#DS3Unscripted #BelayaxPierce #LKCouple #DaggerSeries

CHAPTER 34: MASQUERADE

BELAYA'S POV

Idinilat ko ang mga mata ko nang maramdaman ko ang mahinang pagtapik sa braso ko. It was Sebastian's face that greeted me.

"Ready?" he asked.

"As always."

He opened the door of the van and he went out. Bumaba na rin si Domino at pagkatapos ay parehas nila akong tinulungan na makababa. Pagkatapak na pagkatapak ko pa lang sa lupa ay rinig ko na ang hiyawan ng mga tao na naghihintay.

I needed the help. My ball gown can easily drag me down with its weight. I'm wearing a classic scarlet red ball gown. It has a strapless sweetheart neckline and it's tight down to my middle. But the skirt is wide and it was stitched in a way that makes it look as if it's been folded a couple of times to give the gown a body and structure.

I gave Domino a small smile when he reached for the gold Columbina mask that I'm wearing to straightened it. Ipinadala iyon sa akin kasama ng invitation. May suot din sila na mask ni Sebastian pero kulay itim ang sa kanila. The ball is a masquerade. What an irony.

Pinaskil ko ang ngiti sa mga labi ko at inangat ko ang kamay ko para kumaway sa mga taong naghihintay sa likod ng crowd control barricades. Panay din ang kislapan ng mga kamera na dala ng press. Di kalayuan sa akin ay tanaw ko ang malalaking standee ng mga movie at TV show poster na kabilang sa magiging pokus sa ball na gaganapin ngayong gabi.

Huminto ako sa tapat ng backdrop na nasa harapan ng nagkukumpulan na mga photographer. I cross my feet at the same time that I relaxed the arm that is connected to the hand that is holding my purse while I put the other on my waist. I gave the cameras a small smile.

"Belaya."

Tumingin ako sa pinanggalingan ng nagsalita at umangat ang sulok ng labi ko nang matanaw ko si Tristan na palapit sa akin. Hindi pa niya suot ang mask na ngayon ay hawak niya lang.

The flash of the cameras went crazy when he approached me. Yumuko siya at hinawakan ko siya sa braso para magawa kong iangat ang sarili ko at salabungin ang beso niya. I felt him gave my arm a gentle squeeze before he stepped away.

"Sorry for interrupting."

"It's fine. We should take a picture together. I think that would be good," I told him.

We stayed there for a few moments. After awhile I told him that I should go. Kailangan niya rin naman ng individual photos niya.

I was about to stepped away when I decided to look back at him. Natagpuan ko siyang nakatingin sa akin habang parang may malalim na iniisip. Binigyan ko siya ng ngiti na ibinalik niya rin naman. But I know the truth behind his smile.

One step at a time.

Pumasok na ako sa loob ng venue at kaagad binalot ng panlalamig ang katawan ko sa sumalubong sa akin.

Of course everyone is wearing a mask. I expected that. I should have realize that not everyone will wear a Columbina. Kadalasan naman kasing nagsusuot no'n sa mga ganitong event ay ang mga babae na siyempre ay hindi gustong takpan ang makeup nila. Some are even wearing one-eyes masks. Ilan lang sa kanila ang natatakpan talaga ang mukha.

But the males are different. There's a lot of them wearing a Bauta, Volto, and I even saw some that has Pantalone masks.

There's also those that are wearing theater masks. Thalia and Melpomene's.

"Idol."

I know my smile is shaky when I looked up to Domino. May pag-aalala sa mga mata niya. Alam niya kung anong epekto sa akin ng mga maskara na iyon.

"Belaya!"

Kinuyom ko ang mga kamay ko ng dalawang lalaking suot ang mga maskara na ayokong makita ang lumapit sa akin. I can feel every bit of me telling me to run but I stayed frozen and rooted to where I'm standing on.

Binaba nila ang suot nila na mask at bumungad sa akin ang nakangiting mga mukha ni Cedric at Joe. They're both in formal suits bagay na bago kay Cedric na laging naka-hoodie lang. The only difference is Cedric tone down his outfit with a turtle neck while Joe looks pristine with the classic.

Both of them is brimming with happiness. This is a big exposure for our project that's already making a noise on its own kahit hindi pa talaga kami gumagawa ng malalaking hakbang para ipromote iyon.

