06
a p i e c e o f g r e e c e
THEY pulled over in front of the wide front lawn of Alpha Kappa Tau sorority manor. A row of huge statues and busts of Greek Gods greeted them.
Lumabas si Astrid sa sasakyan ni Kairo. She fixed her latex bodycon dress and scrutinized the environment. It was her first time stepping on AKT's lawn kahit na sobrang lapit lang nito sa kanilang university.
Sinalubong sila ng isang lalaki, he's wearing a typical black suit and a white gloves covering his both hands bago pa sila makaakyat at makapasok sa loob ng manor.
"Kukunin ko na po yung luggage bag niyo." Ani ng lalaki. His blue eyes gleamed under the moonlight. Sa tantiya niya ay ito ang butler ng manor. Kinuha ng lalaki ang kaniyang luggage bags mula sa sasakyan ni Kairo.
"Astrid?! Welcome to our manor!!" Sigaw ni Alessandra mula sa front porch ng manor at may hawak-hawak itong wine glass na may lamang pulang likido.
Mas lalo itong tumangakad sa suot nitong palm print long sleeves cover-up wrap. Bumaba ito sa steps at lumapit sa kaniya.
She gave her a welcoming kiss on her cheek.
"Just in time," ani ni Alessandra habang nakayakap sa kaniya. The silage of her tangy floral scent entered her nose.
Inilayo nito ang pagkakayakap sa kaniya. "Well, well, look who's here," anito, Alessandra's gazed shifted to where Kairo is standing. "Kairo! The football playboy," nakaramdam ng kaunting seductive mockery si Astrid sa tinig ni Alessandra.
Lumapit ito rito at nakipag kamay.
"Who invited you here?" Tanong nito kay Kairo.
Ngumiti si Kairo bago ito sumagot. "Seelie, she invited me here," sagot niya
"OH! That sneaky little bitch!" Biro ni Alessandra at tumawa. She must've been somehow under the influence of alcohol, her face is already red.
"Anyhoo let's just go inside and enjoy the party," tumalikod si Alessandra at naglakad ngunit nagkakaroon siya ng problema sa pagbalanse sa paglalakad niya buhat sa alcohol na iniinom nito.
Bigla namang lumingon ito kay Astrid na siya namang ikinagulat niya.
"And by the way Levi will show you your room." Dugtong niya at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad.
"Who's Levi?" Tanong niya sa isip. Wala na rin ang lalaking kanina'y kumuha ng kaniyang luggage bags. Hindi na rin niya natanong si Alessandra kung sino si Levi.
"Shall we go?" Tanong ni Kairo sa kaniya at inilahad ang palad nito ngunit agad namang tinanggihan niya ito.
"Yes and i can walk without anyone's help. I know how to walk with my Louboutin pumps," at sabay niyang nginitian ito.
A huge luxurious concrete bifurcated staircase in an open archway welcomed them as soon as they stepped in inside the manor, the bifurcated steps are filled with gold balustrade leading to center of the staircase where it is filled with Greek statues.
Everything is in white and gold motif.
Sa tanang buhay niya ay ngayon lang siya nakakita ng manor na puno ng greek sculptures at halos lahat ng columns at pundasyon ng manor ay tadtad ng mga intricate details which were connected in Greek rich history of arts and culture.
As an Anthropology student she knows the very foundation and the origin of Greek ancient architectural design.
She slowly walked towards the column and checked the details and based on its properties and intricate details it was indeed an original column.
Of all the principal columns created by the Greeks the Corinthian style column is her favorite, the intricate and lavish ornaments sculpted on it gave more historical and vintage vibe.
Bihira lang ang nakakagamit at nakakapagpatayo ng gano'ng klaseng poste. They rarely use it because of its expensive lavishness of grandeur it posses. Tinignan niya ang itaas, there she found the same ornaments that Greeks sculpt on their Corinthian column- acanthus , a jagged leaves that was originated from Mediterranean purlieu.
"Corinthian columns right?" Biglang tanong ni Kairo mula sa likuran niya.
"Yup," sagot niya at binaling ang tingin kay Kairo na nakatingala rin.
She was a bit impressed dahil alam nito ang Corinthian column.
"This Manor is really somethin' else. No one dared to pull this kind of interior sa Pilipinas but look at this Manor parang dinala ang buong Greece sa loob," sambit nito at pangitingiti pa.
