CHAPTER 17
"Woah. T-this is unexpected. A lady in black gown is standing here infront of us," naguguluhan na pahayag ng host. He looked again to his flash card on his hands, kung mali ba ang pangalan na nakasulat doon.
Someone motioned their fingers to keep going. As the host started to smile at me awkwardly. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay sa pagihing mahadero niya. Muli kong ibinalik ang tingin kay Rake Alicante.
Oh, come on, old man. I know, you've been waiting for this.
"Should I introduce her?"
Nagsigawan ang mga tao. Especially those boys who knew me from the start. Sigurado ako na napakatagal na na panahon noong tumayo ako rito.
"She is of course, the famous Ericka Quinn Lopez. I don't need to search any information about her because if you are a loyal member of this group, I'm sure you've heard about her," pagpapatuloy nito.
I stepped out my leg to show off my skin.
"Woah. It's turning hot, Ms. Ericka. No need to make a move," saad nito at pinaypay ang hawak na flashcard. "If I were a millionaire, I would bet for her tonight but I'm not kaya ako nalang ang tutulong sainyo."
Nagtawanan ang mga taong nakaupo. Nagpunas ng pawis ang host sa gilid ko. Oh, he seemed nervous.
"For a starter, fiftythousand pesos for a night, anyone?"
May nagtaas agad ng card board. "Sixtythousand."
"Sixtythousand says our gentleman at the back," the host stated. "Napakalaking halaga na panimula."
"Sixtysixthosuand," another one said.
"Mukhang mapapamahal ang gastos ng mga tao sa gabing ito," aniya. "Sixtythousand, higher?"
Napasadahan ng mata ko ang nagkukuyom na bagang ni Greg. Yeah, he better be. The idiot didn't know that I join the bidding at alam ko rin na wala siyang magawa dahil matataas ang katungkulan ng mga tao dito. If he tried to stop it, he would lose sponsors. The way I knew him, he would set aside everything for the sake of power and money.
Nang-aasar ko siyang kinindatan. He then tilted his head disapprovingly and whispered something to the man beside him and left. Gusto kong tumawa dahil kahit papaano I ruined his organize plan. This actually made my night somehow... If only Rake would win this game.
Pinasadahan ko siya muli ng tingin. He was only sitting and drinking like he didn't give a fuck that I was standing infront of him. Oh, come on, Alicante. Kahit hindi ko man maalala ang nangyari, alam ko na gagawin niya ang lahat para makuha ako ngayon gabi.
There was a connection between us I couldn't describe. Kahit na hindi siya 'yong tipo kong lalaki. I was asking myself why did I end up having children with him. But then I knew it was a stupid question. Madali lang naman ang sagot sa tanong ko; kakatihan is the answer.
"Eightythousand pesos," rinig kong sigaw ng isa habang titig na titig kay Rake. He tossed his glass slightly telling me to cheers. Tila ba nang-aasar ang lalaking ito. After he told me that he was mad at me for keeping things from him. Now he had the audacity to show me like he didn't give a fuck.
Oh boys... and their pride. As if it would lead them far when they're taking me with them.
"Hundredthousand pesos!" sigaw ng lalaking binulungan ni Greg.
Naglakihan ang mata ng mga tao sa paligid. Even Rake raised his brow pero hindi lumingon kung sino ang nagsabi noon. I bit my lip as I slowly turned to the mirror on my side. Naguluhan ako bigla. An andrenaline rushed my body. Shit. What the fuck was this? Para bang sinampal ako ng katotohan. My mind was in the past but my body was in the present. I started to feel scared. It was how I felt it the first time they tried to bid me and how it ended bad.
