"It was nice meeting you, Elshein." Nakangiting sabi ni Tita Rose sakin.
"Thank you. It was also nice meeting you, Tita." I said and also did smile at her.
I am with Ice. After we had our snack, sinundo siya ng driver nila sa cafeteria. Sinamahan naman siya namin ni Ice hanggang sa parking lot at naiwan naman ang mga kasama namin sa cafeteria.
"Bye. See you at the grand ball." She waved her and as she walk towards their white Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class car.
An expensive car will never surprised me again since I know these people is too luxurious.
"Let's go back?" Ice said nang maka-alis na ang sasakyan ng mom niya.
Tiningnan ko lang siya ng masama at walang ano anong naglakad patungo sa sasakyan ko.
"Hey Shein? Are you mad?" He followed and asked me.
"No! Naiinis lang ako sayo." Napairap naman ako ng maalala ang sinabi niya kanina na nagpa-awkward sa sitwasyon ko habang kaharap ang mom niya.
"Sorry..." He said as he hold my right hand.
"... I just don't like mom telling you she'll help you find a partner."
Napatingin naman ako sa kaniya dahil sa sinabi niya.
"Tsk!" Tinanggal ko ang kamay ko sa pagkakahawak niya.
"Well, that's true anyway, and wala namang kaso kay mom." Sabi niya ulit.
"Yeah, whatever." Napairap nalang ako which made him chuckled.
"Don't be embarrassed." He said and hinawakan na naman ang kamay ko.
Napairap nalang ako at umiwas ng tingin. I heard him chuckled and dinala ako patungo sa sasakyan ko.
Takang tumingin naman ako sa kaniya ng mag stop kami sa tapat ng pintoan.
"I know you're tired. Drive safely." Binitawan niya ang kamay ko at hinawakan naman ang pisnge ko.
"Tsk. Wash your face once you're home. I don't like you wearing makeup. Nanakakainis yung mga nakatingin sayo kanina." Seryosong ngunit may halong inis na sabi niya.
"Tss.." Napaiwas nalang ako ng tingin at tinanggal ang kamay niyang naka-hawak sa pisnge ko.
"Whatever." Sabi ko at binuksan ang pintoan ng sasakyan ko.
"Bye, see you tomorrow." Huling sabi ko bago pumasok sa loob ng sasakyan ko.
He just smiled and watching me drive away from the parking lot.
Napailing nalang ako. What a day.
Nang makarating ako sa bahay. I saw Clayd, Blake and Zel at the living room.
"Shein, buti andito ka na." Agad na salubong sa akin ni Zel.
Then I remember, I haven't seen them kanina sa theater room.
"What happened?" I asked while seriously looking at them.
Nagkatinginan naman si Blake at Clayd while Zel was just smiling at me.
"Wala, Shein... I'm just the winner yehey!" Masiglang sagot at sabi niya sa akin.
"Look, my trophy!" She added then kinuha pa ang maliit na trophy na nasa center table.
Napa poker face naman ako dahil sa ginawa niya. I know something's off. They told me na manunuod sila, but they didn't.
"Hindi kayo marunong magtago ng sekreto, Zel." Bored na sabi ko.
Nawala naman ang ngiti niya at napakamot nalang ng ulo.
"What? You're not gonna tell me?" I said and remain serious and fiercer.
"Eh! Kasi bawal sabihin." Nakapangusong sabi pa ni Zel.
Tumingin naman ako kay Clayd at Blake na nag dadalawang isip kung mag sasalita ba or what.
"Paps suddenly called a meeting. Hindi ka na namin sinabihan kasi nag pe-perform ka pa... We don't want to tell you kasi baka magalit ka." Zel shortly explain.
Napabuntong hininga naman ako. Akala ko naman kung ano na.
"What did he said?" Tanong ko naman ulit.
Why did paps suddenly called a meeting? May ipapagawa na naman ba siya?
"He told us to prepare, because they're going home." Sagot naman ni Clayd.
"What? When?" I confusedly asked.
Paps? Going home?
"And what does he want us to prepare?" Another tanong ko sa kanila.
