DANCING WITH THE VILLAIN

XVI | Brewing Storm

Adriene Constance

Sinclaire Grande

Everything happened so fast. One moment she was on stage and the next moment, someone was dragging her from behind it. Isa yata iyon sa mga Skulls and based on the expressions on their faces, what's about to happen is bad news. 

The man did not tell her anything but she knew she had to stay away from trouble. Sumilip siya mula sa likuran only to see the Grande getting more and more crowded because of the newcomers. Hindi niya alam kung sinu-sino ang mga iyon ngunit alam niyang isa iyon sa mga kalaban ng Skulls. 

Nang tingnan niya ang grupo ay nakikita niya si Sid sa harapan. Kaharap nito ang isang lalaki na nagsalita kanina. Nagsusukatan ang mga ito ng tingin hanggang sa narinig niyang magsalita ang lalaking bagong dating. 

"I was expecting the infamous Rhysand Marfori. Why is the little brother here instead?" the man said and she could clearly sense the taunting in his voice and the way he mocked Sid for being the little brother. 

She was expecting Sid to get pressed ngunit ngumisi lang ito sa kaharap. "You should have set an appointment with him before barging here. My big brother is a busy man and you should know that." It was straight-up sarcasm and she knew Sid was taunting the man too. "So now you get me as your opponent tonight. Sorry to disappoint." 

The crowd snickered and she could see the newcomers looking at Sid with wonder. Isa lang ang masasabi niya. The man was wrong to choose taunting as his weapon to attempt to break Sid because Sid is much better at mockery. 

Ikinasa ng lalaki ang kanyang baril na nakatutuok kay Sid. The others did the same at agad din iyong ginawa ng ibang miyembro ng Skulls. Si Sid lang ang walang baril na dala. Hindi niya alam kung sadyang hindi gusto ng lalaki ang baril o nakalimutan lang nitong magdala. But somehow, Sid's calmness about the situation is terrifying. It makes the enemy wonder why. It makes them scared. It makes them think that Sid has something on his sleeves that would surprise the hell out of them. Doon niya naintindihan kung bakit binansagan ang Skulls na pinakamalakas sa Sinclaire. They don't need weapons. Hindi niya mapigilang isipin kung paano sila naging ganoon kalakas and she couldn't imagine what they have been through. 

"I can't wait to give your cold body to Gulliver Wood," saad ng lalaki. Nanindig lahat ng balahibo niya sa katawan nang marinig niya iyon.

Sid Marfori just grinned and said, "And I can't wait to give yours to Rhysand." 

And then everything happened too fast. Ang una niyang narinig ay ang putok ng baril at nang tumingin siya sa gawi ni Sid ay hawak na nito sa leeg ang lalaking may dalang baril kanina. And what's more surprising is that Sid now has the man's gun at nakatutook ito sa sentido ng lalaki. 

The newcomers froze as they realized that their boss was being held hostage by Sid Marfori. And the skulls were incredibly calm about it as if it wasn't a big deal and that they're used to seeing that kind of thing. It was even more terrifying. 

The Grande went dead quiet. Malakas ang pintig ng puso niya habang nakatingin sa grupo. Any second, Sid could pull the trigger but he remained it pointed to the man's temple. 

"What's your name?" tanong ni Sid sa lalaki. Even his was casual as if he was asking for the man's name over a cup of coffee. 

The man was silent for a while before he said, "Fritz." 

"Right, Fritz. Tell Gulliver Woods going against the Skulls would be his biggest mistake," Sid said  and then the smile was gone on his face as he continued, "Should he try to hurt one of our own, he will get the hell he deserves." 

But the man named Fritz just snickered and spat on the floor. Sid looked at it at narinig niya itong nagbuntong-hininga. Bago pa man makapagsalita si Fritz ay isang putok na naman ang narinig niya. And the next thing she heard was Fritz groaning in pain as Sid shot his thigh. Napaluhod ito sa sahid habang hawak ang binting nabaril. Tanging ang daing lang ni Fritz ang naririnig sa loob. 

The others looked at their leader whining on the floor and Sid looked at them. "Drop your weapons kung ayaw niyong kayo ang isusunod ko." 

Gone was the sweet smile he showed earlier. She couldn't even believe that it was the same man whom she was laughing with earlier. Looking at Sid at the moment felt like she was looking at an entirely different person. 

Napatingin si Sid sa lalaking nasa sahig and then he said, "Don't be too pretentious. Lakas ng loob niyong magpunta rito dahil alam mong wala si Rhysand." Sid chuckled and then crouched down leveling his face on Fritz's. "Your mistake is that you think the Skulls would be weak without Rhysand. Well, surprise!" 