"And i must say that all Greek busts inside this manor are imported from Greece," dugtong pa nito.
"Greeks really sculpt perfect faces of their people," saad pa nito .
Kumunot ang noo ni Astrid.
"Bakit ang dami mong alam sa Greece?" Tanong ni Astrid at hinarap ang binata.
"Because I grew up in Europe . Of course ang lapit lang ng Greece sa amin," sagot nito.
She almost forgot that Kairo is Spanish so basically he came from Europe. Napahiya ng slight si Astrid.
"Actually you can leave me here, go with your friends and thank you for the ride," wika ni Astrid at itinuro ang mga taong nagkukumpulan sa gitna ng hall at masayang nagsasayawan. The music is not too loud kaya nakakapag usap pa sila ng maayos.
Binaling niya ang kaniyang paningin sa mga paintings na nakasabit sa pader.
"Its okay. I kinda missed this kind of conversation with other people," sagot ni Kairo
Naglakad palapit si Astrid sa mga paintings.
"Why? Do you and your friends always start the conversation about hot women or possible women you can hook up?" Sarkastikong tanong ni Astrid habang masusing pinag aaralan ang painting.
"No!Of course not. Why would i start my conversation with that? I mean, not all men think the same thing." Halata sa boses nito ang pagka pikon.
Astrid intentionally spew that kind of words para lumayo na ito sa kaniya. Ayaw niyang ma-link or ma-issue-han tungkol kay Kairo and besides his background is diabolical and she dont want to be connected with that kind of men.
"Ok." Tanging nasagot ni Astrid
Hindi na niya narinig na nag salita si Kairo sa likod niya, nilingon niya ito at namataang naglalakad na ang binata palayo sa kaniya.
It was somehow a relief but she felt a slight pain in her heart, she felt a little guilt but why would she even feel that guilt wherein she was just stating facts. Everyone knows that Kairo is a playboy and a manipulator. He will do all means just to manipulate a certain woman and take advantage dahil para sa kaniya men can still cry and kneel but will still lie and cheat.
"Pathetic," bulong niya.
Hindi rin nag tagal ay naglakad siya papunta sa gitna at nakihalubilo sa mga tao. There were familiar faces mostly are from Pontus University and some are unfamiliar faces.
Lahat sila ay may hawak na baso and they were all dancing in ecstacy. The power of alcohol ika niya.
"Hi, are you the new member of AKT? I am Felicity . Nice to meet you," sambit nito, the woman was wearing an A-Line dress.
Felicity's hair was neatly tie in a bun style.
Astrid know who Felicity Wong is. She is the daughter of Arnold and Minerva Wong the owner of famous international jewel manufacturing company - Blood and Jewels. Madalas ay dito bumibili ang kaniyang Mom ng drop earrings at mga singsing.
"Felicity Wong? Nice to meet you too. I am Astrid," agad na inabot ni Astrid ang kamay ni Felicity na nag hihintay. Mas lalo pang sumingkit ang mata nito nang ngumiti.
Kinuha nito ang rock na may lamang brandy mula sa dumaan na waiter at ibinigay ito sa kaniya.
"Make yourself at home, kami na makakasama mo," anito
Kinuha niya ang basong inabot ni Felicity.
She took a sip of brandy, the liquid slide on her throat leaving a hot trail like lava slowly flowing towards the foot of a volcano.
"Are you from Anthro Department?" Tanong nito at uminom ng alak mula sa baso nito.
"Yes! How'd you know?" Astrid was wondering why people know her which is in fact she's just a normal girl. She's not an actress , neither a model nor a socialite. School at bahay lang ang journey ng buhay niya.
"I attended one of your seminars. I even stayed late to finish your talk," sagot nito .
"What? You attended my seminar?!" Inalala ni Astrid ang mga taong um-attend ng kaniyang talk at hindi niya naalala na nandoon si Felicity.
"Hindi kita nakita," kunot noong dugtong niya.
"I was wearing a jacket and a heavily tinted visor para hindi ako kuyugin ng media," sagot nito. Sa pagkakaalam ni Astrid ay katulad din ito ni Emilia na isang open book ang buhay dahil sa kasikatan sa business industry kaya normal lang na pagkaguluhan sila ng media sa tuwing makikita sila ng mga ito.
"Oh! Yes. I remember! You are sitting at the last row right?!" Pag confirm niya.
