Chapter 05 - Birthday party

Chapter 05 - Must have been the wind

Hyde

That man was a total freak! I don't even know why the heck did I punch that bastard's face. What is happening to me? the feeling is so strange that I couldn't even explain it. 

"Saan ka galing?" Nag-katinginan kami ni Joah ng umupo ako. I don't want to look obvious so I tried to act cool and normal. If possible, I don't want them to notice it.

I'm so sick of being the subject of much local gossip.

"Cr." Napailing-iling na lang siya. I'm pretty sure that something was popping up in his head right now. It doesn't matter. 

I don't mind though.

"Cr lang tapos may bangas? aba matindi. Naki pag-lampungan ka sa gripo sa cr?" sarkastikong tanong niya. I rolled my eyes then there comes the three, came to butt in.

There comes the morons. The president, is Joah. Montani the jackass or should I say the legendary skirt-chaser, Phoenix the croaking frog, Gaius the Mr. Chef, and lastly Cross, the silent but dangerous.

"Akala namin nakatira ka na," tawag-tawang biro ni Phoenix while sipping on his wine.

"I'm not like you,"  I mumbled. Nang may dumaang waiter, nag-palagay ulit ako ng wine. Hindi naman ako malalasing kung iinom ako ng wine.

"Nasaan si Gaius?" ngumuso si Montani at awtomatikong napatingin ako sa gawi na tinuro niya. He's with his parents and some oldies.

"His father gave him an antique ring that was owned by the late king of Egypt." Napatango napatango na lamang ako. That was pretty interesting.

"I wonder where did Tito Gustavio buy that." Nag-lalaro din sa isip ko kung ano ang itsura nun. The image of an old golden ring with a 14. 2-carat blue diamond is popping up in my head.

Gaius is not really fond of gifts but I was sure na pabor na pabor sakanya yung singsing na niregalo ng Daddy niya dahil mahilig siya sa mga antique. He's some sort of weird guy.

"I heard from those oldies that Tito bought it from a wealthy family in Egypt who owned that ring. Binili daw iyon na sa halagang $57.5 million."

Well, hindi na ako nag-taka sa presyo. Madami ang nag-hahabol sa singsing na iyon.

"What's your gift ?" I asked. Napatingin sa 'kin si Joah habang sumisimsim rin ng wine.

"It's for him to find out," saad niya at ngumisi. Mukhang may naisip na katarantaduhan na naman 'to base sa mala demonyong ngiti niya. Puro na lang kalokohan ang laman ng kukote nila eh.

"Bakit? ikaw Hyde ano regalo mo sa ugok?" Napailing na lang ako. I don't have any plans to tell them, I want them to be surprised.

"Ikaw Cross?" Tanging ngisi lang ang isinagot niya sa 'min.

"Ikaw?" agad namang tumawa si Phoenix na siraulo. Umiiral nanaman ang pagiging baliw nito. He's a psycho, not literally.

"Butas na panty at bra!" Awtomatikong nag-sitawanan sila. No doubt that Phoenix is crazy as hell.

"Ang yayaman ninyo tapos ang kukuripot ninyo," pinaringan ko sila. Totoo naman kasi, pag sa ibang bagay willing pa sila gumastos ng milyon-milyon.

"Nakakahiya ka naman Hyde, tang'na ikaw nga pinaka-mayaman sa 'tin. Barya mo lang ang milyon," Phoenix said. Napatingin sa 'kin ang tatlo pati na rin ang ibang napapadaan sa pwesto namin. It's because of these motherfuckers.

They're way too loud.

"Tangina naiimagine ko na agad kung ano ang magiging reaksiyon ni gago, baka matuwa at lumuhod pa siya sa harap ko dahil sa ganda ng regalo ko sa kanya!"

"Tarantado ka talaga Phoenix"

Kumuha ulit ako ng wine sa waiter na dumaan then suddenly, Montani mouthed something but I refused to look. It would be a waste of time.

"Si Solene," Parang may kung anong bumulong sa 'kin so I ended up looking at her. 

She's here again? napahilamos na lang ako sa mukha ko. Bakit kailangan ko pa siyang maka salamuha ngayon? 

