#DS4Unadorned #MAAAD #DaggerSeries
CHAPTER 21: GOING, GOING, GONE
MIREIA'S POV
"A lot has changed, but this place looks like it hasn't been affected by time."
It feels weird to be here right now. Isa 'to sa lugar na kahit kailan ay hindi ko naisip na balikan. This place held so much of my broken dreams... and my broken heart.
"When was the last time you've been here?"
Nilingon ko si Axel. It's the first time I've looked at him since we left home. Noong makita ko kasi siyang lumabas ng kuwarto na suot ang itim niyang three piece suit ay parang nagkakasala ako. I never understood the thing women have with vests, until I saw Axel wearing one.
"Before I turned eighteen," I told him.
Something crossed his eyes, but he instantly concealed it from me. He's sticking to his words. He never tried to make me tell him what happened years ago; Why I lied... and why I left him.
"Ikaw?" tanong ko.
"I was too busy." His hand felt warm on my naked back when he guided me up the few stairs leading to the center of the two concave buildings in front of us. Tumikhim siya at parang napaso na inilayo niya ang kamay niya. "What made you decide to attend the alumni event tonight?"
Nagkibit-balikat ako. "They contacted my agent months ago. Technically, I'm not an alumni, but they sent an invitation. They said they're having a fundraising and the recipient would be the Philippine Cancer Society. The university sent a procurement packet, and I donated. Nakalimutan ko na ang tungkol dito sa daming nangyari nitong mga nakaraan at hindi ko pa maaalala kung hindi ko lang nakita ang invitation mo sa opisina mo."
Nakaugalian ko na kasi nitong mga nakaraan na tumambay sa opisina niya lalo na kapag nagtatrabaho siya sa gabi. I learned that Axel's a bit of a night owl.
"Were you not planning to go?" I asked.
"I always donate money every time the university has a fundraising event. Hindi lang ako pumupunta." Nilingon ako ng lalaki. "Lia donated one of the vintage guitars she owns, and the dress that a famous designer made for Belaya is up for auction too."
"I know that dress. Iyon 'yung regalo sa kaniya ng Italyano niyang manliligaw noon. Nag-iisa lang ang damit na 'yon sa buong mundo."
"Yeah. That's why my brother is more than happy to let her donate it."
Of course. "I like that dress."
"Should I bid for you?"
"Much as I want that dress, hindi iyon magkakasya sa akin." I waved my hand to gesture my body clad with a tight fitting white bodycon dress. Hanggang tuhod ko iyon at konserbatibo ang pagkakadisenyo. Except for the back because it doesn't have one. "Mid-thigh dress iyon na ginawa para lang kay Belaya. She's a munchkin. If I wear it, I'm going to give people either a crotch shot or a full view of my girls."
Axel followed the movement of my hand unconsciously pero nang makita niya kung saan ang tinuturo ko ay kaagad na bumalik ang mga mata niya sa mukha ko. His ears reddened with embarrassment.
It took us awhile before we arrived to the huge auditorium where the event would take place. Marami ng mga tao ang nandoon nang makarating kami. Hindi naman kasi ito basta batch reunion lang. They actually invited all those who graduated here in Aristo University.
A woman approached us and guided us inside the venue. She looks like she's about to faint, but I have a feeling that it's not because of me. The glances she's giving Axel is enough proof.
Iyon nga lang, he's oblivious of the attention he's getting as always. "Thank you. Miss?"
"Angelica," nahihiyang sagot niya sa akin at muling tumingin siya sa binata. "Sa Engineering department din po ako kaya kilala po kita."
Axel murmured a hello. This is why there was always an air of mystery to him back then. Sa unang tingin aakalain mo na suplado siya. Ang hindi alam ng mga tao ay sadiyang mahiyain lang talaga siya.
"Hindi mo talaga alam no?" tanong ko sa kaniya nang maiwan na kami at nakahanap ng bakanteng cocktail table.
"Ang alin?"
"That you're Aristo's heartthrob."
A hint of pink colored his cheeks. "I'm not."
"Hindi ka ba nagtataka kung bakit ang daming napapadaan sa building niyo ng mga studyanteng galing sa ibang department? At kung bakit may mga babaeng nahuhulog ang mga libro o natatapilok kapag dumadaan ka?" I pointed randomly around me. "Sure ako na lahat ng ituro ko ay may crush sa'yo."
Inabot niya ang kamay ko at ibinaba niya iyon. "I doubt Mrs. Peredo, Department head of Engineering, has a crush on me."
Nilingon ko ang tinitignan niya na ginang na mukhang kasama ang ibang faculty members. "Malay mo naman."
