Camille Syanna

"Camille..."

Someone in my sleep called me quietly. I turned around, hoping to find the voice source, but all I saw were clothes, shoes, and bags. I'm inside a glittery closet, and everything looks magical. I can live here forever!

"Camille..."

There's that voice again. I frowned. Who is that?

"Camille!" He calls out louder this time.

Napalingon ako sa pintuan sa dulo ng silid nang bumukas iyon at iluwa ang bulto ng isang lalaki na hindi ko mapagsino. I gasped when I noticed a pair of sharp thorns attached to both sides of his forehead.

"No! Demon! Demon!" I shrieked like Phoebe Buffay.

Humakbang ako paatras nang magsimula itong maglakad papalapit sa aking kinatatayuan. My heart is beating so hard that it wants out of my chest. I balled my fist and placed it over my chest. Beads of sweat trailed down my temples. Not only that, but my whole body is shaking.

I know I was never too good to anyone, but Satan can't just barge into my dreams and ruin my moment in a beautiful closet. That's not fair! I don't interrupt when he's giving orders down hell.

Patuloy lamang ako sa pag-atras habang siya'y wala ring hinto sa paglapit. This is the first time that the devil chased me in my dream, it's not fun! My armpits are sweating! I should wakeup.

I groaned when I felt a tight grip on my arm, shaking me to wake up. Slowly, I opened my eyes only to find ZA staring down at me. Devil with the Green Eyes by Matthew Sweet started playing in my head. This asshole has beautiful eyes; I have to give him that.

Then realization dawned on me. He was the devil in my sleep!

"Gumising ka na, hoy!" Isang ulit pa niyang tinapik ang aking balikat bago ako talikuran at magsimulang tunguhin ang pinto.

"What time is it?" I cleared my throat when my voice suddenly comes out sexy! I didn't intentionally do that. NO! Binalingan ko rin ang bintana sa kabilang bahagi ng maliit na silid, the curtains are up but no sunlight is coming in. Madilim pa rin sa labas. "It's not even morning yet!"

"Alas-kwatro na, Camille. You know the servants in your home wake up around this time every day to make sure you'll have a perfect breakfast when you decide to open your eyes." Sabi niya, napairap ako. What's the big deal? That's a part of their job description. They're paid to do that. And please, I'm not a bad master. I don't hit or yell at any of them. "Sasama ka sa akin sa palengke,"

"Palengke? Like market?" Napakunot ang aking noo. I haven't been to a market before and never wished to be. What the heck? I don't even go to the grocery store. Nagpapatawa ba ang isang 'to? Pinagmasdan ko si ZA na ngayon ay nakatalikod na sa akin. He opened the door and was ready to step out of the room. "I don't want to go,"

"Sadly, it's not for you to decide. Go and shower, bilisan mo dahil wala na tayong maabutan na sariwa sa palengke kung babagal bagal ka." He said, keeping his back on me.

"No!" Mariin kong sabi, kumuyom din ang aking mga kamao. I want to jump on him and hit him hard in the head. Baka sakaling makuha niyang I'm not made for this kind of life. "You go yourself! I'll stay here,"

"Again," ZA turned and winked at me. His lips formed an evil smile as he continued. "Not your choice,"

My blood boiled. I have never felt this kind of anger before. Men I know never treated me half as badly as how ZA is treating me. In fact, they're all ready to kiss the ground I walked in. Everyone I know does as I please. But then, I didn't know ZA.

"I hate you!" I screamed at the top of my lungs and grabbed the pillow I used to sleep on. I threw it at him, and it hits him in the head. ZA turned and caught the pillow before it landed on the floor. His rapid response didn't surprise me at all. He said he was a soldier.

"I only have 86,400 seconds in a day. Don't make me waste my time dealing with your immature ass. Get up there and look at life from a different perspective."

"What made you think I'd follow you?" I cocked him a brow.

"Do you want to stay here forever?" Balik-tanong niya, may nakakainis na ngiti sa mga labi. "If not, then do as I say,"

Naiinis akong napasigaw nang ibato niya pabalik ang unan sa akin bago tuluyan nang lumabas. "I hate you, Zayn Andrei Vladislav! I hate you so much!"

Following someone's order is something I'm not accustomed to. I lived free as a bird. I rule my life and decide for myself. Not even my parents made me live by their governance. Who does he think he is? He's not even Zanti!

And yet, he's right. I don't have a choice. I can't stay here for a long time. I can't. I'll die!

Nilibot kong muli ng tingin ang maliit na silid. I'll develop claustrophobia in no time, sa liit at sikip ba naman ng lugar na ito. Kailangan ko na talagang makaalis from here!

