It's been over an hour since Stella had the word from Chieftain Clements that they would talk after the event. Hindi pa man lumalalim ang gabi ay nakakaramdaman na siya ng pagkabagot. It only her intention kaya her mind sets to the goal. She knows how to enjoy the event, mingle with everybody pero hindi naman iyon ang ipinunta niya sa lugar na ito. She's after the mystery behind the town's tell-tales and she thought she could get the answer to their very own chieftain. He has the power over what news and information to deliver or not. In short, siya ang pinakamakapangyarihan sa lugar na ito.
Just by looking around, she could already distinguish that every people living in this town felt secured and safe as also the purpose of the event is to make everyone informed on how they are keeping the prosperity after experiencing the downfall of the town centuries ago.
"Stels, bakit nandito ka sa sulok? Talk to some people," tanong Ully, at binaba ang hawak niyang plato mula sa buffet area saka inilapag sa tabi ang kanyang camera case. Stella roll ed her eyes to him, nahulaan naman kaagad ni Ully kung bakit gano'n na lamang ang itinugon sa kanya. "You are bored because you're not doing anything, Stels. Subukan mong makipag-usap, and in that way, you can get some piece of their story and add their stories, right?" Ully grinned, ma lalong kinairita iyon ni Stella.
Umayos naman si Stella ng pagkakaupo mula sa pagkakasandal. She likes to have fun and go partying but this isn't the place for her to do that. Her intention is far from having fun kaya habang nakikita niya ang masasayang mukha ng mga taong ito ay hindi siya mapakali.
"I think should get a drink," Stella said at saka siya tumayo sa upuan.
"And when you did, talk to people!" Ully suggested but Stella grunted and rolledher eyes at him.
"Ulric!" two girls around 20's called the attention of Stella's friend. Nang makita niyang nagtutulakan pa ang dalawa na makalapit ay napaikot na lamang ang mga mata niya. Napansin naman niya ang reaksyon ni Ully na tuwang-tuwa sa paghahabol sa kanya ng mga kababaihan.
Babaero. She thought to herself.
Tinungo naman ni Stella ang bar area and get herself a drink. She wanted some drink na bubuhyain ang sistema niya para maalis ang pagkabagot niya. She was given a lady's drink, it wasn't that strong but good enough to make herself stay awake. Hindi rin naman niya gugustuhin na humarap sa chieftain kung tipsy na siya. It is a wrong impression to start.
"You're new? I feel like I haven't seen you around." Mabilis namang napatingin si Stella sa nagsalitang lalaki sa tabi niya. At first, she was surprised to see someone who most likely to be seen in television screens. His skin is fair but not close to being pale. His eyes were deep, and she couldn't read it. Binali na lamang niya ang atensyon sa kausap imbis na sa mukha nito. She shook her head as a response to him. "Oh, so you're just a visitor or a guest?"
"I can be both," she smiled.
"So, what are you doing here? What's your plan?" he asked.
Kinuha naman niya ang notebook niya at pinakita niya iyon sa lalaking kausap niya. "I'm a journalist and I think that's a good reason for being new in town."
"So, what you do? Leeching town's secret?" he smirked, hindi naman nakasagot si Stella but she raised her head para hindi siya malusutan ng lalaking ito. "Don't worry. Your secret's safe with me." He winked at her.
"You're weird," she stated.
Natawa ng bahagya ang binatang kausap ni Stella. "Everyone in this town is weird."
"Yeah... so weird," ngisi pa nito sa kausap. She wanted to end the conversation right away but she can't keep her eyes off of him. May kakaiba sa kanya. Siguro dahil nakikitaan niya lang ito ng resemblance sa mga Hollywood actors na napapanood niya. "So, what are you doing here in town? Are you here to have fun?"
"No, I live here," he answered.
Stella wasn't surprised but to speak with someone who lives in this town tickled her mind. "Would you mind telling me something about this town?"
Natawang napailing na lamang ang lalaki sa kanya. "You think, mapapaikot mo ako sa tanong mo 'yan? I don't have anything to tell."
"Then why did you approach me?" pagtataray na tanong ni Stella. Hindi na niya nagustuhan ang pinapakita ng lalaki sa kanya but he wanted to have more conversations with him, hindi lang niya nagugustuhan kung paano siya barahin nito. Well, she thinks, she's the only who's capable of putting other people's self-esteem.
"Your scent," he noted, "I like it... very familiar to me."
Napataas ng kilay si Stella. "My perfume is a high-end brand, ibigsabihin I don't use cheap one-I won't defend myself but thank you for noticing it," she smiled. But she knew that the perfume she's wearing was just a gift from someone.
He nodded. "Alright, I see."
