Dancing with the Devil

Chapter 18

The doorbell rang once, and it instantly woke me. I heaved a sigh and pushed myself to sit down. I turned to my side, greeted by the dark night adorned with the majestic glow of city lights and towering buildings. The absence of the sun made me realize—I must have drifted off to sleep.

Masyadong napasarap ang tulog ko—kahit light sleeper ako, hindi agad ako nagising sa tahimik na paligid.

I snapped my head to the door when it rang for the second time. Wala akong nagawa kundi tumayo.I was about to open it when I realized—this wasn't my place to decide. But what if its important?

I think he wouldn't mind it, right?

Nagkibit-balikat ako at walang ano-anong binuksan ang pinto. The innocent and welcoming expression that I painted on my face dissipated immediately. Nagtataka man, ay mabilis akong nag-angat ng kilay sa lalaking nasa harapan ko. He mirrored my reaction.

"What are you doing here?"

"What are you doing here?" he emphasized, grinning.

Tiningnan niya ako mula ulo hanggang paa. I rolled my eyes at him. Okay, fine, he won! Tinalikuran ko siya at iniwan sa labas. I dropped myself on the sofa and opened my phone.

"I thought it wasn't serious?" bungad niya. "But looking at you... seems like it—"

"No, it's not what you think," I cut him off, rolling my eyes at him again.

"And what do I think?"

Sa kanilang dalawa ni Jack, siya yung good boy—the type of guy you would be comfortable with easily—but this asshole is really good at annoying me. He basically loves to tease me. At isa siyang mapagpanggap na tao.

He's a dangerous man, behind his soft and good image.

"Whatever you say," iling niya, hindi na ako hinayaang sumagot pa. "Where's your beau?"

"I don't know. Work, maybe?" Nagkibit-balikat ako. "And correction, he's not my boyfriend."

Ikinumpas niya ang kamay, inignora ang aking sinabi. I've known him for years. Sa kanilang lahat nila Kuya, siya ang pinakamisteryoso. He's like an open box but with so many things that you need to unravel.

I felt like I knew him, yet at the same time, he was a complete stranger.

Para kang laging nangangapa sa kanya. And him knowing the thing that I have with Akio made me curious.

They're not the type to kiss and tell—men were built like that. Gossiping is not in their vocabulary, unlike girls. I bet Akio wouldn't even dare to tell anyone about me dahil para na siyang naghukay ng libingan namin sa oras na ibuka niya ang bibig niya.

"Shoot your questions."

Maybe he felt my gaze. My eyes turned into slits. "How did you know about us? I mean, did he tell you?"

"Figures." He laughed and simply shrugged his shoulders. "He can't even keep his eyes off you. Damn whipped."

"And that fucker won't tell a soul about you."

"Was it the first night?" He placed a hand on his chin, looking up as if searching his memory for details.

"Ang tagal mo naman mag-kwento! Masyadong maraming pasikot-sikot. Dinaig mo pa YouTube sa dami ng ads!"

"So impatient, Maya." Halakhak niya. "I was with him that night. I saw him walking out with you. I asked him casually the next day if he knew you, he answered no. End of the story."

"I figured out that he didn't know that you're... Ezra's sister."

"And to think that Ezra was with us too that night. He's a sly man for sleeping with his friend's sister." Tiningnan niya ako sa mata.