A 6 year old girl ran fast on her way to her destination. Her pig tails are bouncing, in rythm with her body.
Yan ang naaalalang memorya ni Avery Paige sa tuwing pagmamasdan niya ang batang sarili sa larawan.
Ibinaba niya ang picture frame sa pwesto nito at saka ngumiti habang pinagmamasdan pa ang isang larawan.
Avery Paige just came back from Washington after her father exiled her for 10 years.
And she was feeling nothing but remorse when the plane landed on her native country.
"Miss Avery, pinatatawag na po kayo ng Papa niyo" pagbibigay alam ng isang katulong sa kanya.
"Tell him i'm coming" she answered
Para sa kanya, maraming nagbago. Mula sa bahay nila, sa mga katulong, sa kanyang Papa at sa kanyang sarili.
"ready yourself for later. I already told the maids to put your dress in your room." Her father coldly stated
Her hand stopped immediately from stabbing a piece of meat. Today will be her father's party. How unfortunate of her. Hindi pa siya lubos na nakakapahinga ay agad na siyang aabalahin ng ama sa walang kwentang event.
Pilit niyang itinago ang pagkadismaya ng mukha, her father is too noble and conservative...and evil.
THE CREAM satin backless gown was hugging her body perfectly, even if she didnt want to attend the party, she cant deny how she adore herself in the mirror.
She recurled her locks, powdered her cheeks and put on the darkest shade of plum. She wanted to look intimidating para hindi siya ganoon lapitan ng mga tao. She hates parties, she hates the fake attention and smile that her father's ordinates are giving her.
"Don't do anything stupid" paalala sa kanya ng ama bago ito pumasok sa loob ng mamahaling sasakyan.
"he didnt even say hello" She snorted to her self unbelievably
Magarbo ang event as she expected, hinding hindi nagpapatalo ang kanyang ama sa ganito. Para saan pa ang pera ng tatay niya kung pipichuging party lang ang ihahanda nito. That evil old man wanted to be the best.
Her father left the room they were in nang dumating sila. She sensed something is waiting to be announced, and it probably involves her. Nag hire pa ng organizers ang ama nito para lamang masunod ang gusto nitong flow ng party. She was also guarded by her father's security team dahil may nga panahon na tinakasan niya ito and boy, her father aged a decade that time. It was never an easy task to take home a black belter.
The organizers ushered her on her way to the party. She hates to be in the center of attention, but what can she do if her father is too powerful that people always try to look into her daily life.
"What? I don't even have a prince charming to escort me?" She annoyingly reclaim to the young usher.
"At sinong nagsabing wala kang escort? Andito kaya ang pinakagwapo at sexy na prince charming!"
Awtomarikong sumibol ang malawak na ngiti sa labi niya ng marinig ang boses ng pinaka paborito niyang lalaki.
Hinarap niya agad ito at saka binigyan ng malakas na hampas sa braso nito.
Napangiwi naman ang binata sa ginawa niya at umaktong ito na ang pinakamasakit na nangyari aa buing buhay niya.
"Youre overreacting Dale!" Avery hugged him tightly when he loosen up his act.
"Oh god Av i missed you so much!" He whispered, almost out of breath.
"Come on boyfriend, walk me down the stairs" she encircled her arms within his and proudly walk as the eyes of the crowed began to be glued to them. One thing she was thankful for his father is, he was never a hindrance between Dale and their relationship. Minsan ay naiisip niyang dahil si Dale ay anak ng isa din sa pinakamayaman na politiko kaya nito hindi tinututulan ang relasyon nila.
Her jewels started to sparkle as the lights focuses to them. Hindi na ganoong kapilit ang ngiti niya dahil nasa tabi lang niya ang lalaking hindi magtatagal ay ilalalakad din siya sa altar.
They were making their rounds with the guest ayon na din sa kagustuhan ng kanyang ama. People are flashing theire fakest smile with them, kung hindi associates ay business rival ng kanyang ama. Bukod sa namamayagpag na negosyo nito ay kandidato din ang kanyang ama sa nalalapit na eleksyon, all for the sake of money and power. Its makes her sad how she got fathered with a man that only thinks of money more than his blood and flesh.
She was smiling up to her ear when she felt something piercing through her. She instinctively roam her eyes around but she found nothing interesting, siguro ay masyado nang maraming sumasaksak ng masamang tingin sa kanyang likod. Nagkaroon tuloy siya ng dahilan para maibsan ng kaunti ang pagkabored niya sa party. Dahan dahan at sensual niyang ipinulupot ang braso niya sa bewang ni Dale and leaned on him closer. She chuckled when she heard few girls gasping behind her. Gusto niyang irapan ang mga ito at magmaganda.
Maya maya lamang ay ipinatawag na ng kanyang ama si Dale, ito kasi ang Vice Mayor ng kanyang ama sa pagtakbo nitong Mayor sa nalalapit na eleksyon. The youngest vice mayor that makes girls drool kapag naglalahad na ito ng speech.
A cute waitress offered her a glass of fancy champagne, she gladly accepted it and smiled at the girl genuinely.
One sip and it eases a bit of her suffocation, masyadong maimpluwensiya ang tatay niya kaya halos lahat ng inimbita ay pumunta, kahit ang mga guest ay nagsama pa ng iba. This party is where you can meet connections, his father has a lot of connections kaya sinasamantala ito ng iba.
She roamed around in hopes of finding something that may entertain her pero puro negosyo ang naaabutan niya. Napagdesisyonan na lamang niya na magpahangin sa veranda, madilim doon at tanaw na tanaw ang backyard garden ng venue. She took a sip again habang nakatanaw sa mumunting bituin ng gabing iyon. She exhaled and found peace with what her eyes see.
Until she felt it again, that piercing feeling. Awtomatiko siyang napalingon sa kanyang gilid and found a man in a an ash gray tuxedo. He was looking at her intently.
"uhm, hi?" she greeted him
Hindi ito sumagot pero unti unting itong humakbang papunta sa tabi niya. They are now facing the the backyard garden.
Napanguso siya ng hindi siya nito kausapin, ibinalik na lamang niya ang tingin sa mga bituin.
"So...what brought you here?" Tanong niya dito
"Work" tipid na sagot nito
Agad niyang pinigilan ang ngisi ng marinign itong sumagot.
"Well, everybody came for business" she stated
Naging tahimik muli ito kaya hindi na rin siya nagabalang magsalita pa. She was feeling so awkward kaya binalak na niyang umalis dito.
"Well, its nice to talk to you" she awkwardly bid her farewell
She turned about to leave but he made her stop. "I'll see you again" sabi nito saka naunang umalis ng veranda.
Naiwan siyang tulala sa hindi niya mawaring dahilan.
