That Playgirl's Karma

🍷t w e n t y - e i g h t🍷

Two hours left before the coronation night, and I found myself staring at the mirror, wearing the dress Fim gave me.

She said I needed to act for the sake of our family's image. Kahit labag sa kalooban, wala akong choice. I hate them, but I am not selfish. This is Thania's big night, and to avoid any questions about why I didn't come, I need to cooperate.

Nang makapag-ayos na ako, lumabas na ako sa aking kwarto. Nandito na ako ngayon sa mansion dahil may mga photo-taking na mangyayari, kaya kailangan ko raw na maging maaga. Maririnig ko na sa baba ang mga bisitang isa-isang nagsipagdatingan nang lumabas ako sa aking kwarto, at sa hindi ko inaasahan, magkakatagpo pa talaga ang landas namin ni Thania, na siyang iniiwasan ko sana.

"Oh! Akala ko malelate ka!" bungad niya.

"I'll go early later, kaya maaga akong pumunta rito."

"Is that so?" I saw how her eyes scanned me from head to toe. Here we are again.

"That dress... Mom gave you that?"

"Yes, your mom gave me this."

"Oh, that's cute! Even though my mom isn't your mom... still, she cares for you."

Ugh, why is she so annoying?

I just wanted to walk away from her, but I didn't want to leave without saying the words I really wanted to tell her.

"Thania, I just want to be frank here... you know why I hate you so much? Because you talk like an idiot-pathetic, to be exact."

Her mood changed, and so did the grip of her hands.

"You are the pathetic one, Azalea. At alam mo... kaya ka iniiwan kasi hindi mo 'yan deserving. Dapat lang sa 'yo ang mapag-isa."

I scoffed. Even a single strike from her words didn't budge me, not even a particle and that made me laugh so hard.

"W-What's with you? Baliw ka ba?!"

"So... you're really going to be a heiress. Congratulations! Because this is what you wanted, right? Or maybe..." I stepped closer to her, "Maybe it was only your mother's choice."

Napakurap siya sa mga sinabi ko, kaya hindi ko mapigilang matawa.

"Being too obedient will lead you to severe regret soon, Thania. I'm telling you this not as your stepsister but as a girl who is concerned. I don't pity nor care for you, stop assuming, okay? I'm telling you this... 'cause maybe someday, I'll steal your throne."

Her eyes grew bigger, as if she were aware that I could really do those things.

"Just kidding. Your mom is waiting for you downstairs. Let's go?"

Nauna na akong naglakad sa kaniya, pero may sinabi siya na ikinatigil ko.

"Azalea, may araw ba na itinuring mo akong kapatid?"

Muli akong lumingon sa kaniya at nginitian siya.

"No.." Yes.

"Never." I did.

Hindi ko na hinintay pa ang isasagot niya. Nauna na akong naglakad palayo hanggang sa hindi ko na naramdaman ang kaniyang presensya.

Yes, there were times when I saw her as my younger sister. But I don't want her to know it. I prefer to let her see the madness I have for her.

Nagsimula na ang event. Buong gabi ay nasa upuan lamang ako habang patuloy sa pagbibigay ng speech si Thania.

Halos nakailang baso na ako ng whiskey. Kahit ayokong malasing, mas ginusto ko pang uminom nang uminom.

Hanggang sa pinatawag ako sa stage para sa picture-taking. Abot-tainga ang ngiti ko habang umaakyat ng stage, at naabutan ko ang pagmumukha ni Fim na biglang naglaho ang ngiti.

"Hi!"

"Are you drunk?" pabulong na tanong ni Fim sa akin, upang hindi marinig ng mga tao sa paligid.

"Isn't it obvious? Nainip ako sa speech ng anak ninyo kaya I decided to drunk myself. The whiskey is good, by the way."

"You better act nice, Azalea."

I mimicked her as I smiled at every camera I saw.

Nagpatuloy pa rin ang event. May ibang umalis na, pero marami pa rin ang nanatili. Thania is with her friends-as usual-but this time, they didn't even bother to glance at me. People change, huh?

Nakaramdam ako ng bagot kaya naisipan kong lumabas ng mansion. Dumaan ako sa likod dahil maraming tao sa harap. I needed to breathe some fresh air, at para na rin mahimasmasan ang kalasingan ko.

Nang makalabas, kinuha ko ang aking phone at napataas ang kilay ko nang walang signal banda rito.

"Really? Walang signal ang bawat sulok ng mansion na 'to?"

Itinaas ko ang aking phone at naghanap ng spot na may signal. Pero sa hindi ko inaasahan, iba ang nasaksihan ko.

Sa hindi kalayuan ay nahagilap ko si Fim na may kausap, at higit sa lahat, hindi lang basta-bastang bisita iyon... kilala ko kung sino siya.

Suddenly, my hands started to tremble. I know who that guy is. he's the pervert who planned to assault me at the bar before, the one Felix and I are currently looking for.

I need to call Felix.

He needs to know everything that behind the shitty things that happened to me, it's all because of Fim, my stepmother.

For heaven's sake! My phone cooperated. Nagkaroon na rin ng signal kaya kaagad kong kinontak si Felix. And when I looked at them again, they were gone.

"Azalea?"

Fvck!

It was Fim. She fvcking saw me!

Kaagad kong binaba ang aking phone at umastang walang nangyari.

"F-Fim... what are you doing here?"

Her eyes stared at me as if she were looking for something.

"Dapat ako ang magtanong niyan sa 'yo. What are you doing here?"

"Nagpahangin lang," diretso kong sagot. I need to act cool and unbothered.

But then, she smiled widely like she always does. "And? You saw something, right?"

And that made my soul jump. "S-Saw what?"

I need to get out of here as soon as possible!

"Actually, I-I better go. I don't have time to talk to you-"

I was about to run out of her sight when she suddenly gripped my wrist.

"F-Fim, what are you doing? Bitawan mo 'ko!"

"No. Answer my question first. May nakita ka, 'diba?"

"Sabing bitawan mo 'ko!"

Labag man sa kalooban kong gawin iyon sa kaniya, malakas kong sinipa ang kaniyang tiyan. Dahilan iyon ng pagbitaw niya sa akin kaya kaagad akong tumakbo.

Good job, I escaped from her!

Pero hahawak na sana ako sa pihitan ng pinto nang may biglang nagtakip ng panyo sa aking mukha.

"HMM!"

Kaagad ko siyang siniko at buong lakas na sumigaw, pero masyado siyang malakas. At sa hindi ko inaasahan, isang malakas na suntok ang natanggap ko sa tiyan.

Parang maluluwal ako sa sakit, hanggang sa nandidilim na ang paningin ko at hindi ko na alam ang nangyayari.