Taming The Billionaire

Kabanata 2

EDRIANNE and I have never been a good match. Ganoon din ako sa kapatid nitong si Louvell. I started to realize she was never too fond of me when she wore my dress in the Prom, she didn't say sorry then, in return, I stole the bag that Lola Catalina gave her on her last birthday. When I turned college, I had a crush on someone from Ateneo, a few weeks later, she was on Edrianne's IG story.

Maraming beses pa iyong naulit. Hindi 'man namin iyon personal na pinagtatalunan ay alam ko. Hindi na maganda ang relasyon namin sa isa't isa at kapwa na rin kami may lihim na galit. Halos hindi na bilang sa mga daliri ko ang mga alitang iyon. Edrianne never apologized, kaya't ako rin ay hindi. We were digging our claws on each other's back secretly. It only stopped a year before last year.

Mataman ko siyang tinignan. I remained unfazed. The smug look on Edrianne's face is something, both insulting and threatening. But it takes more than that to scare me. Alam kong alam niya iyon noon pa man, na hindi ako ang tipo ng tao na mabilis masindak.

"You can ask Tito Raphael yourself," saad ni Sadie.

A mocking smile was crept on Edrianne's lips. "I'm not talking about Tito Raphael.." She trailed off. "Right, Nieoni?"

"I don't know.." I shook my head sluggishly and smiled. "Who are you referring to, Edrianne?"

Nabitin sa ere ang ngisi nito, mukhang nabigla sa narinig. Hindi ko mabasa kung tunay ba ang nais na iparating nito. Does she really know a thing, o' baka naman hinuhuli lang ako? May alam ba talaga ito sa pa-sikreto kong pakikipagkita sa totoo kong Ama?

Edrianne took a step forward. Humalukipkip ito. Diretsong linya man ang mga labi ay alam kong nagpipigil lamang ito. We've known each other ever since we were a kid, and I know that expression a lot.

Hinagod niya kami ng tingin. Nang bumalik iyon sa akin ay hindi na niya iyon binawi pa. She raised her chin and arched a brow, as if trying to intimidate me. "The next time I hear you talking about my mother, I'll make sure Lolo finds out about what YOU'RE doing in Manila."

I flinched. What's with the prolong, Edrianne? If you know something, why don't you tell them now?

"Ano bang pinagsasasabi mo, Edrianne? Stop talking like you're watching her every move." Iritang sabi ni Sordia.

Edrianne tilted her head and let out a menacing look. "Bakit? Hindi ba't ganoon rin ang ginagawa niyo kay Mommy?"

"Excuse me? We're not watching your MOTHER'S every move, we just happened to be there." Si Sadie.

"And you just happened to talk about it here like some kind of gossip girls spreading news? Please." Edrianne rolled her eyes.

"Bakit kaba nagagalit? Atleast it wasn't a fake story." I snorted.

"Bitch." Edrianne blurted out.

"Excuse me?"

Akmang maglalakad ako palapit kay Edrianne nang mamataan sina Tita Harper na papalapit kasama ang mga anak nito. Sa likod nito ay ang kasambahay na inutusan ni Sadie na kumuha ng champagne. The side of my lips twitched. Huminga ako nang malalim. Pigil na pigil ko ang ekspresyon ko. I stepped backward and faked a smile. Tumagos ang tingin ko kay Edrianne habang ito naman ay matalim parin ang tingin sa akin.

"What do we have here?" tanong ni Tita Harper pagkalapit.

The maid laid all the glasses on the table and poured it with a champagne. Pagkababa ng bote sa lamesa ay umalis rin kaagad ito. Edrianne was forced to sit, pero malayo iyon saamin. Her expression was now firm.

Tumabi sa akin sina Sordia at Shio. Benjamin was only standing behind me, ang mga braso ay nakapatong sa headrest ng sofa habang bahagyang nakayukod. Maloko itong kumindat sa akin nang lingunin ko siya ng tingin.

"We were talking about the.. location of the photoshoot." I lied. "Edrianne wanted to discuss it with me."

Nagtaas ng kilay si Edrianne. "I don't think Louvell will like the place you chose, baka hindi niya magustuhan ang napili mong tema," aniya sabay plastik na ngumiti sa akin.

Hindi ko siya tinapunan ng tingin. I sat straight and fixed my hair using my fingers. "Then she can just re-scheduled."

"Bakit? May napili ka na bang theme, Nieoni?" tanong ni Tita Harper.

Matamis akong ngumiti. "Cowgirl, Tita Harper."

"Hot." Benjamin commented.

Shio nodded her heard. "I like it. Where?"

"Sa Puerto Rico," sagot ko.

Tumango si Tita Harper 'saka bumaling ng tingin kay Edrianne. "Tanungin mo muna ang kapatid mo, she might like it."

