Eris
"I need passes, Carrie. Do you have passes here?" binanggit ko yung pangalan ng exclusive club na hindi ko malaman kung bakit kailangan puntahan ni Tris.
Sa totoo lang, bwisit na bwisit na ako sa kakasunod dito. Kung hindi lang para kay Harrice ay nunca na gagawin ko ito. Wala naman kasi akong mapapala. Pero dahil sa ipinangako ni Carrie na pera na ibabayad nito sakin para lang siguraduhin na hindi makakagulo itong Negra na ito sa eksena ng pagbawi ni Harrice kay Elle ay wala din akong magawa.
I need money. I badly need a lot. Para kahit hindi ako magtrabaho na gaya ng ginagawa ni Ember ay ayos lang. Ayoko din naman talaga na matulad dito na nakatali na lang sa negosyo ng pamilya namin.
"That woman already made an entry. I don't know how but she surely have her ways." Sabi ko pa sa kabilang linya nang mapansin na tuluyan na ngang nakapasok si Tris. Ilang tao pa ang agwat ko bago sa main door. Iniisa isa kasi yung paghahanap ng passes doon at pagscan sa metal detector.
"No. No." I shake my head slowly even though Carriete can't see me. "I don't think she had passes. I don't know what she bailed to enter the place though."
Ilang minuto na natahimik si Cariette sa kabilang linya. Nang sumagot ito ulit ay may sinend na itong passes sa email ko.
"How'd you get this?" I asked out of curiosity. Matamang pinagmamasdan yung membership pass na ipinasa nito.
Sa amin kasi, sigurado ako na yung side ni Tita Candice yung pinakamatitino. Mas inaasahan ko pa nga na si Ember ang malamang na may passes sa ganitong klaseng lugar. Kaya kataka-taka na si Carrie pa ang meron at si Ember ang wala.
Well, Carrie used to be involved with drug dens becuase of her mixes. She's a well-known Dimitri Blue Ice. It's not a surprise really.
When it's my turn for entry, I just showed them the passes that Cariette gave me. I surprisingly got escorted inside. May mga usherettes pa nga na nag-assist sa akin patungo sa isa sa mga reserved tables for VVIP habang may nakasunod sa aking dalawang lalaki na nakathree-piece black suit pa at kumikintab pa yung kulay itim na suot ng mga ito na sapatos. Sa sobrang linis, pwede ka na siguro magsalamin doon.
The whole place is such a stunner. Pagpasok pa lang ay mamangha ka na sa mga mamahaling illuminated light paintings na nakadisplay sa malamlam na hallway. Kahit yung amoy ng lugar. Amoy pang mayaman.
Classic. Rogue but undeniably classy.
The lights are dim while the whole interior is dark-themed. Tanging yung malalaking chandelier lang ang nagsisilbing liwanag ng buong lugar. Not just a typical chandelier that can be seen anywhere. It is a chandelier that's made of a hundreds of thousand pieces of sparkling swarovski crystals.
The lounges are unexpectedly leopard print which suits the place even better. Para bang nagbibigay iyon ng kakaibang spice sa ambiance ng lugar. A certain way of displaying wildness and ambiguity.
Mga bagay na hindi ko sigurado kung dapat ba na nandito pa din ako.
"Red wine?" Tanong pa sakin ng isa sa mga waiters na nagmamadali na lumapit sa mesa ko.
Yung isang serbidor ay pinaghatak ako ng upuan. Samantalang yung isa naman ay nilapagan ako ng appetizer at inayos yung plate setting ko. Samantalang yung isang lumapit na may hatak na rolling serving cart na kinalalagyan ng iba't ibang klase ng wine ay parang pinapapili pa ako kung ano ang gusto ko.
Out of knowledge about wines and the likes, I just pointed the gold-colored bottle of sparkling wine. I immediately inhaled the seductive flavor as he pours the drink in my glass.
Citrus. Vanilla. Hazelnuts. Fruity.
The scent is calming. Alluring. Seductive.
Hindi ko na din pinagkaabalahan na silipin pa yung inabot sakin na leather-covered menu book. I just told them to serve me the finest dishes they could offer me. The best of the house.
Madami naman akong pera sa ngayon dahil sponsored ako ni Carriete. Dapat lang na sulitin ko na ito. Sa sobrang kuripot pa naman ng babaeng iyon, ngayon na lang ako makakabawi.
Funny that she'll do everything for her sister without actually telling Harrice that she's doing things to be of help.
Sabagay. It is Cariette's nature to be protective of her younger sister. Masyado din nitong iniisip na hindi dapat nito masaling yung pride ni Harrice. Si Harrice pa naman kasi ay feel na feel na akala mo ito lang ang nagpoprotekta sa ate nito.
And I kind of envy that kind of sisterly love. They would do everything and anything for a family.
