa pa sa malapit kong kaibigan. Isa na rin siguro sa dahilan ang huwag mapahiya sa daan habang pinapakiusapan ako nitong samahan siya.

Amadeus Bathoveen wore his disguise outfit when he talked to me in public! His spongebob T-shirt, hawaii shorts, his nerdy glasses, his fake thick eyebrows and mustache and he was also holding a red balloon. Who won't get embarrassed when someone like that approached you?

I had no choice but to be the date of this stupid and annoying celebrity. Hindi na ako magugulat kapag nasa front page na naman ako ng newspaper with the rumor na girlfriend ako ng celebrity na 'to.

And also the stupid thing he do to his as he pleads? It's so annoying but cute at the same time, how can't I say no to that fluttering pleading eyes of him? Never. Para bang may gayuma ito na palaging nagpapa-oo sa akin tuwing nagbi-beautiful eyes siya palagi.

"Are you okay, princess?" Amadeus breath was fanning my ear.

"No, the dress is a little bit tight. I'm not used to it."

Binaba ko ang bestida ko para kahit papaano ay disente pa rin akong tignan. Halos nakahubad na ako sa suot kong ito. Itong style ang ginawa sa akin ni Nerisa, it's a balck and red backless and spaghetti-strapped body-con dress that ends just on my mid thigh. There's also a styled hole between my breasts, showing my cleavage. It's also sparkling and shimmering because of the red sequences, and black and orange glitters surrounding it. It kinda looks like I'm flaming because of the color.

I feel like I'm naked! What the heck Nerisa!?

Even my lipstick is red!

My hair is in a messy but sylish bun exposing my neck, there are curled strands pulled out from the side behind my ears.

But I have to admit that Nerisa did a pretty good job. It may be too showy but it's beautiful and just flaming hot. But obviously not my style.

"You'll survive, princess." Tinapik niya ang likod ko habang mahinang tumatawa.

Umiling ako at kumapit na lang sa braso niya. We walked inside the ballroom with our head held high. This is not new to me anyways, I've been in this palace like three times already, maybe because the owner is one of my boss' annoying friends.

Haydn Catripeun's the one who lives here with his parents, apparently he's a royalty. He's the prince of spain, considering he's the richest person in the country and one of the richest person in the whole wide world.

Whenever he throws a party, Hunter's always invited and I'll be his date but he's busy for some reason. Amadeus always goes alone, so it's kinda weird that he asked me to be his date pero hindi na rin naman bago dahil inaaya niya rin naman akong lumabas minsan pero hindi sa ganitong ka-engrandeng lugar.

"Deus, can you answer me honestly?" Sumingkit ang mga mata ko sa kaniya. "Why did you ask me to be your date in a place like this?"

"I don't wanna go alone, knowing that Hunter's not attending this time and I can finally ask you out." He smiled seductively at me but I just rolled my eyes at him. I'm so used of him fake seducing me, I know he's not serious when he does that.

I assumed that he had trouble tying his necktie because of how bad it looks. As a good friend, of course, I fixed it for him while sighing in disappointment. This always happen not only to him but also to my boss.

"You should hire a wife para may mag-asikaso naman sayo just like how Hunter hires a PA para may kalaro sa kama." I suggested jokingly.

"Wanna apply, princess?"

"My names's Frances, not princess." I showed him my middle finger. "And f**k you, hindi kita type."

"f**k you, too." He also showed me his middle finger. I glared at him and he raised his eyebrow at me, seconds later, we we both laughing our ass off.

I punched his arm lightly. "Good talk, bro."

Nakita na namin ang naka-assign na table para sa aming dalawa, napahinga ako ng malalim at dali-daling nagtungo duon. Luminga-linga ako sa paligid, namamangha sa lawak ng ballroom ni Haydn. This place is literally gigantic, even the walls and gate that surrounds the palace.

I wonder...

Tungkol saan ang party na ito? Hindi nakalagay sa invitation eh.

I took the champagne on the table and poured myself some in a glass. I took a small sip as my eyes danced around the room. I turned my heels around and didn't expect to bump into someone. I wasn't holding my drink tightly enough that it almost flew out off my hold, the liquid pushed forward, splashing the woman I bumped into.

"Oh gosh, I'm so sorry!" I apologized, my eyes widening in shock of what happened. "I'm sorry!" I panicked, glancing around to find something helpful and caught the napkin resting on the the table.

Dinampot ko ito, nilapitan siya't pupunasan sana ang dumi sa damit niya na ako ang may kagagawan ngunit nahawakan niya ang pulsuhan ko para pigilan ako.

"It's fine, it's okay. No worries." She sweetly smiled, putting my hand down nicely. She grabbed the napkin from my hand and wiped the mess on her dress herself.

