My Favorite Vice

Prologue

          Nagsipag-ayos ang mga empleyadong nasa lobby at kababalik lamang nila mula sa lunch break. Naalarma ang mga ito nang huminto ang isang itim at makintab na limousine sa tapat ng Luzifier Enterprises. May logong jaguar itong gawa sa ginto na nasa itaas ng plate number. Isa lamang ang ibig sabihin niyon: magiging impyerno ang araw nila ngayon. Hindi inaasahan nino man ang pagdating ng pinuno maliban na lang sa manager ng information technology department na si Lew. Siya lang din ang katangitanging nakapaghanda at dumaan sa proseso ng preparasyon para sa araw na ito.

          Animong isang heneral ang babae at lahat ng mga tauhan ay nanginginig ang mga tuhod at kalamnan. Bumaba sa sasakyan ang naturingang kataastaasan. She walked with grace and dignity. Her chin leveled her power. She, Deber Alejandra, was the most powerful woman in the country and of her time. She was the alliance of the South and the Queen of Luzifier. She stepped into her realm, her kingdom she worked for, and was glorified and feared by slaves the second they saw her. They were aligned a meter away from the entrance. Her attention was set across every employee that stood facing each other. Her domineering eyes observed every personnel on both her sides.

          May isang lalaking galing sa engineering department ang siyang tumakbo at humabol sa linya. She rose her brow, both her hands landing on the sides of her hips. She walked slow towards him. She demanded him to stand properly like a cadet paying tribute to Queen Elizabeth. The guy was gasping for air. He smiled warily and his breathing became progressively worse. He felt he was to pass out. She retained her poker face and fixed his folded collar and loosened tie. Namula ang lalaki sa ginawa niya at mukha na itong malalagutan nang hininga. Who wouldn't, the woman in front of him was a Goddess.

          "Calvin Howard?" tumango ang empleyado. He was stiff and he couldn't look her straight into her eyes, "make sure the maintenance of my empire is sturdy. The way you carry yourself reflects who you are." her tone was soft and it gave him more chills. Howard anxiously nodded and released a lungful of air.

          Deber tapped her hand twice on his shoulder. Sumunod niyang nilapitan ay ang isang five-foot na babaeng ang buhok ay umaabot hanggang sa kaniyang baywang. Pulang-pula ang labi nito at nagmukha rin itong espasol dahil sa sobrang foundation na ginamit. The woman cowered when Deber held her hair and fixed it.

          "Natural is beautiful. Use light make up next time. Name?" inayos nito ang tagilid na blazer na suot ng babae.

          "Estrella po, ma'am," she answered. She nodded and wore her poker face back and faced the manager.

          "Get Shawn. Tell him to bring Fukusa and give the employees a makeover. Set a seminar about personal hygiene." ikinatawa ng ilang  mga empleyado ang huling binanggit nito. They couldn't help it. They knew why she scheduled a siminar and who she was pertaining to. "And please, inform the cleaning department to add more strong defusers and make sure all premises are clean and disinfected."

          She had been smelling something that was unpleasant to her airways and she knew it was the manager.

          Lew immediately jot down what she said, what would be his use if he wouldn't. Maglalakad na ang babae nang mapansin nitong pumatak ang luha sa pisngi ni Estrella nang dahil sa kasiyahan. It was the first time she treated her employees softly. She knew she had been rough on them.

          That was her father's ways, her mentor, who was cunning in his times. She learned though, that her first priorities must be her employees and the customers should be second on the list. Happy employees come great service as she realized through years of experiences and she wouldn't deny her attitude, but she was learning still and she was willing to acknowledged her wrongs.

          Estrella wiped her tears.

          Deber smiled.

          Gayon man ay hindi pa rin nawawala ang otoridad sa babae. Everyone, including Calvin and Estrella, bowed down as she walked through the tiled floor. Those who were traumatized by her stepped back, they couldn't take her dark aura still. She always had those dagger stares that could ravage their lives. She was very intimidating they couldn't looked at the demon goddess.

