That Star Studded Night

My mind went blank when one man raised his hand offering one million pesos for my bid.

Hindi ko alam ang mararamdaman ko. Takot, kaba, at tila gusto ko nang lamunij na lang ng lupa dahil sa sitwasyong kinaroroonan ko ngayon.

"One Million! A million bid from our regular customer, Mister Ignacio!" Palakpak iyon ni Madam.

She's the owner of this exclusive club. Bakit hindi? Malaki ang komisyon niya sa magiging presyo ko ngayong gabi. Presyong alam kong sisira sa buhay ko. Pero wala akong ibang pagpipiliian. I have no choice but facing this fate to save my mother... and her lover. My family...

Kabado kong iniangat ang tingin ko at tuluyan akong nanigas nang makita ko ang matandang lalaking tinapatan ng spotlight.

He is Mister Ignacio. Fear numbed my body seeing how fat, and maniac he is just by his eyes looking at me. A-at siya ang magmamay-ari sa akin ngayong gabi?

Hindi ko mapigilang maluha na naman nang bumuhos ang realidad sa akin.

You don't want this Lily. You are far better from this....

Alam ko. alam kong maraming pwedeng ibang paraan. But I can't earn what the loan sharks requiring us to pay. Half a billion... Five hundred Million, a normal people like me can't even have half a million pesos. Pero ang limang daang milyon?

I-I'm sorry, Ma. But I can't afford to lose you. Not you...

Mabilis kong pinunasan ang mga luha ko. Pero isang hindi ko inaasahang bagay ang nangyari.

"Half a Billion! I bid half a billion for her!" Isang malakas na boses ang pumaibabaw sa madilim na parte ng stadium. At agad ko iyong ikinalingon.

I heard the crowd loud gasped. Maging si Madam ay hindi makapaniwala sa naririnig niya.

Tila naman natigil ang hininga ko roon. Half a billion. He just have a half a billion to have one person.

Tulala ko lang pinagmasdan ang patuloy nitong pagbaba sa eisle. He's looking straight to my eyes. Na para bang kilala ako nito. But no, thats impossible. Good thing was he is wearing his mask, and I am wearing one that covers all my identity. I even wear my contacts.

He got up on stage at mabilis akong inakbayan. Bagay na agad na ikinalambot ng aking tuhod. Seeing myself helpless and thinking what could happened in the next few hours with him.

"No ones gonna offer higher than what I said, Madam. So she's mine." He said smoothly at inakay na ako pababa ng stage.

I heard people whispering about us. But my heart pounded more loudly than any sound could ever sinked on me.

Mabilis ako nitong naisakay sa itim niyang sasakyan. But one person was there.

Taong ni sa panaginip ko ay hindi ko naiisip na matatagpuan ko dito.

Noah Visser...

My Mother's boss...