TOXIC (Dark Mafia Romance)

Chapter 9 (2 of 2) (mature content/spg)

WARNING: MATURE CONTENT. NOT FOR KIDS. TAKE NOTE PO NATIN ANG TW.

I forced my legs to move and walk toward the restroom. Lumabas ang dalawang tauhan ni De Luca, at tiim labi na pumasok ako roon. Akmang isasara ko ang pinto pero agad pumasok si Frank.

"Oh, my God, you can't be serious!" I applauded myself for not screaming.

"Boss' orders," the large man retorted. "You're not to be alone. I'll stay here by the door."

God, God!

Padaskol akong nagmarcha sa pinakadulong cubicle at pumasok doon. I wanted to slam the door shut but I stopped myself.

I shut my eyes tight as I locked the cubicle door.

Nanginginig akong sumandal sa dingding ng cubicle.

How was I going to get through this? Were they going to monitor everything I did this closely? And De Luca...

The image of De Luca with his burly arm wrapped around Marilyn Ramos' waist burned in my mind. And just as fast, the memory of De Luca's hard body pressed against my curves as we danced filled my head.

I stomped the images down.

Pilit kong pinakalma ang sarili.

That was not the reason I was here.

Shaking, I opened my hands and stared at the little pink box and envelope. Una kong maingat na binuksan ang envelope at kinuha ang sulat doon. At nag-init muli ang mga mata ko nang makita ang sulat kamay ni Amelia. She used a purple pen on the light pink paper, and her wobbly handwriting just made my heart ache.

Ate! You like the bracelet? I made it! Kuya Jojo and Yaya Poleng helped me, but I did most! Ang pretty like you, Ate!

I bit my lip hard as I read the short letter again and again. Pero biglang nag-vibrate ang kung ano sa bulsa ko.

At kumabog ang dibdib ko nang maalala ang inilagay ni Danica doon kanina. Agad ko iyong dinukot sa bulsa sa takot na mapansin ni Frank ang tunog ng vibration mula sa labas ng cubicle. I pulled the rectangular gadget out and stared at it. As suspected, it was a cellphone. Agad kong binuhay iyon. It had a message with Danica's name on it.

I don't know what happened, but I couldn't reach you on your phone. Yaya Poleng said you're with Ma'am Almeda, but they couldn't tell me where I can call you. Use this phone so we can talk.

My breath hitched. I couldn't talk or send Danica a message here with Frank just outside. I had to–

I heard a banging sound outside.

Napaigtad ako at napalipad ang tingin sa pinto ng cubicle.

Nasundan pa ng ilan pang mga ingay ang naunang tunog. Agad kong sinuksok uli ang phone sa bulsa at inilagay ang kahita ng bracelet at envelope sa aking bag. Hinagilap ko ang clutch ng pinto at pinihit iyon. Hinila ko 'yon pabukas at lumabas ako ng cubicle. At nanlamig ang katawan ko nang makita si Frank na agresibong nakatayo sa harapan ng nakasarang pinto habang nakatutok roon ang hawak niyang baril.

"What's going on?"

"Stay where you are," the man barked.

I wrapped my arm around my waist.

I didn't hear any gunshots. But I could hear some muffled noises.

Then I heard a shrill scream. "That bitch!"

I jumped, my heart pounding in my throat. For some reason, Paulina Linares' angry face flashed in my mind.

More stifled noises followed, and after what felt like an eternity, silence descended.