The Heiress' Revenge (SPG)

Kabanata 4

He didn’t approach me. Nasa malayo lang siya at nakikipag-usap sa mga kaibigan kong babae. I would sometimes catch him staring at me, but Rence would distract me.

He doesn’t seem to be scary.

In a span of lightning, a bulb appeared above my head. Is he out for me? That warning was about my boss being a player of girls. I got it! WTF! Bakit ngayon ko pa lang napagtanto? Kanina pa ako nag-so-solve ng puzzle. This whole time I was worried about nothing?

Kung sana na-gets ko agad ang warning ng manager ko, napakilala ko sana si Rence sa kaniya. Never akong makukuha ng lalaking ‘yan ‘no. He’s hot alright! But my boyfriend is freaking hotter.

And now, he’s getting drunk.

“I’m stopping now. It’s kicking in…” he meant the alcohol.

Umismid ako, ngayon niya pa napagtanto? It’s my birthday, anyway, give him a break Gab!

“IELLE! Halika dito. Masyado kayong dikit. Ang KJ niyo.” Tawag sa akin ni Tania.

Nadaan pa ng paningin ko si Sir Aga bago ako napatingin kay Rence. He nodded. Una siyang tumayo sa akin.

“You want another VPC?” Short for virgin pina colada.

I smiled at him, “yes please…”

Nauna siyang tumungo sa mga kaibigan ko, may sinabi pa siya kay Clarissa bago lumabas ng room. Huminga naman ako ng malalim bago ko tinungo ang mga kaibigan. At habang naglalakad, parang nakalimutan kong huminga. Dahil sa titig ni Sir Aga para akong mahihimatay.

Goodness Gabrielle!

“Here you are!” Salubong ni Tania kaya naputol ang titigan naming dalawa.

Dahan-dahan naman akong nakahinga. I could’ve died.

“Hey!” Malaki ang ngiti ko.

“So… Aga, I would like you to meet your employee, Gabrielle. Gabrielle, si Aga, your boss.” Si Tania.

Kung hindi lang talaga ang boss ko ang kaharap, iirap na sana ako. That’s the most awkward thing to do to the birthday celebrant, Tania. Way to go! Lumagok naman si Clarissa ng kaniyang shot at tumawa.

Lasing na ang babaeng ‘to.

“Kung may balak ka man sa kaniya, may boyfriend na siya…” singit nito tapos tumawa na naman.

Did she just? Tumawa rin si Tania at tinapik si Clarissa. Way to go both of you! Halos hindi ako makatingin kay Sir Aga, or Aga, whatever. Hindi ako lumapit dito para pahiyain lang.

“You two are drunk.” Aga commented whilst his eyes on me.

I kinda feel intimidated but I’m not gonna fuss. Be casually professional!

“I’m sorry about them,” nasabi ko nalang.

Please Rence, bumalik ka na at iligtas ako dito!

“You’re ‘right. All good. Having fun?” Aniya sabay tingin na rin sa likuran ko.

My friends are all laughing and having fun from behind. Tumango naman ako sa boss ko. It’s unusual that we’re talking right here where I’m supposed to be at work. To think na siya pa ang nagpa-sign out sa akin dahil masama ang pakiramdam ko. Iba yata ‘to sa inaasahan ko.

Hindi ba ako masisisante nito? Such a shame, kay bago ko pa lang. Pangit ito sa resume ko. I don’t want a work experience na hindi man lang nag-isang buwan. That’s ugly to my profile. What if someone will background check me? That’s utmost embarrassing.

“Yes! Uhm, I’m just feeling weird na mismo ikaw pa ang nagpa-undertime sa akin knowing na maayos naman ang pakiramdam ko.” Sabi ko.

May biglang sumingit na babae sa tabi ko at may pinakitang tray sa akin.

“Virgin Pina Colada for you.” Anito.

Agad ko namang tinanggap at nagpasalamat. Sinundan ko ng tingin ang bartender hanggang sa pinto, inaasahang papasok si Rence pero wala ito. Baka nasa banyo lang.

Stop being clingy girl!

“Tania’s sibling is a friend. She told me about this… so… why not?” He chuckled.

Ngumiti nalang ako. What to say next? I don’t know. Should I excuse myself now? Sana naman may topic ‘tong dalawa na hindi awkward para makatakas ako.