"Hoy anyare at may paganyan-ganyan ka pa?" takang tanong ni Joah at pinaningkitan ako ng tingin ng apat kaya naman napa taas na lang ako ng isang kilay. 

"What?" tanong ko. I noticed that Cross was looking at her like he was doing some sort of a detective thingy, observing her every move.

"Why are you looking at her?" Tanong ko kaya agad na nag-sipagtinginan ang mga hinayupak. Mga chismoso.

"Is it rude to stare?" I shrugged my shoulders.

"She's not that pretty," sinasabi ko iyon habang nakatingin ako sakanya. Is she pretty? It's just I don't find her attractive at all. 

"Ano? bulag ka ba? Ganda niya kaya oh. Tangina pare pacheck up kana," Joah mumbled. Nakadekwatro lang ang tatlo habang sumisimsim ng red wine.

Inabala ko ang sarili ko sa pag-inom ng wine at pag-ikot ng tingin sa paligid. The venue's pretty nice huh? magaling ang nag-organisa nito at nag-manage sa pag-aayos ng lahat ng ito. well trained.

No wonder why Third fractio is huge. It was all because of Gaius' hard work and I'm proud to call him my friend. Ito pa lang private room ay pwedeng-pwede nang gawing bahay, ano pa kaya itong buong third fractio? 

Marami ang dumalo sa party ni Gaius. Meron rin ilang kilalang sikat na artista ang dumalo, but most of the guests were related to business. Ang iba ay abala kumain, ang iba naman ay abala makipag-usap.

Inalok ko sina Joah, Montani at si Phoenix na puntahan sina Gaius. Naabutan namin sila na nag -uusap-usap about sa business kasama ang ibang pamilya niya. His face brightened up a bit when he saw us. Para siyang bata na naka-kita ng candy.

"Happy birthday bud." I tapped his shoulders.

"Thank you, akala ko hindi kayo pupunta." He said while smiling.

"Is that even possible?" Natatawang sambit ni Phoenix.

"What happened to your face?" Iniwas ko kaagad ang mukha ko ng hawakan iyon ni Gaius.

"Ayon nakipag-lampungan sa gripo sa cr," pabirong sambit ni Joah. I already told him about what happened and good thing, he didn't spill it to them. 

"Hi, po Tita Elisse." Agad na lumapad ang ngiti ng mommy ni Gaius ng makita niya kami. She's wearing a Marc Jacob's red backless gown which suits her really well.

Mabuti naman at hindi masyadong napapansin ang bangas sa mukha ko dahil dim ang lights, nag-mistulang bar ang party ni Gaius.

"Kamusta hijo? asan sina Fawn at Heince? mga parents at kapatid ninyo ba't hindi ninyo sinama dito?" nag-tatakang tanong ni Tita Elisse sa 'min. Nasanay na yata na nandito ang mga pamilya namin tuwing birthday ni Gaius.

Tuwing birthday ng  bawat isa sa 'ming anim ay nakasanayan na namin na parating nandoon ang mga pamilya namin. No wonder why Tita Elisse is expecting our families too.

"They're on their way." Tumango siya sa sinabi ko.

"Good to know. How about your parents and siblings Montani? Phoenix? Joah? Cross?" sabay-sabay na napadako ang tingin nila sa umaasang si Tita Elisse.

"I'm sorry Tita hindi po makakapunta sina Mommy at Daddy. May importanteng business meeting sa hongkong pero baka sumunod dito sina Rialynee at si Juenche," Napatango na lang siya sa sinabi ni Joah.

"Daddy can't go too but I'm pretty sure Mommy and Yuhenceil and my other brother is on the way na po."

"On the way na rin po sila with Cheolea, hindi po sumama si Ate Rhyzll . Busy sa ginagawang gown." Kaswal na ngumiti siya kay Phoenix.

"Not sure if my parents can go po but I'm still hoping that they can make it here."

"It's okay hon. At least may mga pumunta." Biglang sumulpot si Tito Gustavio na abot tenga ang ngiti at nakasuot ng black tuxedo.