"Sorry, I really didn't mean to!" Pinaglaruan ko ang mga daliri ko dahil sa kaba at hiya para sa sarili ko at sa kaniya.

Why do I have to be so clumsy! Especially in an occasion like this!?

"Princess?" Amadeus approached me, tumingin siya sa mukha ko pababa sa katawan ko, kumunot ang noo niya kapagkuwan. "Natapunan ka?"

"H-ha?" I asked him, confused. I looked at my clothes and found it wet but not as wet as the woman in front of me.

"Caleigna? What happened?" A very familiar voice distracted me from the recent incident. The familiar voice made me freeze, I searched my eyes for the person I'm expecting, I expected right after seeing Dhenmer walking towards the beautiful woman that I accidentally splashed champagne on her expensive gown.

My heart ached when he grabbed the woman by her arm and wiped the mess on her dress with a napkin himself.

"Geez, Cal, you're clumsy as always."

My nails dug on my palms while staring at him. Only him.

Ang sabi niya ay babalik niya at pinaniwala niya lang ako. Hinintay ko siya pero ilang araw na ang lumipas at hindi niya ako binalikan tulad ng pangako niya. I was ready to open my heart to him, I accepted the fact that I like him. I like him too much that I waited for him. He made me hope to nothing.

Now I understand why he didn't come back for me. He's busy with his new woman, he found someone new. By the look in his eyes, it's no denying that he's attracted to the woman.

Maganda ng babae, sobrang ganda para mainggit ako sa unang pagkakataon. The smile on her face made her beauty glow even more. Insecurity and jealousy are strangers to me, I was always confident about how I look but because of Dhenmer...

"Princess, are you alright?" I felt Amadeus gently touched my arm, I looked at him with my eyes watering but managed to hold my tears a little longer.

"C-can you hug me?"

He c****d his eyebrows at me, unsure. "A-are you sure, princess? I mean—"

"Yeah, hold me for a sec, please?" I forced a smile.

Bumuga siya ng marahas na hininga, tumingin siya sa gawi nila Dhenmer, may kuminang sa mga mata niya na tila may ideya siya kung bakit ako naging ganito. Dahan-dahang pumalibot ang braso niya sa maliit kong katawan, hindi ako masyadong komportable pero sinanay ko ang sarili at pinikit ang mga mata. I let myself melt in his gentle embrace, slowly relaxing in his arms.

Mas hinigpitan ko ang yakap kay Amadeus at mas sinubsob ang mukha ko sa dibdib nya.

"Are you okay, princess? Tell me." Masuyo niyang tanong habang hinihimas ang likod ko

Humiwalay na ako sa pagkakayakap sa kaniya at nginitian siya. "Pasensya na, walang problema. Nahiya lang ako."

"Don't lie to me, f**k, I hate it when you lie."

"I'm not lying." I looked away, my cheeks turning red especially when he crawled his arm around my back to support me.

For a second, I forgotten all about Dhenmer and when I remembered he's just right in front or us, I took a deep breath and forced myself to look at his direction.

Amadeus' arms around me made me smile... wickedly as an evil idea came rushing in my head.

"I'm okay, Dhenmer, see? Don't worry, ako na bahalang magpaliwanag kay Mama." Caleigna was blushing, snatching the napkin from Dhenmer's hand and wiping the mess on her dress herself.

Dhenmer didn't seem to hear what the girl named Caleigna said because his eyes already found mine. He looked surprised but quickly hid his emotion, he looks convincingly calm now but I saw how his eyes followed where Amadeus arm which was around my back.

He wasn't able to hide his real emotion for long because his eyes darkened instantly.

A smile appeared to my lips, snuggling close to Amadeus who I assumed is very confused by my action.

"I'm..." I took a deep breath, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ruin your dress. I'm genuinely sorry for my clumsiness, please forgive me." I'm not mad at that woman, really, maybe jealous but not mad. But I am really, really mad at the man beside her.

"Silly! It's okay. Kasalanan ko rin naman kasi aaminin kong lutang ako. Sorry, mukhang nadumihan din ang dress mo." She looked nice and innocent, especially with her angelic smile. "Oh, hi, Deus!"

"Hey, ugly. f**k you, too." Amadeus responded, shrugging.

But Caleigna just laughed and then looked at me again. "Hi, I'm Caleigna Servan, by the way and I'm sorry again."

"Francess Callanta, and I apologize too." I gripped Amadeus' tuxedo and he seem to notice how tensed I was. I looked at Dhenmer, I almost flinched because of how dark his eyes are.

He pulled away from Caleigna and stormed off. Caleigna, who looked confused, followed him. I parted from Amadeus, I went back to our table and poured myself another champagne. I drank bottoms up and poured myself again, coughing because of the little sting in my throat.

