Kronack Crown

Chapter 3

WALA PANG alas nueve ay bumiyahe na sila ni Lust papunta sa sinasabi nitong Crown's marina. Nag-almusal muna siya sa Laventis hotel bago sila umalis. Hindi niya lang alam kung kumain din ba ang kasama niya. Sa lobby na lang kasi sila nagkita at agad itong nagyayang umalis.

Tahimik lang si Kalisz at inabala ang sarili sa panonood sa labas habang ang kasama niya ay seryosong nagmamaneho na parang walang kasama.

Which makes the whole drive comfortable for her. Aside from that, Kalisz has nothing to say. The man is a stranger and she's too grounded to just start a conversation. He also seems to be fine with the silence. So, it is better to leave it that way.

Kalisz leaned her head against the headrest and closed her eyes. She wants to sleep. The drive is so smooth it makes her sleepy. To add more comfort, Kalisz wore her headphone and listened to country music before letting herself slowly drift into sleep.

Hindi niya alam kung ilang oras siyang tulog pero nagising siya na papasok sa isang filling station ang sasakyan. Tumuwid si Kalisz ng upo. She brushed her eyes and then checked her surroundings. From her peripheral vision, she saw Lust looked at her.

"Good that you're awake. I'll just go and refill, and while I'm on it, you can buy food in that shop." Itinuro ni Lust ang shop, "if you want," he told as he drifts the car into one of the pumps.

"I'm not hungry," Kalisz replied.

"You sure?"

"Yes..." Kalisz responded, nodding her head not looking at him.

"Okay..."

Lumabas na ito habang siya ay nanatili lang sa loob at naghihintay sa pagbalik ni Lust. Hindi pa talaga siya gutom at wala rin siyang ganang kumain. Gusto niya lang makarating na sila ng Crown Island at makapagpahinga na ng mas matagal.

Hindi naman nagtagal ay bumalik na din ang lalaki. May dala itong dalawang bottled water.

"Here." Lust handed over a bottle of water. "For you, in case you get thirsty. We still have two hours to travel before we reach the pier," he informed.

"Thanks." Kalisz took the bottle.

The man nodded his head and turned the car engine on. Not long after, they were again back on the road, traveling.

Another thing that Kalisz appreciates about Lust is his driving skill. Sa kabila ng bilis ng pagpapatakbo nito ay hindi natatakot si Kalisz. Magaan at nanatiling maingat at nakatutok ito sa pagmamaneho.

Tulad ng sabi ng lalaki, makalipas ang halos dalawang oras ay nakarating na sila sa gate papuntang daungan.

Itinigil nito ang sasakyan sa harapan ng gate, sa gilid nito ay guardhouse. Nakita niyang may dalawang bantay doon. Ibinaba ni Lust ang bintana ng sasakyan para makausap ang guard.

"Good afternoon, sir Lust. Welcome back." Nakangiting bati ng isang guard.

Lust smiled. "Good afternoon too, Reth."

Sinilip siya ng guard.

"Pangalan ng kasama niyo, sir?" Tanong nito.

"Kalisz Roman- she's under Kronack and she'll be staying in his villa." Imporma ni Lust.

Tumango ang guard na may pangalang Reth. "Okay, sir."

May inabot na aparato yung isang guard kay Lust. It appears like a tablet.

Lust put his thumb on the screen and just like that, the device came to life.

"Welcome to Crown's marina, Mr. Lust Valliere. Please speak your name for confirmation."

"Lust Valliere."

"Please enter your password, Mr. Valliere."

A keyboard surfaced on the screen and Lust typed his password. Kalisz looked on the other side to give him privacy. After a while, Lust nudged her and handed her the device.

"W-what?" she asked, confused.

"You have to register your name- as a guest. For security reasons."

"Uhm, okay..."

Kalisz took the device and looked at the screen. It's giving options to scan- eyes or thumb. Without a second-guessing Kalisz choose the thumb.

"Welcome to Crown Island please enter your name."

Kalisz did what it says. After that, she has to input more information. Like where she's going to stay, who's with her now and who invited her, and so on. It also asked her to speak her name just like how it was with Lust.

"Please enter your password, Ms. Kalisz Roman."

Kalisz typed her password. After that, it was done.

"Welcome to the Crown, Ms. Roman."

Ibinalik niya na yung aparato kay Lust at ibinigay naman nito iyon sa guard na naghihintay sa labas.

"Salamat ma'am, sir."

Lust simply nodded his head and proceeded to drive after the gate in front of them opened, wide enough to let the car in. Not long after she could already see the blue ocean and the pier.

Akala niya magpapark sila sa parking lot, pero tuloy-tuloy na nagmaneho si Lust at pumasok sa isang RoRo.

