The Scheming Manipulator

CHAPTER 2

IVORY

"Pardon?"

At inulit nga ni Serene ang sinabi niya. "Have s*x with my fiancé. In exchange, I will give you the amount you needed for your twin brother's operation."

So, hindi nga ako nabibingi lang. Tama ang pagkakarinig at pagkakaintindi ko sa sinabi niya. And she said those words as if having s*x with her fiancé was just a normal thing to do.

"I'm telling you this as a friend, Ivory. Gusto kong makatulong sa inyo ng kakambal mo."

Kung gusto mong makatulong, hindi ganyan ang kapalit na hihingiin mo. Kung bukal talaga sa loob mo ang pagtulong, you wont ask for anything in return at all. And if you're really my friend, you won't even ask me to have s*x with your fiancé, b***h. That's so damn ridiculous!

Iyon sana ang gusto kong sabihin, pero nanatili lang akong tahimik at hindi nagsalita. She's unbelievable. And I was even looking at her as if she had grown another head. Dalawang araw pa lang ang nakakalipas noong huli kaming mag-usap, pero may kabaliwan na siyang sinasabi. Nasa tamang katinuan pa ba siya para i-suggest ang bagay na iyon? If she loves her fiancé, she wouldn't ask me or anyone to sleep with him. Siya na mismo ang gagawa no'n.

Kinuha niya ang baso ng juice na nakapatong sa ibabaw ng table namin at sumimsim doon bago muling nagsalita. "I heard from my father's friend that there's already a heart donor for your twin's heart transplant."

Wow. Ang bilis talaga ng babaeng 'to sa chismis - este sa balita, sarkastikong bulong ko sa sarili ko.

Just early this morning, Dr. Arevalo delivered some good news to me. May perfect heart donor na raw para sa kakambal ko. Upon conducting some tests, the donor's heart and Ivo's body had a high percentage of compatibility. Bibihira lang daw makakita ng puso na talagang nagma-match sa katawan ng isang tao. And the doctor assured me that there was a high possibility that Ivo's body will accept this new heart. He didn't want us to miss this chance kaya naman kailangan na nito ang desisyon namin ni Ivo kung kailan isasagawa ang surgery. And he even urged me to do it as soon as possible.

Kung ako ang tatanungin, gusto kong mag-undergo na ng operation si Ivo. Kung hindi lang kulang ang pera namin, mabilis akong papayag. But, that was really the problem. Kulang pa ang naipon naming pera para sa surgery niya. Actually, sobrang laki pa ng kulang. It wouldn't even cover just the surgery alone. Kaya paano pa ang mga susunod niyang recovery and medications? Ang iba pa naming pangangailangan?

"I'm here to solve your financial problem, Ivory. At ako lang ang makakasagot sa malaking pangangailangan mo sa pera." Umayos siya ng upo at sumandal sa upuan niya in a classy manner. "And I'm giving you an opportunity to get a huge sum of money that you couldn't earn even if you work your beautiful ass for a whole year all day and night. Mind you, dear. We're talking about fifty million here. You'll earn fifty fvcking million pesos in just a night-"

"By having s*x with your fiancé," I finished for her.

"Exactly. And just to be clear, you don't need to sleep beside him. Just have s*x with him, then after that, leave. It's that simple and not a big deal, right?" sabay ngiti niya nang matamis.

Even if she was smiling sweetly at me, all I could see in her was the evil smile that crept across her angelic face.

"Of course, it's a big deal," I said through gritted teeth. "We're talking about your fiancé here, Serene. And your fiancé is a total stranger to me."

She raised her eyebrow, twitching the side of her lips. "So? You have my blessing, though. By the way, he's a good kisser, so I bet he's good in bed, too. And it's a privilege for you because you'll get the best experience with my fiancé."

Halos mapangiwi ako sa pinag-uusapan namin. Seriously? We're having this kind of conversation in a coffee shop? Is she this desperate to convince me to accept her offer to have s*x with her fiancé?

"No, thanks. Even if it sounds good and promising," I said, my voice was full of sarcasm, "I decline your offer."