This night is a big night for everyone. It can change a lot of things. I know it would.

"We're going to be the first pick for the interview," masayang balita ni Cedric.

Being the first pick is a big thing. Fresh pa ang utak ng lahat, may gana pa ang press, at mas maluwag pagdating sa oras. We'll have more time to promote the project.

"That's great." Nagpalingon-lingon ako. "Nasaan si Jhonas?"

"Kanina pa nga namin tinatawagan," sagot ni Joe na kababakasan ng inis ang mukha. "This is not the time to be late."

Cedric nodded in agreement but his attention was caught by a person who passed us by. Tinapik niya sa balikat si Joe bago kami binigyan ng nagpapaumanhin na ngiti. "Excuse us. I think I saw the president of Wallace AdCreates."

I gave them a small smile before I turned to Domino and Sebastian. Domino is acting different. He's focus but there's also tension around him. Sa tabi niya ay tahimik lang si Sebastian bagay na bago sa kaniya. Sebastian already mastered the business of being my manager. Every event is an opportunity for him to establish my connections. He's not doing that now.

Naglakad kami papunta sa lamesang nakaindika sa invitations namin. The moment that I took my seat, I can feel every bit of my body begging me to do the opposite of that. As if reflecting my anxiety, my foot started tapping unconsciously. Kung hindi pa marahang pinigilan ni Sebastian ang binti ko ay hindi pa ako titigil.

Napatingin ako kay Domino nang maramdaman ko na mag-vibrate ang cellphone ko. He looked at Sebastian. "Pwede ikaw muna kay Belaya? I need to go to the bathroom for a moment."

"I got her," my manager said.

Tumayo si Domino at naglakad paalis. Kinuha ko ang cellphone ko sa bag ko at binuksan ko ang mensahe na natanggap ko ro'n.

FR: J. LARSON PRODR

You need to change to your

Sariah's wardrobe. Jill and

the dept has a set up at the back

of the venue.

"What?" Sebastian asked.

"Nag-text si Jhonas. Pinagpapalit ako ng damit para sa interview."

TO: J. LARSON PRODR

Do you know how long

it took for me to squeeze

into this dress? Saka bakit

sa likod pa? May comfort

room naman dito.

It didn't take long for the man to reply. Para bang inaasahan na niya bawat isasagot ko sa kaniya.

FR: J. LARSON PRODR

You're not the only

actor playing for Virago.

Hindi lang ikaw ang

iniintindi namin. We

need to have one location

rather than us wasting time

to locate you all one by one.

"Bakit ba kasi kailangan na magpalit ng damit? This is a ball not a costume party." Napapabuntong-hininga na tumayo ako. "We're going to be an oddball in this party. Lahat naman sila suot pa rin ang mga damit nila mamaya sa mga interview nila."

"It will get attention," Sebastian said.

"Not the good kind."

Tumayo na rin siya. "I'm coming with you-" Bago pa niya matapos ang sasabihin ay tumunog ang cellphone niya. Kunot ang noo na sinagot niya iyon st ilang sandaling hindi siya nagsalita. "Lauren?"

My phone vibrated again.

FR: J. LARSON PRODR

We're waiting for you

Lawrence. We'll be having

the interview in ten minutes.

Hurry up.

"Sumunod ka na lang sa akin. Jhonas is being impatient," I told Sebastian.

"No. I'm going with you-"

"I'll be fine."

"I'll go with her." Nilingon namin ang nagsalita at nabungaran namin si Caleb Riley. "Sa interview room ka ba pupunta?"

"No. Jhonas want me to go to the set up place at the back of the venue para magpalit ng damit."

Kumunot ang noo niya. "Bakit ako hindi tinatawag?"

"I'm not sure."

Ipinagkibit-balikat niya iyon. "Siguro dahil wala namang kakaiba sa damit ko para kay Caliber. Tanggalin lang ang pang-itaas ko pwede na."

Despite everything, I can't help but smile at that.

"Samahan na kita?" alok niya.

"Sure. Kahit hanggang sa pintuan lang. Nando'n naman daw silang lahat."

Iniwan na namin si Sebatian na walang nagawa kundi sundan na lang kami ng tingin. Before losing sight of him, I saw him turned his back on us, his phone still on his ear.

