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▪ALEXIA▪

I was so intrigued by the part where I'm reading, but then...

"Give me that."

Nabalik lang ako sa reyalidad nang mariing binawi ni Adrian ang newspaper saakin. 

I blinked.

"Problema mo?" Saad ko at saka nagkibit balikat. Sinalubong ko ang mga tingin niya.

"Ano nang plano mo?" He asked, pertaining to our talk minutes ago.

Napansin kong nakapatay na din ang TV. Nilapag niya muna ang diyaryo sa table bago nagkibit balikat.

"Eh nasaan ba kasi tayo ha? Palawan? Hong Kong?" I asked.

"Tanga ka ba? Na sa Manila lang tayo."

"Makatanga 'to!" Inirapan ko ang lalaki. "Fine. Pahatid nalang ako sa Misty Village--"

"What did you say? Ihahatid pa kita?" Adrian unbelievably asked.

"Yes! P-please." I forcefully pleased. Punyeta. "One last favor." Saad ko pa.

Should I puppy-eye him? Not like it's gonna work, the guy didn't even bother to compliment my astonishing beauty since yesterday. Tsk.

But it's not bad to try?

I slowly furrowed my eyebrows in a cute way, blowing little air inside my mouth to create a pout. "Please~," I said cutely.

Holy Molly.

Nandiri ang lalaki nang makita ang ekspresyon ko. "Gross. Fine. Not like I have a choice." As he rolled his eyes.

I smiled happily. "Thanks."

Ehh? Did I just voluntarily thank someone?

Weird.

Inirapan niya lang ulit ako. "I'll just change, wait here." Saad ni Adrian, completely ignoring what I said earlier.

Whatever.

Naglakad na paalis ang lalaki sa harapan ko at umakyat ng hagdan.

A few moments later at ako nalang ang mag-isa dito sa sala. My purse and phone are already on the table. As I observed the cabin once again.

At least before I leave this place, I'll ask Adrian his architect. This is a must!

I feel the need to go to the en suite toilet. There is a hallway right beside the kitchen so I slowly walked there. Sabi niya kagabi nandito daw 'yon.

Nang mapunta sa hallway ay may sumalubong na dalawang pinto na magkaharap. Where's the bathroom here? Ni wala ngang signs na nakalagay.

I started to open the right door carelessly 'cause I don't give a damn. Madilim ang buong paligid nang makita ko ang na sa loob ng kuwarto. Then I noticed a light switch right beside the door.

I was about to open the lights when a large hand pulled me away from the room, harshly.

"Shit, Alexia." 

Adrian appeared behind my back as the one who pulled me. 

He then closed that door in a heartbeat, as if he was hiding something in that room.

The hell?

I looked at him with confusion in my eyes. 

He's so fast! Nakapagbihis agad siya?! I didn't even hear some footsteps.

He breathed heavily. "Are you even permitted to go there?"

Base sa tingin at pananalita niya, para akong batang pinapagalitan. I let go of my arms na hinahawakan niya ngayon at saka nagkibit balikat. 

"Bakit ba kasi walang sign yung mga pinto dito?" I asked back. "Kung garage mo 'yan don't worry I'm not gonna laugh!" I laughed between my words.

He rolled his eyes.

"There, missy. Nandiyan ang cr." He pointed to the door behind us.

Lumingon ako roon.

Still, I can't believe na nakapagpalit agad ang gago nang ganoon kabilis. That was literally ten seconds!

"Alright." I went to that door and opened it. There I saw the en suite toilet. Finally!

Pumasok na ko doon at bago ko sinara ang pinto, I glanced at Adrian.

"Very weird, Adrian. What do you hide in there na kahit nandito na ko, nakabantay ka pa din diyan." I teased him. Binabantayan niya pa din yung pintong papasukan ko sana.

He glanced at his wristwatch. "Bilisan mo nga diyan or else hindi na kita ihahatid."

"Fine. Tsk." I rolled my eyes.

As I closed the door.

Several minutes later ay natapos ko na ang kailangan kong gawin sa en suite toilet. Lumabas na ko at saka ko sinara ang pinto.

"Adrian! Tapos na ko--"

"ALEXIA! OH MY GOSH!"

Napatalon ako sa gulat nang makita kong bumukas ang front door nang malaki... lots of heels clicking outside that I immediately knew it was a girl, or two. 

I was shocked who went here inside...

Lily and Molly! 

My face lit up as I saw them running towards me.

Took them decades, damn it!

