Chapter 30: Memories

I woke up to the familiar scent of lavender under my nose, it was weird to have that familiarity even with my environment filled with smoke—pollution.

I wouldn't be surprised if I woke up by the loud noises of the neighbors, the cries of a random child, and even the shouting of wives to their husbands. One of the package deals when you pick a cheap place to stay.

"Nasaan na ang nag-aaway na mag-asawa sa itaas? Nakabayad na ba sila ng kuryente on time?"

I pulled the blanket tightly around my body. The softness of it made me feel like I'd wish I wouldn't wake up again in reality. The feeling of easiness under the thick blanket enveloping my skin made me feel like I was still dreaming.

Gusto ko pa sana matulog at higit na mag-illusyon sa nararamdaman ko nang sapilitan ko nang ibangon ang sarili ko.

I got up from the bed groggily as I held my forehead, my eyes were still blurry but I felt like the bulb of my small apartment suddenly brightened. Pinunasan ko ba iyon o nagpalit ako nang hindi ko na maalala?

"Ano ba itong nangyayari sa akin? Nakainom ba ako kagabi? Bakit wala akong maalala?"

The last time I remembered was I was in front of the cashier and I was asking if I could write a promissory note since I couldn't pay for my tuition on time. Tanda ko na may tinanggap akong raket sa bar, not to dance or even entertain the men, taga dala lang talaga ng pagkain pero kailangan talaga magdamit ng sexy.

I blinked twice until everything went clear. I tried to blink again and my eyes widened.

"W-what the hell? Nasaan ako?"

Ilang beses kong tinapik ang pisngi ko ngunit hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa nakikita ko.

Why am I inside this huge and elegant room?

I was inside a huge and majestic room. From the bed with a mixture of red and gold cover, with its four-column corners, thin curtains, and small side table. A bookshelf, a huge cabinet, a bigger table filled with some papers, a piano, a delicate ceiling with expensive chandeliers, and a fireplace. There were also huge flower vases and fresh flowers. Most of the items inside the room were made of gold and diamonds.

Bakit wala akong maalala na pumasok ako sa loob ng kuwartong ito?

Ilang beses kong tinapik ang sentido ko habang nagmamadali na akong bumaba sa kama. At isang hakbang ko pa lang ay natumba na ako sa sahig na may makapal na carpet.

I fell down on my stomach. I cursed when I felt the pain under my chin. Halos hindi ko na mabangon ang sarili ko.

I tried to remember what happened last night. Naging desperada na ba talaga ako at pumayag na ako sa trabahong iyon? That I'd sell my body for money? I knew how I wanted to graduate on time and I'd do everything to pay for my education, pero hindi pa ako umabot sa ganoon.

"Gaga!" Paulit-ulit kong kinatok ang sentido ko habang pilit akong bumabangon sa pagkakadapa ko.

Hinayaan ko muna ang sarili kong umupo sa sahig at sumandal ako sa kama. At mas lalong napasinghap ako nang may mapansin akong salamin sa harapan ko.

"Is this wig?"

Ilang beses kong hinila ang mahaba at kulot kong buhok, at napadaing ako sa sakit nang hindi iyon mahila. Isa pa, kailanman ay hindi ko nakita ang sarili ko na nakasuot ng ganitong kasuotan.

It was like I'd been transported to the past with this white Victorian dress as a sleepwear. "W-what's really going on? Ang kati naman nito sa leeg."

Pilit kong tinatanggal iyong ruffles sa leeg ko na nakakasakal.

Ano ba talagang ginawa ko kagabi? Pagod na pagod ang pakiramdam ko ngayon. Hindi ako makatayo at wala akong maalala. Napasinghap ako, natigil ako sa pahila ng ruffles sa leeg ko, at nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang may mahila ako rito.

"What are those?"

Since I couldn't find the strength to stand up, on fours, I crawled toward the mirror in front of me, horror registered in my eyes when I saw red marks on my neck. "Are these hickeys?"

