Deception's Kiss: Trust No One (Tagalog-SPG)

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Buti na lang dumating sina Pablo at Renz no’ng sobrang taas na ng tensyon kina Sid at Luxx. Hindi maitindihang nakaupo ako sa bandang una ng party katabi ang aking stepmom at Dad. Hindi ko tinatanggal ang tingin kay Sid na nasa kabilang table kasama si Kia, Julio at ilang mga kaibigan.

Sid looks devastated.

Napahawak ako sa sintido ko at minasahe ‘yon. Pati ako litong-lito na. Paano nagawa ni Luxx ‘to? At anong sinasabi ni Sid na meron kaming relasyon ni Luxx. No way!

“Are you okay, dear?”

Hindi ko pinansin ang sinabi ng aking stepmom. First of all, hindi pa rin nawawala ang galit na meron ako sa kanya. Second, may problema akong kailangang ayusin and last, I’m not okay.

I searched the whole surrounding para sana hanapin si Luxx pero wala s’ya. Umalis na ito simula nang inawat sila ni Pablo at Renz.

The whole event is filled with my stepmom relatives. Kami lang ni Dad ang magkadugo. The emcee is lively and I feel that he loves doing his work. Nasubo ako ng pagkain ng wala sa wisyo, the sounds system also doing his work perfectly pero walang makapagboost ng atensyon ko.

“Before we dance and have a drink I would like to say thank you for the presence of Miss Quinn Caroline, the daughter of our celebrant.” Nagpalakpakan ang mga tao at napatango naman ako. Hindi naman na kailangan ‘yon saka stepdaughter ako, hindi biological daughter.

“Miss Carol flew all the way from America just to be here with us.” Ang laki ng ngiti ng emcee sa akin kaya naman pilit akong napangiti pabalik sa mga bisita.

“Also, she is the one who prepared this party for us! How lovely she is!”

Napatungo naman ako, anong pakana na naman ito ni Luxx.

“Thank you so much for this, anak.”

Napalingon ako kay Dad na masayang-masaya. I already forgot what I had promised. Ayoko s’yang madisappoint hanggat maari. Buti na lang at naisip ni Luxx ang gan’tong bagay.

Napatango ako pero nagulat na lang kami nang biglang nagflash sa big screen ang isang footage namin ni Luxx na nag-uusap sa bar station kanina.

“What?” naibulaslas ko.

Kitang-kita do’n kung papaano kami maglandian ni Luxx pati ang pamumula ng mukha ko ay hindi nakatakas.

“Dear, do you have a relationship with Sid?”

Hindi ako makakibo sa tanong ng stepmom ko. She doesn’t know that the guy on the screen is Luxx, not Sid.

“Who’s that guy, Pam?” tanong ni Dad.

“Well, his full name is Sid Amir Velasquez. He is a smart and handsome guy who graduated Summa c*m Laude at a famous university in Manila and now, he is excelling his skills as Vice Mayor here at Alfonso. He also manages his embroidery business. S'ya rin ang katuwang ko sa pamamahala sa Hacienda de Venice, Richard. He had a twin brother but I don’t want to talk about him right now,” seryosong saad ng stepmom ko.

“I like Sid for you, Carol,” dugtong n’ya.

Napatingin sa akin ng maigi si Dad pero bago pa man s’ya makapagsermon ay nagsalita na ang emcee.

“The one and only Sid Amir Velasquez is your daughter’s sweetheart, Madam Pam!”

Kulang na lang ay tumili ‘yong baklang emcee sa sinabi.

“He’s the pride of Alfonso and very well known for his charismatic face and overwhelming wealth. It’s a great idea if Sid and Carol have a romantic relationship.”

Naghiyawan ang crowd na mas kinadagdag ng kaba ko.

“He is the son of the late Mayor, Albert Mariano Velasquez, and the eldest daughter of the owner of Lexington Hotel and Resort, Diana Grace Lexington. You already secured your future, Miss Carol.”

So it's mean, this gorgeous hotel is under Sid? Or maybe Luxx? The twins are very rich.

Mas lumakas naman ang tawanan na tila bang gustong-gusto nila ang narinig.

“Bagay kayo!” rinig kong udyok ng karamihan. Rinig na rinig ko naman ang pagsuway ni Kia sa mga nang-aasar sa amin.

“So tell us about how you get to know each other, pretty Caroline.” Kukunin na sana ng emcee ang kamay ko nang mahagilap ng tingin ko ang biglang pagtayo ni Sid at umalis na sa party.

