Poisonous Love (Keanna & Gavin Story)

Chapter 6

Our drive to Laoag was filled with silence. We went straight at North Ilocandia just near the venue where the party tonight will take place. Gavin was still carrying the paper bags he bought for me earlier when we unloaded the car.

Pagkapasok na pagpasok pa lang sa lobby ay hindi nakatakas sa akin ang paglingon ng mga tao roon lalo na ang mga kababaihan. It seemed like the king had just arrived, and they all needed to look at him in order to acknowledge his presence.

Just wearing a body-fitted suit as his usual office attire, he already became a headturner. Ngunit hindi ko naman talaga masisisi si Gavin. Ganoon lang talaga siya. Mabilis niyang nahuhuli ang atensyon ng mga tao sa paligid niya dahil sa kanyang aura at kagwapuhan.

Gavin suddenly stopped in front of the receptionist desk, and I saw how the receptionist's eyes sparkled when she looked at him. Ang isa pang receptionist na may kausap na guest ay hindi mapigilan ang sumulyap-sulyap kay Gavin.

"How may assist you, Sir?" The receptionist politely asked, and I couldn't help but to notice how her cheeks turned pinkish.

"Two ambassador suites," Gavin stated. "A reservation under Gavin Alcantara."

"Oh! Sir Alcantara!" Mukhang gulat na gulat ang receptionist at halos mataranta sa ginagawa niya sa kanyang computer.

Hindi rin naman nagtagal ay ibinigay na niya kay Gavin ang dalawang key card ng rooms na pinareserved ni Gavin. "Both rooms are on the 10th floor, Sir. I hope you'll enjoy your stay at North Ilocandia."

Tipid na pagngiti lamang ang binigay sa kanya ni Gavin bago ako nilingon. "Let's go." Pag-aya niya sa akin at saka dumiretso ng lakad patungo sa may elevator.

I wasn't able to admire and appreciate in detail the elegantly looking interior of the hotel's lobby because I was only looking down, watching my feet as I followed Gavin's footsteps on the way to the elevator. Tahimik lang din ang aming naging biyahe pataas sa ika-sampu na palapag ng hotel. Ang tanging nadidinig ko lang ay ang aming halos sabay na paghinga at ang pag-ugong ng makina habang kami'y papaakyat.

Gavin casually placed the card on the key card lock and after a certain beep, he opened the door and slid the card onto the power source for the room's electricity to function. The lights immediately illuminated the room, and I was stunned by how spacious it was. It looked bigger than my liitle apartment and the interior's way beautiful.

"My room will just be next door. If you need anything, don't hesitate to knock on my room," Gavin started ralking once again as he placed the paper bags on top of the center table. "For now, you should probably take a bath and get dressed for the party. I'll come and pick you up when it's already time to leave."

Nang tuluyan na siyang makalabas sa aking silid ay isang malalim na buntong hininga ang aking pinakawalan. Muli kong nilibot ng tingin ang kabuuan ng magarbong silid. Naglalaro sa isipan kung magkano ang renta niya rito. Paniguradong lalagpas ito sa sampung libo! Kahit hindi ko pera ang ginamit ay hindi ko maiwasan ang panghinayangan. Sana dinagdag na lang sa sahod ko ang pinambayad dito!

This just really defined how different our world is. He could pay thousands for a night while I spend the amount of money he's spending for a month or two. Figuratively speaking, his world is spinning way faster than my world and revolving on a different axist that'd way faster than mine. Kaya kahit na paano ang gawin ko noon na mapaglapit ang mundo naming dalawa ay hindi ko magawa dahil hindi ganoon kasimple ang palipat ng mundo. Sa totoo nga lang ay napaka-imposible no'n kaya tinanggap ko na lang ang katotohanan at tuluyan ng bumitaw.

Before I completely exhaust myself thinking, I decided to obey his orders and took a bath. My plan to only take a quick bath got ruined when I was tempted by the huge bathtub and played on the lavender scented bublle bath. Ang mahal-mahal ng bayad dito sa room na 'to kaya dapat lang ay sulitin ko ang paggamit sa mga amenities nitong suite. Kung may time nga lang ay baka pati ang amenities sa buong hotel ay gamitin ko ngunit kulang ako sa oras.

