A Night with a Beast

vi

"Who's—" I rushed for the door as I shut it close when I heard Tristram's nearing voice.

Fatal eyed me warily as she took few glances behind me. I maintained my blank face kahit na para ng hinahabol ng kabayo ang aking dibdib.

Muntik na.

Nauna na ako ritong maglakad at narinig ang singhal niya sa likuran ko. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang marinig ang yabag nitong nakasunod sa akin papuntang elevator.

"Who's voice was that?" she did not let it passed.

Napamura ako sa isip at agad na lumikha ng palusot. "Friends..."

Parang sabay na sumama ata ang timpla ng mukha namin sa sinabi ko. Because first and foremost, I do not have one.

"Oh, please Isolde, we both know you don't have that." she frowned and so do I. Bumukas ang bakanteng elevator at sabay na pumasok kami.

"It wasn't my friends, kaibigan iyon ni... Fujin." I told her in plausible tone.

Tumaas ang kilay nito sa akin at nagdududa na akong pinanonood sa reflection namin.

"You stayed a night... with your brother's friend?" mabagal na tanong niya.

"I stayed there last night. Ang kaibigan naman ni Fujin... kararating lang ngayong umaga." pagsisinungaling ko.

"How about the recent photos, Isolde? You were captured entering this building, just like Tristram Caretero. You don't tell me you met him here!" mariing usal niya.

Siguro iyon iyong tinutukoy ng mga media kanina. Napaka talaga ng mga paparazzi, makakuha lang ng tea, ano.

"Hindi ko pa nakikita iyon, patay ang cellphone ko magdamag." malayong sagot ko at nakahinga bahagya nang makuha noon ang atensyon niya.

Naiirita niyang pinakrus ang braso sa kaniyang harapan at tuluyan akong hinarap.

"That's why I couldn't contact you after last night! I called numerous times and sent messages on all your social media accounts. Kung hindi ko pa nalaman na umuwi ang kapatid mo, I would certainly call your fiance to find you."

My face just contorted. "Paano mo nalaman ang pag-uwi nina Fujin?"

Umirap siya kasabay ng pagbukas ng elevator, hudyat na nasa ground floor na kami. "I always have my ways, Isolde."

Hinarap ko siya nang makalabas kami. My eyes wandered around, checking if there were cameras who's eyeing this moment.

I sighed and looked at Fatal with serious eyes. "Look Fatal, I understand I need to fix my mess and make it up to Mr. Caretero, I get it. Pero please, huli na 'to, bigyan niyo pa ako ng oras."

Sumeryoso rin siya sa narinig.

"Bigyan niyo pa ako ng ilang araw. I know my fate, I know my job Fatal. And kahit... hindi ko talaga gusto, I already confined myself to this. Hindi ako humihindi pero kaunting oras pa sana."

Her face did not change as she kept her eyes on me. I'm waiting for her words, but she did not eventually give an answer. It was like she was still processing everything I said.

Habang pinanonood siya ay doon ko lang napansin na magkahawig kaming talaga ni Fatal. All her features were resembling mine. From her deep eyes, cheekbones and poited nose. Kahit ang kulay ng aming buhok!

"Don't you think you should talk to Luigsech about that, and not me?" she then, finally spoke.

Napaayos ako ng tayo. "Pwede mo namang—"

"That won't work that way, Isolde. Fine, kailangan mo pa ng panahon, go. But I'm sure Luigsech was considerate enough to give you again, time to prepare. So go and talked to him yourself. Wala namang mawawala, hindi ba?"