And this confirmed everything. Umaasa pa ako na baka nagkamali lang ako ng inaakala ngunit nang makita na ito ng mga mata ko ay hindi na ako umaasa. Napaupo na akong muli. My hands behind pressed on the carpeted floor behind my back while staring at myself.

"And why do I look like this? I look strangely beautiful as someone who was drunk last night and can't remember anything . . ."

Hindi ba dapat ay mukha akong sabog ngayon? Pina-facial ba muna ako at may pinagawa pa ba sa akin na treatment bago ang ano?

Hindi ko na natuloy pa ang pagkakatulala ko sa salamin nang biglang mabuksan ang pinto, at higit akong napasinghap at napatulala sa lalaking natigilan din nang makita akong nakalugmok sa sahig.

"Kezalli, love . . ."

Love?

Hindi ko na napansin na nakalapit na siya sa akin at agad niya akong binuhat sa kama. Ang guwapo niya, in fairness. Siya ba ang naka-one night stand ko? He's probably one of the rich businessman who buy young girls virginity, but he looked young. And I think he doesn't need to buy one.

"S-sorry po kung nakatulog ako. Lalabas na rin po ako. Nasaan po ang damit ko?" I stuttered. Ramdam ko na ang nagsisimulang kaba sa dibdib ko.

When he looked at me, my fists tightly balled under the sheet. He's green-eyed!

"What?" He looked annoyed.

Hindi lang ba isang gabi ang napag-usapan namin ng lalaking ito? Mariin akong napapikit. Gusto kong sabunutan ang sarili ko. I should have been careful that night, I remembered drinking after serving the last food, but I didn't know that I had to serve five more trays, kaya may halo ng alak ang sistema ko nang bumalik na ako sa room ng mga businessman na iyon.

I couldn't imagine that I'd become desperate like this and resort to this way of earning money. But would you like the other way, Kezalli?

Scenes flashed back inside my mind— silhouettes of people around the arena, cheering, throwing money, and my hands soaked in blood.

Mariin kong iniling ang ulo ko at muling sinalubong ang mata ng lalaki.

Bakit wala akong maalala na kamukha niya?

"K-kahit kalahati na lang po ang ibayad ninyo sa akin. Hindi ko na po kayang magtagal pa rito."

"What are you talking about, Kezalli?"

Gusto ko nang magmura. I even told him my fucking name!

I saw another table inside his room and in front of the small table, I saw a hairbrush and other essentials that I think for a woman— his wife. Fuck, he's married. Mapapatay pa yata ako. Gaga ka, Kezalli!

"Sir, your wife might see me . . . you're married. How dare you—" I stopped. Ang kapal ng mukha kong sabihin iyon gayong pumatol ako sa kanya. Fuck!

Humiwalay na sa akin ang lalaki at tumindig lang siya sa tabi ng kama habang nakapamaywang na nakatitig sa akin.

"You aren't making fun of me, Kezalli . . ."

Huh? Bakit ako makikipagbiruan sa lalaking mukhang isang pitik lang ay mamapatay ako. He must be this rich to have this huge room with a Victorian style, para talaga akong nasa ibang panahon.

"S-sir, kailangan ko na po umuwi, your wife might . . . I am sorry for her. If I had the proper mind, or probably I was drugged. Wala akong maalala. But this? With other woman? Please, huwag ninyo na po itong ulitin . . ."

Like me, the man dressed strangely. It was like a long white robe, loosely tied as if he'd purposely revealed his well-defined chest in front of me. I closed my eyes and mentally stopped myself, I shouldn't adore someone else's husband. This and what we've done last night was fucking immoral!

He frustratingly ran his hands through his hair, his chest heaving, and eyes burning at me. "You are my wife."

"Huh?"

Was he on drugs?

"You are my wife, Kezalli," ulit niya.

Tinakpan ko ang bibig ko at napatitig ako sa kanya. He was handsome, hot and for sure very rich, but is he pyscho?