Kaso nagtatawanan lang ang dalawa sa tabi. May sariling mundo…

“Don’t mind me. I’m not your boss here and it’s your night, your birthday.” Dugtong niya para bang nababasa niya kung ano ang nasa isip ko. “I’ll leave soon.”

Nagkatinginan kami ulit. Kanina ko pa napapansin na hindi siya sa kaniyang usual look. Nakikita ko siya sa work, naka-polo shirt na white, kung hindi black or navy blue at naka shorts at Air Max na shoes or normal running shoes. May time din nan aka-B*rkenstock na slippers lang siya. Sometimes he would look very comfortable in combi athleisure meets boy-next-door. Tonight, was different. Para bang galing ito ng conference meeting or something. He looks formal tonight. Bagong gupit din. I’m not attentive of him so I’m not sure if he usually wears an ear piercing. Nasa left ear niya, diamond at nakakasilaw kahit na may kadiliman kaunti sa private room. It’s not dark, just dim. If that’s how to describe it.

Naka-white long-sleeve ito, tinupi niya ang sleeves hanggang elbow. He’s wearing dark tight trousers, not sure if black or navy blue. His shoes, black and leather.

He looks clean. Well, he always does but so clean tonight. Let’s say formal…

“I’ll excuse myself then. Thank you again…” sabi ko bago umalis.

Can I say na tumakas? Our conversation was short but was just too much for me to take. He’s my boss for Pete’s sake. Hindi ako sanay sa ganito. Kapag nalaman ‘to ni Kuya Daevan, makakatanggap ako ng mahabang sermon. He agreed to this without much information.

Come on now, Gab! Have fun! Your boss said, have fun. So, do it!

The party went on. Maraming nagpunta sa room para bumati sa akin, kilala ko man o hindi. Some just went to find hot men to make out. Some just want free drinks. Some just want to have fun. I’m sure my bank will complain with the bills. Sumweldo na ako pero hindi ito kasya.

I have to use my credit card now.

Unplanned but sure fun!

For the second time of the night, I checked my watch for the time, it’s 3 AM. Tania was already down. Some of my friends went somewhere, still alive. Rissa was gone too. Rence is beside me. Nakasandal siya sa akin habang ako naman sa headrest ng lounge. Kanina pa masakit ang ulo ko pero sa pagkakaalam ko, hindi naman ako uminom kahit konting alak.

Being drunk is just in the head, eh? I can’t be drunk.

I will have a long day later and they don’t want a miserable, and drunk debutant. Kuya will kill Rence for sure. Sinilip ko si Rence kung tulog ba siya o ano. I know he’s drunk and I’m thinking of calling the driver. I’m calling this pre-celebration, a night.

“CALVIN!” Isang malakas na sigaw sa labas.

Napaupo ng maayos si Rence at ako naman, napatalon sa kinauupuan.

“Help! Please help!” Sigaw pa rin ng babae sa labas.

Was that Rissa?

“Si Clarissa!” Sabay naming banggit ni Rence.

Agad namang napatayo si Rence habang ako naman ay halos masemento sa kinauupuan. What is going on outside?

Sumasakit talaga ang ulo ko at lumalabo ang paningin ko. I’m just probably sleepy…

“Who’s that?” Ani Tania na nagising din sa sigaw.

“You stay here. No matter what, don’t go outside.” Banta ni Rence.

Hindi na ako makasagot sa sobrang sakit ng ulo ko. Hindi na ako maka-angal. Kung sasabihin kong masakit ang ulo ko, Rence will be torn. I don’t want to do that to Clarissa. She needs her brother. Maybe napaaway si Calvin or something dahil sa kaniya.

Next thing I knew, I’m alone in the room.

I never had migraine before so I have no idea how excruciating it could be. Something was kind of ringing my ears. Lalo akong nahihilo at nanlalabo ang mga mata. I want to shout Rence’s name, but I couldn’t, I don’t know… I can’t even open my mouth.

“Call an ambulance! Calvin! Hang-on!” Rinig ko sa labas.

I tried to stand-up. Nanghihina ang katawan ko at umiikot na talaga ang paligid ko. I want to go and see what’s going on. I know Rence wants me to just sit down but I can’t. Why there’s a need for ambulance? What’s going on?

Is Calvin, okay?

The distance of the lounge to the room’s door was quite near kaya naririnig ko ang ingay sa labas. If it’s closed, it would be so quiet.

I managed to walk slowly despite my head spinning. Ang lakas ng t***k ng puso ko.

