Ruby ring. It got my attention. I think that this is the one Clints is talking about. What's with this ring?
As questions started running around my head, the bidding started. There is no time for questions right now, I must get that for the sake of my brother's order. I am just going to throw questions at him later.
The starting bid was a half million.
The first bet was from a man, a middle-aged man. He bid six hundred thousand pesos. No one got excited about the price. How expensive is this ring?
I did not interrupt their bidding argument. I just speculated how they raised their bets from six hundred thousand to a million and a half pesos. I still waited. I do not need to argue with them, I just want the last bid and I'll fuckin' get that ring.
"2,000,000 pesos," a young lady said. She is wearing a green gown. I looked thoroughly at her, I guess that she's in her 20s.
"2,200,000 pesos," another woman in her 20s fought the price. This one's wearing a blue gown.
The bidding price went to higher bets. From 2,200,000 pesos to 3 million. I shook my head. Why does the bidding quarrel between these two ladies so close?
"What a hot fight," started the host. "For that, we're gonna make Mr. dela Cuesta here as a reward for whoever wins the bidding. He's going to be your date tonight!" Excitedly, the host announced.
Oh, I guess, it's time to budge in. I think this will be a double-win item for me tonight.
"Three and a half million!" The other woman exclaimed. The one in blue.
"Three million and seven hundred thousand," this woman said in a more relaxing way than the other one. I clicked my tongue. Fools!
I started to walk between people to people to reach the front area.
"Five million pesos," I said as if no one would ever argue with that price. I looked at the two ladies fighting for the Ruby ring.
Everyone was left speechless. I just waited for the announcement of the winners. Even the host can't talk.
"Five million and five—" I did not let the lady in green finish her price.
"Make my bid eight million pesos," I said. I am so complacent that I'd win this bidding. I did not bother to look at their pissed faces again.
The host in front waited for another bid to beat mine, but no one else dared. I smiled with victory visible in it.
"So I guess, we now have the winner!"
The host called me to go upstage. Ashton went to assist me. He offered his hand and I grabbed it.
"Be honest, to what did you really bid that eight million peso for? The ruby ring or the date?" He whispered to me as we walked through the stage.
"Sorry, Mr. Bad boy, but that eight million is for the ring. Don't assume, okay?" I said that disappointed him really bad.
"You never do anything but hurt my feelings." He gave me his pity eyes look.
"Oh, I did?" I said in sarcasm.
As we reached the center position, he just left me with a wink. I faced the people in front of me, they automatically clapped their hands. I roamed my sight around. I saw the two ladies fighting the bid earlier, sharply looking at me. I did not blink and just smiled at them.
...
"Brinley, go to the parking lot immediately as soon as you get the ring," I heard my brother from my ear comms.
The host handed me the ring, I carefully wore it.
"I have it, I'm coming," I said in a low voice, enough for them not to hear me, as I walked down the stage.
It was a swift move, but it wasn't obvious that I was in a hurry. As soon as I saw the exit door leading to the parking lot, I went there, but I felt someone following me.
I did not ignore it nor took care of it. I just stayed alerted for what might happen.
I stepped a foot outside, but a hand grabbed me by my shoulder. My calm self did not stop me from throwing a punch at that person's face, yet it turns out— It was Ashton.
"Oww." He winced in pain as he wiped the blood on his lips.
"Why the fuck are you here? Why are you following me?!" I exclaimed really loud.
"No, why the fuck are you here? Are you leaving now?" He asked and hissed right after.
"That's none of your business," I said. "Now, my turn. Why are you following me?"
"Hello? Can't you remember that I am your date?"
I rolled my eyes at him. I turned my back right after and then continued walking. I can still feel him following me. I cussed but he wouldn't stop following me.
I stood still as I was in search of my brother's car but— I felt a cold metal at the back of my neck. I turned my head to the side to check if Ashton is still there, and yes, and also has a gun pointed at his head. We raised both of our hands as a sign of surrender. Slowly from the side, a group of armed men appeared, holding my brother hostage.
"What the fuck is happening?" Ashton said between gritted teeth.
"I fucking don't know."
My brother and I had eye contact. He is telling me something. I needed to use telepathy, not literally as we all know.
He is eyeing my hand... My finger... The ring!
What the hell does that mean?!
He eyed the ground, and my purse. Huh.
I was still puzzled, but I gave my idea a shot. I dropped my purse on purpose and excused myself to get it. The gun was still pointed at me. I rapidly slipped the ring out of my finger and secretly hid it inside my bra.
Damn. Who the hell lets their hostage pick up an object they dropped... on purpose.
"Where is the ring?" The man in a suit stepped forward and asked.
"What ring?"
"Ruby ring."
I looked at my brother, he shook his head. What am I supposed to do now? Yes, of course. Deny that I have the ring. Good idea.
Geez. I could feel my inner self roll its eyes on me. What a stupid idea to put in question.
"You mean the one inside? They're still bidding for it," I reasoned out. "It's still being auctioned."
They eyed each other surprisingly as if what I said was unbelievable. They also caught me with their sights. They weren't just looking at me, they were staring. I hid the truth behind my eyes, so good that I avoided them knowing that I'm just making it up.
"Are you messing up with us?"
"We might but we're not," I answered convincingly.
