Mystique Temptations: Brittany's Dance After Dark

Chapter 14: Alliance

Third Person's POV

Kinabukasan, ang ganda ng sikat ng araw sa Kingsfield Unniversity, pero hindi kasing ganda ng araw ang mood ni Brittany Harries. Her encounter with Joannah yesterday left her uneasy, and now she had to deal with Matt Woods. Hindi niya talaga gusto ang ideya na may utang na loob siya, especially not to someone as cocky and unpredictable as Matt. Pero here she was, obligated na ilibre siya ng coffee as a thank-you. Coffee lang naman, she told herself. Konting oras lang naman ng buhay ko yun, tapos tapos na 'to.

Habang naglalakad siya sa hallway papunta sa next class niya, natanaw niya si Matt nakasandal sa isang dingding malapit sa student lounge, looking every bit like he owned the place. May certain aura talaga si Matt na either nakaka-irita o nakaka-intimidate, depende sa kung sinong kausap niya. Nang makita siya nito, ngumiti ito at kumindat pa, parang inaabangan talaga siyang dumaan. Brittany rolled her eyes, but deep inside, she felt a tiny flutter of nerves. Get a grip, Brittany. It’s just coffee.

She took a deep breath and walked over, trying to look as confident as possible. Hindi sya pwedeng magmukhang natataranta sa harap ni Matt. "Alright," she said, crossing her arms. "Let’s get this over with."

Natawa na lang si Matt dahil sa reaksyong ipinapakita ni Brittany. Gustuhin man ni Brittany na huwag ipakita ang kaba nya, pero hindi pa rin ito nakaligtas sa mata ng binata. He knew by just the action, no matter how hard they try to hide it. "Relax, Brittany. It’s just coffee. Or are you scared I’m going to make you fall in love with me?"

She snorted, half-annoyed, half-amused. "In your dreams, Woods." She rolled her eyes again, pero may konting ngiti sa kanyang labi. "Can we just go, please? The sooner we start, the sooner it’s over."

He gestured grandly, as if inviting her to walk ahead. "Lead the way, milady," he said, voice dripping with fake charm.

Brittany ignored his theatrics and started walking towards the campus café, Matt falling into step beside her. On their way, naramdaman niya ang mga tingin ng ibang estudyante. Some curious, others surprised, and a few even envious. She could hear some whispers, “Sino yung babaeng yun? Hindi sila bagay!”

As they entered the café, Matt ordered a black coffee, while Brittany chose an iced latte. When they took their seats, Matt leaned back, his eyes studying her with that infuriatingly amused look on his face. “So, what’s the deal with you and Joannah?” he asked casually, as if it was the most natural question in the world.

Brittany shifted uncomfortably. "Alam ko na 'to." Somehow, she knew Matt wouldn’t let her off without prying into her life. “Wala,” she replied, keeping her tone firm. “She just… misunderstood something.”

“Misunderstood?” He raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. “You looked pretty rattled back there, Brittany. Not like your usual self.” As if naman, kilala na nya ang pagkatao ni Brittany.

Brittany sighed. Of course, he’d notice that. "Look, Matt, whatever Joannah thinks she knows, it’s not true, okay? Hindi ko kailangan ng ganitong drama sa buhay ko."

Matt sipped his coffee, looking thoughtful. "You know, if you really didn’t care, you wouldn’t be so defensive right now."

“Excuse me?” Tumaas ng bahagya ang tinig ni Brittany. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

He shrugged, smirking. "Just saying. If Joannah is giving you trouble, you might want to… make alliances."

“Alliance?” Itinaas ni Brittany ang kanan nyang kilay. “Are you seriously proposing that we… team up?”

“Why not?” He leaned forward, his expression turning serious for once. “Joannah and her group have a lot of influence, pero hindi ibig sabihin na dapat kang magpa-intimidate sa kanila. Sometimes, you just need a little… backup.”

Napatitig si Brittany, pinagiisipan ng mabuti ang mga sinabi ng binata. Alam niyang hindi exactly 'safe choice' si Matt Woods, sino ba namang matinong tao ang magtitiwala agad sa isang taong kasing unpredictable niya? Pero hindi rin niya maitanggi na kanina, nung nandun si Matt, tumigil si Joannah. It worked. At ngayon, nag-o-offer siya ng tulong, nang walang hinihinging kapalit, well, except for this coffee. "So," tumingin siya kay Matt nang diretso. "Ano ang kapalit? Walang libre sa mga kagaya mo."

