Silver Gown

Mga palakpakan, tawanan at magandang musika ang lulan ng isa sa pinakamagarang hotel sa syudad. Ngayong gabi ang mismong engrandeng hotel na eto na puno ng kumikinang na mga palamuti at magagarang mga bagay. Lahat ng panauhin ay walang magawa kunti mamangha sa gaano kaganda at sopistikado ang naturang okasyon.

Ilang minuto mula ngayon ang magsisimula na ang engagement party nina Hawk at Feather. Sa mga nagdaang araw, nayanig ang boung syudad sa pahayag na ito and lahat ng kakabihan sa anumang antas ng lipunan ay walang magawa kundi ang magisip na sana magkaroon sila ng mala fairytale na lovestory kagaya ng kay Feather.

Sino ba naman ang magaakala na si Hawk Monsanto, ang kilalang evasive bachelor ay mabibighani pala sa ganda ni Feather? Sa maraming taon na nakalipas, marami ang nagtangka na makuha ang atensyon ni Hawk- mga artista, socialites at kahit na mga businessmen na gustong makakuha ng magandang deal mula sa Monsanto Empire sa pamamagitan ng kanilang mga nagagandang anak. Wala ninuman sa kanila ang naging matagumpay hanggang sa minsan isang popular magazine and nagjoke nab aka bakla raw si Hawk. Syempre hindi nagtagal ang tsimis na yun kasi nga naman, yung naturang magazine nagdeclare ng bankruptcy the very next day.

"My God! Hindi talaga ako makapaniwala na ikakasal na si Hawk Monsanto," Komento ng isang panauhin habang nakipipagusap sa kanyang mga kaibigan.

"Ang swerte naman ni Feather. Nagtataka tlaga ko kung pano nya kaya nya nabingwit si Hawk when she seemed to be a very well-mannered lady. Alam mo na, too well-mannered and shy to pursue any man, let alone Hawk Monsanto himself" Sagot ng isang nyang kaibigan habang yung mga mata at nakatingin sa nakapalaking fountain sa gilid, a fountain of party drinks.

"Well rumors had it na Hawk Monsanto already got his eyes on her for a long time but had to wait for her homecoming before he declared his intentions. The rumours even said he had to paid the Clarete's hundreds of millions just to get their approval,"

"O my god, how I wish I was Feather! Sobrang romantic naman ng love story nya!" One girl couldn't help but giggle.

Kahit na malaki ang agwat ng yaman ng mga Clarete compared sa meron si Hawk at the moment, hindi naman maipagkakailang Feather Clarete is a good catch for him. Maganda ang reputasyon ni Feaher as she was loved and patronized by many because of her art. Sya nag pinakaunag ballerina in the country to have ever joined Voltaire Ballet, isa sa pinakamalaking Ballet Company abroad. Aside from that, she is also the only heiress of Casa Dela Estrella's and is very beautiful.

"Miss Clarete, what a very lovely engagement party you have here. President Hawk seemed to have been spoiling you already," Compliment ng isa sa mga gossip news reporters habang nagkumpulan sila ng mga collegues nya in front of the couple. They were all trying to get as much as information as they could for the articles they were going to release after the party. As predicted, the headlines tomorrow will surely be all about the engagement.

Medyo namula ang magandang mukha ni Feather sa narinig. Nilingon nya ng bahagya si Hawk na nakatayo sa tabi nya. Si Hawk Monsanto, the embodiment of every girl's dream had the most handsome face he had ever met. May pagkadark chocolate ang makapal at kulot nitong buhok na ginupit neatly in a way that was rather highlighting his prominent jaw. His eyes were gray and tonight they looked rather impassive na para bang ayaw nyang makipaghalubilo sa mga reporters but had to endure them for Feather's sake.

"President Hawk had always been considerate about my wishes" Sambit ni Feather in shy tone but her eyes couldn't withhold the happiness she felt right then, "But I tell you I never really expect that this party would be this grand,"

"That's sweet of your Miss Clarete," Natouch ang isang journalist sa nasaksihan and tumingin sya sa kanyang mga kasamahan with much adoration for Feather's modesty, "No wonder why President Hawk had fallen head over heels in-love with you,"

"Oh please don't say that," Pakiusap ni Feather na para bang nahihiya dahil masyadong sobra ang deskripsyon na ibinigay ng kanilang mga panauhin para sa kanyang kainosentehan. Then she took a deep breath and let go of the words she genuinely felt inside, "President Hawk was just too kind to take notice of me. Sobrang honoured ako to become his wife,"

Napatingin si Hawk kay Feather sa narinig nya mula sa bibig ng dalaga. Meron kung ano man sa sinabi nito na pumalo sa puso nya pero hindi nya maintindihan kung ano. Ang taga-pagmana ng Casa Dela Estrellas ay ang nagiisang babaeng ginusto nya boung buhay nya at ang pinakarason kung bakit sya nagsumikap to become the man he is today. Hinangaan nya ito sa malayo simula ng bata pa sila at ngayon na andito na sya, abot kamay na nya, meron para bang kakaibang damdamin na pumapasok sa kanya that he never once felt before. Alam na nya a very long time ago that he wanted to marry her, pero looking at her now, parang may nag-iba na hindi nya maipaliwanag. Siguro dala lang ito ng sobrang saya at excitement sa nalalabi nilang kasal. Perhaps he was just too overwhelmed.

Habang nagiisip si Hawk, bigla nyang napansin na sa nakatutok na pala ang mata nya sa kabilang sulok ng espasyo kung sana nakatayo ang isang binibini na nakasout in a dazzling silver gown. Nakasout din sya ng silver mask na nakakapagtaka because as of Hawk's knowledge, the party he threw wasn't a mascaraed ball. Ang bandang mata lang ang natatakpan sa mukha ng babae so the rest of her face was exposed and Hawk could see and appreciate her high cheekbones. While staring at her alluring mysterious face, he saw her full lush mouth lifted in a slow amused smile na para bang she was mocking him for noticing another woman while nasa tabi nya ang babaeng papakasalan nya.

"President Hawk?" Napansin ng isang guest na parang nasa ibang lupalop ang atensyon ni Hawk kaya naman tinawag nya ito. Napansin din ito ng ibang mga guest na nakatayo sa harap nila and they all followed Hawk's gaze to see kung anong bagay ang nakakuha ng atensyon niya. Lahat ng paningin nila napunta sa malaking fountain of drinks because the girl managed in split of seconds to evaporate away from everyone's sight.

"I'm sorry but would you please excuse me for a second?" Paumanhin ni Hawk and without waiting for approval, umalis sya sa kinatatayuan niya and searched the crowd for the woman in silver gown. He got lost in the middle of the ballroom floor kung saan maraming couples ang sumasayaw while some single women on the edge gathered to wait for someone to ask them for a dance.

"Care for a dance President Hawk?" One of the drunk guest dared to request such favour. Nakatayo kasi si Hawk alone in a dance floor, so everyone thought he wanted to dance. Of course the outrageous proposal got only a cold response from him. Paalis na sana ni Hawk sa dance floor ng biglang may nagsalita.

"Unfortunately Miss, President Hawk promised this dance already to me," An enthralling voice leaped out of the shadows and when Hawk turned to the one speaking, he knew by then he had found his prey, or rather his host.