Tumango lang ito at ngumiti.
Astrid remembered that Felicity was sitting at the last row typing in her MacBook. A sudden flow of happiness surged her system. Hindi siya makapaniwalang nakapag bigay siya ng talk sa anak ng isa sa pinaka sikat na jewel manufacturing company.
"Congratulations by the way! It was a great lesson marami akong natutunan tungkol aa symbology," parangal pa nito and from that moment she wanted to hug Felicity dahil sa pagiging thoughtful nito.
No one congratulated her the night after her talk but she was congratulated by an unexpected acquaintance.
"Thank you so much. I didn't expect na a-attend ka," sagot niya.
Panay rin ang kaniyang pag tungga sa inuming ibinigay sa kaniya.
"Wait!!! First, before i get drunk, became totally wasted and forgot everything i wanted to welcome Astrid as the new member of AKT! Welcome to our sisterhood!" Sigaw ni Alessandra na nakatayo sa itaas ng staircase. She was pretty and totally wasted, gumegewang na rin ang lakad niya. After her short skit everybody shouted na animo'y nagbigay ito ng isang inspirational message.
"Can well call Astrid so that everyone in this manor knows you," naging bato ang mga paa ni Astrid at na lock sa pwestong kaniyang kinatatayuan dahil sa hiya.
"The woman in a latex body con dress!!!! Come up here. Dont be shy!" Sigaw ni Alessandra. Halata sa mukha nito na malakas na ang tama ng alak sa kaniya.
Biglang tumama ang spotlight kung saan siya nakatayo, for a moment her whole body froze. Nilabanan niya ang hiya at naglakad papunta sa harap kung saan naroon si Alessandra. Through her peripheral vision she could almost see that everybody was looking at her like a bacteria in a petri dish.
"I love your dress by the way," bulong ni Alessandra nang makapunta na siya sa harapan. Never in her entire life she entered or joined a sorority dahil ayaw ito ng kaniyang magulang but she was hoping that none of those people will directly report her crazy undercover mission to her Mom or Dad.
"Welcome to Alpha Kappa Tau Astrid where sisterhood and strong women thrive!" Sigaw nito
Alanganing napangiti si Astrid.
"I am not prepared for this," ani niya sa isip habang ngi-ngiti ngiti.
"Where my strong women at?! Enjoy the party!" Sigaw pa ni Alessandra, iniangat nito ang basong hawak hawak sa ere at tumalon talon.
She was indeed intoxicated with alcohol.
Sinalubong siya ni Felicity sa baba at niyakap siya nito.
"Welcome Astrid, i hope we can be friends. " Malumanay na bati ni Felicity. The tone of her voice can melt someone's rock hard heart, her softness and meekness could also question someone's sexual orientation.
"Thank you Felicity," Astrid hugged her but not too tight.
After she distanced her body to Felicity, she saw Genesis at the back talking to someone. The blinding lights are concealing everyone's face. Nahihirapan siyang aninagin kung sino ang kausap ni Genesis.
"Excuse me Felicity, I need to talk with my friend." Aniya 'saka nilapitan ang kaibigan.
Binatukan niya ito . "What the hell are you doing here?! Why didn't you tell me na pupunta ka rin dito?!" Nabu-bwiset na tanong niya sa kaibigang hinihimas ang ulong binatukan niya.
"My friend invited me here!" Sagot nito na nakahawak pa rin sa ulo.
"Who is that friend of yours?!" Aniya habang nakapa-meywang nag mukha siyang nanay na nag sesermon sa kaniyang anak.
"Seelie's boyfriend!" Sagot nito.
Kanina niya pa naririnig ang pangalang Seelie but she have never met her yet.
"You should've told me na pupunta ka dito para nasundo mo ako nong nagka-aberya yung sasakyan ko! What kind of friend are you?" Aniya.
Tumawa ito. His perfect set of white teeth glistened under the blinding lights.
"Because you texted me na magkasama kayo ni Kairo so why would i interrupt your love session? and besides ayokong maging hadlang sa pag iibigan ninyong dalawa," panunukso nito.
"What?! We don't have a thing Genesis! Tapos na 'yong kahibangan ko sa kaniya. Stop!" Saway niya.
She always wanted to slap the soul out of Genesis para matauhan ito. Kung magkakaroon siya ng fan's club sa loveteam nila ni Kairo ay siguradong si Genesis ang magiging presidente niyon.