"And does this mean, you got a girlfriend?" she asked, at sa loob-loob ni Stella ay umaasang wala ang isasagot nito.
"I actually do have," he said. Bumagsak ang balikat ni Stella at nilagok ang isang baso ng wine. "Maghinay-hinay ka lang, you wouldn't like to end up in the streets."
Naningkit ang mga mata ni Stella sa sinabi ng lalaki sa kanya. "Are you implying with what, huh?"
Stella didn't get an answer from him when Ully called her attention. Nang makalapit naman ang lalaki sa kanya ay binaling ulit ni Stella ang tingin sa lalaking kausap niya pero napakunot-noo na lamang siya nang nawala na rin ito kaagad. She even asked Ully if he sees the man left pero hindi naman napansin ni Ully iyon. She just shrugged it off, wala rin naman siyang mapapala dahil may girlfriend na ang tao. She's not a snake para ahasin niya iyon.
"What's with you Ully? Tapos mo na bang landiin iyong mga babae doon? You're not supposed to do those things, alam mo 'yon diba?"
He chuckled. "I know, they just wanted to have some selfie. Pinagbigyan ko lang naman," aniya. "Anyway, remember what the girl from the souvenir shop told us?"
Tumango naman si Stella habang inaalala iyon. "Yes, the auction? Is it happening na?"
"It is, we should find a better spot now," ani Ully.
Kinuha ni Ully ang kamay ni Stella at dali-dali naman nilang tinungo ang stage kung saan mangyayari ang auction. Mariing nakipagsiksikan ang dalawa para mapunta sa harapan. To get a better view of the items that will be lined up for auction. Stella and Ully has no money to bid but simply they just wanted to see how it works lalo na sa mga ganitong event.
Pinangunahan ni Chieftain Roman Clements ang pag-aanunsyo sa gagawing auction. He invited his wealthy friends to join the auction at ang mga makukuha mula sa event na ito ay mapupunta for donation sa kanilang lugar. It is to maintain everything they had for a very long time. Ginagawa nila ang ganitong parte ng event upang malaman ng mga tao na may mga bagay sa kanilang lugar na maituturing na historical items. Some would be interested to join and own those items.
Going further on the course of the auction, everyone was waiting for the next item to put on bid. The girl from the souvenir shop assisted and placed the next item on the podium and when she removes the cloth covering it and then the supposed-item was shown to the crowd, pero ang lahat ay napakunot ang noo, namuo ang tanungan sa paligid and everyone begins gossiping around, exchanging thoughts and ideas.
Even Stella asked Ully what's the significance of the item in front of them. "It looks like a normal bullet to me..."
Napakibit-balikat naman si Ully. "Mukha nga but I don't think it is. Hindi naman nila ilalagay for auction iyang napakaliit na bagay kung walang significance iyan diba?"
"So our second to the last item is a wooden oak bullet," Chieftain Clements announced. Muling nagkaroon ng bulung-bulongan sa paligid. They aren't expecting something like that, they wouldn't even put a bid for a very small item. Halos hindi pa rin maalis ang pagkadismaya ng iba. "Keep all your horse down, people," he laughed to ease the awkwardness. "This wooden oak bullet isn't just your normal wooden bullet. It killed the trespasser-creatures a long time ago and until now it keeps the town in miracle but tonight, this bullet will be in the hand of the bidder, just when the town's having its peace you can have it... so the bid starts at five hundred thousand!" he announced.
Tahimik ang lahat, no one wanted the wooden oak bullet. They do think it is a joke. Hindi naman kasi iyon katulad ng ibang bagay na pwede pa nilang i-display sa kanilang mga bahay and what would they do to a bullet?
"If I just had the money, ako na siguro tumaya diyan," ani Ully.
Siniko naman siya ni Stella. "You cant even handle a gun, Ully. 'Wag mo akong niloloko."
Ully smirked. "I can learn that Stels, 'wag mo agad akong jinu-judge. You wouldn't like it when it happens."
Napataas na lamang ng kilay si Stella sa kanya, and her attention caught by the person who raised his hand, not just her but everyone in the room were surprised that someone would be interested to bid on it. Stella recognized the man raising who's his hand. Kung hindi siya nagkakamali ay iyon ang lalaking nakausap niya kanina lamang.
"I bid a million!" he stated. Nabigla ang lahat ng sabihin niya iyon. The price started at five hundred thousand but he raised it immediately to amillion. Some people really gossip around thinking about how foolish he is to waste his money on something that isn't valuable nowadays.
"Okay, that's a good price! So, let's hear once, twice, thrice?" Chieftain Clements said, then no one responded to him. No one outbid him. "Okay, congratulations to this man, and thank you for your generosity."
