Chapter 3

“Ano naman ang pakialam mo?” masungit na sabi ni Thara, ang malamig na boses ay bahagyang nanginginig sa inis.

Eleur chuckled, the sound low and almost mocking.

“I can help you,” he offered, his tone carrying a weight of confidence that only fueled her irritation.

Dumaan ang roaming waiter at nag-abot ng dalawang goblet si Eleur. Maingat nitong iniabot ang isa kay Thara, na agad tinaasan niya ng kilay, waring nagtatanong kung ano ang balak nito.

“Come on, Thara. Kahit ngayon lang,” ani nito may halong pagsusumamo ang tinig. “Huwag mo akong pagsungitan.”

Napabuga siya ng hangin, pilit pinapakalma ang sarili, bago niya tinanggap ang goblet.

“Jaric is already married,” bulong nito, tila sinasadya ang pagpapatama.

Umangat ang kilay ni Thara. Ano ba ang nais nitong iparating?

“I know he’s married. Sinabi niya sa akin,” malamig niyang tugon, diretso at walang pag-aalinlangan.

Eleur merely shrugged. “Just trying to warn you, so that you’ll not fall into a trap.”

Napairap siya, isang mabigat na kilos ng pagkairita. Kailan pa ito nagkaroon ng malasakit? She refused to entertain the thought any further.

Sa halip, her eyes searched the crowd, looking for Ireem. Ngunit iba ang nahagip ng kanyang mga mata. At ilang dipa lamang ang layo, nakita niya ang mga matang dumidilim habang nakatitig, hindi lang sa kanya, kundi higit lalo kay Eleur.

Si Rozein. Anong ginagawa niya rito?

Bigla siyang nakaramdam ng kakaiba, isang paninikip ng dibdib na hindi niya maipaliwanag. The intensity of his gaze unsettled her, as though every small movement she made was being followed.

At lalo pang naguluhan si Thara nang biglang may magandang babaeng lumapit kay Rozein. The woman looked at him with undeniable tenderness.

Her hands clenched into fists. She turned away quickly, and in a rush of pride and hurt, inisang lagok niya ang laman ng hawak na goblet. The champagne burned her throat, yet the pain paled in comparison to the sting in her chest. Ang lakas ng loob nitong ipakitang may iba sa harap niya.

“Saan ka pupunta?” tanong ni Eleur nang mapansin ang kanyang paglalakad palayo.

“Uuwi na,” malamig niyang tugon.

“Wait, Thara…”

Ngunit hindi niya na ito pinansin. Her steps quickened, determined to escape Rozein’s presence. Ayaw niyang muling masilayan ang mukha nito.

Dumaan siya sa masikip na grupo ng mga tao, desperadong hanapin si Lowie at Ireem. She only wanted to go home. The clock had already struck one in the morning, and exhaustion weighed heavily on her.

Sa wakas, nakalabas siya sa lanai. Akala niya’y makikita niya ang isa sa kanila roon, ngunit wala man lang tao sa paligid. The night air was cold, unsettling in its emptiness. Lumakad siya patungo sa kabilang entrance upang muling makapasok.

Doon siya sinalubong ni Shannon, na may kasamang lalaki. A man in his early forties, dignified yet with a glint of arrogance in his eyes.

“Thara,” hinila siya ni Shannon papalapit. “I want you to meet Governor Rodriguez.”

Agad na naglahad ng kamay ang Gobernador. Thara hesitated, her pride tugging her away from the gesture. Nang mapansin ito ni Shannon, agad siyang bumulong.

“Be a good girl, Thara. Huwag mo akong ipahiya.”

She inhaled deeply, forcing herself into composure, before finally accepting the Governor’s hand.

“Tama nga ang sinabi mo, hija. Napakagandang dalaga nitong pinsan mo.”

She smiled obligingly, kahit pa ramdam niyang ayaw nitong bitiwan ang kanyang kamay. Maingat niya itong hinila pabalik sa sarili.

