Finishing my look with a touch of minimal jewelries and I'm done. I scanned myself once again to the mirror before going out. I went downstairs only to see him already waiting for me.
"You look stunning." He complemented.
I smirked. "I always look stunning, Mr.Leenher."
"I told you to quit calling me that." Kunot-noo niyang usal at deretsong nakatingin sa mga mata ko. He can easily look straight into my eyes because I am wearing a brown contact lens.
"Whatever." I rolled my eyes at naunang lumabas ng bahay. "We must go now, I don't wanna be late."
"Ako na." He opened the door for me and guided me to sit. He, then goes around the car to sit on the driver's sit. "Put your seatbelt on."
And me being nice did what he said but then I was struggling to lock my seatbelt. I heard him sighed before unbuckling his seatbelt and leaned closer to me so that he could help with my seatbelt. He is so close to the point that I could literally heard his heartbeat, I can also smell his manly and fresh scent. He is focusing on the seatbelt so I took that opportunity to stare at his mesmerizing eyes, it's like a hole pulling me to the deepest.
"It's do-" He stopped midway when he realized that I was staring at him. We were staring at each other. I am wearing a brown contact lenses kaya nagawa niyang makipagtitigan saakin. "A-Are you okay?" He blinked twice.
"Yes. Let's go." I avoided his gaze and looked outside the window instead.
We were filled with silence while we are on the road. I know we're almost there which is good. Napatingin ako sa hawak kong dalawang silver box.
"Do you think they'll like my gift?" I asked. Mabilis niya munang sinulyapan ang hawak kong maliit at manipis na box bago tumango. "Necklace kay tita tapos relo naman kay tito, it's couple.
"Oo naman." He parked the car outside the Santiago's Mansion. "I think we're just on time."
Hindi ako umimik at lumabas na lamang ng kotse. Marami paring mga bisita ang nagsisidatingan, mauuna na sana akong pumasok pero agad niya akong pinigilan. I look at him, giving him a blank face.
"Promise me you won't do any trouble inside." Seryusong usal niya. Matunog naman akong napangisi.
"Pumasok na tayo." Napabuntong hininga na lang siya at marahang hinawakan ang kamay ko. He didn't let go of my hand even tho we're already inside.
I roamed my eyes around, luxurious and glamorous. I hid a smirk as I simply shook my head, rich humans and their way of showing. Tss. Mula sa kinatatayoan namin ay natanaw ko si Nathan at Haven na masayang nag-uusap sa isang round table sa may unahan.
"There's Nathan and Haven, we should sit with them." Nakangiti kong sabi sa kaniya pero agad kong nakita ang pagtutol sa mukha niya.
"No. We'll find another seat." He held my wrist tighter and pulled me but I didn't move from where I am standing. He looked at me in frowned but I just gave a mischievous grin.
"I said, we should sit with them. You brought me here and now you're being rude." I seriously said while smiling. "That's just not nice, babe."
"Damn it." He hissed in whisper. He pulled me closer to him so that he could held my waist instead. And we started walking towards Nathan's table and I can feel everyone's eyes on us.
"Great! Nandito na kayo!" Masayang usal ni Nathan nang makarating kami sa pwesto niya. "Maupo na kayo."
Vraxx pulled a chair for me and helped me sit properly before sitting on the chair beside me.
"Where's Tito and Tita?" Nakangiting tanong ko kay Nathan.
"Oh, they changed clothes for the party. They'll be here later, before the party could start." He nicely said.
"Okay." Sunod ko namang nilingon ay si Haven na nakatingin din saakin. "Hi." I shortly greeted pero inirapan niya lang ako. I just chuckled at her stupid attitude.
I glaced at Vraxx when he held my hand which is on my lap. He glared at me and simply shook his head, I just rolled my eyes at him ang removed his hand on mine. Ipinatong ko na lamang ang kamay ko sa table at tumingin-tingin sa paligid para malibang.
"There's mom and dad!" Nathan waved his hand to get his parents attention. "They'll be happy to see you, Satana." Binalingan niya pa ako kaya binigyan ko siya ng ngiti. "Mom, dad." He stood up and hugged his parents.
"Happy anniversary po, tita and tito." Haven stood up to formally greet his parents. "Inilagay ko na po doon sa table yung gift ko para sainyo."
