Tangled With The Devils (Devils #2)

Chapter 13

__Victorique's POV__

"ATE, saan ka natulog kagabi?"

Anak ng--muntikan ko nang nabitawan ang kinakain na fried chicken dahil sa tanong niya.

"Ano ba iyan? Ginulat mo naman ako, alam mo namang gutom na gutom ako. Paano kung nahulog yung fried chicken ko? Edi wala akong kakainin."

Reklamo ko saka muling kumagat sa chicken na ningatngatngat ko. Nasa kalagitnaan ako ng pagkain nang mapansin kong titig na titig siya sa akin na parang may hinuhuli sa akin.

"You slept at someone else's bed haven't you?" He accused that made me cough so hard that I have to reach for my matcha and drink to breath again. The air went in once again and I sighed in relieve.

"Eros, kung ano na ang pinagsasabi mo. Baka kung ano pa ang masabi mo kina mama." Sabi ko na halatang may pinaparating ako na nakuha niya naman.

"Don't expect me to keep my mouth shut."

BIgla akong kinabahan sa sinabi niya. Magaling pa naman makatunog ang kapatid ko pag may tinatago akong sikreto. And for my case, this is my darkest secret pa naman din.

"Don't worry, I won't tell mom and dad."

Bigla akong nabuhayan nang sabihin niya iyon. "Talaga?"

Dinilat niya ang mata niya pinakatitigan ako.

"So something really did happened?"

Nawala ngiti ko at unti-unting nanlaki ang mata nang malaman kung ano ang ginawa niya. Ako naman itong si tanga na umamin rin na may sikreto ako. Pero at least hindi niya pa alam kung ano man ang naging sikreto ko. I smiled at that thought, I still have my secret. And that is...

Nawala ang ngiti ko nang maalala ang nangyari kagabi. Para akong aso na pinagalitan ng amo nang muli akong uminom sa matcha ko. Sh*t, bakit ba ako pinagiinitan kapag iniisip ko iyon?

"But--" Natigilan ako sa pananagot kay Eros nang makita kong titig na titig siya sa akin. Umiwas ako ng tingin saka pinagpatuloy and sinasabi ko. "But you don't know what my secret yet."

Pinanliitan niya ako. And that look of his made me think that he knows something.

"A-ano iyon?" Tanong ko.

Umiling siya at ngumisi. "I think I will keep this secret between us." Nakita ko ang paggalaw ng kanyang mata sa aking likod.

Sinundan ko ang tinitignan niya at muntikan na akong atakihin nang makita ko si Spencer na palapit sa amin. Hindi pa ako handa na makita siya after ng nangyari kanina. Sh*t, mukha na tuloy akong nangaliwang babae. Pero hindi naman iyon pangangaliwa diba kasi akala ko si Spencer yung ka-anohan ko.

"Good morning." He greeted as soon as he reached us. He looked at Eros and smiled. "Good morning--"

"--then I saw you. The morning is at it's worst." Eros cut in before Spencer could finish.

But still he greeted cheerfully and he turned his gaze at me. Napangiti rin ako, hindi ko nga alam kong ngiting-asim ang nagawa ko. Sana hindi iisipin niya na something was off kapag ganon man ang naging ngiti. But I think he didn't suspect a thing base from his never dropping smile. I was relieved to be able to pull through a perfect facade.

Binitawan ko ang kinain na fried chicken at hinarap siya.

"Morning, beautiful." He greeted as he pulled me by my waist that made me gasp. Bago pa ako makareak ay nakatanim na siya ng mumunting halik sa aking pisngi na kinalaki ng aking mata.

He looked really happy because of the proposal and I feel guilty sleeping with another guy, and worse kay Chauslte pa! Ang hudyong kumidnap sa akin, at muntikan na akong mapatay.

Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko. I still feel his warmth on my body. Sa sobrang diin yata ng pagkakahawak niya sa akin ay nakatatak na ang init niya.

"Are you okay? Ang init mo." Napatingin ako muli kay Spencer nang sabihin niya iyon. "May sakit ka ba?"

Hinawakan niya ang noo ko at dinama iyon. My gaze went towards him and studied his face. He is handsome, like someone you would dream to be with forever. Unconsciously, my hands clasped his hand that is touching my forehead. I squeezed it tightly.

