"Si Kristine Hermosa ba 'yun?"
"Si Kristine!"
Bulung-bulungan ng mga tao na nadadaanan ko sabay pasimpleng tinuturo ako.
Mas lalo pa akong yumuko habang naglalakad. Maraming beses na akong napapagkamalan na isang sikat na artista lalo na malaki talaga ang hawig naming dalawa, na kahit ang mga kaibigan ko ay sinasabi din sa akin ito.
Usually, I don't mind the stares pero sa pagkakataon katulad ngayon, I wished I'm invincible.
I wore a big dark glasses and a bull cap, half of my face is hidden pero hindi pa rin maitatago ang mestisahin kong mukha. Kaya akala nang mga tao, I'm the famous actress who's trying to remain inconspicuous while out malling, thus the stares and curiosity I got from the shoppers.
Lumabas ako sa third floor nang parking area ng mall at hinanap ang letra kung saan naka-park ang isang Toyota prado na kulay white, pati plate number nito ay memoryado ko na.
When I saw the SUV, I stopped and lighted a cigarette. I leaned on the other car next to the Prado, pretending I'm out here to have my smoke pero ang totoo niyan, my eyes busy scanning the parking area.
Sinigurado ko muna na walang tao or aksidenteng may makakita sa akin na nakakilala sa akin. When I thought it's safe, lumapit ako sa bandang unahan nang Prado at binuksan ko ang pinto sa front seat at nagmamadaling pumasok.
"Ba't ang tagal mo?" salubong kaagad sa akin ng tao sa loob ng sasakyan.
"Traffic." maiksi kong sagot.
Hindi na ito nagreklamo, tahimik na inabot sa akin ang isang manila envelope na agad ko namang binuksan.
"Malapit na ang election kaya naghahanda na si Gov. nang pondong gagamitin." explain nito habang mabilisan ko lang na binabasa ang bawat pahina nang dokyumento.
Nakasaad sa kopya nang dokyomento ang mga transactions ni Papa, mga projects ng lalawigan na kanyang inaprubahan pero kung bubusisiin nang mabuti, ang mga transaction na ito ay illegal at puno ng corruption.
"Tatakbong Mayor ng Catalina ang kapatid mo sa darating na election."
"Mayor? Bakit hindi na lang diretsong congressman?" pasarkastiko kong sabi. Matindi ang galit ko kay Gio, what he did to me made me decide to act on my plan right away.
"It's part of Gov's plan for Gio to be in the congress,. Mayorial position is just a stepping stone to test the water for him. Siguradong magulo ang darating na eleksiyon, babanggain si Gov. nang kanyang mahigpit na kaaway sa pulitika, si Congresman Ledesma. He'll run for governatorial position against your father."
Napatingin ako sa katabi ko. "Are you sure of your information Mike?"
Tumango lang ito bilang pagtugon sa tanong ko.
The Fuentebella and Ledesma are old rival in politics, throwing dirts and and attempt to ruin each other's reputation is normal between the two politician.
Kung sino ang pikon, siya ang talo.
Mike is right, siguradong magiging magulo ang election. After a decade, maglalaban uli ang dalawa sa iisang posisyon. My father will do everything to win. Lalo na nasa plano nito ang tumakbo bilang senador pag natapos niya ang term niya as Governor. Kaya pinapasok niya sa pulitika si Gio, dahil ayaw bitawan ni Papa ang impluwensiya niya sa lalawigan nang San Diego.
"Kaya kung ano man ang plano mo, simulan mo na dahil ito na ang tamang panahon to strike. The enemies will take advantage of it." advise nito.
"Yung hard drive nang security camera, alam mo na ba kung saan nakatago?" sa lahat ng ebidensiya na panghahawakan ko, iyun ang pinaka mahalaga. Oras na mapapasa-akin yun, the governor can't escape from the clutch of justice.
"Hindi pa, sa tingin ko he has a secret safe where he keep all his important documents." He's rubbing his chin na parang nag iisip ito.
"Keep looking, 'yun ang pinakamahalaga sa akin. Without it, I can't go forward."
Binalik ko ang mg papeles sa loob ng envelope, pag aaralan ko ang mga ito oras na makarating ako nang bahay. Binuksan ko ang dalang bag at kinuha ang isang makapal na sobre na naglalaman ng pera at inabot kay Mike.
"Thanks Mike, magkita uli tayo dito sa susunod na buwan, same time. Please no text or emails, all our communication should be untraceable. I don't want your name to be linked to me once sumabog ang lahat nang mga ito, my father will not hesitate to kill you oras na malaman niya na ikaw ang espiya ko sa loob."
