Chapter 4

"Aja... Aja wake up, a mailman came by this morning and gave me this invitation card, he said you must come or else... I didn't actually hear his last words cause he said it under his breath. You need to wake up now and read it, I'm dead curious Aja, it's already 2 in the afternoon, hindi ka pa kumakain"

I groaned then throw his face a pillow, "shut the fvck up! Alam ko na yan, my acquaintance emailed me last night! Let me sleep!"

I lay back to my bed and was about to continue sleeping when I heard his tiny sighed. "Fine then... I guess I'll open it myself then—"

"You don't have to, next week 10:00 pm at the Killiroque Mansion at San Roque, masquerade ball with auction beneficiary underdogs representative."

I heave a sigh when I realized my drowsiness has left my consciousness already, pvtangina kasi tong lalaking to eh!

"Help me get up, I want to pee" I irritatingly said as I spread my arms above so he can lift me or whatever he wanted to do, just take me to the bathroom and we're done.

He didn't say a word, just do what I said, even when I'm peeing he didn't leave instead he just turn around to give me privacy.

Until when I decided to take a bath, he didn't leave. "Ano ba? Hindi ako paralisado tanga! Nahihirapan lang akong tumayo at mag-lakad, I can take care of myself!" I yelled, but he acted like he didn't hear anything.  

"I'm sorry," he sighed. "I'll just get you a towel, wait here"

Ilang sandali pa ay bumalik agad ito, dala ang towel na sinasabi nya. He's not even looking at me, at my body, I'm butt naked though, and I'm thankful for that.

Umalis sya pag-katapos ibigay saakin ang towel. I though he won't go back anymore but guess me wrong.

Hindi pa rin sya tumitingin saakin, bumalik sya dala naman ang mga undies ko. He stayed at the door waiting me dress up.

Matapos akong mag-suot ng panty at bra agad syang lumapit saakin, akala ko kung anong gagawin nya pero binuhat ako nito at marahang binaba mismo sa kama namin.

I would lie if I said I'm not liking his gentleness. He's sweet, with his cute gesture but it's too off.

Sa nakalipas na araw, nag-papanggap na lang akong masama pa rin akong pakiramdam ko so he could continue treating me well.

It became our daily routine. Sa umaga gigising sya ng halos wala pa ang pag-sibol ng araw para mag-luto ng agahan para saaming dalawa.

Then he would bring our breakfast to the bed and let me it on the matress. Pag-katapos ay huhugasan nya saglit ang pinag-kainan bago babalikan ako sa kwarto at sasamahan naman gumamit ng banyo.

After that, kailangan na nyang umalis dahil may trabaho. Pero kahit na busy, babalik sya sa tanghalian para dalahan ako ng pag-kain, para daw sabay kami kumain, weird. 

Sa gabi uuwi syang pagod pero mag-luluto pa rin ng hapunan. That's how our daylight works. Minsan ay isasabay pa ako nitong mag-linis ng katawan sa gabi. He's giving me so much respect, as he should for making me feel the worse feeling of my life.

The masquerade ball has come. I said Azi that I'll come. Nong una ay hindi agad ito pumayag lalo na dahil sa pag-aalalang hindi pa mabuti ang kalagayan ko.

But then when he realized I'm already completely fine, wala na rin syang nagawa.

"But Aja, I'm warning you. Hindi ako makakasama dahil may trabaho ako, don't do anything stupid cause I won't come to rescue you"

I let my tongue out as I curl my hair. "I'm not a kid, Dickhead. I can handle myself as much as you can"

"But bitch—"

"Hep!" I stop him, "you Dickhead may go away and stop bothering me. Pakikuha na lang ako nang headdress ko don sa may coffee table"

I smiled victoriously when he followed my order. Padabog nyang nilapag ang headdress ko sa tapat ko kaya mahina akong natawa.

I'm wearing a simple yet elegant night black dress. 

Simple lang naman ang plano ko sa party, ang makigulo, pumatay at hanapin si Troy. I know he'll be there, he's one of the founder though.

