"Good morning!" I chirped happily habang isinasalin ko yung medyo maitim na itlog sa plato at pagkatapos, nagsalin ako ng kape doon sa anim na baso. Kinuha ko rin yung pancake na hindi halatang pancake dahil nadurog durog ito habang pilit kong fini-flip kanina. Wow . . . Hindi ko alam kung tao ba o baboy yung papakainin ko sa lagay na 'to.
"The f*ck is this?"
Isa isang pumasok yung mga anim na higante habang nakatingin sa niluto ko, si Devyn yung unang nagsalita. Malamang sino pa bang magtataray ng ganyan ka-aga?
"Breakfast is ready!"
"More like, poison is ready." Nginitian ko ng pilit si Devyn at inilagay sa harapan niya yung pinakasunog na itlog. Poision pala ha?
"Oh ayan. Sana nga malason ka."
"Sino ba may sabi na magluto ka ha?"
"I don't want to sit idlly, boring the hell out of my guts! At isa pa, sinabi ko naman yung dahilan ko kung bakit ako nandito ngayon diba? I want to know more about you so why don't we have a good breakfast and you make kwento about your life?"
"You call this good breakfast? Tinalo ka pa ng bata, itlog na nga lang sunog pa." Pigilan niyo ako makakasabunot ako ng lalaking mataas ang sungay!
"Huwaw! Ha . . Ha . . Ha . ." Tinusok tusok ni Dallas yung pancake na durog at halos sunog na rin. Tumingin lang ako sa kanya kaya napalunok siya. Kumuha siya ng piraso at kinain ito pero muntik na siyang mapabuga.
Inamoy amoy naman ni Derick yung plato niya at halos magdikit na yung kilay niya. What is wrong with these people? Kulay lang naman yung nag-iba? For sure same pa rin naman yung lasa? Pati si Damien, inilayo niya lang yung plato at naka poker face na nakatingin sa akin.
Lastly, Gold eye-- I mean, Dylan. As usual, his face is calm and always regal. Very different from what I saw yesterday. Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyari sa kanya pero kung titignan mo ngayon, parang walang nangyari. I can't really spell him. After that talk on the balcony and after giving me his name, wala na. Umalis nalang siya. Tinignan niya ako at itinuro yung plato na nasa harapan niya.
"Care to explain what this mess is?"
"Excuse me?"
"Tinikman mo ba 'to bago mo inilagay sa plato?" Umiling ako kay Derick. Napaubo naman si Devyn at napailing sa akin.
"Why? Malamang given na kapag ako yung magluluto, masarap--" Tumayo bigla si Devyn dala dala yung tinidor na may itlog at walang sabi sabi itong isinalpak sa bibig ko kaya napatigil ako sa pagsasalita. Napaka bastos! Itutusok ko na sana sa kanya yung tinidor pero dahan dahan akong napangiwi habang tinitikman ko yung itlog na niluto ko.
"Masarap? Ganyan ba hitsura ng masarap?"
P*ta anong lasang 'to? Para akong kumakain ng sunog na ewan. Ang sagwa ng lasa!
"Hey stop it Devil!" Lumapit sa tabi ko si Dallas at inilahad niya yung palad niya sa tapat ng bibig ko. "Luwa."
Napatingin kaming lahat sa kanya.
"Spit it out." Mas inilapit pa niya yung palad niya sa bibig ko kaya na-gets ko na. Ew! Why would I do that?
"Kung ano ano nalang kinakain mo, sa tingin mo ba maganda yan sa bata?" Umiling ako pero with double meaning. Of course ayokong madamay yung bata and of course ayokong iluwa sa kamay niya yung nginunguya ko, ang dugyot!
Tinapik ko nalang yung kamay niya at naglakad sa pinaka malapit na basurahan. I know, I know, masamang magsayang ng pagkain but the damage has been done. Bumalik ako sa dining table pero naging seryoso bigla yung paligid. May kausap si Dylan sa phone niya at kakababa niya lang nito nung nakalapit na ako sa kanila.