"Whatever happens I won't back down. I'll marry you Spencer." I muttered.

Kinunotan niya ako ng noo na parang nagtataka sa inaasal ko.

"You're really sick." He only said. "Though I like what you said."

I knew that I can not tell him what happened last night because that night will be my dirty little secret.

"I am thankful that the party went well last night." Biglang sabi ni Spencer. "There is no sign of Chauslte and Alex."

Natigilan ako. Why do I feel like I have been fooling both of us. But if to fool means nobody is getting hurt than I am willing to  fool for their sake. Wait, I think that's a bad thing.

"About Alex." Napatingin ako kay Spencer nang sumeryoso siya. "Sorry, It takes time to find him."

I creased my forehead, I think that it's not a thing that he should be sorry about. And it's not his fault if someone suddenly decidedto kill me. Hindi ko lang talaga masabayan ang trip ng mga tao. Sa totoo lang nga milyones na sorry ang dapat kong sabihin sa kanya.

"Anyways," I said. "Sino ba itong si Alex, bakit ako ang napili niyang paglaruan?"

Biglang nagbago ang ekspresyon niya na pinagtaka ko. Ngunit hindi ko iyon pinahalata at nanatili lamang akong naghihintay sa kanyang sagot.

"Aalis muna ako, pwede?" Medyo napapitlag ako nang marinig ko na nagsalita si Eros sa likod ni Spencer.

Grabe, bakit ba nakakatakot ang boses ng kapatid ko. Para kasi siyang nanghuhuli. Wala naman siyang nahuhuli dahil normal lang na naguusap kami ng ganito ni Spencer. Anyways, hindi na naghintay pa ng sagot ang kapatid ko at basta nalang umalis. Tsk, patanong-tanong pa hindi din naman pala ako pinagsalita.

Narinig kong huminga ng malalim si Spencer. "The truth is, we don't really know anything about him. He is a very careful person that even his allies that we captured has no information about him only that he is the one responsible for putting back all the leagues."

Kumunot noo ko. "Leagues?"

He hesitates to talk but he managed to said, "There was this time when a group of named syndicates made trouble around the world. The government does not have control over them so in result they had more chance to increase. But what was tiring is that all of this different groups are fighting each other. Then one day the number of the murders and any phenomenon related to them dropped. But there were who believed to be confederates, caught, still roaming aroung without the presence of the godfather. Ang hindi lang namin maintindihan ay kung paano sila napagsama-sama ni Alex."

Pinroseso ko ang impormasyon sa aking utak.

"So in short, Alex was the one who brought all the...um, all the fight club...?" I paused. "that does mean that he controls them now?"

Tumango ito. "Since then, the recent murders made by them gave us headaches. We can't also trust all those negotiators anymore, some of them had their companies being searched of any signs if they are in ally with those mafia."

He explained well and yet why does it feel like he isn't telling me everything. At sa nalaman kong ito ay mas dumami pa ang tanong sa utak ko. Bakit ako pa ang napiling paglaruan ni Alex kung ganoon kalaki ang nasasakupan niyang sindikato. I don't know how big was his influence but he can't give that much of a headache if his club was that small.

"Spencer, what is Alex's connection with Chauslte?"

Maybe it's not the right thing to ask him because I saw his face darkened a little like he hates the thought that someone would even ask for informations regarding Chauslte.

"That's what were trying to find out." Maikling sagot niya.

Did I just ruined his mood?

Huminga ako ng malalim at ginagap ang kamay niya upang pakalmahin siya. Hindi naman siya agad napakalma pero nakita ko ang unti-unting paglambot ng ekspresyon ng mukha niya. He smiled and held me back tightly as he planted a kiss on my hand.

It kind of puzzles me how his mood changes whenever Chauslte is being put in the topic. It even started when I first met him. Nakita ko pa ang pagkagulat at pagkadisgusto sa kanyang mukha nang makumpirma na si Chaustle ang pumatay sa dati kong kasintahan noon.

Like something happened between them in the past.

Nilingon ko si Spencer na humihila sa akin. I knew that I won't get anything if I ask Spencer myself.