Masama ang tingin saakin ni Azi ng matapos akong mag-ayos. It's already 9:34 pm, for sure I'll be late when I got there since  it's still two hours drive from here.

"Come on, sumama ka nalang kaya?" Pabiro lang yun, ayaw ko talaga syang sumama.

He might die, kung ako nga ay 50/50 pa kung makakauwi ng walang bangas sya pa kaya?

I chuckled when I saw how his face darken. Makikita mong pikon na talaga sya. He lied by the way, he don't have work in this hour.

Umabsent sya para lang bantayan ako buong hapon para mag-ayos. I ask him if he wanted to go with me but he turn me down. Ang sabi nya may pasok sya, when in fact was a lie since he only work at daylight. I know his schedule, my Daddy always update me about everything.

"I'll go now" masungit na sabi lang nito. I stopped him.

"Wait dickhead!" He look at me, I smile. "Can you just commute? I'm gonna take your car" I smile even more.

"No" he deeply said.

I pouted. "If you didn't let me barrow your car then I'm not going"

Nakita ko ang pag-ngisi nito, he look at me grinning widely. "Then I won't"

Ngumuso ako at tumango na lang. "Then I guess I'm going to stay here..." Malungkot kong sabi. Tumalikod na ito para umalis kaya napahinga na lang ako. "Ano kayang gagawin ko ngayon? Burn all my husband's documents? Throw all his favorite fruits from the fridge, or mamy just... Uhm... Donate all his Jam shoe to the orphanage!—"

I'm not yet done speaking when he suddenly hit me with his car key! Imbis na mainis ay natawa na lang ako sa naging reaksyon nito.

"Hey, that hurts." I lightly chuckled. "But I'm fine. Maliit na bagay, so pano? Una na ako" hindi na sya pinatapos mag-salita ng asawa nya dahil padabog itong umalis.

All the way to the party, the excitement is not leaving me alone! I'm feeling really great since I know this will be a bloody night.

"Good evening, milady..." The guards greeted me with manner.

I smile, namukhaan ko ang lalaki kaya lalong lumawak ang ngiti ko. "likewise, H" I replied.

Binigay ko dito ang invitation card ko, akala ko ay papasok na ako mag-isa sa loob but to my surprise he offer himself to escort me inside.

"Oh, thank you..." I said when he left me in my designated table.

"You're always welcome, Treasure..." He nod before turning his back.

I lightly blush, my title never gets old. Kahit ngayon ay kilala pa rin nila ako, they look high on me even though I'm already out of their darkness.

But we don't know... Maybe they're still expecting me to go back. Well I don't think it's gonna happen though.

I was getting board when on a sudden a man invite me to dance. I look at him, tanging kislap lang ng mata nya at mapupulang lapi ang hagip ng paningin ko. We're in a masquerade ball, what do I expect?

"Please, gorgeous lady... Don't let my hand hanging" he huskily chuckled.

I look down to his offering hand, pinatong ko ang kamay ko don kaya naman madali nya akong nahigit patayo.

He lead to me to dance floor, sa mismong gitna kami pumwesto. I can see familiar gazes that's staring at me, or is it really me?

When I notice someone loading a gun, I pull the guy out of the spot light and push him to the corner of the place.

I seductively touch him, his ear, his face to his lips. Sa madilim na parte ng malawak na lugar na ito, kasama ang hindi kilalang lalaki, nakipag-halikan ako sa kanya.

When our lips first touch he was hesitant.

"Virgin?" I teasing said.

Kahiy na madilim ang paligid ay nakita ko ang pag-init ng mga mata nito, he then take off his face and kiss me.

We kiss torridly, tongue to tongue. Nag-lakbay ang kamay nya sa likod ko, when it reach to my butt I take off my mask and look him in the eye.

Nanlaki ang mga mata nito ng makilala nya ako at akma na sanang sisigaw ng agad kong nakuha ang wooden knife ko under my bra and stab it in his nape.

