[Phraea's POV]
"You had a boyfriend this whole time?!" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko at yumuko naman siya na namumula ang magkabilang pisngi.
"What's his name?"
"Verdant Baylon."
"So okay lang sa kanya na nakikipag-ano ka kay Garen?"
"He can never say no," kibit-balikat niya.
This is fucking insane!
"Ate Phraea!" Nagulat ako nung may yumakap sa binti ko at agad akong napangiti nung makita si Paige.
"Let's go to our room! I have prepared dresses for you," tili niya at hinila ang kamay ko. I let her pull me upstairs. I saw from my peripheral vision that Garen is staring at me but I didn't mind him.
Napalaglag ang panga ko nung pumasok na kami ni Paige sa kwarto niya kung saan din ako mismo matutulog. Mas malaki pa ang kwarto niya kesa sa buong bahay namin. Her bedroom is a two-storey room. The wall is painted in pink, the floor is covered in white marble tile. Paige's bed is really cute, with lacy curtains pa. Marami siyang stuff toys at doll house.
"I want you to see my favorite part of the room!" Hinila na niya naman ako papunta sa hagdan na gawa sa matibay na kahoy. Napalaglag talaga ang panga ko nung makita ang isang projector at puting tela na mala-theater screen. May mga neon lights sa kisame. May malaking mattress din doon na kaharap ng screen at pinapalibutan ng mga stuff toys.
Wow, I can't believe this. Mas bongga pa ang kwarto ng isang eight years old kumpara sa akin. Simpleng side table lang at kama ang meron ako na kung saan pa naglaplapan ang boyfriend ko kasama ang babae niya.
"Are you sure you're not mad anymore, Ate Phraea?" Paige was teary-eyed when she face me. Agad ko naman siyang niyakap nang mahigpit. "I'm not, Paige."
"Ba't next week pa tayo aalis at hindi bukas?" Tanong ko kay Rowena habang pababa kami ng hagdan. Hawak ko si Paige sa kaliwang kamay ko at pinapatawag na kami para maghapunan.
"Garen still needs to prepare a lot of things. Alam mo naman kung ano ang mga pinanggagawa niya. Everyone would be shock to see two wanted girls being back in town alive and well. A lot of people will question us and I think Garen is setting something up to avoid that."
Nung maghapunan ay hindi ako sanay na may mga maids na nagseserbisyo sa amin. Nagkatinginan kami ni Rowena at hindi kami nakatiis at tumayo kami bago dumiretso sa kusina.
Tinulungan namin ang mga kasambahay at hindi naman nila kami pinigilan. It feels awkward to see someone else doing things you used to do.
"You girls are trained very well. Nice job."
"Thank you, Master." Magkasabay na sagot namin ni Rowena at hindi ko maiwasang magulat sa inasta ko. Parang nakatanim na sa sistema namin ang gawin 'yun.
Tahimik kaming kumakain at kasama rin si Verdant. May pinag-uusapan sila ni Garen tungkol sa negosyo na hindi ko lubos maintindihan.
"What day of the week kami aalis?"
"Tuesday," diretsahang sagot ni Garen at napatuon sa akin ang buong atensyon niya.
"Aren't you worried that we might tell everyone that you are the one who is behind all of the missing folks in the city?"
Garen scoffed because of my question. Rowena gave me a warning glare but I just smiled at her. "I trust you won't tell anyone."
"How can you be so sure?"
"You don't want to watch me pull Almer's intestines out, do you?" Napalunok na lang ako at hindi na umimik bago ko pinagpatuloy ang pagkain. Nakita ko sa gilid ng mga mata ko na ngumisi sa Garen dahil sa ginawa kong pananahimik.
That psychopath!
"I'll be leaving tomorrow for two days. I expect that both of you will behave, especially you, Chelsey–"
"It's Phraea. My second name sucks, so call me Phraea, will you?"
"Pleasure's mine, Phraea." His husky voice made me gulped. Yeah, he sounded too hot... which is not right.
"Can we shower together?" I was caught off-guard when Paige suddenly asked me after I washed the plates.
"Of course!" I can't say no, I don't want her upset and it's just a little favor.
I was just wearing my undergarments as I went inside the bathtub while carrying Paige.
"Cold!" She shakily exclaimed as she hugged herself. I tease her and splashed some water at her face. She couldn't stop giggle until she did the same thing.
"You're a strong splasher!"
Para akong bata na nakipagwisik sa kanya hanggang sa basa na ang buhok naming dalawa. Tumigil na ako pero patuloy pa rin siya sa pagsaboy sa akin kaya bigla ko siyang niyakap na ikinatili niya.
"Ang daya mo!" Kiniliti ko siya at kahit siya yung nakikiliti ay mas malakas pa ang tawa ko sa kanya.
Matapos kaming maligo ay pumasok kami ng walked-in closet niya na nakatuwalya lang. Kuminang ang mga mata ko dahil sa dami ng mga dresses na nakahanger.
"Here are yours, ate." Turo ni Paige sa isang part ng closet na kung saan may mga damit doon at undergarments.
"Is this really for me?"
"Dad bought that a month ago. He really wants you to stay here but you know, Dad has a problem in terms of voicing out his emotions which is why you and a lot of other people misunderstood him."
I really can't believe that she's still a kid. I feel like i'm talking to a 16 year-old billionaire heiress.
I picked a simple pink casual dress and I was surprised to see Paige wearing the exact type.
"We look good together!"
"I know!"
Tumingin kami sa full-body mirror na nasa kwarto niya at napangiti ako. Parang nasa panaginip lang ako. Paige is the ideal daughter I want to have in the future, not to mention that we have few similar appearance since sabi ni Garen ay hawig kaming dalawa ng mommy ni Paige.
"You think it's possible for you to love Dad?" I was caught off-guard as I was tucking her in her bed.
"W-well, I have a boyfriend."
"You love him?"
"I do."
"Does he treat you special the way Dad does?" Hindi ako nakasagot sa panghuling tanong niya. I don't know why but I can't lie to Paige, so I just gave her a smile before kissing her forehead. "Good night and sleep tight, baby."
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...