“Calvin! Are you okay? Rissa? Rissa!” Nasabi ko.

Nang nakarating ako sa bukana ng pinto, napatigil ako saglit.

“He’s not breathing. What the hell!? Call the ambulance!” Boses ni Tania.

“Clarissa! Wake up!” Rinig ko namang sabi ni Rence.

What’s going on? Napaupo ako nang mawalan ng balanse hanggang sa napapikit nalang ako at…

The bed feels softer, and it felt strange. It feels foreign to me and kind of uncomfortable. This is not my caravan bed. Did Rence take me home? But… this isn’t my bed. Napadilat ako nang may makapa sa kabilang banda ng kama.

Isang maliit na unan.

Agad akong napasigaw nang makita ang buong paligid. I’m not in my house! Nor in my caravan.

“What the f*ck!?” Where am I?

I immediately regret getting up abruptly. My head suddenly ached so bad. Nasaan ako? This isn’t Rence’s place either. Napahawak ako sa ulo saglit at hinintay na mawala ang sakit. I tried to close and open my eyes a few times maybe I was hallucinating. Calm down, Gab! Get yourself together first.

Pagkatapos ay naghilamos sa sariling mukha at tinapik ng mahina.

“Please calm down. Hang-over lang ‘to.” Sabi ko pa.

But again, I didn’t drink alcohol. Wala akong maalala kagabi. At lalong-lalo na’t wala akong maalalang nagpunta kami sa bahay ng kaibigan. I passed out and now I’m confused.

I decided to finally look around. My heart skipped a bit when I confirmed with my own eyes that this place isn’t familiar. THIS ISN’T MY HOME, MY VAN OR MY BOYFRIEND’S PLACE.

WHERE THE F*CK AM I?

I remained still in my position. I woke up wearing a bathrobe and I feel my n*pples against the harsh textile. This could mean…

I harshly loosen the chest part of the bathrobe and checked for myself.

“Why am I naked?” And when I tried to move.

A pain crushed my feminine part. Napasinghap ako at agad naramdaman ang hapdi at parang punit sa pribadong parte ng katawan ko. Now I have to panic. This time my heartbeat went faster. Para akong hinahabol sa sobrang bilis ng t***k nito. Litong-lito ako at wala akong sagot na maibigay sa sarili.

Ang dami ko nang naibulalas na mga tanong pero ako lang ang mag-isa sa tahimik at maliit na kwartong ito.

I’m like in a motel or a 2-star like hotel. I don’t know, I’m f*cking confused.

I need to know. I need to go out of here! I need Rence. I need to call my driver. Where’s Rissa? We were together last night. I have many pieces in my head, but I couldn’t put them together to solve.

Were they okay? Again, I have many questions that is remained unanswered.

Sinubukan kong umalis sa kama at tumayo. My feminine part was still ripping me apart and the sore, I don’t understand why am I feeling this way. Until I saw a huge blood on the bed.

I panicked that I twisted my body to check the bathrobe’s back.

I screamed.

“Blood! Blood?” I mumbled whilst making sure it came out from mine.

My hands trembled. My head is starting to spin, and my body was crushed. I couldn’t say it myself. I don’t want to say it. I’m… no… no… this is not true. I’m just dreaming.

“No! No! Clarence! Clarissa! Help!” Sigaw ko.

Behind me is a door. May kumatok dito na nagpatigil ng mundo ko.

“Housekeeping! Room 1002?” Anito.

Natahimik ako. Tuliro na naman. What should I do? I don’t have any recollection of what happened. I knew I needed help, but I froze.

Another 3 consecutive knocks.

“Housekeeping! Room 1002.” Ulit nito.

I knew I need to answer. I want to… I’m trying. If I open my door what if they see me like this? My bed has blood. I’m bleeding.

“Y-yes…” it was like a whisper.

“We heard a report po na may ingay sa kwarto ninyo. Do you need help?” said the housekeeper.

Nanginginig pa rin ang buong katawan ko. Maging ang bibig ko at lumuluha na rin.

I… was… r*ped.

Napahawak ako sa bibig, pinipigilan na makalikha ng ingay. Pataas baba ang paghinga ko at dahan-dahang napaupo sa sahig.

“Buksan na ba natin?” Dinig kong sabi ng boses lalaki sa labas.

“Are you okay po? Do you need help?” Ulit ng isa.

Naging malakas ang hagulgol ko kalaunan. Nagsitaasan ang balahibo ko. Mariin kong niyakap ang sarili ko at lumuha nang napakalakas.

