Bewitching the Tempter

Chapter 25: Murderer

What happened that dawn made me smile like crazy the whole day even though I lacked sleep.

We made a promise that the night before the wedding, we would run away. The thought is scary but it also excites me. Dati kasi, gusto ko ring lumayas, but I couldn't do it alone because I don't have the courage to. But now, Alaric has given me strength to finally do it. Malakas na ang loob ko kasi syempre...kasama ko siya.

I giggled when I remembered how he didn't want to go that morning after I said those words...how I got shy after saying those words...and how we exchanged meaningful glances as he left.

Ilang araw nalang, Alaric. Magkakasama na tayo.

My thoughts were once again interrupted when someone knocked on the door. When I opened it ay agad na bumungad sa akin si AJ na nakaayos na. Today, we're going to a cafe for dessert testing.

Hindi naman na ako nagreklamo because suddenly, I wanted sweet things, and for sure ay marami nun doon.

He smiled at me. "How's your feeling? Feeling better today?"

Tumango ako sa kanya at bahagyang nahiya nang may maalala. "Yeah, and sorry nga pala...sa mga nasabi ko no'ng nakaraan."

He nodded. "Okay lang 'yon. I understand where you're coming from. May pagkakamali rin talaga ako."

I sighed. "Salamat din...sa kagabi."

"No worries. I just want you two to be happy. Speaking of, have you two already made up?"

I smiled. "Yes."

He smiled back and gave me a pat on my shoulder, "That's good. Don't worry, I have a communication with him, you can borrow my phone from time to time when we're together."

Agad na lumiwanag ang mukha ko at napayakap ako sa kanya. "Thank you, AJ!"

He chuckled and ruffled my hair. "Don't worry, Klio. I always got you!"

The days after that were okay. I was always smiling, not because of the wedding but because of the thing that we plan to do. Lagi ko ring kausap si Alaric through phone at mabuti nalang ay hindi naman nila nahahalata.

Napahawak ako sa lababo habang tinitingnan ang sarili sa salamin. I just had my breakfast pero lahat ng iyon ay iniluwa ko rin. I don't know what's happening to me. Mahilig naman ako sa bacon pero ngayon ay hindi ko na gusto ang lasa, nasusuka ako.

Hindi kaya...may malubha akong sakit?

The thought made me panic and the first person who came into my mind was AJ, ngunit kung saan kailangan ko siya ay hindi ko siya mahagilap. Three days before the wedding and he's not here? Ano ba ang pinagkakaabalahan niya?

I waited for him the whole day ngunit hindi siya dumating. Ang lungkot tuloy dahil hindi ko makausap ang kapatid niya.

It was seven in the evening when someone knocked on the door. I thought it was Alaric kung kaya't binuksan ko iyon but I was surprised to see Liam instead.

I looked at him with my confused expression. Bakit siya nandito?

"Uh, bakit?" I asked awkwardly because suddenly I don't like the way he's looking at me.

"Rachel and I will be going out for a drink, gusto sana niyang makasama ka pati na rin si AJ, but he's not here..." he answered.

My eyes widened. "Saang bar ba?"

"Around BGC, I guess?" He smiled.

Agad akong tumango. What if Alaric's there? Edi makikita ko siya!

I thought it was an opportunity that's why I grabbed it. Sumama ako sa kanila even without having AJ by my side.