"You think too highly of me."
"Siyempre. Crush din kita eh. Magkaka-crush ba ako sa kung sino lang?" Iginalaw ko ang kamay ko na hawak pa rin niya. "Baka pwede ko ng mabawi ang kamay ko?"
"Later," his lips tipped up into the kind of smile I'm getting familiar with. "I like the feeling of holding your hand. I couldn't years ago, because it was inappropriate. But now I can."
Pilit na inignora ko ang malakas na pagdagundong ng puso ko. "Alam mo, ang laki talaga ng problema mo sa age difference natin no? Four years is not a big deal."
"Now, it's not. Noon, oo."
"We were both students."
"You were still a minor. A baby."
There's the Dawsons for you. Alpha-domineering and yet they carry nothing but green flags. "Eh ngayon ano na? Pwede ng maging baby mo?"
His hand that was on mine shook a bit and I couldn't help but smile. One point para sa Team Jokarot! Mukhang magiging labanan kami ng Jokarot Mireia at Maharot Axel.
"Okay lang. Pero hindi ba pwedeng maging asawa ko na lang?"
One point for Team Maharot. "Kailangan diretso asawa? Hindi ba pwedeng girlfriend muna?"
His face went closer to me until I can smell the aftershave he used. Sa pagkakataon na ito ay hindi na lang kumakabog ang puso ko. Parang may isang buo ng banda sa dibdib ko na hindi magkamayaw sa pag-iingay.
"Pwede na ba ngayon?" tanong ng lalaki
"H-Ha?"
"Pwede na ba kitang maging girlfriend ngayon?"
Bumuka ang mga labi ko pero hindi ako nakasagot. Mabuti na lang talaga ay may narinig kaming tumawag sa pangalan niya.
Ipinakilala ako ni Axel sa dati niyang kaklase. When the man started chatting with Axel, I stayed with them for a moment before I excused myself to go to the bar station. I ordered for a Manhattan and I decided to seat on of the bar stool while waiting.
I surveyed the place and there was a few times that I caught glances of some people that seems familiar to me. Pero sa totoo lang ay wala rin naman akong matatawag na close ko sa mga naging kaklase ko noon. The only friend I hang out with aside from Axel was now living abroad.
"Mireia?"
Lumingon ako sa direksyon ng boses na tumawag sa akin at namilog ang mga mata ko nang makilala ko kung sino iyon. He's taller than me, but probably not as tall as Axel. If I remember it right, he was in his late twenties when I met him when I was eighteen.
"EJ," nakangiting bumaba ako sa kinauupuan ko.
I didn't moved away when he pulled me into a hug. He's the one who told me that I could make it big in the modelling industry. He's the only crazy person that made me a front page model when people didn't even know I existed at that time. Noong umpisa dapat para sa kalendaryo lang ang mga larawan ko, but before those were even printed then, he took a risk with me, and made me the cover of their starting men's lifestyle magazine.
"What a surprise. I can't believe you're here," he said.
"Dito ako nag-aral dati. They invited me to contribute for the auction. How about you?"
"I was invited as a speaker."
We shared a smile that I know carry not just happiness but also pride. I'm not the only one that made it big. He did too and his company.
"It's weird right? I'm a boudoir photographer and I'm here wearing a monkey suit because I'm going to speak in front of professionals."
"You're a professional," nangingiting tinapik ko ang balikat niya. "And you're not just a boudoir photographer. Hindi na lang men's lifestyle ang hawak mo." He now co-owns Visio Media Group. They're popular when it comes to automotive enthusiasts and sports. "Give yourself more credit, Mr. Fabregas."
He rolled his eyes playfully when I called him his surname. He's always been EJ for me and everyone he worked with. "Andrei's here."
Andrei Jimenez' is his business partner. Parehas nilang pag-aari ang VMG. He's also the total opposite of EJ. I have a feeling that he didn't really like me. Hindi niya gusto ang desisyon ni EJ na gawin ako noon na front page model. His words before were "She's too young and flabby.".
He preferred his models to be fit, athletic, and with breasts that had the "appropriate" size. Even with him not saying it straight, I know I look too sleazy for him. I am fit, but not in an athletic way. I'm not flabby, I'm soft. And I don't know what's the right size for the word appropriate, but my boobs are probably not it.
Iyon nga lang ay si EJ ang nasunod. He wanted to feature women and he stood by it. That means all kinds of women, and that also includes different types of body types.
I was about to open my mouth to make an excuse so I won't need to meet with the other man, when we both heard his name being called. "EJ."
Lumapit sa amin ang lalaki at kita ko na wala pa rin siyang pinagbago. His lips are still set on a grim line as if he was born without the ability to smile.