I looked at my brother again. He's gesturing me something. From my peripheral vision, I saw Ashton looking sharply at the armed men. I focused on my brother, he keeps on moving his head sideways— I got it!
In a swift second, I moved my head to the side and hit the gun pointed at me with my head. Everyone got alarmed. Ashton on my side especially. My brother managed to escape from being their hostage. Bullets were already fired but they used suppressors. My brother threw a gas grenade and before it could cover up all of us, he gestured me to follow him, so I did— and Ashton did too.
Turmoil filled my body, but no way that I am giving in to its default in these kinds of situations.
These are not my usual. It's mostly heated argument, riot, then move on. Some with grudges, yet some with no hard feelings.
We hid behind a Range Rover. I took off my heels so I could move more comfortably.
"You should've told me that you're gonna make a move," Ashton said from beside me.
"And what is he doing here?" My brother complained. I just rolled my eyes. "Anyway, give me the ring and you wear this one." He handed me the same ring, the same replica of it. The fake one probably.
I gave him the original one. He told me the plan.
"And that guy there, why is a dela Cuesta with you?" He asked me.
"Don't mind him. He keeps on stalking me," I said then stood up. I laughed in my head.
I went and acted like I was sneaking out of the situation, and my intention was for the enemies to notice me— and it worked!
"Hey, young lady!" I turned to face several men which guns are pointed at me.
I raised both of my hands again, revealing the fake ruby ring I wore on my finger. The man in the suit eyed my hands. Until he saw the ring, he slowly went forward to check. And in fairness, the fake one really looks like the original one. Every detail. You don't get to notice if you're eyes aren't sharp enough, and when I say sharp, I meant very sharp.
"Give me the ring."
"Will you free us if we give you the ring?" I asked. He nodded. "Very well. But I want to be sure."
"What do you want?" He asked.
"Throw your guns away together while I put this ring on the ground near you, deal?" I told them my consequences.
They looked at each other, hesitating. Well, who wouldn't?
My brother and Ashton went out from hiding and confidently revealed themselves. They weren't done discussing their answers yet. Whatever, these guys.
"You have the advantage, men. We're outmanned. What took you so long?" Said my brother who's probably bored by now. Eh, what is this ring really for? Does it have to do with Mafias, and what?
"Okay, deal."
I was about to step forward to drop the ruby ring on the space between us...
"Let me," said Ashton.
I gave him the Ruby ring. Not as if I really trust him but besides, it's just the fake one. And his bad if he'll double-cross us, he will be the one to be hunted by these guys.
He stepped forward and dropped the ring. Once the ring was dropped, everybody was so still. Trying to absorb what happened. They looked into each other's eyes.
"Okay... So, can we go now?" My brother asked impatiently.
"You're lucky that we couldn't identify you because of your masks," said the guy in the suit. We just shook our heads and went out their way.
We went to the van, and unfortunately, all of the six men we had earlier are dead. And by means of dead, Clints will be the one to drive this van.
He positioned himself in the driver's seat. I stayed beside him. And how could I forget Ashton? Yes, he is still here.
As soon as Clints started the engine, gunfire covered the place. They aren't using their silencers anymore which made the sound louder. Really loud. Loud enough for the people inside the hotel to hear. Everybody was alarmed, yells of panic and trembling fear were clearly audible. I did not expect this. I looked at Ashton from the back seat, he is looking straight, and this time, it was rare, I could read his eyes. He wanted to be aggressive. I saw that through his threatening eyes. I diverted my sight to Clinton, he's focused on dodging some of the bullets that are fired at our van. Well, I just thought that this van is armored.
"Gun," Ashton suddenly uttered with his voice dead serious. "Give me a gun," he repeated.
Clinton looked at me and then nodded. Means he agrees with Ashton. I opened the van's compartment for me to see this assault rifle. I looked at Clints for the last time to get his answer. He just nodded, so I grabbed the gun and handed it to Ashton.
My brother opened the roof of the van partially enough for Ashton to fit in. He went through the space, made himself comfortable, and pointed the gun at the men firing at us, as well as the cars following us which probably belongs to the enemies— who the fuck are they?!
"Brother, who the fuck are these guys?"
"Shut it now, Brinley!"
"Stop leaving me clueless—"
"Just. Shut. It. Now!" I stopped because of the pressure in his words. I'm so left out right now, but I shouldn't care because all of this is just business and I just fucking don't care about that shit! But why does the curiosity lingers in me? How could I not stop questioning him when in fact I shouldn't care about all this crap??
I know, right now, I'll go sleepless later! Literally sleepless because of this.
Both groups kept exchanging bullets. As if no one was getting tired between them. One by one, Ashton took them down, but the more we shoot at them, the merrier they become. They kept on adding troops.
"And why the fuck are they following us?" I asked a follow-up question. "That's not hard to answer, right?"
"It's just that it is how it works."
"Did they notice that the ring was fake?"
"No, it's impossible for them to notice with their naked eyes," he said while sweat was beading through his forehead. "Don't ever take your mask off unless I tell you."
"Oh, whatever."
This time, I didn't care if he'll command me around. I don't know what's happening and I don't want to be a burden to myself by adding up some of these apparently unanswerable questions.
Ashton managed to bring the enemies after us to their downfall. I was about to cheer him up— but a lineup of black SUVs blocked our way together with those armed men with their guns pointed at our van.
"Shit," the three of us said in chorus.