Chapter 23: Ezquivel

I walk straight without minding those people na nakakasalubong ko. I don't care kung muka akong kakain ng tao because of how cold and dangerous I stared right now.

"Zy? Saan ka galing?" Nakasalubong ko agad si Miiver kasama sina Akieyah, Verlin, at Hendrix.

"Kanina ka pa namin hinahanap." Ani Verlin sa akin.

"Nagpahangin lang." Simpleng sagot ko at magpapatuloy na sana sa paglakad nang biglang may sumulpot at tinawag ang pangalan ko.

"Oh my gosh, hi Weyla!" It was Tallia, with Tristan. Lumapit si Tallia sa akin and she kissed my cheek.

"How are you? It's been months." Nakangiting aniya pa sa akin.

"Oh? Who are they?" Tanong niya ulit habang nakatingin kena Miiver.

"They are my friends." Sagot ko naman at tumingin kena Akieyah na may mga mukang nagtatanong.

"Hi, it's pleasure to meet you. I am Tallia Zerra Zandros, this is my brother, Tristan Zandros." Nakangiting pagpapakilala ni Tallia.

I know they already know the Zandros. Akieyah was there during the party in Z-corp.

"Good evening, ladies and gentleman..."

Napalingon kaming lahat sa mini stage nang biglang may nag salita. It was butler Broks holding a mic infront.

"... Thank you for being here tonight. Maraming salamat at pinaunlakan niyo ang imbitasiyon ng Chairman.... This night would be the biggest night for the Ezquivel clan and for the EGC or the Ezquivel Group of Companies. So without further ado, let's all welcome Chairman Rennoin Ezquivel!"

Nagpalakpakan ang buong crowd kasama na kami don. I saw gramps waved his hand and smiling brightly habang naglalakad siya patungo sa stage. Everyone were quiet the moment gramps held the mic.

"Good evening... As we all knew, The Ezquivel Group of Companies are built almost in its 70th. I am happy, yes. But things were not as in its happiest... Sad to say Ezquivel family wasn't that big, like before. Many years had passed, my only heir were ambushed, he died along with his wife."

Everyone gasped because of what gramps said. I smiled bitterly and closed my fist, naramdaman ko naman agad na may humawak sa kamay ko. And it was Miiver, he smiled like telling me that I most control myself. I smiled back giving him assurance that I am sane.

"... That matter was hidden for the safety of their daughter. My only granddaughter, and my only heiress... But another unfortunate thing happened. I was scared because of that. My dearest granddaughter,... She was missing."

Nagsimulang magbulungan na naman muli ang mga tao. Habang kami naman ay seryosong nakikinig lang kay gramps.

".. She was gone for almost three years. And I just had her back again weeks ago. She might be mad because I wasn't able to find her for those three years, but I know for sure, she know the reason.... Well, she's the gem of our clan. She's the brightest and the only shinning star of the Ezquivel."

"Ezquivel are full of secrets. Only those who are loyal to their clan are just the ones who know them." Napalingon naman ako kay Tristan na nasa likoran at kaliwang bahagi ko na pala.

"You're right." I mumbled which made me feel their stares. Tallia's in my right side and her brother's beside her.

Yes he's right. What he said is right. Ezquivel might be known worldwide because of being on the number one in the business world, kilala bilang pinakamayanan sa buong mundo. Walang ibang nakakakilala sa pagkatao ng mga Ezquivel kundi ang mga pinagkakatiwalang myembro lamang ng clan namin. The only person that the world know right now is Rennoin Ezquivel. Chairman Rennoin Ezquivel.

"I have been waiting for this night to let you all meet my precious granddaughter."

Hindi lang kami ang Ezquivel sa buong mundo, kaya madaling itago ang totoong pagkakakilalan-lan namin. This is our clans number one rule. The family of the Chairman will be hidden, dahil marami ang kumakalaban sa amin, marami ang nagtatangkang pabagsakin ang EGC. Gaya nalang nong sa parents ko. Bago pa man ipakilala si daddy bilang successor, ay ganon na ang nangyari.

"I want you all to meet my only heiress, my only princess... Queenzy Reinette Ezquivel!"

Nasilaw ako sa spotlight na biglang tumutok sa akin. Everyone were clapping their hands, some are surprised, at ang ilang nakakakilala na sa akin ay nakangiti habang pumapalakpak.