Ganyan din noon samin si Ember bago ito nahumaling ng husto sa asawa nito. She left us. She left the only safe place for the likes of us. Mas pinili nito na umalis sa isla para habulin si Cray. Kahit na alam naman naming lahat na hindi ito mahal noon ni Ate Cray. Mas lamang pa nga na natakot lang iyon noon kaya napilitan ito na pakasalan si Ember.
Damn crazy, lovesick, Silvas. Pathetic.
Maybe ayun talaga yung sakit ng angkan namin. Nakakahawa at masyadong delikado pag nahawaan ka na. There's no way out. The things you could do for that lovebug sickness is scary. A lot scarier than the idea of living with the zombies.
Patunay na si Ember, Cariette, at ngayon nga ay si Harrice. So I should seize the opportunity to squeeze money from them.
As my eyes roam around the whole place to check on where Tris is, I accidentally notice the guy sitting two tables on my right that hands a small pack of white substance to the waiter.
Kitang kita ko pa kung paano niyon pasimpleng itinuro yung isang babae sa katabi nitong table.
That woman is undeniably pretty. But since I'm accustomed to pretty faces, that just seems normal to me. My standards for pretty faces were raised into extremely high measures when I've met Elle face to face. Yung mga ganoong mukha na lang yung magandang titigan sa ngayon.
No doubt that Harrice is going all gaga for that woman. Which reminds me of the reason on why I am here.
Damn. This place ain't safe. What the heck Tris is doing here?
I immediately pulled out my phone to send a message to Essex. I need to ask him to dig some information about this place. Saka para alam din nito na nandito ako ngayon at kung sakali ay maabisuhan nito si Mommy.
Isa pa din kasi sa rason kung bakit ko ito ginagawa ay dahil pinapasundan sakin ni Mommy si Kaylee. I was once hired as one of her bodyguards. Even until now.
Hindi kasi nila madiretso na iniisip naman talaga ni Tita Leigh na hindi safe para kay Kaylee na maging bestfriend si Tris lalo pa at puro nga iyon basag-ulo. Ilang beses na din na laging muntik-muntikan mapaaway si Kaylee sa tuwing may mga babaeng sumusugod dito dahil nga pinagkakamalan ito na babae daw ni Tris. That only stopped when Tris formally announced that she's dating Elle back then.
Actually, that's the reason why Elle decided to date Tris too. Sigurado ako na ginamit lang naman nito si Negra para pagselosin si Rainey. At para na din palayuin yung loob ni Kaylee kay Tris. It's so obvious how Lee is smitten to Tris.
That's why I don't understand why Kaylee decided to date a famous Fil-Am model na kilalang kilala naman na dakilang escort ng kung sino-sinong pulitiko. Discreet for them perhaps, but not to us. Sa dami ba naman ng kakilalang pulitiko at mga kilalang tao ni Mommy, alam na alam ko na yung ganoon na galawan ng nobya na iyon ni Kaylee.
My trail of thoughts suddenly stops when the food arrive.
Napangiwi ako ng makita na puro mga hindi ko paborito iyon. High-grade medium rare steaks that's perfect for my wine kung mahilig lang ako sa steak. White cheese. Sturgeon salad chip na may halong caviar yung dip. Lobster Fritatta. Pati kung ano-anong seafood dishes na hindi ko malaman kung bakit napakakonti ng serving gayung ang ganda ganda ng plating.
I bet that's too expensive for my taste.
Crappy shakes. Wala ba silang inihaw na mais na madaming butter? That's all I want to have. I deserve that treat than this sumptuous dinner.
Huminga ako ng malalim. Ang sabi nila Ember at Carriete na kung gusto kong mamuhay dito sa syudad, hindi ko pwedeng dalahin dito yung ugali kong pang-isla. I should learn how to blend. I should act by my name.
I'm a Silva. Rich. Brag. Expensive.
Thinking about those, I started eating my food with finesse. Pasimple ko pang inamoy muna iyon para makasigurado na wala iyong halong kahit ano. Isa pa, kampante din naman ako dahil nasabi ko na kay Essex kung nasaan ako. Siguradong pinapasundan din ako ni Mommy. At kung may mga kasunod man ako ngayon, tiyak na nasa tabi-tabi lang ang mga iyon.
Fudge! This food really tastes horrible.
Halos patapos na akong kumain nang may umakyat na lalaki sa stage kung saan nandoon yung live orchestra kanina na tumutugtog. Hindi ko halos namalayan na nakababa na pala ang mga iyon at tanging yung lalaki na lang na nakasuot ng pulang suit yung nandoon.
Contrary to what I am expecting, the crowd that's been composed and reserved awhile ago started cheering as if that's the thing that they were all waiting for.
How many hours had passed?
Two hours. Just two hours.
"Now, for the main attraction of this event." The guy in red announced.
