Chapter 35: Auction

Ilang beses akong nagpaikot-ikot sa harapan ng salamin at sinisipat ang sarili ko. I think I do not look bad in this little pink dress. Andi personally picked this for me and I trust her judgment when it comes to clothes.

"Ayos lang ba talaga?", I asked them habang muling sinipat ang sarili ko sa salamin.

"It's perfect Amber!", Res said. "Andi ang galing mo talagang pumili ng damit."

"Of course, ako pa ba? Pero teka lang Amber, bakit naman itong Zywon ang ka-date mo tonight. Why not Gray?"

"Nagtataka rin ako", pagsang-ayon ni Therese. "Bakit nga ba?"

I rolled my eyes at them at umupo sa kama ko. "Guys, this is not a date. I will just accompany him in an auction for a cause tonight", wika ko at isinuot ang itim na pumps.

"At anong sabi ni Gray tungkol dito?", Res asked. I frowned at her because of that question. Ano namang kinalaman ni Gray sa pagsama ko kay Zywon? Uh, my roommates were really a shipper of us.

"Sumang-ayon ba siya?"

"What? Why do I need to get his approval?"

The two just shrugged their shoulders and waited for me to answer their questions. "Look, Gray and I, nothing is going on between us. Tinanong niya ako kaninang hapon for any plans tonight and I said yes I have plans. I think he will sneak in the crime scene habang wala ang mga pulis ngayon."

"Or maybe he like to ask you for a date", kinikilig na wika ni Andi. Tumili ito at dinamay pa si Res at napa-apir pa ang dalawa. Like seriously?

"You're both dreaming", wika ko sa kanila and checked my phone. Nagtext na si Zywon na nasa labas na siya ng gate kaya agad akong nagpaalam sa kanila. I hurried towards the gate of Bridle. Yep, Zywon isn't a gentleman at all to have the courtesy of coming here to meet me; instead he waited at the gate. When I reached the gate, I expected him to lean on his shining motorcycle ngunit sa halip ay isang itim na kotse ang nadatnan kong sinasandalan niya.

"I don't expect you to have a car", wika ko upang makuha ang atensyon niya. Tumayo siya ng tuwid at inayos ang sarili. He looks good in his black suit. He wasn't smiling and he looks so bothered. Nakakunot ang noo niya at para bang seryosong-seryoso ang ekspresyon ng kanyang mukha, just like Gray's when I arrived at our classroom this morning.

"Not mine. This is my father's car", wika niya at agad na umikot sa kabilang side ng kotse. "Tayo na."

Napasimangot ako at agad na binuksan ang pinto. See? He doesn't even have a concept of being a gentleman! Kahit simpleng pagbukas ng pinto ng kotse ay hindi niya magawa. Looks like among the Vanders, only Cooler got the gallantry uh, maybe Gray but only a little.

Tahimik lamang si Zywon sa kabuoan nang aming byahe. It seems like something is really bothering him mula pa kanina nang tinawagan niya ako. It only took us fifteen minutes to arrive at the hotel kung saan gaganapin ang auction. Maraming tao roon and I am sure that those were all businessman. This auction may really a huge one since there were so many guest inside at nagkakatuwaan ang lahat habang kanya-kanyang aliw sa kanilang sarili sa pamamagitan ng pakikipag-usap sa iba. Some were just drinking on the side.

"What kind of auction is this?", I asked Zywon.

Napasimangot siya sa akin. "A crazy one." He straightened his face when a man about 50's approached us. Maayos ang tayo nito and he looks so authoritative. When he stopped in front of us ay hindi man lamang ito nguniti sa amin.

"Rocco", wika nito, he must be calling Zywon, as far as I can remember, Zywon's real name is Zywon Rocco Deltran."

"Dad."

Oh, so this is his Dad? I mean his adoptive dad since his real dad is Rionessi Morisson.

"I see that you have a company", wika nito at tumingin sa akin. I forced a smile at him. Yep, he looks scary. He had that look in his face like how parents look in the movies whenever their son presented a girlfriend that they do not like. Or maybe this is just how he looks at people.

"Yes Dad, this is Amber Sison", pagpapakilala ni Zywon sa amin. "Amber, this is Zacharias Deltran, my dad."

