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ARRANGEMENT
"Haisst nakakainis ka naman. Keyla, eh!" nakasimangot na wika ni Magna.
Isa ito sa mga taong nakilala ko sa Palawan luckily halos magkapitbahay lamang pala kami dahil nakatira rin ito sa village.
Kunot noo'ng binalingan ko ito ng tingin,"Ha? bakit?" tanong ko pa habang naka kunot ang noo.
Mas lalo sumimangot si Magna dahil dito,"Kasi naman e, ako trying hard to be pretty tapos ikaw damn your a beauty kahit nga shirt lang sout mo maganda ka pa rin, You're so gorgeous Keyla…"
Sumandal lamang ako sa bench na kinakaupuan namin we are currently at the park near on the museum.
"You're so oa naman," natatawang sagot ko.
"You're beautiful. Magna, in a way you do." nakangiting wika ko rito.
Masiyadong mababa ang self-esteem ni Magna simpleng salita lamang ay madali itong ma-insecure sa kaniyang itsura. Maganda rin naman siya ngunit hindi niya ito makita dahil palagi niyang binababa ang sarili niya.
Nakangiti lamang ako rito, ramdam ko ang pagkaka-insecure nito sa tuwing mag-kasama kaming dalawa.
"Ako? maganda? naku gutom ka'na ata Keyla, ano kain na tayo," sagot pa nito habang natatawa.
"Sayo lang ata umaapekto ang salitang maganda," wika nito.
"Magna-"
Nakangiting bumaling ito ng tingin sa akin,"Naku ha, wag kang ganyan, masiyado na akong nasasanay sa presensya at mga salita mo…baka isang araw malaman ko nalang na wala ka'na pala, na bumalik ka'na pala sa ibang bansa…" wika nito sa'kin.
Hindi ako sumagot sa sinabi nito sa akin alam ko na may punto ito, maari nga akong bumalik sa ibang bansa kahit anong oras ngunit ayaw ko naman na umalis ng hindi personal na magpapaalam kay Magna.
Naging malapit na sa'kin ang dalaga, mabait ito at sa unang kita mo palang rito ay talaga hahanga ka na agad sa pagiging simple nito lalo na sa kabaitan nitong taglay.
"Magna…pangako personal akong magpapaalam sayo sa oras na aalis ako, pangako yan!" aniko.
Malungkot lamang akong nginitian nito,"Kung ga'noon may b-balak ka pa rin palang umalis ng bansa, at bumalik sa inyo?" malungkot nitong tanong sa akin tumango lamang ako bilang sagot rito.
"Hoy! ano ka ba ang oa ha, malayo pa naman yun," tumango ito sa akin at malapad akong nginitian.
"Then let's make some memories?"nakangiting tanong nito sa akin.
"We'll do. Magna, we'll do,"
Madali lamang kaming natapos sa aming ginagawa, maaga lang din kaming umuwi dahil masiyadong strikto ang magulang ni Magna madalang lamang kami kung magkita.
"Ano ba yan, uuwi na ako," nakasimangot na wika nito tinawanan ko na lamang siya na lalong ikinasimangot nito.
Paalis na sana kami sa restaurant nang mahagip ng dalawang mata ko ang bmw ni Gael, nakaparking ito sa gilid habang si Gael ay nasa labas ng pintuan tila may hinihintay.
Napagdisesyonan kong wag na lamang pansinin ito dahil baka makakaistorbo lamang ako sa kung ano ngunit nabigla ako ng bigla ako nitong tinawag habang nakangiti ito kaya't kitang kita ko ang malalim nitong dimple na labis kong hinahangaan, ang cute kasi tingnan.
"Keyla! buti lumabas ka na, uhm uuwi na ba kayo? gusto mo ihatid ko na kayo?" biglang tanong nito sa akin habang papalapit ito sa pwesto namin.
Nang tuluyan na itong makalapit sa amin ay nakatitig lamang ako sa mala adonis na lalaki na nasa harapan ko ngayon.
Gwapo si Gael para itong magandang tanawin habang tumatagal mas lalong gumagwapo sa paningin ko.
I don't know what's happening to me, I'm not like this before, I'm allergic to boys lalo na sa mga hindi makausad sa mga ex nila tapos kumakanta ng "Lips of an angel"
"Keyla!" mahinang tawag nito sa akin.
Nabalik naman ako sa wisyo ng tawagin ako nito, pulang pula na ang buong mukha ko dahil sa hiyang nararamdaman, shit Keyla, ano na namang katangahan to? baliw ka talaga babaeta ka.
"H-Ha? ahh oo Gael, pauwi na kami ihahatid ko lang si Magna sa kanila," nakayukong sagot ko dahil sa kahihiyang nararamdaman.
