Kabanata 17

"Kailangan ba talaga ganyan?" Tinuro ko ang damit na nakalatag sa hinihigaan ko. Naka-double deck bed kasi kami ni Arya.

May dumating na package kinaumagahan matapos ang Noche Buena. Isa itong ready-to-wear dress galing sa isang kilalang luxury brand. I don't know about it that much, pero nanglalaki ang mga mata ni Arya nang makita ang package.

The package contains a dark blue v-neck long chiffon gown and a pair of strappy heels.

"Alam niya size mo, Ate." Nangliit ang mga mata ni Arya.

"Maniwala ka saakin, wala pa akong sinusukong bataan."

Arya scrunched her nose. "Pakilala mo ako sa mga kaibigan niya Ate, kailangan ko rin sponsor."

I remembered Gio and shook my head profusely. "Sa iba na lang, Arya! Magi!"

"Bakit Ate? Ikaw lang pwede lumandi?"

Tumawa lang ako kay Arya. Hindi naman siya mahilig makipag-landian. Mas mahal niya pa ang mga palette at contour stick niya.

Before 8pm, nag-ayos na ako para diretso sundo na lang. Nanghiram ng gamit si Arya sa malapit na parlor para ayusan ako. She's really good at this, balak nga niya maging stylist 'yata pagkatapos niya sa pag-aaral.

She straighten my hair using a hair iron. She applied make up on me, sinigurado niya na bagay ito sa damit. Nang matapos ay sakto namang dumating ang Ford Expedition nila Adren sa harap ng bahay namin.

"Basta kapag nag-offer ng pera, sabihin mo kailangan mo networth ni Bill Gates para umatras." Seryosong sabi ni Arya.

I laughed at her. "Noted, Arya."

Pumasok ako sa kotse at nginitian ako nung driver. Ito palagi ang driver ni Adren. Ngumiti ako pabalik at inayos ang aking pagkakaupo. Hindi ko alam bakit ngayon pa lang ay kinakabahan na ako.

Gumagapang ang kaba sa aking puso habang parami nang parami ang mga building na nadadaanan namin. Hindi ko mapigilan na isipin na totoo ba itong pinapasok ko? I was entering his world. Alam ko naman na iba ang antas naming dalawa.

The car turned to a path that leads to a long driveway that is surrounded by tall trees. Nakatingin lang ako sa mga matatayog puno na nilalagpasan ng aking mga mata.

Huminto kami sa isang malaking gate. Madilim ang paligid at tanging ang loob lamang ng mansyon ang maliwanag.

Mala-palasyo ang anyo nitong mansyon nila. Parang inabandonang palasyo pero hindi naman ito marumi tingnan bagkus ang linis nga nito sa mata. Parang gawa ito sa Victorian era. It reminds of the palaces from the disney movies.

It was grand to look at, actually. A little too grand for me.

Pinagbuksan pa ako ng pinto ng kotse. Tumango ako sa driver at nagpasalamat.

Tiningnan ko ang hawak kong imbitasyon na kasama sa damit na binigay ni Adren sa akin. Nang makapunta ako sa isang staircase paakyat sa loob ng mansyon, may nakaabang na naka-tux na lalaki.

Ngumiti ito sa akin at nilahad ang kamay, ang tingin niya ay nasa imbitasyon sa kamay ko. Inabot ko ito at tumango lang siya at pinayagan na akong umakyat sa itaas.

Kung nandito si Franny at Suzette, kanina pa nila ako tinawanan nang wagas. I was really trying my best to behave properly.

Mabait 'yan? Totoo ba 'yan? Si Arrisea ka ba talaga?

I could hear them making fun of how I'n trying to fit in. Minsan lang naman ito kaya sana pagbigyan na nila ako.

Sumalubong sa akin ang samu't-saring mga tao. Ang mga tindig nila ay halatang mga galing sa mayayaman na angkan. The way they dress, talk and drink from their champagne glass screams rich.

A live orchestra was playing on a small stage, every decor was made with gold and the curtains were shimmering. Ayoko man aminin, medyo kinakabahan ako mapahiya sa ganitong klaseng lugar.

"Nasaan si Adren?" I muttered to myself. Hindi ko man lang dinala ang cellphone ko.