Fritz was gritting his teeth as he looked at Sid who was also looking at him. When Sid stood, he signaled Fritz's men to get Fritz from the floor. Agad namang sumunod ang mga ito. At hindi siya makapaniwala kung paano nagbaho ang ihip ng hangin. One moment it was Fritz who holding the gun while Sid was holding nothing, and the next moment, Sid was already holding the gun and Fritz ended up having a gunshot wound on his thigh.  

The rest of the Skulls still have their weapons pointed at the newcomers and the latter stepped back towards the door. 

Then Sid said, "Tell Gulliver Woods the Marforis says hi." His grin was back and then the party crashers immediately went out of the door, leaving no one behind. 

The Sinclaire Grande became quiet once again for a few seconds until the room erupted to shouts and cheers. 

Fred and Sid went back to the counter and started drinking again na para bang walang nangyari kanina. Na para bang hindi sila muntikan nang magpatayan kanina. Sid's eyes went to her, hiding behind the stage, and then he stood and walked towards her. 

Nang makarating ito sa kung saan siya nagtatago ay ngumisi ang lalaki at napakamot sa batok. "I'm sorry you had to see that," saad nito habang napakamot sa batok. He gave her an apologetic smile and she couldn't say anything. The Sid she saw earlier was brutal and the Sid in front of her at the moment seemed so gentle. She couldn't believe his duality. 

Adriene swallowed hard and looked at him--scanned him--if he had any wounds ngunit wala siyang nakita. Thefight had been one sided. In fact, it wasn't a fight. Ni hindi nagawang lumaban ng lalaki kanina nang gawin siyang hostage ni Sid. Should the fight broke out, the newcomers wouldn't have stood a chance. Not against a Marfori. Kaya naman namamanghang napatingin siya sa lalaki. 

"Ady?" tawag nito sa kanya. Doon naman niya narealize na kanina pa siya nakatunganga habang nakatingin dito. 

She cleared her throat. "I...uh..." She gestured her hand. "Does that...kind of thing happen everyday?" tanong niya sa lalaki. 

Sid looked at the center where they could see the rest of the Skull members continuing to enjoy theird drinks na para bang walang binaril sa harapan nila kanina. In normal occasions, if she hadn't known better, she would have freaked out. Kung hindi lang niya kilala ang mga grupong ito at nagbabarilan iyon sa harap niya, mamamatay siguro siya sa nerbiyos. And although she knows what's the deal and how these people live their lives, hindi niya pa rin maiwasang matakot kanina. Who wouldn't be scared if they realized they're about to witness murder or in the case earlier, a masscre? Because she is sure as hell that the newcomers wouldn't stand a chance and it would only end up being a one-sided fight. 

"Hmm. Not every day, fortunately. Those men are Gulliver Woods' men. The Skulls newly found enemy." And the way he said it so casually makes her think the attacks happen often. 

"But don't worry. They won't come again. We will make sure the Sinclaire Grande will be free from their plans. This is basically the Skulls' home." 

Napatingin naman siya lalaki na nakatingin lang sa mga miyembro ng Skulls na nag-iinuman. And she saw it. The look in his eyes. Mahirap mang paniwalaan iyon ngunit iyon ang nakikita niya. That Sid Marfori, this man, this monster--sees his men as part of his family. The Skulls might be cutthroat and seen as cruel and merciless ngunit sa loob ay nagtutulungan sila. Not for a good cause, but they take care of each other. 

Sid looked at her and grinned. "I'm sorry if that interrupted your performance. Maybe you should sing another song. This time I will make sure no one would be able to interrupt." 

Nanlaki naman ang mga mata niyang nakatingin sa lalaki. "No, no. That was enough--" 

"Oh come on. It's unfair! You were interrupted!" 

She scoffed and held up a finger. She held up a finger to Sid Marfori who just shot a man earlier. Sid Marfori who could shot her too. Ngunit nang tingnan niya ang lalaki ay nakangisi lang ito and he doesn't seem to mind. Pero ibinaba nalang niya ang kamay niya at tumikhim. 

"They did not interrupt me. Natapos ko na ang kanta bago pa sila pumasok!" 

But Sid just gave her a look that tell her he won't stop asking her to sing. She rolled her eyes and groaned kaya naman labis nalang ang tawa ni Sid. 

"But I am surprised you weren't freaked out with what happened earlier," saad nito habang nakatingin sa kanya. 

She gave him an incredulous look before she said, "I spent all my time here calming myself down. And besides, Fred has told me everything I need to know about my bosses. Parte iyon ng trabaho ko: to know about my boses. I knew something like would happen sooner or later." 

It was a subtle hint of her job. To know about the Marforis and the Ivory Skills in general. 