Mahinang itong tumawa sa akin dahil sa naging reaksiyon ko,"Ang cute mo."
Agad akong nag-angat ng tingin sa kaniya, I was shock on what I heard,"Ha, a-ano yun?!" medyo nahihiya kong tanong sa kaniya.
Gael's lips were a bit open. He chuckled softly on me. His face was turning red like a tomato and I found it cute,"W-Wala yun, uhm hatid na kita, i mean kayo."
My face was fuming red.
"Sige,"
Nakasunod lamang kaming dalawa ni Magna papunta sa kotse ni Gael, ramdam ko ang paninigas ng katawan ko ng masagi ko ang braso ni Gael."Sorry!" aniko.
Ngumiti si Gael sa akin at iginaya ako sa front seat ng sasakyan, Gael opened the door for me, mas lalo lamang akong nagugulat sa pinaggagawa nito.
Nagdadalawang isip pa ako kung papasok ba ako o mag ta-taxi na lamang, tangina nakakahiya na talaga.
I am currently sitting on the front seat of her car while looking at the people on the streets, Gael was talking on his phone.
"Aziel naman, hayst sige na nga," that's the last thing i heard from Gael before he put down his phone and slowly drove away.
"Sino kausap mo?" hindi ko na mapigilan na hindi magtanong lumingon ito sa akin at nginitian ako," Si Aziel, babaero ang isang 'yun kahit may girlfriend na kaliwa't kanan pa rin ang babae, naaawa nga ako sa girlfriend nun!" umiling-iling pa siya sa akin.
Aziel, sounds familiar, kanino ko ba yun narinig na pangalan?
"Beshy, okay ka lang?!" nilingon ko si Magna at tinanguan, she smiled at me and looked at her phone.
"Ano po!?" biglang sumigaw si Magna na nasa likuran namin ni Gael kitang-kita sa mukha nito ang labis na sakit at pagkagulat, nag-aalala ko itong tinanong," Magna, may nangyari ba?" i asked, she painfully smiled at me."Pwede bang ihatid niyo nalang ako sa Hospital? naaksidente ang sinasakyan nina Mama," iyak nitong sagot sa akin. I looked at Gael who's now looking worried at me,"I'll be with you Keyla, saan ko ba ihahatid kaibigan mo?" his brows are now looking worried at me, I looked back on Magna who's now busy typing something on her phone,"Magna, saang Hospital kamo?" nilingon ako nito habang umiiyak," S-sa La v-vista h-hospital."
Sa boung byahe namin patungo sa Hospital at iyak lang ng iyak si Magna, naiintindihan ko siya dahil kahit ako iiyak talaga kapag gan'on ang nangyari kay Daddy, but in our case i couldn't let them see my weakness.
We pulled up in front of the hospital, and I was taken aback by its sheer scale. The grandeur of the building was a clear testament to the wealth and influence of its owner. I looked up at the inscription on top of it, which read 'La Vista Hospital'.
"We're here," Gael said while looking at me.
"S-salamat sa inyo," she fidgeted with her seatbelt, her eyes darting between the hospital entrance and her phone, as if willing to ring with news about her family."Keyla, mauna na ako, mag-iingat ka,"
"Call me, okay? I'll visit you here," I said while looking at her worried face. She slightly nodded at me before she slowly walked to the entrance of the Hospital.
After Gael dropped me off at home, I thanked him for the ride. But he wouldn't let up, making sure I promised to call him if I decided to visit Magna at the hospital. He'd already gotten my number, and during our drive back to the mansion, he'd checked in with me several times to make sure I was doing alright.
I call Severios when i got home, my phone just kept on ringing, fuck it his not answering my call. I kept calling him for almost twenty times.
[Keyla, why did you call?]
"Fuck you, Severios. I've been calling you for almost twenty times, damn you,"
[Easy, bakit ka ba tumawag?]
"This is fucking important,"
[Oh, okay. So ano yun?]
"This is about the La vista Hospital, the Castillano's owned it right?! fucking answer me,"
[Yes, how did you know about that? don't tell me, the fuck. Keyla, pumunta ka ba roon?]
"Ano ako tanga? dinaanan namin kanina, it's a long story. But to make it short the Castillano's are now moving, a lot of suspicious people are working there,"
[Right, I'll stalk it, just promise me you won't go there alone, okay? I'll send you the documents after this,]
Pinatay ko na ang tawag hindi ako mapakali iniisip ko pa lamang ang mga pinag-gagawa ng mga Castillano nasusuka na ako, tangina nakakagigil kung pwede lang na ako na mismo ang gumawa.
I try calling out Joyce one of my co-agents and she's also my friend since i start working as a secret agent. Looks like she's busy, she's not answering my call.
To: Joyce
Joyce, do tell Sevirous that i needed the documents now, hurry up.
