Mending Heart's Affliction [Phoenix Countesses: ETHEREAL MAIDENS SERIES I]

Chapter 67

Ready to risk it all

"Bakit nandito ka pa rin? Kanina pa kita pinaalis, a."

Matigas ang ekspresyon ko nang harapin ko siya. I chose to speak to him outside the tower rather than inside, to avoid any more trouble, especially since everyone had been drinking and was already affected by alcohol.

Arik's dark expression didn't change. Instead, he stared at me even more deeply and intensely. Na para bang may malaking kasalanan ako sa kanya kaya galit na galit siya ngayon.

"I didn't leave your tower. Just them," he said, referring to the Montecarlos.

I sarcastically laughed. "Together with your girlfriend? How rude of you to let her leave first and you're still here until now."

"She's not my girlfriend, Celeste," he said firmly, and his aura grew even darker. "Hannah is still my sister."

Napanganga ako. Gusto kong isumbat kaagad sa kanya ang paghalik sa kanya ni Hannah nang gabing iyon at kung paano niya iyon hinayaan lang!

But I didn't let those words escape my lips.

I told him I was done here. Pagod na akong ipaalam sa kanya na nasasaktan ako. He should've known in the first place because that was his first priority back then. Now it seems like he doesn't see it anymore, even if I scream it in his ears.

Nag iwas ako ng tingin sa kanya. The image of him letting Hannah kiss him while holding her waist keeps replaying in my mind and I can't handle it. Lalo pa't nandito siya sa harapan ko ngayon.

"Sabi mo, e," I muttered, hiding all the emotions that were trying to escape. "Just leave, Arik. Sinabi ko nang ayaw na kitang makita."

"Then why are you here, Celeste?"

I quickly turned to him. "What?"

He grinned. His cold, furious stare pierced through my heart.

"Why are you here? Bakit mo 'ko pinuntahan? You had a choice to ignore me, but you didn't. Why, Celeste?"

I was stunned for a moment. He caught me off guard. He was right. I had a choice to ignore him and let him wait or watch us inside the bar with Rusty, but I chose to approach him, and here I am now, slowly being cornered by him.

Ngunit bago pa ako makasagot, biglang may humawak sa baywang ko at marahan akong inilapit sa kanya. I saw Arik's sharp gaze on the man beside me.

"Is there a problem, Ce?" Rusty asked, ignoring Arik's raging gaze at him.

I didn't know what to do next. I wanted Arik to leave without any trouble, and at the same time, I understood and appreciated what Rusty was doing right now.

I cleared my throat. "Uh, it's nothing—"

"Can you fuck off, bro?" Arik snapped angrily, making my heartbeat even louder. "Are you so desperate for her attention that you're following her everywhere? Fucking dog."

"Arik," I called him, trying to calm everyone down, but Rusty also joined in the escalating tension.

"You're the one who should back off, Rik. She doesn't want to see you, right? Ano pang ginagawa mo rito? To insult her even more and show her that she's a dirty woman like Hannah keeps telling you?" Rusty's voice was full of rage, but I could feel him holding back.

Oh, God. This is what I was trying to avoid. I didn't want to hear more hurtful words from him or anyone else. I wanted peace, but no one seemed capable of giving it to me.

"Ano bang pakialam mo ha?" Arik's voice rose, and I became alert, stepping in between them, but I just looked like a short wedge between their towering figures.