"No worries Cass." Binuksan nito ang sobre at sinilip ang laman, napa-angat ang kilay ko nang sinara niya ito na hindi na binilang ang pera. "By the way, may ginawa ka na bang hakbang sa kumakalat na mga larawan mo sa internet?"
"That's the least of my problem right now." pagwawalang bahala ko.
My nude pictures are going rounds in the internet and in all social media. My father came to know of my scandal that he came all the way here in Manila para ipatikim lang sa akin ang galit niya.
Isang malaking kahihiyan sa isang gobernador na nakabalandra ang hubad na larawan ng kanyang anak sa internet for everyone to see.
"As long as it angers my father, I will do nothing. Besides, I'm not affected dahil obyus naman na pinatong lang ang ulo ko sa isang porn star."
Hindi ko man aminin, naging palaisipan din sa akin kung sino ang taong nasa likod nang nagpapakalat na larawan ko. Wala akong alam na may taong galit sa akin para siraan ako sa social media.
I shrugged my shoulder. Marami na akong pinagdaanan sa buhay to be affected by this juvenile act.
"May kakilala akong isang IT expert, he's out of the country pero pagbalik niya, I will ask him to trace the source kung kanino nagmula ang mga larawan mo."
"Please do Mike and thanks again." binuksan ko ang pinto nang sasakyan para lumabas pero hinawakan ako sa siko ni Mike.
"Take care Cass. I don't ask but I know you have your reason. Kung kelangan mo nang tulong ko sa ibang bagay, please don't hesitate to ask me."
Napangiti ako sa sinabi ni Mike, I was touched by his sincerity. Although he did it for money, alam niya rin ang malaking risk na kaakibat nito oras na mabisto ang ginagawa niya.
Kapalit nito ay buhay niya.
"Don't worry, you are the first person that will come to my mind. Mag ingat ka sa biyahe."
After meeting Mike, dumaan muna ako ng supermarket para bumili ng popcorn and drinks tsaka dumiretso sa condo ni Liza. It's our girl's movie night and we agreed to do it in her place, katatapos lang ng exams namin kaya kelangan namin mag relax and unwind.
I tried to hide my disappointment when she opened the door and I saw Bryan in the living room, her boyfriend.
"Sorry Cass, hindi ko alam na pupunta sina Bryan." pag aapologize ni Liza. I guess, I have not tried enough to cover my disappointment.
"It's okay, I'm cool."
I don't have problem with Bryan, we are actually close considering he's my besfriend's boyfriend. I just wanted tonight to be girl's night, where I can relax and put my feet up. Liza knew I was out today to meet Mike and I wanted to talk to her tungkol sa mga bago kong nalalaman but since Bryan is here, there's no chance na masolo ko ang kaibigan ko.
And the other reason kaya ayaw ko muna makita si Bryan, because seeing him reminds me of someone that's been troubling my mind for many days.
His bestfriend...Alexander Ledesma.
Nilapag ko muna ang mga dala kong pinamili sa ibabaw nang dining table tsaka umupo sa pang-isahan na sofa, kaharap sina Liza.
"Nice get up." Bryan said wickedly at me.
"Shut up!" I answered back playfully.
I'm still wearing my bull cap. He's used to see me either in sandals or heels kaya bago sa paningin niya ang makita ako in sneakers and in rugged form.
Napansin kong wala si Janet, our other friend na kasama namin dapat ngayon sa planong girl's night. I was going to asked Liza when I heard the door to the balcony opened at nauulinigan ko ang boses nang dalawang taong nag-uusap.
Napatuwid ako when I heard the familiar smooth baritone voice, a voice I longed to hear for so many days.
I looked behind my shoulder and there he is.
Laughing and flirting with Janet!
Ilang linggo na hindi siya nagpapakita sa akin, no text and call! kung hindi ko pa siya tatawagan ay hindi ko pa siya makaka-usap! and these last three days, he totally ignored my calls!
I was worried na baka kung may sakit siya or something happened to him . I can't ask Bryan dahil ayaw kong magtataka siya of why my sudden interest about his bestfriend.
Because we keep our relationship a secret.
That even both our closest friends doesn't know dahil na rin sa pakiusap niya. Kung ako lang ang masusunod, as long as it makes me happy, wala akong pakialam sa sasabihin nang pamilya namin.
I bit my lip sa sobrang selos when I heard Janet giggling sa sinabi sa kanya ni Alex. At the same time, naiinis ako sa sarili ko na nagpakatanga sa pag alala sa kanya when there's nothing to be worried about.
Palagi niya na itong ginagawa sa akin, he'll disappear in weeks tapos magpapakita sa akin na parang walang may nangyari. Sa loob ng ilang buwan na relasyon namin, mabibilang sa mga daliri ko na magkasama kaming dalawa lang.
