The Heiress

chapter 10 auction

"Tarhata...."

Napalingon ako kay Elliot na nakangiti saakin

"We've got each other's backs, right?"

Flashback

"Boys don't bake!"

"You're just jealous because he knows how to! Also what's wrong with that? Di ka ba kumakain ng tinapay or cupcakes? Mali bang marunong siya gumawa!"

Sabay tangol ko kay Elliot laban sa lalaking bully namin dito sa school

"Because...because..."

Di natapos ng lalaki ang sasabihin niya at dali daling tumakbo papalayo saamin

"Don't worry Elliot, I've got your back"

End of flashback

"Hangang ngayon di ka pa rin nag babago"

Nginitian ako ng napaka tamis ni Elliot, maya-maya lang nagpa alam ako sa kaniya para mag ikot-ikot at may gagawin pa daw siya. When will this cocktail end and the actual auction begin? Busy si tito Edward kausap ang mga business people, si Elliot naman busy sa kaniyang dessert table...and everyone else seems to be avoiding me...Hindi ko Alam kung bakit. Am I that intimidating? I barely spoke. Napalingon ang mata ko sa kanang gawi. It looks like I'm not the only one who's alone

"Hey, what are you doing here?"

"The FBI sent me"

Napatingin ako sa suot ni Dean. He's so good looking bagay na bagay sa kaniya ang kaniyang grey suit I can see his chiseled and perfectly toned body kahit naka suit siya

"Why is the FBI here for an auction?"

Agad naman nag krus ang mga braso niya

"Pulis ka ba? Why are you asking so many questions?"

"I would think you should be working on my father's case"

Napabuntong hininga naman siya at kumunot ang noo niya

"We are, it would be much easier kung walang estorbo"

"Hey! Nasabi ko na sa iyo ang alam ko. But now that I'm in the clear...between you and I....who are the main suspects?"

Hindi niya ako sinagot at tinitigan lang. Agad naman akong nailang kaya inalis ko ang titig ko sa kaniya

"Classified?"

I ask. ilang segundo lang niya akong tinitigan at umlis na. ano bang problema nun? Nagawi naman ang tingin ko kay tito Charlie na may kausap. Who is he talking to? Why is he getting so upset? Agad Silang umalis ng kausap niya at sinundan ko naman sila. Nasa labas sila ng ng function hall sa garden area at agad naman ako nag tago sa mga bulaklak

"Miss Huntington?"

Biglang nag back flip ang puso ko sa gulat ng biglang lumitaw si Marcellus sa likuran ko. Agad ko siyang sinenyasan na manahimik. I'm too far away to listen in on their conversation lumapit pa ako nang kaunti sakto para di makita at marinig sila

"What do you mean your in debt again?!"

Galit na sigaw ni tito Charlie

"I gambled the money you gave me"

"And what has that got to do with me?!"

"Are you forgetting our deal?! If you don't give me the money I'll tell everyone na nakita ko kayong nag sisigawan ni Mr. Huntington on the day of his murder!"

They quarrelled?! Hindi ako makapaniwala sa narinig ko! Sa sobrang gulat ko the sound of some twigs snapping is heard galing sa kung saan ako nag tatago. Mas nagulat ako ng dali-dali akong hinila ni Dean papalayo

"Who's there?! Who are you?!"

Nakita ko si Marcellus na nakatayo habang ako naman ay nasa gilid niya at nakadapa kasama si Dean nag tatago sa nag kukumpulan na damo

"Security. I was securing the perimeters"

Sagot ni Marcellus habang diretsyo ang tingin kay tito Charlie

"What are you doing out here?"

Tanong ko kay Dean na mukhang galit ata

"Anong ginagawa mo dito?!"

"Charlie is one of the suspect's isn't he?"

Pabulong namin na pag uusap, agad naman siyang napailing

"Leave this to the FBI Miss Huntington"

"Did that bush just move?"

Sigaw ni tito Charlie. Uh oh if I don't move now tito Charlie will hear me and know I'm eavesdropping!

"My mistake gentleman- I must have stepped on a branch you both can go about your day"

Saad ni Marcellus. Narining ko naman ang mga yapak ni Tito Charlie at nang kausap niya na papalayo saamin. Marcellus covered for me while Dean pulled me away before they saw me

"Thanks Dean, thanks Marcellus"

Ngumiti ako ng napaka tamis sa kanilang dalawa. Tumango lang si Dean at umalis na. Tinignan naman ako ni Marcellus at tuluyan na ring pumasok sa loob. That was a close call at di pa natatapos ang gabi ha

"Are you looking to bid on anything today Miss Huntington?"

The auction is starting at nakaupo kaming lahat ng may kumalabit sakin na babae. Someone's talking to me, finally!

"Not exactly"

Nasabi saakin ni Tito Edward that the Huntington would be making a donation regardless for whether I bid for anything anyway

"Why not? That's the fun of an auction"

"Next item up for bid a diamond encrusted tiara worn by a royal herself!"

Nagawi naman ang tingin ko sa auctioneer at sa katabi kong babae na manghang mangha sa korona

"Wow! Look at that tiara now that's something that should be worn by the Huntington heiress"

Pagpaparinig saakin ng babae...except...the tiara is obviously a fake paano ko alam? That's the exact same tiara I wore noong nag tra-trabaho pa ako as princess for hire

"I think you should bid for it"

I compose myself and about to tell the girl beside me...

"That's a fake"

"Ano?! What are you talking about?! There's no way that's a fake! Hindi nila ilalagay iyang item iyan for bid!"

Why is she so sure it's real? Nakita ko si Tito Charlie na parang may binabalak na masama. I don't like the look on Tito Charlie's face...

"We'll start with 10,000 pesos"

Sabi ng auctioneer. Nakita ko ang babaeng katabi ko at si Tito Charlie na nagka tinginan at kinindatan nila ang isa't-isa they're in on this together! They're trying to trick me to embarass myself in front of everyone! Napangiti ako and tinignan ang babaeng katabi ko

"You really want me to bid for it?"