The Untamable Woman

17

"Say that again, Angel," he demanded.

I felt a sudden tickle on my ear from the way he whispered. Hindi ko tuloy maintindihan 'tong nararamdaman ko. Para akong naiihi na hindi, but, at the same time, there's this strange feeling on my stomach. I can't really explain it that much, it was just the same as before.

I tried to hide my face by looking down to his shoulder. "M-Ma-" my trembling mouth, and my hand made a move to touch his hand, but stopped moving once our phone decided to ring. Agad kong naitulak palayo si Blaze sa'kin, habang siya ay inatupag ang tumawag sa kanya.

Ned? I wonder why...

"I'll take care of it..," rinig kong sabi ni Blaze sa kinakausap niya. At kahit side-view lang ng mukha niya ang nakikita ko, his face is serious.

Inalis ko ang tingin ko sa kanya't pumasok sa banyo ng VIP room. Ayaw ko lang maging abala ang paguusap namin ni Ned sa kausap ni Blaze sa telepono. Mas lalong ayaw ko rin marinig niya ang pinaguusapan namin ni Ned, o kung anong sasabihin ko.

Tinaas ko ang isang kamay ko at pinagmasdan ito ng mabuti. That was a close call earlier. I was about to launch myself to him, just to hold his hand. Yet, because of the call, I was able to stop myself. Just what kind of curse is he sending my body to make me react that way?

Napabalik ako sa katotohanan ng maramdaman kong magvibrate ang cellphone kong nasa kabila naman. Bumuntong-hininga ako ng makita ko na tatlong beses na pala akong tinawagan ni Ned na hindi ko nasagot.

Get your head together, Angel. Focus. Importante ang tawag ni Ned sayo.

"Hey," sagot ko sa tawag niya.

"Venir jouer," balik niyang sagot sa'kin. Medyo napataas ang kilay ko, because that phrase means something to Ned. And only four people knows the meaning to that.

I leaned my back against the door. "Come out and play, huh?" I translated what Ned said. "Why?" taka kong tanong sa kanya.

"It's boring without you here, Angel. Seryoso silang lahat at walang gusto makipaglaro samin ni Sed. Rin is busy with girls that's been banged more than twice. Spade only showed himself once in the hideout. After that, he become MIA but with an active status," he complained.

"And Bianca?"

Bumuntong hininga si Ned. "We haven't seen her ever since you went away. Underground became boring after you left," Ned tsked in disappointment. "If this continue, Sed and I will be forced into playing a game we have stashed away."

Napakagat ako sa gilid ng labi ko. Guess Underground got it bad right now. Pag si Sed at Ned ang naglaro, walang makakapigil sa kanilang dalawa. Kaya mabuti ng may ginagawa sila kaysa sa wala dahil kung si Highness pinaglalaruan ang love life ng ibang tao, pwes sila ay may ibang laro.

"Stop it, Ned," suway ko sa kanya at narinig ko siyang napatawa. "Mauubusan kayo ng miyembro pag ginawa niyong laruan ang mga tao dyan. Kakailangan niyo pa sila," dagadag kong sabi sa kanya.

"Kung alam mo lang, Angel," Ned sighed. "Matutuwa ka sa mga nangyayare ngayon dito. Kaso hanggang tingin lang kami ni Sed e. Bawal pa kaming makialam," may double meaning ang sinabi niya. I know, I've been with Ned ever since we were in the Academy.

I slightly pushed myself off from the wall. "Anong ibig mong sabihin, Ned?" taka akong napakunot ng noo ko.

"Ned, ready na," rinig ko sa boses ni Sed sa linya ng tawag ni Ned.

"What's ready, Ned? Answer me," utos ko sa kanya.

"Susunod na ako," sagot ni Ned kay Sed. "We aren't suppose to be involve with those in business world, but Angel, you have to come meet us right now. May kailangan ka malaman sa mga nangyayare dito," he paused. Nakaramdam ako ng excitement at kaba. "At hindi ko pwedeng sabihin sayo sa tawag lang.. Trust me."