Chapter 12
I was cooking when my phone rang, dali akong tumakbo palabas ng kusina to look for my phone na nakatambay lang pala sa veranda.
I looked at the screen only to find out it was my Dad's wife ーmy so-called step mom, Sandyーcalling me. Tumaas ang isang kilay ko as I felt the need to release the beast inside me. I controlled my anger before pressing the accept button, "this is the very beautiful Kaira Chaves, what may I do to make you as beautiful as me?"
"Hija, next week na pala ang birthday mo. Your Dad and I will throw a party so your presence is needed sa susunod na linggo! You don't want to disappoint your Dad and I, right?" Now not to mention it, next week na nga ang birthday ko! How could I forget? Hmm... maybe because of the billionaire. But before that, tinitigan ko ang screen ng phone at ang pangalan ni Sandy that says Sa(ndy)tanas.
"I have a schedule next week so sorry, ikaw na lang ang mag-celebrate ng birthday ko. Okay? I'm not interested. Kung may gusto ka pang sabihin, please say it now because I am doing something."
Narinig ko ang malakas na pagbuntong-hininga ni Sandy as if controlling her anger, hah! Santa-santina talaga ito! "Don't give me that tone, Kaira. I'm your mother." Pagdidiin niya.
I chuckled. "Let me correct you, it's step mother!"
"And I'm still your mother!" She yelled. Frustration was visible in her voice, "hindi mo ba ako pwedeng i-consider na mama mo even just for a day? Why won't you let me treat you as my own daughter?"
"Because I am not your daughter! This conversation is getting us to nowhere, tss, fine. I will attend my birthday party para wala kang masabi, bye." I hang up.
That's when I smelled something that was burnt.
Nanlaki ang mata ko. Oh crap! Ang niluluto kong ham!
~*~
"Whoa, Kai! Don't tell us may nangyaring masama na naman sa iyo kaya nagyaya ka na magkainuman?" Ethan said sabay akbay kay Trisha habang nakaupo silang dalawa.
I frowned. "Korek!" Kilala talaga nila ako.
"So, spill the beans." JM said sabay ngisi. "Is it Travis? Resbakan na natin!"
Umiling ako, "actually, hindi ko nakita ni anino niya sa araw na ito at masaya ako dahil doon. Well, not until Sandy ruined it. Tsk!"
"What happened?"
"Nagkasagutan lang kami sa phone, that's all. By the bye, next week na ang birthday ko!" I announced.
Suminghap si Vivien, "OMG! Tatanda ka na naman!"
We all laughed.
"Since ngayon na naman lang tayo magkakasama-samang bestfriends, let's seize the night!" Sigaw ni Blue.
"Let's hit the dancefloor!" Humahalakhak na sabi ni Vivien.
I felt myself dancing with the beat of the music as well, tinignan ko ang mga kasama ko only to find out that they left me alone in the table, Blue was dancing with a beautiful stranger, Vivien was at the counter, Ethan and Trisha were making out in the corner, and JM was... out of nowhere.
Huminga ako ng malalim. They left me. Traitors.
Tumayo ako, not until somebody grabbed my arm, really firm.
Ngumiwi ako sabay lingon. "Excuse me, pwede bang bitawan mo ako?" Sabi ko sa isang lalake, he have looks but he is drunk and he looks like a pervert. So that is a turn off.
"Hey, you look like a fallen angel." He have a weird accent na hindi ko maintindihan due to his drunkness, it confirmed that he is not from here. "Wanna play at my bed?" He grinned.
Suminghap ako. "Bitawan mo ako!"
Mas lalong lumaki ang ngisi niya, "don't fight, sweetheart. How much do you want to be paid? I can pay you if you want."
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko, tumingin ako sa paligid, we were alone in the VIP lounge, even if I cry for help, nobody will hear me because of the noise of the bar and the loud music that is drowning my voice.
Hinila ako ng lalake, I resisted but he was too strong, tsk! Magkakamarka lang ang braso ko at magkapasa malalagot ito sa akin!
"Bitawan mo ako!"
"I don't understand you but let me guess you're saying you want us to do it here, so, wish granted." Tumigil siya at saka niya ako tinulak sa pinakamalapit na sofa ng VIP lounge, he sat on top of me, I can feel his crotch beginning to wake up.
And then every memories of that night when I was almost raped came back and all tears that I was holding back suddenly broke out.
"T-Travis..." I called out. Before the guy could land a kiss on my skin, he was knocked out on the floor.
"That's why I told you not to go out especially at night, this place is dangerous. Tsk. Isang araw lang na hindi kita binabantayan muntik ka na namang ma-rape." Tumingala ako, tama nga ang hinala ko, si Travis.
He wiped my tears and I felt the urge that I needed to hug him. So I hugged him. Naramdaman kong nanigas ang kanyang katawan siguro dahil sa pagkagulat but it softened, he then hugged me. "Ssh, save those tears for our marriage."
Ngumiti ako kahit na umiiyak, "asa ka..."
He chuckled, binaling niya ang tingin niya sa foreigner, "you, get lost before I kill you." Malamig na sabi ni Travis at halatang may bahid ng galit ang boses, ang lalake naman ay natakot at daling tumakbo paalis.
He looked back at me. "Such a mess." Iling na wika ni Travis. Nakayakap pa rin siya sa akin. "Let's go home."
Tumango ako at hindi na sumabat. "Tell me, did you miss me?" He said, lifting the mood and breaking the ice.
Pinikit ko ang aking mga mata habang pinapakiramdaman ang kanyang mainit na katawan habang naglalakad, naka-piggyback ako sa kanya. "Hey, don't sleep on me."
I yawned, feeling comfortable on his arm. "Good night..."