Inilahad ni Sir Zach ang palad niya sa akin. "Nice to meet you Miss Sison", he said without even smiling. Nanlalamig ang kamay na tinanggap ko naman ang palad niya.

"Same here Sir."

He tapped Zywon's soulder at nagpaalam na sa amin. "I have to talk to others. Be ready for later Rocco," wika niya.

"Yes Dad", sagot ni Zywon at tinanaw ang kanyang ama habang papalayo. Muling bumalik sa pagkaseryoso ang mukha niya, mukhang may iniisip talaga ito.

"You looked anxious. May problema ba?"

Napatingin siya sa akin at huminga ng malalim. Hinagod niya nang tingin ang kabuoan ko. "None. You look good by the way."

Err. He doesn't have to say it! Random praises like those would really make every girl melt. In my case I melt immediately dahil hindi naman araw-araw na may magsasabi sa akin ng ganoon. I felt my cheeks become red and - hell! Bakit ba ako nagbu-blush? Okay, maybe just because it's not every day that someone will tell me that I look good. Sakto namang dumaan ang isang waiter sa harap naming, I picked up a wineglass at agad na sinaid ang laman niyon. I closed my eyes when I felt the hot sensation down my chest because of the acohol.

"Thanks."

"So what do you want me to do?", wika niya habang inililibot ang paningin sa paligid.

Kinuha ko ang papel mula sa dala kong purse at ibinigay iyon sa kanya. "That's an email address who sent an email to an anonymous account that was deleted. Please retrieve the content and tell us where this email came from."

"I'll do it tonight. Wait, may dala ka bang pera?", tanong niya nakapagtaas ng kilay ko.

"Why?"

"You will need one."

"What? Bakit naman?" Aba! Kung ganoong may bayad pala ang pagpunta ko dito sa auction na ito, edi uuwi na lamang ako.

"For your purchases."

"Purchases for what?"

"For this auction."

"I'm not bidding on anything", wika ko sa kanya. Okay, Mom and Dad would usually buy items from an auction lalo na at sa mga charity auction. This auction is for a cause at base sa nabasa ko sa tarpaulin kanina, the proceeds of the auctions ay para sa mga bahay-ampunan, churches and community projects. But lately I have budget constraints. My credit cards are almost max. Ang mga namana ko kay Daddy ay kasalukuyan pang pinoproseso ni Attorney Rose. Right now I am a poor girl who only got two one thousand pesos bill and a 500 bill on my wallet as cold cash.

"You have to", he said with a sigh.

"Why?"

"Ate Amber!!!!"

Sabay kaming napalingon ni Zywon sa likuran ko nang may tumawag sa pangalan ko. A girl in her stunning black dress rushed towards us and hugged me. She kissed me on the cheek at agad na hinawakan ang kamay ko. It was Zywon's younger sister, Crystal.

"Crystal.."

"Namiss kita Ate Amber, I haven't seen you for a while", Crystal said excitedly. "Tinatago ka yata ni Kuya sa akin lately."

"You look good", wik ko sa kanya. She really looks so dashing in her dress and make up.

"Of course, I have to. For this auction", wika niya at pilyang ngumiti kay Zywon. "Nakahanda na ba ang pera mo Ate Amber?"

My brows furrowed at nagpalipat-lipat na ang tingin ko sa kanilang dalawa. "Pera?"

"Oh, I see a friend over there, mauna na ako Ate Amber", she said and kissed me again bago tinungo ang kabilang bahagi ng bulwagan. She is clearly avoiding my question. Eh? She's weird.

Nagtatakang tumingin ako kay zywon. "Why does she need to look good for this auction and why do I need money?"

Bago pa man masagot ni Zywon ang tanong ko ay may tumawag ulit sa pangalan ko.

"Amber!"

I slowly turn to my back and my jaw almost dropped when I saw who it was. She was wearing a red revealing dress which shows her bare shoulders which I find so sensual. Her hair was swept in one side and her dimples were showing when she smiled at us.

"Math?"

And guess what. It's not really the dress or her dimples which made me almost tripped on my heels. It was her slender arm that was intertwined with his companion's arm. It was Gray who looks so ravishing in his suit. Bahagya din siyang nagulat nang makita ako na kasama si Zywon.