          As she walked, through her peripheral vision, she had a glimpse of an unfamiliar woman. Nasa kaliwang linya ito. She was prepossessing and her eyes resembled eternal damnation. Lew noticed Deber's curiosity about the woman's identity, but he didn't have the guts to tell her about her background.

          "She's the intern, Ma'am. One of the Costalejos," Howard said. She was a Costalejo, one of the clans she had tight knots with. Her facial expression didn't change although she never knew about her and it was the first time she heard about her.

          She tightened her jaws and stared at the employee, but she snapped out of her thoughts instantly. It would be a waste of time and energy if she'd beat herself about who could really be her because she knew every member of the Costalejos.

          "Where is he?" aniya. She removed her glasses and walked on the tiled crisp floor as her red-bottoms tapped the tiles.

          He couldn't speak. The latter waited. Although he was confident. He practiced for weeks and enrolled in a Professional Development and Applied Ethics for the second time around, but he still couldn't avoid to feel jitters. It was the belle he was next to, a Luzifier and a La Veraoa who was respected and honored by the citizens of the country.

          Who was he compared to her? He was just the unicorn in Cinderella's palace—nil, nonexistent.

          "Who, Madam?" the lad was trembling. She noticed the nerve, but she didn't care.

          "Alaric Grant," she sneered. She hated questions when it was too obvious what she was speaking about.

          He breathed heavily and relaxed himself, but his body and voice failed him.

          "The prudent and vital bachelor covered with skins of black, brown, and white?" nangangatal ito at nanginginig ang mga kamay na pinindot ang buton sa elevator nang magsalita.

          She rolled her eyes at the back of her mind. He was trying so hard to be poetic he sounded like a spoon scraping another steel. She hated him for always trying to make a repartee when it was not needed.

         "Who would have thought he was a shapeshifter?" he paused, "level ground, Madam. Should you want a glass of Cartel to accompany you?"

          "A freedom from your stink is enough," aniya. Hindi na nito matiis. He was reeking. Lew didn't speak, he was offended on what she answered. He simply sniffed himself to check if he did smell. There was not even a whiff of a malodorous scent. She must had been joking, he thought. He focused his attention sending an e-mail to his assistant while they waited instead and tried hard to divert his messy mind.

          "Señora." pagbasag nito sa katahimikan nang makakuha na ng sapat na tapang, "I think you should reconsider not terminating my father's employment," tutok ito sa pagtitipa sa kaniyang telepono at pagkatapos ay inayos ang reading glasses na suot pati ang pulidong-pulidong katsupoy nitong buhok.

          Deber's jaws tightened. Lewis Campbell, his father, didn't deserve to live.

          "Reconsidered," she mumbled. Ikinatuwa iyon ng lalaki dahil hindi nito inaasahang ganoon lang kadaling kausap ang babae, hindi tulad no'ng mga naririnig niya. On the other hand, she didn't want to argue and her decision was final. Whoever overstepped the boundaries deserved to die—that was one of her golden rules.

          Huminto ang elevator makailang saglit. The door slid open and the long, cold, abandoned, and empty corridor welcomed them. Lumabas ang dalawa. Si Lew ay kinausap pa ang assistant nitong si Trevor na kanina pa sa basement. Ito ang inutusan nitong kumuha ng Cartel para sa pinuno nila. They knew she would take long and would lose herself. The wine could help her calm after. Kapag hindi napakalma ang boss nila ay sila ang pagbubuntungan nito ng galit.

          She walked through. Lew catched up. One of the faint lights attached through the walls flickered, it had been like that for years and they didn't feel the need to change the bulb. There was no point either. The cement walls were pure unpainted solid grey. The floor was shinning. It looked like a prison more than a ward, although you could smell the mixture of metallic and the fluoride scent that loomed across the floor. Nagmadaling maglakad si Lew nang dalawang metro na lang ang layo nila sa unang pintuan papasok sa selda ni Alaric. He navigated the security system mounted through the wall. The lights in the thick switchable glass panel lit up and the unlocking of the automated security consumed the silence.

