Kabanata 14
"I want to make a press-con. I'm back, bitches!" Iwinagayway ko pa ang kamay ko habang umiiling na lang si Sunniane sa sofa ko at kumakain ng Doritos.
"Great idea! Madami nanaman akong matatanggap na demands sayo. So.. I'll contact Gretchen Pullido and the management of the agency para mapagusapan natin to bukas. For now, have some mani-pedi massage and body spa. Pamper yourself. Para fresh at blooming ka sa mata ng tao! We'll be meeting the agency tomorrow." Ani Cashmir at nagtipa sa kanyang iPhone 6 para siguro sa notes.
"Thanks, Cash. I'm going to Hagh Drive now." Iniwan namin ni Sun si Cashmir sa loob ng condo ko. I don't worry, though. Ilang years ko na rin yang manager at kaibigan kaya naman sobra ang pagtitiwala ko sakanya. They say don't trust anyone but sorry, most can't help it.
"Penelope Prescott, you're back!" Tumili ang mga social climber naming kaibigan ni Sunniane nang makita kaming papasok sa Figaro. Inikot ko ang mata ko and so did Sun nang tumakbo sila saamin galing Starbucks. Duh, Starbucks are now for social climbers and wannabes. They post selfies online that they're in Starbucks simply because... It is not often that they drink those kinds of pricey beverages.
"Hi, girls." Ngumiti ako ng pilit ngunit di naman nila nahalata iyon. Sila pa, papansin lang nila ang kaisipan na may kasama silang angat sa alta sosyalidad. I've been with them too mamy times and I can't bear seeing them acting cool and classy, they're just adding their cheap-iness.
"OMG! You are sooo here! Kamusta ang Spain? So maganda, right?" Ani Nicole, one of the girls.
"From where did you hear that I just came here from Spain?" Painosenteng tanong ko. Nakatingala lang kami ni Sun sa mga babae dahil nakaupo kami sa sofa ng Figaro. Patuloy lang si Sunniane sa pagsimsim ng kape habang nakangisi.
"Oh.. You know, sources." Sabi nung isa.
"Yeah, right. What a source. Kelan pa naging Spain ang France?" Bumuling saakin si Sun na ikinatawa namin habang ikinalukot ng noo ng mga babae pero nawala din ilang saglit.
"Wanna go to my party tonight, Pen and Sun?" Ani Chesca. Ang lakas naman makagamit nito ng nickname ko.
"Uh.. Where?"
"Our house at Forbes." She smirked and I smirked too. Too bad I know their dirty little secret.
"Oh! You mean your aunt's abandoned house? Creepy, eh? Wag na. We'll just be pampering ourselves tonight. Watch my presscon!" Tumayo na kami at iniwang nakanganga ang grupo ng social climbers habang papalabas kami.
"Did you see their reaction?" Halakhak ni Sun habang papasok kami sa salon and spa ng kaibigan ni daddy at mommy, si Tita Del.
"Yes! It was priceless!"
"Good afternoon po, Welcome to Hagh Drive Salon & Spa." Nabaling ang tingin saamin ng receptionist at nanlaki ang mata niya, "Ms. Penelope at Ms. Sunniane!"
"Hi, Kelly! Asan si tita Del?"
"Nasa office po ng mall, ma'am. What offer po ba ang kailangan niyo?" Tita Del's husband owns this mall. Kaya naman palagi siya nasa office nito or nandito sa salon.
"The usual." Matipid na wika ni Sun at sumulyap saakin.
"Okay, just wait here ma'am and we'll ready your rooms." Sagot niya at may tinawagan sa telepono.
"The bachelor said he is coming back to Philippines! So, to the girls out there, I repeat: the hottie Vance Kavanaugh is back from Europe!" Anunsiyo ng isang showbiz reporter habang patili-tili pa at pati siya ay naapektuhan ng sex appeal ni Vance Kavanaugh.
Kumalabog ang puso ko nang marinig ko nanaman ang pangalang niyang isang linggo ko nang hindi napakinggan. He's back.
"So he's back, huh? The bastard's back." Sunniane scoffed. But I couldn't feel the same. Nakaramdam ako ng tuwa at takot nang marinig ko iyon. The traitor creatures in my stomach is aching yet in a good way, telling me their boss has finally arrived. And at the same time, my body is shivering, like they have their own minds, thinking of the future bruises and cuts that would be caused by Vance.
Oh, Vance.
"Penny?" Bumalik ako sa realidad nang tawagin ako ni Sunniane, "Tayo na."
Ang sarap sa pakiramdam na may marahan na nagmamasahe sayo. Pero hindi mapalagay ang katawan ko sa isipang pareho lang kami ng lupang tinatapakan ni Vance, ng mahal ko.
"Ma'am, be calm lang po." Paalala sa akin ng masahista at mas lalo pang pinasarap ang pagmasahe, dahilan para mapapikit ako at makatulog.
I tried to keep calm as the days passed, pero modelling ain't calm enough to let me rest. Palaging nasa pressure ang katawan kapag nasa photoshoot o catwalk. Pati nga si Sunniane na hindi career ang modelling ay napapahimas na lang ng ulo sa sobrang stress. And of course, me.
Hindi lang naman kasi ang career ko ang tinatrabaho ko. Vance is still my plan. Hindi ko nga alam kung bakit sa sobrang panget ng image ko sa publiko, madami pa ding demands na natatanggap si Cashmir. Maybe because I'm Penelope Prescott, that's why.
"You look like some Chito Miranda mentally singing Harana." Untag ni Sunniane isang gabi habang nagpapahinga sa condo ko.
"Who the hell is Chito Miranda?"
"Some vocalist in a local band." Inikot niya ang mga buhok niyang medyo makulot, "Hindi ikaw ang manliligaw at magpepersue, Penny. Si Vance. So if you're a gal, act like one."
"Oh c'mon. Ilang beses na natin to iniyakan at pinagusapan? I lost count."
"Fine," she said as she rolls her eyes, "By the way, The Intruders' Bash is tonight at The Palm sa branch ng BGC. I heard na maraming bachelors ang pupunta and also... No media. So, are you go?"
"Yep! Of course, bachelors being there is my alarm." Tinungo ko ang closet at agad nang naghanap ng susuotin. Panigurado at imposibleng wala doon si Vance, siya pa. He's the eye of the party.
"Beware of high brows and social climbers, dear. Alam mo naman kung anong klase na ang ginagalawan natin." Aniya at patuloy lang sa pagbuklat ng isang Business magazine.
"Uhuh. I know, that's why I'm getting ready. It's showtime!"
Tonight, I'm gonna show who really is Penelope Prescott.
I'm gonna show them what I really got. They're the bitches, I'm the queen. The queen that will make the world kneel before me.
The one that should be crowned... As Vance's queen.
Dear Runaway Groom,
Use your best car for tonight, we'll never stop driving until we reach the church.
- Penelope
أنت تقرأ
Dear, Runaway Groom.
قصص عامة"I'm going to make you marry me." I said. Then I fell in hell. He gave me pain and agony, I gave him myself. He gave me sufferings, I gave him my love. He made me his toy, I made him my king. He jailed me in hell, I forced him in my 7th heaven...