He looks dazzling in his suit.  Gaius was the carbon copy of his Father, he really looked like him.

Nakipag-kamayan kami Daddy ni Gaius at binati na rin namin ang ilang kamag-anak nila.

"How are you hijo?" baling sa 'kin ni Lolo Robert, the eldest among the Ferrels.

"I'm good po. Kayo po kamusta na?" Napailing-iling siya at ngumiti.

"Eto, matanda na." Napahalak-hak siya kaya sinaway siya ni Lola Cecilia dahil baka atakihin siya sa puso pag-nasobrahan.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _

In the middle of my conversation with the Ferrel's, my phone rang. I wasn't expecting any call but I doubt that this is from Dad.

"Excuse me, I'll just take this call," saad ko. Nag-hanap ako ng tahimik na lugar at napadpad ako sa veranda. Doon ko sinagot ang tawag. 

"Where are you? kanina pa kayo hinahanap ni Tita Elisse."

"We're on our way but I think we're gonna be late. we're stuck in traffic." Narinig ko ang boses ng mga kapatid ko. Knowing Canavent, he's super loud.

"Are you with ate Marquis and Canavent?" I just wanna check if they were really there.

"Yeah, kasama namin sila. Ibaba ko na ang tawag, just tell them na we're on our way." he ended the call then bumalik na ako sa pwesto namin.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _

"Help me..."

I saw a woman bathing in blood. I can't clearly see her face because it was blurred and I don't know why.

"Help me please..." She tried to reach my hand but I couldn't reach it so many times. I tried to scream,

No voice came out of my mouth.

I saw someone coming, pilit niyang hinihila ang kaawa-awang babae. She keeps screaming that she needed help. She was about to get up ng biglang may nilabas ang babaeng lumapit sa kanya. I tried to get up to stop the woman but I couldn't move my body at all. 

It was a knife and it sent shivers down to my spine. she was about to stab her but she paused for a minute and threw a cold gaze at me.

"No... no!"

I saw the way how she horribly took the life of the poor woman. I looked at my hands... They were trembling and my lips were trembling too! I failed to save her...

Napabalikwas ako mula sa hinihigaan ko. I looked around, I'm still in my condo. I felt relieved when I realize that it was just a dream.

"Almost surreal," I mumbled to myself.

Isang nakakabinging katahimikan ang bumalot sa loob ng kwarto ko at ang tanging maririnig ay ang tunog ng aircon. Bumaba ako sa kama at pumunta sa cr. Binasa ko ang mukha ko at tinitigan ang sariling repleksyon sa salamin.

These past few days, I always dreamt about something strange. Yeah, it was really strange that I couldn't even understand it.

Lumabas ako sa banyo then headed to the balcony to inhale some fresh air. I stared at the whole city. When I was a kid, nightmares always haunts me and it only stopped when i turned 15 but I guess it's back. I hope it's just a coincidence.

I grew up in Los Angeles but I studied here in the Philippines nang tumuntong ako sa high school. My other Cousins and Aunts and also my other Uncle lives there.

Ang mga pinsan ko sa Father side ay nandito sa Pilipinas. We decided to live here for good pero si Canavent, my younger brother ay napamahal na sa L. A. that's why he had a hard time to adjust ng umuwi kami dito sa Pilipinas.

I used to roam around the city together with my Cousins and old friends but it's different now. I'm working... i mean we are focusing now on our careers. Madalas naman kami mag-kasama nina Joah every time we had free time.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

I was holding and reading some proposals ng biglang dumungaw ang ulo ni Freanceia mula sa pinto. Kumunot tuloy ang noo ko.

"Sir, nandito po si Sir Canavent. He was looking for you." Hindi ko na kailangan pang mag-tanong dahil dinig na dinig ang boses niya salabas, maybe flirting with my employees.

"Let him in." Bumukas ang pinto at bumungad sa 'kin ang nakangisi na si Canavent.

"Hey, big bro wassup..." Humiga siya sa sofa kaya naman nainis ako. He didn't even bother to put away his shoes. It might leave a stain on my cream color big sofa.

