༻✦༺
╔═══════════════╗

▪ ALEXIA ▪

"Hoy, Adrian! Nasaan tayo ngayon?"

I shouted.

Shoot, nakalimutan ko palang itanong sa kaniya kung nasaan kami ngayon.

I didn't hear an answer from him. Buwisit.

Hindi ko nalang ito pinansin at naglakad ako papunta sa kitchen area niya. Pero bago pa 'yon, tumingin muna ako sa mga bintana.

Sobrang dilim na pero makakakita ka pa din ng mga matatangkad na puno sa paligid. Kaunting kaunti nalang talaga ay aakalain kong na sa gitna kami nang isang isla.

I'm not really a nature person to begin with but somehow, this kind of vibe is just so mesmerizing. Wooden walls and floor, expensive furniture, cold and cozy environment while having a good nature view.

Binuksan ko ang ref and there I found some food. Iyon nga lang, mas kapansin pansin ang mga sandamakmak na beer dahil sa sobrang dami.

Tss, lasinggero pala 'tong si Adrian.

Kinuha ko ang isang pack nang tinapay at isang grape jam. Walang nakalagay na label sa grape jam, na sa isang jar lang ito. Well, I don't care anyways. Kumuha din ako ng isang bote ng beer at sinarado ko ang pinto ng ref.

Umupo ako sa isa sa mga metal stool at nilapag ang pagkain sa lamesa. Mataas ang upuan at lamesa na kaunti nalang ay maaabot ko na ang mga light bulbs na nakasabit sa ceiling.

Binuksan ko ang lagayan ng tinapay at kumuha nang isa, at saka nagpalaman.

"What a brat."

I heard someone from the stairs.

Lumingon ako doon and there I saw Adrian, standing while his arms are crossed looking at me directly. "Hindi ka man lang nag-paalam saakin na kakalikutin mo 'yang ref ko?"

I continued to spread the jam in my bread while looking at him teasingly. "Oh come on, I don't do shit like that," I answered.

He just rolled his eyes at bumalik sa taas.

At saan naman pupunta yung lokong 'yon?

Well, whatevah.

I was about to bite my bread when I heard footsteps from the stairs again.

Pagkalingon ko, I saw Adrian walking down the stairs while holding a tray with food.

Iyon ang tray ng pagkain na binigay niya saakin nung nagising ako.

"What now?"

I asked him, indicating the food he is holding right now.

He simple ignored my question hanggang sa makalapit na ito saakin.

Nilapag ni Adrian ang tray ng pagkain sa lamesa at saka ako tiningnan mismo sa mata. "These are the only foods you will get," Saad niya at saka tinuro ang tray. "Nothing else."

Maraha niyang binawi ang tinapay na hawak ko. "Hey! That's my food. Ano bang trip mo?" Naiinis kong tanong sa kaniya.

He ignored me again at tuluyan niya nang kinuha ang tinapay at ang grape jam sa lamesa. Hindi ko na ito nakuha pa sa kaniya dahil mabilis itong naglakad palayo.

At wala na din ako sa mood para habulin pa siya dahil lang sa isang tinapay. Tss.

I rolled my eyes.

Kinuha ko ang soup sa tray at ang kutsara. While I'm mixing the soup, I observed Adrian.

Na sa kitchen counter siya ngayon which is kaharap lang ng lamesang ito kaya nakikita ko pa din siya. Nakatalikod siya sa gawi ko ngayon habang nilalagay pabalik sa ref ang kinuha kong jam at tinapay.

I can't help but keep staring.

"Anong ibig mong sabihin kanina?" I asked him. "About your name. You said it's too long for me to understand." I added. Unti unti kong kinain ang soup.

Naramdaman ko ang paglingon ng lalaki saakin. May hawak itong bote ng beer.

"It's a phrase I copied from someone, and my name's long too, so." He answered. 

A phrase from someone, huh. Is he really related to that girl? Pero napakaraming tao sa mundo, it's impossible. But if they are really siblings, then I guess I don't give a damn.

"You know I can feel your huge interest in me, Alexia, might as well admit it," Adrian said. "Let's play a game."

I can feel his smirk after he said those words.

Agad naman akong tumingin sa kaniya.

He walked towards the table I'm sitting at. Saka niya binaba ang beer sa tapat ko at sinandal niya ang kaniyang dalawang kamay sa lamesa. Mag-kaharap kaming dalawa ngayon.

I raised my right brow at him.

"You will ask me a question and if I can't answer it, tagay agad. Same to you." Adrian explained as he smirked even more. "Take the lead."

Kinuha ko naman ang beer ko. "Alright then. What's your full name? Come on, it's just a name but you're making it hard for me to know it." I said with an irritated tone. 

"I'm Dadrianne Dace Cadeau."

Agad nitong sinagot ang tanong ko.

