Island of Obsession (Island Series 2)

CHAPTER 16

"Kamusta si Rosie doon?" narinig kong tanong ni Benjamin sa isang babae. Kakarating ko lang mula sa school at dumiretso agad sa isang lumang apartment na pagmamay-ari ni Benjamin. Dito kami nila ni Moon palihim na nagkikita para talakayin ang mga plano at impormasyon—mas pinili namin ang ganitong tagpo para masigurong ligtas ang bawat hakbang namin.

"She's fine. Eli is taking care of her," sagot ng babae, malinaw ang bawat salita na parang sinigurado n'yang naririnig ito ni Benjamin. Nasa sala pa lang ako pero rinig ko na ang pinag-uusapan nila mula sa maliit na dining area ng apartment. Sino siya? Kilala rin ba niya si Rosie? At alam niyang nasaan si Rosie?

I quickly placed my things on the sofa and almost ran to the dining area, my heart pounding with a mix of curiosity and anxiety. As I burst into the room, both Benjamin and the woman turned to face me, surprise evident in their eyes.

My gaze immediately locked onto the woman. She was stunning—her beauty almost ethereal, like she had stepped right out of a magazine. Her skin was flawlessly fair, the kind that seemed to glow even under the harshest light. Her features were delicate yet striking, with high cheekbones and lips that had a natural, rosy tint. She carried herself with a grace that made it impossible to look away, like a model who was effortlessly elegant without even trying.

For a moment, I felt a pang of insecurity, standing there in my school uniform, my hair slightly tousled from the day's events. But the urgency of the situation quickly pushed those thoughts aside.

"Andrea? Nandito ka pala? Nasaan si Moon?" Halos sunod-sunod na tanong ni Benjamin, ang boses niya'y may bahid ng kaba. Ngunit hindi ko siya nilingon—hindi ko maialis ang tingin ko sa babaeng kausap niya, na parang may magnetong humihila sa akin upang siya'y pagtuunan ng pansin.

"Who are you?" The question slipped out before I could stop it, my voice more demanding than I intended. I needed to know who this woman was and how she was connected to Rosie.

"Ah, Andrea. This is Lianna. She's a friend of the family Rosie is staying with," Benjamin introduced the woman, but she remained expressionless, her gaze steady and unyielding as it met mine.

"Where's Rosie? Bring her back home," I demanded, my voice almost childlike in its desperation. The fear and frustration that had been building inside me spilled out in that moment, and I knew I sounded like a petulant child, but I couldn't help it.

I was caught off guard when the woman suddenly laughed. It wasn't the reaction I expected, and the sound of it—so dismissive and almost mocking—echoed in the small space, making me feel as though the walls were closing in on me.

"I understand your concern, Andrea," she said as her laughter subsided, though the amusement lingered in her eyes. "But you need to trust us. Rosie is safer where she is now. We're doing what's best for her."

There was something unsettling in her tone, something that made my skin crawl. It was as if she knew more than she was letting on, as if she held all the cards in this game I didn't even realize I was playing. But I couldn't let my emotions take over—not now. Not when Rosie's safety was on the line.

I couldn't tear my eyes away from Lianna, my gaze locked onto hers with a mix of suspicion and unease. She and Benjamin were still talking, discussing plans in hushed tones as if I wasn't even there. The way she carried herself, so calm and assured, only fueled my irritation.

"Stop staring at me, Hapon," Lianna suddenly snapped, her voice laced with a subtle condescension. The words hit me like a slap, and before I could even process them, Benjamin burst into laughter, the sound echoing obnoxiously in the small room.