Louella
"Stop the car."
I carefully parked Alli's car sa tapat ng Quaff na malapit lang sa bahay ng mga ito dito sa Toorak. Akala ko pa naman ay tatakas na kami pero heto at sa malapit lang pala kami sa bahay nila pupunta. Nagugutom ba sya?
That will be weird. After the scene kanina, I don't think a normal person would want to eat right now.
Well, Alliston surpassed the category for being a normal. She seems enjoying every bit of her insanity. Too bad that Kyeroh enjoyed her insanity too.
"Hungry?"
She eyed me with a blank stare na para bang wala ito sa sarili nito ngayon. I can't blame her. Mas nagugulat nga ako na hindi nya pa ako tinatangkang patayin after ng ginawa ko kanina.
I'm sorry Alli bear. This is just business. Nothing personal. I need you in my team. I've been eyeing the endless possibilities of business expansions with your name. You can use me too in any ways you'll want me. But this is honestly for your own good too. Kyeroh will be just sucking your light out so I need to pull you out before it drains you.
"I asked someone to bring my passport and personal belongings. Ipapakuha ko din ba yung sayo?" Tanong nito pagkaraan habang nagtatype sa phone nito.
I shrugged. I still need to stay here for another two weeks dahil nga may winowork out pa akong business expansion. Ipapakilala pa ako sa mga business partners ng bagong investor ko. That's worth multi-million account. So probably, I'll spend my one month long vacation here in Australia still doing business.
Don't complain, Louella. Remember that you bargained your parents that you'll make Calvry's business reach the billions net worth kapalit ng pagpayag ng mga ito noon na tanggapin na si Corinne para kay Aria. You want them to have a formal wedding because you saw how it hurts your sister not to be with Corinne.
"Nah, I'll stay here for two weeks pa siguro. Where do you plan to go?"
"Philippines." She answered in a plain tone.
"Uuwi ka na? What about my payment? We haven't talked about it yet."
Tinanggal ni Alliston yung seatbelt nito. "Did you know that I've got you recorded driving without a license? Plus, It's easy to say that you stole my car." Kaswal na sabi nito.
Ako naman ay natigilan doon. Pagkatapos ay bahagyang natawa. Alliston really knows how to bait someone. Kinapa ko yung bulsa ko kung nadala ko ba yung license ko.
Dang! Wala nga.
Ngumiti sakin si Alliston na para bang sinasabi nito na naisahan nito ako.
"Got you paid." She winks at me.
Too bad, Alliston. I am not a business person for nothing. You should really try harder. Like, really harder.
"Don't worry, Alli bear. I've got us recorded too that I was driving with you inside the car. Plus this is your vehicle and you let an unlicensed driver to drive it. Let's face the fine together?" Ngumiti din ako sa kanya. "How I love to be with you. Prison has never been too appealing to be with you in it. Ano kayang pwede nating gawin sa loob ng prison no?"
Ito naman yung natigilan doon bago napatingin sa itinuro kong microchip cam na ikinabit ko kanina. Kung ipapahamak nya ko, I'll better drag her with me. She should learn that dealing with me is as dangerous as dealing with her.
My, My, Alli bear. Grant is right. Napakatuso mo nga. Pero pasensyahan na lang, I am better than you. You should bow down to the real Queen here.
"Bitch." She rolled her eyes.
Ngumiti lang ako sa kanya. A perfect way to annoy her even more. "If you want to outwit me, Alli bear, you should change your tactic. Masyadong common na yang paraan mo. Even a neophyte can predict it coming."
"Where did you get your tapes kanina about Uncle Kail and Rachel's affair?"
Tinanggal ko din yung seatbelt ko. "Resources. I know how to fully utilize my resources for my own benefits. Don't worry, pareho naman tayong nakinabang di ba?"
"Nakinabang?" She eyed me as if I've grown two heads. "You destroyed my life, bitch!"
Ako naman ay hindi makapaniwalang sinalubong yung masamang tingin nito sakin na kulang na lang ay itumba ako.
"C'mon, Alli bear! I saved you from that toxic relationship. Do you really want to be a mistress all your life? Your boy toy didn't even choose you. It is not your responsibility to make him feel so good about himself by shrinking yourself to fit his narrow world. He's blocking your growth. The world is too big for you, Alli. Grow up! Be the biggest you. Bakit ka ba nagtatyaga sa lalaking iyon?"