"Gago ka ba? Wife ka dyan. Sir, wala na akong panahon makipagbiruan. Just give me my clothes. I'll go. Mahuli pa ako ng asawa ninyo. Ipapatay ako. Gusto ko pa maka-graduate."

Dahan-dahan nang naupo ang lalaki, at nang akma niya akong hahawakan ay marahas na akong umatras hanggang sa lumapat ang likuran ko sa head board ng kama.

Pain surprisingly crossed his face as if he was a lovesick husband who had just been denied by his wife. Don't tell me he's the type that falls in love on a one-night stand.

"Sir, I don't know if you're bored or your married life is not as exciting as it should be. I was wrong that I agreed with this setup, at habangbuhay ko itong pagsisisihan, pero kailangan ko na po talaga umalis. As much as I don't want to accept the payment, and I vowed to myself that I would never enter this kind of job, kailangan ko po ng pera. Give me the money and I'll leave."

Kahit nananakit pa rin ang buong katawan ko ay pilit akong umalis sa kama at tumayo.

When I glanced at the green-eyed guy, the pain in his eyes was still there, and that made me feel so confused as hell. Sa tingin ng mayamang katulad niya ay mababa akong babae, bayaran at maaaring palitan anumang oras. Why was he looking at me like that?

Ano itong emosyon na ipinakikita niya sa akin? Did I make a promise last night?

"Love, what has that bitch done to you? What kind of hell have those humans put you through?"

This time I saw how his expression darkened—very different from his expression when he calls my name.

Hindi na ako nagsalita at tinanaw ko na ang pinto. Nanatili na siyang nakaupo sa kama habang habol niya ako ng tanaw hanggang sa makarating ako sa harap ng pinto. When I tried to touch it, the handle felt so slippery that when I pulled it my hands were slipping.

"Shit."

"Kezalli, please . . . if you're trying to make fun of me."

Marahas na akong humarap sa lalaking nasa kama. "Hindi ako nakikipagbiruan! Kailangan ko nang umalis at ihanda mo na iyong pera! If you need another woman, hindi na ako iyon! Ito na ang una't huli!"

Hindi nagsalita ang lalaki at nanatili siyang nakatitig sa akin.

"Right! If you're not willing to pay, fine! But I will fucking leave this room!"

Kung hindi ako makalabas sa pinto ay malalaki ang hakbang ko patungo sa malaking bintana. I could jump from the window. At nang sandaling sabay kong itinulak ang bintana at sumalubong sa akin ang malakas na hangin, tuluyan nang nalaglag ang balikat ko.

"W-where am I?"

He sighed and massaged his forehead. "I thought I was not going to experience this. You are in Parsua Deltora. You are my wife, and a bitch erased your memories of me and everything about this empire."

I looked at him, dumbfounded. Saang lupalop ako dinala ng lalaking ito? I was in a place where I could see water. As hard as to believe it, our place— or should I say castle was floating and water were flowing from it as if we were at the top of a waterfalls. I could see different infrastructures and water was everywhere— everything was floating on the water.

Nasaan ba kami? Sa Switzerland ba ito? May lumulutang ba na kastilyo roon? Baka naman nananaginip pa rin ako?

I was about to hit my face hard with another slap when the green-eyed man disappeared from his bed, and he stopped my hand. His emerald eyes mellowed, his thumb gently caressed on my wrist and he leaned closer. "Don't hurt yourself, please . . ." he almost whispered.

I gasped, pulled my hand away from him, and took a step back. I was holding my wrist with my other hand as I looked at him with my creased brows. "W-who are you?"

Natigilan siyang muli sa katanungan ko, ngunit tipid siyang ngumiti at huminga nang malalim. I saw how his posture changed a little; he stood straight before placing one of his hands on his chest, and he bowed a little, with a hand on his back. "King Tobias Ceasar Le'Vamueivos, my lady, please, if you're playing, it's already breaking my heart."