"Nako ija, hindi naman na kailangan pero salamat." Magiliw na saad ni Mrs.Santiago.
Tumayo rin Vraxx at nilingon ako at sinenyasan na tumayo rin. I stood up holding my gift.
"Happy anniversary po sainyo. I already put my gifts there too, I hope you'll like it."
"You know I like your style ijo." Saad ni Mr.Santiago. "Ipakilala mo naman kami sa kasama mong napakaganda."
"She's At-"
"Let me formally introduce myself." I cut him off and looked at the couple with a genuine smile. "Satana McDebil, Dems Imperial CEO, ako po si Athena." Para silang binuhosan ng malamig na tubig dahil sa gulat. "I know it's surprising but I wanted to greet you both a happiest wedding anniversary. Please take my gift." I handed out my gift and they took it still in processed.
"Mom? Dad? You both are being weird, si Athena lang naman po yan." Natatawang usal ni Nathan na naging dahilang kung bakit muling nabalik sa kasalukoyan yung dalawa.
"Oh God. Ija, you grew up so well." He caressed my cheek before giving a warm hug. Without further ado, I closed my eyes and hugged her back. I always like Nathan's mom because she kinda resemble my mom's attitude. "Salamat naman at nakapunta ka." Humiwalay siya saakin at ganoon din naman ako.
"Vraxx invited me to come with him po." Nakangiti kong usal at tyaka ko nilingon si tito. "Alagaan niyo po ng mabuti si tita."
"Of course ija." Proud na sambit ni tito. "Mabuti naman at nagkabalikan na kayo." Nakangiti niya pang dagdag at pasimpleng nilingon si Vraxx.
"Mom, dad, kailangan niyo pumunta doon sa unahan para masimulan ang party." Usal ni Nathan.
"Oh siya maiwan muna namin kayo dito." Nilingon niya kami isa-isa pero muli niya naman itong ibinalik saakin. "Masaya akong makita ka ulit, Athena."
"Ako din po." Nginitian muna namin ang isa't-isa bago siya tuloyang tumalikod. I stood still and watched her back as they walked towards the mini stage. "I miss my mom and dad." I whispered to myself.
"Maupo kana, Athena." Hinawakan ni Vraxx ang kamay ko at inalalayang makaupo pagkatapos ay tinignan niya ako ng may pag-alala. "Are you alright? Gusto mo na bang umalis? Just tell me."
"I'm okay." Inalis ko ang kamay niyang nakahawak saakin at umayos ng upo.
Di nagtagal ay nagsimula na ang party and I barely touched my food. I just don't have an appetite. I sipped on my wine and simply smirk when I felt my pouch vibrated.
"Rest room lang ako." Tumayo ako at aalis na sana ng pigilan niya na naman ako. I looked at him and I can literally see the uneasiness in his eyes. "I'll be back, mabilis lang ako." He sighed and avoided his gaze as his hand slipped off mine.
While I am walking towards the restroom direction I simply took out the USB from my pouch and swiftly passes it to Lucifer who's in disguise as a sound operator who's walking in an opposite direction. I went inside the restroom with a satisfaction smile on my face. Mabilis akong nag retouch at muling bumalik sa pwesto namin.
Vraxx scanned me from head to foot, as if he's trying to identify wether I did something wrong or not. I just gave him a sweet smile and sat on my chair. Pretente akong kumain at nilingon si Haven na titig na titig saakin, tinaasan ko lang siya ng isang kilay para tanongin kung anong problema niya.
"How are you?" She asked with an annoying smile on her face.
"How's your face?" I asked back. Agad na nawala ang ngisi niya. I gave back her smirk and winked at her before I continued eating.
"So, our son here, Nathan." His dad proudly pointed at his son. "Made a video for us as a gift and we can't just wait to watched it." Everyone give them an applause and I just remained my face blank.
"They should've watched this privately, it's kinda embarrassing." Natatawang usal ni Nathan.
"Why? Don't want people to see your sweet ass side?" Vraxx teased.
"Fuck you." He fired back which made them both laughed.
They switched off the lights as they turned on the projector.
"I'm excited to see the video that you made, Nathan. Naalala ko pa noong high school kung gaano ka kagaling bilang videographer." I intertwined my finger above the table and placed my chin on it.
"Come on. That was a long time ago." He laughed and I smiled.