My chest tightens as I put on a plain white shirt and jean shorts. I've never felt so stripped off of glam! I've always been in vogue, so stepping outside looking like this is already a sacrifice to me.

Labag man sa loob ko ay bumaba na ako. Naabutan ko si ZA na nagkakape sa komedor habang nagbabasa ng dyaryo. On the table is a kettle, a coffee mug, and a sachet of 3 in 1 coffee.

"Don't you have a coffee maker?" I sigh. "I don't drink instant coffee."

Bahagya itong nag-angat ng tingin sa akin bago muling tutukan ang binabasa. "Live by what's in front of you,"

"No, you're killing me. Anything instant is poison. That's poor diet quality, ZA. You should know that! And I'm not being maarte right now. I'm being cautious about what I put in my body. Sure, it wouldn't kill us now, but it would in the future!"

Muli ay binalingan niya ako ng pagod na tingin. He finished his cup and folded the broadsheet. "Then don't drink it if you don't want it. Stop making a problem out of everything, Camille."

"I wouldn't drink that talaga!" Inirapan ko itong muli bago ko yukuin ang aking mga paa. "Poor toes. I promise I'll get you a sweet spa as soon as we return home."

ZA smirked and stood up. "Halika na huwag ka nang mag-inarte dyan. Marami pa tayong kailangan gawin."

Tinalikuran niya na ako at nagsimula nang maglakad palabas ng bahay. Mabigat man sa loob ay sinundan ko na siya. Nagtaka ako nang lagpasan namin ang nakaparada niyang sasakyan. Mabilis din akong napakapit sa kanyang braso nang lapitan kami ni Pongo.

"How could you not keep him in his cage!" Naiirita kong sabi. "Paano kung may ma-bite 'yan na stranger?"

"Pongo only bites bad people," parang nang-iinis pa siyang inilalapit talaga ako sa dog niya! "Iyong puros reklamo at arte. Favorite niya iyon kagatin."

"Oh, really? I wonder how many na ang nakagat niya if that's the case."

Nang marating namin ang kanto ay huminto kami para pumara siya ng tricycle. Not the type of tricycle na malalaki at malilinis na nasa tapat ng subdivision namin. This one is small and rusty.

"Sa bukana lang, 'nong." Sabi niya sa driver.

"Sige ho, boss."

Lumingon sa akin si ZA as he motioned the tricycle. "Sakay na,"

Malakas at pilit akong tumawa. "Okay, good one. Now is the time to tell me you're kidding!"

"Does it look like I'm kidding?" Seryoso niyang tanong sa akin.

Naningkit ang aking mga mata. "You don't expect me to ride in that piece of junk, do you?" Nilingon ko rin si Manong na tahimik na nakamasid sa amin. "No offense po, Manong. But you better get your car, ZA, because I'm not going anywhere with that sad excuse for a vehicle!"

"Huwag ka nang maarte," annoyed, he forced me inside the tricycle. "Hindi para mag-aksaya ng gas dahil lang maarte ka. Ang lapit lapit lang ng palengke, eh."

"Ouchy!" I wiggled off his grip. Nandidiri man ay wala na akong nagawa pa dahil pareho na kaming nasa loob at nagsimula nang umandar ang maingay na makina nito.

I suddenly felt suffocated. Malaking tao si ZA. He barely fit inside the tiny vehicle.

My ass had been bouncing tirelessly every time we hit a rough road. Nilingon ko si ZA kung ganoon din siya ngunit parang hindi naman siya ganoon kaapektado.

Ilang minuto pa ay narating na namin ang bukana na sinasabi niya. Daanan iyon ng mga public vehicle, may paradahan din ng jeep sa di kalayuan. I have a bad feeling on what's about to happen.

"It's a miracle I'm alive!" Inis kong sigaw sa kanya nang makababa kami ng tricycle.

"If that didn't kill you, something else will if you wouldn't stop whining." Tahimik siyang nagbayad sa driver matapos ay pumihit sa daan at pumara ng pampasaherong jeep.

Bago pa ako makatanggi ay hila-hila niya na ang aking palapulsuhan. Pilit akong kumawala sa kanya. "I'm not going to ride a jeep! That's too much, ZA!"

Halos kargahin niya na ako papasok sa jeep, kahit anong pagpupumiglas ko ay wala akong nagawa. Malakas si ZA compared to me, noh!

"I hate you," naiinis kong bulong nang maupo siya sa aking tabi.