"Wait, I'm just going to get my car keys." Sabi niya saka humiwalay bigla sa akin.

Tumango lamang ako at hinayaan siyang bumalik sa barko upang kuhanin ang susi niyang naiwan niya.

While waiting for him, the guests who was beginning to go home send me their greetings and appreciation for the party. I don't really feel like talking to them so I just nodded and said 'thank you'. Sana naman nakuha nila na wala akong ganang makipag-usap. Puyat pa naman ako. Panay pa ang paghikab ko habang nakatayo lang sa kinakatayuan ko. Naaasar na rin ako kasi ang tagal ni Spencer.

Dapat ang mga babae hindi pinaghihintay.

"Victorique!" Nilingon ko ang pinaggalingan ng boses na iyon. Aba! Kung sila lang din naman ay hindi ako aantokin na kausap sila.

"Oh, Saki!" Tawag ko kay Saskiya. Kasunod nito si Ynalee at ang iba pa. Except lang kay Kei. Naku iniwan na yata sila.

"Ate ang aga-aga--" Natigilan siya sa paglapit sa akin nang makita ako. "--mukhang haggard."

Lahat sila ay napansin din yata ang malaking itim na spot sa ilalim ng mata ko.

"Bakit mukha kang zombie ngayon? Yiee, hindi ka ba pinatulog ni Kuya Spencer?"

Hindi, iba ang nagpuyat sa akin. Inasuwang po ako kagabi.

Tumawa lang ako ng mahina. Sh*t nakaka-guilty talaga. Ang hirap naman itago ng aking dirty little secret.

Natigilan ako nang makita ko ang matinding pagsipat sa akin ni Ynalee. Umiwas naman ako ng paningin. Naku, baka kung ano siyang makita ngayon sa akin.

"But I've never seen you so happy even if you had those eye bags."

 Biglang sabi ni Ynalee na ikinatigil ko. Bakit silang lahat sinasabi na hindi pa nga kami kasal ni Spencer loshang na ako pero siya, ang happy ko daw kuno?

Pinanliitan niya ako ng mata. "Anong nangyari kagabi?"

"Hah?!" Shocks! Sabi ko na nga ba. "Ah wala naman, bakit mo natanong?"

"Nothing there's something different about you this day." Sabi niya.

Tumawa lamang ako ng mahina. "Kung anu-ano na naman ang pinagiisip mo, Yna. Haha--"

Muntikan na akong mapatalon nang basta-basta niyang hinablot ang magkabila kong balikat at niyugyog-yugyog ako na parang ginigising ako.

"Sabi ko sa'yo hindi maganda ang epekto sa'yo ni Spencer! Snap out of it, hindi kayo bagay!"

"Sinong bagay ko? Si--Chaustle ba--" Nanlaki ang mata ko at napatakip ng aking bibig nang masabi ko iyon.

Nilingon ko sila lahat na tumatawa lang dahil sa pagyugyog sa akin ni Ynalee. I sighed in relieve when I realized that they did not heard what I said. So I'm safe--

"What did you say?!"

"Ay tipaklong!" Nasigaw ko nang bigla iyong tanungin ni Ynalee. "Ano ba iyan, Ynalee. Nakakagulat ka naman--"

Binitawan niya naman ako at pinakatitigan ako na parang inaalam ang sikreto ko. Matagal lang kami nagkatitigan with the stupid sound of their annoying laughs.

"You're hiding something." Sabi ko na nga ba eh. "But don't worry I won't ask anything until you open up with me."

Sabi niya na lamang. And I'm glad that Yna dropped it off. Because I want to move on without anyone knowing about my dirty little secret. I will bury it in that place and hopefully nothing comes out.

One week has passed and I did not feel any signs that I am pregnant. Hindi ko na rin nakita pa ang demonyong iyon. Mabuti naman at matataranta talaga ako kapag nandito siya.

I researched about safe s*x last time and I realized that it was safe for girls to have s*x if they did it one week after their menstruation. Sumakto iyon sa akin dahil ginawa naman iyon one week after I had my menstraution so I was safe. I'm not going to get pregnant. Sh*t! Hindi pa rin talaga ako mapakali kahit iyon ang sinabi sa internet. Madami pa naman ang maling information na kumakalat ngayon sa internet.