"I-ikaw? We-weyla? How?" Hindi maipinta sa muka ni Tallia ang pagkabigla. Ngumiti lang ako ng kaunti sa kaniya at nagsimulang maglakad sa gitna ng maraming tao habang may kunting ngiti sa mga labi.

"Queenzy Reinette Ezquivel. The one and only heiress of the Ezquivel Clan!"

May pilit na ngiti ako sa labi habang may emotionless na mata. Geez! The spotlight is damn irritating, everyone's eyes, and cameras are everywhere -,-

"Smile bright, Lady Rein." Nakangiting bulong ni Butler B habang inaalalayan ako patungo sa taas ng stage.

Nanatiling plastic ang mga ngiti ko habang naglalakad palapit kay gramps.

"Here my princess." Nakangiting sabi ni gramps at ibinigay sa akin ang mic.

Kinuha ko ito mula sa kaniya at humarap sa maraming tao. Camera's are everywhere. Tsk. Ito yung nakakainis, dahil nagmumuka akong kasapi sa showbiz -_-

My eyes were roaming around in the crowd, kaya nakita ko agad sina Miiver, Akieyah, Verlin, at Hendrix na seryoso ngunit may bahid ng ngiti sa kanilang nga labi.

"Good evening everyone. It's a pleasure to meet all of you tonight.... Honestly, I don't wanna attend this party at the first place, so I didn't expect that my dearest grandfather will have this kind of announcement... Anyway, does everyone's enjoying the night?"

Marami namang nagresponse sa tanong ko kaya ngumiti ako sa kanila, kahit pilit lang. Nawala naman ang ngiti ko nang dumapo ang tingin ko sa isang table where the kings and that girl who named Sidney were looking at me. Pasimpleng umiwas nalang ako ng tingin sa kanila.

"Just wanna thank all of you for being here tonight. I am happy to have you all here. This is also a thank you to my gramps... Anyways, I don't really like talking infront of a crowd so I guess let's just enjoy the night. Have a best night and enjoy the party everyone."

Nagpalakpakan naman ang lahat kaya ibinalik ko na kay gramps ang mic.

"I'll be going home early." Mahinang sabi ko kay gramps.

"Why?"

"No reason. But don't worry I will socialize with our special visitors before I go." Tumango naman si gramps kaya nagsimula akong tumalikod at bumaba ng stage.

Gramps and butler B are talking infront habang wala naman ang atensiyon ko sa kanila dahil nasa mga taong binabati ako.

"Konbanwa, Queenzy-san. Hisashiburidesuga, ogenkidesuka?" (Good evening, Queenzy. It's been awhile, how are you?)

Napatigil naman ako sa paglakad at napatingin sa taong ngayo'y nakangisi at nakaharang sa daraanan ko.

"Rayzon..."

"Mata oaidekiteureshīdesu, Queenzy-san." (It's good to see you again, Queenzy.) He said while he's smiling widely.

"Rayzon Oliver..." I muttered as I am looking at his smiley face.

"Zy!" Napalingon kami bigla sa kaliwa dahil sa biglang pagsulpot nina Miiver.

"Miiver... Hendrix" Rayzon greeted them with a manly hug.

"Hi again, Akieyah and Verlin."

Akieyah and Verlin just smiled at him.

"That was the reason why we were looking at you kanina. We saw him with Herakon." Ani Akieyah sa akin.

"Tatayo lang ba tayo dito?" Dinig kong tanong ni Verlin.

"Tara, balik tayo sa table." Pag-aaya naman ni Hendrix. Tumango naman kaming lahat at nagsimulang maglakad patungo sa table na sinasabi nila.

"It's been awhile since I visited Philippines. How's everyone doing here?" Tanong ni Rayzon habang sabay kaming naglalakad.

"Still the same." Simpleng sagot ko.

"What happened to you, Queenzy-san? You're been gone for almost three years, right? What really happened.?"

Napatingin naman ako kay Rayzon dahil sa sinabi niya. Yeah right, no one knows what happened to me except gramps and my gang.

"It's a long story, Rayzon." Tumango naman siya kaya bumalik ang tingin ko sa harap.

I was surprised na makita kong sino ang mga nakaupo sa table na katabi namin.