Ano daw? Dadrianne Dace--what? Cadew? Cashew? Mountain Dew?

Tama nga ang sinabi niya, mahirap ngang intindihin ang pangalan niya!

"I'm Misty Alexia Valdez then, in case you don't know." I introduced myself.

"I already know your full name." Adrian suddenly said.

"You do?" I uttered unbelievably. "So tama ang hinala kong kasabwat mo nga yung nag-nakaw saakin! Binuksan mo yung purse ko 'no? Did you withdraw half of my bank account already?" Sunod sunod kong tanong.

Aba't sinasabi ko na nga ba!

"I said one question at a time. You're being unfair." Depensa ni Adrian. Tsk.

"Bastard." I whispered under my breath while glaring at him.

Pero walang epekto ang binibigay kong tingin sa kaniya dahil nakangiti lang ito nang inosente saakin.

"Anyways, it's my turn to ask," Adrian said. "Why did you cry last night when we first met?" He asked.

Shit.

Binitawan ko ang kutsarang hawak ko at saka tumingin sa bote ng beer.

Agad ko itong kinuha at huminga muna nang malalim.

At saka ko ininom ang laman niyon.

Nilapag ko na ulit ang beer sa lamesa habang bumubuntong hininga. It's too much for my throat to handle.

Pinunasan ko ang bibig ko at doon ko lang nakita ang ekspresyon ni Adrian habang nakatingin saakin.

"You're really that secretive, huh?" He asked me.

"Says the one," I rolled my eyes. "My question earlier, Adrian. Paano nakarating ang purse ko sayo?" I seriously asked him.

Now that I'm comparing both him and the criminal, it's impossible to think that Adrian is the one who stole my purse. The voice is hella different. Adrian's voice sounds more manly I guess. But, whatever.

I need to know the truth behind all of this!

Titig na titig ako sa kaniya habang hinihintay ang sagot nito. He is smirking by the way, as if he knows something but he won't tell it.

"I know the guy who stole your purse."

He simply answered at ininom niya na din ang beer niya, probably forgetting the game we were playing.

Going back to my situation, I gasped.

"You know him? Nasaan siya, Adrian? He needs to go to jail no matter what!" I exclaimed.

Hinding hindi ko malilimutan ang pag-papahirap ng kriminal na 'yon saakin!

Binaba ni Adrian ang beer niya at tumingin saakin. "Bagong salba lang 'yon naisahan ka na?" He said.

Based on the tone of his voice, he seems to be underestimating me.

Mas lalo akong nagalit. Kaya agad akong tumayo sa upuan ko nang padabog, not giving a damn about the loud noise created by the metal stool and the wooden floor going against each other.

I glared at him at saka ko sinandal ang dalawa kong mga palad sa lamesa. We stared at each other.

"Bagong salba, huh? So you do know him? Magnanakaw ka din ba?" Sunod sunod kong tanong. "If you won't tell me where that criminal is, ikaw ang ipapakulong ko, Adrian." Banta ko.

I was expecting him to be scared but he smirked.

"Don't try me, Adrian." I slowly shook my head. "Don't ever." Mas diniinan ko pa ang huli kong sinabi.

"Tss." Adrian said and his eyes alone is laughing at me. Mukhang hindi ito natatakot saakin.

But I don't care if he thinks of me like that. Tingnan nalang natin kung saan 'to aabot, and I will show him how crazy I can really be.

"Fine. Try me, Alexia. Ipakulong mo ko... But I know that dirty little secret about your illegal race."

My jaw dropped the same time my confidence did.

I nervously looked at him.

H-how... 

How the hell?

"Sparing you the long story, I work with computers and systems to know what goes in and out of Manila. Are we fair now?" Adrian teasingly asked.

I was too stunned to speak.

If Adrian spilled that, hindi lang ako ang apektado kundi ang mga kaibigan ko at ang iba pang participants, most especially the Sniper brothers...

How this guy blackmailed me so well. He basically trapped me in my own trap.

Buwisit!

What am I gonna do now?

"Are you still up or?" Adrian continued as he chuckled.

"We couldn't possibly catch each other in our own poopholes, could we?" I unbelievably said as I chugged the beer. Mabilis ko ding binaba ang beer dahil hindi naman ako malakas pagdating sa beer para umubos ng isang bote. "And I can't believe we have to vouch for each other like duos and shit!"

Adrian burst into laughter indicating he agrees with what I said. He knows about the race, and I know about that snatcher friend of his. But I still won't forget that fact 'cause I'd have to kick that snatcher in his balls.

"Why was he stealing anyway? Don't you have money to give him some bucks? With this house?"

"I'm not asking why you race on the highway when you can rent a whole race track with your status."

I narrowed my eyes. "You're way too good at this." 