"I don't know, we don't know." Sagot ni Clayd ulit.
"Maybe his works are done kaya uuwi siya ng pilipinas... Or maybe he will order us to stop our studies and bumalik nalang sa trabaho natin?" Naguguluhang sabi ni Zel.
"Tsk. You're just over acting." Sabi ko at napairap nalang then naglakad papunta sa hagdan para pumunta na sa kwarto ko.
Maybe paps is going home just to have a vacation. I'm sure there's no other reason. He's super attached to his businesses in Japan and in the other countries.
And he even told us before that he'll visit after he finished his works. It's already been almost four months so I guess ngayon niya gusto umuwi.
I was just at my bedroom the next day when suddenly someone knocked on my door.
"What is it?" Agad na tanong ko when I opened the door.
"Dress for delivery." It was Blake, he was holding a not so big box.
Binuksan ko ng maluwag ang pinto at hinayaan siyang pumasok sa loob.
"Thanks." I said while looking at the box he brought.
"Welcome~" He replied as he walk towards the door.
"Oh I remember... Zel told me a hair and makeup artist will come, so you better be prepare before 3." Tumango lang naman ako sa sinabi niya.
Sinara niya ang pinto at napatingin naman ako wall clock na may shelves ko.
It's already 1:50 pm.
Hindi ako nag lunch since 10:30 na ako ng breakfast. Hindi pa ako na liligo since baka ma haggard ako hanggang mamaya. So, maliligo muna ako.
After I took a bath ay pinatuyo ko muna ang buhok ko gamit ang blower ng biglang may kumatok na naman sa pinto ko kaya napatingin ako sa wall clock ko.
It's already 2:40 pm.
Agad akong tumayo at binuksan ang pinto.
"Shein, punta ka na daw sa guest room sa second floor sabi ni Zel." Sabi agad ni Blake.
"Okay, I'll be there shortly." Sagot ko sa kaniya
Tumango lang naman siya at umalis. Bumalik naman ako sa pag blo-blower.
Lumabas ako at bumaba at pumunta sa second floor at hinanap ang guest room na sinasabi ni Blake after.
Then I saw Zel and two gay beside her infront of a big mirror.
"Oh hi madam." Nakangiting sabi nong patay na bakla.
"Oh she's here na." Sabi nong medjo chubby na bakla na may hawak ng brush.
Lumingon naman agad si Zel sa akin.
"Shein, come here!" Nakangiting sabi niya habang tinuturo ang upuan katabi niya.
Napabuntong hininga nalang ako at lumapit.
"They are Mrs Agustin's friends. That's Kay and this is Jai." Pagpapakilala naman ni Zel sa dalawa.
"Nice to meet you lady Elshein." Sabi nilang dalawa.
"Nice meeting you too." Nakangiting sabi ko naman.
Kay immediately do my makeup while Jai continue what he was doing to Zel's face.
They both do our makeups and hair. I was just looking at my reflection while Kay's busy in my hair.
"Perfect!" They both said while they've finished all their task for almost already hours.
"Isn't the ball will start by 7:00?" Tanong naman ni Zel sa akin.
"Yup." Tanging sagot ko naman sa kaniya.
After a minute ay lumabas kami ng guest room and bumalik sa kwarto para makapag palit. Habang bumaba naman si Kay at Jai para mag ready'ng umalis na.
Kinuha ni Zel ang damit na susuotin niya sa kwarto niya at sumama sa akin sa kwarto ko.
I helped her zip the back of her long dress. She's wearing a silver silk long dress with one sleeve at the right side. And I am wearing a black long cocktail dress cutted at the right part of my legs, that's why na e-expose ang right legs ko pati dibdib ko.
But I like the color and the designs. This is the new product of Mrs Agustin. And I truly like it the moment I saw her sample.
"Whoa~ you're both beautiful tonight." Agad na salubong sa amin ni Blake nang makababa kami ni Zel.
"Indeed." Pag-sangayon naman ni Clayd sa kaniya.
"You're both handsome tonight too." Sabi naman ni Zel at tumango lang ako.
