CHAPTER 16
I was standing in the middle of Greg's grand staircase while holding a glass of red wine. I was playing it, moving the glass in a circular motion. Pinapanood ko ang mga tao na may kanya-kanyang kausap. This was the world I grew up with, surrounded with sinners and people who crave so much power and wealth. They would do anything just to have it, even killing someone who was blocking their way.
Aah... What a scary world we live in, isn't it? People would kill for the sake of money, the root of all evil. We obey it like a god.
Dahan-dahan akong bumaba ng hagdan. Some were admiring me as usual, I was wearing my black long gown with a slit up to my thigh, exposing my long legs. Nakabalandra rin ang mga tattoo ko sa likod dahil sa nakahawi ang itim kong buhok sa aking kaliwang dibdib.
My lipstick was bold red, just like my emotions. It was burning like a wild fire that was ready to explode. Things started to sink in my head. Kung posible ba talaga itong nangyayari sa akin? Hindi ba ako nananaginip?
I took again one step downward. Hindi ko inaalisan ng tingin ang mga lalaking nadadaanan ko. I gave them my last smirk as I go straight to the huge piano in the middle of these evil people like me. Ipinatong ko ang inumin sa itaas ng piano at binuksan ang takip nito.
I sat confidently, people were starting to look in my way. My finger flew to the first key, a high pitch sound invade the crowd. It became quiet. Good. I got their attention.
My face went serious. My other fingers started dancing over as I played Fur Elise by Ludwig Van Beethoven. Until then, I got lost in the moment. I used to play this alot when I was young, this song, was played over and over by the music box given by my asshole father.
Napadilat ako bigla, I saw Rake at the side, eyeing me seriously. I didn't smile nor smirk, I gave him too, my most intimidating look I could give. I feel powerful playing this piece yet defenseless. I was pouring my soul into it like an orchestra was playing too at the background. Habang tumatagal, mas lalo akong nalulunod sa pagtugtog ko. My fingers were moving non-stop and body was swaying by the sound of it.
I blinked at bumagal ang pagtipa ko, hindi ko parin inaalis kay Rake Alicante ang tingin ko. I want him in, to this dark world of mine. But I guess he was living too in the dark parade. Nawala ang atensyon ko sakanya nang makarinig ako ng palakpakan. Tapos na sa paggalaw ang mga daliri ko.
Lumapit sa akin si Greg at binigyan ako ng mabilis na halik sa pisngi. "Ah, everyone, Ericka Quinn Lopez, one of the leaders of our organization. And that's her talent, drowning us into her enticing charm," saad nito at hinila ako patayo.
"Ngayon andito na ang lahat, nawa'y mabigay namin ang inyong hangad ngayon gabi dahil wala na kaming mahihiling pa kundi ang inyo lamang kasiyahan."
Itinaas ni Greg ang kanyang baso. "Cheers."
Kinuha ko ang goblet ko sa likod. "Cheers, darling," I whispered to him pero na kay Rake Alicante ang mga mata ko.
Tamang-tama naman, may kumausap kay Greg na babae. She looked familiar, I was about to confront her nang biglang may pumatong na kamay sa hubad kong likod. I inhaled sharply when I felt his touch.
"Glad to see you here, Rake." Inayos ni Rake ang kurbata ng kanyang suot habang itinutulak ang likod ko upang lumakad palayo sa mga tao. Hawak-hawak ko parin ang baso sa kabilang kamay ko.
"I believe, we have a proposal to talk about and a deal to make," seryosong sabi ni Rake dito at tinapunan ako ng nanlilisik na tingin. "I'm willing to do whatever it takes just to win you."
