DANCING WITH THE VILLAIN

XX | The Invitation

Adriene Constance  

Sinclaire Grande 

She's a spy and she's hearing a lot of information from the other room. But somehow, she felt bad eavesdropping because somehow, as she listened, she understood. And when she saw Rhysand come out of the room without sparing her a glance, she felt bad. She wanted to say something ngunit ano naman ang sasabihin niya? She's a spy and these people should be her enemy. But she couldn't help but sympathize.  

Bumukas naman ang pinto at pumasok doon si Fred. May dala itong mga crates na hula niya'y mga alak ang laman. Isa din iyon sa mga ginagawa ng Skulls. Those alcohols are said to be banned in Sinclaire and yet they transport them here and have them available in Sinclaire Grande. And they only take it out during special occasions. She doesn't know what they do with the others. It is something she is yet to know. Ngunit sa hula niya's binbenta rin ito ng mga Skulls sa ibang panig ng bansa. And so far, they are undetected.  

"Where did you get those?" tanong niya kay Fred habang nagbubuhat ito ng mga kahon. He was shooting her shot to get some information. 

But Fred said, "In the Garson." And then he went taking all the other crates inside.  

The Garson is the city's port. She has never been there and since the Skulls are free to transport all their businesses there, it's safe to assume that they also have complete control over the Garson.  

Nagpatuloy nalang siya sa pagpupunas ng mga baso hanggang sa maya-maya pa ay lumabas ang ibang Marfori mula sa kwarto. Una si Eliza na tumango lang sa kanya bago ito naglakad papalabas kasama si Aurora na nakayuko. Sumunod naman si Marcus sa kanila and the last one to get out was Sid. Dumiretso ito sa counter at umupo doon.  

She looked at him. "Whiskey?" tanong niya. Tumango lang ang lalaki at agad naman niya itong binigyan. 

Sid was silent. As is in very deep thought. Hindi na lang siya nagsalita because truth be told, she doesn't know what to say either. She doesn't anything about the family and she might end up making him feel worse.  

Ngunit naunang magsalita ang lalaki. "I'm sorry I got you drunk last night," saad nito. Nakatingin lang ito sa baso na hindi man lang naubos ang laman. Nakatingin lang siya sa lalaki bago ito tumingin sa kanya.  

"I heard what happened," saad nito.  

Napapikit naman siya nang mariin, cursing in her mind. Gustong-gusto niyang sapakin si Rhysand kanina sa pinagsasasabi nito. Kanina habang wala pa ito ay napagdesisyunan niyang magpanggap nalang na hindi niya maalala ang nangyari. But then Rhysand started spouting lied in front of his family and in front of her kaya naman wala na siyang naging choice kundi ang depensahan ang sarili niya. And it was a trap she walked into. Dahil nalaman din ni Rhysand na naalala niya pa lahat ng nangyari kagabi.  

"It was a mistake and something that should never happen again," saad niya at nagpokus nalang sa pagpupunas ng mga baso.  

"So Rhysand took you home?" Sid asked and she couldn't help but feel like it was an interrogation.  

"He did, yes. I took his drink and chugged his glass empty. The next thing I knew, we were in front of my apartment door," she said and chuckled nervously. "At least he didn't leave me here alone."  

She looked at Sid ngunit nakatingin lang ang lalaki sa kanya na para bang may malalim na iniisip. He openedd his mouth as if he has something to say but then closed it immediately as if he changed his mind. Nginitian lang siya ng lalaki bago ito tumayo at naglakad papunta sa pinto.  

"Sid," she called and he stopped walking to look at her.  

"I never thanked you for saving me the first time I was here," she said.  

Sid was silent before he smiled and said, "Everyone could have done the same thing I did."  

He did not wait for her response at agad na lumabas doon. 

Adriene spent the rest of the day in the bar, serving drinks to the Skulls who asked for it. So far, wala nang nambabastos sa kanya because of what Sid had done that day. Ang iba ay nakikipagkwentuhan sa kanya habang nakaupo ito sa counter. They would tell her their life stories and how they came to Sinclaire.  