He smirked. We continued to drink our beers until we finished. Well, of course, he finished way earlier than me. 

"Let's continue the game without alcohol, my turn to ask." Adrian initiated. "What do you think of me when we first met?"

"You look hella mysterious, especially that black suit you wore that night." Sagot ko.

Adrian chuckled.

"Do you have a brother or sibling? Bakit mag-isa ka lang dito?" It's now my turn to ask.

I want to know kung kapatid niya nga talaga si Ayana.

It took him a while to answer. "I have siblings," Adrian answered. "And this is just a resthouse of mine."

"Siblings? So ibig sabihin marami kayo?" I asked him again. Gosh, why am I so curious about this guy?

"One question at a time, missy. Masyado ka atang interesado saakin." Adrian chuckled. I hissed.

"You're so full of yourself, give me a break." I whispered under my breath.

Nauhaw ako kaya kinuha ko ang isang baso ng tubig sa tray. At saka ko iyon ininom.

"My turn again," Adrian spoke. "Who do you think is better? Me or Mark Sniper?"

I almost spat my water.

Just what on Earth?!

How did he know Mark's name?! At ano bang pinagsasasabi niya?

"What the hell, Adrian?" I asked him with a disgusted look.

"Stop asking me questions when you haven't even answered mine." He said in a mysterious manner. "Who do you prefer, yung pandaking gago na 'yon o ako?" He added.

"Pandaking gago?! Excuse me, mahiya ka nga!" I reacted.

Adrian chuckled. "Why aren't you answering my question then? If you think Mark is better, just say his name." He said.

Then it hit me. This bastard is down bad drunk? I'm tipsy at the moment but I'm still aware of what's happening, and Adrian is completely talking out of his mind now. 

Wow. And here I thought he would last longer than me.

Dahan dahang lumapit si Adrian saakin. His face are now inches away from mine.

I felt my cheeks turn hotter. Holy shit.

"Say it, Alexia. Say his name."

Adrian whispered that only two of us can hear.

Tsk, we're playing it like this huh?

"What if I don't?" I whispered too.

"I'll kiss that damn lips if you don't."

Unti unting lumaki ang mata ko sa gulat nang marinig ang sinabi ni Adrian.

He's gonna kiss me?

He closed the remaining gap between our faces as I stared into his eyes. I didn't know my cheeks can be hotter than it already is.

I lost my breath when our faces are just an inch away, I became a statue from my seat. The way he stared at me is all it takes for my chest to thump fastly.

Why am I not moving?!

"Your cheeks are turning red," Adrian whispered. "I don't think you have that earlier." He added with a sarcastic tone.

Seconds later, his face is slowly getting near to mine. I saw how his eyes are also closing and that made me scream internally.

He's really gonna do it?

May sariling utak ata ang katawan ko at unti unti ko ding pinikit ang mga mata ko.

I don't know why but I felt a sudden thrill of what's gonna happen next. Curiosity is an understatement. And excitement...

Or am I drunk as well?

Ilang saglit na ang lumipas at wala pa din akong nararamdaman na dumadampi sa aking mga labi.

I immediately opened my eyes and there I saw him...

Controlling his mouth from howling!

"You jerk!"

I shouted at Adrian and that's how he laughed really loud with his table spanking.

"Damn, she really thinks I will-"

Hindi niya natuloy ang sinasabi at tumawa ito nang tumawa. "I should've captured that!" He said between his laughs.

Was he really drunk or he's just playing it all along?! 

"Ang lakas talaga ng trip mong hayop ka! Umalis ka sa harapan ko ngayon din!"

I commanded the guy in his own place. The hell I care!

Bumuntong huminga siya nang maluwag pagtapos niyang tumawa nang sobrang lakas. "Bahay mo?" Adrian asked as he laughed again, wiping his tears like a fucker.

"Leave, Adrian. You're such a douchebag." I cussed again. Iniwas ko ang tingin ko sa kaniya.

"Ba't ka kasi naniwalang hahalikan talaga kita?" He asked me.

Argh.

I'm also asking that myself, Adrian!

"Anyways, it's already late. I want to sleep." Nag-unat na si Adrian sa harapan ko.

That jerk-ass face.

Tsk.

How much I want to punch him right now. Mukha pa ngang proud ang gago sa ginawa niya saakin kanina. The blackmail, the way I asked him things that made me look interested in him, and that loathing kiss attempt of the century.

I can't believe this right now. Literally, no one ever did these things to me! He is an exception and I hate him for that.

Naglakad na si Adrian paalis. Wala akong desisyon kundi palihim siyang sundan ng tingin. This night alone just made me look like a complete ass.

"Eat there, watch TV and shit. I'm going upstairs."

Adrian said as he already stormed out of the kitchen area. 

