Nagtungo siya sa maliit na platform sa harapan kung saan nakatayo si Genevy. Tumaas ang kanyang kilay nang makita ang tipid na ngiti sa mukha nito.
"Give me that," she demanded for the microphone in Genevy's hold.
"E-eto po, ate," nauutal nitong sambit habang nakayukong inabot sa kanya ang mikropono.
Agad niya itong hinablot at marahas na itinulak si Genevy sa tabi. Napadaing ang dalaga pero hindi niya iyon pinansin. Ni katiting na konsensiya ay hindi niya naramdaman.
Kira cleared her throat before uttering a word over the mic, "Good evening, everyone! Are you enjoying the party?"
She waited no verbal response after seeing several visitors raised their wine glasses in the air. It meant yes. And it was enough to ignite the fire within her. How she loved to end the fun.
"Glad to know that you're all enjoying the party. By the way..."
She took a pause, just enough time to thrill the crowd. Hindi nakaligtas sa kanyang paningin ang marahas na pagtayo ng kanyang ama. Nawala ang saya sa mukha ni Ellino at napalitan iyon ng pinaghalong pangamba at iritasyon. Humakbang ito ngunit mabilis na hinawakan ni Geena ang braso nito. Mukhang pinipigilan ng babae ang ama niya kaya napaupo ulit ang kanyang ama.
Hindi niya pinansin ang maliit na komosyong iyon at nagpatuloy, "I would like to announce to everyone that this event is just a big joke." Pumeke siya ng tawa. "Who would think this is serious, right? Who could possibly believe that my father, Mr. Ellino Fuentes, will marry his family's maid?"
The crowd fell into silence. The invited guests had known about it but sure, they don't want to recall the fact. Nobody dared speak and the visitors were now eyeing Ellino's table, where he sat next to Geena. He massaged his temple, and as she had always been aware of, that gesture means he's controlling his anger. But Kira didn't care about how his father would react.
Parents knew better, but they too make bad choices. And sometimes, their children could slap them the truth real hard.
She picked up the wine glass placed on top of the buffet and tossed it up on the air, grinning to her audience. "The party's over, everyone! Goodbye."
Nagbulungan na naman ang mga bisita ngunit wala siyang planong pakinggan kung ano man ang pinagsasabi nila. Naglumikot ang mga mata ni Kira sa buong lugar. Lahat ng mga dumalo sa party ay isa-isa niyang tiningnan. Wala siyang pinalampas, binata man o matanda. She's looking for someone.
Oh, there!
Napangisi siya nang makita ang binatang hinahanap. Her Black. Buti nalang at inimbitahan ito ng papa niya. Magkatrabaho kasi ang binata at ang papa niya sa isang construction firm. Mabilis siyang bumaba sa platform at naglakad patungo sa dulong table kung saan nakaupo si Black kasama ang mga ka-edad nitong businessmen at engineers. Namumukhaan pa niya ang kuya ni Coleen, si Four.
"Hi Black," she greeted as she reached his side. There's a grin on her face.
Her palms settled on his shoulders which he quickly wiped off with his hands. Tumingala ito sa kanyang gawi, magkasalubong na naman ang kilay. Sanay na siyang ganito palagi ang ekspresyon sa mukha ng binata kapag magkaharap sila o kapag kinakausap niya ito. So it's no biggie.
"It's Cadmium Harris. Not Black," pagtatama nito. "Stop calling me like that."
Lalong lumapad ang ngisi niya sa naging sagot nito. "Whatever. I'm still calling you Black."
"Didn't you get me?" Puno ng iritasyon ang boses ni Cadmium.
"I perfectly got it," she simply stated. "But since I like the color black and I like you, then I'll have to call you Black. My Black," she gave emphasis to the last two words she uttered.
Napasipol ang mga binatang nasa table dahil sa narinig mula sa kanya. Binalingan niya ng tingin ang mga ito at kinindatan iyong chinito sa grupo. Mas lalo namang nagkantyawan ang mga binata. Iyong nasa kabilang table ay napapatingin na sa gawi nila.
Tumaas ang kanang kilay niya nang tumayo si Cadmium. His eyes glistened with anger as it darted on her. She was a bit taken aback but she maintained her composure.
"You already messed up your father's engagement party. Now you're trying to make a scene here. For Pete's sake! Can you just go and make your own life?!"
Natameme si Kira sa bulyaw ng binata. Hindi siya nakasagot. Nawala iyong Kira na walang pakialam sa sasabihin ng iba tungkol sa kanya. Parang gusto niya na lang maglaho na parang bula. Matalim siyang tinitigan ni Cadmium habang ang nasa malapit ay tahimik na naghihintay sa susunod na eksena.
"Tama na iyan, pre," awat ng kuya ni Coleen na si Four. Tumayo ito at tinapik ang balikat ng binata.
"Hindi, pare." Umigting ang bagang ni Cadmium at mabilis na tinabig ang kamay ni Four. "She needs to know her boundary."
"As if..." pabulong niyang pantataray, pilit na pinapakita ang tapang.
"Ikaw!" Dinuro siya nito. "Give yourself some respect."
For the thousand times he'd said it, it did not come as a surprise. He had always been like that, too concerned on her reputation and blah blah.
"Whatever, Black."
She grinned at him, though a bit hurt, and kissed him goodbye on the cheeks.