“My daughter is kind of selfish about their love story. She wants their relationship lowkey,” alibi ni Dad nang makitang hindi ko na maintindihan ang nangyayari.

Nagtawanan muli ang mga bisita at patuloy na inasar-asar ako.

“Being in private relationships is somehow sweet, right, dear?” dagdag ni Pamela.

Biglang bumulong sa akin si Dad. “Make sure to introduce this guy to me before I get back to Manila.”

“What?” gulat kong tanong.

“No what’s, no but’s, Carol.”

Wala na akong nagawa at no’ng nakakuha ako ng pagkakataon na makaalis sa pwesto ay patikar akong tumakbo papunta sa direksyon kung saan nagpunta si Sid.

“Sid!” I shouted when I saw him walking in the garden area of the resort. He dresses the same as what Luxx wore earlier but without the tropical hat.

Gulat s’yang napatingin sa akin. Napatakbo naman ako napayapos sa kan’ya, lumaban naman s’ya ng yapos. Feels like we haven't seen each other for years.

“How are you? Did he hurt you?”

Mabilis akong napailing.

“How about you? Are you okay? Bea, how is she?”

Hinawakan n’ya ang pisingi ko. “She’s doing great, don’t worry about her.”

His voice is like a music, sobrang baba pero damang-dama ko. Ang amo-amo ng mukha n’ya.

“That’s good but Sid we need to talk.”

Nagsimula kaming maglakad habang ang mga postlight ang nagsilbi naming ilaw.

“You don’t know how happy I was when I saw you,” he continued our conversation.

“But not with that guy.” Ramdam ko na naman ang lungkot sa boses n’ya.

“Hey, don’t be sad. The rumors between us not—“

Napatigil ako nang makita si Luxx sa third floor ng aming kwarto. He is looking at me with his dangerous and cold eyes. Like giving me a warning.

“Carol?” Napunta kay Sid ang atensyon ko nang banggitin n’ya ang pangalan ko.

“Are the rumors true? How would you explain that footage?”

Napalunok ako, nage-gets ko na kung bakit ginawa ni Luxx na ipakita ang footage namin sa lahat. He wants to confuse and jealous Sid and questions me about our true relationship.

The crowd will think that Sid and I have a relationship na mas pabor sa akin dahil mas mapapadali ang pagkuha ko ng buong tiwala ni Sid. Isa pa, who will think that Luxx will be Sid? Halata namang hindi nag-sasama sa iisang lugar 'yong dalawa.

Tsh, kaya pala naka-tropical hat kanina para hindi kita sa footage ang pinagkaiba ng kanilang haircut.

That bastard has an unpredictable plan.

Naalala ko naman ang mission ko.

“No, we're not. Luxx is playing with us. I don't like him. He's like a teenager who wants to mess around.”

Hindi n’ya inalis ang mata sa akin.

I heard how he’s in disbelief.

I held Sid's hand and tried to squeeze it. “You don’t know how evil he is,” he said in a very disappointed tone.

“He will just use you for his own sake. Don’t waste your time on a guy like him, trust my words, Carol. I have known him for almost my whole existence.”

That line is familiar.

“Really?” I asked in a low voice.

“Umuwi ka na sa Hacienda, Emma and Ruth is waiting for you.” Napatungo ako. I missed them also.

“Hi there.”

I saw my Dad walking towards us.

Inilahad ni Sid ang kan’yang kamay kay Dad. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Salvador.”

“Look how wonderful the both of you are. You guys are the definition of a perfect couple.”

I can't believe na magugustuhan agad ni Dad si Sid. I know my Dad, he's very picky sa mga naging boyfriend ko pero now, wala pangang isang oras n’yang nakikilala si Sid ay parang gusto n’ya na itong iuwi.

Hindi ko s’ya masisi, Sid is very charming and eye turner. Lahat nakukuha n’ya.

Napatawa kami parehas ni Sid. “Magkita-kita tayo sa hacienda after the party.”

Tumingin sa akin si Dad ng makahulugan. “I hope that’s clear, Carol.” Napangiti ako napatango.

Mabilis s’yang nawala sa paningin namin ni Sid pero nagulat naman ako nang hawakan ni Sid ang kamay ko at ikinulong ‘yon sa kanyang malaking kamay.

“Sid!”

Napalingon kami kay Kia nang pumalakat ito sa ‘di kalayuan.

“Carol!” takang sigaw ni Renz sa kabilang parte ng garden.

What the heck are they doing? Masisira ang plano!