Medyo umakyat ang kaba ko sa dibdib nang may mga tumingin sa akin. I was used to people staring at me. Pero bakit halos dumidikit ang kanilang titig sa aking balat?

It felt awful.

Bumuntong hininga ako at naghanap muna kung saan pwedeng tumambay habang hinahanap ko si Adren. Ginagala ko ang paningin ko ngunit ni anino niya ay hindi ko makita.

Napunta ako sa isang balkonahe nang mapagod ang mga paa ko. I saw a figure seating on the balcony itself. Natakot ako sa kanya dahil kahit may barandilla ito, baka siya'y mahulog.

"Bumaba ka riyan," sambit ko sa kanya habang papalapit.

His feet was even swaying back and forth. Hindi ba siya natatakot na baka mahulog siya? Isang tulak lang sa kanya ay lasog-lasog ang katawan niya!

Lumingon siya saakin. The first thing I notice about him was his grey eyes, he was looking at me with a bored expression.

Naka-contact lens ba siya?

His face is symmetrical, his eyes possessed a glint of mischief, he even has a nose with a high bridge and his lips is a spread out cupid bow.

He looked pretty. Hindi gwapo, pero magandang lalaki. If that makes sense.

Wow, hindi po ako nagtataksil kay Adren. Pero marunong akong maka-appreciate ng gawa ng Diyos.

"Why?" his voice was low.

I gulped. "Baka mahulog ka, nakamamatay kaya 'yan! Di ka ba natatakot?"

"The party inside is boring," pabalang niyang sagot. "Mas maganda pa rito sa labas."

Agad naman akong nagtaas ng kilay. Well, puro nga naman matatanda ang nasa loob. I could understand him for a bit.

"Arrisea? Aren't I right? Adren's lover?"

Nagulat ako dahil kilala niya ako. Pero alam ko sa sarili ko na ngayon ko lamang siya nakita, it was my first time seeing someone with grey eyes.

"Ano naman ngayon?"

He arched an eyebrow before shrugging.

"I don't think you know what you're signing up for," sagot niya sa akin. He was still swaying his feet.

"Mahal namin ang isa't isa. Kung akala niyo magpapaapi ako, pwes hindi. Love prevails, sorry na lang kayo." I flipped my hair, kahit maikli lang naman ito.

Lumingon siya sa akin, he laughed mockingly. Ang paraan ng pagtitig niya sa akin ay para bang isa akong bata na walang alam sa sinasabi ko.

"Ano ka? A disney princess?" He retorted. "Love is so easy to use as a reason yet the outcomes are always hard to accept."

Unti-unti siyang bumaba sa kanyang pwesto, he walked towards me using slow steps as he carefully examined me using his eyes. Lumapit siya sa akin at agad naman akong napaigtad dahil sa biglaang paggalaw niya.

He whispered to my ears. "You can say that this is for love, but when things go bad? It's hard to say that this happened because of love — because love has always been too good in the eyes of people."

"Love is always good. No matter what." I insisted and emphasized. Lapagan ko pa siya ng verse galing sa Corinthians e.

He suppressed his laugh by covering his mouth. "You're so brave yet naive at the same time."

Kumunot ang noo mo. "Ano?"

He smirked. "Do you know the cost of letting someone taste love when in fact you can't really give it to them?"

Hindi ako nakasagot. Gusto ko siyang sagutin pero walang salitang lumalabas sa bibig ko.

"Arrisea." May kamay na pumulupot sa aking bewang.

Adren was glaring at the grey eyed guy who had a coy smile on his face.

"Sino ba 'yan?" bulong ko kay Adren.

"Wow, the heir of the leading IT Firm and the heir of the Reverios in one place? This is something."

May lumapit sa'min na babae. She was eyeing me curiously, her eyes are full of judgement.

"And a gold digger, who just have to pick whether she wants the EIJE Corp or the Reverio's assets."

Nangliit ang mga mata ko at nagtaas ng kilay sa kanya. "Balitang-balita sa radyong sira, babaing pakilamera nakitang palutang-lutong sa ilog, hindi lumubog dahil saksakan ng plastic."