He asked me for my plans tonight, hindi kaya nais din niya akong imbitahan dito and since I said that I'm booked, he asked Math instead?! O baka naman hindi. Maybe he really invited Math first.

"What are you doing here?", hindi ko mapigilang tanong. Nang dumaan ulit ang isang waiter ay muli akong kumuha ng wineglass at hinawakan iyon. Zywon was still silent on my side, maybe he still have some hatreds over Gray over the death of her adoptive Mom that's why he is silent.

"Gray invited me", she said at mas pinatamis pa ang ngiti. Itapon ko kaya sa mukha niya itong wine? Or I could include the glass so that it will have an impact.

"It's an auction for a cause and my Dad's a guest", wika ni Gray at bahagyang ngumiti. He looked intently at me bago pinasadahan ng tingin si Zywon. I don't know if it is my imagination or not but I saw him frown a little. "So this us what you said as your plan?"

I nodded my head as I took a sip from my glass. "Yeah." Am I the only one who hate this reunion? I don't expect him to be here and definitely I do not expect Math to be his companion. Ngunit bakit ko naman ipagtataka iyon? She likes to tag along as always which reminds me of Marion.

The lights turned off at ang naiwang nakabukas ay ang nasa maliit na entablado. A man in his 30's went up at kinuha ang mikropono.

"Good morning business people!", masiglang bati nito. "It's the time of the year to give some for those who are in need! And we have this event to execute that philanthropic act!"

Nagsigawan ang mga tao doon at marami ang pumalakpak. Some seems so excited. Are they really that excited to give? Wow, makes me change my perception to some rich people.

"We have three things for our auction for a cause and let us start with the man auction!"

Man Auction?! Does that mean that... When I turned to Gray and Zywon, both of them groaned and made a face. Two girls in a sexy clothes approached us at hinawakan silang dalawa at iginiya sa stage. It seems like my jaw literally dropped. So that is the reason why Zywon has been sulking and required me to have a lot of money? And Gray... Gray also had that unwilling look in his eyes but Math just smiled like she doesn't seem surprise at all.

I moved my way towards her. "You are not surprise? I mean, they are auctioning people."

Math smiled again. "Gray already told me about it and he ask me to bid for him. I'm surprise to find you here Amber."

"Zywon invited me." I sighed at naglakas ng loob na magtanong sa kanya. "When did Gray invite you here?"

"Kanina. After class. Why?"

Ikinibit ko ang balikat ko. "Nothing." I don't want to over think but I think when Gray asked me about my plan tonight, he must mean to ask me to accompany him here tonight and when I said that I had, he asked Math instead.

"But why are they auctioning people? Pwede ba yun?"

"Amber this is just for fun. They are ought to date the highest bidder just for a night. And the proceeds of the auction goes to the beneficiary. Isn't it great?", she said.

Great? What's great with auctioning people? Zywon doesn't seem happy about it and so as Gray. Marahil ay ito din ang dahilan ng pagkaseryoso ni Gray simula pa kaninang umaga.

"Let us start with our first guy!", the emcee said and pulled a guy na nakasuot ng puting suit. He had chinky eyes at nakangiti pa ito sa crowd. "Introduce yourself and tell us what you can offer."

"My name is Earlson Tan, 26 and a lawyer", nakangiting wika ng lalaking unang nagpakilala. "I can be your defender for a night." Kumindat pa ito sa madla and old women giggled like teenagers. Yikes. Hindi lang naman matatanda at mga matrona ang nandito, there were lots of young people here, maybe sons and daughters of those businessmen.

"Earlson Tan, who wants to start the bid?"

"5,000 pesos!", sigaw ng isang matandang babae. Her body was covered with shining jewelries at nagningning pa ang mga mata nito.

"We have 5,000 here."

"6,000!"

"7,000!"

"10,000!"

What?! Like seriously? People here are willing to spend thousands of their money just for a night with guys? Mahinang siniko ako ni Math.

"You dropped your jaw kanina pa. They are representatives of each business groups na nandito. Later is the woman auction. You don't have to make it look like worst. Isipin mo na lamang na mapupunta sa mga chosen charities ang proceeds ng auction na ito. Anyway, this isn't as hard as anyone imagine. Hindi naman ito gaya ng virginity auction sa internet eh."

