Manila, 1720H

I held the strap of my large travel backpack tightly as I walked outside the airport. I can only feel the breeze of Manila dusk and how powerful I am with my 3-inch ankle boots.

But my vibe is sorta ruined 'cause for real, ang masasabi ko is...

"Damn ang init!"

I've been flipping my black straight hair, wiping my fringe off my face, patting my forehead with my palm and fanning myself with my hand for I started sweating as soon as I got out from the air conditioned place.

A red Bentley Bentayga passed and stopped in front of me. The well-protected windows slid open, and I saw a red-haired, blue-eyed, fair-skinned, part-British woman named Reign, the driver of the said van.

"Hey bitch. Thank you sa sundo and pagbantay kay Potato." I thanked her as I opened the car door and hopped in.

"Pleasure is mine bitch. Hindi naman siya pasaway eh." she replied while I'm closing the door. "Nandun sa likod anak mo, naamoy ka na."

I looked at the back and waved at my barking golden shih tzu in his cage. "Hi baby! I'll get you out later." and looked back at Reign.

"Kumusta? Nakausap mo na ba si tito?" she asked.

I sighed deeply as she started to drive. "Yeah. He isn't uncertain as well kung anong nangyayari kay mom. He also dropped SG$500,000 on one of my bank accounts. We can't trust the trust fund for now, and ayaw na niya kasi na magpart time ako."

Reign sighed. "Ewan ko ba kay tita kung bakit pinipilit niya ang ayaw mo pero pagdating kay Julienne, lahat okay. Buti pa talaga si tito supportive. He won't force-feed you with business lalo na at ayaw mo."

"He's been supportive since beginning of time. And oh, he also ordered our staff sa headquarters na papasukin every now and then kung kailan ko gusto, most preferrably kung wala si mom."

"That's great!" She replied with enthusiasm. "So bale dun kayo maguusap ni Axis ngayon? Dun muna kita idodrop off?"

"Yeah. If I meet him on other places, like coffee shops or his family's headquarters, magpapalibre nanaman yan."

Reign giggled whilst moving the wheel. "Buset talaga yun si Axis. Kalalaking tao nagpapalibre sa babae. Mayaman naman."

"He's spoiling his girl with his cash eh. What else can we do?" I told her and looked at her. "Oh by the way, are you sure you're not coming?"

"Ehhh... I know he needs you more tonight. Maghihintay nalang ako sa parking." Reign replied with her sweetest, mocking grin.

I gave her a look and grinned. "Alam ko na yan. You would let him tease me muna."

She bursted a laugh. "Well at least he's ready for the real deal!"

That made me facepalm.

-----

The van stopped on a parking space in one of the most modern looking buildings in BGC. It is covered with shock-resistant, bullet-resistant and fire-resistant glasses since it is a headquarter of a well-known family.

I took my phone and my earbuds, removed my bag off my shoulders, left it inside and hopped off.

"I'll get you some pizza pagkabalik ko." I told Reign.

"Thanks bitch! Gusto ko yung homemade overloaded pizza na gawa ng masipag na butler niyo." she replied with a specific request. "I'll just wait here."

"You really want that pizza of his, no? Pakasalan mo na kaya?" I teased.

She shrugged with a disgusted face and replied "Nooo." and pouted.

I laughed. "Oh sige na, he might be here na."

I slammed the door close and ran to the nearest elevator. I pressed number 25. When I got to the 25th floor, every employee who sees me or passes through, bows. It's a common courtesy and I'm used to it.

A butler greeted opened the glass door to the private lounge, and I sat on the black leather L-shape sofa.

My legs are crossed. I pulled down my sweater a little bit and wore my Galaxy buds. I scrolled with my thumb on Reddit with my latest Samsung S series phone to entertain myself with some fresh, entertaining memes. It's such a silent moment here. I've already spent around 10 minutes slouching at the corner of the L shaped black sofa just waiting for him.

A butler approached me after he closed the doors, that made me stop using my phone and putting it on my right side. "Excuse me, Miss Liu, Mister Salvatierra wants to speak to you."

I looked at him "Tell him to come in. And also, can you bring us some vodka blue martini? For the total of glasses, you know how many of my visitors will come over. Also, a 12-inch overloaded pizza for take-out."

He replied. "Yes miss." and he bowed before he left.

It's not everyday that someone disturbs my existence, that made me wonder of the things I have and the things I experience as of now. I looked the ceiling and wonder.

Liu. A three-letter surname.

It sounds powerful when placed beside my father's name, my Baba Sebastian Liu. Not only because he's a retired general and a prominent businessman, he's one of those men that people look upon to, even politicians.

Yes, he runs this country's economy, together with 10 more people that are included on the 50 most richest men by Forbes magazine. And damn, that seems exhausting for pleasing people isn't my thing if I'm not interested.

"Hey, Miss first-daughter-of-the-Lius. Wearing short, over-sized sweater and ankle boots again when meeting a Salvatierra lawyer? Just look how unprofessional are you?" he mockingly told me while looking at my outfit from head to toe.

