Elysian (Samantila Series #1)

29

I put down the red lipstick and stared at myself infront of the mirror. Today's Stage's birthday celebration, magaganap ito sa isa sa mga mansyon nila rito sa Manila. A lot were invited. Of course, it's a celebration welcoming a Lacsamana's twentieth birthday.

Pagkalabas ko ng condo unit ko ay nag aabang sakin si Stage na nakasuot lamang ng white long sleeved polo, nakabukas ang nauunang dalawang butones nito, at slacks. He looked like someone who just got home from work. And yet, it still looks good on him. Anyone would still praise him even if he just dressed up simply.

Agad naabot ni Stage ang aking baywang. Pinauna nya akong sumakay sa elevator.

"The dress looks good on you.." puri nya.

I just wore a simple black square neck longsleeved bodycon dress na hanggang tuhod at pointed black heels.

"Would your red lipstick look good on me too, though?" Stage sexily whispered on my right ear.

"This is kiss proof, love."

Pagkatapos kong sabihin yon ay hinalikan nya ako agad. I responded to his kisses.

He whispered between our kisses, "Let's take a picture."

Kaya nahinto ang paghahalikan na'min. He took three mirror shot of us, one me all focused on him, kaya side profile ko lamang ang nakikita. Ang isa nama'y nakaharap na ako sa camera, at ang panghuli ay nakatagilid na ng onti ang ulo nya dahil nakahalik sya sa tuktok ng aking ulo.

The pictures looks so wholesome.

We continued our small talks 'till we arrived to the parking lot of the building. Sumakay kami sakanyang itim na Maserati GranTurismo. He just recently bought this because of Yeuane.

Yeuane wanted a white version of this car, but he also wanted the black one. Yun nga lang, isa lang ang pwede nyang bilhin dahil puputulin nanaman ng parents nya ang allowance nya kung dalawa ang bibilhin nya. In the end, Stage bought the black one so if ever Yeuane wanted to use or see the black coloured car, he could just borrow Stage's.

The car was really expensive, yet, not very known to most here in the Philippines. It looks cool and comfortable, though.

After driving through the busy highways of Manila, Philippines, we finally set foot to their mansion.

Holding my small chanel handbag, I entered the house with Stage by my side, swinging his keys with his one finger while talking to the bodyguard of their family about something.

Wearing a simple Fendi bodycon dress, Acee Montaruel approached us with a smile, "Amaterasu!"

Matapos makipagbeso sa isa't-isa ay roon ko lang napansin si Pacen na sumunod pala kay Acee habang pagod ang mukhang nakatitig sa babae.

"Aren't you busy with school, Pace?" Ito kasing si Pacen ay nagte-take ng medicine. I know it's hard for him to come to occassions like this.

Nginuso lamang ni Pacen si Acee na nakikipag-usap kay Stage. Napatango ako.

So there's already a thing between them, huh? That's good.

"Ely, have you seen mom?" tanong ni Stage kay Acee.

Saktong pagkatanong noon ni Stage ay lumapit sila Tito at Tita.

"Ezequiel," panimula ni Tito Koios.

Napansin naman ako agad ni Tita Eliott at ngumiti sya ng maliit sa akin. I smiled at her, too.

"Love, I'll just talk to them." bulong ni Stage sa akin.

Yeah, alangan namang bumuntot ka sa'kin e ikaw nga ang may birthday.

Even knowing that it'll take a lot of time before he come back to me, dahil maraming bisita, I replied, "Sure. I'll also talk to my cousins.."

Hinalikan ni Stage ang noo ko at sumunod sa kanyang parents. Hinatid naman ako ni Acee at Pacen kung nasaan ang lamesa ng mga pinsan ko.

Nakita ko agad ang nakangiting mukha ni Briseis at Mazikien nang makarating kami sa lamesa.

"Sexy mo naman, miss." Bri said jokingly. I sarcastically smirked at her. Pagkatapos ay umupo ako sa tabi niya.

