Unknown Two

Chapter 15

Chapter 15:
18th Birthday

Queeny's POV

   OMG! Today is Ais Ina Flovia's Birthday! The whole business world is invited. But there's a special party for us... for the Golden Flovia University's students. This is going to be fun! I'll make sure she'll be my friend. She'll definitely benefit me.

    Later at 6:00 p.m., kailangan nandon na ang mga estudyante sa venue. 9:00 p.m. naman for the business industry.

    Nandito kami ngayon nina Yen, Lana, Dana and Kaye sa Catleya's Nail Salon. Of course we have to look very presentable to make sure Ais will be my friend.

    "Saan ka bibili ng gown, Queeny?" Tanong ni Yen.

    "Kate H. Fashion" proud na proud kong sagot.

    "Zhēn?! That's amazing. Kate Hawkins' shop is so famous." Pagre-react niya.

    Napangiti ako. Mahal ang mga damit don lalo na ang gowns.

    "Kate Hawkins is the very famous designer in France right?!" Pakikisali ni Kaye.

    "Yeah. And her shop in this mall is the very first branch here in the Philippines." Lana said.

    "Of course Lana. This is FLV Mall in Manila. The Flovia family owns this. Lahat ng famous shop all around the world ay nandito." Sabi ni Dana.

    "I know! What I mean is the 'first', Dana!"

    At nagsimula nanaman silang mag-away. Minsan gusto ko na nga lang pag-untugin ang magkambal na ito. They're stressing me out!

    Napatigil kami nang sabay-sabay tumunog ang phone namin.

    May bagong post sa website ng school.

"Make sure to arrive,
At the exact glimpse of time.
The clock won't stop
Once Princess Ina's on top"

     "Oh... It's just a reminder for the students" bulong ni Kaye na nasa tabi ko.

     "That means we can't be late" sabi ni ko.

     "Yeah" sabay na sabi ng kambal.

***

     It's now 5:45 and I'm already here at the venue. Kailangan lang namin ipakita sa mga guards sa door yung I.D. namin. Baka kasi may pumasok na hindi taga GFU.

     Pagpasok ko, namangha ako. This place is paradise. Everything is perfectly set! The tables, speakers, design... Everything!

     Nakita ko ang apat na kumakaway sa'kin. Pumunta ako sa kanila.

     "Ang tagal mo, Queeny. Buti umabot ka pa. It's almost six!" Sabi ni Kaye.

     Nginitian ko lang sila at luminga-linga sa paligid. Ang laki ng lugar! Nasa gilid na table kami.

     "Girls, bakit dito kayo puwesto. Bakit hindi sa harap?" Nagtatakang tanong ko.

     Hindi ako sinagot ng apat. Kinuha lang ni Yen ang isang maliit na bagay sa mesa namin at hinarap sa'kin.

'Queeny, Kaye, Yen, Lana & Dana'

     So... May table arrangements pala. Marahan na lang akong napatango.

    Maya-maya napatingin kami sa malaking pinto kung saan pumapasok ang guests. Sumara yun ng automatic. Wow... Sosyal talaga. Tinignan ko ang phone ko, 6:00 p.m. exact. No wonder they already closed the door.

    "Good evening, everyone." Nakuha ng babae sa stage sa harap ang atensyon ng lahat. I admit, maganda siya...

    "I would like to introduce who I am. I am Belle, Ais Ina's bestfriend" she said then gave us a sweet smile.

    Yeah, you better enjoy being her bestfriend. 'Cause when she finally meet me, I'll take your place.

    "Thank you all for attending her special day..." saad niya. "...Are you ready to meet Ais Ina Flovia?" Dugtong niya.

    I'm not sure but I feel like she's looking at me.

    Well, baka naramdaman niya na aagawin ko na ang bestfriend niya.

    "Golden Flovia University, please welcome... the World's Princess!" Sabi niya at biglang namatay ang lahat ng ilaw.

    Napahinto ang lahat sa pagpalakpak at nagsimula ang bulungan.

    Maya-maya pa, nagkaroon ng spotlight sa gilid ng table namin. Tinaas ang telang puti na akala ko kanina ay pader.

    Bumungad ang malaki at magandang staircase. Doon humarap ang lahat ng tao, including me.

    Lumabas doon ang isang napakaganda, maputi at matangkad na babae.

    The one and only Ais Ina Flovia. At last, the World's Princess. But why do I think she looks very familiar?

    "Hello, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for being here tonight..." panimula niya.

    "Let's start these with a word... 'Nerd'. Everybody in this huge room hates that, right?..." Sabi niya.

     Nagsigawan ang lahat na sumasang-ayon sa kaniya.

     "Well, there's this girl. She's a victim of bullying. They called her the 'nerd' or 'witch'. It even got to the point that... it was done physically. You all hated her, treated her like she's not human. You all made her feel she doesn't belong in your world..." she said... I don't feel good about this.

     "...But, your eyes tricked you. You were fooled..."

     Unti-unting naikukubli sa isip ko ang magugulong ideya.

     "I would like you all to meet, Belle..." sabay turo sa babae kanina sa stage.

     "...My bestfriend. She's like a sister to me. She gave me the permission to do a thing that involves her identity. Hinayaan niya akong gamitin ang isang importanteng bahagi ng pagkatao niya..." huminto siya sandali sa pagsasalita at tumingin sa... akin.

    "I used her name..." then she smirked, "...Isabelle De Guzman"

    H-hindi... I knew something was going on... I-Isabelle is Ais? T-this can't be... All these time?

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