C6 6

"Good." walang ganang sabi ni Heather as she pours orange juice in a glass.

Kakauwi lang ni Stacey from the interview. Saktong naabutan niya ang kapatid na nasa kusina.

"Is that all you will say?" pigil ang galit na tanong niya.

Matapos lahat ng napagdaanan niya just to save her from going behind bars, good lang ang sasabihin nito?

Heather just shrugged her shoulders. Ibinalik nito sa fridge ang carton of juice bago tumingin sa kanya.

"What do you want to hear from me Stacey? You want me to say how grateful I am cause you saved my ass?" she asked sarcastically.

Ikinuyom ni Stacey ang mga kamay.

Get a grip on yourself ! You know how bitchy she is. She told herself.

"Oo nga naman! So stupid of me to expect any gratitude from you. This will be the last time that I will save your ass! You ungrateful brat!" galit na sabi niya.

"STACEY!" their mother's shocked voice thundered in the kitchen.

Biglang nag-iba ang expression ni Heather. She looks so hurt and almost in tears. She must have seen their mother coming Nakatalikod si Stacey sa entrance ng kusina.

"Mom! Did you hear what she called me?" naiiyak pang sumbong nito sa ina nila.

Stacey closed her eyes for a moment. Gosh!Here we go again! bulong niya sa sarili.

"How could you say such things to your sister? Hindi ba you were the one who offered to do anything to help?" tanong nito.

She slowly faced her mother. "Ma! Do you know what I had to do today? Halos hubad na akong nagpictorial! I even had to do an interview and pretend that I am someone I'm not! I had to force myself to casually answer questions that for me are too personal and vulgar! And that's not the end of it! This week, pagpipyestahan ng kung sino-sinong lalake ang mga still photos ko wearing almost nothing.Then my dear sister here won't even say thank you?" pigil ang luhang sabi niya.

Para namang lumambot ang mukha ng ina sa narinig. Dun naman tumakbo si Heather para yumakap sa mama nila.

"Mom! You know that it was an accident! I was so scared cause I didn't want to go to jail. Hindi ko naman kagustuhan yun." she cried.

"We know that anak. But you should thank your sister." malumanay na sabi nito kay Heather.

And the best actress award goes to Heather Williams! Stacey shook her head as she wiped her eyes full of unshed tears with her hand.

"It's okay Ma. No need for her to say thank you." sabi niya bago lumabas ng kusina.

She heard her mother called her but she just continued walking to go out of their house.

***

"Sarap talagang sabunutan at sampalin ng walang humpay ang bruhang half sister mo!" galit na sabi ni Eve, her bestfriend since elementary.

They are in her unit. Mag-isa itong nakatira sa Manila. Nasa Bacolod ang mga magulang nito .May banda ito consisting of four people. Two male and two female. Ang isa sa babae, vocalist and si Eve ang basist. Regular ang mga itomng tumutugtog sa bar kung saan kasosyo ni Eve ang pinsan nito na si Blake.

"Girlfriend! Matagal ko ng sinasabi sayo na sinasadya niya talagang ipahamak ka! But this time sobra na talaga!" inis na sabi pa nito.

"I know. Alam ko na napakalaki ng impact sa akin pag na-publish na ang edition ng magazine na yun. Kahit sa trabaho parang ayaw ko ng pumasok. Tyler is a subscriber of that men's magazine." tila wala sa sariling sabi niya.

Tumayo si Eve para kumuha pa ng chips sa kalapit na kusina ng sala. They are sitting in a cross-legged position sa carpet. They both like being carefree pag silang dalawa lang.

"Sabagay! Parang awkward pag nakita na ni Tyler ang centerfold mo. Lalo nanliligaw pa sayo." Eve said as she sat down again beside her.

"Yun nga din ang iniisip ko." she sighed as she munched on some curls.

Biglang tumuwid ng upo si Eve. "Girlfriend! Maybe this is the sign!" excited na sabi nito.

"Anong sign?" kunot noong tanong niya.