"Your shoes. It might leave a stain there. Papalabhan ko yan sayo. What brought you here in my office young man?" I raised one of my eyebrows then gave him a questioning look.

"To naman si Kuya, parang hindi tayo mag-kapatid ah? anyway, I need you to go to school. You have some matters to discuss with Dean." Kumunot na lang ang noo ko.

"Why would i go there? unless na may katarantaduhan ka na namang ginawa." Umiling sia at ngumi ng nakakaloko.

I pressed the button and requested a drink for us two and told Freaceia not to go here anymore. Alam kong lalandiin niya lang ang sekretarya ko dahil matagal na niyang gusto ito, simula pa 'nung unang araw ni Freanceia. 

"Sir heto na po ang juice na inutos niyo." I let another employee in and saw how this guy's eyes were glued to her butt. 

"Stop staring. You're in my fucking office, Canavent." hanggang sa lumabs ang empleyado ko ay nanatili parin siyang nakatitigdoon

"Hindi kaya ako tumitingin 'noh! Anyway, just go there. It's for you to find out." He smirked. I knew that freakin' smirk of him. I really know every inch of him so alam ko na kung ano ang ipinunta nito dito.

"Why don't you fucking call Mom or Dad or Ate Marquis instead? Can't you see i'm busy?" Napansin ko ang panggiwi niya dahil sa pag-taas ko ng tono. 

Oh boy, he's giving me more stress for Pete's sake!

"Kuya naman eh. Just this once please," he said with a pleading voice.

"You're fucking 18 and yet hindi ka pa rin tumitino? what should I do to you Canavent Andrejce? gusto mong ipatanggal ko kay Dad iyang BMW mo? Hindi ka na nag-tino." I saw how his face was darkened.

"No, not my car Kuya, please. Just go, ngayon lang oh. I won't bother you next time I swear. I just really need your presence there Kuya. Please?" I can almost see his twinkling eyes.

My brother is a playboy. He is known not just only because he's bearing the surname, Strovinstell but because he's an ultimate playboy. He dated many girls back then until now. Every day, I saw how he changes a girl just like changing his clothes, ganoon siya kabilis makahanap ng babae.

I don't do girlfriends, really but si Amaranth, naging girlfriend ko siya dahil pinilit talaga nilang maging kami. Naalala ko pa noong ang edad namin ay tumuntong nang 18, binalak nila kaming ipag-kasundo and I would rather kill myself than living with her under the same roof.  I can't imagine that.

Why do people are obsessed with money? title? Fame? I don't know the exact reason.

Society is continuously evolving and so is the concept of an arranged marriage. Arrange marriage is the most common in the business world. It's their way to join forces, establish alliance and strengthen the family status through marriage.

Inilalagay nila sa isang alanganing sitwasyon ang mga anak nila. However, for me, arrange marriage is hard to execute sometimes because of the high expectations of the families. Kapag hindi na meet ang expectation ng isang pamilya sa isa pang pamilya, they would usually cut the ties for good. Mga sakim sila at makasarili dahil hindi nila iniisip at ikinokonsidera ang nararamdaman ng mga anak nila. 

Arrange marriage? that is so ridiculous and honestly, they should ban this practice. Correct me if I'm wrong pero parang ibinibenta na nila ang anak nila kapag ipinag-kakasundo sa hindi nila kilala. Imagine? being tied to a total stranger? what life could you have? it's much better if you can learn how to love your partner but what if you just can't? can you still stand it? 

This system is also unusually hard on women and their families not just also to women, but also to men if an arranged marriage has gone wrong. We're talking about an unwanted marriage here so couples often end up filing a divorce or an annulment and so is me in case that happens.

It was torture emotionally and I can't imagine myself living in a loveless marriage. That sucks. 

The hell that I care about that family status!

It's the 21st century and yet this practice is still going on with other families and their life must be really suck. I pity them. 

Just like me and Amaranth's family. The connections between the Strovinstell and Fulvous are getting stronger day by day and I'm hoping that I'll be the one who'll cut that strings for good. I don't want to have a connection to them.

                                                   _ _ _

Must have been the wind

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