Men are easy.
They have toothpicks for defense, you blow them a kiss and you take them down.
-Star, When Stars Burn
*************
Tumila na ang ulan ng ipark ni Colton ang sasakyan sa tapat ng isang building. We got out of the car and a valet immediately appeared to take the it
"Nasaan tayo?" I tugged on Colton's shirt. He pointed to the left where a silver plaque was embedded to the wall, on the center of the plaque the word "wonderland" was engraved in an elegant hand writing and beneath it, is the insignia of Cross incorporated.
"Matagal mo nang gustong pumunta sa wonderland diba?" He tilted his head to the side while I gaped at him in confusion
"When you were inebriated, you kept mentioning that you wanted to go to wonderland..." He trailed off by way of explanation
"...isang family friend at kasosyo ang may ari nitong establishment, the business was relaunched and they asked for ideas about the name and the concept and then," he stopped with a frown
"And then what?" I urged and waited for him to answer
"And then I thought of you and how lost you were." Tinitigan nya ako ng maiigi. Lost? Me?
"You mean lost? Like Alice?"
Tinaasan nya ako ng kilay, " No, more like the queen of hearts,"
I laughed, "Nabasa mo na ba yung story? I think you got it all mixed up,"
"Alice was the one who's lost," I concluded for him
"But who said that the queen wasn't? You're just like the queen, Achila...you're lost, so lost in more ways than one," he smiled but it didn't reach his eyes. Para bang may nakita akong pang hihinayang pero hindi ako sigurado.
"Hindi ako naliligaw, Colt," I stood on my tiptoes and tapped his left cheek
Binawi ko din agad ang kamay ko at nagtungo sa direksyon ng pinto, pero bago ako pumasok ay muli akong pumihit paharap para narin isoli ang jacket nya
"Sa pagitan nating dalawa, ikaw ang naliligaw," I mumbled and threw the jacket at him which he deftly caught.
Pakiramdam ko sa nasa iba akong dimension ng makalampas ako sa entrance, the establishment lived up to its name it was indeed worthy to be called wonderland. Maging ang mga bouncer ay mukhang gwardya ng queen of hearts.
And inside the chairs resembled mushrooms, the waitresses were dressed as Alice, the bar tender was the mad hatter...
My train of thought was interrupted when someone spoke "Sabi ko na nga ba dadating ka,"
"Ha?" Kumunot ang noo ko ng makita ko ang lalaki sa bandang kaliwa ko. He was dressed in a vest paired with black slacks, and there's a golden pocket watch dangling from his fingertips
"I've been waiting for someone who's fitting to play the role of the queen," he smiled a shy smile. He had big brown eyes and dimples
He produced a small crown from one of his pockets at marahan nya iyong ipinatong sa ulo ko, it didn't take long because he is a head taller "I think I've found the one," he whispered conspirationally bago nya kunin ang kamay ko
"Macaulay, stop harrassing my guest," A cold and calculating voice chastised at ilang sandali lang ay naramdaman ko ang kamay ni Colton sa balikat ko
"How many times do I have to tell you to stop calling me by my full name?" The guy said, irritated. Colton ignored him.
The guy laughed a bitter laugh when he saw Colton's hand on my shoulder, "You must be Cielo then," Colton's grip on my shoulder tightened a fraction
Panandaliang pagkagulat ang dahilan kaya hindi agad ako nakaimik, "No, actually my name is Achila," I muttered. Inabot nya ang kamay nya sakin
"I'm Macaulay Finnigan, but call me Mac," he said with a frown
"It's weird you know, para kasing narinig ko na yung pangalan mo noon," he smiled
"What are the odds, kapangalan mo pa yung anak ng matinding karibal ng angkan nila Colton sa business," he laughed again before taking my hand and tugging me away from Colton's grip
"I mean its impossible that you are Achila Helios, after all the feud is too strong," I have the sudden urge to tell him the truth
"Hihiramin ko muna si Achila..." He spun me around and maneuvered me towards the dancefloor
"Thank heavens hindi ikaw si Cielo," he winked at me
"Sino ba si Cielo?" I queried
"His wife," I froze
"May asawa na si Colton?" My voice is barely above a whisper
Tumawa si Mac, "Wala pa, pero malapit na."
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?