"She won't." Paninindigan ni Edrianne.

None us of responded to her remark. The air in the conservatory room suddenly turned awkward. Tumikhim si Hericane, napansin yata ang kaibahan sa pananahimik namin. Edrianne stood up before any of us could open up a topic. Dire-diretso itong naglakad paalis. Sinundan ito ng tingin nila Sordia pero hindi nagsalita. Hindi ko na rin iyon binigyang atensyon at tumingin nalang kila Tito Rudeus na paparating. He's with Vack and Tita Syre, his wife. I didn't see her at the table. Ang akala ko ay hindi na ito dadalo dahil busy rin sa trabaho nito.

"Anong problema no'n?" tanong ni Hericane.

I let out a half smile. Ipinilig ko ang ulo ko bilang pagtugon bago malamyos na tumayo mula sa pagkakaupo upang batiin ang asawa ni Tito Rudeus. Tita Syre smiled at me. Agad na rumehistro ang rekognasyon sa isip ko nang maamoy ang suot nitong pabango. I love how she smell, noon pa man. I personally think it represents her. Sweet and elegant.

"I was late.." She smiled apologetically to Tita Harper and sat, hawak siya ni Tito Rudeus sa baywang. "Have you finish discussing about Nieoni's birthday party?"

"Not at all, Syre. We only talked about the venue, food and visitors." Si Tita Harper.

"And the other preparations? The emcee? Sound system service? Photographers?"

"Nivone and I are working on it."

Malambing na sagot ni Tito Rudeus sa asawa, Tita Syre just caressed his right arm in response.

"Sounds good. Anyway, do you girls have plans for tomorrow?" Tita Syre asked.

"We'll meet Ricona for Nieoni's attire and photoshoot." Si Shio ang sumagot.

"Oh, and the boys?"

Nagkatinginan si Vack at Benjamin. Benj shrugged. "I'll tag along."

Nagtaas ng dalawang kilay si Vack at napahimas sa leeg nito. "I'll stay here at the house."

"That's boring," saad ni Sadie.

Vack raised a brow. "It's better than hearing you gossip about boys."

"Excuse me?" Nagtaas ng kilay si Sadie.

"Boys?" Ulit ni Tito Rudeus. "Sadie talk about boys?"

"NEVER!" Angal ni Sad.

"The last time we were together, you were talking about some dudes' nudes." Vack boldly exposed Sadie.

Namula sa inis si Sadie. Si Tita Harper naman ay napasinghap doon. My brows creased as I bring back my gaze to Vack. I've never heard of that. What nudes and whose?

"Kaninong nudes?" Natawa si Benjamin.

"Vack! I told you to keep it a secret!"

"I didn't promise."

"Sadie." Seryosong tawag ni Tito Rudeus sa anak. "I'll check you phone later."

Pumalatak si Tita Syre. "Let her."

"She's a girl, Syre. It's a naked photo we're talking about," seryosong tugon ni Tito Rudeus.

"Yeah, but she can't eat that." Nagtaas ng kilay si Tita Syre. "You've done that before. Don't act prude infront of your daughter."

"Did you save a copy?" Mahinang tanong ni Sordia sa kapatid. "Send it to me."

"Sordia Solivan!"

KINABUKASAN ay maaga akong nagising. It was my body clock. I jogged around the area and swam for a bit. Naging abala ang mga tao sa bahay. The house feels lively. Noong mga unang buwan sa Manila ay ganitong klase ng pakiramdam ang hinahanap ko. Full house. Close cousins. Breakfast with stories. I grew up in this house and I spent a lot of time here that when I left, I felt like I didn't bring my heart with me. It was sad and I was longing. Kahit na ginusto ko ring manirahan sa syudad.

I touched the railings of the balcony with my bare hand. Pero noon iyon, ngayon ay may sarili na rin akong buhay sa Manila. Tahanan at kaibigan na talagang naging malapit na sa akin. Specially the band.

Binaybay ko ng tingin ang paligid ng Mansyon saka yumukod. The Gardeners and Maids are scattered. Lahat rin ng Solivan ngayon sa pamamahay ay may sari-sariling trabaho. Raphael was the one who went to resort to fill my mother's presence while my Mom and Tito Rudeus stayed at the house for their meet with the head of event management. As an extra person, my mother's secretary was there to calculate and handle the financial expenses.

We talked about the further preparations during breakfast. Tita Syre said she'd help me about my gowns and attire if ever Ricona's designs doesn't fit my taste. Tita Harper collected the guest list and I wasn't really surprise to see that Lolo Asmodeous invited numerous business men. But that's okay, since I won't be inviting a lot. Hindi rin naman ganoon karami ang kaibigan ko sa Manila.. at isa pa, I don't think the Solivans will approve of me inviting my Dad and my cousins on my biological father's side. Not that they knew I'm still communicating with him after he got divorced with my Mom.