Muli kong hinalukay ang utak ko para i-excuse ang sarili ko mula sa kanila nang maramdaman ko ang pagtayo nang kung sino sa likuran ko. I stiffened for a moment, but when I smelled the familiar scent, my body immediately relaxed.
An arm snaked around my waist and before I knew it, I was plastered to Axel's side. The Dawson's Alpha-domineering maneuver, ladies and gentleman.
"Mr. Jimenez," I greeted the other man.
"Miss Mireia."
I know that's the only thing that I will get from him so I turned to EJ. "This is my boyfriend, Axel. Axel, these are the owner of Visio Media group, Ernest Johannes Fabregas and Andrei Jimenez."
Inilahad ni Axel ang kamay niya sa dalawang lalaki na tinanggap naman iyon. EJ's of course in a friendly manner while Andreige were more formal.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Axel Dawson, Mirea's fiancé."
Napakurap ako sa binata nang ipagdiinan niya pa ang salitang fiancé. Mukhang hindi nga lang iyon napansin ni EJ at ni Andrei dahil tinawag na sila para sa pagsisimula ng event. They excused themselves, leaving us there.
"Nasaan na iyong kaibigan mo?" tanong ko.
"Iniwan ko na."
Nginitian ko ang bartender nang makita kong natapos na niya ang inumin ko. Kinuha ko iyon at hawak ang baso na naglakad na kami pabalik sa lamesa namin. "Why?"
"I saw that man approached you."
"I doubt na may kikidnap sa akin sa dami ng tao dito. Duda rin ako kung magagawa ni EJ 'yon. That person can't hurt a fly."
"That's not the reason why."
He didn't explained and he just took my hand. After all the guest speakers finished their speeches, the communication director of the university took the stage.
"I'd get paddle sixty-nine, if it was me," nagbibirong sabi ko nang marinig kong may dumaan sa tabi namin at nagtatanungan kung anong number nila para sa auction.
"Why?"
I looked at Axel with a raise eyebrow. Aww. He doesn't get it. "Secret."
The auctioneer got called to the stage as a cue that the auction will now commence. Isa-isa niyang binanggit ang listahan ng mga item na magiging available ngayong gabi para sa auction. That was then that I felt a prickle on my skin. Nagpalingon-lingon ako at tumigil ang mga mata ko sa kabilang bahagi ng auditorium. Stephanie Castañeda immediately looked away when our eyes met. As long as she stays the hell away from me, she doesn't exist to me.
"What did you donate?"
"A trip for two to Paris with accommodation," I told Axel. "And the third photograph of Guillaume Lefevre's Ange Sans Ailes or Angel without wings as people call it."
"Who's Guillaume Lefevre?"
He pronounced Guillaume's name perfectly. I just realized, that aside from a fetish for vest, I'm having a fetish for accent as well. But the thing is, I've been around people with accents and men who use vests, but they never made my blood sing the way Axel does. May Axel fetish ka self. Hindi lang fetish. Baka addiction pa.
"A well-known photographer."
Saktong pagkasabi ko niyon ay lumabas sa malaking screen ng auditorium ang larawan na sinasabi ko. I felt Axel's body became rigid, his eyes fixated on the screen.
"And a friend," dugtong ko.
Dahan-dahan siyang lumingon sa akin. His eyes looks glazed, and for a moment, I thought about what he told me kung paanong nag "blackout" daw siya at natagpuan niya na lang na binili niya lahat ng kopya ng magazine ko sa bawat tindahan na makitaan niya.
"You said third photograph," he whispered. "Where's the other two?"
"Aurelie, my agent, bought the second one for ten thousand dollars. Naka display iyon sa opisina ng Allure Amour Models."
"And the first?"
"It's in Palais de la vie. An art gallery in Paris. The first photo for Ange Sans Ailes is not for sale. He only sold the second one because my agent wanted it. The third and fou—"
Humugot ng malalim na hininga ang lalaki. "There's a fourth?"
"Uhh... yeah. It's in my house."
"Do they all look like that?"
"The one displayed in Paris is a bit... tamer than the others. I'm wearing the same thing, and I'm on the same bed while hugging my knees and looking at the window. It's Guillame's favorite that's why he chose to kept it. The second one was just a side profile and a hint of the naked skin of my back. And the third... well you saw it."
I was still on the bed on the photograph that is up for auction tonight. I was wearing a white sheer open robe. My legs are curled so my private part is hidden. My chest could be seen but my hair is hiding my left breast while the other one is covered by the robe.
"It's not so bad. I look great in it."
"That's the problem," he murmured. "Wait for me here."