Nagbalik ang trademark na ngiti ni Matt, yung parang alam na alam niyang nakakainis. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe I just like watching you handle people like Joannah. Nakakatuwa ka kasing panoorin.” Tumigil siya saglit, parang iniisip ang sasabihin. “Pero sige. Kung gusto mo ng kondisyon, let’s just say… I’ll call in a favor when I need it.”

“Favor?” Naningkit ang mga mata ni Brittany. "Anong klaseng pabor 'yan, ha?"

Ngumisi lang si Matt, yung ngiti niyang nakakainis pero mapapaisip ka talaga. “Well, malalaman natin kapag dumating na ang panahon. Cross that bridge when we get there.”

Napairap si Brittany. Typical Matt Woods. “Fine. Whatever,” sagot niya nang walang gana, sabay higop sa kanyang latte. Pursigido si Brittany na hindi magpahalata na nape-pressure siya o naaapektuhan ng presensya ng lalaki.

“Perfect,” sabi ni Matt, sabay taas ng kape niya na parang nag-aabot ng toast. “Here’s to our new… partnership.”

Brittany clinked her cup with his, feeling a strange mix of relief and anticipation. Maybe this alliance wouldn’t be so bad after all, just as long as she kept her guard up around Matt Woods.

"Alright! See you around… partner," sabi ni Matt kay Brittany habang ngumisi pa bago tuluyang tinungga ang natitirang kape sa baso niya. Tumayo siya na parang walang nangyari, hands casually tucked into his pockets, at lumabas ng café, as if he didn’t just turn her day upside down.

Si Brittany naman ay naiwan sa mesa, nakatitig sa pinto kung saan dumaan si Matt. She let out a sigh, her thoughts racing about how on earth the day turned into… well, this. Sino ba naman ang mag-aakala na sa lahat ng tao, si Matt Woods pa ang makakadeal niya ng "partnership"? Well, just like they say, you got to "Deal with the Devil" once in a while, right? Hindi niya alam kung makakabuti ba itong desisyon na ginawa nya o isa na namang malaking gulo na hindi niya maiiwasan. Pero isa lang ang sigurado hindi niya ito inaasahan.

Tahimik niyang hiningi ang natitirang sandali para pag-isipan ang lahat habang dahan-dahang iniinom ang huling higop ng malamig na latte. The café was still buzzing with the sounds of students talking and typing on their laptops, but Brittany felt oddly detached. Kung kanina ay iniisip niya kung paano i-handle si Joannah, ngayon ay nadagdagan pa ito ng tanong kung paano pakikitunguhan si Matt, ang "arrogant hero," as she sarcastically dubbed him in her mind.

Naputol ang malalim niyang pag-iisip nang tumunog ang unang bell mula sa university building, hudyat ng nalalapit na susunod na klase. Hindi na siya nagulat o nataranta tulad ng mga unang araw niya dito sa Kingsfield. Sanay na siya sa rhythm ng campus, thanks to Michelle.

She gathered her things, taking a moment to neatly tuck stuff into her bag. Iniayos niya ang shoulder strap ng bag niya, sabay huminga nang malalim. She wasn’t sure what would come next, especially now that Matt Woods had forced his way into her already complicated life, but one thing was clear, kailangan niyang maging handa sa kung anumang drama ang maaaring sumunod.

Tumayo siya mula sa upuan niya at naglakad palabas ng coffee shop, ang pasabit sa pinto ay tumunog bilang hudyat ng kanyang pag-alis. Pagkatapos niyang lumabas, tumama sa kanya ang malamig na hangin mula sa maagang simoy ng July, pero hindi iyon sapat para i-clear ang kanyang isip. Her thoughts were still running in circles, replaying every word Matt had said, especially the way he had smirked and called her “partner.”

As she stepped onto the brick pathway leading back to the university building, she paused for a second, gazing at the familiar sight of students hustling to and from their classes. Ang campus, na para bang normal na normal lang para sa ibang tao, ay nagiging battlefield para sa kanya. Between Joannah and her minions, her secret she was trying to protect, and now Matt Woods entering the picture, she couldn’t help but feel like she was walking a tightrope.

Umiling siya, pilit na tinatanggal ang mga iniisip na nagbabanta na guluhin ang utak niya. Wala siyang ibang choice kundi magpatuloy. Huminga siya nang malalim, saka pumasok sa entrance ng university building. Pursigido siyang mag-focus sa mga klase niya at kung pwede lang, kalimutan muna ang mga taong pilit na ginugulo ang katahimikan ng isip nya.

Pero habang naglalakad siya papunta sa next class niya, hindi niya maiwasang maramdaman na ang mga nangyari ngayong araw ay simula pa lang ng isang mas malaking bagay. Isang bagay na hindi niya sigurado kung handa na ba siya harapin.