Taas-noo akong pumasok sa lobby ng El Dorado Resort. Panay ang bati ng mga empleyado sa akin ngunit hindi ko sila pinansin. Instead, I just indulged myself with the resort's new interior design that truly lived up to the meaning of its name— a place of endless wealth.
Though the El Dorado is just a legend, my grandma has made her own marvelous version of this place that has satisfied much of our customers for over 20 years. Just like Ainsworth, Viona Montecarlos is not your typical woman. Just a year after she bought this business from a failing business tycoon, she transformed it into one of the thriving, most prestigious resorts in Europe.
With all that said, I don't plan to fail her. That is not the way of the Montecarlos.
Dire-diretso ang lakad ko papunta sa office ni grandma habang tinatanggal ang suot kong sunglasses nang may babaeng tumayo para kunin ang atensyon ko.
"Good Afternoon, Ma'am..." Natulala siya saglit. "...Do you have an appointment with Mrs. Montecarlos?" Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay at tiningnan siya mula ulo hanggang paa bago itinulak ang pinto para pumasok.
Perhaps a new employee? Well, it's been five years since I last visited this place.
'Pag pasok ko sa loob, walang tao roon. Bumuntong-hininga ako at umupo sa pinakamalapit na lounge habang nakatayo naman sa harapan ko ang sekretarya. Namumutla ito at parang hindi alam kung papalayasin ba ako o hahayaan na lang.
"I-I'm sorry, ma'am... But you c-can't—"
I crossed my legs as I flipped the pages of a latest fashion magazine from the table without looking at her. "Où est ma grand-mère?"
Ilang minuto siyang hindi umimik kaya binaba ko ang magazine para tingnan siya. "J-je ne... parle pas f-français... Parlez-vous a-anglais?" Nahihirapan niyang sambit. From the way her shoulders were raising, I could tell that she was nervous as hell. She shouldn't worry... for now. I only bite when I'm damn mad.
Umiling ako kaya mukha siyang pinagsakluban ng langit at lupa. Muntik na akong matawa. "Kidding. That's fine. Your British accent is actually cute in French. Anyway, where's my grandmother?"
Suminghap siya at napatakip sa kanyang bibig na para bang lahat ng misteryo sa mundo ay nalaman na. "I-I'm sorry, mademoiselle... I didn't know that Madame was expecting you today. She's currently in a meeting with one of our investors..."
"No need to apologize. Even she doesn't know that I arrived here today." I sighed. "I'll just wait here in the office. Will she be done anytime soon?"
"Yes, she will be here shortly. For the meantime, would you like some snacks and drinks?"
Ngumiti ako. "I'd like some iced tea, please... Merci."
Habang naghihintay, nilabas ko muna ang cellphone ko at nagtipa ng mensahe para kay Damon.
Adora:
Hi. Kakarating ko lang sa Cabello Islands. Thanks for helping me with my stuff yesterday.
You left your sweater with me. Also, I have several of your coats at my house.
When can I give it back? Sa next date ba natin? :)
I giggled and scrolled through my social media accounts while waiting for his reply. After laughing at a bunch of shitposts and chats with my colleagues, hindi ko maiwasang mapatigil sa isang page article dahil nahagilap ng mga mata ko ang apilyedo ni Damon.
'Mary Harlow's sister, Estelle Hints at Possible Relationship with Dan Montavius Ainsworth'
Nalaglag ang panga ko sa headline pa lang. What in the actual fuck? Am I reading that name right? Who the hell is this bitch?
Fake news! This is all fake news!
"My sister's always lively whenever she talks about the bachelor. I think something happened in Bali, Indonesia last year during the conference..." Pagbasa ko nang malakas with a mocking tone. I scoffed and rolled my eyes a dozen times with every paragraph that I read. Naramdaman ko ang init sa dibdib ko na parang may gustong sumabog. I exhaled to calm myself and without batting an eye, typed another heartfelt message for him.
Adora:
Go to hell.
I blocked his number and account after, and then tossed my phone on the coffee table. I leaned back on the lounge and closed my eyes to reflect. Moriesette Hidalgo, Sheena Miller... now, Estelle Harlow?! How dare you, Ainsworth. Ilan pa ang dapat kong hintayin na sumulpot? I'm not a cheap woman for you to lump me with them, you fucker! Ugh!
Minulat ko lang ang mga mata ko nang bumukas ang pinto at pumasok si grandma. Wala siyang reaksyon nang makita ako na para bang inaasahan niya na ito.
"Fix your face, hija. You're very beautiful but that look doesn't give justice to it. Who hurt you?" Saad nito at may inutos sa kanyang sekretarya bago umupo sa swivel chair para ayusin ang papeles niya. Imbis na sundin siya, kumunot lang ang noo ko.
