Buy Me

CHAPTER 33

Tahimik ang mga hakbang ni Ella habang papalayo sa nakahandusay na katawan ng guwardiya. The man almost caught her, at buti na lang ay nasa tagong parte pa rin siya nang matapatan siya ng hawak nitong flashlight.

The darkness of the area enabled her to execute an attack without the other guards noticing. Binigyan niya ito ng isang spin kick at nang mawalan ito ng malay ay kinaladkad niya ang katawan nito sa sulok.

'God, this is crazy.' Naibuntong-hininga niya habang mabilis na sinasara ang pang-huling butones ng polong ninakaw niya sa walang malay na lalaki.

Then, just like that, she slipped through the parking lot, pretending that she was one of the men Constantine hired to guard the place, and stole a car.

***

Seven in the morning. Biglang nanlaki ang mga mata ni Constantine nang mapansing may kakaiba sa katawang nakasiksik sa kaniyang balikat. It was cold, totally soft, and...

'Shit!' His wits came to him like a raging truck, making him spring out of bed. Ni-hindi niya napansin ang pagkahilo niya nang tarantang lingunin ang pwesto ni Ella.

"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!" His curses couldn't be louder upon seeing a pillow next to him. Umakyat agad sa kaniyang ulo ang dugo niya nang hindi masilayan ang dalaga.

Was he mad? No! He was livid. Paanong nakatakas ang kaniyang peacock ganoong yakap niya ito buong magdamag?

He was still deranged when he jumped off his bed and almost dove for his bedside table. More than anyone, he hated himself that his woman slipped from his hold.

Lumagabog ang drawer ng bedside table nang padaskol niyang hatakin 'yon at kunin ang kaniyang cellphone. He was quick when he dialed a number, and he couldn't care less if he was butt naked while standing there.

[Hey--]

"Where the hell is pea?" hindi na niya pinatapos magsalita si Benjamin oras na sagutin nito ang tawag. He was breathing heavily and scared of the things that might happen now that she was out of his sight. "I fucking need my peacock's exact location right now, Benjamin. Where the goddman hell is Ella--"

[14.5547° N, 121.0244° E.]

"Wala akong naiintindihan!"

[She's heading to the GAIA's office,] balewalang sagot ng lalaki sa kabilang linya. Kasunod niyon ay narinig niya pa itong may hinigop na tila umiinom ito ng kape habang nagtratrabaho... [Huwag kang lalabas, Mr. Alandy. May dalawang kotseng sumusunod sa sinasakyan ng--]

Pinatayan na niya ito ng tawag sa puntong iyon. He didn't feel obligated to listen to the guy's advice further.

Alam ba nito kung paanong lumulundag ang utak niya sa takot? Kahit siya nga ay hindi na rin alam kung ano ba ang iisipin nang magmadali siyang takbuhin ang kaniyang walk-in closet.

He wasn't even done zipping his jeans when he bolted out of his room. His nerves were roaring. The only thing settling inside his head was that his woman was in danger, and he just couldn't stay cool about that.

Ni-hindi na nga niya naalalang timbrehan ang mga espiya ng ama niya nang pabalibag niyang buksan ang kaniyang key cabinet at bigla siyang manigas sa harapan niyon.

'What the fuck?'

For a full five seconds, nanatili siyang tulala nang makitang wala na ni-isang laman ang lalagyan niya ng mga susi ng kotse. Did his peacock take all his keys with her?

'Apparently, yes!'

"Anak ng!" his voice echoed through the walls together with the mad push he gave the cabinet's door. Gigil na gigil siya nang nagmamadaling sugurin ang front desk ng apartment building na pag-aari niya at ihampas ang kaniyang palad sa counter doon.