Dumerecho siya sa bar at tinanong si Steve doon.
"Nagpunta ata sa office niya, Ma'am," sagot ng bartender.
"Thank you." Mabilis siyang naglakad papunta sa direksyon ng hallway.
Sa malamyos na ilaw sa pasilyo, nakita niyang may liwanag na sumisilip sa ilalim ng pinto ng opisina. Kumatok siya roon nang makalapit. Walang sumagot.
Pinihit niya ang seradura pabukas, itinulak ang pinto at pumasok siya sa silid. The stark white light hurt her eyes for a couple of seconds, and she closed the door to deaden the noise from the club.
Nakatalikod si Declan sa kanyang direksyon, nakaharap sa may desk nito. Nakakuyom ang mga palad nito at maigting sa tensyon ang mga mauumbok na kalamnan sa balikat at likod ng lalaki.
Nagpakawala siya ng hininga. "Declan."
"You knew about this?"
His low and harsh voice made her weary.
"What do you mean?"
"Did you know people are talking bullsh*t about you?" Humarap ang lalaki. His gaze was hard metallic gold, his face carved out in cruel lines.
"Declan, it doesn't matter–"
"F*cking answer me, Vera."
The pitiless slash of his voice made her stomach cramp. Pinatatag niya ang boses. "Yes."
"When?"
"It's not–"
"F*cking when, Vera?"
Pinigil niya ang pagpikit. He wouldn't stop until he got his answers. "Nung isang araw nung sinamahan ko si Kriselda sa mall."
"Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa 'kin?"
"Nawala sa isip ko. I was going to tell you but–"
"Kanino mo narinig?"
"Declan, it doesn't matter–"
"Kanino mo narinig?"
God, how could this night turn out this bad? "Sabi ni Kriselda si Gigi raw 'yung isa. I didn't see them. Nasa kabilang dressing room sila katabi ng dressing room namin ni Krissy. I told Krissy I would tell you myself, so don't blame Krissy for not telling you."
"And you just forgot to tell me."
"I've been busy and–"
"How could you forget to tell me something so goddamn important!" His rage exploded and she stepped forward to touch him.
Pero napahinto rin siya dahil sa malamig nitong titig.
Kumuyom palad siya. "Because it isn't. Some people will always have something awful to say about other people. Hindi 'yon mahalaga. They can say whatever they want to say, it doesn't matter."
"It does. Christ. F*ck!"
"Declan–"
"Hindi ako nag-isip. I never thought people would see it this way. F*ck!"
"Declan–" Humakbang ulit siya papunta rito.
"Stay the f*ck away from me!"
Napapitlag siya na para bang sinampal siya nito. Malalaking mata lang siyang napatitig dito.
Itinaas ng lalaki ang titig sa kanya, at parang inukit sa yelo ang guwapo nitong mukha. "We can't do this sh*t anymore."
Muli, napatitig lamang siya rito ng ilang segundo. "W-what?"
BINABASA MO ANG
All That I Am
RomanceR18 | MATURE CONTENT He was the kind of man mothers warned their daughters about. The kind who could get a woman's panties wet just with a look, the kind who would ride a woman hard and fast, make her c*m around his c*ck until she screamed and begge...
