CHAPTER 04

TWYLA’S POV.

THE AIR inside the auction room was thick with a lavish mixture of expensive cologne, quiet conversations about deals, and an overwhelming feeling of indulgence. Rich men and women relaxed in their seats, eyes glinting with the kind of hunger that had nothing to do with appetite. This was their world—a place where power was shown not only through money but through control and influence. It was a game of owning others, hidden behind the flashy luxury and the loud calls of the auctioneer.

Rows of potential buyers eyed the elegantly presented men and women with the cold precision of traders — their intentions as clear as the banknotes they flaunted. Mga nakasuot pa ng maskara ang mga babae at lalaki sa taas ng stage kaya’t hindi ko pa nakikita ang mukha ng mga ito.

“Ano ’to?” Puno rin ng pagtatakang tanong ni Koby na nasa aking tabi. Malamang maging sila ay hindi rin makapaniwalang may ganitong maruming gawain ang sikat at mamahaling club na ito.

“Sinabi ni Mr. Cameron na dalhin ko kayo rito,” wika ni Sanz. Sabay naman kaming tatlo na lumingon sa kanya. Sa akin yata ang pinakamasama at mariing titig sa kanya.

‘Ang gagong ’to!’

“Ako ba’y pinaglololoko mo?” May halong inis na tanong ko kay Sanz.

“Bakit? Hindi ba’t gusto mo kamo ng lalaki? Ito ang magandang lugar para pumili ng naaayon sa taste mo,” muling ani Sanz. Mas lalong dumiin ang pagtitig ko sa kanya. “Malay mo naman, isa sa mga bidding item ngayong gabi ang matitipuhan mo.” Pahabol pa nito.

Muli kong nilibot ng tingin ang paligid. Despite the grand setting, a gnawing discomfort settled deep in my gut. This was not the game I wanted to play. The auction wasn’t about affection or connection; it was about transactional dominance, about commodifying human lives under the guise of pleasure and power.

“Ipinapasabi nga rin pala ni Mr. Cameron, na kung nais mo raw na maging susunod na CEO ng organization, dapat simula ngayon ay dapat mo nang matutunan ang ganitong mga gawain.” Wika ni Sanz na siyang nagpakunot ng aking noo.

“Anong sabi mo?” Kunot-noong tanong ko.

“Maloloko mo ang lahat ng tao, Twilight, ngunit hindi si Mr. Cameron. Batid niya kung ano ang mga nais at iniisip mo,” aniya pa.

“Hindi ko alam ang sinasabi mo,” I replied.

“Hindi ba? Hayaan mo na. Si Mr. Cameron na lamang ang tanungin mo tungkol sa bagay na iyan. Napag-utusan niya lamang ako na ibigay ang gusto mo ngayong gabi,” nakangiting turan pa nito at saka ako tinalikuran.

Nag-igting ang mga panga ko at napakuyom ang kamao ko. Ayaw ko nang aksayahin pa ang laway ko sa pakikipag-usap kay Sanz. Wala rin naman akong mapapala kung balian ko siya ngayon ng leeg dito. Kailangan kong makausap si Mr. Cameron tungkol dito, hindi ko akalaing ang kagaya niya pa ang tila sumasang-ayon sa ganitong gawain. At isa pa, kailangan kong alamin kung ano ang iniisip niya tungkol sa akin.

I quickly turned around, ready to leave. But the moment I pivoted, the bright lights at the four corners of the auction room abruptly dimmed, replaced by a low, red glow that cast eerie shadows across the space. A hush fell over the crowd, silencing the murmurs and shifting conversations into expectant silence. The sharp crackle of the microphone filled the room, a cold and commanding voice announcing the beginning of the evening’s event.

Parang biglang nag-iba ang atmosphere sa paligid—a cold tension settling over the crowd as eyes focused intently on the stage ahead, where a lineup of men and women awaited their fate. Walang kahit na anong saplot pang-itaas ang mga kalalakihan, tanging red necktie lamang na nakatali sa kanilang mga leeg. Masasabi kong lahat ng mga lalaking iyon ay may standard body type. Mga nakasuot din sila ng red boxer shorts na terno sa kulay ng suot nilang necktie.