Yep, I heard about the virginity auctions on the internet gaya na lamang nina Rosie Reid, Nathalie Dylan and Alina Percea. They usually do it to have the money to pay for school tuitions and some says that portions of it were donated to charities. But that was just a very crazy auction just like this one. Meh, I don't know what these people are thinking. Pero siguro naman tama si Math, it is not as worst as virginity auctions.

"10,000 have won!"

Umingay ang buong paligid nang umakyat sa entablado ang isang babae na mukhang lagpas singkwenta anyos na. Kumapit pa ito sa braso ng lalaki at nakangising ibinaba ito sa entablado.

"Math? Are you sure that this is not some form of human trafficking?"

She laughed as she flips her hair. "Why would it be? You just have to date the winning bidder, that's all unless you are up for an extra service."

Oh no.

"Our next man is very young and fresh!" muling nag-ingay ang paligid. A very wild music was on air as kasabay pa niyon ang makukulay na ilaw sa paligid which made the people around became wilder. "Please introduce yourself."

"I am Lyndon Montemayor. 17 and a basketball player, maybe we can do some shooting", wika ng lalaki at kumindat pa sabay kagat sa kanyang labi. Yuckier than the previous one. O ako lang yata ang hindi iyon nagustuhan dahil nagsigawan ang mga dalaga na naroon.

"Lyndon! Who wants to play basketball with Lyndon?", sigaw ng emcee.

"5,000!"

"7,000!"

"10,000!"

"We have 10,000! Going once!"

"12,000!"

"Okay, 12,000! Who wants to bid higher than 12, 000?", the emcee asked the crowd at nang wala ng promotesta ay nagsimula na itong magbilang hanggang lima. "Alright, Lyndon Montemayor for 12, 000!"

The crowd cheered as a young girl approached the stage at tuwang-tuwa na iwinagayway ang isang maliit na papel, maybe her receipt for winning the guy. The man auction continued hanggang sa umabot na iyon kay Zywon. I want to laugh on his facial expression. He has a murderous look in his face, just like how his brother Ryu projects. Masama ang tingin na iginawad niya sa emcee nang iniabot nito sa kanya ang mikropono upang magpakilala.

"Zywon Deltran, 18, Delinquent."

See? If others use flowering words to describe themselves, he used the word delinquent. I saw Crystal slipped a piece of paper to the emcee at nakangiting tinanggap naman iyon ng emcee.

"Aha! Zywon Deltran, a delinquent which means a bad boy! Who wants to be his bad girl?"

"5,000!", sigaw ng isang matrona. Uh, unlucky Zywon.

"8,000!", sigaw naman ng isang matabang babae. She was smiling all the way as she looked at him from head to foot. Gusto kong matawa sa reaksyon ni Zywon, then he glared at me and started talking to me using his brows. I know that look; he wants me to bid him. Hello, saan aabot ang 2500 ko?

"Anyone who wants to contest 8,000?", the emcee asked but none raised a higher price. "Let's see what our delinquent got. He is a racer, he can take you anywhere with his shining motorcycle. Aha, our delinquent is a racer! Sinong gustong sumakay sakanya?" he was reading the paper that Crystal handed him and the latter was giggling on the side samantalang halos hindi na maipinta ang mukha ni Zywon.

"10,000!", sigaw ng isang babae.

"12,000!"

"15,000!"

"We have 15, 000! Any other bids?", tanong ng emcee at muling binasa ang maliit na papel. "This delinquent has a sweet tooth! Who wants to eat all the sweets in the world with? A delinquent with a sweet tooth, interesting!"

Oh yeah Crystal, you are so amazing for putting your brother in hell situation like this. Two thumbs up for you.

"18, 000!"

"20, 000!"

Meh, people here are really crazy. Iniiwas ko na lamang ang mata ko at nang hindi ko makita ang nagmamakaawang tingin ni Zywon sa akin. No, I will not spend thousands para lang maka-date ng lalaki! No way. Negative. Never.

"21, 000!"

"So we have 21, 000!"

"22, 000!"

"Oh, 22, 000! Higher than 22, 000? Going once?"

