Death Trap Vendetta

Chapter Thirty-Two

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
The Virtue of Silence

February 13, 2016; Saturday
Girls' Dormitory, Elysium University
8:10 pm

Cess was pulled out of reminiscing on how her dear sister Hedrich would have gushed over Elysium University's lavish parties when there came an insistent knock on their dorm room's door.

"Oo na, oo na! Narinig ko na noong unang sampung katok, dios mio!" sigaw ni Cess matapos ipasok sa loob ng cabinet ang gown na isusuot niya para sa Valentine's Ball.

Marching towards the door, she pulled it open forcefully and glared at the person responsible for harassing the poor piece of wood-though it didn't have the effect she wanted since the person was almost a head taller than her.

"Ano? Hindi mo ba ako papapasukin?" Nakangising tanong nito sa kanya.

Cess rolled her eyes and went back inside, leaving the door open. She had long since given up trying to figure out how he managed to evade the guard who roamed the girls' dormitory.

"Hoy, Ailee! Yung boyfriend mong airport nandito na naman!" bulyaw ni Cess, dahilan upang siya naman ang pukulan ng masamang tingin ni JC.

"Cess!" Ailee's indignant shout came somewhere in the room.

Matapos ang ilang sandali, dumating din si Ailee na mukhang kagagaling lang sa shower at tinutuyo pa ang kanyang buhok. Cess once again rolled her eyes when she saw the two lovebirds beaming at each other as if no one else was around and as if they hadn't seen each other in years.

Ugh, kadiri. Hindi raw official ang dalawa pero daig pa ang may marriage certificate. She made a show of gagging so that they would cut it out.

Tumikhim si JC at bumaling sa bitbit niyang supot. "Nagdala ako ng pagkain," aniya.

Cess' ears perked up at the mention of this and, upon noticing this, the idiot that is her friend's not-so-boyfriend flashed her a cocky grin. It took all of her willpower not to stick her tongue out at him.

"I'd say 'Nag-abala ka pa. Hindi na kailangan.' But we both know that would be a fat lie," Ailee said with a laugh, looking at her pointedly.

"Are you saying matakaw ako? Tama ka naman." Nagkibit-balikat na lang si Cess. "Kasalanan ko bang lagi tayong gutom at wala akong time para magluto dahil busy sa imbestigasyon ni Shem at sa pagtulong sa pesteng Valentine's Ball na 'to?" asik niya.

Cess saw JC's grin falter a little but he easily recomposed himself as he began to set the food he brought on their small table as if he lived there as well.

Might as well, Cess thought darkly. Tutal halos araw-araw nandito ang walang hiyang hijo de puta¹. At least makakatipid kami sa bigas.

"At least, hindi mo na kakailanganing problemahin ang imbestigasyon ni Shem sa mga susunod na araw," kibit-balikat na sambit ni JC. Despite his playful tone, Cess could detect a certain edge in his voice.

Cess groaned and plopped back into her bed as Ailee and JC began to eat. Sariwa pa rin sa isipan niya ang pagtatalong naganap noong nakaraang gabi matapos nilang malaman ang nadiskubre nina Clyde, Marelo, at Anthony.

***

"Okay, I think we can all agree that this has been a really tiring day. So kung anuman ang dahilan ng emergency meeting na 'to, pakisabi na lang agad," pambungad ni Erza na mula umaga pa inirereklamo ang namumuo niyang migraine.