"Hi, Queenzy..." It was Monique together with Tallia and Klinnia.

"Hi, Pretty Reyna." It was Lemuel together with his gang.

Ang table namin ang napapagitnaan nila. Nasa left side ang table nina Lemuel while nasa right side naman ang table nina Monique.

I just nodded at them as Rayzon helped me sit down in a chair next to Miiver.

"Thank you." I smiled at him at inayos and upo ko.

"Dōitashimashite." (You're welcome.) Dinig kong aniya at naupo naman sa tabi ko.

It's a bit awkward because of the attention everyone's gaving us. I can feel their stares, pero hindi ko nalang ito pinansin at nakipag usap nalang kay Rayzon. Since its been five years we last saw and talked to each other.

Rayzon Oliver is Ryan's younger brother. He's a year younger than Ryan. He really resemble Ryan, dahil magkamukang magkamuka talaga sila which made me miss Ryan more.

They stayed in Japan and never come back nang namatay ni Ryan. Even though, Ryan was buried in the shrine that is owned my his family here in the Philippines. Mabuti nalang at hindi nila napapabayaan ang graveyard ni Ryan.

"Hey? Queenzy-san? Nani o kangae teru no?" (Hey? Queenzy? What are you thinking?)

"Mōichido kyōdai ni tsuite kangaemasu ka?" (You're thinking about brother again?)

Napalingon naman ako kay Rayzon dahil sa sinabi niya.

"Sore wa nanimonai, Reizon. Sore dakedesu..." (It's nothing, Rayzon. It's just that...)

"Soredake...?" (It's just that...?) Aniya habang may nagtatanong na tingin.

"Anata wa mada watashi no kyōdai o aishite imasu ne?" (You still love my brother, don't you?)

Hindi ko namang magawang ibuka ang bibig ko dahil sa sinabi niya. Napatingin nalang ako sa mga kasama namin sa table na nakikig at nakatingin lang sa amin.

"Anata wa nani o shitte iru, Queenzy-san. Watashi no ani ni nani ga okotta no ka mada wasure rarenai koto o watashi wa shitte imasu... Anata ga hontōni kare o totemo aishite iru koto o watashi wa shitte imasu, shikashi —" (You know what, Queenzy. I know that you can't still forget about what happened to my brother.... I know that you really love him so much, but—)

"Stop, Rayzon." Napatigil naman si Rayzon becuase Miiver just interrupted him.

"Watashi wa anata ga nani o iou to shite iru no ka shitte imasu. Watashi wa sudeni anata ni iimashita,.. Queenzy wa kanojo jishin de kimeru koto ga dekimasu, soshite watashitachi wa kanojo o sapōto suru tame ni koko ni imasu." (I know what you're trying to say. I already told you,.. Queenzy can decide on her own, and we're just here to support her.) Seryosong sabi ni Miiver kay Rayzon.

"Gomen'nasai. Tada iitai nodesuga... Ryan wa anata ga ko no yō ni mieru no o mitakunaideshou, Queenzy-san." (I am sorry. I just want to tell you... Ryan won't like to see you like this, Queenzy.)

"They love each other, Rayzon. We all know that." Dinig kong sabi ni Akieyah kay Rayzon.

Napatingin nalang ako sa pagkaing nasa harapan ko. I know Rayzon want me to stop this vengeance, since he knew that I am going to find Ryan's murder and kill him myself.

But the question right now is...

Napaangat ako nang tingin at natagpuan ko agad ang tingin ni Xzevier na kunot noong nakatingin din pala sa akin. Napaiwas agad ako nang tingin ngunit dumapo naman ang tingin ko kay Verlin. Napa buntong hininga nalang ako at dahan dahang tumayo.

"Where are you going?" Tanong agad ni Miiver.

"Washroom." Maikling sagot ko at mabilis na tumalikod sa kanila. Wala naman akong narinig mula sa kanila.

I was spaced out thinking about things kaya hindi ko napansin ang isang lalaking nakaharang sa daan kaya nabunggo ako sa kaniya.

"Sorry." Sabay namin sabi.

"Ms Weyla? Oh... Ms Reinette Eqzuivel pala."

Napa-angat naman ang tingin ko sa kaniya. "Tristan... Sorry I wasn't looking—"

"Nah, it's alright. It's also my fault, nakaharang ako." Natatawang sabi niya.

