Devlin didn't come back that night. Even the day after. I didn't know where he was or what he was doing. I just stayed inside the room, hoping that he would knock, and when I opened the door, ang mukha ko kaagad ang mabubungaran n'ya.
Pero walang ganoong nangyari. I couldn't ask anyone. I didn't want to go outside my room. Iniisip ko kasing makakasalubong ko si Rio. Now that he was back in Russia again, alam kong magiging madalas na naman ang pagpunta n'ya here, especially since his brother was in the country as well. Even before pa naman. Palagi 'yang nalalagi rito sa bahay. I thought that it was because he was visiting me, but with what just happened the other day, I was sure that he had some business with Dad. Mas nauna n'ya pa ngang nalaman ang tungkol sa pagkakaroon ko ng arranged marriage.
And he didn't tell me about it.
I really didn't want to talk to anyone. Pakiramdam ko kasi, pinagkaisahan ako. I didn't know who I could trust, so I really didn't want to see anyone. My father's men were only bringing meals to my room na halos hindi ko rin makain as it wasn't good for my figure.
Kung si Devlin lang, alam na alam n'ya ang mga dapat kong kainin. He would scold me first for not eating properly as I was maintaining my figure pero sa huli ay ibibigay naman ang mga dapat sa 'kin.
I missed him. I wonder where he was. It got me worried that my dad fired him dahil ang huli kong alam ay pinatawag s'ya ni Daddy.
But then, I didn't think that was the case. Dad wouldn't get rid of the only thing that could get me to agree to that arranged marriage. He already gave me a hint that he'd do something to Devlin kapag hindi ako sumunod sa plano n'ya.
That was why I was again in the drawing room with men around me. I was the only woman in the room full of intimidating and terrifying men. But I wasn't fazed. I was sitting on the long sofa on the right side of the Pakhan, who was sitting on the one-seater sofa sa may pinakapuno. My back was straight, and my face was void of emotion. Nakaupo si Dad malapit kay Serj habang ako ay nasa tabi n'ya.
On the other side of the sofa, sa harap namin, ay nakaupo ang isang lalaking pamilyar na sa 'kin. Beside him was a man wearing half-rim eyeglasses. He had his legs crossed and was drinking his tea too gracefully. He looked too refined for someone who was in the mafia and was into violence and cruelty.
I think I already had an idea of who he was.
I wish Devlin was here. Hindi ako sanay na wala s'ya sa tabi ko. I knew he wouldn't leave me alone like this kaya sure akong may kinalaman si Dad kung bakit wala s'ya ngayon. Or maybe... it was the Pakhan himself.
"Yeliz."
I almost flinched. I tried to hide and looked at Serj pero mukhang nahalata n'ya. He gave me an apologetic smile.
"Apologies. I didn't mean to startle you. I only meant to get your attention as it seemed elsewhere."
I could see in the corner of my eyes na napatingin sa 'kin si Dad. I didn't bother to look at him, as I could already tell that he was giving me a warning to behave in front of his beloved Pakhan.
I forced myself to smile at Serj.
"It's okay," I said. "It's my fault for thinking about something else when the Pakhan is here."
"Yelizaveta." There was a warning in Dad's voice. He must've noticed my animosity toward the Pakhan, toward them all.
But Serj held out his hand, parang pinapatigil si Dad.
"I wouldn't take it against you. It is only natural for people to think, especially a young woman with a vast imagination. I understand..."
I gritted my teeth. He said that in a polite tone but why did I feel like he was giving me a warning? It was as if he was telling me that he could let it slide the first time, as he understood pero wala nang susunod.