"Gusto na naming palitan si Leah sa banda! Palaging late sa rehearsals kaya ilang beses ng pumapalpak. Nagagalit na nga din si Blake. Gusto mo ikaw muna ang pumalit habang wala pa kaming mahanap na replacement?" nakangiting tanong nito.

Naiiling na tumawa si Stacey. "Baka magkalat lang ako dun."

"Ano ka ba? Mas magaling ka pa kaya kay Leah. Ikaw lang ang may ayaw eh. Tsaka hindi naman kailangan mala Aegis ang boses mo o Regine Velasquez. Hindi ka naman bibirit .Sa ganda at sexy mo girlfriend, hindi na mapapansin na sakto lang ang boses mo." sabi pa nito.

" Ewan ko Eve." alanganing sabi niya.

"Sige na! Try mo lang. Tapos pag ayaw mo talaga okay lang! Bukas ng gabi subukan natin. May bayad na agad yun! Sabihin ko na kay Blake ha?” Eve's eyes twinkled.

***

"Stacey?What's this?" gulat na tanong ni Tyler.

"Irrevocable resignation." malumanay na sabi niya.

He called Mara, his secretary.

"Sir?" sagot nito.

"I don't want to be disturbed. I am in a meeting with Miss Ledesma." he said then ibinaba ang telepono. "Why? Meron ba akong nagawa?" his handsome face is full of questions.

Stacey sighed. Pinagmasdan niya si Tyler. Magandang lalaki ito. Hawig ni Tom Rodriguez. Pero ewan ba niya mas naatract talaga siya sa mga mukhang bad boy. Parang kay Mr.Sungit.

"Wala. I just want a change. Sorry Tyler." she broke the stare.

Tumayo ito and sat down on the chair opposite her. "Please Stacey! Huwag kang mag-resign. If you want, I will give you more days off. Or less working hours." pakiusap nito.

She shook her head. "Unfair yun sa iba.I can't let you do that."

He leaned forward without touching her .Yun ang isa sa mga maganda kay Tyler, he never took advantage or make a pass at her kahit gustong-gusto siya nito.

She told him na sa opisina ,boss-employee ang relasyon nila. After office hours or pag weekends, he does everything to woo her.

"Ano ang pwede kong gawin para hindi ka mag-resign?"

She pouted her lips. "I'm really sorry."

No one spoke for a few seconds after that.

Then he sighed. "Well at least kahit araw-araw pwede na akong manligaw sayo." he said.

"WHAT?" iritableng tanong ni Nick. His secretary just told him na nag-resign na daw sa Con Ad si Stacey.

"Are you sure?!" paninigurado niya.

"Yes sir. Would you like me to call them again?" she asked.

Nick sighed heavily. "No that's okay.Thank you."

What the hell is happening? Bakit bigla itong nag-resign? Hindi kaya nagalit ang boss nito cause she posed for a men's magazine? tanong nito sa sarili.

He stood up and brushed his hair with his hand in frustration.

Fucking hell! Why the hell am I wasting my time with that gold digger? ! He angrily asked himself.

***

"Kinakabahan yata ako Eve." Stacey looked at what she's wearing.

Naka black leather pants siya with matching sleeveless leather top.

"Girlfriend! You look fab! Okay lang yan! Anyway trial lang naman .Heto drink this. Pampa- kalma. Basta image mo is sexy diva so dapat hataw sa pagpapasexy ha?" inabot nito sa kanya ang isang shot glass with tequila.

She drank it then nodded. Dun naman pumasok si Blake. Ngumiti ito ng malapad ng makita siya.

"Hello Miss Hotness!" he looked at her admiringly.

Nanligaw dati ito sa kanya pero binasted niya. Hindi pa niya type nun ang mga mukhang maangas. Guwapo ito at may tatoo sa braso. A lot of women find him very attractive. Ngayon niya na-realize na malakas nga ang dating nito. Di ba nga type niya si Mr.Sungit na bad boy din ang dating? Yun nga lang bad boy na pang elite si Mr.Sungit. Si Blake bad boy na pang banda. Pero may gf na ito at meron na silang isang anak. Flight attendant ang nobya nito kaya madalas wala sa bansa. Ang anak nila na 3 taon pa lang, nasa magulang ni Blake sa Bacolod.

