Danger, Danger, Mr. Stranger

#DDMS19

#DDMS19

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FEUILLE

I FUCKING FROZE.

Anxiety slowly crept in from the tips of my toes up to the strands of my hair, engulfing my whole body with fear that got me on chokehold.

Seeing my brother reminded me of my family who I thought I have finally escaped from—the blood-curdling Guivellnovas.

"P-paano mo nalaman kung nasaan ako?" Halos hindi marinig ang boses ko dahil sa sobrang panginginig nito. "At k-kung sino ang kasama ko?"

Fuck. Fuck. Hindi puwedeng malaman ng pamilya ko ang tungkol kay Xantiel!

"Oh my naive little sister . . ." Zilvane brushed his hair upwards before setting his elbow on the window sill. "Sa tingin mo ba ay hindi kita pinasundan noong pinapunta kita sa lokasyon ng computer shop?"

Shit. Damn it. I was too fucking careless.

"A-ayokong umuwi," I demanded, but my weak tone wasn't too convincing.

Nakita kong napako sa 'kin ang mga mata ng aking kapatid.

"Well, if I give you up to Mom and Dad, who knows what kind of reward I'll receive? They'll fucking offer me cities to rule." May katotohanan ang kaniyang sinabi. After all, what's a mere city to a Guivellnova?

Pahabol ni Zilvane, "But how about you, Feuille? What can you offer me in exchange? What's your counter-offer? Alam mong labas ako sa problema niyo, kaya kung kanino ako mas makikinabang ay doon ako kakampi."

His lips formed the most sly smile I've ever seen. He crossed his legs and clasped his hands as he waited for my answer.

What could I possibly give him?! I have fucking nothing.

"Give me your Vouganville. I know him. Xantiel's talents would be useful for the National Security," suhestiyon ng aking kuya. "And his skills are worth more than fucking cities."

Kumulo bigla ang dugo ko. "No fucking way! I won't let you use Xantiel!"

He has been through so much already. He has been used for countless of times by countless of people already.

"Try using your head, Feuille. Kapag nahanap ka ng magulang natin, sino sa tingin mo ang malalagot?" pagbabanta ni Zilvane. "Do you want your precious engineer to end up like Flume?"

My heart dropped.

The mere mention of Flumerys made my stomach turn upside down.

Ayoko mang aminin, pero tama siya. This manipulative and conniving brother of mine is a slightly better choice than my merciless parents.

"One week. You have one week to decide, Feuille." Zilvane pressed his cheek against his closed fist, supported by his elbow on the car's window sill.

Wala akong naisagot kung hindi mabagal na pagtango.

Ngumiti ang kapatid ko sabay tango sa taxi driver. "Go on. Tell the driver where you're heading. Ihahatid ka namin sa pupuntahan mo."

***

NAMAMAGA pa ang mga mata ko pagbalik sa mansyon dala-dala ang mga pinamiling pagkain. Pinunasan ko ang mukha ko gamit ang manggas ng suot kong jacket para hindi mahalata ni Xantiel ang pag-iyak ko.

I saw him from the gap of the door, looking very focused and concentrated on cracking the phone.

My chest ached once more. I can't fathom what my family might do to Xantiel.