I groaned inwardly when the crowd cheered loudly when the white tubes were being carried down on the stage. Each tubes has a woman straddled inside. Their face were covered with a mask while their necks are strapped on a metal which makes me wonder on how they can still be able to breathe. Their arms and legs were also tied; and they were dressed in a clothe which cannot be categorized as clothes in the first place. They're just in their freakin' undies, almost ripped, giving the crowd a good view of their body.
Damn! This ain't right. If Elise could only see this, for sure she'll be writhing in madness at how inhumane this thing is.
"The ladies." The man standing on the stage motioned the clear glass tubes.
The crowd shout, obviously unable to contain their excitement.
I could almost feel the lump in my throat at the way women were defined. It's as if they were just a piece of meat being sold in the market---at the right price.
After a while, all I could see is the wild mob; cheering, whistling, and doing such things I never imagine I'll be seeing not in my entire life. I immediately identify a government official sitting in the front chair, doing a hand job like he was just some broke guy at the corner of the street. I felt the slump in my throat as I control myself into throwing up. He doesn't need to be respected. His perfect image was just a vision of a dream that was never real.
Kadiri talaga.
Napakunot yung noo ko nang mapatuon yung tingin ko sa isa sa mga capsule na nasa stage. Hindi ako pwedeng magkamali.
Perfectly-tanned skin. Shapely figure. Those long legs that seems endless. And that incredibly tiny waist that makes you wonder if that can be measured with only one hand. Flawless. Alluring. Seductive. Undeniably too hot.
Tris. Tris Callaghan.
Mataman ko pa iyong pinagmasdan. Kaparehong kapareho ng kulay ng buhok ni Tris. Sigurado ako na sya nga iyon.
Pero imposible. Bakit nya naman gagawin ito? Ganoon na ba ito kabagot sa buhay? Pati yung ganitong gawain, pinasok nya na din?
Para makasigurado ay tumayo pa ako at nakisiksik sa mga nasa unahan. I need to inhale her familiar scent.
And when I did, I almost grunt in anger.
She's betrothed to Elle! How dare her to cheat on my cousin? Fuck her! Kahit hindi ako pabor dito para kay Elle, ayoko pa din ng ideya na ginagamit lang nito si Elle para pagtakpan lahat ng kagaguhan at kalandian na pinaggagagawa nito.
Tama lang pala talaga na tulungan ko si Cariette at Harrice na bawiin si Elle mula dito sa siraulo na babaeng 'to.
She hasn't change a bit. Ganoon pa din ito. Takaw-atensyon. Gustong gusto na nagkakagulo yung mga tao sa pagkabaliw dito.
And heck! The crowd starts to grow wild when it's already her turn to be auctioned.
I made sure to capture her eyes when I raised my hand as I say, "Five million!"
That made everyone to look at my direction.
"Seven million!" The guy in black-suit smirks, making his maniac face uglier than a duck.
"Eight." Naiinis na bid ko. Hindi pwedeng makuha ng mga ito yung gagang negra na yan.
Pag nagkataon kasi na hindi natuloy yung kasal nito at ni Elle, siguradong sakin babagsak yung tradisyon ng mga ito. Ayoko magpakasal sa kahit kanino na tira-tira na lang ng kung sino-sino.
Gago ka talagang Tris ka!
"Eight and a half million."
"Ten million." another guy stands up on his chair. Making a good run for this auction.
I immediately notice that it was the government official that's jacking off awhile ago.
The first guy grits his teeth. Obviously triggered by the last bid. "Fifteen million." he announced.
"Twenty." I bid.
Damn! Saan ako kukuha ng pera? Wala akong ganoon kalaking savings! Bullshit ka talagang Callaghan ka. May kakalagyan ka talaga sakin!
"Twenty five!"
No. I'm doomed.
Who the hell spends twenty five million just for a night with a woman na hindi mo nga alam kung ilang lalaki na yung nakakuha? Damn rich people!
Pikit matang wala na akong magawa kung hindi sagarin na para matapos na itong bid na ito. Pag nagkagipitan, bahala na. Pagbabayarin ko yung magulang nito pag hindi ako nakautang sa kahit sino sa pamilya ko.
"Guess, I'll have to make it fifty million."
Literally, there's nothing but silence after the last bid. Everyone is shocked.
"Fifty million for a night with that woman. Anyone who want to raise their stake?" I asked again as if daring anyone to bid higher than that amount.
Pero ang totoo, gusto ko ng lumubog sa kinatatayuan ko. Gusto ko ng sumigaw na, Joke lang! Wala din akong pera!
Kaso nangingibabaw sakin yung pride at kayabangan ko. I'm a freakin' Silva. No one takes someone from us. No one can lay a finger on that woman until it is clear that I won't be the one who will be taking the betrothal once Elle declined that marriage proposal.
All I could hear is the loud thumping of my heart as the guy in red nods, and marks her SOLD.
I grinned proudly as he took the gold collar that was thrown to him, marking her, Mine.
Just mine.
*****