|| Maryl
"Axis?" I knocked on his bedroom to check if he was there.
I just finished my online and paper homeworks. I made some of them before getting here so I finished quickly. At least Adriano can supervise Potato at the moment. I also finished encoding some papers for the discussion next meeting. He passed this work to me since he doesn't want to get tortured by Reign again.
We are currently in a three-bedroom presidential suite. 2 of the bedrooms have 2 beds each, so solo ni Axis ang master's bedroom. We can stay here for around two days.
"Austin Xil, are you there?" and I knocked once again.
The door was opened and a familiar voice uttered "Who the fuck ar--"
I looked at her and she looked at me.
I knew there was something changed about her...
I looked onto her light blue sweetheart illusion gown, she looks... bigger than she was 6 months ago. She gained so much that her whole body changed drastically.
My mind started to freak out because of what I saw; AUSTIN XIL WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO TO JIA?
She was once a famous model along with Nathalie, now I know why she stopped.
"J-jia. Shin Jia, Is that you?" I asked confusingly.
"You're Maryl Liu, right?" she asked.
"Yeah, why?" I answered.
She looked at me from head to toe. "Why are you here?"
I gave her a confused look. "The question is why are YOU here?"
"That question was meant for you for you were looking for my boyfriend in my boyfriend's territory."
Huh.
Excuse me?
"What the heck are you talking about? Didn't your boyfriend tell you about his extra-curricular activities?"
I started to raise my tone for I know she would get bitchy again. I would like to call it "that way" because of the confidentiality, but at the same time, I think it's a bad idea.
She pushed me, but I managed to stand on my ground. She gave me a deadly glare.
"Stay away from my boyfriend." she warned.
I crossed my arms. "You can have him sis, he's not my type." I turned back and walked away with the papers on my hand. I don't trust Jia enough to give her these.
I'm a little pissed, yeah, but I don't want to waste my motherfucking time to that leech-y bitch.
I went back to our room, placed the documents on the side table and took my midnight blue low v-cut slit gown with detachable tulle in the closet. A few moments later, Reign entered. We share this room for two days, and I think she'll be changing as well.
"Magbibihis ka na?" she asked.
"It's almost time, so yeah. I'll change in the bathroom so you could change here." I told her while taking my stuff to the bathroom.
"Sige." she replied.
I started to change my attire in the bathroom. I first wore a thigh holster belt on my left thigh, and placed a gun and a handcuffs in it.
For what reason? We will never know what will happen.
I wore the gown, a black velvet choker, a black bracelet-ponytail hybrid for my wrist, and a pair of black Louboutin pumps. I also did a glam makeup, but with my eye shadow less overbearing since I decided to wear a dark red lipstick. I also did my hair with my more volume, but with my bangs straightened. Gladly my hair is sorta wavy, I can easily manage with a hair straightener or a curling iron. I also wore a bluetooth earphone on my left ear, in case of emergency calls.
Ate Florence instructed that it was a black-tie event, so I'm doing it right. Glad I bought this piece of art at Divisoria the last time.
Since it took me faster to prepare than I was expecting, I took a mirror selfie and sent it to my college friends in a Facebook group chat. They all gave a heart react.
[Rika:] "Ang gandaaa."
[Fiore:] "Ang ganda ng sexy ng frenny ko oh."
[Mau:] "Sana all maganda, sexy at mapera no, @Fiore? [sad emoji]."
I replied. "Aiyooo, magaganda rin naman kayo eh haha. Thank you guys! [heart react]"
Some replied with a different topic.
[Janelle:] "Pakisabi pala kay Adriano hi. Hihihi."
[Rika:] "Landi neto ni Janelle oh! Pakisabi rin pala kay Adriano hi. Hahahaha."
[Fiore:] "Magsitigil nga kayo. Di porket pogi ganyan na reaction niyo. Si Axis at Carlo, hindi niyo babatiin?"
[Rika:] "Axis? Wag yon. May girlfriend na eh."