Sa tingin ko ay lumagpas ako ng isang oras sa pagligo dahil nalibang ako sa paglalaro sa mga bula. I put on the prepared robe inside the bathroom fro my body and the towel fot my hair. Pagkalabas ko sa banyo ay mayroon akong nadidinig na mumunting ingay sa living room. Napakunot ang aking noo at lumapit doon bago dahan-dahang binuksan upang sumilip.

I saw a gay and a woman laughing at each other while preparing things. I saw a lot of make-ups, flat air iron, hair blower and the likes. My gown was even properly hanged and my shoes were displayed on the top of the center table along with the very expensive handbag.

Muli ko namang sinarado ang pintuan at saka sumanda sa likod nito. For sure, Gavin hired them to help me prepare for tonight. Lubos tuloy akong napapaisip kung ganoon ba kaimportante ang party mamaya para lamang pag-aksayahan ng ganito.

I gasped when I suddenly felt heard someone knocking on thr door. Napahawak ako sa aking dibdib dahil sa gulat. Bago ko pa mabuksan ang pintuan ay nadinig ko na ang pagsasalita ng babae sa labas ng kuwarto.

"Uh...Ma'am?" nag-aalangan niyang pagtawag. "Tapos na po ba kayong maligo? Kung tapos na po kayo, maaari na po kayong lumabas para maayusan namin."

Even though I was so shy, I didn't want to be rude. Pumikit ako nang mariin bago nagdesiayon na magsalita. "Tapos na ako," sabi ko. "I'll be out in a bit."

"Oh, sige po!" Maligalig niyang sabi at nadinig ko na ang kanyang hakbang papalayo sa may pintuan.

Tinakbo ko ang aking distansya patungo sa may tukador at nakitang maayos naman ang aking hitsura. I took a deep breath for a few times before I decided finally let myself out of the room and let the stylists do their work.

"Kapag natural na maganda talaga ang inaayusan, mas lalo akong ginaganahang ayusan." Ngiting-ngiting sabi ng bading sa isang pambabaeng tinig habang kinakalat ang kakainting liquid foundation na inilagay sa aking mukha.

I told him to only put light make-up on my face because I end to get uncomfortable whenever I wore heavy make-ups. It's a good thing that he told me that it was what he already planned the moment he saw me.

"Bagay na bagay nga sila ni Sir Gavin. Hindi nakapagtataka na girlfriend ka niya, Ma'am." Hirit pa ng babae na mukhang kinikilig dahil sa bahagyang pamumula ng kanyang pisngi.

Halos masamid naman ako sa sinabi ng babae. Malanding tumawa ang bading at halatang kinikilig din.

"Uhm...Hindi niya ako girlfriend." Pagatatama ko sa kanilang haka-haka.

"Oo naman, Ma'am, alam namin na hindi ka niya—"

Napatigil sa pagsasalita ang babae nang may mapagtanto. Sabay silang nagkatinginan ng bakla na nag-aayos sa aking mukha. Parehas silang mukhang hindi makapaniwala sa narinig galing sa akin.

"Hindi ka po niya girlfriend?!" Sabay nilang sabi at napataas pa ang boses.

Hilaw naman akong ngumiti at saka tumanngo. "No. I'm only his secretary." Paglilinaw ko sa aking posisyon sa buhay ni Gavin.

"Aba'y kay gandang sekretarya naman!" Muling bumalik ang bading sa aking harapam upang ako'y titigan pagkatapos kuhanin ang eyeshadow palette. "Tingnan mo ang balat at kutis! Parang alangang mayaman. Ano ba ang skin care routine mo, girl.Baka puwede mo namang ishare sa aking parang pinipig na mukha."

Alam kong biro lang niya iyon kaya nakitawa na lang ako. Dinaldal nila ako nang dinaldal hanggang sa matapos nilang ayusan ang aking mukha at pati na rin ang buhok.

I was satisfied with how my look ended up. I looked simple yet elegant. The make up did a very good job in highlighting my facial features. It was like a natural make up look with a twist.

"Halika na muna sa loob ng kuwarto, Ma'am. Tutulungan kitang suotin ang gown mo." Sabi ng babaeng stylist na hawak-hawak ngayon ang aking napiling gown kanina.

