The Knight of My Life (COMPLETED)

Part Seventeen: Savannah's Scene

RANIEL had to leave his Dad's party at around 10pm to pick-up Savannah at work, so he left Mutya in the hands of his Mr. Suave-of-a-cousin, Felix.

Savannah was all dressed-up for the party, looking regal, and leaving the power suit she usually wears during the newscast. They talked about trivial things while he was driving, both knowing they're consciously avoiding talking about a certain issue.

Nang makarating na sila sa bahay, bahagya ng nabawasan ang mga bisita ng Papa niya. Savannah gave her present to his dad. His dad thanked her for it, while his mom was obviously being civil with Savannah.

He immediately scanned the crowd for two familiar figures—and after a while, he saw Mutya and Felix. Magkatabi ang mga ito sa table, at naabutan pa niya sa aktong ang pinsan niya na bumubulong kay Mutya, na ikinatawa naman nito.

"Jealous of Felix, Honey?" Narinig niyang tanong ni Savannah. Nang lingunin niya ito ay saka lamang niya napansin na sinundan pala nito ng tingin kung sino ang tinatanaw niya.

"Please don't start now, Savannah." He knew he sounded exasperated.

Umiling ito. "I'm not starting, I'm ending it." Pagkasabi nito noon ay naglakad ito papunta sa kinaroroonan nina Mutya.

"Savannah." Sinubukan niyang pigilan ito sa braso ngunit galit na hinila lamang nito ang braso nito mula sa pagkakahawak niya.

Nakita niya ang pagkagulat ni Mutya ng makita ang pag-upo ni Savannah sa tapat nito, habang ang pinsan naman niya ay magiliw na nginitian ang girlfriend niya.

"Okay, first things first," Savannah said as he again tried to pull her away from the table. "Stop it, Raniel. Gusto mo bang kuhanin ko pa ang microphone? O isigaw ko ang sasabihin ko? Para naman ma-broadcast sa lahat ng mga tao rito ang mga sasabihin ko about this pretentious damsel-in-distress of yours? You know very well that I'm capable of doing that."

Felix and Mutya had confused looked on their faces. He sighed. Savannah was right. And unless he'd choose to cover Savannah's mouth and drag her out of their house while she kicks and screams in front of everybody, he had no choice but to let her say what she wanted to say about Mutya.

"Okay. As I was saying, first, I'd like to compliment how beautiful the ragged doll looks tonight." Puno ng pang-iinsulto ang tinig ni Savannah. "Beautiful, but still, a fake. Your time's up, Cinderella."

He mouthed an "I'm sorry" to Mutya.

Nagpatuloy naman si Savannah. "Felix, dear, I'm sure as hell you don't know that the woman you're with is a chambermaid in Hotel Palazzo? See? You're surprised. But if you were seduced by her venomous charm, you've got to be really, really careful. If you want her in your bed, you got to pay two hundred thousand pesos." Napatayo si Mutya sa kinauupuan nito, nakakuyom ang mga palad, ngunit nagpatuloy pa rin si Savannah. "And her customers? They're usually the foreign guests of the hotel. So practice safe sex, for all you know, hawaan ka pa n'ya ng HIV—"

"Stop it, Savannah." He didn't care if he was hurting her; hinila niya ito patayo at inilayo sa table nina Mutya.

"Bakit, Raniel? I'm telling the truth, damn it! That woman's an effing whore!" sigaw nito.

"You're lying and we both know it." He knew they were already making a scene. Iginiya niya ito papalabas ng bahay; hindi pa rin binibitiwan ang mahigpit na pagkakahawak niya sa braso nito.

"That woman was paid five thousand dollars for a one night stand! Trixie told me about it!" nagpipilit pa rin itong makawala sa pagkakahawak niya.

"You paid Trixie to tell you about it," pagtatama niya. Nang makalagpas na sila ng gate ay saka lamang niya ito binitiwan. He still had Savannah's reputation to protect. "And can you please stop harassing Mutya? You even should be thankful na hindi niya itinuloy yung reklamo against sa 'yo at kay Trixie, since ikaw ang itinuro nung Arabo na nagbayad sa kanya para bastusin si Mutya." He already asked Trixie to resign after her connivance with Savannah regarding Mutya's schedule and room assignment. And probably, for also betraying Mutya's trust.

Umismid naman si Savannah. "If I know, kaya lang niya tinanggihan 'yon eh dahil mas mababa ang value ng pera ng mga Arabo kesa sa mga Amerikano. But surely, if the guy's an American—"

"Why are you doing this, Savannah? Walang ginagawang masama sa 'yo si Mutya." His fingers pressed his temples hard. "You even asked your Ninong Marcelo to discontinue Mutya's contract in St. Roch's. And now, this? Ano bang ginawa sa 'yo nung tao?"