"This is a pretty apt event for actors, don't you think?"

Nilingon ko ang lalaki. "Anong ibig mong sabihin?"

"A masquerade ball. Masquerade literally means pretense or a false show. We're all actors and our job is to pretend. That's where the masks comes in both figuratively and literally. A symbolism of a disguise."

"We all hide behind a mask."

"We do."

Ramdam ko ang pagsisimula ng pagbigat ng mga hakbang ko habang tanaw ko ang dulo ng tinatahak namin na lugar. We were steps away from the door when another opened. May mga kamay na humila sa akin at kita ko ang panlalaki ng mga mata ni Caleb. Bumuka ang mga labi niya pero bumukas ang isa pang pintuan at may mga kamay na tumakip sa bibig niya. Nagpapasag siya pero wala na siyang nagawa.

We have no choice but to let the current of that moment take us wherever it may lead us. It's starting.

ICE COLD. That's the perfect description to what I'm feeling. It's not just because of the chill running through my entirety but it's more like I'm being submerged into ice. Too cold, glacial... and too long that it's starting to burn me.

There's a sense of betrayal when life answer you with something you didn't expect. It's easy to expect the worst from people that you hate but the weight is unimaginable when the answer is pointing to the person that you trusted.

"W-Why?"

"It's fated to happen. We're fated to be together. Alam kong ito ang gusto mo. Tama ako. Hindi ka niya makukuha sa akin kasi tayo lang ang para sa isa't isa."

Kinagat ko ang ibabang labi ko habang ang mga kuko ko ay halos bumaon na sa mga palad ko. "Bakit mo 'to ginagawa? Pinagkatiwalaan kita."

"Ako lang ang gusto mo. Ako ang kailangan mo di ba? Kaya kong ibigay sa'yo ang lahat. Kaya nga bumalik ako. Para sa'yo lahat ng 'to."

"Hindi... hindi kita maintindihan. You need to stop this."

"Noong una akala ko tuluyan ng nalason ng lalaki na iyon ang utak mo. Pero tama ako. Sa akin ka pa rin babalik. Noon ko pa gustong makasama ka. Alam kong nahihirapan ka na wala ako sa tabi mo. Pero kailangan kong lumayo para sa'yo. Para magawa mong gawin ang mga bagay na masaya kang gawin. Pero sa pagkakataon na 'to pwede mo ng iwan lahat. Kasi mas masaya ka pa rin kapag kasama ako di ba?"

"Lumayo?"

"Ilang taon tayong nagkalayo. Alam kong nasaktan kita. Pero lagi lang akong nasa tabi mo. Di ba pinakita ko naman iyon sa'yo? Sa mga bulaklak at sulat na pinadala ko? Noong pinuntahan kita sa bahay mo?"

"You kidnapped me!"

"Dahil akala ko nagbago ka na! Na nakalimutan mo na akin ka lang! Ngayon alam kong ito ang gusto mo. Tayong dalawa lang. Katulad ng dati. You'll always be my Belaya and I'm your Jack of hearts."

"Y-You're not him. You're delusional. You're not Jackson!" Pakiramdam ko ay nanginginig ang buong katawan ko hindi lang sa lamig kundi sa galit na nagsisimulang yumakap sa akin dahil sa mga naririnig ko. "Jackson didn't leave me because he can. He left me because he died!"

"Hindi. Lagi lang ako nandito. Hindi ako nawala. Hindi ako namatay. Bumalik ako para sa'yo. We're always always going to end up together. The world cheered for us. They looked up to us. They loved us. But now it's time for us to leave the stage. We need to close the curtains because this time... we're going to play the story of us and not those that written by people who doesn't know what it feels like to have the love that we have for each other."

"So that's love for you? Stalking me?"

"I wanted to keep you safe. You're only safe when I'm with you because we love each other. You wanted me close. You feel safe when I'm with you. You sleep easy knowing that I'm near you and watching you. Sa akin ka lang at handa akong gawin lahat para mapatunayan sa iyo 'yon. We only need one thing and it will be complete. So our love will be complete."

"W-What do you mean?"

"We need to get my heart back. Everything will be okay. Donovan won't be a problem. It will be easy to take care of him."