Lust turned the car engine off before asking her if she wanted to get out and spend her thirty minutes upstairs.

"I'll stay here, if it's safe and allowed to," Kalisz replied.

"Okay... suit yourself. I'll go upstairs and I'll be back when we reached the Island," anito at lumabas na at iniwan siya.

Inilibot ni Kalisz ang tingin sa paligid. The place isn't full. There were just a few cars. All looking very expensive and wow. Even this mini RoRo ship was very polished from the outside and inside was even more. It's certainly was made for VIPs. Now, she wonders how could someone like Auri, who seems to come from a very wealthy family and society ended up in Sundust.

Thirty minutes passed and Lust was back. Not wasting any seconds, he instantly accelerated the car out of the ship and troop to our very last destination- the villa.

All the way, Kalisz can't hide on her face the wonder. Dypsis decaryi are planted a few meters away from the road. Royal Palms also added to the beauty of the place.

Ilang sandali pa may natanaw siyang malaking bahay. A villa and a mansion to be exact. Tatlong ganoon ang nakita niya bago sila pumasok sa isang villa.

Ito na siguro 'yon. Grabe! Ang lalaki at gagara ng mga bahay.

Every villa and mansion have their name sign displayed elegantly at the entrance. Welcoming the visitors. Pero napansin niyang walang bakod ang mga bahay, it's an open space. And the space between the houses is vastly covered with thick trees but the roadside was kept fine and decorated with palms and trimmed grass. Wala rin siyang makitang ibang bahay na hindi mansion o villa.

What is this place? Really?

"We're here." Narinig niyang sabi ni Lust. "Welcome to Kronack's villa, Ms. Roman." Dagdag pa nito.

"Salamat."

Nang makaibis sila ng sasakyan ay naghihintay na ang tatlong uniporamadong katulong.

"Sila na bahala magdala ng gamit mo sa magiging silid mo," imporma sa kanya ng lalaki.

Tumango si Kalisz at binigyan ng kiming ngiti ang tatlong katulong.

"Come, follow me, miss."

Sumunod siya kay Lust na nagpatiuna ng pumasok ng bahay.
Inside the house is rich and spacious. It's a modern house. The floor is made of porcelain tile with a marble effect.

Fudge... this house shouts money and expensive.

Pigil ni Kalisz ang mapangiwi dahil baka makasira siya ng gamit dito habang nakikitira at kulangin ang isang taon niyang sweldo bilang isang editor para bayaran ang anumang masira niya o magasgasan.

"Wah!? Sweet Kalisz! My sweetest friend! You're here! You're here!" Narinig niyang sigaw ni Auri galing sa taas.

Auri runs down the stairs like an excited kid then embraces her really tight and abrupt. Thankfully, there was a sofa behind her that supported them when Kalisz almost lost her balance.

"Wah!!! Miss na miss na kita." Inalog siya nito at niyakap ulit.

"You're killing your friend," saad ni Lust.

"Oh! I'm sorry Kalisz."

Tumango si Kalisz dito at tipid na ngumiti.

Auri glanced at Lust, who was now sitting on the sofa while resting his head on it.

"It's been over a year and a half since the last time I saw her personally, kaya excited lang ako," Auri explained her excitement.

"Namiss din kita Au," saad niya sa kaibigan.

"I know! Who wouldn't miss me?" Auri jokingly boasts.

"Yeah? Kaya pala hindi nagpaparamdam sayo si Rage, kasi miss ka na niya," Lust mocked, grinning while her eyes are still shut.

"Urgh... Hmph! He's just busy, okay?" Nakabusangot na sagot ni Auri dito.

"Hahaha, whatever makes your heart happy." Natatawang wika ni Lust.

Madalas maikwento sa kanya ni Auri ang lalaking Rage ang pangalan. Pero ni minsan hindi niya pa ito nakita, kahit sa picture man lang.

"I hate you libog!" Inis na sigaw dito ni Auri.

Now, it's Lust's turn to scowl.

"Lust is my name."

"Libog pa rin yon sa Tagalog."

Now, Auri is grinning and the frown on her face is gone.

"Shut up woman!"

Malakas na tumawa si Auri. "Kasalanan mo, 'kaw kasi iniinis mo ako! Pagnanasa sana itatawag ko sayo eh."

"That's the same as libog."

"Yeah, the same as 'Lust'."

"Tch." Sumusukong ani Lust.

Napangiti na lang siya sa dalawa. Hindi niya akalain na ganito pala ang lalaki. Tahimik kasi ito sa buong biyahe.

"Anyway... come, I'll introduce you to my brother." Yaya ni Auri. "And thanks by the way Lust for fetching my friend." Pahabol na sabi ni Auri habang hila siya nito papunta kung nasaan ang kapatid nito.