Ngunit ngumiti lang si Sid at bago pa man siya makapasalita ay hinila na siya ng lalaki papunta sa entablado. It was too late for her to refuse dahil nahila na siya nito sa stage. And then Sid leaned toward the microphone and said, "Our singer has prepared another song for us. A round of applause for her, please." 

And then everyone started clapping. Napatingin siya kay Sid and he was giving her encouraging looks. Ibang-iba ito sa nakita niya kanina.

She ended singing again. This time, kinanta na niya ang mga kantang nirequest ng mga tao sa loob. And they all listened. Unlike earlier, nakikinig ito nang mataman sa kanyang pagkanta. And instead of getting nervous, she liked it. She never knew she liked it until she saw how admiration reflected their eyes. She never knew she liked it until she saw how they listened intently with every word and tune that came out of her mouth and how they sang along with it.

And Sid was giving her drinks every time she finishes a song. The next thing she knew limang kanta na ang natapos niya. And when she finishes the song, pumapalakpak ang mga ito. And when Sid handed her another glass, she realized it might have been the alcohol that did wonders and made her stand on the stage longer than she was paid to do.

"You better pay me extra, Mr. Marfori," bulong niya sa lalaki bago niya nilagok ang isang baso ng alak. Agad naman siyang nagpunta sa gitna ng entablado at kinuha ang papel na binigay sa kanya ng isa sa mga manunuod.

"Oh, this song is nice," saad niya habang nakatingin sa papel. She was about to sing the first line of the song nang bigla nalang bumukas ang pinto. The room went utterly still and when she looked at the door, she realized why.

Rhysand Marfori marched into the room. Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit natahimik ang lahat na para bang may nagawa silang mali.

Tanging ang mga yabag ng paa ni Rhysand ang maririnig sa loob nang pumasok ito. When he arrived at the counter, he looked at everyone and then to her, standing on the stage. Fred gave him a glass of whiskey. He drank it and stared at her over the rim of his glass before he gestured his hand and the music continued.

He gave her one last look before he turned his back and focused on drinking his glass.

Sa isang iglap, nawala ang kalasingan niya.

"The song, come on!" shouted one of the people inside at agad naman siyang natauhan.

She cleared her throat and smiled. Hindi na siya lumingon pa sa kung saan sina Rhysand at Sid at ipinokus nalang ang kanyang atensyon sa kanyang manunuod.

And then she started singing. The first line that came out of her mouth echoed inside. Hindi na siya tumingun sa gawi nina Rhysand ngunit alam niyang nakatingin ito sa kanya.

Matapos ang nangyari kanina, hindi niya alam kung paano siya makikipag-usap ulit sa lalaki. And she needed to talk to him. It was her job after all. So she continued singing, her voice echoing inside the room.

The silence was calming and comforting and then she wasn't nervous anymore.

Natapos niya ang kanta and everyone roared and hooted. Agad naman siyang bumaba sa entablado and decided to go to the back. She doesn't feel like joining Sid and Rhysand. And besides, they were talking about what happened and she doesn't want to get involved. Not when it was just the Skulls. Kaya naman nanatili siya sa likod for almost half an hour. Ayaw niyang dumaan doon sa harap. As much as possible, iiwasan niya muna si Rhysand. Takot siyang baka may makita na naman itong kaduda duda. 

At nang marining niyang tahimik na sa labas ay dahan-dahan siyang tumayo. Agad naman niyang nakita si Sid na pumasok. 

"Hey," tawag nito sa kanya. 

Nginitian niya ito. 

"I have something to take care of. Are you going home? Ihahatid kita." 

Napalunok naman siya doon. She doens't think being witha  Marfori would be the best idea kaya naman umiling siya sa lalaki at ngumiti. "I'm fine. And besides, I still need to helpo Fred with everything here." 

Akmang papalag na ang lalaki ngunit itinikom nalang nito ang bibig. 

"See you," saad nito at lumabas. Napabuntong-hininga naman siya bago lumabas. Ngunit nang maglakad siya papalapit sa pinto ay muntikan naman siyang mapatalon sa gulat nang makita si Rhysand na nakaupo sa isa sa mga upuan doon. His legs were crossed and he was holding a cigarette. May isang baso at bote ng alak sa ibabaw ng mesa. Nakatingin ang lalaki sa kanya and it was that kind of unpredictable look. Hindi niya alam kung galit ba ito o ano. HIs face has always been hard to read. 

She cleared her throat and was about to walk past him. But she was about three steps forward when she heard him call her name. 

And when she looked at him, she couldn't help but see something else in his eyes. Something that she wasn't expecting to see from someone like him. The room was quiet. The ambiance was calming. And yet somehow she could see the storm brewing inside of him. And before she knew it, she found herself walking towards the table and sat in front of him. 

"Yes?" 

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