"We need to talk."
Itinuro ko yung sarili ko pero tumayo lang siya at naglakad paalis. What the hell? Tumingin ako sa lima pero busy sila sa paghigop ng kape at nakatingin lang sila newspaper. Napansin ko yung headline sa front page pero nakakapagtaka lang kasi mukha ko yung nandoon.
"You're in such a big trouble." Napailing iling si Damien habang nakatingin pa rin doon sa binabasa niya. Teka ano ba yan? Bakit ako lang yung nasa picture?
"Wow. Ang dami mo palang kalokohan Callie? No wonder." Ngumisi sa akin si Devyn. Napakunot noo ako kaya hinablot ko yung binabasa ni Dallas.
Teka kailan pa 'tong newspaper na 'to? Bakit hindi ko 'to alam? And this picture? Wha-?
"You were so wild. This is kinda confirming that, that baby might not be someone who you should find among us."
"Devyn stop it." Pananaway ni Derick.
I scanned the article. Humigpit yung hawak ko sa papel. Whoever tipped the writer or whoever the f*ck wrote this is one hell of bullsh*t.
"This is not true, right?" Tumingin ako kay Drake na may pag aalinlangan sa boses niya. Of course, no one trusts me here yet so hindi nila alam kung paniniwalaan nila. Who am I even? Just a stranger who got impregnated and there has been no confirmation yet about the father so why would they believe me kung sinabi kong hindi totoo yung nasa article?
I didn't answer him instead.
Itinapon ko sa lamesa yung papel at sumunod kay Dylan.
Natagpuan ko siya sa living room at nakita ko na naman yung lintik na newspaper sa coffee table.
"I guess you think I am really a whore."
Whore. One word to summarize the article's content.
There are pictures of me dancing in the club, flirting, body grinding on the dance floor and even kissing some strangers. So kahit sino, 'yon talaga yung iisipin nila sa akin. Honestly? I don't really give a f*ck.
And I didn't realize the impact that this man have. So malamang kung sino man yung mali-link sa kanya, gagawa nang gagawa ng paraan yung mga chismosong reporter para gumawa ng article.
"Do you want me to take this down?"
I scoffed. What for? Like I said, let them think what they want.
"Don't bother."
Kinuha ko yung newspaper at umupo. "Do you think I look hot in this dress?" It's one of my favorite dress. It's red and very sexy. In fairness sa editor, magaling mamili ng picture.
"I don't what happened to you but I know for a fact that you're not a whore."
Unti unting nawala yung ngiti ko at napatingin doon sa lalaking nakatingin din doon sa litrato ko. His voice is cold as always. As if he's scrutinizing me. I scoffed once again.
"What do you know about me then, mister?" Naglakad ako papunta sa kanya at umupo sa tabi niya.
I'm not a whore? Pero kung makatingin siya sa akin noon parang ang bababa kong nilalang at sinabi pa niya mismo sa akin kahit na hindi direct. What a f*cking hypocrite.
He creased his eyebrows at tumingin sa akin. Dahan dahan kong iniangat yung kamay ko para haplusin siya sa pisngi niya pero medyo nagulat ako dahil lumayo siya bigla sa akin. As if he's allergic being touched.
I'm just teasing him but what's with this reaction?
I heard him cursed under his breath as he fixed his necktie. Tumayo rin ako at lumapit sa kanya ulit. Pero medyo lumayo na naman siya.
Okay? Nandidiri ba siya sa akin o talagang ayaw niyang nahahawakan? But he touched me before so...why is he acting this way?
"You're weird."
"As I was saying," Huminga siya ng malalim.
"I just said that para hindi sumama yung loob mo. I heard that's bad for a pregnant woman."
