CHAPTER 03

"PERFECT!"

Mommy Vicky stared at me with awe, amusement was written all over his face. I used Grace's gift, and yes, it was indeed perfect for me.

Malapit lang ang La Roché sa condo na tinutuluyan ko. Mga 20 minutes lang siguro, pero dahil traffic at mabagal ang usad ng mga sasakyan, pasado alas nuebe na kami nakarating.

When the van stopped, I immediately got out of the van, holding my invitation and gold clutch. Photographers flocked again. I waved and smiled before walking inside the venue.

"Ryza Reyes," I told the lady in the reception area so she could check my name in the list of invitees.

She looked at me with wide eyes, shocked, so I smiled at her. Mommy Vicky was now busy greeting and talking to some people that I didn't know. I wonder how he knows them, halos mag tatatlong linggo pa lang naman siya rito.

"Ryza Reyes," I repeated, smiling because the lady in the reception area still didn't move.

"Oh! O-Opo, sorry... please go ahead. Our Staff will escort you to the V.I.P Area..." She panicked, then looked at the other lady beside her. "Shocks! Totoo ba to?! Naka-face to face ko si Miss Ryza!"

Naiilang na ngumiti na lang ako at akmang hahawak na sa lalaking mag e-escort sa akin. But a guy came rushing and bumped me accidentally. Nabitawan ko ang invitation pati na rin ang clutch ko.

"Sorry, hindi ko sinasadya. Nagmamadali kasi ako-" Ang paghingi niya ng paumanhin ay nabitin ng mapatingin siya sa akin.

Argentine eyes met dark brown ones. Agad ang pagkunot ng noo niya at pagkadisgusto sa mukha niya. Bumalik naman sa akin ang ala-ala ng lalaking ganoon din kung tignan ako... suddenly I realized, he seemed the guy I saw at Soho Grand Hotel six months ago.

One photographer called my name which made me back to my senses. My chocolate-brown, long, and wavy hair framed my face when I turned. I was forced to give an obligatory smile when the photographer raised his camera and took me a picture.

"Pretend that you know me," said the guy beside me. Bago pa ako makapag-react ay bumaba na ang mukha niya at ginawaran ako ng mabilis na halik sa gilid ng labi.

Sunud-sunod ang pagkislapan ng kamera. Ang kaninang mag-isang photographer, ngayon ay tatlo na. I was shocked and stared at him for a long moment, till he got my things. 

"Come on in," aniya nang hindi na ako kumilos sa kinatatayuan ko. Mabilis na pumalupot ang braso niya sa baywang ko at kinabig na ako papasok sa loob. "Next time, don't wear something that exposes your body... hindi ito New York City."

I was about to say something but he left me already. Hindi ko alam kung bakit parang napakalaki ng galit sa akin ng lalaking 'yon. I don't remember doing something na ikagagalit niya sa akin. At isa pa, hindi naman kami magkakilala.

Oh, boys... too complicated!

"Ry?" Agad akong lumingon sa pamilyar na boses na 'yon. "Sino ang kasama mong pumunta rito? Are you with Ruther?"

"Kuya Daryl!" lumapit ako sa kanya at kumapit sa braso niya. "Glad to see you here! I'm with Mommy Vicky but I can't find him anymore. Is Asia with you?"

"No, she went to Casa Divina, umuwi si Mommy Ashley kasama ang anak niya kaya hindi na sumama si Asia sakin dito," mahabang sagot niya naman.

"Do you know that guy?" I ask him with confusion then point my finger at the guy who just left me.

"Ruther? Of course, he is Asia's friend. Ang pinakamakulit niyang kaibigan."

My brows furrowed. "He doesn't look like makulit to me."

Inalalayan niya ako papasok sa V.I.P Area. This place is like an elegant palace in Spanish colonial. Though it screams modern and expensive, the eye-catching grand staircase in the middle made me feel like I was in the Spanish era where Princes danced with their Princesses.

"Is this really a Hotel?" wala sa loob na tanong ko kay Kuya Daryl habang inililibot ang aking paningin sa bawat sulok ng gusali.

"Yes," sagot niya. "A modern generation Private Hotel inspired by the La Tigra Hotel. Both owners are relatives."

Dumaan kami sa gitna kung saan halos lahat ng narito ay napapatingin sa amin ni Kuya Daryl. Ang iba ay binabati niya at nginingitian, habang ako naman ay nakikingita na lang.

Tatlong pulgada ang suot kong stiletto and that made me look five inches and eight feet tall. I moved gracefully, kilos at galaw na sinanay ko sa matagal na panahon. I feel like I was back in fashion with my slim but curvy body, high and firm breasts, narrow waist, and sensually rounded hips.