"Thanks~" Sabi naman ni Blake at inayos ayos pa ang buhok niya.
Napailing nalang ako at natawa naman si Clayd at Zel.
Bagay sa kanila ang tuxedong suot nila. That made them a lot handsome i-add pa ang ayos ng buhok nila at ang muka.
Clayd and Zel are using a silver mask. Blake's grey. And mine is black.
We used the van instead of the cars. Toyota Alphard, the one we used during our first day here.
Of course my driver kami since Clayd don't wanna drive, baka ma haggard daw siya.
Nang makarating kami sa university. Nagulat ako sa daming sasakyan sa parking lot, at ang super liwanag ng buong RU, isabay pa ang sound na nagmumula sa loob ng auditorium.
Sinabihan ni Clayd ang driver na ipasok sa loob ang sasakyan hanggang sa harapan ng auditorium since malapit lang siya from the entrance. And also may mga sasakyan din naman ang dumeretso doon since masyadong maluwag ang mga daan sa RU.
Tumigil ang sinasakyan namin sa harapan mismo ng auditorium. And there are many people outside and I'm sure mas madami pa sa loob.
Those people who were outside ng dumating kami ay nakatingin at hinintay lang ang mga tao sa loob ng sasakyan na bumaba, which is kami.
"Let's go~" Excited na lumabas si Zel ng buksan ng driver namin ang pinto ng van. Sumunod naman agad sa kaniya si Blake since he's her escort.
"Mylady?" Nakangiting inabot naman ni Clayd sa akin ang kamay niya ng bumaba siya.
Napailing nalang ako bago inabot ito at tuluyang nakababa ng sasakyan.
Suot na namin ang mga maskarang tanging sa may mata lang ang may takip. It's a half mask that expose the lower part of your face.
Nakatingin lahat ng mga tao na nasa labas sa amin. Nagtataka and for sure hinuhulaan nila kung sino kami.
Naka kapit lang ako sa braso ni Clayd hanggang makapasok kami sa loob ng auditorium.
And I was right. There are more people inside. And they were looking at us the moment we step foot on the ground of this huge auditorium.
They were all mumbling to each other. I can't hear them since the music is so loud, but it's super obvious. Pero hindi namin ito pinansin at nag lakad nalang sa naka red carpet pang daan sa gitna.
Asan kaya sina Joellen. I'm sure I don't have a change to see them here tonight not unless hanapin ko sila.
It's already 7:00 saktong-sakto ang oras ng pagdating namin.
Humanap kami ng vacant na table malapit sa harapan. And waited there until the mc start talking infront.
"Ladies and gentlemen, students, faculties, and staff, let's all welcome our visitors. Let's gave them a round of applause!" Dinig kong sabi ng mc habang nakatingin sa may entrance.
Nagpalakpakan ang mga tao habang nakatingin sa may entrance kung saan pumasok ang mga major stock holders ng RU.
I'm sure sila yun kahit hindi mo sila makikilala dahil sa mga maskarang suot nila. Well, except for their wives, dahil hawak lang ng mga ito ang mask na may hawakan.
They all walk gracefully and with authority sa red carpet na yan hanggang sa pinaka harapan malapit sa stage.
Kung saan may table doon na mahaba at nakaupo ang mga importantanteng taong namamalakad ng school, like the deans at ang president ng RU.
"I heard may VIP silang bisita tonight." Dinig kong usapan sa katabing table.
"Let's welcome the President of Reinarchleitte University, Mr Alejandro Fajardo Jr. Let's give him a round of applause!" Nagpalakpakan naman ulit ang mga tao matapos sabihin iyon ng mc.
Then pumunta sa stage ang president ng RU at nag bigay ng kaniyang speech. He's wearing a tuxedo black and a mask as well.
Well, this is not a masquerade ball if there's no mask. But surely, you will see a lot of expensive jewelry, clothes, dresses. This is a private institution after all.
"Who are they?" Dinig ko na namang usapan sa table na nasa likoran ko.
