Temptation Island: Broken Ties

Kabanata 30

Thea

Thea felt her throat dry up. One hundred four million pesos? Napatingin siya sa ibabang parte ng kanyang katawan. Ganon ang presyuhan ng pempem?! Sabagay, slightly used, medyo makunat pa naman kung tutuusin.

But fck, why is Saint spending for Pempem that much?

Pwede naman free, ano? She heard her Pempem's small voice speaks up. Napahawak siya sa batok habang pinapakinggan ang hiyawan ng mga tao. Most of them were amazed on how much the bid when sky high crazy! Kahit siya rin naman, ano! Pupwede nga naman free....

"No, no, no... That's too much." Itinaas niya ang palad niya at hinarap si Aldrin, "I mean, I am happy that it goes to charity, but it is not right that one will go broke just because of a date with me, and charity."

"Broke? Saint is far from broke, Thea." Lucifer shouted from the crowd. May ilang natawa sa sinabi nito. "Tumigil lang ako dahil I am sure lagot ako kay Don Levi if Saint will spend more. If he hears this, he will whip my as* for taunting my brother."

"Alam mo pala, gago!" Xerxes chuckled and flicked his gaze to her. "It is just his income on one magazine release. That won't hurt, pretty lady. Or you want to reopen the bid so I can join the fun?" Xerxes winked at her.

"Hoy, magsitigil kayo. Nahihiya si Thea!" Thea saw Tash at one of the cocktail tables with Lucas. "Iyong manok ko naman ay parang mauubusan kung maka-bid. Hindi man lang nagpakipot! Hindi na ako tatanggap ng pamasko sa mga pamangkin mo below one million."

"Babe." Reklamo ni Lucas.

"Biro lang! Pero pwede rin namang totohanin." Ngumisi si Tash at kumindat sa kanya.

"Yun naman pala. The family members agree, so congratulations, Doctor Bombshell. Please proceed backstage to schedule your date at Temptation Island."

Bumaba na siya sa stage at iginiya siya ng staff sa backstage para mag-fill out ng forms including a waiver that she is consenting to the date and will not bail out. She can schedule her trip to Temptation Island first, and if the one who won the bid agrees, then it is a date. Inilagay niya ang weekend para makapaghanda.

"Oh, ako rin, weekend." Sumilip sa form niya si Artemis at ngiting-ngiti pa ito. Malakas siyang napabuntong-hininga.

"Why do you look so happy?" Tanong niya rito.

Kumunot ang noo nito, "Why not?" Pumirma ito ng kontrata, "I can have sex for free but if my performance will fund a charity, then that's more meaningful, right? Para sa mga kababaihan ang performance namin ng Papi na aking gagatasan!" Artemis giggled.

"I feel guilty that Saint is spending that much."

"You heard his siblings. Marami iyong pera. And it is his money! Bahala na siya kung saan gagastusin."

Inilapit niya ang tainga kay Artemis, "But I am the co-owner of his rival magazine."

"So?" Iniangat ni Artemis ang kanyang baba. "It just means that you will also be a billionaire in no time. Be excited about it."

Nang matapos ang pagpirma ng forms ay lumabas na silang muli ni Artemis at humalo sa dinner party. Mayroon nang kapareha si Aldrin sa stage na ine-explain na ang konsepto Good Girls Gone Wild magazine kaya matamang nakikinig ang lahat. Every contributor of the magazine has a ficticious names based on colors and no one knows that they are at the party.

The magazine owner will be called Dandelion, but that's her and Sloane, the editor-in-chief is Purple~ that's herself, the photographer is Sloane as Plum, Artemis, the fashion consultant is Sepia, Athena, Adam's marketing partner is Canary, Adam is Marmalade, and they also have Laguna and Marigold as their junior writer and executive assistant. Lahat sila ay nasa venue pero wala ni isa sa kanila ang magpapakilala. They played a video where voice actors were speaking on their behalf.