She's wearing a white trouser with white turtle neck longsleeves as the top, paired with beige pointed heels. May mga aksesoryang ginto rin sya na talagang bumagay sa kanyang suot. She only have an eyeliner and nude lipstick as her make up. Habang si Maze naman ay nakasuot lamang ng puting bralette tank top, black trousers at black coat na ngayo'y nakalagay na lamang sa sandalan ng kanyang upuan.

"I love their wine here.." puna ni Acee na ngayo'y may hawak-hawak nang wine.

Si Pacen naman ay nakaupo na sa sofa at nakikipag-usap kay Cazian.

"Wait.. Yaszchna is calling me." saad ni Acee habang nakatingin sa malayong lamesa.

Tiningala naman sya ng pinsan ko. Pacen stood up quickly, dismissing Cazian's words. "I'll join you."

Acee smirked friskily at Pacen, "Okay."

Noon ko lang napansin na kaming tatlo pala nila Maze ay tahimik lamang na pinapanood sila. Even Briseis is smirking right now.

I was already enjoying the scene until Pacen held Acee's hand! Ang malala pa roon ay intertwined talaga ang mga daliri nila!

They already have their backs set on us so I can't really see their faces. Napangisi ako. He can't resist an Acee Montaruel, huh?

"Dang, I can't believe Keelan already got a love life. Ako na ata ang may mali." pagdadrama ni Maze na nasa kaliwang tabi ni Bri.

"Shut up. Kahit ako ay wala rin naman." Bri rolled her eyes.

Umasim ang mukha ko sa sinabi niya. I just heard from the other day that she's talking to Syvan Clarete who is famous all over any universities! At kapag kilalang-kilala mo na itong si Briseis ay dapat isipin mo na hindi lang simpleng "talk" lang ang mga "talking to" issues nya! For sure, they're flirting.

"Oh no, Ame. Do not give me that look. I swear.. I do not even have time thinking about something like that at school. Saka na ako haharot kapag nakapagtapos na ako. For now, studies first." she winked at me.

I looked suspiciously at her, "Baka iba naman ang pinag-aaralan mo."

Humalakhak si Briseis, pati si Maze ay natawa.

Talking with my cousins is a great past time. Hindi mo talaga mapapansin ang oras kapag sila ang kausap mo dahil marami silang usap-usapan na dala-dala.

Since it was getting late I decided to go to the second floor of the house. Stage already brought me here, so I'm familiar with the place.

Pumunta ako sa kanilang maliit na balcony para magpahangin.

My mind isn't really full of thinking, I just wanted breathing fresh air. Not that the air here in Manila is fresh, though.

I drank the wine that the waiter gave to me earlier. It was good. Totoo nga ang sabi ni Acee na masarap ito.

I was busy staring at the modern scenery in front of me when the door behind me opened. Napalingon ako rito at nakitang si Tita Eliott pala iyon.

Ngumiti si Tita, "Wow.. You like this balcony, too?"

"There's something in this balcony, Tita.."

She nodded, "Oo nga.. Andami rin nagsasabi n'yan. That they find this balcony different from the others.."

Natahimik kami ng ilang segundo. Tanging tunog lamang ng naghahampasan na mga dahon at hangin ang naririnig namin.

"You and Stage's love really conquers, 'no, anak?"

Tumango ako. Yeah.. He loves me so much, Tita. To the point that I'm already scared of the consequences of it.

"Anak, I'm happy that you're both happy because of it. Sa apat na taong magkasintahan kayo ng anak ko ay lubos kong pinagsalamatan." unti-unting namuo ang luha sa mga mata ko. "I've never seen our Stage that happy. I'm so great, that even though he doesn't see us often, that even though his parents are always off because of work, he can smile like that. Hindi mabibigay ng pera namin ang kasiyahan nyang ganon. Only you could give that."

"He's that happy with you, anak. He's willing to love you even if he knows that he'll destroy himself."