"I can't believe you're working at the office, grandma!" Pag-iiba ko ng usapan at hinilot ko ang aking sentido sa tindi ng stress. "I told you, working at Andelmo Islands is safer—"
"I like this office better. The atmosphere motivates me to be productive. Kumusta ang Pilipinas? Kumusta ang apo ko?" Humilig siya sa upuan at ngumiti sa akin. I know she misses grandpa that's why she's distracting herself with work lately. I really protest this idea because it's taking a toll on her health and she's not getting any younger!
"I don't think the Philippines will be saving itself anytime soon... and I'm shifting courses next semester."
"And?" Makahulugan niya akong tiningnan.
"And?" I repeated, trying to act indifferent of her suggestive look.
Umiling siya at tumawa nang malakas. Her beauty is still evident despite the signs of aging. "You're too obvious, my Fleur... it's so cute." Nagkunwari siyang nagpupunas ng luha. "Oh, I can't believe you're on your twenties now. Time flies too fast..."
"Yes. Now, please hear the request of your 20-year-old granddaughter. Stay in Andelmo and work there instead—"
"No."
Napatampal na lang ako sa aking noo. I knew it. "Goodness, grandma. Stop being so stubborn and take care of your health!"
"If there's one thing that has kept our family on top all these years, it's our stubbornness." She smirked.
"Nag-aalala lang din ako sa kaligtasan mo. Father's murderer is still out there. What if that asshole suddenly barged into this office and killed you? Heck, that person could be working outside right now." I pointed at the door but she didn't react. Instead, her face became rid of any emotion but it seemed condescending.
"I'm a bit disappointed that my granddaughter is looking down on me."
"I'm just—"
"No need to defend yourself, Adora." She waved her hand to dismiss my thoughts. "It's a good idea that I left you with less supervision to discover everything yourself. You probably know of our family's secrets by now. I'm sorry we kept it to ourselves after all those years. I guess your parents wanted you to stay as innocent as a white flower but... as I've always told them, the cat will somehow find its way out of the bag eventually whether they like it or not..."
"I...I don't know what you're talking about." Napalunok ako at nag-iwas ng tingin. Slowly, my childhood memories were flashing into my mind. That kidnapping incident, the men who frequently passed by our home... The guns... There were clues. They were staring right at my face yet I was too innocent to take everything in!
"I know you're an associate of Montavius... I even know what happened to Montecarlos Shipping Inc." Grandma chuckled while playing with her pen. I didn't sense any humor in her as I felt my heart beat faster. Is this the same woman who ordered the previous maids to be killed? "Now, that's another level of stubborn, my Fleur."
"I'm s-sorry..." Iyon na lang ang nasabi ko sa sobrang takot.
"I'm not mad, honey. Do whatever you want, and I'll support you. I just have to warn you, though. Once you're in the mafia, there's absolutely no way out. You see, when you get the hang of everything, it'll be quite an addiction..."
Nanginginig pa rin ang tuhod ko nang bumaba ako sa lobby but I still kept a straight face, like nothing happened.
She knew everything I was doing. I thought I was discreet with it! Paano kung ganoon mag-isip ang taong pumatay sa tatay ko? Walang katapusang paghahabol ito... I feel like a dog that was chasing its tail all this time! Kung ganoon nga, kailangan kong mag-isip ng iba pang paraan maliban sa gamitin ang mafia. Pero paano? Hindi ko alam...
Damn it. Damn it all!
Nakapangalumbaba na lamang ako nang makahanap ako ng upuan sa pool side bar. As I traced the rim of my emptied margarita glass, biglang tumunog ang phone ko. It's an unknown number. I rolled my eyes for the nth time this day. Kilala ko na kung sino yan.
Imbis na sagutin ang tawag, tiningnan ko lang ito hanggang sa maging missed call na ito. That's the fifth one for tonight. Manigas ka diyan.
"Adora! Oh my gosh, you're here!" Sa tili pa lang, nakikilala ko na siya kahit na ipikit ko pa ang mga mata ko. As I turned to face my socialite friend, she had her arms wide open to greet me.
"Bridgette!" Tumayo para halikan ang pisngi niya. Compared to me, she seemed to be having fun. Basa ang buhok nito dahil kakagaling lang sa tubig pero nakabalot naman ang katawan niya ng puting robe.
"Ça va? You look stressed as hell! Boy problems?" Ngumisi siya at tumango sa isang tao na dumaan.
I pushed her playfully. "Oh, shush. Ça va bien... Just having some crisis with early adulthood."
"Liar! Join us, then. My friend's throwing a party right now. There are drinks and... men we can play with tonight." She winked at me and I laughed.
