Dark Side of the Castle (Complete version)

Chapter 8

                     𝕬 𝕻𝖗𝖎𝖓𝖈𝖊'𝖘 𝕯𝖊𝖆𝖑

Manila, Philippines

So that Maxon who took Pristine was Ruki's brother?! I still can't believe it. How unlucky can I get!

If Maxon was Ruki's brother then he is also Sese's cousin and one of the nine. And just thinking about how Pristine is close to one of them made me really numb. You're really digging your own grave Ivanessa.

But then again. I made myself believed that Ulysses don't care about me anymore. Kaya dapat ko nang alisin sa isipan ko yun. Hindi na ako dapat magpa apekto. It's not like I did a crime. Tama.

Later that afternoon, sinamahan ko lang si Lily sa mall pata bumili ng mga materials niya para sa props niya. I don't usually go to malls dahil madalas akong pinagbabawalan ni papa. Kung pupunta man ako dapat parati akong may kasamang bodyguard. But going with Lily is so much fun. Though pakiramdam ko medyo stiff ako at kinakabahan sa paligid. Hindi ako sanay na nasa lugar na may ganito kadaming tao.

Lily put everything she needs inside her basket at nagbayad na sa counter. After that, I told her that I want to treat her something to eat kasi sobrang saya ko talaga na nakapunta ako ngayon dito sa mall kasama siya. We went inside a fastfood chain dahil ayaw naman daw niyang gumastos ako ng malaki. So we just ate inside McDonalds.

Sobrang daming tao kaya mas lalo akong natuwa. Pero si Lily tintingnan lang ako ng masama.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" I asked her unsure.

"Para kang timang" sabi niya kaya napasimangot ako.

"You really stand out you know. Halatang hindi ka isang pangkaraniwang tao"

I still creased my eyebrow at her. "What do you suppose to mean? Ano ba ako sa paningin mo alien?"

Her eyebrows raised. "Alien must be a lot normal than you" she laughed. "Wag ka kasi masyado halatang hindi ka sanay sa ganito. Sige ka iisipin ng mga tao timang ka"

We ordered at the counter dahil obviously hindi ako sanay na inoorder ang food ko. Sanay ako na may waiters na lumalapit at hinahatiran kami ng pagkain.

Later then we sat down at the vacant tables at magkaharap kaming kumain ni Lily ng chicken burger, fries and coke float.

"Hmm! Lily masarap pala talaga to no!" I almost shouted in happiness. Para akong maiiyak.

Sa gulat napa shh pa siya sakin sabay dikit ng pointing finger niya sa bibig at nagpalinga linga sa paligid. Ano bang problema niya? Nang mapansin siguro niyang hindi ko naintindihan. Napasapo nalang siya ulit ng mukha.

"Minsan hindi ko na talaga alam ang gagawin ko sayo" aniya.

Pagkatapos namin kumain ay nagpasundo na ulit kami sa aming family driver na si Mr. Jones. Since bata sina mommy siya na ang personal driver ng family namin, medyo matanda na siya at maputi ang buhok. Bristish blood din kagaya ni lolo.

Pinuntahan namin si Mr. Jones sa parking lot at masaya niya kaming kinumusta.

"How's school young ladies?" he asked from the front seat.