While Stella's looking at the stranger, he shifted his head and shared a look. Nginitian lamang siya ng binata. Everyone applauded for him but still shocked to set his price higher. Hindi inaalis ni Stella ang tingin niya sa lalaking iyon and at some point, he took glances at her and winked. Mabilis namang inilayo ni Stella ang tingin niya doon at umalis na sa kanilang pwesto dahil ilang items na lang naman at matatapos na rin ang auction.
Pumunta naman ang dalawa sa table at kanilang inihanda ang mga gagamitin for their interview with Chieftain Clements. Ully checked the memory of his camera while Stella listed all the possible questions to ask to the chieftain. Iniisip pa rin hanggang ngayon ni Stella ang tungkol sa lalaking iyon. He wouldn't waste a huge amount of money like that kung wala naman itong paggagamitan. Her curiosity sets her into the thought.
From time to time, inaabangan ni Stella kung matatapos na ba ang event para matapos na ang kanyang rason para gawin ang interview na ito. On the other hand, the guest's attention was shifted when fireworks disrupt their businesses. All found their way outside of the venue and looked up above. Nagkulay ang madilim na kalangitan ng iba't ibang kulay and everyone had their mouth open and gave an applauded as they made another year of having peace and prosperity to their town.
It is one of the gifts they have received, and they wouldn't ask for more.
But Stella and Ully found the chance to get to Chieftain Clements. Halos patapos na rin naman ang event at hindi na ito papalagpasin ni Stella dahil baka sa huli ay bigla pa siyang takasan ni Chieftain Clements. Nakita naman nila ito sa tapat ng pinto ng hall, nakapalibot ang mga guards nito at hindi-hindi basta makakalapit kaya naman ng tawagin ni Stella ang kanilang pinuno sa kabila ng ingay ng fireworks ay lumingon ito sa kanya.
"Congratulations for a successful event sir," she said.
"Thank you, Miss Escott," he smiled.
"Would it be possible to do the interview now, sir? I think it is okay because the event is almost done."
Chieftain Clements asks his assistant to check his schedule at nang binigyan na rin naman niya ito ng pahintulot ay halos hindi na mapakali si Stella. Dali-dali rin naman nilang tinungo ang silid kung saan gaganapin ang interview. Stella couldn't hide her excitement at natutuwa naman sa kanya ang lahat. Though Chieftain Clements warned himself not to tell anything that would make his town put in a bad image. Ayaw niyang mangyari iyon.
Before they headed into the room, nauna munang pumasok sa loob ang kampo ni Chieftain Clements at saka pinaghintay muna ang dalawa sa labas upag magkaroon ng briefing ang kanilang kampo.
Pansin naman ni Ully ang pagkakabalisa ni Stella, at ang pagco-cross legs nito. "Ano bang nangyayari sayo, Stel?" natatawang tanong nito sa kaibigan.
"Kinakabahan ako," pag-amin niya. "Naiihi rin ako!"
"Then go! Pumunta ka muna ng restroom. They can wait naman siguro, just do it faster."
"Gosh, this is the first time!" Stella grunted at nagmamadaling tumungo sa restroom. Naiwan naman sa labas ng pinto si Ully at inaayos na ng kanyang camera. While waiting for her friend, he scanned the videos on his camera. Natutuwa naman siya habang pinapanood ang mga iyon dahil magandang feature for them ang mga pinapakita nila. This is their big project kaya hindi nila gagawing bara-bara na lamang ang lahat. But watching the latter part, he noticed something on the video.
He zoomed in, put the video in slow motion, but then the reflected image of the person in the mirror wasn't there. Nagtataka na lamang si Ully habang paulit-ulit niyang pinapanood iyon. He couldn't distinguish that person because it was shown blurry at some point pero hindi niya itatanggi na hindi edited ang mga iyon cause at first, it is still on his camera and it wasn't any part of camera tricks.
"Mr. Harwell, we're already set. Where's Miss Escott?" the assistant asked as Ully startled and turned off his camera.
"She's on the restroom—" Ully stopped when they heard a loud crashed. Natigilan at nanlaki ang mga mata ni Ully sa nangyari at sunod na lamang nangyari ay mabilis nilang pinuntahan kung nasaan si Stella.
But they didn't find Stella Escott in the restroom.
Nang malaman ni Chieftain Clements ang nangyari, hindi ito mapakali, napahilot na lamang sa kanyang ulo at pabalik-balik ang paglalakad nito.
"Tell me, what's happening?! Where's Stella?" Ully asked, afraid for his friend.
"She's back," Chieftain Clements said but Ully got no idea what he's talking about. "She's here."