Changed

Thirty-six

-THIRTY-SIX-

Amilyte's POV

Crap.

Pinagpapawisan na ko. The freaking bidding was getting higher and higher! 150 thousand for my doll and yet Sage is sitting in his ass, laughing!

"150? Higher than 150?"

"200 thousand!" Damn. It was Xenon. Bakit naman siya andito?

"Wel, well, well! 200 thousand it is!"

"230 thousand." Nakahinga ako ng maluwag. I saw Sage waved at me, grinning.

"250," Xenon said.

"300!" The guy in a blue jacket said, nakipag-fist bump pa siya dun sa kasamahan niya.

"330," Sage said and winked at me. Gross.

"350 thousand," Xenon uttered.

"The bidding just got more and more exciting! Three boys are willing to give everything just for the doll? Or is it for the fair Miss Amilyte?" As if.

"Man, really?" Sage asked Xenon, "Fine. 400 thousand," sabi ni Sage.

Umupo yung lalaking naka-blue. Good for him.

"410," Xenon said. Tumahimik si Sage.

Nag-last call na.

"450." Nagpalakpakan lahat ng tao.

"I guess the doll is sold! Come up here on stage, Sir."

"I know you man! Sage Camarillo, everyone!" The host introduced.

"You won! That was quite a bid! 450 for the doll! Or was it for this girl?" The actor suddenly put his arms around my shoulders and gave me a squeeze. Being ethical, I smiled to the crowd.

"It's for both." And he flashed them his dazzling smile, and he even snaked his arm on my waist.

The crowd gave a round of applause. We took photos together kahit sobrang labag sa loob, then the sweet music played. It sucked. Really.

"Hindi ka man lang ba magtha-thank you?" He murmured, while we swayed.

"Why would I? It's my money too-well, at least, half of it."

"Bakit ang sungit mo sakin?"

"Bakit nga ba?" I asked mostly to myself. Hindi ko din alam kung bakit ayoko sa kanya.

"Davi really helped, right?"

"To your plan to change me? Well, maybe."

"It's good to hear you're progressing without so much of my intervention." He chuckled.

"It's not a choice to change. It just happens. Sometimes people opted to think that somebody changed them. When in reality, it's just them. Those people are just a part of their change."

"Touché. So, I didn't change you?" We stopped dancing. I looked into his dancing eyes. The wind blew my hair.

"You helped by making my life miserable," I spat.

"No, I meant before this crap." He offered his hand again and I took it. I rested my chin on his shoulder and started reminiscing.

I know Sage meant before I was worst. Before they met me. If he approve, I'll give him an applause for discovering my soft side when I was a cold-hearted bitch. He sought for the sweetest spot I had so he can make it my own destruction. He used my own attitude against me. I hated it before. I hated that he knew all of my soft spots. He made me cry several times. He would asked me to come over so that we can watch sad movies. And in the end, I would cry.

"You used the good me against the evil me," I muttered.

"I know. And now, I'm taking you for granted, Amilyte. I did something terrible at Tria and sooner or later, she would eventually know what that is," he murmured hotly on my ear that sent shivers down my spine. I snickered nervously. Ayokong magpatalo kay Sage. He's been too much.

"Lyte, they'll hate you and I'm not sure whether it'll help or break you."

One thing I learned about life was that wag kang pasisindak. We should live life not leave life. So, I continued dancing with Sage.

"May I?" Nagulat ako ng dumating si Xenon.

Sage willingly gave my hand to Xenon but before doing so, he kissed my cheek way to long that Xenon cleared his throat. Sage being the bully smirked at him. They glared at each other. I shooed Sage.

"I'm sorry about that," Xenon apologized. Tumango lang ako.

"How are you?"

"I'm fine," I uttered.

"Stronger Amilyte. I like that." Hindi na ko kumibo. Bakit pa, diba?

Silence overtook us.

"I'm tired," I said bluntly.

"Oh."

"What do you want to talk about?"

"I'm just checking on you." He sounded so sincere that for a moment I forgot how to breathe.

"Kamusta na kayo ni Aurora?"

"How about you and Sage?"

"Are you saying that I'm a third-party? Don't compare me with Aurora, please." I rolled my eyes at him and waved his sorry attempts. Sa totoo lang, hindi naman ako naiinis dahil kay sa pagtanong niya about kay Sage. Naiinis ako dahil alam kong may epekto pa siya sakin. I want him out of my life but I can't. It really really sucks.

Bumitaw ako sa hawak ko sa kanya and went to the pavilion. Alam kong sinundan niya ko. Ang kulit lang.

"What?" I turned and faced him.

"Amilyte, let's talk," he pleaded.

"We've been talking for minutes, Xenon," I spat.

"What do you think about Tria?"

"What? Pano namang napasok si Tria? Am I Tria's critic? I don't care about her. Ask Sage. Not me." Why is everyone asking about Tria? Nakakainis na.

"Sage and you have issues to resolve. Pero wag niyo ng idamay si Tria, please lang." I let out an irritated laugh.

"Suddenly, you became Tria's knight in shinning armor. Sino ba siya? Girlfriend mo din?" I saw how he clenched his jaw. I know I stepped over the line. The mere thought of Tria sent bitterness all over my brain. I shouldn't be feeling this. Ugh.

"Amilyte, please. Magulo na yung pamilya nila, wag niyo ng dagdagan pa."

"Wala akong ginagawang masama, Xenon. Bakit ba ako nalang palagi?" I know sasabog ako sa harap niya konting konti nalang. Why is he insisting that I'm a part of this? Hindi ba si Tria naman ang pumasok si mundo ni Sage. It's not my problem anymore.

"Hindi naman sa ganun, Ami."

"No, Xenon. Hindi lang naman si Tria ang masasaktan sa laro namin. We play fair, Xenon."

Tinalikuran ko siya at naglakad pabalik.

"Amilyte! Tria's my cousin. Please, hate me, but not her."

Huminto ako. Surprised. Hindi ako humarap kay Xenon. I looked at him sideways. I can't show him how shocked I am.

"Why would I? Everybody hates everybody."