Magnus and her is a big no. Indeed, they will become the most powerful, and the industry will just be their playground but if that can only happen by marrying Magnus? Is a big no.
But there are too many Sebastian. Bakit ba si Magnus agad ang nasa isip niya? Tss.
Nang makarating na siya ay pinasada niya ang kotse sa may malapit na parking lot at sakto namang may kasabay siya sa pagparking. She eyed at the car beside hers, it's expensive and surely the owner is filthy rich.
Lumabas na siya at saktong lumabas rin ang may-ari ng nakatabi niyang sasakyan. Mas lalong nasira ang gabi niya ng makita kung sino 'yon.
She wasn't wrong. The owner is filthy rich but rich can be silent too.
"Benjamin." Malamig na bati nito ng magtama ang paningin nila.
"Sebastian." Tinapatan niya ng lamig ang boses nito na nahaluan ng galit dahil naalala na naman niya ang pag-uusap nila ni Chanel kanina.
Tahimik lamang niyang binabagtas ang daan patungong main door. Sebastian is one meter way from her pero magkalebel lang ang paglalakad nila. Ayaw naman niyang magpahuli sa paglalakad because she hates being behind him, at lalong hindi naman papatalo si Sebastian.
"No date?" Nanuot sa tenga niya ang lamig ng boses nito.
"Do you see with someone right now?" She respond coldly with another question.
"Yes. With me. Is that your way n making me your date?"
Mabilis siya napalingon dito at sinamaan ito ng tingin. What kind of mind does he have and he formulate that kind of idea? And she needs no date!
"I still prefer your silence rather than talking to me." Anas niya at binilisan ang paghakbang but Sebastian being a Sebastian also leveled her pace.
Why is she even bothering talking to him when she can just ignore him? But if her silent treatment made him think that he won the talk then she'll talk.
Bumukas ang malaking pinto nang makalapit sila. Biglang natahimik ang naroon at natigilan nang makita silang magkasama ni Magnus. At least the sweet music help on the awkward silent or maybe it's not really helping because it made the atmosphere romantic between him and Magnus even tho they are 1 meter away.
"T-the arrival of our special guest! M-Ms. Hera Benjamin and her d-date, Mr. M-magnus Sebastian!"
What?!
She waited for Sebastian to correct the host but he remained mute. Binalingan niya ito habang naglalakad sila papunta sa mesang nakalaan sa kanila.
"Why didn't you correct the host?" Malamig na bulong niya sa binata.
"I thought you prefer my silence, Benjamin?" There's sarcasm on his voice then he sat on the chair that's next to hers.
Humugot siya ng hangin at saka naupo na rin sa tabi nito. Pinanatili niya ang tingin sa may harapan para hindi na sila magkausap ng binata. Mr. Vistal is with them on the table, naroon pa ang ibang mga bibigatin na mga businessman pero walang nagtangkang kumausap sa kanila dahil sa halatang tensiyon sa pagitan nila ni Magnus.
After the short program, they finally had their dinner. Bumalik naman ang sigla ng party pero nanatiling tahimik lang sila ni Magnus at hindi naman nakakagulat 'yon.
Pagkatapos ng dinner ay nagsimula na ang sayawan. Nag-usap-usap na rin ang mga negosyante kaya silang dalawa ni Magnus ang naiwan sa mesa. Pasimple niyang ginala ang paningin para maghanap ng makakausap na bigateng negosyante. Investor. She's aiming for more investor.
"Miss Hera!" Archangel Davidson greeted her with a wide smile. His jolliness reminds her of the jolly Chanel Hope and eventually reminds her hatred towards Sebastian.
"Can I take you to dance?" Mabining tanong ng binata.
"I don't dance." Malamig na sagot niya dito, hindi interesado.
"I'll teach you!" Davidson still shoot his shot.
"I know every dance, Davidson. But my interest is none. Back off." She coldly said that made his smile vanished.
"Oh. Okay. But, can I join instead?" Archangel smiled and sit on the chair beside her.
Umiwas siya ng tingin at tinuon ang atensyon sa inumin na nasa baso niya. Magnus on the other hand was silent beside her. Parehas silang walang interes na sumayaw.
Tumawag si Archangel ng waiter. May pinapadala iting inumin at wala pang minuto ay lumapit na ang waiter na may dalang dalawang baso.
"I requested this drink for you. This is the best." Archangel shove the drink to her. Tinitigan lang niya ang inimun kaya nilapag na lang nito sa mesa sa may tapat niya.
"I heard that your family is considering me as your fiancé?" Archangel asked.
Can you request to terminate the arrange marriage tradition for me?...for the whole fourth generation? She remembered Chanel's words.
Wala sa sariling naabot niya ang inumin na binigay ni Archangel at ininom iyon bilang distraksyon na hindi na maisip ang sagutan nila ng pinsan.
It's impossible to persuade the elders to stop the tradition. Hirap niya ngang napapayag na siya lang, ano pa kaya kung silang lahat?
That tradition is sick but arrange marriage of Benjamin between chosen family never fails that's why up to third gen it was practiced. But then, fourth generation happened to be so stubborn.
"I won't get married." Malamig na saad niya at tumayo para maiwan ang dalawa.
She headed towards the comfort room when she suddenly feel different. Biglang bumigat ang paghinga niya at nag-init ang katawan niya.
Fuck! I'm not dumb to know what is this. I've been on this situation many times!
She's drugged. Marami ng sumubok sa kanya iyon dati para pwersahang makuha siya but they all fail because she's been surround with her family but right now that she's only Benjamin here, plus the drug is different. It's like a sex drug.
"You're too cold, Hera. That's why I'm doing you a favor. Do you feel the heat?"
Napalingon siya sa likuran niya at nakita niya si Archangel Davidson. Malawak ang malademonyo nitong ngisi. Desperation can really drove you to madness.
"I'm going to kill you." Malamig na saas niya at mabilis na sinugod ang lalaki.
Archangel's eyes widen in shock. Mukhang hindi nito inaasahan ang biglaang pagsugod niya.
Isang malakas na suntok ang pinakawalan niya pero iba ang naging kalabasan dahil sa panghihina ng katawan niya.
Umalpas ang malakas na halakhak ni Davidson. She's so frustrated on her situation right now. Naiinis siya na pati katawan niya ay tinatraydor siya.
"I know you're the strongest, Hera. That's why I used the strongest drug, too." Ngisi ni Archangel.
"How about the strongest punch?" Tanong ng malamig na boses at wala pang isang segundo ay tumilapon na si Davidson sa suntok ni Magnus.
"Fuck!" Davidson grunt in pain.
Napapikit siya at napakapit sa dingding ng maramdaman ang matinding pag-iinit ng katawan na halos hindi na siya makahinga. Davidsin really used the strongest drug and she's overdosed.
"Hera." Magnus called her and held her when she just lost her strength.
"Magnus..." She last muttered before everything went blank.
Chapter 2
Magsimula sa umpisa