Kung sa New York, I would have worn something more daring. Something that would people think that I wasn't wearing anything underneath my dress. Pero malaki ang pagkaka-iba ng New York at Pilipinas, kahit na moderno na ang ating bansa marami pa rin ang namumuhay ng simple at konserbatibo.

Ganoon pa man, my halter backless metallic mesh mini dress will have me shining all night long. Sa harap, though it was obvious to everyone that I wore no bra, my dress still looked demure. The halter neck adds a touch of elegance, while the backless design brings an element of sexiness. Halos masusukat na ng lahat dito ang baywang ko na nakahantad sa likuran. Like what Mommy Vicky told me, I wore a dress that made people turn their heads on me. For sure, panibagong bansag na naman ang ilalathala ng media patungkol sa akin.

"There goes the soon-to-be-married man," bulong ni Kuya Daryl sa akin. "Robert Ford... twenty-nine-year-old businessman, have you met him already?"

"No... not yet. I don't even know him-"

"Then go greet him first, kukuha lang ako ng drinks and update my beloved wife," putol niya sa akin bago ako iniwan sa tabi ni Robert.

"Ryza Reyes?" nakangiting bati sakin ni Robert ng mapatingin siya sa akin. "I'm glad you made it to my party. Look at you... wow! Nakaharap ko rin ang sikat at usap-usapang Seductress Supermodel!"

Nahihiyang ngumiti na lang ako sa kanya. Inabutan niya ako ng red wine na kaagad ko namang nilagok. Pampawala lang sana ng kaba, pero mukhang napasobra. Humagod ang init niyon sa lalamunan ko pababa sa aking simukra na nagpangiwi sa akin.

"Uh-uh... the night is long, baka malasing ka kaagad," nakangiting sabi niya ng makita ang pag ngiwi ko. "Anyway, shall we dance?"

Ngumiti ako. "Sure."

"It's a pleasure meeting you, Ryza," Robert said while we were dancing slowly. Tila wala siyang balak bitiwan ang kamay ko. "I've read and heard so many things about you. My fiance is your number one fan." I raised my eyebrow.

Dumaan ang roaming waiter at umabot ng dalawang kopita ng alak si Robert. Muli niyang inabot ang isa sa akin na alanganin kong tinanggap. I already had one glass kanina na inisang lagok ko lang, at ngayon ay ayaw ko na sanang uminom ulit dahil nakakatrauma na ang alak.

Matapos kasi ang nangyari sa Soho Grand Hotel ay medyo alangan na akong uminom ng alak. But still... New York is different from the Philippines. I took a little sip from my glass and listened to Robert's story. Mukha naman siyang harmless at friendly kahit na nga ba bagot na bagot na ako sa mga sinasabi niya.

I was bored but I managed not to show it. Matinding pagpipigil ang ginawa ko wag lang mahikab sa harap niya dahil nakakahiya naman. He was telling me about how he met his fiance. How their love story begins. His business and many more.

After a minute or two, his business partner Emilio replaced him to dance with me. Tulad ni Robert, kung anu-ano rin ang pinagsasabi ni Emilio sa akin... pero lamang ang pagyayabang.

His in mid-forties, and telling me about his business, villas, and anything na iniyayabang niya sa akin na parang dumaan lang sa pandinig ko at hindi ko na matandaan pa. He also told me that his wife was very sick and stayed at their mansion in Casa Verde. As if naman gagaling ang asawa niya sa mga pinagsasabi niya sa akin. At ang mga banat na tulad ng kay Emilio ay alam na alam ko na kung saan ang tungo.

DOMs were all the same, ano man ang lahi at saan mang bansa ay iisa lang ang pinahahatid na motibo. Kung ang mga babae ay interesado sa mga damit na isinusuot ko, ang mga lalaki naman ay interesado sa natatakpan ng suot kong damit. Kaya naman ang plastik na ngiti sa aking labi ay naka-freeze na lang para hindi naman ako mag mukhang bastos sa paningin nilang lahat.

"I'd like us to meet again, Ryza," maya-maya'y sabi niya. "I want to get to know you better. Gusto kong dalawin ka sa tinitirhan mo..."

Ang kamay ni Emilio ay umangat at biglang pumulupot sa baywang ko. I felt his hand move up and down to my bare back softly. At dahil hindi ko naman gustong hiyain siya ay nanatili akong nakangiti. I was expecting my pretentious face to crack any moment.

My eyes searched for Robert or Kuya Daryl, hoping they came to rescue me. Subalit ibang mga mata ang nahagip ng aking paningin sa bar counter. At dahil ilang dipa lamang ang layo ng kinatatayuan namin ni Emilio sa bar counter, kitang-kita ko ang mga matang kasinlamig ng yelo at nang-uuyam sa pagkakatitig sa akin.

Ang makulit na si Ruther...

