CHAPTER TWO

HER next weeks were as normal as ever. Hindi na muling nakita pa ni Lyricca si Thomas pero nabanggit naman ito ng mga magulang niya during their family dinner. Nalaman niyang bilyonaryo ang lalakeng namamalagi sa France. The man wanted to expand his fortune around the world and their company was chosen in the Philippines. Tuwang-tuwa ang mga magulang niya dahil magiging malaki raw ang hatak ng pangalan ng lalake sa iba pang investors.

Other than those business matters, Lyricca knew nothing more about the French man. But she really did not need to know anything about him anyway. Their only connection is business. Nothing more, nothing less.

Speaking of business, her boyfriend informed her a week ago about a personal business that he needed to attend to. Hindi nga lang nito in-explain nang buo sa kaniya kung ano iyon pero hindi na rin naman nagtanong si Lyricca. Her only worry was looking for a perfect evening gown.

Yves told her that they'll be attending a masquerade ball a day before her birthday. He explained that the person that he has been searching for years was in that event. Syempre hindi naman na nagtanong pa o kinwestyon ni Lyricca ang tungkol sa bagay na iyon. She doesn't even know if the person is biologically female or male. Basta susuportahan niya na lang ito. Besides, Yves never gave her a headache or a reason to lose her trust.

Finally, they both arrived at the event place. According to the invitation that Yves handed to her, the event is an annual masquerade ball. Basta 'yon lang ang nakalagay tapos date, time, at address lang,

"Hey, you okay?" Yves asked, pulling her out of reverie.

Lyricca gave him a soft smile. "Yeah. Hindi lang talaga sanay sa ganito."

Her boyfriend then let out a sexy chuckle. "Well, we won't be attending many of these events, mon amour. We'll both get through this evening just fine."

Lyricca just nods at her boyfriend's calming words. It always works for her anyway. After a couple of breaths in and out, she finally let her eyes roam around the place.

It was the most classy and extravagant ball that Lyricca had ever been to in her entire almost twenty-five years of existence. I mean sure, I've already attended some charity balls because of my parents, but this is on a whole new level, Lyricca thought so to herself.

May isa pang kaganapan ang pumasok sa isip niya. Tomorrow is her birthday — almost two hours from now, actually — and instead of being at home, Lyricca happened to be in Sagada, Baguio, wearing a hunter green, tube cocktail dress, paired with a silver mask covering the upper half of her face.

As for her dear boyfriend who excused himself after they went inside the palace, he was wearing a pine green suit, paired with a half-mask of the same color as his suit.

Yayamanin ang itsura ng mga taong naroroon at even if it was a masquerade ball, Lyricca could clearly tell that every man in that place was gorgeous, and every woman was a seductress. Kahit papaano tuloy ay nakaramdam ng kaunting self-conciousness si Lyricca.

"Hey, you okay?" Bigla na lang sumulpot sa tabi niya ang kaniyang nobyo saka ipinalupot nito ang braso sa bewang niya. "Are you bored now, mon amour?" bulong pa ulit nito sa kaniya.

Nakangiti namang umiling ang dalaga. "I'm fine. How about you? Nagawa mo na ba ang inaasikaso mo?"

It was her boyfriend's turn to shake his head. "Unfortunately, hindi pa. Hindi ko pa siya nakikita. Would it be okay for you if I leave you here again in the meantime?"

"Yeah, it's okay. Hindi rin naman ako aalis dito at baka mawala pa ako," biro niyang medyo makatotohanan. Sobrang laki kasi ng palasyong pinuntahan nila.

Yves just gave her a kiss on the cheek before leaving again to look for someone. Honestly, even though Lyricca didn't know who her boyfriend was looking for, she feels just fine. Ang inaalala niya lang ay kung ano ang pagkakaabalahan niya habang hindi kasama ang lalake.

"Great. Hindi ko man lang natanong kung nasaan ang powder room," bulong ni Lyricca sa sarili saka napabuntong hininga.

With no knowledge of where to go, Lyricca continued to walk along the hallway, trying to search for a sign that says, "powder room" or "comfort room". Kaya lang pakiramdam ni Lyricca ay nakakailang minuto na siya nang paglalakad sa kung saan-saan.