"So?" I asked. "You're not even a lawyer, yet." and I looked at him back from head to toe. He's wearing his usual get-up; a polo, a pair of jeans and an expensive pair of Nike shoes.

"You're wearing a usual middle-class outfit for malling, and you call that 'professionalism'?" I mocked him back.

I picked up my phone and went back to scrolling on Reddit.

"Can't you wear something more decent?" he asked.

"You're in my territory. I can wear anything as I please." I answered whilst scrolling.

"Oh so no wonder you're a feast to the perverts on Instagram. Bruh, your skin is so damn white and you're wearing dark clothing and a short sweater." he judged.

To tell you honestly, I barely even post anything sexy nor provocative there. Maybe a few photos, but that's it.

"Lol let them quench their thirst themselves for I would never do a scandal video for them." I answered whilst scrolling. "Besides, my sweater can still cover up my privates when I'm sitting." I added.

"Pero ang revealing pa rin ng mga pictures mo." he replied.

I gave him a look. "You call a semi-formal off-shoulder dress "revealing"?"

"Yes?" he answered

"At least I don't use tinder while being in a relationship." I offensively mocked him.

Ayan, he went silent for a while.

"So nakailang sugar daddy ka na?" he asked with another "offensive" question.

I stopped scrolling and gave him a deadly stare. "What sugar daddies?"

"Evicted ka na sa mansion ng mga Liu, but you still look filthy rich." he answered and sat beside me. "So, who's the best?"

I rolled my eyes and he smirked. "Have you even see me do my thing? I mean, I circulated the money I inherited and I'm making it grow even more. And evicted isn't the right term Mr. Salvatierra." I answered with sass whilst putting my phone on the coffee table, then he bursted a laugh.

"Masyado na bang nakakaoffend mga tanong ko Maryl? Sorry I just missed your annoyed face bro."

Missed my annoyed face? What the f*ck.

I looked at him annoyingly and answered sarcastically "No, it doesn't offend me." and went back on scrolling.

Oh god, give me more strength to deal with this jerk, please.

"Hey Maryl. Notice your guy bestie please." he pleaded.

"Fine." I told him coldly. "What brings you here?"

"Uhm, sabi mo dito tayo magkita." he answered.

The butler arrived with 2 glasses of blue martini on the black circular tray and placed those on the table. I stopped looking at my phone and placed it on my right side.

"I'll be back with the pizza, ma'am. It's still in the oven." then he bowed and left with the tray on his side.

"Nagabala ka pa sa pizza. Thank you Maryl!" Axis thanked enthusiastically but I killed it with a look. "Shut up, it's not yours. Reign is waiting sa parking at hapunan na namin yun."

"So martini muna bago hapunan? Tibay mo naman." he replied.

"Of course." and I reached for the nearest martini and sipped. "So, what brings you here? I mean, why do you want to see me?." I repeated and elaborated the question.

"Ganito kasi Miss Maryl Juneaux kung-ano-pa-man-iba-mong-pangalan Liu, I'm planning for the biggest operation yet."

"Buuin mo muna pangalan ko." I teased him.

"Di ko mabuo, tongue twister kasi mga pangalan niyo!" he told me annoyingly.

"Well, okay, proceed." I ordered.

I nodded and crossed my arms "Yeah, you told me that last night. And then?"

"I need five of us from five different families; including you, me and Reign."

That got me thinking, as I mentioned earlier, there are ten more prominent families in this country other than mine. If Axis want five daughters and sons from five different families, I wouldn't doubt of whoever he chooses, I trust and respect his decision.

"Sinu-sino sila?" I asked in Tagalog out of curiousity.

"Secret na yung dalawa." Axis answered.

I gave him a look. "Seriously?"

"What?" he asked mockingly. "I know you love surprises!"

I rolled my eyes in annoyance. "Dammit Austin Xil, you know I'm other way around! That gives me anxiety."

He bursted a laugh. "Basta secret na yung dalawa, and you'll love it for sure!"

I asked him quizically "Who the fuck are they? Jinyoung, Nathalie, Jordan, Justyne, who?"

"Secret."

I rolled my eyes at his another s-word answer. "Okay, fine. Proceed with your plans."

"Can we talk about this next week with 3 other members?" he asked.

"Then why did you plan to meet me today?" I annoyingly asked.

"For free martini."

I gave him the look and replied in monotone. "F*ck you."

Being a daughter of a prominent family may seem fun and all. You can get whatever you want with all the money you have, but I know everything comes at a price. Privacy is invaded, and you are most likely to be kidnapped for ransome.

We were born into riches, a trust fund link with our parents. And because of that, we have to protect ourselves from danger. And with Axis' plan, we are putting ourselves into a greater risk.

But whatever this plan may be, will this work? What more mysteries lie beyond the spectrum? Are we really the same, or there are differences waiting to be resurfaced?

I'm Maryl Liu, and this is our story.

______

Beyond the Spectrum | Wave 1: Best Friends • © mxylms