[Janelle:] "Oo nga. Baka isipan kami ng masama nun."
[Rika:] "Wag din si Carlo. Baka magalit sa akin si Mewyl."
I replied to Rika. "What? Hahahaha. Anyways, Adriano's a pretty busy person."
Some of them replied.
[Janelle:] "Okay lang. Hintay nalang ako ng picture ni Adriano hehe."
[Fiore:] "[facepalm emoji]"
[Rika:] "Ay oo nga! Maraming media mamaya dyan di ba? @Maryl"
Oh god, fuck. Oo nga pala. Heaven knows how much I hate to see them.
I replied. "Yeah, wish me luck."
I turned off my phone and went out of the bathroom, and I saw Lawreign, dressed in maroon off-shoulder fitted gown that I bought for her, had her hair in updo, and wore a bright red lipstick. She while playing with my little Potato, and gladly I chose a plain satin type for her or there would be a high chance that Potato would play with small beads on a piece of clothing.
She looked at me and noticed the holster belt.
"Bet mo talaga masermunan ni tito sa holster belt mo no?"
"I thought you would react on how provocative this gown is, not on the holster belt."
"Sanay naman na ako kahit trip mo lang magsuot, pero yung holster belt mo talaga eh."
Yeah, my bestfriend do know me since birth.
I smirked. "Easy." I inserted my hand into the tulle, reached for the zipper and pulled it down until the end, which 3 inches below my knee. "I attached this zipper so I could conceal my belt."
Reign slow clapped "You learned so much from me. I am so proud. Sana landi skills ko mamana mo rin."
I gave her a look. "Look who's talking. Nirereject mo nga mga nilalandi mo eh."
She laughed because I'm right. "Pero malapit na ngayon!"
I gave her a mocking glance. "Who? Jinyoung? Sasagutin mo na siya?"
She pouted and mimicked Pou's voice "Nuuu!"
I laughed at her reaction. But I'll wait for this mysterious man to be revealed.
-----
Carlo
Tonight is the motherfucking night.
I wore an all-black suit with my hair tied in the back and of course, a black face mask.
The musicians are playing some jazz music that suits the vibe, the photographers are ready to capture us on the red carpet, the journalists are ready to cover the biggest scoop for their newspaper covers and social media trends. Some would say this night is so perfect. To me though, it's a grand celebration for the richest family, the Martinenghis, for their eldest daughter. There was a news that was spread against their family but I don't know if that was legit.
We are all gathered at the entrance for you know, grand entrance. People would like to see us in our red carpet outfits, for I don't know what reason. So, we have to plan our way in just to look pleasing. Reign's family owns the hotel so clearly she knows the program flow and the entrance. Jia, Axis' girlfriend, is here with us as well, but she's not listening and is on her phone instead.
Us boys have prepared for this dinner as well; Axis was wearing a black and violet tuxedo, and Adriano is wearing a gray suit and tie.
And I'm thinking about something, I would like to ask Maryl if I could be his escort tonight.
I can't stop staring at her for she looks elegant even in sexy clothes. She owned the gown, and you can see it in her vibe. You wouldn't notice that she was wearing something revealing because you would just look at her face. Like just... wow.
I can tell Adriano is stunned at her beauty as well for he can't take his eyes off her, but he was trying to hide it.
"Okay so eto gagawin. Papasok tayo sa venue siyempre, pero kailangan may partner, ewan ko kung bakit. Kaway kaway konti sa mga cam para kunwari mabait. Tapos papicture rin kayo with fierce look ganun."
"Gladly I have my wife to share this moment." Axis interrupted proudly and held on-the-phone Jia's hand.
"Walang may pake." Reign answered and continued. "Yung seat natin nasa second from the front, likod lang sa seat ng mga Midford. Para sa atin talaga yun, sinabihan ko na sila." Reign instructed.
"As far as I can remember, you're a Midford as well." Adriano teased Reign.
