Dancing with the Devil

Chapter 41

"Come on guys! Don't act as if you've seen a ghost."

She clasped her hand to her heart, acting as if she was offended. "You make me feel bad for wanting to surprise you, eh?"

Hindi ko mapigilang mapairap sa kanyang naging akto. I was stunned seeing her but if she keeps this up, acting like she did not do wrong and trying to bitch on us, I might do something just to stop her.

"What are you doing here?" Akio's voice boomed around the room. It sounded chilly, his gaze turned darker but as he looked at me that familiar glint of light and the softness wavered in both sides of his eyes.

Sumunod ang presensya ng secretary ni Akio nang tuluyang pumasok si Natalie sa opisina. It was panting, hardly even breathing and was panicking.

"I'm so sorry sir, nagpupumilit po kasi siyang pumasok. I already called the security and they're on the way."

Akio only dismisses her, signalling her to go. Her questioning eyes look at me, ngumiti ako assuring her that it's fine.

Naiwan kaming tatlo na puno ng katahimikan at walang naglalakas loob na maunang basagin ang katahimikang namamayagpag sa buong paligid. I held on Akio's arm as I heard him scoff under his breath, puno ito ng sarkasmo at tila hindi siya natutuwa sa nangyayari.

"Get out of here," he ordered calmly. "Just get out of here, before I drag you out myself."

Marahang ngumiti si Natalie hindi alintana ang pagbabago sa tono ng boses nang isa. Humakbang itong papalapit at naupo sa braso ng sofa paharap sa amin.

"I said get out of here!"

"Akio!" I flinched with his voice raising.

My hold on him tightens, earning his attention immediately. Lumalim ang paghinga ko sa gulat sa biglaan niyang pagsigaw. His hand travels to mine, wrapping my hand with his warmth slowly calming me down. He looked me in the eye and mumbled his sorry lowly.

"Oh! That's so sweet, you were never like that to me. I didn't know you could be this sweet?" humalakhak ito sabay ng malakas niyang palakpak. Hindi makapaniwala sa kaniyang nasaksihan. I felt her sarcasm, and how offended she is.

Napairap ako sa kaniyang tinuran. She shouldn't have shown herself, ginugulo lang niya ang mga taong nananahimik na. All she wanted to do is make a mess, making every situation hard to handle. Gulo, 'yan lang ang lagi niyang dala.

Isn't she old enough to know that? Years had already passed, hindi pa rin siya tapos sa kung ano man ang gusto niya. Hindi pa ba sapat ang kaguluhan at kasinungalingan ginawa niya noon?

"Anyway, I don't intend on staying here long." She looked at me from head to toe as if scrutinizing my whole being.

She clicks her tongue, and looks away, "no need for the security to assist me outside, I know my way out... and for sure I know my way in. You know? If I need to grovel my own way... in a hard way, then I will."

She smiled sweetly, scrunching her whole face, it didn't look sweet but rather taunting as if mocking us— me.

"Aalis na ako, let's talk–" tinapunan niya ako nang malamyang tingin. "When there's no intruder, like now, okay?"

Silence envelopes us when she leaves. I heaved a sigh, pakiramdam ko ay inibusan ako nang hininga sa presensya siya. Hindi sa takot o kung ano mang dahilan, kung hindi dahil alam kong susunod na naghihintay lamang na gulong maaring dulot niya sa tahimik naming buhay. We just started carving the path to the life we dreamed of, but it looks like the heaven above has other plans for us.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going," I answered him hastily, picking up my bag.

Baka hindi ko maabutan ang isa, I need to talk to her as soon as possible. If she won't end this, then I would be the one that will put an end on this. She started this, and I'll be the one to end it.