Dominguez Series 2nd Gen Book 4 | King of my Heart |On-going

Chapter 01: Knight in Shining Armour on Motorcycle

Malalim na huminga si Savannah bago tuluyang pumasok sa hotel kung saan niya kikitain yung producer na naka-discover sa kanya kanina. Sinabi nitong kailangan na makita ang acting skills niya bago ipakilala sa hollywood director and producer na kakilala din nito. She dressed accordingly and didn't show too much skin. Malamig kasi ngayon sa Cretia at baka ikamatay niya kung magdadamit pa siya ng revealing. Acting skills naman niya ang importanteng maipakita hindi ang katawan o kinis ng balat niya.

Lumakad siya papasok at direchong tumungo sa elevator lobby. Madaming tao sa hotel na iyon na karamihan ay guest na mga foreigners. Iilan pa lamang kasi ang nakaka-diskubre sa bansang iyon at kabilang na siya doon. It was a small country in Central Europe where monarchy was the type of goverment. That small country was lead by a King and a Prime Minister. Population were not that huge also. Kapareho lang iyon sa Pilipinas pagdating sa ekonomiya nakakasabay sa mga tinatawag na third world countries.

Hindi pa siya nakaka-ikot lalo't mag-iisang linggo pa lamang nung lumipat siya sa apartment na nabili. Mabilis lang siya na nakuha ng citizenship dahil sa political connection na ginamit niya. Isang kaibigan sa Pilipinas ang nagpakilala sa kanya sa bansang iyon na minahal niya sa sa unang kita palang. Doon niya balak magsimula ulit at makilala bilang ramp model s***h fashion designer. Kalahati ng nabili niyang apartment ay ginawa niyang boutique na siyang bubuksan niya sa susunod na araw.

“Hello ma'am, do you have any hotel room reservation?” tanong sa kanya ng staff na nabungaran pagkalabas sa elevator.

“Uhm, no but I have an appointment with Mr. Harry Ong in room 3287.” She said then smile confidently. Alam niyang ang seductive ng aura dahil sa ginamit na red lipstick shade na lalo yatang nagpalutang sa mala-sutla niyang mukha. Her chinky eyes smiled also which everyone finds it attractive. Isa daw iyon sa assets niya na nakuha sa kanyang mama. She waited until the staff guided her way to Mr. Ong's hotel room.

Ito na ang kumatok para sa kanya at nang bumukas iyon ay iniwanan na siya. Mr. Ong smiled widely as he seen her. Bigla siya nitong niyakap na nagbigay sa kanya ng hindi kumportsbleng pakiramdam. Naisip niyang baka hindi lang siya sanay touchy masyado si Mr. Ong kahit na bago pa lamang sila magkakilala. Mr. Ong invited her inside and offered a seat after taking off her coat. She felt stranged chills down to her spine when he stood right behind her.

Sa loob, naroon ang dalawa pang lalaki na sa tantiya niya'y ito na marahil yung tinutukoy na mga kaibigan sa Hollywood. Iba ang dating sa kanya nung tingin ng mga ito pero sinubukan niyang ignorahin. Binati niya ang mga ito at gaya ni Mr. Ong pulos touchy din ang dalawa na lalong nagpakaba sa kanya. The two other men introduce theirselves to her. The one in black robe was Mr. Kenji Watanabe, producer of bestselling movie in US. Beside Mr. Ong was Mr. Rey De Dios, a film director from Philippines.

“How far is your apartment from here?” tanong Mr. Ong sa kanya.

“Just three blocks away.” she answered, honestly.

“Okay let's start now. Have you memorize the line I told you awhile ago?”

“Yes,” tugon niya saka tumayo sa harapan ng mga ito. Huminga siya malalim bago nag-umpisa umarte ngunit pinahinto siya ni Mr. De Dios nung malapit na siya matapos.

“Begin again at scene 43 where the lead actress will kiss the lead actor,” utos nito sa kanya.

Alangan siya ngumiti pagkatapos luminga linga sa paligid. Wala naman siyang magiging katambal kaya paano niya i-a-act yung scene na iyon?