Ano ba iyan bakit pa kasi ako nakipag-lasing nung gabing iyon. At worst umulit pa kinabukasan.

At para sure, bumili ako ng tatlong pregnancy test. Madami pa ang nakatingin sa akin habang bumibili ako. Like haler, wala ba talaga silang magawa kung hindi ay pag-chissmissan ang  mga taong nananahimik. Ang tahimik kong bumibili ng Pregnancy test tapos napaptingin sila na parang naingayan.

"Okay ka lang ba talga, Ric-Ric?" Tanong sa akin ni Elle habang nagre-research kami para sa group research namin.

Tumango-tango lang ako.

"Talaga? Parang may tinatakasan ka kasi na ewan kung makakilos ka ngayon."

"Hah?" Napatingin ako sa kanya. Ganoon na ba ka-obvious yung pagtatago ko ng sikreto? "Wala naman, eksayted lang ako sa wedding nila papa."

Parang naguguluhan na tumango lamang ito saka pinagpatuloy ang pagre-research. Tinulungan ko na lamang siya sa paghahanap ng bahay-ampunan na gagawan namin ng research. Ito kasi ang binigay sa amin na gagawin. Magsasagawa kami ng panayam tungkol sa napili naming bahay-ampunan na isasaliksik.

Dapat na may  nalalaman muna kami sa naturang lugar bago kami namin simulan. Tsk, kailangan pang maghingi ng permiso sa principal.

"Victorique."

"Hmm..."

Tinignan ko ang tinuturo ni Elle. "Mukhang maganda dito."

Binasa ko ang pangalan ng lugar. Saint Lousina...

Kumunot ang noo ko nang sa baba niyon ay may issue tungkol sa insidente na nangyari dito sanhi para ito ay magsara. Pero nagbukas ulit ito.

The incident got me intrigued so I just said, "Yes."

Parehas kaming nag-research sa lugar. I realized that so many had died during the fire. There were list of the foster children inside. The list of all who died and the list of all who didn't. Then one child caught my attention.

Other than his smug look and angry eyes that has different colors. Really, I'm not kidding. The child two different colors, blue and black.

He looked familiar...

Pero alam kong hindi ko pa naman nakikita ang bata na ito sa ibang newspaper.

I shake my head. I must be imagining it. So I just copied the important details that I needed and pasted it. Yeah, lazy students work.

ALEX went downhill, he was never heard of, and what everyone doesn't know is that Alex never really stray away from the road. Instead, he walks the path of uncertain opportunities that even entities aren't prepared of taking. Gaining greater power is alongside, within his grasp but choses to stay hidden behind a mask.

The world is already spinning against his fingers. Though he wishes to be seen he decided that he'll create a bigger storm. He will spin, keep on spinning until all that's living is under his control.

There was definitely something missing.

He wondered what it is.

He sipped his wine while looking at the dancing couples on the dance floor. No one noticed that he came at the party. He got an invitation actually so how could he miss the fun.

On his search, he found a woman glaring at a certain pair dancing on the dance floor. Tumaas ang magkabila niyang kilay at pinagmasadan ito.

She really looked beautiful in that dress...

Glad that I didn't pour the my wine earlier on her dress.

Nilapitan niya ito at tumigil sa harap ng dalaga. He could tell by her gaze that she recognized him.

"You again." Sabi lang nito.

Alex grinned. "May I?" Tanong niya habang inaabot ang kamay rito.

Pinanliitan lang siya nito ng mata.

"No."

But Alex would not give up, he'll give anything to dance with this beautiful yet grumpy maiden.

"Come on. You don't want to spoil her night."

The girl just rolled her eyes and accepted his hand. Alex led her to the dance floor and started moving with her.

"I'm sorry about what happened earlier madamoiselle." Alex said, apologising for pouring his drink on the maiden's shoe, as they arrived on this party.

"I'll just say that it's okay."

Alex eyes raised. "But it's not right?"

Naasar na napahinga na lamang ang babae at nagpatuloy sa pakikipagsayaw sa kanya.

"By the way, nice to meet you," Alex said. Then he acted innocently, "What was your name?"

She sighed, "It's Ynalee. Now shut up."

Alex smiled. That's amusing...