"T'was a late invitation tho. 'saka pag sinabi ko sayo na pupunta ako baka bumaba ka in the middle of the road which i dont want to happen dahil maghihiwalay kayo ni Kairo. Let the fate of your destined soul find its way to connect you and Kairo," paliwanag nito na animo'y isang expert sa pag ibig.
"I...HATE... YOU!!!" Naiinis na sigaw ni Astrid rito, ngunit dahil sa biglang paglakas ng musika ay hindi na marinig ang kaniyang sinasabi.
"Whaaat?" Panunukso pa ni Genesis. Umarte itong kunwari'y di siya nito naririnig.
Genesis left her dumbfounded at sumama ito sa babaeng hindi niya kilala.
Genesis could've saved her from Kairo at sana'y di na nag krus ang kanilang landas pa.
Maya maya pa'y may isang lalaking naka suit ang lumapit sa kaniya. "Hi I am Levi. Ituturo ko sana yung kwarto mo," anito. The guy who welcomed them before they enter the manor is Levi.
"Sure," sumama si Astrid kay Levi at pareho silang umakyat sa mataas at mahabang hagdan.
A row of vintage paintings are hanging on the walls before they reach the peak of the hall. Her eyes dropped the moment she saw the wall of the hall leading to her room. The walls are sculpted with Greek mythology scenarios like Perseus cutting Medussa's head, the riders from the Parthenon Frieze, the Helenistic Palgamon Altar and a naked cavalryman name Dexilus fighting in the Corinthian War all of those arts are carefully engraved and sculpted on the wall.
Nag mukha tuloy itong isang museum sa sobrang laki, ganda at mga ancient artifacts na naka-display at naka decorate sa hall.
"Who did all of these sculptures and engraves?" Tanong niya kay Levi na kasama niyang naglalakad.
"The owner of this manor hired a professional sculptors but hindi ko kilala kung sino," sagot ni Levi. His voice is quite raspy.
"Do you know kung sino ang owner ng manor na ito?" Tanong niya
"Sabi nila, the first owner of this manor is the first five members of Alpha Kappa Tau. It was a secret organization noon, sought to protect women and uphold their rights," sagot nito . He stopped at tumingin sa isang portrait na naka sabit sa wall.
A portrait of five young women, wearing a some kind of Victorian era type of dress.
"These are the women who created the AKT and this manor," dugtong pa ni Levi
"But how did they created this expensive manor?" Tanong ni Astrid.
"Galing sila sa isang mayamang pamilya so they have all the fiscal resources to establish this kind of mansion,"
"How did you know all these stuff?" Tanong ni Astrid.
Nagpatuloy muna silang naglakad bago sumagot si Levi. "My Dad used to work here at palagi niyang kinu-kwento ang mga ganitong bagay sa akin," sagot nito
"Choice mo rin bang mag trabaho dito?" Astrid asked.
"No. I was busy finishing my study noon sa college and unfortunately our house got rebated kinuha iyon ng bangko dahil naka-sangla ito so i stopped and worked here as caretaker and butler at the same time," anito
"Why didn't you leave and finish your study?" Suhestiyon ni Astrid
"Hindi puwede. Wala na akong magulang," tanging nasagot nito
"Oh. I am sorry," paumanhin niya.
Huminto silang dalawa sa harap ng isang malaking pinto na di kalayuan sa second floor outside terrace.
"Dorothy's room is here. Hindi siya um-attend ng party but i will introduce you to her," ani ni Levi. He knocked but they heard no one. Levi twisted the knob and carefully pushed the door.
Bumungad sa kanila si Dorothy na nakahandusay sa kama nito but she was lying in prone lying position. Lumapit silang dalawa sa babaeng naka handusay.
"Dorothy?" Tanong ni Levi
Ngunit hindi ito sumagot.
Astrid immediately pressed her finger to Dorothy's carotid artery pero wala siyang naramdaman na pulso.
"She's dead!" Astrid claimed.
A different vials of unknown medicine and syringe scattered on her bed, her left arm is still binded by an elastic band that acts as some type of tourniquet.
Ipinasyal niya ang kaniyang paningin sa kaniyang paligid ngunit wala siyang nakitang kakaiba. No sign of robbery or murder. Windows are closed, the door is also properly closed.
"Call an ambulance." Utos niya kay Levi. He immediately ran outside Dorothy's room.