"Pwede mo nang bitiwan ang anak ko, Blackburn." Dad warned pero lalo lang hinigpitan ni Domeric ang yakap nya at kahit hindi ko sya nakikita, alam kong nakangiti sya...sinusubukan nya sigurong asarin si dad.
"Hayaan mo na, minsan lang naman." Singit ng tatay ni Domeric na may kasamang makahulugang ngiti
"Minsan lang kasi mag karoon ng lakas ng loob yang anak mo." Segunda ni Tito Eric
"Anong pinag-uusapan nila?" I asked as I pulled away slightly, nagkibit balikat lang si Domeric bago ako tuluyang bitiwan
"Ito na ba yung emergency?" Eros huffed nang lumabas na kami sa elevator
"Hindi pa," Nagkatinginan ang mga parents namin ng sabihin iyon ni Dom
Dad glanced at me "Doon na tayo sa conference room mag-usap."
Nauna ang parents namin sa conference room, Dom, Eros and I lagged behind
"Wala ka muna bang gustong sabihin samin?" Eros asked
I shrugged "Wala," I lied. Hindi ko maaring sabihin sa kanila ang mga naalala ko...I can't tell them about Colton...about the kiss. I can't tell them anything.
He raised an inquisitive brow at me "Sigurado ka?"
I nodded.
Eros shook his head as if he's disappointed bago nya akbayan si Eros.
"Proud ako sayo, Dom." He said at his cousin before he narrowed his light brown eyes at me
"Galit naman ako sayo." He muttered before pulling his cousin along with him. Dom turned and mouthed 'sorry' bago mag patianod sa pinsan nyang may pms
I followed them inside the conference room and sat on the chair beside dad, may kung ano silang pinag-uusapan bago pa ako makaupo. Tungkol yata iyon sa bagong shipment ng mga firearms, I would've been invested in the conversation kaya lang patuloy na bumabalik sa isip ko ang mga naalala ko tungkol dun sa nangyari sa club...the kiss...I was the one who initiated it...I kissed him. I kissed the enemy, how dumb is that!
"Achilla...your lips." Tito Damon said
"Ha?" I looked around the table and saw them staring at me. Inabutan ako ng panyo ni dad and that's when I noticed the metallic tang of blood on my mouth. I've been biting my lips too hard that I drew blood.
Eros flashed a wicked smile across the table "Is something bothering you Achilla? You can trust us, you know."
Tumuwid ako sa pag kaka-upo "W-Wala."
"Why don't we begin talking about the reason we're all here? The business matters can wait." Tito Erik suggested and everyone around the table agreed, except me.
"San nga ba tungkol ito, Domeric?" Tito Damon asked his son
"Sa Baywood na rin pumapasok si Colton Cross." That brief statement made them quiet. I know its important to know something about your business competitors pero hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit big deal na ang bagay na ito.
"Ano ngayon kung doon sya pumapasok?" Limang pares ng mata ang bumaling sakin ng tanungin ko ang bagay na iyon
"You're so naïve." Eros scoffed.
"Bakit hindi mo sinabi sakin?" Dad asked.
I shrugged "I didn't think it was important."
Dad sighed "Did he try to talk to you?"
"I'm the one who talked to him." Pag-amin ko
"That't not what I saw on the parking lot." Dom intervened.
"What did you saw?" Eros urged his cousin with a deep frown
"Kausap ni Colton si Achilla and he gave her something...hindi ko alam kung ano."
"Its my shoes! Sapatos yung inabot nya sakin kanina." I stood up
"Sapatos? Paano naman napunta sa kanya ang sapatos mo?" Kaming tatlo nalang halos ang nag-uusap, our parents simply leaned back in their chairs to watch us.
"Si Stephanie." I annouced cofidently. Tinaasan lang ako ni Eros ng kilay, challenging me to continue.
"H-Hiniram ni Stephanie yung sapatos ko, tama, y-yun nga ang nangyari. Hiniram ni Stephanie ang sapatos at nakisuyo sya kay Colton para isoli yon sakin." I nodded as I finished saying my alibi
"Ganun ba?" Eros sounded unconvinced kaya naman lumingon ako sa direksyon ni Domeric for a little support but he wouldn't look at me.
"Yes." I muttered as I plopped back on my seat
"Now, that we're done with that pag-usapan naman natin kung anong nangyari sayo kagabi."
"There's nothing to even talk about...wala akong malala." Lie
"I swear, I just remember entering the club but not leaving." Lie
"Tska isa pa, I'm of legal age, I can handle myself." Dad cleared his throat
"I doubt that, you're lucky you're still alive after drinking to wits end." My father began in a condescending tone
"You should be more careful...especially now that the enemies are closer."
"Listen to your Dad, kid." Tito Damon said as he stood up
I nodded "I guess this meeting ia adjourned, then."
BINABASA MO ANG
Nevermore
RomanceTo Colton, it wasn't curiosity that killed the cat but recklessness so what happens when his path gets entwined with Achila, a wild child who was recklessness personified?