His lips parted so I pulled his handkerchief from his pocket and stuck it in his lips.

He's still breathing so I take one of my special pin from my hair tie and stroke it in his next.

I trace myself and try to see if I got any evidence on my body. I shrugged. Only my hands has blood, and my Knife.

Pinahid ko ang kutsilyo ko sa damit ng lalaki at nag-ayos muli ng sarili bago bumalik sa kasiyahan. 

Looking at myself in my small mirror, I pouted when I see my lipstick spread on my mouth. I tried to fix it before anyone could notice it.

Buong gabi, ganon na lang din ang ginawa ko. Everytime a man come to me and ask me for something, I'll seduce them and kill then after.

When I git tired for killing less than ten mens, I just sit on my seat and call for a waiter to give me a drink.

"Ma'am, pinabibigay po ng kabilang table" sabi bigla ng waiter na kanina pa saakin nag-hahatid ng alak.

He hand me a tissue. It has a letters on it, I can barely read it because of my dizziness. "Fvck this shit. Read this for me, it's blurred" I hissed.

When I give him back the tissue paper, he awkwardly smile at me. Tila nag-aalangan pa sya kung babasahin pa ba nya ang sulat na iyon o babaliwalain na lang nito.

"Read or die, you choose" I said in full of authority when he didn't move.

He flinch and bit his lips. I smirk, go on boy... Make me wait and you'll be dead.

Napahawak ako sa sintido ko ng mapag-tantong hindi ko na pala suot ang mask ko kanina pa. I chuckled. "I'll count to three..."

"I can now f-fvck you tonight. I-I see you're in your w-weak state already. B-better ready y-your p-p-pv-pvssy b-bitch" mabilis na sabi nya at nag-kakanda utal utal pa.

I laughed, "sure ka yan naka-sukat?" I ask and he nod hesitantly. "Turo mo sakin kung sino nag-bigay" I smile.

Nanginginig ang kamay nito na itinuro ang table na may dalawang lalaki, dalawang batang lalaki. Kagaya ko ay wala na rin silang suot na mask.

"Give me a drink, go fast." Utos ko sa lalaki.

Agad naman itong tumakbo paalis at pag-balik ay may dala nanaman itong shot glass kagaya ng inaasahan ko.

I heave a sigh. Tumayo ako dala ang alak na hiningi ko sa waiter kanina tapos ay nag-lakad papalapit sa dalawang lalaki na itinuro saakin kanina nong waiter.

I sit on the vacant chair on their table. I saw the excitement plastered on their faces. Probably thinking of a shit right now. Ganyan nga... Isipin nyo lang na kaya nyo ako, na mahina akong babae... Tignan natin kung saan kayo pupulutin mamaya.

"Hey boys, I heard you're trying to pick me uo huh?" I said seductively. I even pull down my dress a little to make my cleavage show more.

"Ito ang gusto ko sa babae, pare. Isang tawag mo lang mag-papatira na!" Sabay pa silang nag-tawanan pag-katapos sabihin ng isa sa kanila yun.

"Ako si Von, sya si Even, tandaan mo ang pangalan namin, dahil mamaya natitiyak kong yun ang isisigaw mo mamaya" muli silang nag-tawanang dalawa habang ako naman ay nanatili lang na nanonood.

Sa di kalayoan, napansin ko ang ilan sa mga kalalakihang naka-itim ang papalapit sa pwesto namin.

I get up before they can even touch me. Ang dalawang lalaki naman ay agad ako pinigilan at pina-upo.

"Oy teka, hindi pa nga tayo nag-sisimula aalis ka na?" Si Von to, sure ako.

I smirk and sit as what he please. Ipinasok ko ang kamay ko sa gitna ng aking dibdib habang silang dalawa at titig na titig naman sa ginawa ko.

Then, I pull out my wooden knife, ang excited na nasa mata nila kanina ay napalitan ng gulat. 

"O? Bakit kayo natatakot? This is just my toy, idiot" I sexily chuckled.