From: Joyce
Sure², I tell him about it, nagkakagulo na rito kaya busy kami. One of the members of Castillano's was spotted here in Tokyo, Japan.
My brows furrowed as i look at the message I received, what the actual fuck.
To: Joyce
What are they doing there? Anyways tell Sevirous about the documents okay, the La Vista Hospital was owned by Castillano's a lot of suspicious people are working there.
From: Joyce
Noted, I'll tell him right away. Take care there.
I turned off my phone and stared at the ceiling of my room, I slowly closed my eyes and thought of an idea so I could enter the La Vista Hospital.
"Ma'am? pinapatawag daw po kayo ni Maam Aleena," the maid spoke behind the door, I rolled my eyes and sigh in irritation.
The sound of that familiar voice from the living room sent my heart racing with excitement. My brows furrowed while looking straightly at the two people sitting on the couch of the living room while seriously talking with Mommy.
"Daddy? Ate Isabel?" my brows were even more furrowed while looking at the two of them, Ate Isabel eyes widened right away and she saw me coming down from the grand staircase.
"Ke, I'm glad you are here," she smiled at me but it didn't reach her eyes,
She looked devastated while gently gazing at me.
"I didn't expect you guys to be here," i spoke up while gazing at Ate Isabel.
My mind wandered to all the questions I wanted to ask my father and sister, and I found myself rehearsing the conversations in my head. Are they here because of the Agreement, the documents Kuya sent on my account?
"Circumstances have forced my hand, and I must rely on the both of you who will save our company," he said
My eyes wided in shock, my lips parted while looking at him,"And you think I'll let you decide for me?" i arrogantly said.
He shook his head while gazing on Ate Isabel who was looking away at me.
"Ke, please don't be stubborn,"
My face reddened, and my fists clenched at my sides as i listened to her, my voice dropped to a low growl,"Don't even think about it,"
"Wag niyo akong idamay sa kung anong gulo ang pinasok niyo!"
"Stop being a spoiled brat. Ke, dad's needs our help and as a daughter we need to—"
I laughed sarcastically at them," You think I will agree with your bullshits? marriage isn't my thing, bakit hindi nalang ikaw? dinadamay niyo pa ako sa kagagohan niyo!" inis kong sagot sa kaniya, I walked away and slammed the door making my eyes blazed with fury as I took my steps away from the mansion, I drove my car and the next thing I knew i was crying my heart out and Gael was here besides me, making me feel at ease and cheering me up.
"So you don't want to get married?" tanong nito habang pinupunasan ang luha ka na kanina pa ayaw tumigil sa pag tulo, You can't be strong all the time sometimes you just need to sit and let your tears out.
"I dont, i have more important things to do than to get married, I'm still young. Gael, don't you think it's too much?" i asked while looking at the fading sunset infront of us.
"You need to be strong, Keyla," Gael said while looking at me.
That was the last words Gael said, after that he dropped me home.
I slowly opened the maid door. I was heading to my room when someone spoken up behind my back, I rolled my eyes in irritation.
"Let's talk," Dad said in authority.
I faced him and stared at him coldly," I said what i said, There will be no marriage happening period."
"You're going to marry my business partner son, whether you like it or not, and oh don't worry I will let him decide which one of you he marries," he said, my fist clenched at my sides while listening to him.
"As if,"
I walked away in the head over in my room, I sat down on my bed and cried silently. The room was dull and dark I can only hear my voice trembling as I cried harder without making any noises.
"Kuya," i cried while talking with my brother on the other line.
[Princess, I'm sorry, ngayon ko lang nalaman, I try to call you a lot of times but you're not answering my calls, I should warn you about this,]
"Kuya, ayaw ko po, i-i don't wanna get married, p-paano kung ako ang pakakasalan nun?!"
[Shh, just cry princess, Kuya's here, I'll be with you, you want me to come there? Just tell me I will book my flight now!]
" No, it's fine Kuya, I'll hang up now, I love you,"
[Okay, goodnight princess, I love you too,]
Night fell, as I slowly closed my eyes that still filled with tears.
Morning came and my eyes were red and swollen i also had a massage headache, I felt so dizzy and all.
"Good morning, I cook for our breakfast," nakangiting bungad sa akin ni Mommy, I roamed around to see who's around us.
I looked back at Mommy and ran to her while tears skipped through my eyes i hugged her tightly feeling her on me.
"Keyla," she shockly said, I didn't listen to her and just hugged her even more i burst down while hugging her, I felt her hugging me back she tapped my back and slowly caressing my hair up to down.
I looked at her,"I don't wanna get married." i said in a hushed tone. She smiled at me, then had me sit in the chair beside him, She handed me a plate with utensils - a fork and spoon. I gazed at her while she was busy putting food on my plate.