Napanganga ako sa sinabi niya. He said what?! Sinabi niya lang sa akin 'yon para hindi sumama yung loob ko dahil buntis ako? So paano kapag hindi ako buntis? Talaga ipapa-mukha niya sa akin na pokpok ako? Wow! Bilib na talaga ako sa ka-hipokrituhan ng lalaking 'to.
Is that the reason kung bakit siya lumalayo? He doesn't want to be touched by a whore? Unbelievable.
"Wow how very considerate of you. I appreciate it, really."
Translation: Tangina mo ka.
"So, is this what you mean we need to talk?" Hindi na ako natutuwa. Habang patagal nang patagal, gusto ko na siyang sakalin.
"You need to prepare yourself." Tumingin siya sa relo niya.
"For what?"
"I'll meet you at dinner."
After that, he walked out. Oh no you can't! Saktong pumasok yung lima rito sa living room pero nilagpasan ko lang sila at hinabol yung higanteng weirdo. Pero dahil nga higante siya, hindi ko siya mahabol.
"DYLAN!"
My voice echoed through every corner of this mansion. Likod nalang niya yung nakikita ko, huminto siya saglit pero tuluyan din siyang umalis at hindi talaga ako nilingon. Napatingin ako sa mga maid at butler na halos lumuwa yung matang nakatingin sa akin na para bang may nagawa akong napakalaking kasalanan.
Lumapit sa akin yung lima at pati sila, hindi rin makapaniwalang nakatingin sa akin.
"Did you just call him by his name?"
"Hindi ba yan yung pangalan niya? I really wonder, parang mas bagay sa kanya yung D*ckhead. 'D' rin naman yun diba?" Natawa si Dallas sa sinabi ko pero sinapak lang siya ni Damien.
"Siya ba mismo yung nagbigay ng pangalan niya sa'yo?"
Tumango ako.
"Weird."
"What's weird?"
"He doesn't give out his name unless he thinks you're someone who's worth to know his name."
What? Sinabi niya lang naman sa akin yung pangalan niya kasi natawag ko siyang Gold eyes.
"And he doesn't like being called by his name outloud and in a disrespectful manner. Usually he--"
"--punishes them." Dinugtungan ni Drake kaya napakunot noo ako at tumingin ulit sa dinaanan kanina ni Dylan pero wala na siya roon.
"Why? For what reason? That's absurd, it's just a name--"
"I beg to object. In our country, he's one of the most respected individual. No one had the audacity to call him names. No one even dared to call him on his real name except us and our parents." So what? Sa tingin ba nila natatakot ako? Me? Callie?
"That's in your country, nasa Pilipinas tayo--"
"But you're still in his territory, little missy. But we give you credit for having the balls to shout his name though."
"Is that a good thing?"
Nagkatinginan lang sila pero sumabat si Dallas.
"But I want you to shout my name too inside my room while we make se---AWW!" Piningot siya nung apat.
***
I am facing three woman who upholds the eleganct and proper posture. Kanina ko pa sila pinapanood pero ako yung nangangalay sa kanila. They're sitting with their backs straight and legs folded into their right positions with their hands resting delightly on their thighs and here I am with my usual indian sit. Their outfits are nowhere to mine, they are wearing designers and jewelries which I think, isang taon kong sahuran.
Who the hell are these people making me feel like I'm a hampaslupa?
But I noticed something interesting.
Yung babae sa kaliwa, nakasuot ng green from head to toe. Yung babae sa gitna, nakasuot ng red from head to toe and lastly, yung nasa kanan, nakasuot naman ng blue from head to toe.
They reminded me of the fairy godmathers from sleeping beauty.
Cute but cringey.
They all look so serious. Bigla nalang tumayo yung isa at tumingin sa orasan so tumingin din ako. Malapit na pala mag 3 P.M.
So...?
"Your shoulders should be relaxed and low, not high and hunched up." Ms. Red pulled out a stick--which I don't know where the hell came from--and slightly tapped my shoulder. What in the world?!