I really hate alcohols, any kinds, even when it's sweet.

Of course, Amadeus tried asking what's wrong but I just kept on drinking until my throat hurts and my stomach got full.

Sinapo ko ang ulo ko dahil sa hilo, tumayo ako at iniwan sa lamesa namin si Amadeus. Nagtanong-tanong ako kung nasaan ang restroom at duon dumiretso.

The restroom was huge as well, that's not a surprise anymore and that's already expected.

I went to the sink and stared at my reflection in the mirror, I gripped the edge of the tiled sink while breathing heavily. Hindi ko maipaliwanag ang nararamdaman ko, halo-halo ito at hindi ko maturo kung anong mas nangingibabaw.

Is it madness? Sadness? Jealousy?

I retouched my make up with a frown on my face, I jumped when I heard the door flew open. I expected it to be a girl because, of course, this is the restroom for women, but got shocked after seeing who really entered.

"D-dhenmer?" His name slipped out my mouth which I regretted immediately.

He approached me, catching me off guard when he grabbed my arm and turned me around to face him. He held my waist, lifted me up on the sink and smashed his lips on mine. It wasn't gentle, it was forceful and grievous.

Napakurap-kurap ako sa gulat ngunit mayroon pang konting ulirat para magkaroon ng lakas ng loob na itulak siya at malakas na sinampal sa pisnge.

Halata sa mga mata niya ng galit, nakaramdam ako ng konting takot dahil sa madilim niyang mga mata at sa mahigpit na paghawak niya sa braso ko.

"Who gave you the permission to kiss me, asshole!?" Malamig ang boses ko ngunit hindi niya man lang ako pinakinggan sapagkat mas humigpit lang ang hawak niya sa braso ko na para bang takot siyang pakawalan ako.

"Sinong pinagmamalaki mo, ha? Si Amadeus?" His expression darkened even more.

"What the hell is your problem, huh? Let go of me!" I yelled at him, shifting away from him.

"What's my problem? You're my f*****g problem, Frances!" He grabbed my jaw forcefully and my eyes widened but I still could sense that he's holding because.

"What the hell, Dhenmer!? Let me go!"

"You f*****g let him touch you, damn it! What the hell is f*****g wrong with you!?"

I laughed in disbelief. "You're mad because of that? Are you out of your goddamn mind!?" Huminga ako ng malalim. "Go back to your girl, Dhenmer, tapos ka na sa akin, 'diba?"

"What are you talking about?" He asked, frowning.

"Don't act like you don't know, you p*****t asshole!"

"Way to judge, Frances." Mapait siyang tumawa.

"I hate you."

"You don't mean that."

"Yes, I do."

I saw how his shoulder dropped, I used the opportunity to push him and move pass him. I froze when a pair of strong arms encircled my waist from the back and a warm lips kissed my nape.

"Take that back, Frances." For some reason, he sounded so sad that my heart softened for a second but it immediately hardened back again.

"Let go!" Nagpumiglas ako sa hawak niya, muli ko siyang hinarap at sinubukang sampalin ulit dahil sa sobrang inis na nararamdaman pero sa pagkakataong iyon ay hindi tumama sa pisnge niya ang palad ko, nasapo niya ito.

"Frances..." mariin niyang pinikit ang mga mata, "I can explain-"

"Hindi ko kaylangan ng eksplenasyon mo!"

"Stop being so stubborn!" He raised his voice, he gritted his teeth, the veins in his neck are protruding and his nosetrills flaring. I pulled my hand away forcefully but he didn't let go.

He looked scary and all, I'm actually terrified but not too much for me to panic. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit malaking parte ng utak ko ang nagsasabing hindi niya ko sasaktan.

"Let go, Dhenmer." I sighed, getting uncomfortable and impatient. "We'll talk later, okay? Just let go, hinihintay ako ni Deus sa labas. Mamaya na lang tayong mag-usap."

I waited for him to respond, but seconds passed by and he was still quiet. I'm surprised that nobody dared to enter the room even though the restroom door's wide open. I didn't realize that I was actually looking at the door and when I returned my attention on him, I also caught him staring at the door. A wicked smirk was plastered over his face when he returned his attention back to me.

"Dhenmer?"

"I will let you go." He unwrapped his hands from my hands and walked past me, sinundan ko siya ng tingin at kumunot ang noo nang isarado niya ang pinto at nilock ko.

"Dhenmer!" I gasped. "What the f**k? Why did you do that—!"" Hindi ko man lang natapos ang sasabihin dahil sa biglaan niyang paghalik, he held my nape tightly and as his tongue slid inside my mouth, tasting me.