Pare-pareho lang ang mga sagot nila. They came to Sinclaire dahil ito lang ang lugar na tatanggapin sila. Some of them were convicted of crimes they didn't do and some of them are being chased by their enemies. By swearing their loyalty to the Skulls, they will be protected from whoever or whatever was chasing them. At dapat na may maibibigay sila sa grupo na isang mahalagang kapalit. And iba ay nagbigay ng mga impormasyon tungkol sa mga kalaban ng Skulls. And that's how they came to be. They saw the Skulls as their second chance. And she doesn't know what to think about it.  

Ngunit habang nakikinig siya ay nakikita niyang hindi nagsisisi ang mga ito. They have realied everything they did wrong in the past and the Skulls has given them a change to change. And they did.  

"How about you? Where have you come from?" tanong ng isang lalaking nagngangalang Siegfred. Nalaman niyang isang tauhan ni Neinhart si Siegfried at sumapi ito sa Skulls nang pagtangkaan ni Neinhartanf buhay nito. Nalaman din niya na si Siegfried and nagsabi kay Rhysand sa mga plano ni Neinhart noon.   

"I'm from Springvale," saad niya at ngumiti. Tumango naman ang lalaki.  

"Been there once," he said. "Beautiful place." At saka tinungga ang isang baso. Agad naman itong dumukot sa bulsa ng pera at ibinayad sa kanya. The man waved goodbye at lumabas na doon. Saka naman niya namalayan na mag-gagabi na pala.  

"Kaya pala dumadami na ang mga customer," bulong niya sa sarili habang nakatingin sa labas.  

"Ady, kakanta ka ba ngayon?" sigaw ng isang customer na nakaupo doon. Napatingin na rin ang iba sa kanya, waiting for her answer.  

She smiled at them and said, "This Saturday."  

Adriene heard them groan in disappointment dahilan para mapatawa nalang siya. "I'll be your server tonight," saad niya  at saka nagsimula na ang maingay na tugtog. After woking her for several days, somehow, nasanay na siya sa ingay ng paligid. Nang makabalik siya sa counter ay saka naman niya nakita si Fred na nagpupunas na rin ng mga baso.  

Nang makalapit siya ng husto ay sinenyasan siya ng lalaki na lumapit.  

"Mr. Marfori wants you in the room," saad nito sa kanya. Kumunot naman ang noo niya.  

"Which one?" tanong niya ngunit hindi na sumagot si Fred dahil abala na ito sa pagseserve ng mg ibang customer. She did not bother removing her apron at agad nagpunta sa kwarton sinasabi ni Fred. It was a room with a one way mirrored window. Kitang-kita ng nasa loob and nasa labas but the ones outside can't see the inside. It is a private sitting room where the Marforis usually sit and drink. She doesn't have a single clue as to why she's being called there. And somehow, malakas na ang kutob niya sa kung sino man ang nagpatawag sa kanya.  

Kaya naman nang buksan niya ang pinto ay hindi na siya nasurpresa nang makita si Rhysand na prenteng nakaupo doon habang naninigarilyo. Nang mapansin siya nitong pumasok ay agad naman nitong pinatay ang sigarilyo sa ashtray na nasa mesa katabi nito.  

Rhysand looked at her and gestured his hand in front of him, telling her to sit down. Kumunot ang noo niya ngunit hindi na siya nagtanong. She sat down in front of him and the moment she did, agad nagsalita ang lalaki.  

"I want you to go with me," saad nito.  

"What?"  

"There's a party tomorrow night. Skulls are invited."  

"I am not part of the Skulls--"  

She froze when Rhysand looked at her, pinning her on her seat. "You work here. You are already a member of the Skulls."  

Her jaw dropped at the sudden declaration.  Ni hindi siya agad makasagot doon.  

"You will be my partner tomorrow evening," saad ng lalaki na para bang wala nang makakapagpapabago sa desisyon nito.  

"I'm sorry, don't I get a say on this?"  

Rhysand was pouring whiskey on his glass casually bago ito tumingin sa kanya. Based on the look on his face, she could tell he is already tipsy. Kanina pa ang lalaki naroon. Matapos nitong lumabas kanina ay bumalik ito at doon na sa sitting room mag-isang umiinom.  

Tumingin lang ang lalaki sa kanya and looked at the wall behind her kaya naman napatingin din siya doon. Bigla naman siyang napasinghap sa nakita. It was a dress. Ni hindi niya namalayang may bitbit itong kahit ano kanina nang bumalik ito.  

