Ideal Men 1: Russo Mancini (On Hold)

10

Tinitigan ng maigi ni Icy ang saradong pintuan. She thought she was hallucinating. Pero gumagalaw talaga ang doorknob tila ba pinipilit itong binubuksan.

"Kick the door!" kapagkuwan narinig nila.

Tumayo si Russo para sana buksan ang pintuan pero agad humarang si Icy sa daanan niya.

"Guests aren't allowed in this area."

Ramdam ni Icy na may hindi magandang nangyayari sa labas. It's too suspicious for someone to roam around on the second floor, especially since the main event is being held in the garden.

Nang hindi nila binuksan ang pintuan, mas lumakas ang pagsipa mula sa labas ang pintuan.

Icy is thinking deeply and keeps sighing while staring at the door.  Lumapit ang binata sa dalaga para hawakan ang kamay nito. He stared at Icy with worried eyes. They've just fixed their misunderstanding, but they're about to face another problem.

Seryoso ang mukha ng dalaga na nakatingin sa pintuan. Rinig niya ang pagsipa nila dito at mga pagpupumilit na buksan iyon. Ganoon pa man ay walang bahid ng takot sa mukha ng dalaga.

Lumingon ito sa binata ng mapansin niya na bumibigay na ang pintuan.

"Kapag bumukas ang pintuan huwag kang mag-panic. Just act normally and you'll be safe."

Russo doesn't know what's happening, and she can't read her mind.

"I'll escape using the windows."

Dumungaw si Russo sa bintana at napasinghap. Mataas at delikado iyon. Ayaw sana sumang-ayon ni Russo, pero alam niya na may rason si Icy para sabihin iyon. She looked determined and eager to escape using the window.

"I got it. Go, just be safe. I'll find you after this."

Hinalikan ng dalaga ang binata. Inalis ni Russo ang suot nitong coat saka ipinatong sa balikat ng dalaga.

Tinanggal ni Icy ang heels na suot saka inihagis sa bintana. Umakyat ang dalaga sa bukana ng bintana at ngumiti sa binata.

"See you."

Pinanood ni Russo ang dalaga na bumaba sa ikalawang palapag. His heart was about to explode watching his tesorina jump and climb on the walls. At last, he felt relieved after seeing her reach the ground uninjured. Kumaway si Icy ng parang walang nangyari. At exactly the same time, the doorknob loosened, exposing the men behind. They came inside, pointing their guns at him.

"Where's the princess?"

Kumunot ang noo nito.

"Pardon?"

"Look for the princess!" utos ng lalaki sa kasamahan nito.

Russo believed that the man standing at the entrance was their boss. He kept mandating the other men while his gun was pointed at Russo. Ilang minuto ang lumipas ay lumapit ang isang lalaki sa boss nila.

"Al'amirat laysat huna." The princess isn't here.

The boss growled in annoyance and shot the man. Lumingon ito kay Russo bago naglakad palayo. Nang makalayo ito pumasok ang nakamaskarang lalaki at isinarado ang pintuan. Sumandal ito sa pintuan saka sumipol. At hindi inaasahan ni Russo ang mga sumunod. The man in a black mask started shooting the men. One by one. Until then, only one man was left. Russo saw how the left man shivered as the masked man walked towards him. He whispered something before shooting the man in the head.

Russo blinks more than twice. He is not dreaming. He stared at the lifeless men on the floor and the shattered blood everywhere. It's too fast for Russo. He was too stunned. Napansin niya nalang na nasa likuran niya na ang lalaking nakamask at biglang naglabo ang kaniyang paningin.

Russo woke up facing an unfamiliar ceiling. Agad itong bumangon ng maalala ang nangyari.

Jilliana and his parents were talking on the stage when they heard a gun fire upstairs. Nagkatingin sila at nagsimulang magpanic ang mga dumalo.

"Si Icy!" sigaw nito at agad na tumakbo pataas.

"Jilliana!" her parents shouted.

Itinapon nito ang kaniyang heels at nakapaa na tumakbo patungo sa kuwarto na pinang iwanan niya sa dalawa. When she opened the door, she didn't see anyone inside. Until she saw Russo lying on the floor and blood was coming from his leg. She kept breathing loudly while checking every corner of the room. Pero hindi niya mahanap si Icy. The only guy she saw was Russo. She's worried for Icy, but she also needs to help this man.

Aktong tatawag si Jill nang ambulansya ng makarinig ito ng huni ng sirena ng pulis at ambulansya sa labas.Napasabunot ito sa kaniyang buhok. She feels like screaming in frustration. Everything was messed up.

Jill sighed and followed the men who carried Russo inside the ambulance. Although her mind is somewhere else, she keeps trying to reach Icy through a phone call, but it cannot be reached. She wanted to leave this man, but her friend wouldn't like that, for sure.

NAG-AALALA si Icy nang marinig l ang putok ng baril mula sa bahay nila Jilliana. Gusto niya bumalik pero hindi pwede. Kanina niya pa napapansin na may nakamasid sa kaniya. At kanina pa may sasakyan na nakasunod sa kaniya. But she's torn apart if the man driving the car is an apprentice or an eneny or if it was just a coincidence.

The car didn't stop, but it kept following her from a distance. The driver could easily kill or take her if he wanted to.

"Bwisit." she grimaced.

Namilipit sa sakit ang kaliwang tuhod niya na tumama kanina sa malaking paso. Sumasakit na rin ang talampakan niya dahil sa mga maliliit na bato sa daan. Gusto niya na huminto na sa pagtakbo pero kailangan niya makalayo. Patuloy na tumakbo ang dalaga hanggang sa makalabas ito ng village. Nakahinga ng maluwag si Icy ng makasakay ng taksi.

"Kuya pwede pahiram po ng cellphone niyo."

"Eto oh ineng."

Inabot ni Icy ang cellphone at agad tumawag sa hospital. She asked for an ambulance and the house address.

"Salamat Kuya." pagbalik nito sa cellphone.

Icy stared at the street lights and lights from houses. She can't grasp the whole situation, but she can assure that she's involved. Hindi normal na lumapit sa kaniya si Heiyan para alukin lang siya na maging kasama niya ngayon gabi. Hindi rin naaayon na nagkita ulit sila ng kapatid niya sa sobrang haba ng panahon na lumipas. Something is off. Something is behind it.

There's no coincidence when her family is involved.  

♡