Ricona and her other assistants went to the Mansion themselves. She had our body measured. Me and Louvell. I told Ricona about my desired theme and location. Hindi katulad ng sinabi ni Edrianne ay pumayag ang kapatid nito. Sinabi ko ang estilo ng mga damit na gusto kong susuotin para sa photoshoot pero mukhang nanadya si Louvell dahil lahat ng damit na banggitin ay naiibigan din daw nito. Louvell was almost saying she wanted us to wear the same clothes.

Tita Charron did a good job raising her daughters to be this infuriating. Their way of annoying people is effective. Talent na tanging sila lang ang mayroon.

That night I was also thinking about telling Lola Catalina what Louvell wanted to happen. Napigil lamang ang kagustuhan kong iyon nang maisip ang posibleng maging reaksyon ni Lola. Talking might not work, lalo na't malaki ang espasyo sa puso nito para sa aming mga apo niya. It might also give her a hard time. Ayoko nang makisabay dahil paniguradong iniisip parin nito ang naging pagtatalo nila ni Tita Charron. But I came up with an idea.

"You good to go?"

Huminto ako sa tapat ng dilaw na sasakyan. Katabi noon ang kay Benjamin. He was cockily standing beside his car with his sunglasses hanging on the neckband of his white sando. Maangas ang naging pagtingin nito saakin habang may naka-pasak na sigarilyo sa bibig.

I turned sidewards and let out an irritated look. Nagtakip agad ako ng ilong sabay pagpag ng kamay sa hangin. Since when did Tita Harper allowed Benjamin with his bad habit of smoking? The last time we met, he was grounded because of it.

Lumayo ako nang kaunti sakanya. I quickly opened my bag to get my fragrance to spray it on the air.

Narinig ko ang paghalakhak ni Benjamin. Nang lingunin ko siya ng tingin ay wala na sa bibig nito ang sigarilyo. He dropped it and trampled on it using his left foot. The amusement expression on his face wasn't leaving. Parang natutuwa pa. I frowned and bring back the Marc Jacobs' perfume on my bag.

Kung dala ko lang ang sasakyan ko ay hindi naman ako sasabay sakanya. Apparently, Calithea drove me from Manila to Batangas and I went here to Isla Verde by boat so I don't have my car with me. Mas mabuti sana kung sasama si Vack, but the loner jackass wanted to keep his ass on the house.

"Where are the others?" tanong ko, magkasalubong parin ang kilay.

"They left with Louvell."

They? Does that include Sadie?

Naglakad si Benjamin patungo sa passenger's seat. He opened the door and looked at me, hindi talaga inaalis ang ngisi sa mga labi. Huminga ako nang malalim bago naglakad palapit sakanya. Atleast, Benjamin has a decent car.

"Nieoni."

I heard a sound of a woman's heels clicking on the solid ground. I turned around, my hair following the movement of my head. My eyes found one of Tita Charron's daughters, Edrianne. Her arms was crossed, eyes planted at me with an unreadable expression. Hindi siya nagsalita. I saw her raised a brow before stepping forward. Benjamin, on the other hand didn't mind her presence. Umikot ito at nagtungo sa driver's seat.

Hindi niya ako binigyan ng pagkakataong magsalita. Pagkalapit ay agad na itinaas ni Edrianne ang susi ng sasakyan sa kabilang kamay nito. "Use my car. I'll go with Benj."

Tumaas ang kabilang sulok ng labi ko. My eyes reflected confusement regardless. Anong sinabi niya? Parang hindi ko yata iyon narinig nang maayos. Why would she lend her car to me? May bomba ba sa loob? Sira ang makina? May diperensya ang preno? Why, when I know for a fact that she don't like me?

"And why are you letting me borrow it?" tanong ko sa mapanghusgang tono.

"Lolo Asmodeous asked me to. Ayaw mo ba?"

Halos isang minuto akong nakipagtitigan sakanya. I played with my tongue and nodded my head lighly. Binukas ko ang palad sa harap nito. She gave me her car key so I give way for her to enter the passenger seat. I stepped backward and watch the car leave. I'm still not convinced but I couldn't give up what she was offering me.

I push the button of the car key. Umilaw ang back headlight ng itim na sasakyan hindi malayo sa akin. It was a Toyota Avalon, it's much gorgeous than Benjamin's car. Lumapit ako roon sabay bukas ng pinto ng sasakyan. I put my bag on the other seat and held the steering wheel. I raised both my eyebrows and breathed calmly.

Isinaksak ko ang susi sabay binuhay sa makina. I took out my phone from the bag to connect it to the car's bluetooth. Pagkalagay ng location doon ay umalis na rin ako kaagad.