Depression Plutus (Curse #4)

CHAPTER 52 Crimson Ball

OTTILIE VIRSES POV 
 
 
Malakas na musika agad ang sumalubong sa'min nang makarating kami sa Alyssium Hall. Kasalukuyang nag-aabang na ngayon sa labas ng hall sina Dylan at Plutus, na nag mukhang maharlika sa mga soot nila.
 
Samantalang hindi ko naman mailalis ang tingin ko kay Plutus na nagmukhang prinsipe sa kany'ang soot-soot na three-piece suit. His baby blue hair was neatly styled, he even had an earring on his left ear that made him drop-dead gorgeous.
 
"You're drooling, Ottilie," bulong ni Jenna na nagpagulat sa'kin.
 
"H-hindi ako sa kan'ya nakatingin," pagtanggi ko habang pasimple na pinunasan ang gilid ng labi ko.
 
Wala namang tumulo, ah! Bababa na sana kami sa kotse ng pigilan ni Jenna ang braso ko. Nakangisi na ito ngayon habang taas-baba ang mga kilay nito.
 
"Ang pogi-pogi ni Plutus, Ottilie. Kailan mo ba siya liligawan?" 
 
Pabiro ko naman itong kinurot sa tagiliran niya. "Pinagsasabi mo diyan! Tara na nga." 
 
Before Jenna could tease me more, I quickly stepped out of the car. Pag-angat ng mga mata ko, gano'n na lang ang gulat ko ng ilahad ni Plutus ang kamay nito sa'kin. Humahalimuyak ang fruit-sweet scent nitong amoy, na mas lalong nagpalakas ng appeal niya. 
 
"I'm disappointed, really," Panimula ni Plutus habang may naglalarong ngisi sa mga labi nito.
 
"Ano na naman ba 'yon?!" Asar na tanong ko sa kan'ya, sabay hiklas sa braso nito para ikawit ang kamay ko doon. 
 
"To bad, I was hoping to see you on an evil witch attire with a broomstick and black lipstick," he whispered.
 
Tila napikon naman ako sa sinabi nito. Sa sobrang inis ko, malakas na kinurot ko anh tagiliran nito. Kaasar talaga 'tong mayabang na 'to. Ganda-ganda ko kaya ngayon sa soot ko.
 
"Oh, shit!" he grunted in pain.
 
"Ikaw na lang magsoot, tutal kontrabida ka naman sa buhay ko!" Singhal ko sa kan'ya na ikinahalakhak lang nito.
 
Ito namang si Dylan at Jenna pasimple na tinatawanan kami habang naglalakad sa unahan namin. Doon ko lang din napansin na madami-dami pa din ang mga estudyanteng nagdadatingan kasama ang mga kapareha nila.
 
As we entered the hall, the venue's elegance left me in awe. It was my first time inside Alyssium Hall, and I swear it was twice the size of a basketball court. Naglalakihan din ang mga chandeliers na kumikislap na parang mga bituin sa kisame.

Para tuloy kaming nasa isang fairytale party dahil sa sobrang ganda nito. While tables and chairs were arranged in a large U-shape, leaving the center opeb. Mukhang iyon ang magsisilbing dance floor para sa night ball mamaya. 
 
"Tara doon sa bandang unahan," paglingon sa'min ni Dylan. "Doon ang table ng class natin."
 
"Ang layo naman," angal ko sa kan'ya.
 
My feet were already starting to hurt from my heels. I sighed, imagining the blisters I’d have tomorrow. As we walked through the hall, I couldn’t help but admire everyone’s outfits. They all looked stunning, halata mong may mga kaya ang ito sa buhay.
 
As I continued to looked around, nagsisimula na ako makaramdam ng inis. I didn’t like the way the girls we passed were staring at Plutus, intently, almost like they were mesmerized. Napahigpit tuloy ang kapit ko sa braso ni Plutus dahil sa nararamdamang inis sa puso ko.
 
"Relax, you can keep me inside your purse if you want." bulong ni Plutus.
 
"Keep mo mukha mo," pananaray ko na nagpangisi lang sa kan'ya. 
 
When we finally reached our class's table, I breathed a sigh of relief. The four of us had a round table to ourselves, which meant, hindi ko kailangang makipag-plastikan sa iba naming mga classmates. 
 
"Wow, the ball’s theme really feels like a fairy tale," Jenna said, looking amazed, as we sat down.
 
Dylan nodded in agreement. "Guess the tuition fees are worth it after all."
 
"Mic test. Mic test." 
 
And that caught the attention of all the students. In there, at the stage stood Mrs. Calloway.
 
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Enchantment Nightball," she said while smiling. "We will now be about to start the main event of this magical night. Please make your way to the center of the hall and form two circles, a larger one on the outside and a smaller one within."
 
"Kyaaaa! Magsisimula na!" Exited na turan ni Jenna nang nakatayo ito. 
 
Sabay-sabay kaming apat na nagtungo sa gitna, kasama ng ibang mga estudyante. Unfortunately, naipwesto sila Dylan at Jenna sa inner circle, habang nasa outer circle naman kami ni Plutus. 
 
Hindi ako makatingin ng diretso kay Plutus habang magkaharapan kami. He looked calm as usual, while I was trying not to trip over my own feet. Naiilang pa din kasi ako sa kan'ya. Ayaw tumigil sa pagkabog ang puso ko, habang magkalapit kaming dalawa ni Plutus.
 
"The dance is about to begin," Mrs. Calloway said. "Let the magic guide you."
 