"Don't preach about how I want to run my life. The last time I check, you're not my mother and most importantly, not my sister!"
"Oh, you want to be his on call slut? Why? Masarap ba mang-agaw? Is it satisfying for you to think that you can bed a married guy? Ano bang pinagkaiba ni Kyeroh sa ibang lalaki? He isn't even worth a tr-"
Natahimik ako nang sampalin nya ako ng malakas sa kanang pisngi ko. I could feel my cheek stinging.
"Stop!" She hissed. "You don't know how I feel. You'll never even have an idea because you're heartless. You just dumped him nung nagsawa ka na sa kanya di ba? Ginamit mo lang naman sya. You don't even care about his feelings!"
Gigil na hinawakan ko sya sa magkabilang braso para magsink-in sa kanya yung sinasabi nya. Bakit parang ako pa yung masama?
"Do you even hear yourself, Alli bear? He just used you. He is good at playing a victim. Magaling sya magpaawa to gain everyone's attention on him. I knew it. I once own the guy and I can pretty tell he is not even worth a try. If it weren't my parents back then, I won't even let my name to be tangled with his."
Napahinga ako ng malalim para kalmahin yung sarili ko. Pagkatapos ay sinuklay ko yung buhok ko gamit yung mga daliri ko na bahagyang nanginginig sa sobrang inis.
"His family is a wrapped-up hell. I know because his father even tried his advances on me when I was seventeen. If it weren't Grant, baka nga napahamak na ako noon." Napasandal ako ulit sa headrest ng upuan pagkaalala niyon."I told it to Kyeroh back then, he just told me that his father can't do that. I told my parents but they just laughed at me because Uncle Kail promised them that he'll sell his stocks to us. In the end, I have to be the only responsible for myself. I have to deal with it in silence, be the bad person in everyone's eyes."
"You're lying."
Nagkibit-balikat lang ako. Wala akong planong ipagpilitan kung ayaw nyang maniwala. At least nasabi ko na yung gusto kong sabihin.
That's one thing I really hate to share with other people, my real thoughts. I am not afraid to share my secrets because they can either take it seriously or use it against me. I am not afraid of it. What's tricky is that they have to weigh whether that's one of my truths or one of my lies.
People just listen to what they want to hear. No one is even taking time to stop, analyze people's action, and think deeper to understand them. That's how fast-paced the world nowadays.
"It's not your responsibility to believe what I am saying. I am just glad that I have helped you before it screws you."
"I am not your responsibility too! Stop screwing my life!"
Umangat talaga yung kilay ko pagkarinig sa sinabi nito. "Screwing your life? Ikaw na tinulungan ikaw pa ang galit."
"Oh, wow!" Pumalatak pa ito. "Is it now my job to feel grateful for your unsolicited help?"
"Ungrateful bitch!" Inis na sabi ko na lang din habang hinahaplos yung kanang pisngi ko.
Dang! This woman really knows how to hit hard. Ang sakit pa din aa.
"Pakialamera ka naman." Inis din na sabi nito na tiningnan yung pisngi ko. "Masakit?"
"Try ko sayo?" Lalo akong napasimangot dahil sa katangahan ng tanong nito.
To my amusement ay umangat lang yung gilid ng labi nito na para bang may sinabi akong nakakatawa.
"How about I'll just kiss it?" Nang-iinis na dugtong pa nito.
Inambahan ko lang sya ng suntok.
"Tigilan mo nga yang kalandian mo, Alliston. Hindi nakakatuwa. It's disgusting to flirt with my sister's bestfriend. Goodness! Hindi ka ba kinikilabutan man lang?"
Hindi umiimik na itinulak nya ako pasandal sa headrest ng upuan. Inilapit pa nito yung mukha nito sakin.
"Disgusting? No one finds me that."
I rolled my eyes. Napaka-assumera talaga nito. "Not everyone will like you. Accept it."
"Fine. I don't even care if you don't like me. I understand that not everyone has a good taste." Umismid pa ito pero masuyong hinahaplos ang pisngi ko na sigurado akong namumula na.
"Ako pa walang taste?" I snort back. Bago nanglalait na pinasadahan sya ng tingin. "Everyone seems to like you but me. That just means I am a limited edition. I am someone you don't see very often. That's why you hate me."
"Well, news flash, I don't hate you. I know why you don't like me though."