"Tell me something I don't know,"

"I never thought I'd ride a tricycle and jeepney in this life. Not to mention both on the same day. Thanks to you!"

This is so frustrating!

"Bayad po," the woman sitting beside me said. She was handing me her bayad so I could give it to the driver.

No. So, inirapan ko ito. I wasn't born to make abot the bayad ng strangers, noh!

"Ang arte arte mo naman, Miss! Wag kang sumakay ng jeep kung ayaw mong mag-abot ng bayad! Akala mo kung sino-"

Natigil ito sa pagsasalita nang ilahad ni ZA ang kanyang kamay upang abutin ang bayad nito.

"T-thank you.." biglang naging sweet voice niya at nagpa-cute.

Hah! Kung alam lang nitong evil si ZA, she wouldn't bother making pa-cute.

"Eeew, walang taste," pasimple kong bulong na narinig ni ZA. Nilingon niya ako kaya tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.

Akala ko'y may sasabihin na naman siya, but he just shook his head and went on to abot the payment of the ate.

She moved away from me. Obvious na inis pa rin cause I didn't take her bayad. I don't really care, better nga na lumayo siya because it's so masikip.

The jeep stopped to pick up a new passenger a few minutes later. And dahil vacant yung space next to me, doon naupo si Manong.

Oh, my God! He's so baho! Like even more mabaho than the tuyo yesterday!

"Andrei," kinalabit ko si ZA at bumulong. "My katabi stinks!"

ZA chuckled, but that was all I got from him. Hindi man lang niya ako nilingon. Para bang happy pa siya na miserable ang nose ko for the entire ride to the market!

"Hi, Miss Sexy,"

Kadiri! His breath smells alcohol. Ang aga pa to drink! Eeew! This is why I don't like to ride public transportation. Lalo na I have my car naman and the means!

Napasiksik ako kay ZA. Kahit pa ayaw ko ay hinila ko ang kanyang braso to let him know I'm uncomfortable sa bago kong katabi.

"Kinis naman ng legs mo, Miss..." patuloy na sabi ng lalaki.

"Andrei," tinawag ko siyang muli. This time, he turned and looked at the man beside me.

ZA leaned against his seat and snaked one arm on my waist, pulling me closer as he placed his other hand over my exposed thigh.

Halos ipagsiksikan ko na ang mukha ko sa leeg niya para lang hindi ko maamoy ang mabaho kong katabi.

ZA's scent invaded my nose. There was the cinnamon smell of his bath soap again mixed with the crisp, refreshing evergreen smell of his shampoo. I inhaled all of them, hmm.

Napapitlag ako nang tumaas ang kamay ni ZA sa aking pisngi at haplusin iyon.

Napatingala ako sa kanya at nakita kong nakayukong nakatitig siyang pabalik sa akin. Nagtama ang aming mga mata. I gaze into his gorgeous green eyes, and I could feel mischief reflected back at me. But I didn't care. I just wanted to look at them.

"Mabaho pa?" Malumanay niyang tanong.

Wala sa loob akong umiling at marahang sumagot. "Mabango ka,"

And it was already too late to take back what I said! The bastard is already laughing like crazy!

"Nakakainis ka!" I pinched his arm when he didn't stop.

"Shh," his palm gave my thigh a gentle squeeze, kaya naman mas lalo akong napa-usog palapit sa kanya.

I accidentally turn to the stinky man beside me. He was still staring at me in a perverted offensive way.

"Eeew," bumulong ako kay ZA. "Andrei, are we malayo pa? Konti na lang ma-pupunch ko na itong katabi ko, eh!"

"Malapit na,"

Ilang sandali pa ay pumara na si ZA. Pinauna niya akong bumaba at nang daanan niya yung manyak kong katabi ay sadya niyang tinapakan ng mariin ang paa nito. Na siya namang ikinatawa ko. You get served what you deserved.

Sa tapat ng flea market kami ibinaba. The place stinks, mud, and dirt are everywhere. Marami rin people like in groceries or in the mall, but they're sweaty and dirty. Parang, I'd die if ma-bubump ako sa kanila. I can't!

"Please don't tell me we're going inside," I silently pray for a miracle.

"Okay, I won't. But that doesn't change the fact that we're going in,"

"But the place is dirty and mabaho! How can you be so sure that the food there is clean and safe to eat? The whole place stinks!" I exclaimed and made my case.

"Baliw ka ba? Walang mabangong palengke, Camille."

"Urgh! I hate you!" I stomped my foot on the ground, pero lightly lang cause magkakalat yung mud lalo and that's eew. "I hate this life!"