"That's what you're going to wear tomorrow evening," he said as if it was already the final decision. She couldn't believe just how bossy this man could be. But then again he's the leader of the Ivory Skulls. She shouldn't be surprised.  

"I could buy my own dress Mr. Marfori," she said and stared at him. Nagkasukatan sila ng tingin bago nagsalita ang lalaki.  

"So, you're going with me?"  

"I would prefer you ask me next time about anything before you make the decision, Mr. Marfori--"  

"Rhys," he said dahilan para kumunot ang noo niya. "Call me Rhys."  

It was unexpected kaya naman hindi agad siya nakasagot. Nakatitig lang siya sa lalaki. Trying to read him. But as what she could see the last time, Rhysand is someone who has a lot on his back. 

"And I will call you...?"  

Adriene blinked as he looked at the man in front of her. He has his usual blank expression ngunit naririnig niyang interesado ang lalaki na malaman kung anong dapat itatawag sa kanya.  

"Ady," she said. "Everyone else calls me Ady."  

Rhysand nodded. "I will inform you next time but tonight, I needed--"  

"Ask me properly," singit niya rito. Nakita naman niyang naningkit ang mga mata nito habang nakatingin sa kanya.  

"Ask me properly to the party and I will come. Hindi ka nagpaalam sa akin kanina and just bought a dress for me to wear. At least invite me properly," she said and leaned back on the couch.  

Nakatingin lang din ang lalaki sa kanya na para bang hindi rin ito makapaniwala sa sinasabi niya. Maskin siya ay hindi makapaniwalang hinamon niya ang lalaking kayang-kaya siyang patayin sa isang iglap. But she already said it and there's no turning back. Kaya naman nakipagsukatan lang siya ng tingin sa lalaki bago niya ito narinig na nagpakawala ng buntong-hininga.  

Tumayo ito mula sa pagkakaupo at naglakad papalapit sa kanya. He extended his hand in front of her and said, "Ady, would you like to go to the party with me?" 

Nakatingin siya sa lalaki. Nakatingin lang din ang lalaki sa kanya. Her lips curved into a smile before she reached for his hand and took it too. She stood up without breaking eye contact with him.  

"Yes," she said. They stared at each other for a good long minute before she took her hand back. For some reason, bigla naman siyang nahiya. Kaya itinuon nalang niya ang kanyang pansin sa damit na nasa likuran niya. It was a black halter dress. Nang hawakan niya ito ay may nakita rin siyang slit sa gilid and the swooping neckline--she has already imagined--would look too liberated on her. And it was as if Rhysand already knew it would look good on her.  

"You can try it," he said and inserted his hands inside his pockets.  

Kinuha naman niya ang damit at saka ipinatong iyon sa harapan niya. She faced the window para manalamin dahil wala namang ibang salamin doon. She nodded in approval as she beheld her reflection ngunit nagulat naman siya nang biglang maglakad papalapit sa kanya si Rhysand. Bago pa man siya makapagtanong kung anong kailangan nito ay napaatras nalang siya hanggangsa maramdaman niya ang mesa sa kanyang likuran.  

"What are you doing--" She was cut off by her gasp when she felt his hand around his waist.  

Then he said, "Removing this stupid apron so you can fit it nicely." At saka nito hinubad ang apron mula sa kanya. Bigla naman siyang pinamulahan ng pisngil. Mabuti nalang at hindi iyon nakita ni Rhysand dahil tumalikod na ito at naglakad papuntasa couch.  

She cleared her throat, trying to compose herself before she faced Rhysand.  

"See you tomorrow evening, Ady," saad ng lalaki habang nakatingin sa kanya. And she looked at him na prenteng nakaupo doon while looking at her.  

Then she smiled before she folded the dress and said, "See you tomorrow evening, Rhys."  

At agad na siyang lumabas ng kwarto to calm herself down. Nakalimutan niya ring kunin ang apron na nasa mesa ngunit hindi na niya ito binalikan. She went straight to the counter and continued serving drink while trying to brush away what happened earlier.  

Because the moment Rhysand went closer to her earlier, her insides flipped.  

And it's something that's not supposed to happen.  

* * *