"750,000 pesos" I quickly looked at Vince and saw that he was gaping at Andrew.
Oh no. What will he make of this? And what is Andrew even doing here?!
Andrew's head was held up high. He looks really confident.
“Well, gentlemen! We have high rollers in the house this evening.” Excitement flashes on the MC's face as he turns to beam at Vince.
"900,000." counters Vince, quietly.
"2 million." Andrew says.
Could this be any more embarrassing?
Vince stares at him impassively, but he’s amused. All eyes are on Vince. What’s he going to do? My heart is in my mouth.
"20 million pesos. Cash" he says his voice ringing clear and loud through the marquee.
“What the fuck?” Eunice hisses audibly behind me, and a general gasp of dismay and amusement ripples through the crowd.
Andrew holds his hands up in defeat and Vince smirks at him. From the corner of my eye, I can see Ysa bouncing up and down with glee.
“Twenty million pesos for the gorgeous Sabrina! Going once . . . going twice . . .” The MC stares at Andrew who shakes his head with mock regret.
“Sold!” the MC cries out triumphantly.
In a deafening round of applause and cheering, Vince steps forward to take my hand and help me from the stage. He gazes at me with an amused grin as I make my way down, kisses the back of my hand then tucks it into the crook of his arm, and leads me toward the marquee’s exit.
Why did Andrew even did that? I really don't understand him.
“You okay?" He asks.
I nodded in response. I'm still trying to process all these.
Ayoko na talagang maulit to. Kahit kailan. Nakakahiya!
I looked around and I just figured that we were already out of the function hall.
"Wait, Where are we going? Shouldn't we be getting back to our table?" I asked.
He gazes down at me. "Later. Right now, I want to show you something. We have about thirty minutes until the First Dance Auction finishes. Then we have to be back on the dance floor so that I can enjoy that dance I’ve paid for.”
“A very expensive dance,” I mutter disapprovingly.
“I’m sure it’ll be worth every single cent.” He smiles down at me wickedly. Oh, he has a glorious smile.
Clearly, I have no idea where he's taking me.
Sandali, papunta to sa may swimming pool area ah.
Dumirediretso kami hanggang sa mapunta kami sa pinaka-dulo kung saan walang ibang taong pumupunta. Kahit ako, never pumunta dito.
Puro mga vines ang nakasabit doon. Hinawi ni Vince ang isang parte at ipinakita nito ang isang pinto.
Tinignan ko siya na parang nagtatanong pero ngiti lang ang sinagot niya sa akin.
Inalalayan niya ako papasok sa loob ng pintong iyon.
Pagkapasok ay isang garden ang bumungad sa akin. May fountain sa pinaka-gitna na meron ding ilaw na nagpapadagdag sa ganda nito, may mga puno at punong puno ang paligid ng white roses. May mga christmas lights din na naka sabit sa bawat parte ng garden.
At ang pinaka maganda sa lahat ay ang mga stars sa langit.
Ngayon ko lang nalaman na may secret garden sa hotel na to.
"Do you like it?" Naglakad-lakad ako sa buong lugar. Napaka-peaceful.. Parang ayoko ng umalis dito.
"I love it." Sagot ko sa kanya.
Ngumiti siya sa akin at saka lumapit, hinawakan niya ang dalawang kamay ko at saka tumingin sa akin.
“I’ve never brought a girl in here,” he murmurs.
“Never?” I whisper.
He shakes his head.
"Eh si Eunice?" He shook his head once more and chuckled.
So.. Ako ang una? Bakit kaya hindi niya dinala si Eunice dito? Halata namang close sila at mukhang mas close pa nga sa inaakala ko eh.
Naglakad ako patungo sa fountain. Napakaganda ng ilaw na sumasabay sa bawat galaw ng tubig.
I might say, this place is quite soothing.
Naramadaman ko ang pagyakap niya sa akin mula sa likod.
"Here. For you, baby." Inabot niya sa akin ang isa sa mga white roses doon. Napangiti naman ako sa ginawa niya.
"Thank you." I heard him chuckle. He kissed the back of my neck before he turned me to face him.
"We don't have long, Sab." He said then kissed me passionately.
"I believe you owe me a dance." I can feel that I'm blushing. Jeez, what am I? A 16 year old?
I shook my head at the thought.
We made our way back to the function hall. There was still like 5 minutes more.
Nasaan na ba si Kate? Kanina ko pa siya hindi nakikita.
Paglingon ko sa isang side ng dance floor ay nakita kong nakatayo si Eunice sa likod ni Kate. May dala siyang wine at mukhang balak niya tong isaboy kay Kate.
Seriously, signature move niya ba ang pagtatapon ng wine sa ibang tao?
Agad ko siyang nilapitan.