The man's eyes moved down to Emilio's arm on my waist. Kitang-kita ko ang malisyang ngiting ibinigay niya sa akin at kay Emilio. At sa hindi malamang kadahilanan ay nakaramdam ako ng pag-iinit ng pisngi which is very unusual. Sa klase ng trabaho ko ay sinanay ko na ang aking sarili na 'wag maapektohan sa opinyon ng nakararami. They could brand me anything they wanted and I couldn't care a bit. But I don't know why Ruther has affected me with his malicious stare.

May lumapit na babae sa kanya at kaagad na umabresete sa braso niya. Nang tumalikod siya sa gawi ko ay saka ko tinanong si Emilio. "Do you know that man?"

He looks at where Ruther standing together with a lady wearing a red body con dress. "Ruther Ford? Oh, he is Robert's half-brother. And that lady beside him is Krisza Mendoza, a calendar girl... his latest girlfriend."

He told me almost everything about Ruther Ford. A playboy. Filthy rich. And a handsome jerk, I added with a smirk.

Sa trabaho ko, I met thousands of handsome men. Rich, famous, and with a gorgeous body. Walang dahilan upang maiba si Ruther sa mga lalaking nakilala at nakasama ko na. And yet I certainly felt this man was like no other man I had met before. He had distinction. Sa gitna ng karamihan, no one could fail to notice him. He had a hard face... yet the cynical twist of his mouth added to his attraction as if he were a king ready to eat his prey.

Ever since the scandal that I got involved in happened, I became wary of men. And in my twenty fucking six years of existence, I finally gave up on finding Mr. Freaking Right in this world that is full of Mr. Wrong.

That Mr. "makulit" Ruther Ford... is one of those men.

I sighed, feeling uncomfortable now. Hindi ko na naririnig pa ang ibang sinasabi ni Emilio. Unti-unting nag-iinit ang pakiramdam ko. Wala na rin si Ruther na kanina ay pinagmamasdan ko. Bigla na lang nag iba ang aking pakiramdam. Para bang naging napakasikip ng bulwagan at wala man lang akong hangin na maramdaman. I badly needed to breathe.

Ipinagpasalamat ko na lang ng may lumapit na kaibigan si Emilio at kinausap siya. Nagkaroon ako ng pagkakataon upang magpaalam na pupunta sa restroom at iwan na silang dalawa.

My eyes search for Kuya Daryl or Mommy Vicky among the crowd. It was almost one o'clock and I started to feel dizzy. Oras na para umuwi kami. Bagaman marami ang tumatawag sa aking pangalan ay nginingitian ko na lang at iniiwasang ‘wag mahintuan upang makipagkwentuhan.

I felt really unusual. I felt like my body was burning inside, and even if my skin was exposed.... I was still feeling hot.

I searched for the ladies' room but since I was new here and this fucking La Roché Hotel was huge, I can't find any! Nakarating ako sa kung saan mang parte ng gusali na tahimik at walang ni isang tao. Hindi ko na alam kung nasaan ako at nakakahiya mang aminin, pero oo, naligaw ako sa loob ng hotel.

I searched for the lady's room when suddenly I heard someone... a woman's voice probably. Bahagya kong sinilip ang nakaawang na pinto kung saan ko naririnig ang boses ng babae na tila ba nahihirapan. I thought that was a lady's room and she was having a problem inside... but thought wrong.

Nang sumilip ako ay bahagya kong nakita ang dalawang tao sa gitna ng billiard table. The woman was lying down on the table, half-naked while gripping tightly to someone's arm. Nang mag angat ako ng paningin ay napasinghap ako ng mamukhaan ko si Robert na siyang nasa ibabaw ng babae sa billiard table, thrusting in and out in woman's womb!

"Ahhh... God Robert! Faster!"

I suddenly recognized the woman who was begging for more. She was Ruther's girlfriend, Krisza, the calendar girl that Emilio was talking about.

Dahan-dahan kong sinara ang pinto at nagpatuloy sa paghahanap ng rest room. I wanted to puke. My fucking head was spinning and my eyes started to blur. Wala na akong panahon mag isip kung bakit nagtatalik si Robert at Krisza gayong pareho silang may pananagutan sa iba.

When I leaned back at the wall, it was accidentally open. I turn around and immediately go inside, sukang-suka na talaga ako at hilong-hilo na. And the smell of the mix mint and soap made me puke the hell out of me.

"What the hell!"

Nangunyapit ako sa kung ano mang matigas na nahawakan ko at doon inilabas ang lahat ng alak na nainom ko.

"Fuck! Fucking fuck!" I heard a man's voice and felt a strong arm wrapped around my waist. "Oh fuck, woman!"

"I'm sorry..." I just said before I passed out, but before that, I heard him saying something making me feel confused a bit.

"It's going to be one long hell night with a seductress model huh... how lucky I could get!"

*****