The Ace of Hearts

Chapter 80: Red Room

"For how long you'd be here?" nasa likuran ang mga kamay ko habang naglalakad kami sa parking lot. Who would have thought time would come, na mangyayari sa hindi inaasahang pagkakataon ang dating hiling ko?

"Why? You want me to leave?" nagkatinginan kaming dalawa hanggang sa umiwas ako agad ng tingin. He's smiling since earlier. Okay na ba talaga siya?

"Okay ka na ba?" mahangin sa paligid at sadyang malamig, "Hindi ka na babalik doon?"

Umiling siya at napatingin sa harapan, "No. Gusto mo bang bumalik ako?" saglit niya akong tinignan at natawa.

"Nagtatanong lang naman ako eh," napayuko ako habang patuloy kami sa paglalakad, "Hindi na kasi ako sanay na nandyan ka."

"You should get used to my presence, because I am finally back, and never gone from your sight, Shee."

"At least I do not regret na ibinigay kita kay Mr. Dash," kusa akong napangiti. We stopped walking at hinarap ko siya, "Mukhang okay ka na nga talaga and he kept his promise to cure you," I scrutinized him from head to toe.

"Fortunaly, I am," sagot niya.

Ngumiti ako at napayuko, "The last time I wanted to talk to you, you were not well and unstable, kaya ipinagpaliban ko na lang muna."

"Talk to me about what?" pagkunot ng noo nito nang tingalain ko siya.

"Business shutdown. Casino. Betrayal. Sacrifices. Canada. About everything," saad ko, "Lahat, simula nung pinadala niyo ako sa Canada at nung nakulong ka."

Natawa siya at napayuko, "Do you think everything really started there?"

Nagsalubong ang kilay ko, "Where else? Dun naman talaga nag-umpisa, right?"

"It's not, Shee," pag-iling niya. Humakbang siya ng isang beses papalapit sa akin, "Right after you saved me from that boat, that's where everything began."

Lalong kumunot ang noo ko, "P-Paano naman doon nag-umpisa ang lahat?"

"And Bella? She was just a part of my plan. I let her ruin you in front of me because I wanted to prove something to myself. Good thing, I found the answer."

"What?" hindi ko na alam ang isasagot sa mga tanong niya. He opened his mouth but he abruptly stopped nang tumunog ang cellphone nito. He took it inside his coat, "Can you wait for me here?" he looked at me na tinanguan ko na lang.

"I'll be quick. Let's have a dinner," sinagot niya ang tawag at saka ako tinalikuran para lumayo. He continued walking elsewhere habang nasa tainga ang cellphone nito.

In a few seconds, tumunog rin ang cellphone ko kaya kinuha ko ito mula sa bulsa at sinagot ang tawag nang makilala, "Yes hello?"