"Wow. You're a complete fuck up. If there's an organization for stalkers they will crown you king. Hindi ka lang stalker. Gusto mo pang maging murderer."

Napakurap ako dahil hindi nanggaling sa akin ang huling salita na iyon. Kasabay ng ingay na nagmula sa suot ko na ear piece ay ang siyang pagkalabog ng pintuan ng kinaroroonan ko. Pumasok si Sebastian na hindi maitatago ang nagliliyab na galit sa mga mata.

"It's really him."

"I-I gather that," I whispered.

"I told them to come here. Immediately."

Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin niya sa iba pang mga tao sa kinaroroonan namin. Caleb looks ashen but he's leaning on the comfort room's counter. Domino is on the other side. Sa tabi niya ay naroon si Tristan na isinama niya rito.

"O-Okay."

Alam kong hindi ko napagtagumpayan na itago sa kaniya ang totoo kong nararamdaman. Sebastian's face soften and it was enough for the tears to finally be freed from my eyes.

"Why would he do such thing? I-I... I never did anything to make him believe... I never..."

Napapabuntong-hininga na hinila ako ni Sebastian at kaagad niya akong kinulong sa mga bisig niya. I can feel what's left of my strength crumbling but his arms held me up. "He's not on his right mind. Wala kang kasalanan."

"H-He was everywhere. He made sure of that. He could have hurt me a long time ago."

"But he didn't. He's the one who fell into his own trap." His eyes are gentle as he met mine. "He was using Jackson for his sick play. He was using a man that left this life wanting nothing but for you to be okay. Jackson wouldn't let anything happen to you. Even in the afterlife."

It's so easy for him to say that. Walang kahit na isang patak ng pagdududa. He was just giving me words that he really believe in.

"Excuse me. I know this is a sensitive time... but I'm fucking confuse."

Lahat kami napatingin kay Caleb. Namumutla pa rin siya dahil alam kong hindi niya inaasahan ang mga nangyayari. He's just here for the party but now he's subjected to this. He got even jumped by Domino who I know scared the hell out of him.

"Everyone inside this room is a suspect?" he asked.

"Everyone except her bodyguards," Sebastian answered for him. "My sister and her boyfriend became suspects too because of their nosy asses. As well as two other more people. I'm a suspect because of my sister."

Sebastian knew. The moment that the picture became clearer, siya ang unang tinawagan ng Dagger dahil kailangan siya para matiyak na lahat aayon sa plano.

"Tristan, our author, is a suspect?" Nang tumango ako ay itinuro ni Caleb ang sarili niya. "Eh ako?"

"No," Domino answered.

"Kung gano'n... bakit ako nandito?"

"You're a casualty. Hindi ka dapat nandito. Nadamay ka lang kasi sinamahan mo si Belaya. Ako dapat iyon pero tinawagan ako ni Domino asking me to pretend as if I'm talking to my sister since Belaya's mask was bugged with listening device as well as her script that she always carry on and off the set," Sebastian explained.

"He knows..." I whispered. "He knows that Sebastian wouldn't let me go alone. He'll hurt him. You on the other hand... I can tell you that you don't need to come with me outside. Hindi ko lang akalain na naghihintay na rin si Domino para kunin ka bago ka pa makagawa ng kahit na ano na maririnig sa feed ng bug na nasa maskara ko."

"How are you a suspect?" Caleb asked Tristan.

"A result of a manipulation and coincidence." The man didn't look happy with it. Dagger got a hold of him the next day that I met him at that coffee shop. He was a prime suspect. "My books are a trilogy. Originally the series title was Sariah but... but when I was approached for the TV series, changes were asked from me. Isa sa mga iyon ay ang title ng series na ginawang Virago."

"Virago is my gaming username," I told Caleb who's beginning to look confuse again.

"That's the coincidence. Apparently I'm playing at the same league Belaya's in," Tristan said.

"That's where we came in." Napapailing si Domino. We've been really busy. "We already have a list but nothing's making sense. We can't find enough motive from the people on the list. Tristan Donovan however tick a lot of boxes. He's Belaya's fan and they're connected by a lot of coincidences. Una silang nagkakilala sa bar, he's the recipient as the organ donor of Belaya's ex, he's the author of the TV series she'll play in as a main character, at pangatlo ay ang koneksyon niya sa paboritong laro ni Belaya. Belaya was first hacked through a game installed in her phone. We don't want to take any chances and Tristan is prime."