"I think that's Cian and Cianna." Dinig ko ulit na sabi nila.
Napalingon naman ako sa entrance. Unang pumasok ang dalawang magkapartner, kasunod nila ang iba pa, hindi ko masyadong mamukaan dahil sa mask na suot nila.
"It's them." Dinig kong sabi nila sa likoran ko.
Gaya nga sabi nong isang narinig ko kanina. It's Cian and Cianna, yung dalawang nasa unahan, since hindi suot ni Cianna ang mask niya dahil hawak niya lang ito.
"Shein? Do you want some delicacies?" Nabaling ang atensiyon ko kay Clayd ng magtanong siya.
May waiter na nag lagay ng delicacies and drinks sa table namin. Tumango lang ako kay Clayd at nilagay niya naman sa harapan ko ang isang maliit na plate na may lamang desert.
Napasulyap ako sa mga dumaan sa harapan ng table namin at pumunta sila sa isang table na nasa harapan, kung saan malapit lang sa table namin.
Hindi ko masyadong makilala ang mga muka nila dahil sa mask but I know for sure kung sino sila. Yun ngalang hindi ko ma point out kung sino si Luca, or si Alexus, dahil halos parepareho sila ng suot na mask at color mg tuxedo pati ayos ng buhok, si Cian at Cianna lang ang nakilala ko.
Wait...
Ibinalik ko ang tingin sa kanila.
'Ilan ba sila?' Tanong ko sa sarili.
Five guys and three girls. So hindi pa pala sila kompleto.
Wait... Tinitigan kong mabuti ang isang katabi ni Cianna. She looks familiar...
"Excuse me... Puntahan lang ako don." Nabaling ang atensiyon ko kay Blake ng tumayo at nagpaalam siya.
"Anong gagawin niya don?" Tanong ko sa dalawa.
"Syempre ano pa ba." Zel answered and Clayd just shrugged his shoulders.
Napailing nalang ako. Since nagsimula na naman ng party, at marami nang sumasayaw sa gitna at sa buong auditorium. May mga nag bibigay na din ng drink.
This is a party after all. Just like Blake, he's nowhere to be found again.
"Hahanapin ko lang si Blake." Clayd suddenly said. Tumango lang kami ni Zel at umalis naman siya sa table namin.
"Super daming tao, I'm sure hindi niya mahahanap si Blake." Natatawang sabi ni Zel.
"Well, malay natin." Napailing naman siya dahil sa sinabi ko.
It's already 8:55, mag na-nine na ng gabe. And everyone's having fun.
"Excuse me?" Napalingon naman kami ni Zel sa lalaking biglang lumapit sa amin.
"Hi, can I have this dance?" Nakangiting sabi niya kay Zel.
"Oh sure." Ngumiti naman si Zel sa kaniya at inabot ang kamay nito.
Kumindat pa siya sa akin bago sila pumunta sa gitna. Napailing nalang ako.
Dim lang ang lights sa buong auditorium ang tanging maliwanag lang ay ang stage at ang spotlights sa gitna na panay galaw.
I want to go to the washroom nga pala.
Tumayo ako. And I was about to step forward when someone suddenly bumped at my shoulder.
"Oh, sorry, sorry." Sunod sunod niyang sabi.
Oh, siya yung babaeng tiningnan ko kanina sa table nila Cian. But wait....?
"Joellen?" I mumbled when I heard her voice.
She confusedly stared at me then her eyes suddenly widened.
"Omg, Shein?" She mumbled and I just nodded.
So, that was Joellen pala. Hindi ko siya nakilala. She's wearing a blue mermaid cut long dress and a blue mask exposing only her nose and mouth.
"Whoa! You look so fabulous, ang super pretty mo tonight." Masiglang sabi niya at tiningnan ako mula ulo hanggang pa with an amaze expression.
"Wow! As in wow! Ikaw ba talaga yan Shein?" She amazingly asked.
"Tsk." Napataas nalang ang isang kilay ko.
"Hehehe. Ikaw nga yan." She said, at lumapit sa akin then hugged my right arm.