Platonic na lang ang relasyon nila pero minsan nagbibiruan pa din naman sila about the past. Mukhang mahal na mahal ni Blake ang nobya at anak .At hindi naman din kailanman papatol si Stacey sa may sabit na.

"Ready?" tanong ni Blake bago kinuha ang kamay niya and his cousin's.

"YUP!" sabay na sagot nila ni Eve.

"Sabi ko sayo girlfriend eh! Instant hit ka! Ngayon lang nag-wild ang audience!" masayang sabi ni Eve after their performance. She sang three songs of Rihanna. She smiled. Ang sarap ng pakiramdam niya. She actually did it!

"I think I like doing this." sabi niya sa kaibigan.

By performing, nailalabas niya ang stress niya .Ilang oras lang naman kada-gabi. Pwede naman siyang bumalik sa totoong siya after ng number niya. She is just playing a role as a sultry pop singer. Mas okay naman ito kesa sa maging modelo ng men's magazine.

"Does that mean na payag ka ng mag-perform regularly? " may kislap sa matang tanong ni Eve.

"Try natin ng mga ilang linggo. Tutal jobless na ako eh. Tamad pa akong bumalik being an ordinary employee." biro niya.

Tuwang-tuwa si Eve. "This calls for a celebration!!" hiyaw nito. Buti na lang nasa dressing room na sila.

Bad trip si Nick. Nagsisisi ito kung bakit sumama pa ito kina Jim at Billy na uminom. May na pick up ng mga babae ito .Kasama na nila sa lamesa. He doesn't like the way one of the women looks at him. Wala siya sa mood for a one night stand.

"Mauuna na ako sa inyo." he said sounding annoyed.

"Mate! Hassle ka naman eh! Dito ka muna! Rina here wants to get to know you better."

Billy was talking about the woman with short hair na kanina pa nakatitig sa kanya.

Tumayo na si Nick. "I really have to go. See you at the office bukas Jim."

Naiinis ito sa sarili. The gold digger's face and body has never left his mind.

"Damn it!" he cursed as he walks to the parking area.

Natigilan ito with what he saw.

Sa kabilang kalsada where Blake's car is parked, nakasandal si Stacey habang hinahagod ni Eve ang likod niya. Medyo nakarami siya ng inom. She forgot her bag in the dressing room dahil medyo hilo na siya. Blake has to get it for her. Ihahatid siya nito cause Eve and her boyfriend will go out. Padating na ito to pick her friend up.

"Okay ka lang talaga?" Eve asked.

Tumango siya. " I'm fine."

Dun naman lumabas si Blake with her bag.

"Ako ng bahala sa kanya. Pakicheck mo na lang if okay na sa loob. Baka hindi na naman mailock ng maayos ni Caloy ang back door." he told his cousin.

"Sige.Ikaw ng bahala ha? Iuwi mo ng deretso sa bahay nila si Stacey! Huwag sa biglang liko!" biro nito sa pinsan.

"Baliw ka talaga Eve!" natawang sabi ni Stacey kahit nahihilo pa din.

Blake chuckled too. Pagpasok ni Eve sa bar, lumapit si Blake kay Stacey.

"Ayos ka lang talaga Miss Hotness?" alalang tanong nito.

Tumango siya. Hinagod pa nito ang likod niya and he handed her a bottle of water.

“Inumin mo muna. Not as effective as coffee, pero pwede na.” nakangiting sabi nito as he removed the cap.

Stacey got it from him. “Thank you.”

Tumango lang ito and his smile widened na lalong nagpaguwapo dito.

"Okay let's go." he said then inalalayan siya nito sa pagsakay by holding her elbow.

Yun ang tagpong nakita ni Nick.

"Fucking hell!" galit na sabi nito as he glared at them.

He's pretty sure na hindi yun ang boss na kabit ng gold digger.

How many men is she fucking?! gigil na tanong niya sa sarili as he looks disgustingly at Blake and Stacey.