The video started with a countdown from five to zero. Three, two, one and zero, I count on my head. The screen went black and the video of his scandal started to play.
"What the fuck?!" Napatayo si Nathan sa sobrang gulat, which is a stupid move because that caught everyone attention before looking back at the projector.
"Shut it off! Oh god." Napaupo sa gulat ang mama niya.
"Where's the operator? Shut it off right now!" Halos pumutok na yung ugat sa leeg ng papa sa sobrang galit. "Nathan, ano ito?!"
Some of the maids started unplugging some wires and even off the laptop but it helped nothing but disaster. The video is not stopping. Napupuno ng negatibong bulong-bulongan ang buong kwarto. I could hear them jugding Nathan in disgust and some of them were disappointment. While the others is filming it with their phone.
"Oh yes! Nathan! Oh!" Muntik na akong matawa nang biglang lumakas ang volume. Lucifer probably enjoying his job right now.
"Fuck!" Napasabunot na si Nathan sa sariling buhok at di na malaman ang gagawin. Haven on the other side is not watching while Vraxx is suspiciously staring at me.
"Well this is not the video I expected." I said, pretending to be disappointed. Napapahiya siyang lumingon saakin.
"I-I need to go. I'm so sorry for this. I'll go stop it." And then he run towards the operator's room.
I crossed my arms above my chest and rested my back on the chair. I looked around only to see people living the venue with a disappointment on their faces. His parents are also gone. And some of them is still trying to shut it off.
"Athena." Marahang tawag saakin ni Vraxx na ikinalingon ko. "Let's go." He offered his hand but I refused to take it and stand on my own.
"Kaya kong mag-isa." Kinuha ko ang pouch ko na nasa ibabaw ng lamesa at pasimpleng binigyan ng ngisi si Haven bago ako tuloyang naglakad palabas.
Nang marating ang kotse ay agad akong pumasok, hindi rin nag tagal ay nakasakay na rin si Vraxx. He started the engine and drove away that place.
"Did you do that?" He went silent for almost fifteen minutes and now he already had the grudge to asked me.
"I did not." I casually said and looked outside the window. "Lucifer did." I continued which made him stepped the break in instant.
"Hindi niya gagawin yun kung hindi mo siya inutosan." Giit niya na ikinalingon ko. "Why the did you even do that? That party is for his parents, that wasn't about him at all."
I chuckled. "Everyone who's connected to him is about him, Vraxx."
"You used me." Hindi makapaniwalang usal niya nang mapagtanto niya na ang dahilan kung bakit ako sumama sa kaniya. "Kaya ka pumayag na sumama para magawa yon."
"I'm sorry to popped up your bubble but I didn't used you, you just made it way easier for me to get through." I casually said. "Kahit hindi moko sinama, mangyayare parin yun kasi hindi ko naman talaga kailangan ng tulong mo."
"You're just unbelievable." He hissed and started driving again. "Everything you says is just nonsense. Ang babaw ng dahilan mo, Athena."
"Mababaw para sayo kasi hindi naman ikaw ang namatay." Deretso kong usal na ikinatahimik niya. Napangisi na lang ako at muling bumaling sa bintana. "Hindi ko nga maintindihan kung paano mo pa nakakayanang maka-usap at makasama ang mga hayop na yon." Natatawang bulong ko pa.
Malayo pa kami sa gate ng entrance road ay natataw ko na si Lucifer na naghihintay roon. Nang marating namin nag kaniyang pwesto itinigil ni Vraxx ang sasakyan sa harap niya mismo. I immediately got out the car and went near him.
"Bakit ka nandito?" Kunot-noo kong sambit.
"We have an unexpected visitor." Usal nito habang nakapamulsa. "You should leave now, Mr.Leenher." Tahimik akong napamura at nilingon si Vraxx na nagugulohan sa sitwasyon.
"Umalis kana." I pushed him inside to his car and closed the door.
"B-Bakit?" Nag-aalala niyang tanong.
"Just leave. Leave and never come back."
"Athena naman." Before he could shred tears, I turned my back on him.
"Let's go, Lucifer." Lakad takbo akong nauna sa kaniya habang inaalis ang suot kong lenses. "Ano na naman ba ang kailangan niya, Lucy?"
"Hindi ko din alam."
Muli na lang akong napamura. Damon really loves to come unexpectedly.