"The years of longing of your father have finally come to an end, and now our paths have converged." she smiled at me weakly.
Binalingan niya ako ng tingin bago ibigay sa akin ang plato na may lamang pagkain,"Finally, nagkita rin ang aming landas, your dad changed so much." she chuckled softly and looked at me.
"Isabel looks just like her mother." she painfully smiled at me, her hands trembled as she tried to lift the cup, her arm shaking with a mixture of weakness and agony."You know Tita Bella?" i ask out curiosity.
"Of course, who wouldn't be," she shook her head and smiled."Bella is your Dad's wife," she answered before she sipped on her coffee.
I nodded as my answer before I began to eat my food."Tita Bella, is very strict," i said. Mom just chuckled at me,"I know. Ever since, she's always been like that." she laughed at me.
"Marriage is scary. Keyla," she said out of nowhere, my face scrunched up in confusion at what she said."Marriage is scary lalo na't kung may iba na itong mahal," she continued talking. I just nodded at her and listened to what she was saying.
"Never let cupid strike you on his arrow,"
Mom's words were echoing in my mind. I'm currently waiting for Aleesa to get down because she told me that where I'm going to the mall now, to shop i guess.
I'm already done cleaning my body, I'm wearing a black bodycone dress that has a cut on the right side that was exposing my creamy legs, I'm also wearing my black killer heels, and also my black lv bag.
To: Kali
What happened, you looked so stressed when you called me earlier?! You okay?
From: Kali
I am, just stressed lately.
To: Kali
Why, may nangyari ba?
From: Kali
My sibling, Darcy, is still so young - only sixteen years old, oh my god! I don't know what to do with her anymore. She refuses to listen to me, to stop her racing hobby, his car racing and motorbike racing, because I'm worried something might happen to her, but she just won't listen to me.
To: Kali
Darcy is really into racing.
From: Kali
Hell yeah, she even throws tantrums at me. We argued yesterday, and guess what she walk away like she doesn't give a fuck.
To: Kali
Where's Tito and why is Darcy with you?
From: Kali
Out of town, he dropped off Darcy at my place.
To: Kali
Good luck to you on babysitting your sister, She's stubborn. Gotta go. Take care there.
She just heart my text on her and then I turn off my phone before putting it back in my lv bag. Aleesa came downstairs and looked at me. I stood up before heading to the garage where the cars are.
Our trip to the mall was extremely boring. She kept talking about her so-called boyfriend. My brows furrowed while she was talking about her boyfriend, she kept saying that she's very lucky because her boyfriend was like a fictional character. I just nodded at her even tho I didn't even see her boyfriend, even once.
"We're going to meet my boyfriend tonight. I've already rented a place, it's really nice there."
I just sigh in irritation and gaze on the mirror outside the window."What time?" i boredly asked.
"Around seven o'clock,"she answered.
She turned the music on, and we just listened. My brows furrowed at the familiar voice now singing "Babe" by Taylor Swift - she was covering the song. She was now at the "chill" part of the song.
Since you admitted it
I keep picturing
Her lips on your neck
I can't unsee it
I hate it because of you
I can't love you
Babe~
I knew it - that voice belonged to none other than my best friend, Kali. She's really good at singing.
"Do you know who sang that, who covered the song? Oh my gosh, I'm such a huge fan of hers - she's gorgeous, a model, and an amazing singer and dancer too." she giggled and started vibing at the song.
I smirk on her."I do." i answered. Her eyes widen in shock,"Ofcourse you would know, she's famous."
My smile went even wider,"She's my best friend." her lips were parted in shock while gazing at me.
"Your what?!" her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open.
"My best friend," ulit kong sagot.
"Totoo?"
"Yes,"
When we finally arrived at the mall, Aleesa kept asking me about Kali and she also kept talking about the meet up with her so-called boyfriend.
"I like this dress,"
"This one too,"
"And also this,"
Halos mahilo na ako kakaikot namin sa mga branches ng dresses na naririto sa mall, she kept insisting that i should try to wear dresses like hers.
I roamed around and saw a heart-neckline mini dress it hugs my curves perfectly and the length is just above my knees so my perfect creamy legs were exposed on this dress but I still choose to wear this later because I like the design.
"May napili ka na?" tanong nang makalapit siya sa pwesto ko tumango ako rito bago pinagsindahan siya ng tingin mula ulo hanggang paa."Anyways I need to relax so we're going to the massage spa," bago pa man ako makasagot rito ay agad na ako nitong hinatak.
After we held at the massage spa, we also held at the beauty spa and a lot of things we'd done this day after a long tiring day, we finally held at the mansion, it's already two fourty six at the afternoon, I want to rest so I tell them that I'm heading to my room.
I lay on my bed and slowly closing my eyes, I felt my body so tired.