"I'd love to, Bridge... but I don't have my swimsuits with me. I left them at Andelmo."
Ngumuso siya pero napalitan agad ito ng nakakalokong ngiti. "Remember Winston Enamorado? I heard he had a crush on you. He's over there... why don't you talk to him?" Inayos niya ang buhok ko at hinaplos ang mga braso ko nang hindi ako natinag sa mga pinagsasabi niya. "C'mon, Adora... Since when were you so uptight? Learn to chill for a moment! What happened to my Adora who had the guts to reject the proud Duke of Ellesmere in high school?"
Hinila niya ako papunta sa pool at nagpatianod na lang ako habang tumatawa dahil sa kakulitan niya. I guess I can forget my problems for a moment...
Kumaway si Bridgette sa isang matangkad na babaeng nakaupo sa isa sa mga bench na naroon. Tumayo ito at nilapitan kami pagkatapos kausapin ang lalaking kahalikan niya kanina.
"Ingrid! I want you to meet my girlfriend. The one and only... Fleur Adora Montecarlos of LEFEBVRE." She squealed as she clung into my arm and rest her head on my shoulder. Tumango si Ingrid sa akin at kinamayan ako. "Ingrid Valdez. Nice to meet you, Ms. Montecarlos."
"I'm sorry for crashing your party. Bridgette just pulled me into this..." I raised my shoulders and smiled apologetically.
"All's good as long as it's Bridgette." She eyed the person beside me before looking back at me. "Please enjoy the party. Dance, drink and party the night away for all I care... just don't forget to use protection." Tumawa kami at nagpakasaya sa lugar na iyon.
Habang palalim nang palalim ang gabi, ramdam ko ang unti-unting pag-ikot ng aking mundo. Kung kani-kanino ako ipinakilala ng kaibigan ko pero ni isa sa kanila ay walang tumatak sa isip ko. Ang importante ay nawala ang stress na naramdaman ko. Fuck, I miss this carefree life!
Habang nakikihalubilo ay nawala si Bridgette sa tabi ko. Habang tumitingin kung saan-saan, may naramdaman akong kamay na humawak sa bewang ko. Agad akong tumalikod para sana sampalin ang taong iyon pero natigilan ako. "Winston!"
"Oops... Kinda tipsy now, aren't we?" Bulong niya sa akin dahil sa ingay ng lugar. Natawa ako at napapikit dahil sa kiliting naramdaman nang dumampi ang labi niya sa tenga ko. "How are you?" He pulled me closer to him until I felt our bodies touch, making my clothes wet at that area.
Bigla na lang akong nahimasmasan nang tumaas ang kamay niya papunta sa aking dibdib at agad sumagi sa isip ko ang mukha ni Damon. Dumilat ako at buong lakas na itinulak si Winston kaya nahulog siya sa malalim na parte ng pool.
Sorry, Winston. I don't feel like being touched for the first time tonight.
Nakaramdam ako ng inis sa sarili ko. Why the hell am I thinking of you at a time like this, Ainsworth?! What have you done to me?
I walked away from the scene para puntahan si Bridgette na napapaligiran ng mga tao sa bar.
"Shot! Shot! Shot! Shot!" Everyone chanted as I witnessed Bridgette who placed a tall shot glass between her breasts and Ingrid sprinkled some salt on the exposed parts of my friend's rack. Kinagat niya ang lime habang mariing nakatitig sa lalaking kaharap niya. Sinenyasan niya itong lumapit at sumunod naman ito. I watched as the man slowly ran his tongue on her skin at panay naman ang ungol ng kaibigan ko. Nang nilagok nung lalake ang shot glass ay kinuha nito ang kagat-kagat na lime ni Bridgette gamit ang kanyang labi at sinipsip ito. She hooked her arms around him right after as they shared a French kiss.
Naghiyawan ang lahat sa napanood at may nag-aya pa sa akin na mag-body shot pero inayawan ko ito. I suddenly feel guilty that I'm in this kind of party.
"Oh, Adora! You're there. I was looking for you a while ago~ Why did you leave meeee~" Bridgette complained when she saw me. Bigla siyang lumayo sa lalaki at niyakap ako nang mahigpit. Umiling na lamang ako sa hitsura niya at hinarap ang... flavor of tonight niya, I guess?
Magsasalita na dapat ako nang nakita ko ang mukha niya. Nanlamig ang katawan ko nang makilala ko kung sino iyon at tiningnan ang tattoo sa dibdib niya para kumpirmahin. Wearing a sinister smile, he gave me an insulting look. Shit. What is Ainsworth's archnemesis doing in our territory?!
"Calix...Rockefeller." I tried my best to sound normal as I called him out.