So, that's what we did. We went inside the room, and sh helped me carefully put on the dress without ruining my hair and make up. She even did some light retouch to my face before she smiled widely while looking at me.

"Puwede ba kitang kuhanan? Ipopost ko lang sa page namin. You're one of our best looking clients." She asked for my permission.

Hindi naman na ako tumanggi bilang pasasalamat sa kanilang ginawang pag-aayos sa akin. I admit if I was the only one who did my own make-up, it might be a disaster. Marunong akong mag-ayos pero hindi ko alam kung babagay ba sa okasyon kaya nagpapasalamat na rin ako na kinuha sila ni Gavin.

After a few shots that she was satisfied with, inaya niya na ako palabas mg kuwarto. Agad na bumungad sa aking mga mata si Gavin na sinusuri ang sapatos na binili namin kanina. When he heard the door closed, he immediately turned to me and his lips parted a bit while looking at me.

Kinagat ko naman ang aking ibabang labi at sinubukang baliwalain ang kanyang tingin na nagpapakaba sa akin. Lakas loob akong naglakad papalapit sa kanya upang kihanin ang aking sapatos na isusuot.

"Uh...Iyong sapatos ko po, Sir." Nag-aalangan kong sabi sa kanya.

Ibinalik niya sandali ang kanyang tingin sa sapatos at inayos ang pagkakahawak doon. Buong akala ko'y iaabot niya na ito sa akin ngunit nalaglag ang aking panga kasabay ng aking puso nang bigla siyang lumuhod sa aking harapan. Dahan-dahan niyang hinawi ang aking gown upang makita ang aking mga paa at saka marahan itong hinawakan.

Napaatras naman ako dahil para akong napapaso sa kanyang paghawak. "A-ako na lang po!" nauutal at natataranta kong sabi. "Kaya ko naman pong isuot 'yan."

Gavin acted like I didn't say anything and continued to lift my feet up. I couldn't get myself to breathe properly while he slowly slid the shoe on my foot and did the same action to the other foot. Every time his hand caressed my foot, it's like he was caressing my heart and I didn't like tue effect he had on me.

"S-salamat." Sabi ko na lang at saka agad siyang tinalikuran bago pa siya makatayo ulit .

Inabala ko ang aking sarili sa pagdampot ng shoulder bag mula sa lamesa upang ilipat ang aking mga importanteng gamit na kakasya roon mula sa aking dalang bag. My mind and heart weren't calm yet fromhis actions when I suddenly felt a cold metallic chain on my neck.

Nanlaki ang aking mga mata at saka ibinaba ang tingin sa aking leeg. I saw a gold necklace with three flat and small hearts as a pendant chained on my neck. May kakaunting agwat ang tatlong magkakamukhang pendant na 'yon at tingin ko pa lang ay mukhang mamahalin na ito.

Dahan-dahan ko siyang nilingon at nakita kong nanatili ang titig niya sa kwintas na kanyang isinuot sa akin. Bumuntong hininga ako at itinaas ang aking parehas na kamay upang tanggalin ang kwintas nang bigla niyang hinawakan ang aking magkabilang kamay upang ako'y mapigilan. Hindi ko na napigilan ang pagdako ng aking mga mata sa kanya na ngayo'y sa aking mga mata nakatitig.

"Wear it." He firmly said.

"Pero, Gavin—" Hindi ko na napigilan ang aking sarili na tawagin siya gamit ang kanyang pangalan at nawala na ang aking paggalang.

"The necklace is yours." He insisted.

Napakunot naman ang aking noo. "Paano 'to magiging sa akin? This is not mine, Gavin—"

"That's supposed to be my graduation gift for you two years ago, but I wasn't able to give it so..." he admitted that made me speechless. "It's yours now."

Muli kong ibinalik ang aking tingin sa kwintas. Kusang dinala ng aking kamay ang kanyang sarili roon upang hawakan ito at masuri ng mabuti ang maganda at simpleng disenyo.

I couldn't believe that this was his supposed graduation gift to me. Ibig sabihin ay bago pa lang kami maghiwalay ay nabilhan niya na ako ng regalo. Pero ang hindi ako makapaniwala ay hanggang ngayon, natago pa rin niya ito sa loob ng halos dalawang taon. He could've just tnrown it away when I broke up with him, but he didn't, and knowing that my heart warm so much.