Natahimik at dalawa at nawala ang pagka-walang hiya sa mukha. Ang isa pa sa kanila ay tila gusto ng umalis at nanginginig.

"S-shit! Kasalanan mo to, I told you to pick up a drunk weak woman! Not t-the l-legend! S-she's the legendary Treasure" Von said while shacking.

I pouted, "urgh... I'm flattered." Kunwaring malambing na pag-kakasabi ko. "Kaya lang, may mali kayong nagawa e" 

Hindi sila sunagot kaya sumeryuso ang mukha ko. "Tatanungin nyo ako ng 'bakit' o parehas kayong hindi makakauwi ng ligtas sa gabing ito"

"A-ano b-bakit" tila nag-lalakad ng loob na sagot ni Evan.

I smile, "it's when you tell me your name" tumawa ako ng mahina, "even if it wasn't your real name, just a pen or nickname... When I get bored and remember your names... I'll surely find you, and kill you with this"

Pulta na ang isa sa kanila, akma na itong tatakbo paalis pero parang may nakita ata syang tao sa likod ko kaya agad na lumitaw ang nakakalokong ngiti sa isa sa kanila.

"Watch your mouth, lady. I forgot that I'm way more powerful than you" malawak itong nguniti at naka-tingin pa sa likod ko. 

I look at where they are staring. I smile when I saw a familiar guy. "Oh, Altazar? What's the catch" tumayo ako para humalik sa pisngi nito.

He pull me closer for a hug and whisper, "are they bothering you?" 

Pasimple ko syang tinulak bago lingonin ang dalawang bata. "Nah, they're good. You know them?"

Tumango lang ito. Umupo sya sa mismong upuan na inipuan ko bago ko sya batiin at mariing tumitig sa dalawang batang lalaki.

I thought he's just going to talk to them but no, he pulled his gun out of his jacket and place on top on the table. 

Uupo pa lang sana ako sa kabilang upuan ng higitin ako ni Altazar at pinaupo sa kandungan nya. "These two kids bother you, huh?" 

I gently nod and lean on his masculinity well built body. "They even ask a waiter to give me this letter, how disrespectful" ngumuso pa ako at kunwaring sinamaan ng tingin ang mga bata. God I'm enjoying this show!

Ang kaninang tagumpay na ngiti ay napalitan nanaman ng takot at kaba. "T-teka... M-magkakilala kayo!" Von tried to make his voice seems like we wasn't afraid but failed, pumiyok ang dulo sa sinabi nito.

"You dick! She's my boss" Altazar replied, even though we both know it's a lie. We're no boss of each other.

"Taohan ka lang ni daddy!—" naputol ang sasabihin ni Von nong tila may na-realize ito sandali, "uncle was right, fvck"

"I am no boss of your stupid Dad. He's too weak to even kill a mosquito" sagot muli ni Altazar.

Hinampas ko saglit ang braso nya at mahinang natawa. "I badly want to kill them, Altazar. If not because of my headache"

He rolled his eyes and say, "You're not gonna fool me, Treasure, but I'll send you home"

Mahina muli akong natawa at sinampal kunwari ang pisngi nito. "Tange, I can drive, nandidilim lang talaga paningin ko sa dalawang yan. Patulan ko ba?"

Altazar smirk and shook his head, "chill. I'll wait you sober up before I let you go"

Marahan lang akong tumango tapos ay sinandal ang katawan ko sa kanya. Dahil nga naka-kandong ako dito ay ramdam ko rin ang init ng kabuoan nya.

I did what he said, lumipas ang ilang minuto na ganon lang ang posisyon namin. May ilang sandli na mararamdaman kong hahagudin nya ang likod ko, susuklayin ang buhok ko gamit ang kanyang mga daliri at yayakap saakin para umayos kaming dalawa.

This is Altazar. Malaking tao na may malaking puso sa mga piling tao sa paligid nya, and I'm lucky to say that I'm one of those who earn his trust.