Faking Delays

36. Sold

Kristeena Abegaile

   

UTANG NG INA. Why the fuck did this happen to me?! Ba't ako?!

"Ate, sige na! Inaantay ka na ng mga bidders," natutuwang sabi ni MJ.

"Pero ayoko! Ayokong tumayo dun sa harap at ipabenta! Hindi ako gamit!" pabulong kong reklamo.

"Well, welcome to our world." Tumingin muna ako sa kan'ya saglit bago lumingon kay Harris. Asking for help.

"Go." Nanlaki ang mata ko. "Ako ang bahala sa'yo. Trust me." Trust him? Should I?

"Miss Amadon..." Tumayo ako at lumapit sa stage. Oh god. "What a pretty lady," komento niya pa. "Sigurado akong maraming magbi bid to take you out."

I cringed. Ew! Wala akong balak makipag date sa kahit na sinong ungas dito! Argh!

"Shall we start? Okay. Let's begin with... fifty thousand!" Napa awang ang bibig ko. Ganun agad kalaki "Anyone wish to go higher?"

"Fifty five thousand," saad ng lalake sa likod.

"Sixty thousand," sabi naman nung Vik kanina.

"Okay! Going once! Does anyone still wishes to go higher?" I bit my lip. I looked at Harris but he isn't looking at me. Oh, god, please help me! "If not then let's give a round of applause for—"

"Seventy thousand." This time si Harris na ang nagsalita. Saglitang tumahimik ang venue. Napatingin ako sa kan'ya. He's looking at me. Mabilis akong nabuhayan ng loob. Yes!

Pero nakabawi din ang emcee. "Um, okay... we are going once, then going twice! Any more bids?"

"Eighty thousand!" Pag laban nung Vik. Pwe! Go, Harris, taasan mo pa animal ka! Mayaman ka naman, 'di ba!

"A hundred thousand." Harris.

"Two hundred thousand!" That Vik.

"Five hundred thousand." Harris uli. Wow. He's really desperate to win me over. Hindi ko alam kung dapat na ba akong kiligin. I mentally slapped my face. Bakit naman ako kikiligin? Trabaho niyang iligtas ako sa sitwasyon na 'to 'no! Siya kaya nagdala dala sa akin dito!

"Eight hundred thousand!" Naka ngising sabi nung Vik. Hindi na nakapag salita pa si Harris. What the fuck? Hahayaan na niya ako dun sa lalake na 'yun? Taena niya talaga mamaya lang s'ya pag uwi!

"Okay, I think Mr. Radham won this bidding. So, Mr. Radham, please, claim—"

"One. Million. Pesos." I gasped. At hindi lang ako ang gulat na gulat. Maging ang mga tao doon sa venue. One million pesos? Just to save me from that creep? Just wow.

Pero in the other hand, mayaman naman siya and he's the main reason why I'm here. Tsaka baka nga barya lang sa kaniya ang isang milyon.

"W-Wow, uh, okay..." Naubo siya saglit. "Anyone wish to go higher? Anyone?" Walang umimik. "Okay, um, Mr. Everett, you won tonight's bidding. Congratulations! You may now claim your price. Everyone, thank you for participating and goodnight!"

Agad naman akong nilapitan ni Harris sa stage. And he held my hand tightly. "Ibabawas ko 'yun sa sweldo mo, Miss Henderson," anito habang pababa na kami ng entablado.

Of course, he would. But I can't seem to erase this stupid smile off my face.

---

The party went on na parang walang nangyari. What should I expect? Ibang iba itong mga tao na 'to sa mga taong nakagisnan ko.

"So, Natalia, how does it feel? To stand up there in the stage?" natatawang tanong ni MJ.

Umiling na lang ako at hindi siya pinansin. "Shut up."

Tumawa siya. "Don't worry. Hindi ka naman nila kilala. At isa pa, si kuya naman nakabili sayo," kinikilig niyang sabi. "So tell me, kailan niyo balak gawin 'yung date?"

"Oo nga pala, MJ, nasaan ang date mo?" pagiiba ko ng topic. "Si Ross ba 'yon? Saan siya?"

She sighed. "Ayun, hindi rin nagtagal dito. May kailangan puntahan."

"Aruy, wawa ka naman," biro ko dito at natawa. "Hindi siguro kinaya 'yung kakulitan mo."

"Speaking of date... where's your date?" Oo nga pala. Nasaan na ba 'yun?

Lumingon kami ni MJ, searching for Harris. But the people are just all over the place!

"Oh shit," gulat na usal ni MJ. Bigla niya akong hinawakan sa likod. "Don't look back," saad pa niya.

"Bakit na naman?"

She tightened her hold on me. "Just don't," she insisted. At dahil matigas ang ulo ko, lumingon ako. "Argh, ang kulit!" rinig kong sabi niya.

There, near the door, I saw Harris with a beautiful lady wearing  black long gown na bumagay naman sa maputi nitong balat. Seryoso silang nag uusap. She's the also the girl I saw on the secondth floor.

She must be the Celia...

Tinalikuran ko na sila. "Iyon 'yung ex niya, 'di ba?" casual kong tanong kay MJ. Tumango ito. "Ganda rin ah. Marunong naman pala talagang pumili 'yung kuya mo."

"Pero hindi na sila, matagal na. At isa pa, mas maganda ka kaya doon! 'Wag ka magselos ah."

"Ako? Mag seselos?" Natawa ako. "Hindi ako nagseselos, okay. Pakealam ko ba sa kuya mo."

"Okay lang 'yan, Natalia. Gan'yan din ako." She tapped my back to comfort me, I think. Umiling ako rito. Hindi na lang ako nagsalita.

"Hey there, ladies." Biglang may humawak sa likod ko. "Remember me, Miss Amadon?"

Paglingon ko, 'yung Vik lang pala. Agad akong lumayo. "Uh, no. Who are you again?" inosente kong tanong.

"Hindi ata ako nakapag pakilala ng maayos." Bigla siyang nag bow. "I'm Vikram Radham, my lady. We've met earlier."

"Oh, really? Sorry, I couldn't remember hehe." Hehe amp. Kadiri!

"It's alright, miss. Though it's a shame that Harris won you over tonight. I'm really looking forward to that date," he said then smiled. Well, I'm not. Tch.

Nilahad niya ang kamay sa akin. "I still didn't get your name."

"Natalia," maikli kong sagot at nakipag shake hands. "Pleasure to meet you." I still didn't smile.

Pero ngumiti ito lalo, showing his white perfect teeth. I don't think he get the message at all! "Pleasure's all mine." Lumapit siyang muli sa akin. I scooted away so that he would see I'm uncomfortable. "So, Natalia, I've been meaning to ask—"

"Umm, Mr. Radham?" putol ni MJ sa sasabihin nito. "I suggest that you stop touching Natalia's back, right now. As in now, Mr. Radham. If you value your life."

He chuckled. "Why?"

Ngumuso ito sa likod. "The lion's about to pounce on you," she said with a smirk.

Paglingon ko nakita ko si Harris, walking angrily towards us. More specifically, towards this guy beside me.