Ang mga kababaihan naman, as usual sa isang club, mga nakasuot sila ng red bra at thong. Litaw na litaw ang kanilang bilugang mga p*wet, at kulang na lang ay kakawala na sa kanilang mga bra ang naglalakihan nilang mga dyoga.

Despite my initial resolve to walk away, my gaze was drawn irresistibly to the unfolding spectacle. The grandeur of the setting—chandeliers dripping with crystals, polished marble floors reflecting the scarce light—belied the sordid nature of the game about to begin. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit tila ipinako ang mga paa ko sa sahig. Hindi ko ito magawang igalaw o ihakbang man lang, at tila naghihintay ng mga susunod na mangyayari.

“Twy, let’s go,” rinig kong anyaya ni Primo. Ngunit hindi ko siya pinansin. Nakatuon lamang ang buo kong atensyon sa harap ng stage.

The male auctioneer’s voice rose, swift and confident, calling bids with precision, each increment echoing like a thunderclap in the polished hall. The crowd responded eagerly, paddles raised and flicked in rapid succession.

Almost all of the auction items on stage had been claimed, leaving only one man and two women remaining.

As my phone vibrated, the last man standing on the stage removed his mask. Time seemed to slow as I caught sight of his face.

Distracted, I answered my mother’s call without taking my eyes off the man standing in front of the vast stage. Each woman raised their bid paddles, clearly intrigued. Mayroon ding mga lalaking nagtaas ng bid paddle nila na malamang ay mga gay or bisexual guy na nakuha rin ang interes ng lalaki.

“Twyla!” my mother’s loud voice broke through from the other line. Marami siyang mga sinabi ngunit tila wala na ako sa aking sarili para marinig pa iyon. “Siguraduhin mo lang na sisiputin mo ako bukas! Mahalagang tao ang pamilya ng mga Zecova,” rinig ko pang wika niya.

I already knew her intentions—introducing me to any man they could to secure the inheritance was nothing new. Gagawin niya talaga ang lahat para sa pinakaminamahal niyang anak sa labas.

Hindi ko pa rin matanggal sa mga mata ko ang lalaking pinag-aagawan ng mga bidder sa entablado. He stood there quietly, steady and confident despite the tension surrounding him. There was something different about him, a presence that set him apart from the others. He didn’t need to move or speak, yet I felt he was the center of my attention.

As I watched him, I didn’t realize my hand slowly rose, lifting the bidding paddle. It felt like a moment frozen in time—an unexplained impulse where my feelings made the decision for me. The movement was almost automatic, as if my body was telling me he was the one I wanted, even though I didn’t fully understand why. Baka dahil masyadong malakas ang dating niya kumpara sa ibang lalaking naririto ngayon.

I could feel the weight of all the eyes around me, fixed on what I had done. But despite everything, my gaze stayed on him—the man who suddenly became the most important person in that room to me.

“Twilight. . .” rinig kong sabay na usal nina Primo at Koby dahil sa ginawa kong pagtaas ng bidding paddle.

“One hundred million,” I declared firmly.

The number on my paddle caught many eyes, eliciting murmurs of shock and disbelief. No one dared to outbid me. With my declaration, the room fell silent, the usual chaos stilled by the weight of my choice.

From where I stood, I could clearly see the shocked expression of the man I just bought. Tila hindi siya makapaniwala sa ginawa ko. Kanina kasi, ten million pesos na ang pinakamataas na bid sa kanya. Ayoko ng madramang agawan kaya tinaasan ko agad sa presyong hindi na sila maglalakas loob pang lamangan.

I secretly smiled to myself, the weight of one hundred million pesos settling lightly in my mind—as if it was just a small piece in a much larger game. To others, it might have seemed like an extravagant sum, but to me, it was merely a starting point, a strategic move in the plan I was carefully weaving. This man—I could tell—was exactly the type I needed. Not just someone who met my standards in appearance or demeanor, but someone who, beneath that calm exterior, could be guided and controlled. Men like him were rare: confident yet obedient, strong yet willing to bend when necessary. I knew that with the right approach, he could be an invaluable ally, someone who would play his part precisely as I required.