"Shein?" Napalingon naman kami sa biglang bumanggit ng pangalan ko.
"Oh Zel, how's the dance?" I asked and then smirk.
"Zelyanna?" Tanong naman ni Joellen.
"Oh Joellen, is that you?" Nanlaki pa ang mata ni Zel.
Lumapit naman sa kaniya si Joellen at umupo sa tabi niya.
Napailing nalang ako.
"Washroom lang ako." Paalam ko sa kanila.
Tumango lang sila kaya napailing nalang ako at nag lakad pa alis.
Madaming tao akong nakakasalubong hanggang makarating ako sa comfort room. Pero nang makarating ako sa loob ng cr ay walang tao.
Tinanggal ko ang mask na suot ko at kinuha ko ang lipstick sa dala kong pouch then do a little retouching.
I was about to wear back my mask when someone enter.
"Oh~ Elshein." She said ng makilala niya ako.
She's smirking and glaring while looking at my reflection on the mirror.
Hindi ko siya pinansin at sinuot lang ang mask ko then I washed my hands.
"You think, they really like you?" She suddenly said kaya tiningnan ko ang reflection niya sa salamin.
"Do you really think they like you, he likes you?" Natatawa niyang sabi then humarap sa akin.
"Wake up Elshein. You're not welcome anywhere." She ribaldry said and then smirk.
"I'm not in the mood to deal with your nonsense thoughts, Ellejah." I coldly and wearily said at hinarap siya.
"Nonsense? Nah of course not. I am just reminding you not to be so proud of yourself. You're just a piece of a toy to Aizer. Don't think that he likes you, 'cause he's not." Nakangising sabi niya pa at tiningnan ako mula ulo hanggang paa.
I don't really feel her since then. It's just like she's wearing a mask. The moment she approached me, I can see it in her eyes. Mas napatunayan ko yun lalo when I found out about the video.
"I heard you're smart and talented, and I guess it's really true... But don't think full of yourself, Elshein. Aizer don't like you, his friends don't like you. No one of them likes you. They just befriend you because you're smart and talented. They do not sincerely like you because you have nothing..." Tiningnan niya ako mula ulo hanggang paa ulit.
I was just emotionlessly staring at her.
"... Kahit ano pa ang isuot mo, nothing will change. You're just a piece of shit, a whore, a slut, and a beggar who is trying so hard to please her surroundings. I bet you really don't have a family that supports you—"
Isang malakas na sampal ang tanging nagpatigil sa kaniya. Nanlaki ang mata niya at napahawak sa pisnge niya.
Ibinaba ko ang kamay ko at tinginan siya ng napakalamig at walang emotion sa muka.
"H-how dare you!" Galit na sabi niya habang nakahawak parin sa pisnge kung saan ko siya sinampal.
"Sorry my hand slips." I wearily said.
"Y-you!!!" Galit na sabi niya at akmang sasampalin rin ako.
"What is happening here?" Someone suddenly interrupted dahilan para napatigil si Ellejah.
"Lyz." She mumbled. At napabuntong hininga nalang naman ako.
"Just a friendly reminder, Ellejah. You think I didn't know what you did with our filmed video? Don't be too insecure, Ellejah, try to cure your insecurities instead, because it might put you in a situation you can't recover." I gave her a smirk and then start walking.
I saw Allyza confusedly looking at me. Habang hindi naman naka sagot si Ellejah.
"Oh, another thing... Don't be too pressured because of your father, Ellejah. You keep wearing those mask because of him, right?" I smiled prettily to her which made her eyes widened.
I chuckled then finally walk away.
Being a bastard daughter surely sucks. My my my, Teodoro Coroza. That man is really crazy over power.
I remember the night after Ice told me that Ellejah's the one who ordered the guy to post the video using Ice's computer.
I checked her background, and it surprised me to see that she is an illegitimate child of Teodoro Coroza, and that Hillery Borromeo is her cousin.
Huh! Teodoro Coroza's plan is super obvious. Tsk. And that, Ellejah's prettily agreed because of her obsession.
Tsk. Mag-ama nga sila.