Swan of Endless Feathers (Book 1 of Swan Trilogy)

Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Rebellious Race

Charlotte

Tama nga ang hinala ko. Isa siyang gangster. Hindi niya man ito inaamin o pinagmamalaki sa buong mundo, pero ito talaga ang katunayan kung sino talaga siya.

"Gangster, huh?" Claude chuckled. It made his Adam's apple bobbing. "Is that how girls call it these days?"

"Malay ko ba. Ayan ang nababasa ko, eh."

"It's cute you girls call it gangster." He smirked.

Sinimangutan ko siya habang nakahalukipkip. I'm still damn blushing when he's just a few inches away.

"What makes you think I can be a racer?" Muli kong tanong.

Lumapit siya sa akin na may mapanuring pagkatitig. Hinawakan niya ang panga ko para i-angat ang akin mukha. His dark orbs pierced through me and it made my heart pounding through my chest.

Claude leaned closer to my ear and he whispered in his husky voice. "You can ride me anytime you want, baby."

Nanigas ako sa kinatatayuan ko at napatigil ang paghinga ko. Lumayo na siya sa akin habang nakangisi ito.

"Think of it as a deal."

"Anong klaseng deal ito?"

"If you beat me in the Rebellious Race, I will fill your curiosity. Ask as much as you want."

"Anything at all? Even personal stuff?" Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. Hindi pa ba sapat itong lugar na pinakita niya sa akin?

"The trials is a part of us. Remember? Do whatever you want."

May inilabas si Claude na kaha ng sigarilyo mula sa bulsa ng kanyang leather jacket. Kumuha siya ng isa at ibinalik ang kaha sa bulsa niya.

"I will show you a part of me I never told to anyone. This darkest side of mine that I could never bear."

Pinatong niya sa pagitan ng labi niya ang sigarilyo. Isinindi niya ito gamit ng kanyang lighter. He took a puff and blew the smoke in the air while placing his lighter back on his pocket.

I never thought Claude actually smokes. Nabigla ako dahil hindi ko naman siya nakikitang naninigarilyo sa bahay nila.

"Paano kapag natalo mo ako?" Tanong ko.

Claude took his cigarette between his fingers, it's smoldering at the edge with its vapor scattering in the air. His breathing is close to death.

"Whatever you have going on inside this place, just promise me you won't kill me, then trade my corpse to criminals and use it as a bag of stash for drugs.

"What?! No! We wouldn't ever do that! What do you think are we?"

Napaubo siya dala ng pagkagulat. Tinakpan niya ang kanyang bibig gamit ng likod ng palad. Nakahinga rin siya ng maluwag matapos ng ilan minuto.

"Scary."

"I don't care. Hindi kaming ganon klaseng tao. Got that?"

He tapped the cigarette on his side and tiny bits of ashes fell on the ground.

"The only reason why I joined was to save other people."

I never thought becoming a gangster could become so much more than guns blazing. Detour Kidz run their operations differently since they're looking after the forsaken town.