"Casey! andito ka na pala." gulat na sambit ni Janet pagkakita sa akin. Her hand that clasp on Alex's arm caught my eyes that flared more of my jealousy. Nung una pa lang na pinakilala sa amin si Alex, pinaramdam na kaagad ni Janet na gusto niya ito but I can't warn her to back off from him when I can't openly claim him.
Yes, I'm territorial and possessive.
Alex's perfect chiseled jaw and piercing brown eyes , his tanned skin added to his manly features, girls go gaga over him at hindi ako masisi na kahit sarili kong kaibigan ay pinagseselosan ko.
I forced myself to smile kahit pakiramdam ko tabingi ang ngiti ko. "I just came."
Alex froze when he saw me, hindi niya siguro inakala na darating ako. Nakaramdam ako ng kirot..is he avoiding me kaya hindi niya sinasagot ang mga tawag ko?
"Oh, hi Cass." he greeted me after he recovered. Too casual for my taste na para bang walang may namagitan sa amin.
I clenched my jaw to hold myself from screaming at him.
"Hi Alex, it's been weeks since last I saw you." malaman na sabi ko.
He stood there awkwardly, he put his hand behind his neck. I knew this habit of his when he's tense or something.
"Yeah, I was busy with my exam."
Bullsh*t! I wanted to scream instead I just nodded my head.
Both of them sat on two seater sofa, magkatabi na lalong kinangitngit ko.
Binaling ko ang atensiyon ko kina Liza. "What's the plan since our movie night got cancelled?" pilit kong pinasaya ang boses ko, to hide my true feelings.
"We can still watch, actually I already downloaded some movies." si Liza.
"What did you bring Cass? is there some beer?" tanong ni Bryan.
"Yeah, I bought. You all decide what to watch while I make the popcorn." I offered.
Halong galit, sama ng loob at selos ang nararamdaman ko that I need to leave the room habang kaya ko pang magpigil.
I went inside the kitchen and put the popcorn inside the microwave, I was making my drinks when I felt another presence inside the kitchen.
"I'm sorry babes, busy lang talaga ako. It was our exam week and you know how law school is."
Hindi ako kumibo, pinagpatuloy ko lang ang ginagawa ko na parang wala akong kasama sa loob ng kusina.
"Babes naman, sorry na." he stood behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist.
I elbowed him. "Get lost Alex and stop what you are doing baka biglang may pumasok. You don't want our friends to find out about us, right?"
"Please...say you forgive me first." paglalambing nito na lalong humigpit pa ang pagkayakap sa akin. I felt his warm breath on my nape na nakikiliti ako.
I turned to face him, this time hindi niya na ako madadala sa paglalambing niya. Namimihasa na siya na agad ko siyang pinapatawad sa mga pagkukulang niya sa akin, na nadadala niya ako lagi sa konting paglalambing niya.
"Alex, hindi lang ikaw ang nag aaral. I study medicine, I had also my exam last week but I still find time to call you. It won't take a minute just to say hi to me, atleast I know that you are okay."
"It won't happen again, promise."
"I warned you Alex, I won't stand on the side and wait for you kung kailan mo lang ako pwedeng pag ukulan nang panahon. I already agreed to keep our relationship from our friends but I will not beg for your attention anymore." though I doubt kung kaya ko ngang panghahawakan ang mga sinasabi ko.
I'm already deeply in love with Alex na kaya kung magbulag bulagan sa mga pagkukulang niya sa akin, na wala akong pakialam that our families are mortal enemies in politics. In time, Alex will go public about our relationship at ipakilala niya ako sa pamilya niya tulad nang pangako niya sa akin. I only hope that his family will not see me as Fuentebella but a person who loves their son.
Ngumiti ito and nuzzled my neck, his warm breath tingling my skin. "Does it mean you already forgive me?"
"Just don't do it again." pagre-remind ko uli sa kanya.
He straightened up and smiled in relief. "Yes my baby." and rained kisses on my face that I giggled.
The playful kisses turned into steamy one when he found my lips. Holding my face, siniil niya ako ng halik na agad ko namang tinugunan. I love Alex and I can't resist him kahit ano pang pagtatampo ko sa kanya. He pulled me closer while I wrapped my leg to his waist that I can feel his hard on poking on my stomach, our tongue fighting for dominance.
We both look flushed with lust by the time we separated, kung hindi lang na nag-alala kami na baka biglang may pumasok, we would have done the deed right there and then.
"I'll stay the night in you place." He said after he recovered, his voice still hoarse from lust.
He gave me a peck on the lips and hurriedly left the kitchen. While I, beaming with happiness took the popcorn and followed him.