Weird naman pero baka gano'n talaga ang mga producers, sa isip isip niya.

“B-but I don't have a partner to act that scene,” aniya dito.

“Try it with me,” Mr. Ong said. Her forehead slightly creased after hearing what he said.

Baliw na ba ang isang ito? Why would I act it with him? Tanong niya sa isipan.

Lumapit ito sa kanya at hinawakan siya sa magkabilang balikat niya. “You really have a beautiful face, Savannah.” Dagdag na sabi pa ni Mr. Ong.

Statement that gives her another chills down to her spine. Inalis niya ang pagkakahawak nito sa kanya saka bahagyang lumayo dito. Bumangga lang siya sa kay Mr. Watanabe na hindi namalayang nakatayo na pala sa likuran. Gaya ng ginawa niya kay Mr. Ong, lumayo din at si Mr. De Dios naman ang nabunggo. Napapalibutan na siya nung tatlo na iba na ang dating noon sa kanya.

“In this field, you can't be famous by having a beautiful face and incredible talent only. You need connections that will help you climb to the top.” Litanya ni Mr. De Dios sa kanya.

“W-what do you mean?” Nauutal niyang tanong sa mga ito.

“Come on, Savannah stop being naive. You know what Mr. De Dios mean,” Mr. Watanabe said. Barok pa nga ang pagkaka-english nito pero naintindihan naman niya. “One night with the three of us and we can make you star in an instant.”

Her eyes widened. Ano bang pinasok niya ngayon? Patuloy lang siya sa pag-atras hanggang sa tumama ang likuran niya sa pader ng kwarto. She's doomed! Paano siya tatakas ngayon? She prayed that someone will knocked or came from nowhere just to save her. Her prayers were answered when someone kicked the door open. A tall, handsome guy whose eyes were dark almond shape, has a high bridge nose, thick eyebrows, long lashes and thin reddish lips entered the room where she was. He smashed the wine bottle to Mr. Ong's head, kicked the other guy and grabbed her hand immediately.

“Wait, my bag!” She said.

“Let those things because we need to escape now,” the guy said to her. Tuloy tuloy silang tumakbo papunta sa emergency exit. Mabilis silang bumaba at walang oras na pinalampas dahil maabutan sila kapag nagpatumpik tumpik pa. Nagpatianod lang siya dito at sinabayan ang bilis nito sa pagtakbo hanggang sa makarating sila parking lot. There, a motor was parked which the guy who saved her started. “You know how to ride a motorcycle?”

Napatingin siya dito sunod sa likuran nila at huli sa suot na damit. Naka-dress siya pero kung magpapatagal pa siya, maabutan na sila ng mga humahabol. She quickly teared the hem of her dress until it reached above the knee and ride that motorcycle. Yumakap siya sa lalaki at pinikit ang mga mata niya nung paandarin na nito ang motorsiklo. That was her first time riding a motorcycle.

Humigpit ang kapit niya sa lalaki habang bumibilis ang takbo nito. They were like filming an action movie where she's the leading lady and he's the leading man. Her heart beats extremely fast than it's normal beating. Whoever this guy he literally became her knight in shining armour. A knight in black motorcycle instead of white horse.

~•~•~•~

Rion put his jacket on the woman's shoulders whose already chilling while seating on a bench. Naiwan kasi nila sa ang bag at coat nito sa hotel kanina. Tinawagan siya ng personal guards niya at pinakuha iyon sa mga 'to. Ang mga personal guards na din niya ang pinag-ayos niya sa gulong ginawa sa hotel kanina. They paid every damage that he caused just to saved the woman in front of him. They're now at the heart of Cretia where the statue of the bravest royal soldier stood. He eyed that statue and heaved a deep sigh after.

Napatingin siya dito nung madinig ang mahihina nitong hikbi. Tinabihan niya ito saka sinilip kung naiyak ba talaga ang dalaga. Gusto niyang alamin kung bakit ngunit hindi siya masasagot nito. She's too emotional right now and that's because of the trauma. Those ruthless guy must paid and received punishments. Iyon ang una niyang gagawin pagkabalik niya sa main palace. Dinukot niya mula sa inner pocket ng suot na isa pang coat ang panyo saka inabot dito.