At wala pa rin akong nakikitang comfort room. Awesome. Mawawalan na sana siya nang pag-asa nang makakita siya ng linya ng mga kababaihan papasok ng isang kwarto. Para tuloy lumiwanag ang kapaligiran ni Lyricca saka nakangiting lumapit sa mga babae.

"Faster, the event starts in five minutes," dinig niyang sabi ng isang babae sa iba pang mga babae roon. The woman's eyes then fell on her. "Ah, you're really pretty. Are you sure about this?"

Nagtaka naman si Lyricca sa tanong nito sa kaniya. Sa CR? Of course, I'm sure about this! Lyricca just nods her innocent pretty little head.

The woman's smile widened as if she was pleased with her response before guiding her towards the door. "In you go then, mademoiselle," the woman spoke, and Lyricca said her thanks before entering the room. "She'll be worth a lot."

Hindi na lang inintindi ni Lyricca ang huling sinabi nito dahil nanlaki ang mga mata niya sa nakita. Th-This isn't a comfort room! Ipinalibot niya ang mga mata sa kwarto at kitang-kita niya ang mga babae sa harapan ng mga vanity mirror.

"Okay, next!" Lumipad ang tingin ni Lyricca sa isa pang babaeng kapareho ng suot nung kaninang nagpapasok sa kaniya sa loob.

Pinanood ni Lyricca ang pagtulak sa babaeng nakaputing kamiseta at walang panloob. Naka-kadena rin ang mga kamay nito at halatang nais nitong manlaban hanggang sa makalabas na ito sa kabilang side ng kwarto. Just what the heck did I just witness?

Dinig niya pa mula sa kwarto na para bang may nangyayaring gulo sa labas pero wala roon ang atensyon niya. Hanggang sa mukhang naging okay na at narinig na naman niya ang boses ng host. "Quite a show, isn't it? — So we have to continue the auction. — Let's start the auction at ten million for this wild cat!"

Pakiramdam ni Lyricca ay umikot ang paligid niya. Did I just hear them say auction? Nagsimula na siyang mahirapang huminga nang malalim. She can't believe on what she put herself into.

Lyricca was still in a daze as she tries to catch up on what was happening. Hindi niya na rin narinig nang buo ang kaganapan sa labas dahil lumillipad ang isip niya. She did not even notice a woman walking toward her and holding her hand. "Your turn, mademoiselle."

Nanlalamig ang buong katawan ni Lyricca, and due to her panicking state, she could not think rationally and just let the woman guide her towards the exit — the one that the woman in chains went to.

Napasinghap si Lyricca nang may tumamang spotlight sa kaniya. She then heard the voice of the host. "Now, who do we have here? A sexy but innocent-looking lady."

Ilang beses napakurap si Lyricca saka muling naglakad nang lapitan siya ng host at ayain papunta sa gitna stage. Finally, Lyricca found the courage to whisper at the woman. "I-I'm not supposed to be here—"

"Oh, silly, everyone says that," bulong nito pabalik saka siya iniwan sa gitna at muling umimik sa mikropono. "How about we please this woman's night with a start of ten million?"

Parang nabingi si Lyricca sa sinabi nito. Oh my god! What's happening? Where's Yves?

RIGHT across the stage where the woman stands, a man wearing a silver mask almost choked on his champagne. He could not believe his eyes. Why is that woman there?

The man then raised his hand to signal his secretary, who neared him quickly. "Oui, Monsieur?"

With his eyes still on the woman being bid on, he spoke in a low voice. "Tell the organizer to check the list of the ones who are to be auctioned. That woman does not belong there."

"One hundred million!"

"Maintenant, Sylvain!" (Now, Sylvain!) The voices of men bidding on the woman began to irritate him.

"Someone's pissed," he heard someone from his earpiece comment, and in response, he just let out a growl.

Pinanood niya lang ang pag-alalay ng mga event organizer sa babae pababa ng stage.

"We apologize for the sudden interruption once again, but the Miss is not on the list for auction, but is a guest. Again, we apologize for the mix-up. Now, we shall continue the event," paliwanag ng host pero hindi na binigyang pansin ng lalakeng nag-utos.

He then even left his throne and went down to meet the woman with an innocent face. 

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