Tumayo siya at ilang sandali na nawala siya. Nang bumalik siya ulit ay nakita kong may hawak na siya na auction paddle.
"Axel..."
"I'm not going to let anyone buy your photograph." His eyes are still unfocused. This is a new Axel. I'm pretty sure this is the Impulsive Buyer Axel. Ang dahilan kung bakit sold out ang una kong magazine. "Are you planning to sell the fourth one?"
"That would be a no since I'm fully nude in that one." Nang tila tumigil siya sa paghinga ay napapailing na inangat ko ang kamay ko at hinaplos ko ang buhok niya. "Axel, breathe. It's just a picture. Hindi mo kailangang sumali sa auction. Do you want me to give you the fourth one? I wouldn't mind as long as you don't sell it."
"I'm winning this auction." Kumunot ang noo niya nang tila may maisip siya. "I don't want the fourth one."
"You don't?"
"Not... not because I won't like it. I'm sure you looked great in it and breathtakingly beautiful and..." Namumula ang mga pisngi na tumikhim siya. "It's yours, and when I buy the third one, I'll give it back to you."
"That would be yours then. If you're going to spend your money on it then it's yours."
"But—"
"Maybe you should bring it in your office." Magandang panaboy ng mga babaeng kliyente niya."Tama. Dapat sa opisina mo sa Dagger." Nang manatili lang siyang nakatingin sa akin ay matamis ko siyang nginitian. "You will put it there, right?"
"Y-Yes."
I patted his head gently. So adorable. "Now calm down. Malay mo naman walang interesadong bumili."
The bidding started for the other items. Dahil alam kong matatagalan ay umorder na ako ng pagkain namin habang si Axel ay mahigpit ang pagkakahawak sa paddle niya na para bang hinahanda niya ang sarili niya kung sakaling ilabas na ang larawan ko.
When the auction assistant rolled the two hundred centimeter by three hundred fifty centimeter framed photograph, I saw Axel got filled with so much tension.
Nang akmang itataas niya na ang kamay niya ay pinigilan ko siya at bumulong ako, "She's still opening the bidding, Axel."
When the auctioneer finished introducing the item and opened the bid for fifty thousand, Axel's hands shot up that I was almost afraid that his arm will get dislocated.
"Fifty thousand for the gentleman number seven."
That was fast. But it wasn't Axel. Nilingon ko kung sino ang nag-bid at napangiti ako nang makita kong si EJ iyon. I mouthed a thank you and he returned my smile. Pero sana pagbigyan niyang manalo si Axel kung hindi baka hindi na kami matapos ngayong gabi.
"Please don't give your entire fortune for this. I doubt your brothers will let you borrow money. They will probably have a flashback of you buying boxes of men's magazines," I said to Axel.
Hindi siya umimik at itinaas niya ang paddle niya ulit. He won a couple of times, but this time, hindi na lang si EJ ang kalaban niya. And they say that Philippines is a poor country. Kung sabagay para naman sa charity. Also, Guillame's photographs are known to cost a lot.
The murmurs around us got louder when the bid went up to four hundred thousand. Almost the same amount that Aurelie paid for the one in her office.
The bidding was intense. Hindi ko na nga napagtuunan ng pansin nang may magbaba ng inumin sa harapan namin ni Axel. It didn't register to me that I haven't ordered any drinks.
The auctioneer was looking excited. Lalo na ng umapak na sa six hundred thousand ang bid. When she opened her mouth to ask for another that will contest it, Axel beat her to it. The expression on his face says a lot. It's like he's telling everyone in the room that if anyone dare to outbid him, there would be bloodshed.
"One million."
Holy shit.
"Going once, going twice... going, going, gone! Ange Sans Ailes sold to the gentleman number sixty-nine!"
The smile on Axel's face could have blinded everyone in the room. Nangingiting hinawakan niya ako sa magkabilang pisngi at sa pagkagulat ko ay binigyan niya ako ng magaang halik sa mga labi. He looks like he won a million bucks even though he's the one who lost it.
"I guess this number is really lucky."
Naiiling na inabot ko ang baso ng inumin sa harapan ko. But before it can reach my lips, I stopped and stared at the table, looking directly at what I thought was a drink coaster.
It wasn't.
The noise around us drowned the sound of shattering glass when the glass I'm holding fell to the ground. Hindi ko man lang magawang pagtuunan ng pansin ang damit kong nabasa o ang nagkalat na bubog sa paanan ko.
My eyes couldn't look away from the pictures on the table. They were stack on top of each other but one of them I can clearly see. One that feels like it's staring back at me.
A picture of Aurora Aranda.