“T-thank you...” she said.

“Cry until you get tired. Don't worry I won't judge you,” aniya dito. The woman faced him and he saw how her eyes became puffy. Parang bata itong pinunasan ang gilid ng mga mata maging ang ilalim.

“Thank you for saving me. If you wouldn't come, maybe they r***d me already. I just want to be get discovered and become an actress but they said I can't be one if I don't have connections.” Kwento nito sa kanya matapos punasan ang magkabilang pisngi gamit ng panyong bigay niya. “They offered me an easiest way to stardom only if I'll sleep them.”

“Those dirty old douchebags!” Nanggagalaiti niyang sabi pero napawi ng madinig ang mahinang pagtawa nito.

“Maybe their right. I can't be famous in Hollywood without connection. My dream were too high to achieved.”

Hindi siya nakapagsalita dahil 'di niya alam ang sasabihin. How will he comfort a woman whose been victimize by a douchebags? Napalinga siya sa paligid at naghanap ng maaring maka-relieve sa stress na inabot nito. His eyes darted to chocolate stall ten steps away from them. Agad siyang tumayo at tinungo iyon para bumili ng para sa kanilang dalawa.

“Here, eat this. Sweets can lighten up your feelings,” aniya sa dalaga nung makabalik siya. Ngumiti ito na saka tinanggap ang inabot niya chocolate. “Don't take what those douchebags said to you by heart. You can be famous and one day your face will be there too.” He pointed out the LED billboard where Lady Gaga's face flashing. He bite the chocolate bar and angled the woman's face like an expert photographer. “You're beautiful in every angle so don't be disheartened.”

“I can't be just beautiful. I must be talented too,”

“Then, let me see your talent in acting.” Napansin niyang tila nag-alangan ito marahil sa trauma na inabot kanina. “I'm a producer and here's my calling card as proof.” Inabot niya dito yung calling card ni Vio - his best friend whom he met at the hotel awhile ago. Hindi niya maaring ipakilala ang sarili dito dahil maaring threat iyon sa security niya. Isa pa, tumakas lang naman siya upang magliwaliw dahil nasasakal na siya sa loob ng palasyo. He wanted to breath at least before the coronation day.

In the next few days, he will be introduced as the country's next leader. Before that happened he wanted to enjoy life outside their palace.

“Are you really a producer? Do you think you can help me?”

“Yes I'am,” Vio will kill me for using him... bulong niya sa isipan. “so can you act?” tanong niya sa dalaga.

“Here?”

Luminga linga siya sa paligid. There were few people passing by them. Hindi naman sila napapansin kaya pinatuloy niya ito. He wanted to see her acting so Vio can recruit her. Lulubuslubusin na niya ang pagtulong kahit wala siyang mahanap na rason bakit niya ginagawa iyon. He just happened to saw this woman beside him walking confidently at the hotel lobby and swoon by her remarkable beauty. Hindi niya ugaling mag-stalk pero iyon na nga ang ginawa niya kaya madali para sa kanya na iligtas ito.

“You can trust me and I'm not like those douche,”

Tumango tango ito saka inayos ang sarili. She tied up her teared dress and make it presentable. Sunod nitong inayos ang buhok at eye make up na nahulas dahil sa byahe nila. Hindi niya maiwasang mamangha sa dalaga dahil sa pagiging cowboy nito. Bihira ang babaeng katulad nito na kayang mag-ayos kahit nasaang lugar.

“I learned fixing myself in a short period of time in a pagaent where I competed for a crown. No make up artist and stylist beside us.” Kwento na lalong nakapagpa-mangha sa kanya. After fixing herself, she started delivering her acting spiel in front of him. It was a line from a movie he watched but can't remember the title. Yes, she's really good actress. Dalang dala siya sa pag-arte niya na dahilan pa ng pagpalakpak niya habang nakatayo.

She's really something and a one of kind... he said on his mind.