Dancing with Fire

CHAPTER 25 - The Shirtless Man

CHAPTER 25

The people exploded when a tall guy entered the room. She doesn't need to tiptoe for her to see him. He made his entrance: shirtless, relaxed and guileless. Lumakad siya sa gitna ng human-made arena na para bang pumapasok lang ng classroom. The lean muscles stretched under his skin, his well-defined abs showing as he popped his fists against Adam's knuckles. Alcide leaned in at may binulong kay Adam and the other wrestler struggled to keep his stern expression. Magkaharap silang tumindig and they looked directly at each other's eyes. Adam's expression was arduous, samantalang walang binibitaw na emosyon ang mukha ni Alcide.

He looks so confident.

Lumakas ang pintig ng puso ni Sandra sa nakita.

The men took a few steps back both on their opposite sides and after a few moments, the guy on the table sounded the horn. Gaining her composure, she pushed herself through the crowd. Dahil sa likot ng mga tao ay naiipit siya at napapasandig sa mga ito, but she was unfazed when she saw the two heads circling the arena. Patuloy pa rin siya sa pagtulak until she reached the front line.

Doon na para bang nakapanalo ng VIP ticket ay kitang-kita niya ang mga pangyayari.

Kinuha ni Adam ang braso ni Alcide at sinubukan siyang itapon sa sahig. When Adam leaned down with the motion, Alcide rammed his knee into Adam's face. Nang umurong naman si Adam to shake off the blow, sinuntok naman ni Alcide ng paulit-ulit ang duguan nitong mukha.

Napanganga si Sandra sa nakita. With this, she jerked back.

Nang tumingin naman siya uli sa dalawang binata, she was just in time to see Alcide landing a solid punch, blood spraying all over the arena which made Sandra scream. Alcide turned to look at her direction, recognizing her voice.

His face was visibly astonished to see her. "What are you doing here?!!!" He mouthed, his eyes not leaving her face.

"Look out!" Sigaw ni Sandra sabay turo kay Adam.

Adam gave him a stray right hook. Humarap si Alcide at umikot ito, crashing his elbow straight into the center of Adam's nose. Blood sprayed once more and splattered on the floor and on the area where Sandra was standing, her face and shirt stained with countless droplets of blood.

Natumba naman si Adam sa konkretong sahig at sa sandaling panahon ay tumahimik ang buong silid.

The table guy threw a red towel on Adam's limp body and the mob exploded. Cash changed hands and the expressions divided into the smug and the frustrated.

Naipit naman si Sandra sa pagkakagulo ng mga tao. She was passed on like a pinball with the pushing and ramming of elbows unto her. She felt like she was beaten bit by bit, mixed sweat lingering on her skin.

Ilang sandali lang, a pair of heavy black boots stepped in front of her and then suddenly, a strong hand grasped her arms.

"You shot him right there, dude!" A guy mused in the crowd and there was a loud cheer coming from his group.

"You should match up with Lee Jenkins of Richmond High!" Sambit naman ng isa pang binata na halatang nakainom na.

"Hey there, wanna hang out? My place." Tanong ng isang magandang babae na kasama sa grupo nila. She's like a supermodel in her statuesque figure and baby blue eyes which widened Sandra's eyes in awe.

Para siyang si Miranda Kerr.

Hindi naman pinansin ni Alcide ang mga taong bumabati sa kanya and just continued walking with his hands gripping on Sandra's arms.

"Anong ginagawa mo dito?" Pagalit na tanong ni Alcide habang papalayo sila sa maraming tao.

"Is Adam still alive??" Pag-aalala naman ni Sandra, looking back at Adam's corpse-like body.

"Hindi mo pa sinasagot ang tanong ko." Sabay bitaw sa braso nito.

She turned and her attention is instantly transfixed to him. Jeans spattered with blood, a set of finely-chiseled abs, a bare chest drenched in sweat, a small cut on his upper left cheek and a pair of relentless, raven eyes.

He was frowning.

"I followed you." Pag-amin niya sa binata.

"Why would you do that?!" He asked, disappointed.

"Listen. I know it's not right, but I was curious and-"

"Curious??!! Of what??!!" Pagputol nito.

"I don't know!" Sigaw nito, still dazed by the witnessed events a while ago. "I'm sorry, okay! Hindi ko naman alam na ganito pala ang madadatnan ko!!"

Maya-maya ay may lumapit sa kanila. "Here's your dough, fresh and rollin'!" She recognized the guy on the table earlier and handed Alcide a wad of cash.

"Thanks." Sabay kuha ng pera sa palad ng binata.

"Who's this? A summer fling?" Pagtutukoy nito kay Sandra.

"Marion, this is Colin."

"Hi!" The guy smiled at her. "Wash yourself first thing when you get home, that's bad luck." Pagtutukoy nito sa pumisik na dugo sa kanyang mukha at braso. "Nonstop booze at my place, you in?"

"I'll pass."

"Okay, I'll see you later. Gonna book you with Jenkins, said that he's hot to get you." Nagpaalam na rin ito sa kanilang dalawa at nauna nang umalis.

Samantalang si Sandra who still looks puzzled and agitated, took a glimpse at Adam who is by this time has managed to sit up. "Okay lang ba talaga si Adam?"

"Let's get out of here." At hinila siya ni Alcide papalayo sa kwartong iyon.

"Teka... Sandali lang..." But her overall resistance didn't falter Adam's incomparable strength.

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