Dedicated to Asmara Lumna

Chapter 6

I was expecting that there's a Wayto waiting for me outside but he's nowhere to be found. Where's the gagong instik?

I waited for few minutes, but no presence of Snow Wayto. I checked my phone and no messages at all.

"Right!" I returned my phone inside my bag and started walking annoyed.

He told me that we are going somewhere, where is that Arellano?

I heard someone calling for me from behind but I disregarded the voice. He's not the gagong instsik.

Huwag niyang akalain na mag-message ako sa kanya at magmukhang concern, duh? Bahala siya sa buhay niya, malaki na siya.

"Autumn!"

"What?!" iritado akong humarap kay Belo. The betrayer bestfriend. Ipinagpalit ako nito kay Wayto!

"Ihatid na kita? Alone?"

"No, actually I'm with someone." I acted like I have someone with me.

"Come on, galit ka ba sa akin Autumn? You're still my girl best friend."

"You betrayed me, alam mong kaaway ko si Wayto."

"Ang tanong, kaaway pa ba?" ngising tanong nito. I rolled my eyes.

"Of course!" hindi ko na gustong pahabain ang usapan tungkol kay Wayto kaya nagsimula na akong muling maglakad.

But my ex friend followed me with his grinning face

"Baka naman sa ibang lugar na kayo nag-aaway ni White."

"And what do you mean by that, Dash Antony Belo?!" I hissed.

"Couples are normally fighting," kibit balikat na sagot nito. "Come on, ihahatid na kita."

"Why am I having a feeling that you're now officially Wayto's accomplice? Did he tell you to fetch me?"

I almost cursed at myself when I noticed that my eyes were searching for Wayto's smuggled car.

"No, this a a best friend's duty."

Nagmamaneho na si Belo at kapwa na kami tahimik dalawa sa daan.

"I can appreciate if you'll stick with Triton and Ahmed, mas mabuti silang impluwensiya, you heard a lot rumors about Wayto. Ilang beses nang nabaril ang lalaking 'yon. You'll be at his mess, soon Belo." I really don't know what's happening but right now I can't feel any intensity with my words compared before when I talked about Wayto's shitness.

My damn mouth, the constant beating of my heart and my subsiding anger were fucking conflicting.

"Politicians," tipid na sagot ni Belo.

"Not all, why us? Bakit hindi ako nababaril? Bakit hindi si kuya?"

"Because White is an asshole, but you should always remember that every asshole has its own story to tell." Ilang minuto akong natahimik sa sinabi ni Belo.

"You're now taking his side Belo, you're breaking my heart."

"Am I the only one? You took his side first, Autumn."

"I didn't! Who told you?! I am an Olbes, Anthony. I was born to hate him. Ikaw ang unang taong makakaalam kung ano ang rason ko sa paglapit sa kanya."

"And I am the first person that will first discover that you're not doing any good on it."

"Tinatakot mo ba ako, Belo?"

"I was just warning you, madumi ang politika Autumn. Don't meddle inside a political fight, this isn't just Olbes and Arellanos fight."

"You knew too much of information, as far as I remember you're just part of a medical group. You're not involved with politics."

"I'm serious, Autumn."

"I am also serious, Belo. I won't back out, nagsisimula na ako. My grandfather deserves the position, Olbes deserves to rule. I'll bring Arellanos down. We're damn deserving more than them, alam mo 'yan Belo. This is for the people of Enamel, we value them the most."

Hindi na nakipagtalo sa akin si Belo hanggang sa makarating kami sa bahay, I asked him for dinner but he refused.

"See you," tipid akong humalik sa pisngi ni Belo.

"You're one of the toughest girls I've ever met."

"Thanks for that," kumindat ako kay Belo bago ako pumasok ng gate.

Dumaan pa ang apat na araw na kahit anino ni Wayto ay hindi nagparamdam.

Is he done? Nagsawa na ba siya agad sa akin?

Is my paglandi with him is not effective? Did I landi him enough? Oh my gosh.

He told me that I was pretty! I'm a good kisser! Lambing na lambing ako sa kanya. Bakit ilang araw nang pabebe ang gagong instik na 'yon?!

"Urg!" iritado kong ibinaba sa kandungan ko ang fashion magazine.

"Ma'am," nag-aalangan ang babaeng may hawak sa akin paa.

I'm currently inside a parlor, having my hair make-over, manicure, pedicure and all.

"Something's bothering you lately, girl. What is that?" I exaggeratedly rolled my eyes. I'm with my friend, Antonia. The another maarte in town.

Ang pinaka-ayaw lang talaga sa akin ni Antonia ay ang pagtigil ko sa loob ng palengke. Yes, I might be maarte but I can't just brush the fact that I was once started from below. At isa pa, malapit ang loob ko sa mga mansanas.

Apple is the symbolism of our wealth.

"Am I jowable naman hindi ba?"

"Of course,"

"Then why? Bigla na lang naglaho nang parang bula ang gagong instik na 'yon."

"Instik? You're into Chinese now?"

"It's Arellano," Antonia gasped hearing the name.

"You mean White Arellano? I thought you hate him?"

"Yes, of course! I still do, but I need to be near him for some stuffs." I was expecting a nagging from my friend but all I can see were grin from her beautiful face.

"I so love you girl, mas lumalandi ka na. I'm so proud of you."

"I'm not proud of myself, he did slip away. He's an Arellano, alam niya sigurong matatalo siya kaya bumitaw na."

"Let's look for him then and make him stay."