"Fix your things now. We have to go. The party's about to start already." Sabi na lang niya nang hindi na ako nagsalita o umangal pa.

Tipid na lamang akong ngumiti at tumango sa kanya bago nagmadaling ayusin ang aking gamit habang kausap niya ang mga stylists na nag-ayos sa akin. Nang lumabas ng suite ay kasabay na namin ang dalawa para umuwi na at kami naman ni Gavin ay dumiretso na sa venue ng party sakay ng ibang magara at mamahaling kotse na naghihintay sa amin.

Sa labas palang ay bumabaha na ng mga press ang venue. Siguro ay hindi sila pinayagang nakapasok sa loob kaya narito silang lahat sa labas. Kung mayroon mang nakapasok na mga press sa loob ay paniguradong ito ang mas may kapangyarihan o talagang ijimbitahan sila ng nag-organisa ng pagtitipon. Ganito rin ang sitwasyon noon na dinaluhan kong party ng Qantara kung saan opisyal na ipinakilala si Gavin bilang tagapagmana ng kompanya. Medias and reporters were flocked all over the place wanting to get the biggest and even the smallest scoop that an event can offer.

"Wear this."

My eyes drifted to the wayfarer that Gavin's asking me to wear.

"I know you don't like medias and you're not used to the flashes of cameras." He said in a very thoughtful way.

I remembered before when he used his arm to cover my eyes from the endles flashing lights and hugging me beside him until we got inside the venue. And now, maybe he's offering me this wayfarer because he couldn't do the same thing. I'm just his secretary and he couldn't be that close to me.

"Thank you." Pasasalamat ko sa kanya at kinuha ang shades para maisuot na ito sa akin.

When I was already settled, Gavin nodded to the bodyguards who were with us. They immediately went outside and positioned themselves before opening the car's door. Sunod-sunod na ang pagkuha ng litrato ng mga media sa labas ng lumabas si Gavin. I thought he was going to continue walking, but he turned back and offered me his hand to help me get out the car.

I couldn't just reject his offer to help me with all of these cameras in front of us. It might cause a scandal or put Gavin into a humiliation that's why I carefully placed my hands on his palm and let him help me get off the car. Mabuti na lang ag agad niua ring binitawan ang aking mga kamay nang makababa na ako ng maayos.

He shouldn't have done that! Kaya ko namang bumaba ng sasakyan na mag-isa. Baka kung ano pa ang isipin ng mga media.

Nalaman kong nangyari na nga ang kinakatakutan ko nang madinig ko ang mga katanungan na sinisigaw ng mga reporters sa labas habang patuloy pa rin ang pagkuha ng litrato sa amin.

"Mr. Alcantara, is she your current girlfriend?"

"Sino po ang bababeng kasama niyo?"

"Is she your fiancée?"

Ang dami ko pang nadinig na ganoong klase ng tanong. I wanted so bad to turn to them and answer all their questions by introducing myself as Gavin's secretary, but I just pursed my lips because Gavin didn't seem to mind all the questions. Mukhang wala siyang balak sumagot sa kahit anong tanong ng mga media kaya nanahimik na lang din ako. I just hope that he'll still be able to clear things out in another way.

"Mr. Alcantara, nasaan po si Miss Aragon? Bakit hindi po siya ang kasama ninyo tonight?"

Sa lahat ng mga tanong ay iyon ang pinakanagpantig sa aking tainga. Para itong sirang plaka na paulit-ulit kong nadidinig hanggang sa tuluyan kong maintindihan ang nais na iparating ng kanyang tanong.

Miss Aragon?

I have seen fragments of news about Gavin's achievements while we were away from each other but I haven't seen this side of his life on media.

I bit my lower lip and suppressed my feelings as much as I could, but even if I tried not to think about it too much, bitter thoughts kept on dripping inside my mind.

That Miss Aragon must have a huge part of his life, to think that a reporter was asking him about it. She must also be his date on most of the events he attended. She must be so close to him.

I sighed and raised my gaze back on Gavin who's now being greeted by some elite businesmen on the lobby of the hotel. He was wearing a confident smile on his face while exchanging conversations with them.

I unconsciously smiled while watching him smile.

Whoever that Miss Aragon is, I hope she's made Gavin happy with her company. I hope she's made him smile.