“It’s a pleasure meeting you, Gov,” sabi niya, mahinhin ang tinig.

She had heard of him before, one of the wealthiest men in the country, though his true net worth remained cloaked in mystery. Pero wala siyang pakialam doon.

Saglit na nagpaalam si Shannon, may kakausapin daw na kakilala. Naiwan si Thara kasama ang Gobernador.

Muli, dumaan ang waiter at kumuha ito ng dalawang goblet. He handed her one, and though reluctant, she accepted. It would be rude to refuse a man of his stature.

Sumimsim lamang siya habang ang Gobernador ay walang sawang nagkukuwento tungkol sa kanyang mga ari-arian at impluwensiya. Boredom gnawed at her, but she endured, wearing a mask of politeness while inwardly struggling to suppress a yawn.

Nang maubos ang laman ng kanyang baso, iniwan siya nito upang kumuha ng panibago. Subalit sa halip na bumalik agad, lumapit ito kay Shannon. Napakunot ang noo niya nang makita kung paano inilapit ng Gobernador ang bibig nito sa tainga ng pinsan.

Why whisper? Sa sobrang ingay ng paligid, kahit pa sigawan nila ang isa’t isa, walang makakarinig. Yet the secrecy unsettled her.

Shannon turned, her expression faltering when she noticed Thara watching. She offered a strained smile. Hindi siya makangiti pabalik. Para may kung anong umahon sa dibdib niya. Hindi alam ni Thara kung bakit.

“You’re not enjoying, hija. Nakikita kong gusto mo nang umalis,” sabi ng Gobernador nang bumalik ito sa kanyang harapan.

“I’m sorry, medyo inaantok na ako,” she admitted, the truth slipping past her lips.

He chuckled. “I think you need more glass of champagne.”

“I had two shots already, Gov.”

“Wala namang pinagkaiba kung iinom ka pa ng isang shot, Thara,” he urged, pressing the goblet into her hand.

Napilitan siyang tanggapin. She raised it to her lips, taking only a small sip before discreetly lowering the glass. Sa pagdating ng mag-asawang kakilala ng Gobernador, kinuha niya ang pagkakataon upang itapon ang laman ng goblet sa ilalim ng mesang nasa tabi niya.

Ilang sandali pa, umalis din ang mag-asawa. She covered her mouth to stifle a yawn, the weight of exhaustion pressing harder against her senses.

“Sleepy?” tanong ng Gobernador, his smile unsettling.

She nodded, unable to hide it.

“No problem, darling. Maraming available na suite sa hotel na ito. I could accompany you there.”

Suite? Gumapang ang kaba sa aking dibdib. The word suite clawed at her memory.

Anim na taon na ang nakararaan, nangyari na ito sa kanya. Welcome party din ni Shannon. Her cousin had offered to take her to a guest room, along with a male friend. Only then did she realize her drink had been laced, her body no longer her own, her thoughts clouded. Kung hindi lamang nandoon si Lowie upang isalba siya, baka may nangyaring hindi niya kayang isipin hanggang ngayon.

And now it was happening again. The same heaviness in her limbs, the same suffocating haze clouding her mind.

Biglang nanlaki ang mga mata niya. What if the goblet… was drugged?

“Hija, kaya mo pa bang maglakad?”

Umatras siya nang hawakan nito ang braso niya.

“N-no! Hindi ako s-sasama,” she stammered, panic clawing at her throat.

Desperately, her eyes searched for Shannon. Pero wala na ang pinsan niya sa kinatatayuan nito.

The room tilted, her vision blurring. Pinilit niya ang sarili na mahanap kung saan ang exit, ignoring the Governor’s voice calling after her.

Tumakbo si Thara papalayo sa reception area. Huminto lamang nang maramdamang natutumba na siya.

“Help me, please…” she whispered, her voice weak, trembling, before darkness swallowed her whole.