Knight in Shining Tuxedo

Prologue: One Billion Dollar Girl "Gentlemen, the moment you were all waiting for has finally arrived, Lucent Lotus Amourteirre, the beautiful and lovely daughter of the late mafia boss Lucas Amourteirre, is about to be auctioned, let's start with ten million." It was dark, my head is aching and my eyes feel wet and teary, hindi ko alam kung nasaan ako, I don't have much recollection of memories, all I know is that an explosion erupted around our mafia house. Then, there were gunshots and howling of angry men, then Papa tried to make me escape and run for my life, but we were too late. I saw my father bathe in his own blood... I saw him heave his last breaths, say his last words, and I saw his agonizing death with my own eyes. I couldn't do anything. We had no chance. We were trapped, there was no escape or any way out. We were completely caught off guard by whomever was behind the tragic plot. We thought we'd be safe in our hideout because all of my father's men were there but we were wrong. We were betrayed by our own-that's the only logical explanation as to why this happened. In this bloody world, there is no safe place. The only safe place is hell. Sa mga sandaling iyon, wala akong nagawa. I never stood a chance and it was ironic because all my life, I had been training to defend myself and other people. It feels like I've wasted those moments. I was utterly useless. All of them were killed, I was the only survivor. My Papa... His dying face taunts me. I couldn't get it out of my mind no matter how hard I try. Whenever I close my eyes, his sorrowful and soulless eyes stare back at me, as if reminding me of how weak I am. He was killed by the mafia boss of Raffaelle Mafia right in front of my eyes, then somebody knocked me out before I could even move. Paano sila nakapasok sa mansion ni Papa? No, that's not really the question... None of it matters anymore. There's no use lingering in the past. There is a bigger thing in the picture and it is what's happening to me. Right now. Where am I? Kumunot ang noo ko nang makita ang metal bars na nakapalibot sa akin, tila nasa loob ako ng malaking kulungan ng aso, sa labas nito ay makapal na pulang tela na nagtatakip sa akin. I feel the dizziness hitting me again, doon ko napansin na wala akong ibang suot na damit maliban sa itim na underwear. The sexy laces and floral embroidery of my undies clearly indicated that someone undressed me and changed my clothes into this lascivious garment when I was passed out! Kumuyom ang aking kamao, who the heck is behind this? I swear... They are so dead! "Ladies and gentlemen, the lovely Lucent Lotus Amourteirre!" I heard the emcee speak once more, his voice resonating across the dark hall. I gasped, biglang tumaas ang kurtinang nagtatakip sa akin, napapikit naman ako dahil sa biglang pagtama ng ilaw na nakakasilaw sa aking mga mata. My eyes adjusted with the light and I blinked, tatlong spotlights ang nakatutok sa akin mula sa kisame, tila nasa isang entablado ako, tumingin ako sa harap at nakita ang maraming mga tao na nakamaskara. They were silent as they watched me. As if I was their prey and they were my predators. Their eyes were all the same. Dark and contorted with blazing lust. I felt the bad aura creeping and crawling into my skin. That's when it hit me... this place was familiar to me. This is an auction hall and I was being sold! "Isn't she a beautiful and an angelic sight that brings out our manly wishes? She's a pure embidoment of loveliness! And we have a bonus!" Nagkaroon ng tunog ng tambol, as if indicating that it was something intense. "She's a virgin!" What the fuck?! How did he know?! Tumingin ako sa nagsalita na parang emcee sa tabi ko, ngumisi ito sa akin nang napansin niyang nasa kanya ang masamang tingin ko. "Let's start the bidding with ten million." "Ten million." Sabay-sabay na saad ng mga lalaki sa baba at saka nila tinaas ang kanilang kamay, napatingin ako sa kanila nang may pagtataka, it seems like they were determined to own me. That's when I realized the dire situation I was in. We were inside an auction hall and I am inside a cage. There is an event. And I was a part of it... It struck me upon the realization that I am being auctioned like an item. Like a prostitute. Kinagat ko ang babang labi ko, how can this happen? This is much worse than death! Why do I have to end up here? Getting killed is better than living just to become a sex slave of someone! I tried to suppress my tears but they seem to betray me... Tears came out of my eyes, I sat down and hugged my knees, trying to cover my exposed body, tinago ko ang aking mukha sa aking mahabang itim na buhok. I cried. I've never felt so vulnerable and exposed all my entire life. This was worse than death. Please... somebody, save me! "So many bidders, let's go higher, let's go twice. Twenty million, anyone?" Saad ng emcee, I can sense how happy he was that these bidders were actually rooting for me. He was taking advantage of it. "Twenty." Tinaas ng isang lalaki ang kanyang kamay. "Fifty million." Sagot naman ng isa. Hindi ko maiwasang taasan ng balahibo, their voices were full of desires as their eyes looked at me with blazing lust, I can't imagine what will happen to me if ever I am sold to one of these hungry beasts, hindi ko maiwasang kabahan. Ano ang mangyayari sa akin pagkatapos nito? I'll probably be used as a sex doll or a toy. Hell no! I won't let that happen. Magkakamatayan muna bago nila ako magalaw. I feel like a bird trapped inside a cage, a bird with broken wings too, they made sure I had no way out. Nanginig ang mga kamay ko dala ng matinding takot, it feels like all the years I've been learning how to shoot with guns and use weapons were useless now that