           The glass door automatically slid open. She entered the room and closed it right after she told Lew to place the bottle of Cartel and the cordial glass on the table. She ordered him to inform Alaric's therapist to prepare sedatives. She sat on the stool, reached for the remote that rested on the table in front of her to control the opacity of the glass and pressed the button for the lights. The luminosity showered through his cell. Alaric was lying on his single bed that was positioned at the center of the room.

          Pinakiramdaman nito ang paligid at hinintay magsalita si Deber ngunit nabigo ang lalaki. He opened his eyes and didn't move. Hindi nito inantala ang sakit na dulot ng ilaw sa kaniyang mga mata. He waited for her to speak. They hadn't seen each other for a month and she was excited—not him though. He loathed her. He bolts upright, sat for a while to rest and prepare himself for the activity he would do then stood from the bed. He removed his white jumper and started doing push ups. His robust body flexed and the contours of his muscles were inviting her. She wanted to be f****d good right on top of his bed and break the frame. She hadn't felt it for years, but she dismissed her delusions and focused on the matter in front of her.

          Nakaramdam ito ng awa sa lalaki nang mapansin ang marka sa tagiliran nito. She saw blood dripped from his wounds, but he wasn't bothered about the pain it gave him. She collected herself. She shouldn't be feeling sympathetic over him. Deber must remain as the Old Nick in his world.

          "Staring is rude," he uttered. Ipinuwesto nito ang kaliwang kamay sa bandang pwetan at nagpatuloy sa pagpu-push-up.

           Kumirot ang mga sugat ng lalaki ngunit hindi nito iyon pinansin lalo na ang dugong patuloy na tumutulo sa kaniyang tagiliran. Nagsimula itong pagpawisan kahit malamig sa loob ng silid. Ang t***k ng puso ng binata ay unti-unti nang bumibilis. He continued his exercise while she watched. She crossed her feet and her hands above her stomach.

          "What are you up to, Deber? The Philippine National Police is looking after you?" his voice cracked as he struggled.

          Ibinaba nito ang kamay. He stayed in a planking position while he stared at her and waited for her to answer. He noticed the scar on her left face although it was less evident now unlike the old times. She was still beautiful in his eyes despite that. Tumitig si Deber kay Apollyon at saka binuksan ang Cartel.

           She poured a fair amount of liquor in her glass and dranked it slow as she pierced her eyes through his orbs. Napansin nito ang tumulong pawis sa noo ng lalaki. The sight of him was inviting, but she should control herself.

          "They will be doomed if they kill me," aniya. Tumayo siya at lumapit sa salamin, ang isang kamay ay nakatuklip sa ibabaw ng sikmura habang ang isa'y hawak ang baso ng alak. She took a sip from it and threw daggers through the man inside the cell.

           There was no holes on the glass. The only way they could hear each other was through speakers mounted on the walls both in and out of the chamber.

          "Slaves cannot have their own lives, they live up to their master's demands."

          "You were under me." there was a tinge of pain in his voice. Bakas na bakas ang panghihinayang mga mata ni Alaric.

          "Bullocks. Isn't comical how the bait ate my bait? It was a fair game though, Alaric."

          She smirked and pressed a button on the wall. It was about time she'd play with him. She wanted to torture him. Hindi na ito makapaghintay dahil iyon naman ang rason kung bakit ito naroroon. She wanted to play him and see him suffer. Kung hindi nito gagawin iyon, masasayang ang pagbisita ng pinuno kay Alaric.

          Ito rin ang sa tingin nitong epektibo at siguradong paraan upang mawala ang lalaki sa katinuan at mabaliw nang husto. Sa nakikita ng babae ay wala lamang sa lalaki ang pisikal na abusong ginawa nito rito kaya't ibang paraan na ang gagamitin nitong nasisiguro ng babaeng mabisa.