The thought settled comfortably in my mind as the chatter around us buzzed on, oblivious to the quiet resolve forming inside me.

“Twyla, nasaan ka ba ngayon, huh? Bakit ang ingay jan?” Boses pa rin ni Mama. Hindi ko pa rin pala napapatay ang tawag hanggang ngayon.

“Don’t worry, I heard you. I’ll be there tomorrow,” I replied tersely, immediately hanging up before she could respond.

‘Don’t worry, Ma. I’ll make sure you all meet your future in-law tomorrow.’ I said to myself and smiled secretly.

Given the enormous sum I’d just offered, that man became mine.

I turned to Sanz beside me. “Bring him to my hotel room in thirty minutes,” I ordered, and he nodded immediately.

I glanced once more toward the stage, locking eyes with the man who was now undeniably mine. His gaze was cool and measured, revealing nothing but quiet surprise and curiosity. I smirked subtly at him—a small, confident smile that conveyed both challenge and possession. Without breaking the moment, I slowly turned away, allowing the weight of what had just happened to settle between us like an unspoken promise.

Behind me, I heard the soft footsteps of Primo and Koby following closely, their presence a steady reassurance as we exited the auction room together. The energy in the room seemed to shift in my wake, but my focus remained fixed on the path ahead.

Alam kong kanina pa gustong magsalita ng dalawang kumag kong kasama. Alam ko namang nangangati nang malaman ng mga dila nila kung ano ang ginawa ko. Kung bakit ko iyon ginawa. Pero dahil siguro sa tensyon, hindi sila nagkaroon ng lakas ng loob na magtanong pa. They remained silent all the way until we reached the hotel where I was temporarily staying. I had just come back from Korea, and I preferred not to go directly to our family mansion dahil gusto ko munang magpalamig at magpahinga sa pakikipagplastikan sa pamilya ko. Lutang na lutang ako sa mga pekeng ngiti at pakikisama nila sa akin.

As soon as I entered my hotel room, I slammed the door shut without uttering a word. Primo and Koby were left standing there, their faces full of questions no one dared to voice. Wala rin ako sa mood para makipag-usap sa kanila ngayon.

I headed straight to my room and shed my red fitted gown, along with all my other clothes. I removed my long, fake curly hairpiece and laid it carefully on the table beside the large mirror. Then, naked, I stepped into my bathroom.

The bathtub was already prepared; warm water filled it, adorned with scattered flower petals. I sank into the soothing embrace of the water, letting it envelop my worn-out body.

Dahil siguro sa pagod ko kaya hindi sinasadyang nakatulog ako. When I woke, I felt dizzy, unrested. I took a quick shower and wrapped a white towel around my body. I grabbed another towel to dry my wolf-cut hair.

Habang naglalakad ako palabas ng bathroom, busy drying my hair, I was startled to see a man standing by the glass window of my room. His back was turned, seemingly admiring the city lights—the breathtaking view from my hotel room.

Slowly, he turned toward me. I swallowed hard as I recognized him.

He was the man I had bought earlier.

“Akala ko nahimatay ka na sa loob ng banyo sa sobrang tagal mo. Hindi ba masasayang sa oras ang perang ipinambayad mo sa akin?” Mahinahon ngunit seryosong tanong niya.

He stepped closer. I didn’t know why, but his face darkened with an intense aura that made me nervous.

My legs felt frozen to the floor, as if nailed there. A sudden surge of heat flooded my body as he closed the small gap between us with frightening speed. His hands found their way to my waist, pulling me close, and then his lips crashed fiercely against mine. The force of the kiss was overwhelming — urgent, demanding, and intoxicating all at once. I could feel my eyes widen in surprise and drop the towel I was holding.

‘D*mn this guy! Nagkakamali siya ng iniisip! F*ck!’ I thought.