"And my username, coincidentally is Mousai which means muses," Tristan continued. "Apparently two of the objects that the stalker is using to Belaya are the divine and comedy mask which are the masks of two muses."

Tumango si Domino. "That's how it lead us to the answer. Because another puzzle piece fell into place as we started investigating the gaming league."

"Anpektop," I whispered.

"What?" Caleb asked.

"That's how I pronounced it. The name of our other member in the game. But it wasn't supposed to be said that way. It looks like it but Dagger notice that it's written in a different form.... in the Ukranian alphabet."

Ukranian characters are unique when it comes to their letters. They almost look like the English alphabet except theirs have different meaning.

Директор.

Д is for D, и is for I, р is for R, е plays for itself, к is for C, т and o means the same, and p again for R.

Director.

"It means director," I said in a quiet voice.

Sebastian sighed, "At first we thought it's Joe. He's the director. But Tristan made everything a little clearer. Dalawang tao lang ang lumapit sa kaniya para sa TV series. Joe was just hired to be the director."

"So you planned all these?" Tinuro ako ni Caleb. "Alam mo ang lahat ng nangyayari?"

"When the list drop to two and it's clear that this is the right path... yes. I was informed."

"He was supposed to kidnap you tonight?" I nodded my head and the knot on his forehead returned. "You were talking to your phone earlier. Like you're talking to him."

"Yes, I was."

"You're telling someone what that someone should say in behalf of you? But... how?" Nagpalingon-lingon siya sa aming lahat. "Who's with him if you're here?"

"That would be me."

Lahat kami ay napatingin sa pintuan ng banyo kung saan ngayon nakatayo ang isang tao na suot ang damit na katulad ng sa akin. A woman who's at first glance looks like me except she's a little bit leaner and taller. But with her makeup, the high heels I'm wearing that put me on the same height as hers, her hair, and the mask she's wearing... we're almost identical.

I know everyone can see that.

Inayos niya ang suot niya na gusot-gusot na. She looks unscathed... thankfully. "Seriously, you Dagger people can hog the scene. I thought that man will throw me over his shoulder to get me to safety. For the first time in my life pakiramdam ko may taong pagagalitan na lang ako bigla." Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay. "Your man is intense. The moment that asshole realized that I'm not you, your man got into action. Halos mabingi ako kakautos niya sa ear piece ko na mag seat belt daw ako."

"Is he okay?"

My older sister's eyes squinted at me. Hindi nakaligtas sa kaniya na hindi ko man lang tinanong kung okay siya. She's a freaking amazonian. I know she's fine. This is her line of work. She's the head of our family business that handles high risk operation. Dagger is more into intel, security, and investigation.

"He's fine but he need a new car. He used it to barricade us." Napailing siya na parang hindi siya makapaniwala. "Siyam ba ang buhay ng boyfriend mo at parang hindi tinatablan ng takot 'yon? Ano siya? Pusa?"

A lion.

"Where is he?"

"With that creep. He's probably thinking if he's going to put him behind bars or if he'll just dump his body somewhere after he kills him. Boto ako para sa pangalawa" Isa-isa niyang tinignan ang mga tao na nasa paligid ko nang mapansin niyang nakatulala ang lahat sa kaniya. She gave them her trademark formal and business-like face. "I'm Vodka Lawrence and it's nice to meet all of you."

When no one responded, she sighed and stepped inside to give way to the two men behind her.

Joe and Jhonas.

Our director and producer. Joe who's always been innocent from all these and Jhonas who's been used to cover the tracks of the real perpetrator. He's the perfect decoy what with our history. Jhonas was always with him. He worked with him... Jackson and I also worked with him.

But Jhonas wasn't a director. Not at that play that Jackson and I became characters in. Where we all first met. He was just an AD. An assistant director.

It was always one person who call the shot. The one who made sure that Tristan that is connected to Jackson will be close to him. It was him who made sure that Tristan's books will be a TV series where I'm going to be the lead so that he can get close to me. And it's also him who funded the entire project and became the executive producer for it.

It was always him.

He was the director of that play... and in this game that he inflicted in my life... he took hold of the scene in the hopes to play the actor's part.

Cedric.