          The flat screen television slowly dropped from the right corner of the ceiling after she pressed a button on the controller. It automatically opened and they both waited for it to boot up, Alaric puzzled of what she was planning. Napahinto ang lalaki sa ginagawa nang magsimulang mag-play ang isang video makailang saglit. There, he saw her naked on the bed with the man he hated the most. She was kissing him hungrily while he f****d her deep. Her moans were sensual and it seemed she was enjoying it.

          He took care of her ever since, he watched her became a woman and now she was just ruined by that monster. Umigting ang panga ni Alaric at kumuyom ang mga kamao nito. Ang kaniyang dibdib ay parang bombang naghihintay ng oras bago sumabog. Ang mga ugat nito sa kamay ay nagsilabasan na at maging ang mga litid sa leeg ay nabanat dahil sa galit na nadarama. Namumula rin ang leeg at tainga nito. He was heartbroken to see her with another man and it killed him tremendously. Rage fumed his body and all he wanted was to end Deber's life.

         "I will f*****g kill you." his teeth were gnashing.

          "What larks Pip," she mumbled. She devilishly grinned. She sat back on the chair and crossed both her feet and arms as she stared at him empty and deadly.

          Unti-unti ay nilamon na ng galit at pagkamuhi ang lalaki. Tinakpan nito ang kaniyang mga tainga dahil rinding-rindi ito sa ungol na kaniyang naririnig. He duck down on the floor, his weight on the glass. Sinabunutan nito ang sarili. Makailang saglit ay muli itong tumayo ito at nagpalakad-lakad sa loob ng silid. Naghahanap at nag-iisip kung paanong hindi bibigay sa patibong ng babaeng kasalukuyang nakangiti sa kaniya na parang demonyo. Tinaasan ng babae ang volume nang sa gayon ay rinig na rinig ng lalaki kung paano lumigaya ang babaeng pinakamamahal niya sa piling ng iba. Isang malaking sampal iyon kay Alaric.

          He punched the thick glass in a strike of a nanosecond. It cracked. Blood oozed on his knuckles although it was far from breaking the whole three inch thick panel. The alarm went on and it notified the whole security department even the secret mental laboratory they had on the last floor of the empire. Mabilis na nagsipunta ang mga guwardya at mga nurses patungo sa selda. Deber moved fast. She didn't want to end the show and locked the doors so nobody could disturb them. Hindi nagpapigil ang mga tauhan lalo na ang manager.

          They scanned the universal key at the cell's door after they managed to get passed through the main glass, but it was useless. Deber was fast and she was able to fix the settings of the security with her phone and removed all access of keys to navigate the automatic doors. Kinabog ni Lew ang pinto nang hindi nila mabuksan ang security gamit ang universal pass. It was never advised to leave them alone after she almost killed him, but the bacon was hers to take. She pressed a hazard on the application used to control the system that would release and defuse the gas inside his hell that soon would take all his energy and would manipulate his mental process.

          Minutes later he started drooling. Unti-unti itong nawawalan nang control sa sarili at unti-unti nang sinisira ang mga bagay na mahawakan nito. He kept avoiding the black plastic knife that was resting on his bed. He thought it was a machete. If he would, he'd end up killing himself—or so that was what his mind told him. Deber just sat on the stool and watched him lose his mind. She knew his sanity would vanish. She loved it, seeing him losing his wit just for a woman.

          She placed her phone on the surface of the steel table. She got up and went to the pantry and got herselt the Kobe steak she asked her chefs to prepare for that was perfectly grilled in medium rare. She grabbed the bottle of Cartel and poured her glass once she returned back. Naupo siya at saka sumubo nang pagkain habang pinanonood ang lalaking tuluyan nang nabaliw. She even played a classical music and enjoyed the art she was to make—the piece she was addicted to and would never get tired of playing... her favorite vice.