Olivia Faye Eleazar will find herself in a world of deceit and lies. As she goes deeper, she slowly loses her identity and the truth about her life. Her confusion made her an easy target of manipulation, making the people around her use her against...
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LEIRIN ANDREA PATTERSON
Ramdam ko ang pagpapawis ng aking palad at bahagyang panlalamig habang ako ay nasa sasakyan kasama si Terrence.
We are heading to The Regal Oasis, a hotel where a masked auction will be held. It was exclusively arranged for the elites, and it was a formal masquerade event; that is why we are dressed up.
The bodice of the dress I am wearing is beige, covered in black floral and ladder lace. It has a lace skirt that reaches my ankle, a sweetheart neckline, and wide ribbon shoulder straps. Tinernuhan ko ito ng black pumps at isang maskara kung saan ang upper part ay beige din na pinatungan ng itim na lace, while the lower half that would cover my mouth was a crocheted lace that resembled a net. My hair was neatly tied into a high ponytail with a few loose strands on the sides.
Medyo exposed ang aking likod kaya naman damang-dama ko ang lamig mula sa kaba na kailangan kong isantabi dahil may mga bagay na mas importante pa kaysa doon.
Despite the masks, it wouldn't be hard to recognize the people attending the event because Dennis—or I must say Robin since we are on a mission—got the designers of the attendees' outfits. I had it memorized so I could quickly point Terrence to the right people.
Isang malalim na hininga ang aking hinugot bago ko inabot ang kamay ni Terrence nang makarating kami sa nasabing venue. He hooked my arms into his. He was the one to present the invitation, and we were led to a quiet hallway kung saan sa dulo ay may isang malaking double door.
The person at the door opened the door for us after double-checking our invitation. May tinitingnan sila na parang indication kung legit ba ang invitation na pinapakita sa kanila.
Pagbukas ng pinto ay bumungad ang layo-layong bilog na mga lamesa. Ang bawat isang table ay may nakapalibot na limang upuan. On the ceiling hangs diamond-shaped mirror shards that are reflecting the party lights that are setting the mood of the whole place.
Sa kabila ng ingay ay rinig pa rin ang halakhakan at magiliw na palitan ng mga panauhin. Hindi ko alam kung paano nila napag-uusapan ang mga tao na para bang mga gamit sila at bakit tila umiikot ang aking sikmura sa aking mga salitang naririnig.
"Have you seen the photos of Adonis? Oh, I would pay any amount just to take him home," dinig kong saad ng isang taong nakabihis ng pambabae subalit bakas pa rin sa kaniyang tinig ang kaniyang kasarian nang siya ay ipinanganak. Sinundan niya iyon ng hagikgik na siyang sinakyan ng kaniyang mga kausap.
"I've seen a lot of possible targets to bring home for my company's trials," saad naman ng isa.
"Are you okay?" The nauseous feeling was briefly washed away when Terrence held my hand. Ang pamamanhid mula sa panlalamig ay pansamantalang nawala nang maramdaman ko ang init ng kaniyang palad.
"Yes, I'm okay," I answered, even though it wasn't true. I don't want to be a burden tonight.
The closed space tightens my chest, and the words I hear go around my head to the point that it kind of drives me crazy.