"Mind you, dear. He's not just a stranger to you. A total hot and handsome stranger for you." And she smiled proudly. "You won't only get millions of money in our bargain. You will also get the best pleasure and s*x in your life."

Her last sentence made me cringe in disgust. What the hell? I'm not asking for it. And I'm not even looking for one, for crying out loud!

"Still a damn no, Serene," mas matatag at mariin na sagot ko sa kanya.

But, the b***h continued as if she didn't hear me at all. "You see, you'll hit two birds with one stone. Hindi ka na lugi sa ino-offer ko sa 'yo, Ivory."

What about I hit her now with one stone para matauhan siya sa kabaliwang sinasabi niya? Sa tingin niya ba ay mauuna ko pang i-enjoy ang pleasure and best s*x of my life na sinasabi niya? My twin brother's life is way more important than anything else in this world.

I was about to say no for the nth time when she spoke again. "You need money, Ivory."

It was a statement, not a question.

"Yes, I need money. Hindi ko itatanggi iyan. But, not to the extent that I will sell my body just to earn that money, Serene Aldama," I answered, emphasizing every word I say just to make her understand that I'm not that desperate to accept her offer.

Maaaring kailangan talaga namin ng malaking halaga sa operasyon ni Ivo. At totoo na kikita ka talaga nang malaki kapag nagbenta ka ng laman. Mas madali pa nga iyon sa iba kung tutuusin. I'm not judging anyone who had no choice, but to do it because of their financial status. Pero, kailanman ay hindi ko ibebenta ang katawan ko para lang kumita ng pera.

At sa totoo lang, minsan na rin iyong sumagi sa isip ko. I told my twin brother about it and I meant it as a joke. Pero, mukhang sineryoso iyon ni Ivo at nagalit sa akin. He even gave me a hard flick in my forehead. Binalaan niya rin ako na 'wag na 'wag ko raw isasama ang pagbebenta ng katawan ko sa option ko para kumita ng pera. Or else, he would kill me.

Mauuna pa niya akong patayin bago siya mamatay. Not that I want him dead, though. Gusto ko lang talagang madugtungan ang buhay ni Ivo at maging normal ang pamumuhay niya. At kami ni Iya ang unang-unang matutuwa kapag nangyari iyon.

"You want your twin brother to live longer, right?"

"Of course-"

"Then, stop being stupid and unreasonable."

"Excuse me?" I muttered, looking at her with so much disbelief in my eyes.

"Not to mention, you're also being silly and selfish."

Halos matawa ako nang pagak sa kaimposiblehan ng babaeng ito. "Now I'm being silly and selfish, huh?" Should I remind her that she's the one being so stupid and unreasonable between us? Not to mention being silly and selfish, too right now?

"Yes, you are. Dahil kung hindi ka selfish, mas iisipin mo ang kalagayan ng kakambal mo. You would fvcking accept my offer without a doubt. Sa pagtanggi mo ngayon, parang pinagkakaitan mong humaba pa ang buhay ni Ivo. And you know what? Ikaw pa ang magiging dahilan ng pagkamatay niya dahil diyan sa damn pride and fvcking principles mo."

Sa ilalim ng mesang nakapagitan sa amin, mariing kumuyom ang mga kamao ko na nakapatong sa mga hita ko. Pigil-pigil ko ang sarili kong itaas iyon at umigkas sa mukha ng babae.

Huminga muna ako nang malalim para pakalmahin ang sarili bago matalim na tumitig sa kanya. "You are in no position to tell me what to do that involves Ivo's life, as well as to talk about my damn pride and fvcking principles."

Mukhang hindi man lang siya natinag sa matalim na tingin at mga binitiwang salita ko. She sighed heavily as if I was hard to talk to. "Look, Ivory. I just wanted to help you and your twin, okay? If I would look for someone else, I know maraming kakagat at willing na gawin ito."