"I don't think you would want to do that." Nakita ko ang pagbabago ng expression sa mukha niya ng makita niya ako.
"Ofcourse I do. What makes you think I don't?" Nilapag niya ang wine glass at saka taas noo akong hinarap.
"Well, maybe it's the fact that you will be answering to me once my best friend gets hurt because of you." Nakita ko kung paano kumunot ang noo niya at halos umusok na ang ilong niya sa sinabi ko.
"Are you threatening me?!" Medyo tumataas na ang boses niya at alam kong napipikon na siya.
"Am I?" Nag smirk lang ako sa kanya, na mas lalo niyang kinainis.
"I'll have you know that fear is not in my vocabulary!" Oh wow.
"Perhaps, but it's in your eyes. Have a nice evening." Sabi ko at saka siya tinalikuran.
I have a feeling that this is not over yet. She'll explode, soon.
"You bitch!" Narinig kong sigaw niya. Lahat ng tao nakatingin na sa aming dalawa.
Hinawakan niya ang balikat ko at iniharap niya ako sa kanya. Sasampalin niya na sana ako pero agad kong nahawakan ang braso niya.
"Ooh, nice try." marahas kong ibinaba ang kamay niya." But try harder. Like this." At pagkasabi ko nun ay isang malakas na sampal ang dumapo sa mukha niya.
Halos lahat ng tao napa "woah" sa nakita nila habang yung iba naman ay tulala lang.
Umalis na ako at iniwan ko na siya doon ng nakatulala habang hawak hawak ang pisngi niya na namumula pa.
Hindi porket pinalampas ko yung nangyari noon ay hahayaan na kitang ipahiya mo ako sa napakaraming tao, ngayon.
"That was quite a show, back there." Nilingon ko kung sino ang nagsalita at nakita ko siya.
"Thank you. Only, I don't know which show, you are pertaining to." Control yourself, Sabrina. Control.
"I think it's both. I know how Eunice is, and I can't believe someone finally stood up to her. I mean, this is the first time someone slapped my date infront of so many people." Oh. So date niya pala si Eunice.
"I'm flattered that I'm the first one. But I think you should go and comfort her, Andrew. Don't waste your time talking to me."
Pagkasabi ko nun ay nilampasan ko na siya pero naramdaman ko ang paghawak niya sa kamay ko.
"Sabrina, wait."
"What do you want?" Magsasalita na sana siya pero bigla siyang tumigil.
"Hey there, baby. I've been looking all over for you." I felt his arm, wrap around my waist as he kisses the back of my neck.
Oh god. You're a life savior.
He stood beside me and pulled me closer to his body as he eyed at Andrew, who is still holding my other hand.
"I believe she's my date and I paid for her. So you better let go." Oh shit. Ngayon ko lang narealize kung ano ang nangyayari.
Dahan-dahang binitawan ni Andrew ang kamay ko at umatras ng konti bago magpalipat lipat ang tingin niya sa aming dalawa ni Vince. Nakita ko ding nag smirk siya ng tumingin siya kay Vince.
"The Vincent De Silva. Such a pleasure to finally meet you." Is he mocking him? Seriously, Andrew, stop this! "But I think, you only paid for the dance, not for the girl."
"A first dance, with the girl." He still looks calm but he's serious.
"Perhaps, but that won't stop me from asking her to dance with me." Where is he going with this?
I heard Vince, chuckle a bit before answering.
"Don't worry. I'll make sure that she won't leave my side. I'll be holding her hand all night long." His grip became tighter and I can't help but feel a little bit awkward.
The tension between these two are growing and I just want it to stop.
"But you don't hold her decision." I just need one of them to stop. And when I said one, I meant, Andrew!
"Why don't you just dance with your date and stop bothering, mine?" Uh-oh. I can sense that this is the hot-headed kind of Vince, talking.
"She's busy. And I find Sabrina, really interesting." Then he looked at me for a couple of seconds then went back to Vince.
"Let's just cut to the chase. She's my date. So, she's mine and mine alone." Could this get any more embarrassing?
"Yes, she is your date so she's yours." He smirked. "But only just for tonight."
"Yeah. All mine. And you don't have a choice but to watch me claim what's mine." We were about to go when Vince stopped and turned to Andrew once more.
"Oh and by the way, don't act like you own her. Cause she's not even yours to begin with."
Andrew looked like he was drenched with cold water.
"Excuse me, but we have to go. It's time to claim the dance I've paid for... And the girl that came along with it."
With that, we left him there and made our way to the checkered dance floor.
“And now, ladies and gentlemen, it’s time for the first dance. Mr. and Mrs. De Silva, are you ready" Arthur nods his head in agreement, his arms wrapped around Daphne, Vince's mom.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the First Dance Auction, are you ready?” We all nod in agreement. Ysaa is with someone I don’t recognize. I wonder what happened to her date, Sean?