I couldn’t repeat it myself.

“Buksan na natin,” sabi ulit ng boses lalaki at narinig ko ang tunog ng mga susi.

“N-no. P-please ‘wag niyong buksan!” Agad kong sigaw.

Napatigil ito.

“Pero okay lang po ba kayo?”

Agad kong binalikan ng tingin ang kama. Maging ang paligid para hanapin ang mga gamit ko. Masakit man ay pinilit ko ulit na tumayo para hanapin ang isang bagay. I’m getting weak.

Wala pa rin akong alaala tungkol sa nangyari.

I searched under the pillows, no phone or any of my clothing. Umikot ako kahit na pa ika-ika para mahanap ang mga gamit. On the other side of the bed, I saw my clothing on the floor. The clothes I wore last night are all over the floor, clueless. I picked it up and rummaged the drawers but there was no sign of my personal stuff, especially my phone.

Hindi ko alam kung nariyan pa ang staff sa labas pero kailangan kong subukan.

Patuloy ang luha ko pero sinusubukan kong ayusin ang boses ko. “I need help. Can you please call my family?”

Napalunok ako. I’m not sure if it’s the right thing to do but I’m just as f*cked right now.

“Y-yes po!” Sagot naman agad nila.

“I don’t have my phone with me.” Ngayon nakadikit na ako sa pinto. Afraid for myself but trying to do my best. “But… if you can try reaching my personal number, please make sure you are talking to Daevan Montenegro. My name is Gabrielle Lariza Montenegro and I need him to see me in this hotel, secretly. Please! Just try lang. If failed, please try Villa Rama - Montenegro Group’s reception, leave a message for the CEO.”

Ilang saglit bago ako nakatanggap ng sagot ngunit napa-oo naman sila. They will come back and let me know what they get.

Inikot ko na naman ang sarili sa paligid, may TV, aircon, at coffee area pero walang telepono. This must be a motel or something. I’m barely breathing right now. All I can do now is wait.

Niyakap kong muli ang sarili at natulala sandal.

I don’t want to come into conclusion. Maybe I’m just overthinking. Maybe overreacting.

But I’m not dumb.

Again I grabbed my dirty clothes, at least I have to go wash myself right? I don’t want to look dirty in front of my brother. Experiencing all of the unnecessary symptoms I went to the bathroom.

Hindi ko alam kung ilang minute o oras akong nagbabad sa tubig.

“Gabrielle! Are you in there?” Sigaw ng pamilyar na boses sa labas.

Napadilat ako sa mahabang pagkakapikit. Nakatayo lang ako sa mahabang oras at nagpalunod sa agos ng tubig.

“Bilisan mo miss!” He yelled the staff.

I thought everything went slow. I couldn’t hear them completely, but I know someone who’s that aggressive. He was never patient. He wants everything to be perfect. That’s why I adore this man so much. Aside sa parents ko, isa siya sa role model ko. I want to be just like him. I sometimes envy him. I want to be the heiress too. I want to own everything. Now it’s all coming out. I’m such a hypocrite saying I don’t want anything. I want to work hard for my own. Look at me now thinking about all of this. Daevan Montenegro, my perfect ruthless brother. He knows what he wants. He knows he can rule. He’s here right now. Rushed after being contact of my location.

My heart went numb. Sa lahat ng pagkakataon, ngayon ko pa talaga naiisip ‘to.

That’s the time I turned the shower off. Taking my time, I grabbed my towel and dried myself.

The bathroom was locked. I immediately confirmed Kuya Daevan’s voice when he knocked.

“Gabrielle! Gabrielle!” Tawag sa akin.

My tears are encouraging me to cry again. I continued dressing up and when finished, I unlocked the door to open.

I collected all my remaining courage.

Smiled to my distressed brother. My hair is dripping as I couldn’t dry it. I stood in front of Daevan Montenegro. The only one that I can trust right now. No one was around him; he fulfilled my wish.

Sa kasamaang palad ay wala rin akong maisagot. I remained in my position. I felt so empty, weak and lightheaded. Akala ko maalala ko ang lahat kapag hinayaan ko lang ang pag-agos ng tubig sa katawan ko. Akala ko may mabibigay din akong sagot kapag nagtanong siya. Here I am standing, clueless.

“Hi…” I said.

He was too stunned to speak after. Me too, I don’t know where to start.