there's nothing to even utilize. Papa... I'm so sorry. Your daughter is such a weak woman. I've lost everything because I was too fragile. I couldn't save you nor anyone. And because of it... I only have nothing but myself now. And I'm about to lose myself too. I am about to become somebody's property. Against my will. Somebody, please save me... "One hundred million." Napatingin ako sa isang matabang lalaki. Kumislap ang mata ng emcee, "anyone who can go higher?" "Two hundred million." Muling sagot ng isa, tumaas nang tumaas ang bid sa akin habang ako naman ay kinakabahan, I looked around me for any exit but that's impossible now since I am trapped inside a cage. The metal bars were thick and the door was locked with a large padlock. There was nothing I can do. My mafia has been wiped out. It's just funny... It only felt like yesterday when I had everything. Now, I have nothing. Tumaas nang tumaas ang bid sa akin hanggang sa paunti nang paunti ang mga lalaking nagsasalita, I wiped my tears and watched the last two men who were eager to get me. They were battling to be the highest bidder. "Eight hundred million." Saad ng matandang lalaki. "Nine hundred million!" Sagot naman ng matabang lalaki. "One billion!" Muling saad ng matandang lalaki. "One billion and one million!" Hindi nagpatalo at nagpaawat ang matabang lalaki, wala akong magawa kundi makinig sa dalawang nagpapataasan. So, it's either one of them takes me home? I'd choose the old man, he seems easier to kill! They clearly have no idea who I really am... I am/was a mafia boss' daughter. "Two billion pesos!" Hindi pagpapaawat ng matanda. "Whoa, this is an overwhelming bid, this is the first time in our book record history to have an auction that goes as high as two billion." The emcee seemed amaze. "Why are you selling me?" Tanong ko sa emcee, my voice was rough and raspy because of my dry throat. Damn I need to drink water. Nauuhaw din ako. "Tell me." He didn't reply. But I know he heard me. Indeed. I finally got the courage to speak. But I still feel too weak. It felt like life was drained out of me and I felt unusually lightheaded. Tumingin sa akin ang emcee at ngumisi, sa halip na sumagot ay tumingin siya muli sa mga bidder, "any one who can go higher than two billions?" "One billion." Isang bagong boses ang lumitaw, it was cold, serious, and deadly, whoever owns that voice must be powerful, pinasadahan ko ng tingin kung saan nagmula ang tinig at nakita ko ang isang lalaking nakaupo sa dulo, the masquerade mask he is wearing was covering half of his face, nagtawanan naman ang lahat ng mga lalaki dahil sa sinabi niya. "I said higher, Sir. Not lower." Tumawa na rin ang emcee, "okay, that's it gentlemen, we have the highest bidder-" "One billion dollar." Muling saad ng lalaki kanina, the laughters died out and a deadly silence fell on the room. It's ironic how this silence seems to be an overwhelming noise, a cold tension dropped on the room and I saw how everyone paled. Just three words and this masked man managed to silence them. Tila nahimasmasan ang karamihan at bumalik sa huwisyo. Napalitan ng singhap ang lahat ng tawanan kanina, ako rin ay hindi makapaniwala. One billion dollar?! Whoever this man must be filthy rich, hindi ba't malaking kawalan ang isang bilyong dolyar? It wasn't the time to be amazed but a part of me was grateful and relieved, at least, hindi sa matabang mukhang manyak at matandang mukhang manyak din ang bagsak ko kundi sa lalaking iyon na mukhang disente. You should know better than to judge someone based on appearance. Who knows? Baka mas masahol pa siya kaysa sa lahat ng mga tao sa paligid. But when I looked at the man who was my highest bidder, he seemed good, enigmatic yes, but good. Like he was my knight in shining tuxedo and a mask. "One billion dollar..." Ulit ng emcee, halatang hindi rin makapaniwala sa huling kataga, "we have the highest bidder! Lucent Lotus Amourteirre is now sold for one billion dollar to... What's your name, Sir?" Sa halip na sumagot ay bumaba siya sa hagdanan, lahat ng mata ng mga lalaki ay nakatutok sa kanya, halatang nagtataka rin sila kung sino ang lalaking ito, "I have no intention of telling who I am. What's the use of wearing a mask if I am to reveal myself?" His cold voice sent chills down to my spine. His demeanor silently demands respect and authority. Clearly, this guy must be powerful! Kung umasta siya ay piso lamang ang isang bilyong dolyar! Halatang natakot din kahit papaano ang emcee, napawi ang ngiti sa labi nito. The masked man was intimidating, ngayong medyo malapit na siya ay mas nakita ko nang malinaw ang itsura niya, tumaas siya sa entablado at tumigil sa harap ng emcee, the man snapped his fingers and five men carrying a briefcase entered the hall, "the cases contain my payment." Tumango ang emcee, binigay niya ang susi sa lalaki, lumapit siya sa akin at agad na tinanggal ang kandado ng aking kulungan. The sound of metal screeching echoed as he open the metal cage where I was locked in, he took my hand without my permission and forced me to stand up, I was too weak to do that by myself which is why he held me for support, then he undressed his tuxedo and wrapped it around me. "You're hot." Bulong niya, I felt him encircle his hand around my waist, giving me a side hug, "you have a fever." I smiled, feeling safe on his arms. "Thank you..." It was the last thing I said before dots of black invaded my sight, then I fell to the abyss of darkness again, but this time, I was on the arms of the masked man who bought me for one billion dollar. "You shouldn't be thanking me." He whispered. His deep and husky voice somehow seem to lull me to sleep. I smiled weakly. "Still, thank you..." And little did I know... I just thanked a devil. Twice.