"Sa ngayon, hindi muna. Nasa unknown muna ako kasi ayoko muna magbigay ng speech." she answered. Seconds later, she looked at Axis. "Ikaw, saan ka uupo?"
"Hindi ba 6 seater table natin?"
"No. Sakto lang sa lima."
Jia heard Reign's answer, stopped from scrolling on her phone and gave us a suspicious glare and hinting tone. "Okay lang. Uupo nalang ako sa may pamilya namin."
Axis gulped. "S-sa kanila Jia nalang ako uupo hehe."
Maryl twitched her eyebrows. "Riiight."
"Sorry, di ko alam na may chaperone na dala si Mr. Austin Xil." Reign replied in her sassy yet sarcastic tone.
Jia gave Reign a deadly glare and dragged Axis and wrapped her arm around his. "Mahal, tawag na tayo ni dad."
"S-sige mahal." and they immediately entered the venue. We all looked at poor Axis dragging by his girlfriend, while praying that his arm won't rip out by force.
That was weird and cringy, and vice versa. No offense to them but, their relationship needs therapy, or a break-up, badly.
But on the brighter side, Reign didn't turn this a battle field. I already felt its potential earlier.
Reign asked curiously. "Si Jia ba yun? Di sa pagiging rude pero... ang laki ng nilaki niya."
Maryl nodded asked suspecting manner. "What the heck was wrong with Jia?"
"Co-dependency issues." Reign answered. "Pero hayaan mo na."
"After the fact that she pushed me a while ago? I'm trying." and Maryl sighed deeply.
"Well. Tayo lang naman ata ang dahilan kung bakit siya manipulative eh." Reign answered.
"Quiet ladies. A part of the Shin clan may relay this message to her." I interrupted.
"You both do know that we're in a social event, and there's a higher chance that Jia could hear us." Adriano interrupted as well.
"Oh yeah, right." Reign answered in realization.
We changed the atmosphere by keeping our silence and telepathically talked about not mentioning about what just happened, most especially on the table.
Adriano broke his silence and cleared his throat. "Can I be your escort?" he asked Reign with his right arm offered.
Reign smiled sweetly at him, as if she's talking to him and accepted his offer. "Suuure." She wrapped her hand around it and they entered the venue hall together.
They look so good together, I'm not gonna lie.
I looked at Maryl and she looked back. "Hey. Uhm... can I be your escort?" I offered my escort arm.
She smiled coyly and responded with her hand wrapped around it. "Sure. Let's go."
So cute.
As we entered the venue, the flashes from the cameras were blinding us. We had tons of fierce pictures in the red carpet. I was giving a smile to the crowd and Maryl was giving a smile and a gentle wave.
We both know we were trying not to be awkward and act awkward, but we managed to get into our seats anyways.
The night was great; we had watched an introduction of both parties, some entertainment, an announcement of when the wedding would be held and a scrumptious dinner. Adriano disappeared before dinner for he felt the need to look at the effectiveness of the spy cameras, which were installed discreetly. He also asked Reign to have his dinner be brought upstairs, and she asked a waiter to do it.
It's time for digestivo, Mr. Martinenghi asked us to stand up for a toast until...
The lights went off and we heard a gunshot.
A silence was brought into the venue hall.
Seconds later, the lights turned back on. The crowd was panicking and confused. Us three stoot up to see what's actually happening at the stage, but I first noticed Reign froze in shock.
"Lawreign." Maryl squeezed and pulled her arm gently. "Adriano gave us instructions. We need to follow them asap."
Not everyone would be that shock if it doesn't involve a family member.
Oh wait, I may be mistaken.
I gave a sudden glance at the stage, it was surrounded by people and someone shouted. "Somebody call an ambulance now!"
Kuya Ryze was shot, and Ate Florence was missing.
The unexpected turn of events felt long, although it happened with a blink of an eye. Every tone I hear was filled with a combination of panic and confusion.
Three of us went out of the venue and searched for the gunman.
_____
Beyond the Spectrum | Wave 11: Engagement Party • © mxylms