"Sa 'yo na mismo nanggaling, Serene. Kung iaalok mo iyan sa iba, siguradong marami kang makukuha na willing makipag-s*x diyan sa fiancé mo-"

"I don't want somebody else, Ivory!" she cut me off. "I only want you because I know I'm sure in you."

I looked at her and Serene met my intense gaze. After a few minutes, I sighed exasperatedly. "Why me?"

"For two reasons," mabilis niyang sagot. "First, you need the money."

Okay, given. Matindi talaga ang pangangailangan ko ngayon sa pera. Pero, alam kong hindi lang iyon ang rason niya para pilitin akong makipag-s*x sa fiancé niya-

"Second, you're a virgin. And I need a virgin for my fiancé."

Halos matulala ako sa pangalawang rason niya. Okay. I guess I don't need to ask her about it because her last sentence was already a confirmation. That was her way of saying she wasn't a virgin anymore. Because if she's still a virgin, she wouldn't look for one. Sarili na niya mismo ang iaalay niya sa fiancé niya.

Kung gano'n, totoo nga ang narinig ko tungkol sa kanya. Just a year ago, napadaan ako sa opisina ni Dr. Steve Aldama at parang may matindi silang pinagtatalunang mag-ama. Hindi sinasadyang narinig ko na inutusan siyang ipalaglag ang batang nasa sinapupunan niya. Hindi raw puwedeng mahinto sa pag-aaral si Serene at masisira lang ang reputasyon ng pamilya kung itutuloy ang pagbubuntis niya. Pagkatapos nang pag-uusap nilang mag-ama, umalis siya at nagbakasyon ng ilang linggo. Pagbalik niya at sa mga nakalipas na buwan, hindi lumaki ang tiyan niya. If my assumption was correct, mukhang pinalaglag nga talaga ni Serene ang ipinagbubuntis niya noon. And during that time, alam ko ay may boyfriend si Serene dahil ilang beses ko na ring nakita ang lalaki na kasama niya. Hanggang sa mabalitaan ko na lang na naghiwalay sila no'n at sinisisi nito ang babae. Maybe it had something to do with the unborn child.

I didn't ask anything about it. Besides, Serene and I were not that close to talk about it. Though, nakaramdam ako ng awa at lungkot para sa hindi pa naisisilang na sanggol. Serene didn't give him or her a chance to experience life and see the outside world. Just because of the woman's selfishness. Mas importante sa kanya at sa pamilya nila ang reputasyon nila.

"How sure are you that I'm still a virgin?" hamon ko sa kanya.

Tumaas ang isang kilay niya bago ngumisi. "You don't have a boyfriend. And you're too busy to get one because of your twin brother. I bet, you didn't even go out on dates. Dahil sa kakambal mo lang umiikot ang buong buhay mo."

Hindi ko na nagawang sumagot. I hate to admit it, but she was right. Hindi ko iyon mapapabulaanan dahil talagang hindi na ako umalis sa tabi ng kakambal ko.

Since we were born, ako na ang nagbabantay kay Ivo. Palagi ring sinasabi sa akin noon ng mga magulang ko na I should always watch over him dahil nga sa mahinang kondisyon ng puso niya. Of course, I did as I was told. And it was okay to me. Kahit na ayaw at inis si Ivo sa palagi kong pag-aalala at pagbabantay sa kanya, wala rin naman siyang magagawa. We're twins, after all. Kahit na nauna siya sa akin ng dalawang minuto, kailangan niya pa rin akong sundin.

Ilang sandali pa, ngumisi ako nang sarkastiko sa kanya. "Let's say you're right, but it won't change the fact that my answer is still a no."

She already groaned in frustration. "Oh, c'mon, Ivory. You should stop being so hard-headed. You need money and I'm giving you the opportunity to have it. Just say yes and-"

"Still a damn no, Serene Aldama. End of conversation," mariing pahayag ko. Talagang ipinagdiinan ko na ang huling pangungusap para iparating talaga sa kanya na tapos na ang pag-uusap namin tungkol doon.

Kahit ano pa ang sabihin niya, hindi na magbabago ang desisyon ko. I won't accept her damn offer. And I won't do it for her.