"Your feet should be flat on the floor. Just putting your toes on the floor isn't enough!" Medyo sinipat niya yung paa ko na hindi naka ayos kaya napagalaw ako dahil nakahawak siya ng stick. Anak ng! Can someone tell me what's going on?!
"Your upper back should be straight. Your lower back has a natural curve that should be supported by your chair." Hinawakan niya yung balikat ko at medyo pinaurong ako sa inuupuan ko.
"Wait! Wait! Wait!" Lumayo ako sa kanya at tumingin sa kanilang tatlo na composed pa rin.
"What are you doing?!"
"Teaching you the proper ettiquette, obviously."
"And I obviously did not sign up for this!"
"We understand your shock but I believe, his Highness already told you about this lesson."
May naalala ako sa sinabi niya pero hindi klaro. He just said and I quote, "Prepare yourself" yung lang. Is this what he meant? Palihim akong napamura.
Kanina natawag ako indirectly na pokpok at ngayon pinapamukha niya sa akin na wala akong proper etiquette? I've never been so much insulted in the span of one day. He's really getting into my nerves, that jackass!
"Pero hindi ako pumayag. Thank you for coming, you may go now."
Napatimik siya saglit at unti unti niyang inilahad yung palad niya. What again?
"Then you must pay for our compensation. We charge ten thousand per session. Individually." Napaawang yung bibig ko. Seriously?!
"Hoy bakit ako yung sinisingil ninyo?"
"We don't say hoy when we are angry, we must stay regal and answer them with high class and witty response but to answer your question, we have not been compensated yet and we cannot charge his Highness since it is his wish for us to teach you but since you do not agree with any of these then you must pay us."
What...the...hell.
***
Hindi naman sa wala akong pambayad ha? Pero hindi ko kasi makita yung rason para gumastos ako ng pera para lang paalisin 'tong tatlong fairy godmother na 'to. So in the end, I had no choice but...
"Knowing how to dress for wherever you are going is extremely important. You obviously don't want to show up in shorts for a wedding or in ratty jeans for a job interview."
"Well I can--ah!" Hinampas niya ako gamit yung stick niya. These people and their sticks. Sh*t.
"Why am I doing this again?!"
"We don't wear oversized shirts and undergarments unless we are alone or in our home surrounded by our friends or family BUT we do not wear it in the presence of other, most especially with these royal highnesses." Napairap ako.
"I can wear what the hell I want."
"Yes you can but please know when and where. Freedom is not absolute. You know that right? There are certain limitation to our actions."
Kanina pa ako na d-drain sa mga taong 'to. Lahat nalang ng sasabihin ko, may banat sila at ang so-sosyal pa pakinggan. As if I am going to apply whatever I learned here. Duh. Ilang buwan lang naman at wala na ako sa buhay nila so. But since I am here, I really have no choice.
Ilang oras na kami sa etiquette etiquette na 'to pero nangangalay na ako at isa pa inaantok na ako dahil ang bilis ko mapagod.
"I'm sorry, we know you're tired but we must do this since you are not only carrying your profile but as well as your fiancé."
As well as your fiance...
As well as your fiance...
As well as your fiance?!
Nagising tuloy yung diwa ko. Kailan pa ako nagkaroon ng fiance?! Nabagok ba yung ulo ko at wala akong maalala?
"Excuse me? I'm not engaged."
"But his royal highness told us otherwise."
His royal highness? Sino? Si Dallas? Siraulo talaga.
"Don't believe anything he says. He's just joking. Knowing Dallas-"
"We beg to differ, we're not talking about Prince Dallas."
Pumasok si Ms. Green sa kwarto na may dalang mga damit at sapatos at iilang mga jewelries.
"Who? Drake?" Umiling sila.
"Damien?" Still a no.
"Derick?"
Umiling pa rin sila. So does that mean?
"Your dinner with him starts at 8 P.M."
Wait I'm still processing. And then something clicked. Narinig ko bigla yung boses niya sa utak ko.
"I'll meet you at dinner."
I am excessively confused.