"Anyways, where are you going? Do you want some drink?" Alok niya sa glass of wine na hawak niya.

"No thank you..."

"Alright, then see you again later, miss Ezquivel." He let out a wide smile before he turns his back and walk away.

Pinagmasdan ko siya habang papalayo sa akin nang biglang nagawi ang tingin ko sa isang banda. And there I saw Xzevier with Sidney. Napaiwas nalang ako nang tingin at nagpatuloy pa paalis.

Nang makarating ako sa comfortroom ay walang ka tao tao, isinawalang bahala ko nalang ito at binuksan ang gripo para makapag hugas nang kamay.

I did retouched a little... Nasa kalagitnaan ako nang paglalagay nang lipstick nang biglang may pumasok.

"Oh? Ms Queenzy Esquivel. What a shocking surprise." Maarte niyang sabi habang naglalakad siya palapit sa akin.

"I didn't know, you're the heiress Chairman Ezquivel is talking about... It's not obvious kasi..."

Hindi ko siya pinansin at ipinagpatuloy lang ang paglalagay ng lipstick.

"Life really have lots of surprises. Tingnan mo nga naman. The girl whom I thought just some beggared hitting on my fiance, is someone important to the Ezquivel Empire pala...." Napasulyap naman ako sa kaniya mula salamin.

" ... But you know what. I don't care. I don't care about your status in life, your family status, or what so ever... Thairon is my fiance, Thairon is mine. I know, there's something between you two. And I am telling you Queenzy Ezquivel..... Know your place."

Natawa nalang ako dahil sa mga sinabi niya. She's so obvious that she's head over heels to Xzevier. At talagang pinag didiinan niya pa ang salitang fiance. Tsk.

"Oh please Ms Jones, If you're this low, and naive... Please distance yourself from me, baka mahawa ako mahirap na." Plastic akong natawa at ibinalik na sa loob ng bag ang lipstick ko.

"How dare you?!—"

Hindi niya na ituloy ang sasabihin nang bigla akong humarap sa kaniya at nag salita.

"Sidney Jones. You're just like your mother, tsk, if I were you.... 'Know your place'..."

Plastic akong ngumiti sa kaniya at pinulot na ang clutch ko.

"Bye, see you later." Sarcastic kong ani at tinalikoran siya. Nakita ko pang nag iba ang timpla ng muka niya pero hindi na naman siya nagsalita kaya nagpatuloy nalang ako palabas at pabalik sa party.

Napatigil naman ako sa hallway habang nagalalakad dahil biglang humarang ang taong kanina lang ay ipinaglalaban ni Sidney.

"Reinette—"

Hindi ko siya pinansin at nag patuloy na sa paglakad. Ngunit dahil nasa harap ko siya ay hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at pinigilan.

"Reinette... Please talk to me."

Nanatiling sa daan lang ang tingin ko. Mabuti nalang at walang ibang tao rito.

"Please I'm begging you..."

"Xzevier, stop! You already have a fiance, you're already engaged  so please tantanan mo na ako." I coldly said still not looking at him.

"No, Reinette. Si dad lang ay may gusto nito, hindi ako. I don't like Sidney at the first place. Ikaw ang gusto ko. Ikaw ang mahal ko."

Napatingin nalang ako sa kaniya dahil sa sinabi niya. I suddenly felt something that is so familiar yet so dangerous. Halos hindi ma process ng utak ko ang huling sinabi niya.

"Would you please come back to me, Reinette?" Malumanay at puno ng emosiyong aniya.

"Thairon?"

Magsasalita na dapat ako ng biglang may nagsalita sa likuran ko kaya napalingon nalang ako sa kaniya. Tinanggal ko agad ang kamay ni Xzevier na nakahawak sa kamay ko at nagsimulang maglakad paalis.

"Reinette!" I heard Xzevier called my name and I also heard Sidney na pinigilan siya.

Magsama kayong dalawa.

Hindi na ako bumalik sa party at dumiretso nalang sa kwarto ko dito sa mansion. I did text Miiver to tell the others na hindi na ako makakabalik. I wanna rest too kahit ten o'clock palang at maingay pa sa baba. Parang ang daming nangyari ngayong gabi, nakaka stress lang.

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