“Then we shall begin. Take it away, Marco!”
A young man strolls onto the stage amid warm applause, turns to the band behind him and snaps his fingers. The familiar strains of "Hero" fill the air.
Vince smiles down at me, takes me in his arms, and starts to move. Oh, he dances so well, making it easy to follow. We grin at each other like idiots as he whirls me around the dance floor.
"Hero" by Enrique Iglesias
Let me be your hero
“I love this song,” Vince murmurs, gazing down at me. “Seems very fitting.” He’s no longer grinning, but serious.
"Yes, it is." Somehow I can't find any other words to say. I know he's going to ask something.
"Do you know him?" I know he's referring to Andrew. What do I say?
"I think he was an old friend. I can't remember." He nodded in response.
Would you dance
If I asked you to dance?
Would you run
And never look back?
Would you cry
If you saw me crying?
And would you save my soul, tonight?
Okay, I can't hide the fact that he's right. This song really fits.. Us.
Would you tremble
If I touched your lips?
Would you laugh?
Oh please tell me this.
Now would you die
For the one you loved?
Hold me in your arms, tonight.
His eyes were on mine as we glide together on the dance floor. It's like he's telling me the same thing as the song says
I can be your hero, baby.
I can kiss away the pain.
I will stand by you forever.
You can take my breath away.
If it's that easy then I'd be willing to give it a try. But it's not. He keeps claiming me as "his" But I'm not so sure if I am.. What about, Eunice? What is she, to him?
Would you swear
That you'll always be mine?
Or would you lie?
Would you run and hide?
Am I in too deep?
Have I lost my mind?
I don't care...
You're here tonight.
Now that Andrew's back, everything won't be the same again.
I can be your hero, baby.
I can kiss away the pain.
I will stand by you forever.
You can take my breath away.
Oh, I just want to hold you.
I just want to hold you, oh, yeah.
Am I in too deep?
Have I lost my mind?
Well, I don't care...
You're here tonight.
I looked into his eyes and I can see all those questions again. It's bothering him the same way that it's bothering me. What have I gotten myself into?
I can be your hero, baby.
I can kiss away the pain, oh, yeah.
I will stand by you forever.
You can take my breath away.
I can be your hero.
I can kiss away the pain.
And I will stand by you forever.
You can take my breath away.
You can take my breath away.
I can be your hero.
As the song finishes we both applaud. Marco the singer bows graciously and introduces his band.
Finally the party is over. I think Ysa is going to end it and I can't wait. The auction, the dance, Eunice, Andrew and everything else made it feel like I was in a never ending roller coaster ride, this evening.
"Ladies and gentlemen, here to give the closing remarks on our event, the beautiful, Sarah Ysabel De Silva." Everyone applauded as Ysa gracefully made her way onto the stage with her escort, Sean.
"A delightful evening to everyone. This was indeed, an amazing night. As much as I don't want it to end, well It has to." Laughter filled the room after she said those words.
"But, before I end it. I still have one last trick behind my back. A surprise for everyone. It's more of a game." Wait, what? Oh no Ysa, please don't.
"It's called a 'Kissing game'" What?! No! Please stop.
"Everyone who wishes to kiss someone who they admire tonight, can. Anyone who you brought or didn't to this event can be yours for 10 seconds... In the dark." Everyone in the dance floor seemed thrilled.
I don't think I like this game.
"On the count of three, I will give out the signal and the lights will turn off. Okay? Let the game begin! One..Two..Three. Lights out!" And with that, the lights turned off and the hall was pitch black.
It was so noisy. I can't see a thing.
Just for a couple more seconds and the lights will be back on. Calm down, Sabrina. Calm--
My eyes grew wide as I felt someone grabbed my waist and pressed his lips against mine.
Oh shit. Who the hell, is this?!
I can't seem to protest.
The lights went back on and most of the guests were still making noises.
But then suddenly...
"You son of a bitch!" In a split second, Andrew was on the floor. I turned to one side and saw Vince. He looks like he's going to kill him.
Wait, Andrew kissed me?
I already saw this side of him when he saw Kyle, harassing me at the bar, a month ago.
Andrew wiped the blood on the side of his lips.
"Stay away from her." He said. Actually it was more of a warning than a statement.
He wasn't the calm and serious type of Vince anymore. He's the deadly and dangerous one.
His aura was dark and I don't know what to do or how to react.
He grabbed my wrist tightly and with that, we made our way out of the function hall, leaving everyone in great shock.
NOTE: Please share your thoughts about the story for every update. Your reactions are highly appreciated! Thanks.
P.S. I'm open for any comments, suggestions or violent reactions.
-Scripter