"Aren't you bidding on Zywon?", tanong ni Math sa akin.

I shook my head at her. "I won't spend money for guys."

"Like I said, this is not for the guy. The proceeds are for-"

"Yeah yeah, I know." Edi siya na. kahit naman para sa mga charitable institutions ang proceeds ng auction na ito, hindi pa rin ako makakapagbid dahil wala akong pera. Yup, maybe dad is rich but not me.

"25, 000!", sigaw ng isang bakla sa sulok. He was brushing his tongue on his lips as he looks at Zywon. Zywon's expression even become deadlier at nais kong matawa. He looked at me again asking to bid for him but I just signalled him that I don't have any money.

"25, 000? Higher than 25, 000? Wala na? 5... 4... 3..."

I saw Zywon glared at me again ngunit iniiwas ko na lamang ang tingin ko. Maybe a night with a gay isn't bad for him, right?

"2..."

"50, 000!"

Sabay na napalingon kaming lahat sa likuran nang may sumigaw na lalaki. He doesn't look gay but why is he bidding 50, 000 for Zywon? He doesn't look familiar at all at maging si Zywon ay nagtaka kung sino ang lalaking iyon.

"So 50, 000! Going once! Going twice. I guess 50, 000 won!"

The crowd cheerd at nagpatuloy pa rin ang man auction. Bumaba si Zywon sa entablado at nilapitan ang lalaki. I cannot hear their conversation dahil may distansya din ang pagitan naming at isa pa ay si Gray na ang ibinibida ng emcee.

"We have a good looking man here! Ipakilala mo ang sarili mo."

If Zywon got a deadly look, Gray has it too. Or maybe that is a characteristic of a Vander. They had the best murderous glare in the world, the kind that doesn't physically creepy but will surely bring fear down your spine.

"Gray Ivan Silvan." He didn't say more at muling ibinalik ang mikropono sa emcee.

"We have Gray Ivan Silvan. Any bids?"

"5, 000!"

"8, 000!"

"10, 000!"

"We will see what we got here", nakangising wika ng emcee at muling binasa ang maliit na papel na ibinigay ni Crystal sa kanya. "Aha, Gray Ivan is a soccer enthusiast!"

"15, 000!"

"18, 000!"

"We have 18, 000! What's more interesting is Gray Ivan is a high school detective! Isn't it romantic to have a date in a crime scene?"

Really? Romantic date in a crime scene? Yeah, been there although it isn't as romantic as others think.

The crowd began cheering so loud.

"20, 000!"

"25, 000!"

Either I was wrong or maybe these ladies who bid are psychopaths. Gray looked gloomy at masama ang tinging ipinupukol sa emcee. For sure he is torturing the guy in his mind. Napatingin ako kay Math na nakangiting humalukipkip.

"Are you bidding on Gray?"

"Yup and I will surely win", she said boastfully at kinuha ang kanyang kopitang may lamang wine at uminom ng konti. I'm glad the lights are dim kaya hindi niya napansin ang pag-irap ko sa kanya.

"25, 000! Who wants to bid higher?"

When none raised a price ay sumigaw si Math. "30, 000."

"Ah, a beautiful lady bid for 30, 000! I will start the countdown now. 5... 4... 3..."

"50, 000", sigaw ng isang babae sa likod.

"50, 000! Higher than 50, 000?"

I saw Math's face crumpled habang tinitingnan ang babaeng nagbid ng 50, 000.

"60, 000!", she shouted. Wow, 60, 000 for Gray gayong araw-araw na niya itong kasama.

"60, 000! Higher than that?", the emcee asked ngunit wala ng nagsalita mula sa crowd. I saw Math smiled vivtoriously. "Okay, 60, 000 has -"

"100, 000!"

Sabay na napalingon ang mga tao sa babeng sumigaw mula sa likod. When the spotlight turned to her, I had a clear view of her face. She wasn't old but she doesn't look young either. Her hair was in a bun at nakasuot ito ng itim na damit at malaki at fashionable na spectacles. She had a large mole on her nose.

"Okay. 100, 000 has won", dekara ng emcee which leaves Math so furious.

Great, Gray will be having a date with a woman with an enormous mole on her nose. Just great.

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-ShinichiLaaaabs