"Oh and by the way..." Bago pa umakyat si Adrian ay nagsalita ulit siya. "We're quite alike though. My lips are also valuable that I reserve it to someone worthy enough." Tila ba'y inulit ng binata ang sinabi ko sa kaniya.

Tss, he really has the guts huh?

Hindi ko pa din siya nilingunan at patuloy na hinahalo ang sabaw sa harapan ko out of embarassment. Yeah right, I forgot that this soup existed.

But even if I don't look, that familiar smirk is what I saw from my peripheral vision. That smirk that I hate so much.

"Now, why would I kiss you when I don't even know you?" He teasingly asked. Diniinan niya pa ang huling mga kataga.

What a damned bastard.

Nanakawan na nga ko, nahimatay at nagising sa bahay ng isang stranger pero tila ba'y nalimutan ko ang lahat ng 'yon dahil sa kupal na 'to!

All I know this night is Mr. Black Guy or let's call him by the name Dadrianne Dace Cadeau, the first and only guy ever to humiliate me but I still had the guts to remember that smirk!

■ ■ ■ ■

.

"Headmistress!"

.

"Ang bata!"

.

"His child is inside!"

.

"Hindi natin puwedeng iligtas 'yon. It's better if we just, let it."

.

"Let what? Let the baby die? It's a child!"

.

"Then go there, Xybert! Tingnan nalang natin kung makalabas ka pa nang buhay."

.

"The child deserves freedom... kahit kaaway pa natin ang dugo niya."

.

"What's your final decision, Headmistress?"

.

"Headmistress?"

.

"Headmistress?!"

.

.

"HEADMISTRESS!"

.

.

.

"Earth to Alexia, missy!"

Agad akong nagising at napabalikwas sa posisyon ko.

Hindi ko agad nadilat ang mga mata ko nang maigi. Dahil sa pag-bulabog ni Adrian saakin agad akong napatayo sa metal stool kaya namulikat ang leeg ko.

"Aw!"

Hindi ko mapigilang masabi at mabilis na hinawakan ang batok ko.

Shit, my head hurts!

"Peste ka talaga, Adrian!"

I shouted at him with my raspy, morning voice.

My brain can't function but all I could think of is to kill Adrian at this moment.

Argh!

"Ang hirap mo kayang gisingin, I had to shout all over." Nakita siguro ni Adrian ang pag-sarado ko ng mga sentido sa galit.

Dahan dahan kong idinilat ang mga mata ko.

I'm still on the same metal stool and table just like last night. Tsk. No wonder why my head hurts... the jerk didn't even have the nerve to move me on a sofa, I had to sleep on the metal stool like an ass!

I looked at the guy in front of me with fiery anger.

He innocently smiled. This bitch!

Seeing him with glasses, Mickey Mouse pajamas, and rabbit slippers right now made me want to knock him out completely.

I glanced at my surroundings and all of the windows in the cabin are open, reflecting a lot of sunlight from here which made it more annoying. From the looks of it, it's already noon.

Na sa tabi ko pa din ang tray kagabi pati na din ang purse ko. I immediately grabbed my purse, as I lay my head down on the table once again to sleep.

I'm still sleepy.

...

...

...

...

...

What the hell kinda dream was that?

Wait, it was a dream?

I don't know what I'm talking about.

And that dream... I already forgot about it.

Whose voices did I hear?

I don't even know them.

Who are they, then?

■ ■ ■ ■

"You were so grumpy like a monster, Alexia. Damn."

Adrian chuckled while stuffing the damn French bread in his mouth.

"Make fun of me and that French bread is flying in your ceiling." I rolled my eyes as I drank my coffee.

Nanonood kami ng TV ngayon habang nakaupo sa magkaibang sofa.

He sat on the main sofa right in front of the TV while I sat on a one-person couch on the left. Nilapag ko ang kape sa glass table.

He already swallowed his bread. "Hey, you seemed to be enjoying the stay here, missy. Any plans?"

Tanong ni Adrian nang hindi natingin saakin. He's busy watching that stupid football match.

"I'm not answering your questions until you stop watching that shitty football." I said with an irritated tone.

"Then don't answer. This match is more important than you so."

My jaw dropped at what he just said.

Argh!

Nanatiling nakatingin si Adrian sa TV habang kumakain ng popcorn. Tsk.

Agad akong sumandal sa couch at nagkibit balikat. Tumingin nalang din ako sa pesteng football match na 'yan.

Bakit nasaktan yung ego ko nung sinabi niya 'yun? Yeah right. Throughout my whole life, I'm always been considered a 'once-in-a-lifetime' woman. People would treat me like royalty. I never experienced someone neglecting my existence but this guy just changed it all for me in a span of one night.

He treats me like shit. Or maybe I'm just so used to being treated well? Adrian made me realize that I'm not special, I'm just a normal person. Therefore I