"I don't like the sex feeding Antonia, if that's what you mean."

"Just damn seduce and play him, ikaw ang humiwalay kapag nahuhumaling na. Just listen to me, I'm an expert." My eyes narrowed. Sobrang dami niyang alam pagdating sa bagay na ito.

Hanggang ngayon ay wala pa rin akong naririnig na naging seryoso si Antonia sa mga lalaki. I just remembered that she told me that her first kiss was Troy Ferell, pero nililigawan daw ito ni Owen Ferell noon.

Kilala ang mga Ferell sa Enamel dahil dito sila dati tumira, lumipat lamang ang mga ito sa Leviathan for some reasons.

Then she's chasing a different guy now.

Kung malandi ako, mas malandi sa akin si Antonia.

"Wait, I'll call someone. I'll locate your chinese boylet." Saglit lang siyang nakipag-usap sa telepono bago ito humarap sa akin.

"He's going to bar, tonight." Tumaas ang kilay ko.

Nambabae na ang gago.

"With?"

"Nero Ferell,"

"Oh, close ba sila?" I asked.

"Hindi ko alam, baka."

"So?"

"I'll asked someone to accompany you, ayokong makakita ng Ferell Autumn. Tang-ina ang sakit nila sa ulo."

"Iiwan mo ako?"

"I said I'll ask someone to be with you. That Ferell and Arellano will acquire a private room, kukuha ng babae. You and the other girl will go inside. I'll talk to the owner of the bar, luckily the guy is my friend."

"W-Wait what?! I can't do that."

"Ikaw ang may sabi sa akin na hindi ka na pinapansin ni Arellano, do it Autumn. He won't do something to you, of course! Malapit na ang eleksyon, he won't make any scandal! Come on, just understand me. I can't be with you, it's Nero Ferell. Sasamahan kitang mang-akit ng lalaki, but not a Ferell. I had enough of them for years. Kung alam mo lang! They are the worst neighbors!"

"Fine! Fine!"

And just like that, the time has come.

"This isn't nice, Antonia."

"Why its cute?" sinuotan ako ng headband ni Antonia.

I am damn wearing a seductive pink rabbit costume with fishnet stockings.

"And this will complete your outfit, beautiful hunts woman." She gave me the red apple.

May katabi na rin akong babae, cat woman ito. She'll be entertaining Nero Ferell.

"I can't do this with Nero's on sight Antonia, kailangan nyong ihiwalay si Wayto kay Nero."

"It's easy, I can do it." Sabat ng babae. Who the hell is she?

"Who are you?"

"You don't need to know girl, just focus with your man. By the way, nice costume."

Nasa tabing kwarto lamang sila Nero at Wayto, nag-iinom pa lamang ang mga ito at nag-uusap. Sa pagkakaalala ko ay hindi pa pwedeng pumasok ang mga estudyante sa bar na ito.

Fuck you Arellano.

"You have your girlfriend, you can't really trust a Ferell." I heard Wayto's voice.

How can we damn hear their voice here? Nagtatakang tanong ng aking mga mata kay Antonia. She just shrugged her shoulders.

"You have yours too, you can't trust an Arellano." Sagot sa kanya ni Nero.

"She isn't serious, come on. I'm here to join you. Bakit pakiramdam ko ay takbuhan ang Enamel ng mga Ferell na binubugbog ng babae?" natahimik ako sa unang sagot ni Wayto.

"Fuck you! Bakit kami bubugbugin?!"

"I saw your cousin, Troy with Triton. Binugbog rin yata ng girlfriend niya, that's why he seeks for a bestfriend's comfort?"

"Tang ina, hindi ako binubugbog ni Florence! And you are not my bestfriend!" I heard Wayto's laughter.

I felt Antonia's tap on my shoulder.

"It's time,"

Antonia gave us the plan, Wayto will leave the place and the staff will give him another room. While Nero will enjoy his new company.

"Are you sure this will work?" I asked my friend Antonia. She's all prepared!

Hinigpitan ko ang hawak ko sa dalawang bakal para suportahan ang bigat ko.

"Of course, you're a seductive rabbit now with an apple. Make him bite your poison." I nodded.

Pinatay na ni Antonia ang ilaw at lumabas na siya ng kwarto. Pero ilang minuto lamang ay naririnig ko na ang pagbubukas ng pinto.

"Thanks," rinig ko sabi ni Wayto.

He closed the door without turning the lights on, but when I heard the clicked of the lights I held my head up.

The mighty Autumn Olbes, with her poisons.

Nag-angat ng tingin ang chinito niyang mga mata. His lips were slightly parted looking at me, I slowly started swinging the metal seat under a beautiful chandelier with lights that can make my beauty glow on its finest.

"What the fuck are you doing there, Olbes?!" tumaas ang kilay ko.

I threw her my red apple which he effortlessly caught.

"You can't get away from me, Arellano. I am not done with my poisons." His eyebrows crossed. His hands on his waist looking at me with disbelief.

"You missed me that much?"

"Yeah, sort of." Humakbang ito papalapit sa akin at bahagya siyang nakatingala sa akin.

"How did you get there? Makakababa ka?" ngising tanong niya.

"I don't know, ibaba mo ako tang-ina mo."

"Rabbits should bring carrots but you gave me apple." Naiiling na sabi nito.

Tulad nang ginawa niya sa palengke, kinagat niya ang mansanas sa harapan ko.

"I'll always bite the apple even with the knowledge of poison. Silly me babe. Come, jump and I'll catch you."

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VentreCanard