I caught my breath when Alli leaned forward to kiss my swollen cheeks. Malanding pinadaan pa nito iyon ng dila nito. Letse talaga itong babaeng ito. Napakalandi.
Collect yourself, Louella. Ang unang bumigay, talo.
"And why is that?"
"You don't like me Louella because I am someone you can't have."
Napahawak ako sa kamay nito nang ipinulupot na naman nito iyon sa leeg ko na para bang hinahatak ako palapit dito.
Gosh, Louella! You should really go and do something to get rid of your tension elsewhere. Hindi ka pwede magpadala sa panglalandi ni Alliston. She's a cunning manipulative bitch.
"Scared, Louella? Don't you want me to pay you with what I have? I can do whatever you want me to do."
I really felt the goosebumps all over my body nang padaanan nito ng daliri nito yung batok ko.
"Stop it! I am not interested in y-"
That's when I felt a syringe on my arm.
"You really talk too much." Naiinis na sabi ni Alliston. Napasulyap naman ako sa braso ko. Lalo pa at unti-unti kong nararamdaman yung pamamanhid ng katawan ko. My vision is starting to blurry too pero hindi naman ako inaantok.
Damn it, Alli. This is not fair! Bloody hell? Why can't I move my muscles? Cunning bitch!
"That's just a low dosage sedative, girl. Chill ka lang." Bulong pa nito pagkatapos ay kinuha yung microchip cam at inilagay sa bag nito. "Too bad. I'll get rid of your evidences na for you. Why are you so trusty?"
Ipinikit ko yung mga mata ko para kalmahin yung unti-unting epekto ng gamot sa utak ko.
Grant is right. Alliston will do everything even playing dirty pag nakocorner na ito.
Dang, Louella. You got tricked by that innocent face, really? How dare you to put your defenses down while sitting beside the devil?
"Everything is directly sent to Grant." I slowly said those words bago pa makapagdiwang si Alli na naisahan nya ako this time. "Do you really think I am that easy? I always have a back-up plan, Alli bear."
Umismid ito bago tiningnan ako ng masama. "If I kill you now, I'll get rid of everything. Tingin mo hahayaan ni Grant na makulong ako?"
A soft laugh came out my mouth. She's really entertaining. It's so fascinating on how she trusts her friends. Didn't she know that she can't fully trust someone? Everyone will always have a reservation to save themselves first.
"If you kill me, Aria will have an idea that it was you. She knows what I am doing. Your bestfriend will hate you. All of the girls will."
I saw the confusion that crossed her eyes as if I just hit her hidden weakness. Was it really her weakness?
"I pity you Alliston. Your boyfriend dumped you for a real-ass bitch." I smirked seeing how it hurt her.
That's right, Alli. Get mad about it. He made you so low. Hate him. Pag binalikan mo pa talaga iyon, ewan ko na lang.
"Your family will disown you for being a mistress of a fucked-up married guy who has a pregnant wife. What do you think your friends will think if they find out about it too?" I started feeding her mind with her own fears.
This is where I am good at. I love playing someone's sanity. I love seeing how they self-destruct themselves.
Can you play this game with me, Alli? I haven't find someone who can keep up with me.
"No, Louella." She shakes her head. "My friends won't hate me. They love me. I've done a lot of things for them. They won't hate me for a single mistake I've done with my life."
"Exactly, Alliston. Just one mistake will enough to cut your perfection. All your life you're out there living with the approval of other people. You're just seeking validation. Just one taint, one mistake, everything you've built will crumble into shards. See it yourself. They will hate you, Alli bear. You will lose your sparkle to them."
Prove me that I am wrong. Captivate me with how you will reconstruct your broken self, Alliston. Play with me. I've been waiting to have someone as promising as you to play with me.
"I pity you too, Louella." This time ay ako naman yung napatitig sa magandang mukha ni Alliston. She's staring at me closely. "I pity how your life turned you in a cold-hearted bitch. No wonder no one wants to be with you."
Pagkasabi niyon ay niligpit na ni Alliston yung gamit nito at inayos yung sarili.
"Tell my parents I love them." Hinawakan nito yung car door para lumabas.
I can't still flex a muscle. I am so doomed. I just hope I am safe in this car until the effects of the drugs ward off.
You can't stop your fate, Alli bear. You can run. You can hide. But the harsh sting of reality will pull you back to where you're supposed to be.
I know Alli. I know. We're too alike.
*****