[Phraea's POV]
My limbs are shaking uncontrollably for what he said. All of those things... not even my closest friend knows about my family issues.
Hindi ko mapigilang mapatayo at mapaatras habang namimilog ang mga mata kong tumitig sa kanya. I felt fear, it's insane that he knows so much about me.
"W-who are you?"
"I've been stalking you for four months before I made the decision to bring you here. That's what I always do before bringing my angels here. I need to know everything about them, even their most darkest secret."
Natigilan ako sa huli niyang sinabi. M-most darkest secret? Humaharumentado ang dibdib ko at hindi ko maigalaw ang aking katawan. Alam niya... of all people ay siya pa ang nakakaalam.
I can't believe this.
Nangangatal ang pang-ibabang labi ko at nakatulala lang na nakatitig sa kanya. Napatikhim siya at tumayo tsaka niya pinasok ang magkabila niyang mga kamay sa loob ng kanyang bulsa.
"You wish–"
"Shut up, shut up! Don't even think of making those words slip through your tongue!" I quickly went closer to him and shout to warn him. I could feel my neck getting hot and so is my face. I'm scared of hearing my own secret, as if a devil is listening. A single hush can make the entire world know about it. I was palpitating, the anxiety is attacking and my nerves are all being attentive like my own life is in danger.
I pursed my lips and looked down when he stared at me so fiercely. I shouted at him... I think i'm fucking losing my mind.
"Don't worry, my lips are sealed... as long as you kill your dream of getting out of this island."
He walked pass through my side and before he left, I asked him. "I think you got it wrong."
"About what?"
"Almer quit from the dare, his feelings for me are real."
Napaismid siya kaya agad ko siyang hinarap. Iniiling-iling niya ang kanyang ulo at parang isa akong katawa-tawa sa paningin niya.
"Then why is he not looking for you?" Napasinghap ako sa narinig. "The man you thought loves you so much is not even bothering to look for you. Is that the kind of love you mean?"
He smirked before he continued walking but I didn't let him get away without knowing the facts. "You're lying, you just want me to lose hope. A lot of people are looking for me."
"Your family are not looking for you neither your boyfriend. The only people that are worried and are even working their ass up to find you are your friends. Madison, Cattie, Florence, Siean, Red, Josefah, and Louise."
At umalis na siya, iniwan niya akong nakatulala. Napatingin muli ako sa dagat at doon ko lang napagtanto ang pagsikat ng araw.
"You're back," nakangiting bungad sa akin ni Rowena habang naglilinis ng lababo.
"Anong oras na?"
"Five o'clock, you still have some time left. Why are you back so early?"
"Sunrise na kasi, akala ko late na. Bihis na ako para matulungan ko kayo."
Mabilis akong dumiretso sa kwarto ko nang nakayuko at mahigpit ang pagkakahawak sa regalo na binigay ni Garen.
I made sure that the door was locked before sitting on my bed. I opened the small box and I can't help but to gasp after seeing a necklace shining so bright in gold. The pendant is a small silver square with ruby inside.
Tiningnan ko ang box na packaging at mayroong isang pamilyar na logo. Hindi ko maiwasang mapatulala na lang dahil ang brand ng kwintas ay kilala sa buong mundo at originated pa sa Dubai. Hindi ko posibleng ma-imagine kung magkano ang halaga nito at hindi ko rin maintindihan kung bakit kinakailangan niya akong bigyan ng isang regalo.
"We're running out of napkins, Master. I'm suggesting if you can buy some for us."
Agad namang tumango si Garen sa sinabi ni Evelyn. "Will do. I'll bring it tonight. Are you on your period?" Napayuko si Evelyn at nahihiyang tumango.
Tumingin ako kay Garen para tingnan ang kanyang reaksyon at parang komportable lang siya sa topic.
Mabilis na bumaba ang tingin ko sa aking pinggan nung magtama ang aming paningin. "Your necklace. Why are you not wearing it?"
Napalaglag ang panga ko sa bulalas niya. Yung kutsara ay bahagya ko pang nabitawan dahil sa pagkataranta.
"W-what necklace are you talking about, Master? I wasn't wearing any accessory before waking up in this island." Tumitig ako sa kanyang mga mata na may mensaheng pinaparating at nagdadasal ako na makuha niya iyon.
Please, makisakay ka na lang!
"Today is your birthday. The box that I gave you earlier has a necklace inside. Hindi mo ba iyun binuksan?"
Parang namutla naman ako sa kanyang tugon. Ang mga mata nina Rowena at Evelyn ay unti-unting napatuon sa akin.
"Y-yeah, hindi ko pa nabuksan. I'll try to check it later." Ibinuhos ko ang atensyon ko sa pagkain ng aking umagahan. Pilit kong hindi pinapansin ang makahulugang mga tingin ng dalawang kasama ko lalo na si Evelyn.
"What the hell is going on, Phraea? Ba't may regalo kang natanggap mula sa kanya?"
"I-i don't know. Ni hindi ko nga alam na alam pala niya ang birthday ko."
"Tell me, pinikot mo ba siya?" Taas-noo niyang tanong ko akin at hindi ko naman maiwasang mapakurap sa tanong niya.
"W-what? Pinikot?"
"Aside from sex, what else did you offer him?" Naguguluhan ko siyang tiningnan at iniling ko ang ulo ko. "Hindi ko maintindihan ang mga akusasyon mo."
"Well, of course hindi mo aaminin. Survival of the fittest naman kasi rito sa isla but honestly, Phraea, I never thought you have an extraordinary mind... a dangerous one. Kung ano man ang pinaplano mo, go on with it. I know you're just doing that to survive and I will also do the same." Tinalikuran niya ako habang ako naman ay hindi makanap ang bibig ko ng mga salita.
They mistook it and this is the reason why I don't want them to know that Garen is treating me differently.
BINABASA MO ANG
Island of Insanity
Misterio / Suspenso[COMPLETED] Phraea Chelsey Bautista has always been the top in her class and every professors' favorite. She has both beauty and brains, and everything a girl would dream to possess but her life is not entirely perfect. No one deeply cares for her...