Sa sobrang pagka-occupied ng utak ko, namalayan ko na lang na pumulupot na ang isang kamay ni Plutus sa bewang ko. Ang isang kamay naman nito ay mahigpit na nakahawak sa kamay ko. Tila nalulunod ako sa tingin na ipinupukaw nito sa'kin nang maipatong ko ang kamay ko sa balikat nito.

Mas lalo lang nadagdagan ang kaba ko ng umalingawngaw na ang panimula ng musika. As the music continued to play, before I realized it, my body started moving on its own. The magic of the hall made us all sway and turn gracefully. I wasn’t used to moving like this, but it felt natural somehow.
 
We followed the rhythm in silence, his hands holding mine firmly but lightly. Nakakatuwang magbiro ang tadhana, ang inakala kong lalaki na hindi ko magugustuhan, ang siya palang magiging dahilan ng kasiyahan ko ngayon.

Gusto ko ang pakiramdam na umiibig ako sa isang Plutus.
 
"Evil witch." 
 
Dahan-dahan kong itiningala ang ulo ko upang makita ang mukha ni Plutus.

"Ano 'yon?" 
 
Mas inilapit pa nito ang mukha sa'kin bago siya bumulong. "About that song you sang at the talent show… Care to explain who it was for?" He asked, smirking.
 
"Alam mo naman kung para kanino 'yon, magtatanong ka pa diyan," inis kong sagot sa kan'ya. 
 
"Oh, I know," he said, his voice laced with teasing. "But hearing you admit it is much more satisfying."
 
Sinamaan ko ito ng tingin, "bakit ba ang yabang-yabang mo?" 
 
"Why not? It’s me, the great Plutus of the court of greed," he replied with a wink. Then, with a dramatic sigh, he added, "So, since you’ve declared your feelings so publicly, does that mean we’re officially dating now?"
 
Doon na napakunot ang noo ko sa sinabi nito, "Ulol! Ligawan mo muna ako, ano ka sinuswerte?" 
 
"Ugh, that’s going to take forever. Can’t you just skip to the part where you’re obsessed with me?" He threw his head back as he exaggeratedly groan. 
 
Nahampas ko ang dibdib nito sa walang kwenta nitong pinagsasabi. "Hindi ako obsessed sa'yo!" 
 
His smirk returned as he leaned closer, his voice dropping to a playful whisper. "Sure, you’re not. But you will be."
 
But before I could argue more, the magic suddenly made us rotate, switching partners as the song continued. I danced with several boys after that, exchanging short conversations.
 
It was exhausting, but I've got the chance to make friends with other students. Sinubukan kong magfocus sa event, however, my thoughts kept wandering back to Plutus.
 
Finally, the music slowed, and I felt the magic release us. But before I could see who my last partner was, the lights went out. Napasinghal ang lahat, hindi inaasahan ang biglaang pagkamatay ng mga ilaw sa paligid. Sobrang dilim, wala man lang akong maaninagan na kahit kaunting liwanag sa buong hall. 
 
On the other hand, I was really hoping that it was Plutus who's in front of me right now. Though I tried not to hope too much. Then, soft music started playing again, and golden dust began floating through the air, illuminating the hall like a dream. Everyone murmured in awe, and for a moment, I was distracted by how beautiful it was.
 
Suddenly, a familiar voice whispered near my ear, making me jump. "Forget the damn courting, Ottilie. I don’t have the patience. You’re mine now. I can court you every day if that's what you want."
 
And before I could react, strong hands pulled me closer, and his lips claimed mine in a kiss that left me breathless. I gasped against his mouth, stunned by his boldness. Hindi ko na kailangan pa manghula kung sino ang lapastangang umangkin sa mga labi ko.
 
It was none other than the arrogant impatient jerk, Plutus. 
 
Still, I couldn't help myself but to kiss him back, feeling his warmth. And in between those kisses, I felt his lips curved into a smirk that made me blush. Then, I noticed something strange, the golden dust around us started to glow brighter, and both of us were faintly glowing too.
 
I pulled back, gasping for air, "Plutus…" I whispered.
 
His arrogant grin was the first thing I saw in the dim light. "Looks like I sealed the deal."
 
"S-sabog ka ba?!" I stammered.

I was panicking when I realized the glow around us had caught everyone’s attention.

"Paano kung may makakita sa'tin?"
 
"Let them," he said, shrugging casually. "You’re mine. I don’t care who knows."

"Hindi ka ba makapaghintay bago matapos ang event?!" Pabulong na singhal ko sa kan'ya.
 
Bago pa man malaman ng buong school kung sino kami, mabilis kong hinila si Plutus at lumipat ng pwesto. Sakto naman ang pagkabuhay ng mga ilaw sa buong hall. Doon lamang ako nakahinga ng maluwag, pero agad ding bumalik ang inis ko nang nakabawi ako. Walang pasabi na kinurot ko si Plutus sa tagiliran niya, na nagpa-igtad sa kan'ya.
 
But Plutus only grinned wider, "Why wait? I can kiss you whenever I want. You belong to me anyway."
 
I glared at him, trying to hide my burning face. Sinong babae ang hindi tatablan sa pinagsasabi ng prinsipe na 'to? Hindi ko naman akalain na magiging ganito ka-obsessed si Plutus. 
 
"Malala na tama mo sa utak," I muttered, but deep down, I couldn’t stop the small smile tugging at my lips.
 
Mukhang walang alam si Plutus sa legend ng Crimson Ball base sa kilos nito. Pero totoo kaya iyon? What if isa lang 'yon sa aftermath ng magic? Ay ewan, totoo man o hindi, sana hindi ko pagsisihan ang mahalin ang isang Plutus.

 
To be continued...