Elysian Secrets

Kabanata 9

Ilang sandaling nagkatitigan ang dalawang babae bago muling malapad na ngumiti ang nagpakilalang si Tempest.

"I never thought that the dragon boss' secretary is this cute," tukso nito.

This is the first time Lia has been called 'cute' by another woman. She didn't know how to respond.

"What did you imagine?" she asked.

Tempest giggled like a little girl who was asked a naughty question. She couldn't help but smile at her. There is something innocent with that giggle even when the rest of the woman screams wicked sin. Even if Tempest didn't introduce herself as someone who belongs to the Elysium, Lia would still have guessed it.

"Miss Trunchbull," the woman replied, and then giggled some more.

"What?"

"Miss Trunchbull," ulit nito. Tempest misinterpreted her confusion for ignorance and explained. "Iyong kontrabida sa Matilda? 'Yong gawa ni Roald Dahl?"

When she just continued to stare at the other woman, her grin waned and she eventually grumbled, "Nevermind."

It's Lia's turn to grin. "Aren't you too old for Matilda?"

The glee in Tempest's eyes returned, even when her nose wrinkled in a mock pout at her. "Kilala mo naman pala si Miss Trunchbull, bakit hindi kaagad nagsasabi? You made me feel the awkward nerd all over again."

Tuluyan na siyang natawa sa tinuran nito. She couldn't imagine Tempest ever having an awkward nerdy phase. The woman looked so put together, Raphael would date her if only she was shorter and slimmer. Tempest is not fat, but Raphael prefers the half-starved look. Thus, the revolving door of runway models.

"Pardon me," nakangiti niyang sabi. "Nag-de-decide pa ako kanina kung maiinsulto ba ako o hindi sa sinabi mo kaya hindi ako naka-react agad."

"Well, being compared to The Trunchbull is a bit insulting, I must admit." Tempest sheepish grin dominated her beautiful face. "I couldn't help it. I thought only that kind of woman would survive working for the dragon. But, here you are. A Miss Honey. An extremely pretty Miss Honey."

"Wow, thank you."

At sabay na silang nagkatawanan.

"Did you bring your invitation?" tanong ni Tempest pagkaraan, all business now.

Inabot niya rito ang sobreng dala. Tinanggap naman iyon ng babae and took out the black plastic card.

Pinag-aralan nito iyon na may bahagyang kunot sa noo. Lumapit ang babae sa isang bahagi ng kuwarto kung saan may prang scanner na nakadikit sa pader. Tempest tapped the card on it and a green light burst out of the device that scanned the black card. Three beeps followed after it.

Bumalik naman si Tempest sa kanya, still looking at the card with a slight frown, but said nothing.

"Is everything okay?" Is she going to be denied? Was it a fake invite after all?

Dahan-dahang tumango si Tempest at ibinalik ang card sa kanya. Maagap niya naman iyong tinanggap at muling ibinalik sa loob ng sobre at isinilid sa bag na dala niya.

"It's fine. It's just that this is the first time I've seen that kind of logo on an Elysium Suite card."

"Is that bad?"

"Oh, no." Nginitian na siya ulit ng babae. "It's not fake. It's just new to me, that's all. That new card explains some things, at least."

"What things?"

Sa halip na sagutin, nginisihan lang siya ulit nito. "Please follow me," utos nito.

Mabilis na tumalikod si Tempest, expecting her to follow. Nag-aalangan man, sumunod siya.