Caught By The Fire (Avoc Scorned)

Chapter 10: Chaos

Pinikit ko ang aking mata kasabay ng pagsabog sa koro ng tinutugtog. My fingers are so familiar with the piano keys, I could do it in a heartbeat. Both my hands are like weightless paper dancing in the wind.

I smiled when the sound of the violin playing in the background smoothly blended with my melody. Never Enough from the The Greatest Showman movie filled the four corners of the function event. Sa sobrang tahimik ng paligid ay aakalain mong walang ibang tao kundi ako lang.

Napadilat ako nang may narinig na kumakanta sa pyesang tinutugtog. My eyes went to the sedate audience. Their expression so vivid to me, a mixture of awe and transient, like their lost in their pool of thoughts.

I searched for that person singing to give him or her an acknowledging smile but what I immediately found is Avoc from one of the VVIP rounded tables in front. He's with his bunch of cousins. I saw Argus whispered something to him but his gaze didn't fazed. He's staring at me like I casted a spell and now he's bewitched. His expression in between astonish and dazed. Namumula ang ilalim ng kanyang mata, like anytime his tears would fall. Halos hindi ito kumurap na animo nawawala.

Malamig akong nag-iwas ng tingin at itinuon ang buong atensyon sa ginagawa.

Halos dalawang linggo na ang nakakalipas pagkatapos noong palpak na pagtatangka namin sa buhay ni Aravella. Just when I'm about to put an end of that night, Sia demanded to abort it. Galit na galit ako dahil hindi ko na nagugustuhan ang mga pinanggagawa nito sa amin. It's like she's toying with us. Send us to war then abort it like we're her fucking private armies. She's not even thinking how risky for us to be out in the open like that. Paano kung natyempuhan kami noon? Edi, bistado ang katauhan namin!

The shoot out was all over the news that day. Ilang araw laman ng balita si Aravella Cruise at ilang pinsan nitong lalaki dahil sa pamamaril nang hindi pa rin nakikilalang mga suspect sa basement parking ng kanilang emperyo. I was thankful for the media though kasi roon na lang ako nakakakuha ng balita kay Avoc. Hindi naman ito napano. Walang balang naligaw sa kanya sa kabila ng pagpapaulan ko. And if you're thinking that it was a miracle, no it was not. It was just me, not wanting him to get hurt.

I ended my number with a lingering tune in the last keys of the piano. I received a round of applaused and loud cheering when I close the lid of the forte. Too engrossed with what I'm doing, I didn't notice the left thin strap of my silk gown falling from my shoulder. I put it back in place before I stood up and went to the middle of the stage to bow.

We attended a charity event with Sia Malcolm where the Cruises are also present. This is one of her plans, though, we're not doing anything violent tonight. She just really want to make an appearance na kasama kaming magkakapatid. Kasama rin namin si Wretch na siya mismong escort ni Verona ngayon. At kanina ko pa napapansin ang madalas na tingin ni Aravella sa aming table. Ang totoo niyan ay hindi lang siya. Even Avoc who's been trying to approach me the first time he saw me in the event earlier. At pasimple naman akong umiiwas sa tuwing nakikita ko itong palapit sa akin.

Wala na akong contact sa kanya pagkatapos noong huli namin pagkikita sa kanyang condo. After ignoring his calls several days, I shut my phone off. Ngayon na lang ulit kami nagkita sa loob ng halos tatlong linggo kaya siguro ganoon na lang ang gulat niya kanina nang makita ako. He wasn't expecting to see me tonight in the same event where they are also invited.

Ngumiti ako, halos hindi marinig ang sinasabi ng emcee dahil sa lakas ng palakpakan. I could see my sisters from their table with their infamous creepy smirk. Si Sia naman ay hindi rin nalalayo ang ekspresyon. I smirked and without glancing at the Cruises' table, I pulled the hem of my silver satin gown to leave the stage.

Nagpasalamat ako sa lalakeng staff na naghihintay sa paanan ng stage nang ilahad nito ang kamay para tulungan ako.

"You're welcome, Miss. Shall I escort you back to your table?" sabay lapit nito sa aking tainga para magkarinigan kami ng maayos.