Tinaas ko ang middle finger ko sa kanya. Sa iba na lang siya maging kontrabida, hindi 'yan eepekto sa akin.

Her face reddened in fury. Pero nang makita niya kung paano tumingin si Adren sa kanya, she was frozen at her spot. She remained glaring at me.

Ngumiti sa kanya si Adren. "Consider that every business proposals your dad offers in the company will be rejected."

Nalaglag ang panga nung babae. "I w-was just kidding! Why do you have to take it personally?"

Adren's face darkened and he scoffs."The mere fact he raised a daughter who uses derogatory terms to greet strangers makes it look like he cannot create things well— because if he can, then why did you exist?"

Iba talaga fliptop ng mga mayayaman. Hindi na lang ako umimik, mamaya ako pa ma-english e.

The girl was trembling as she walked away.

May biglang pumalakpak sa likod namin. It was the grey eyed guy and he was grinning.

"I have to go now, thank you for the great show."

"Etienne," Adren's gaze at him with anger. "Don't meddle with my life."

Etienne pala ang pangalan niya. Tumingin ako sa kanya at nakita ko kung paano siya nag-aktong nasaktan, nilagay niya ang kamay niya sa dibdib at ngumuso.

"It's as if we're not childhood friends, Kuya Adren." He smirked."See you next year, Arrisea."

Hindi ko alam bakit umakyat ang takot sa puso ko. Tumingin lang ako sa kanya habang papaalis na siya.

"Did he say anything weird?" Agad na lumingon si Adren sa akin, nakakunot ang noo at halata ang pagka-balisa sa kanyang tono.

Umiling ako. "Wala naman."

What he says doesn't bother me, kahit parang ang dami niyang alam sa buhay namin.

Althrough out the party, tambay kami sa buffet area o kaya nakikipagusap si Adren sa mga matatandang lalaki at babae. It was as if he wasn't the same age as we are. Tumikhim naman ako bago umiinom sa sparkling wine na nasa kamay ko.

"Pwede pa ba kumuha ng cake?" tanong ko kay Adren nang lumayo na ang kausap niya.

"Yeah, samahan kita?"

"Nope! Kaya ko na."

I went to where the desserts are, sobrang tuwa ko nang may makita pa akong tiramisu. When the waitress handed me a plate of tiramisu, I thanked her.

Kumakain lang ako sa may gilid dahil wala naman akong kakilala rito. Someone sat beside me and I immediately peek who it was.

A girl with jet black hair, and skin as fair as snow sat beside me. Akala ko pa naman si Tatiana na ang pinaka-maputing tao na nakita ko. This girl exudes elegance as she fix the gloves on her hand.

Iba ang pagdala niya sa kanyang sarili. She looked elegant with no trace of any arrogance but she makes it seem like she's superior among us.

"Hello," she greeted coldly.

I wasn't narcissistic but I knew I was pretty. Pero ang babaing ito ay hindi ko maipaliwanag ang ganda niya, it wasn't just her face — it was on her entire aura. Her cat like eyes, pointed nose, high cheekbones and posture tells so.

Tumikhim ako at bumati pabalik. "Hi! Arrisea nga pala. Pero wala akong business kaya wala kang mapapala sa akin."

She smiled, still as cold as how she greeted me before. Nanatili siyang malamig ang pakikitungo sa akin.

"Solstice."

Even her name sounds cold.

"Adren is acting vulnerable because of you," she didn't hesitate to tell me.

Pareho kaming napatingin kay Adren na nakakunot ang noo habang may mga kausap na grupo ng tao.

"What?"

Lumingon siya sa akin."If it's just the money, hingiin mo na lang sa kanya. Making him feel loved doesn't change the fact that you'll soon leave and ruin his life anyway."

Natigalgal ako. Ano bang pinagsasabi nito? Paano ko masisira buhay ni Adren? Shabu ba ako, ha?

"Sino bang nagsabi na iiwan ko siya?" asik ko sa kanya. She grinned at me, her eyes full of mockery.

"Since you're not from our social circle, sa tingin mo ba ay tatagal ka? You think he's serious with you?" malamig niyang usal.

