24Karat Virgin

Chapter 19. A Taste of Cognac

I couldn't believe I did that. Ako ang nagsimula ng halik na iyon, hindi ako makapaniwalang tutugunan niya ang kapangahasan kong iyon. Habang tumatagal mas lalong nagiging kampante ang puso ko kay Areezmir Vulkov na hindi naman dapat. I was only here to be his whore, nothing more, nothing less. He specifically outlined my role from the very start, saying that I shouldn't be making some wild illusions or imaginations that I could be more than that.

His kisses meant nothing. His gifts were just special perks included in being his whore. Siya na mismo ang nagsabi sa itinuturing niya akong pag-aari niya. Of course, he would pamper me with all the things necessary for me to be able to serve him well.

The clothes and make up kits explained it.

But what about the painting supplies?

Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko. I didn't know. I couldn't read the man as hard as I tried.

Cindy gave me a new iPhone. Nakalimutan kong may cellphone akong ganoon kundi pa nagring sa loob ng drawer ng vanity table ko. The screen flashed the name Lolita.

"Hello?"

"Darling, Rosita. Did you miss me?"

"Lolita?"

"The one and only. How's it going with the devil, sweetheart? Are you serving him well?"

"He's not a devil, Lolita. He's far from that." kaagad kong depensa na nagpatawa ng malakas at matinis kay Lolita.

"You poor thing. Don't tell me he has corrupted your very soul already. Ikaw dapat ang gumagawa niyan sa kanya and not the other way around. You're heading to an ugly, fatal, soul wrecking heartbreak, dear. Are you feeling something towards the devil? Tell me you're not."

Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga. What if I am? What now?

"Hindi ka na sumagot. You know what? Let me meet you tonight before I go back to Manila. Nandito ako sa Davao City magkita tayo. Marco Polo hotel is fine with you?"

"You know I can't just walk away here. Kailangan kong magpaalam kay Areezmir."

"Eh di magpaalam ka. Who's your bodyguard?"

"I don't know."

"Silly. 'Yong lagi mong kasama d'yan, 'yong laging nakikita ng mga mata mo."

"Si Ryler?"

"Uh-hmmm. Tell him you're seeing me tonight at 7 p.m."

"Paano kung may lakad siya at hindi niya ako pwedeng samahan?"

"You are his priority, Rosita. Kahit ano pa mang mahalagang bagay ang ginagawa niya—nakikipag sex siya, ikakasal siya, magtatanan siya kapag sinabi mong aalis ka, kailangan niyang bumuntot sayo. You are the Phantom's woman; you are the queen, don't you realize that?"

Iyon ang alam nilang lahat. I knew what the real deal was, though. Pero sinabi niya naman na pwede akong lumabas at puntahan lahat ng gusto kong puntahan hindi ba? It's probably going to be a good thing to talk to Lolita once in a while.

Kinakabahan akong nagsend ng text message kay Areezmir. Nakalagay ang phone number niya sa contacts ng cellphone ko kaya hindi na ako nahirapan na kunin iyon. Kumakabog ang dibdib ko habang naghihintay ng reply. To my surprise, it only took a minute may reply na siya. Two letter word: OK.

Napangiti ako. Hindi ko inaasahan na totoong papayagan niya ako.

I was excited to meet Lolita, but I'm even more excited to wear the kind of clothes that I prefer wearing for the first time in my life. I knew she advised me not to wear any make up, pero hindi naman siguro masama ang kaunting pressed powder, blush on, at lip balm? I chose the white off shoulder dress that Areezmir bought for me. The fabric hugged my shape perfectly; even my butt looked so tempting.