I have always considered that possibility. Baka naninibago lang sa akin si Adren o baka sa tingin niya ay kaya ko nga talaga siyang mahalin kahit parang napaka-misteryoso niyang tao. Pero kapag naalala ko kung paano siya ngumiti sa akin nang totoo, hindi ko na magawang isipin na maaaring walang katotohanan ang nararamdaman niya para sa akin.

"Bakit mo 'to sinasabi sa akin?"

She smiled at me, and for some reason — I saw Adren's fake smile.

"For someone who didn't receive any love ever since he was born," She rested her head on her palms as she stare at me.

"You are his hope that maybe he can also love, just like any other person." She smirks. "What if someone turns his hope to his own despair?"

Nanlalamig ako at halos mamanhid ang paa ko sa sobrang tagal na naestatwa ako.

"Goodluck, Arrisea. Welcome to the family." She gave another fake smile before departing, leaving me speechless on my position.

"Solstice Reverio," a girl who looks like a host for the party called."Your Mom is waiting for you."

Reverio?

Napako ang titig ko sa kanya habang papaalis siya. Hindi na siya bumaling pa ulit ng tingin sa akin.

Adren has two sisters — and I met one of them.

"Hey," Adren strides on my way.

I was rubbing my arms for some reason. Lumunok muna ako bago bumaling kay Adren.

"Solstice talked to me."

Adren licked his lower lip and cussed under his breath. "Sol has always been like that."

"Always been?"

"Whatever she says is not important, okay?" he assured me, giving me a quick hug.

Nang makita ko si Adren, doon ko lang nakita ang sinasabi ni Solstice. Gone with his fake smile and emotionless face, Adren is wearing his heart on his sleeves.

Hindi ko alam bakit naramdaman ako ng pangamba bigla. Did I really messed up? Wala akong alam...I didn't know...

"Grandpa wants to meet you." His eyes softens. "Arri?"

Ngayon ko lang napagtantuan ang pinasok ko. What Sol said is bothering me. Nararamdaman ko ang panginginig ng kalamnan ko.

"Yeah, sure."

Pumunta kami sa isang pribadong kwarto sa ikalawang palapag ng mansyon. When the door opened, an old fashioned office welcomed us.

"Arrisea!" A jolly old man immediately hugged me. "My future daughter-in-law!"

Bakas sa mukha niya ang kanyang edad. Puti na rin ang kanyang buhok pero ang tindig niya ay parang binata pa rin.

I wasn't expecting this.

Akala ko may alok na agad na pera, e. Buti naman wala dahil hanggang ngayon ay nasa utak ko pa si Solstice.

"I can't believe that Adren has finally meet someone. I didn't want to arrange him with someone, Hija." Bumuntong hininga ang Lolo ni Adren.

Ngumiti nang tipid si Adren habang ang kamay ay nasa bewang ko pa rin.

Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko. Akala ko talaga ilalabas ko na ang linyahan ko na pamatay.

Hindi po ako bayaran. Paglalaban po namin ang pagmamahalan namin. Pero negotiable naman po.

"I'm Alfred Reverio, Hija." Niyakap niya ako nang mahigpit, I could feel his eagerness.

Kung ganito naman pala ang pamilya niya, why was I scared in the first place? Solstice was probably just bluffing.

"Dayanara and Alfos is still trying for a child," Lolo Alfred sighed. "Still trying to conceive a male to replace you as a heir."

Naguusap si Lolo Alfred at Adren sa isang study table. Habang ako ay kumakain lang ng biscuit sa gilid.

"Anyway, you're already the legitimate heir so don't be scared of the possibility. I don't want to accept any more offsprings from those two," Lolo Alfred says.

Ngumiti ulit sa akin si Lolo Alfred saka bumaling kay Adren."I'm glad you already met someone, I was always worried I was spending my time in my hospital bed too much that I didn't get to take care of you."

Adren was holding my other hand as I was eating the biscuits on the plate infront of us.

Tumingin sa akin si Adren at nginitian ko naman siya.

Hinigpitan ko ang paghawak sa takot na baka mamaya ay may kumalas sa amin.

Who would have thought I'll also be the first one to let go?

❛ ━━━━━━･❪☽༓☾❫ ･━━━━━━ ❜