They rushed to me as they both hugged me tightly. "Shit, you're okay, Alexia. Hindi ka namin nahanap kaagad!" Molly almost cried.

"It took us more than a day." Lily then.

I noticed the cops in front of the cabin while Adrian is standing outside of the door. Lumingon ako kina Lily at halatang nag-aalala ang mga ekspresyon nila.

Tsk.

"Yeah, took y'all so long. Nandoon na nga yung kotse ko sa crossroad as evidence eh." I scoffed.

They already let go of the hug. Hinawakan ni Molly ang kamay ko while Lily scanned the whole cabin. "So you stayed here, huh?" Lily asked.

"Don't worry, Alexia. Ipapapulis ko 'yang lalaking 'yan." Molly glanced at the front door where Adrian is.

Agad akong naalarma. "Don't!"

Wait, what?

"Why not? He kidnapped you right?" Molly asked me.

"I'm not kidnapped. You think I'm that weak?" I scoffed.

"Call Ma'am Cynthia. Sabihin mo nahanap na natin si Alexia." Saad ni Lily kay Molly.

Lumingon ako kay Molly. "I dare you." Binalaan ko siya.

I would never let Mom know about this!

"Why? Isn't she your mother?" Lily asked.

"Don't call her. I'll explain everything to the cops, hang in there."

Iniwanan ko muna sila at saka ako naglakad papunta sa front door.

Nang mapunta na doon ay agad tumingin ang mga police at si Adrian saakin. "I will explain."

"You are Misty Alexia Valdez, right?" The head cop went near me. I nodded as an answer.

"May ginawa ba 'tong residenteng 'to sayo?" He proceeds to ask me while he is holding a small notebook and a pen.

Naramdaman kong lumapit sa magkabila ko sina Lily.

"No, not at all. I was at a party yesterday located here which was my last destination before my disappearance. When an unknown criminal stole my purse." I explained at tumingin ako kay Adrian. We exchanged messages through our eyes.

Tsk, he owes me after saving his friend's ass!

I proceed to explain. "And I know it was very dangerous pero hinabol ko ang criminal. I did everything to the point na nakaabot kami sa daan, I chased his van with my car. Then my car bumped into this guy's car at the crossroad, at doon na ko nawalan ng malay." I pointed to Adrian. The cops were taking notes.

I looked at Adrian once again. "But before I collapsed,  Adrian saved me--"

"Dace, sir. My name is Dace." Adrian cut me off. Dace? The hell?

Lito akong tumingin kay Adrian. He then signaled for me to went along.

Weird.

I continued what I said. "At pinatuloy ako ni Dace sa bahay niya. He didn't do anything against my will, sir, as you can see. I'm fine and well. About my purse, it was not stolen pala, it was with me the whole time. But I can assure you that that criminal intended to steal it." I said.

Well, that purse scenario I lied to is very sketchy though. Anyone who has actual common sense won't believe what I'm blabbering right now. I ran into a criminal only to be dumb enough and realize my purse was with me?

But the cops are still somehow convinced.

And that, I knew exactly the reason why we were not caught in the racing competition that whole entire week. 

"Are you sure? O baka naman nilason ka nang lalaking 'yan?" Molly asked beside me as she glanced at Adrian.

"I'm completely fine."

"Tss, girltalks." Sumingit bigla si Adrian sa usapan namin.

Molly just rolled her eyes. She is never grumpy with everyone, she only tends to have the attitude when she needs to protect. That's why she's my bitch.  

"And you can't mess with Alexia. She has all the money and wealth to crash everyone who dares to crash her." Lily said.

Hehe, and that's why I love Lily Margaux.

"Is that the final?" The cop asked me.

"Yep."

"Are you sure you don't want to file anything against Dace-- full name sir." The cop glanced at Adrian.

"Dace Cruz." Mas lalo akong nagtaka dahil iba ang pangalang sinabi ni Adrian. May saltik ba siya? Isn't he, Dadrianne Dace Cadeau?

The cop nodded. "So Ms. Valdez, are you sure you're not going to file a lawsuit against Dace Cruz?"

I shook my head. "No. I said I'm completely fine." I asked irritatingly.

Binulsa na ng pulis and maliit na notebook. "Very well. We will head you straight to your residence at Misty Village." Saad pa nito.

Pumunta na ang mga police sa loob ng dalawang police car. Naunang sumunod sina Lily at Molly habang hawak nila ang purse at cellphone ko.

Lumingon ako kay Adrian. "You owe me something for saving you and that criminal's ass," I said to him.

He smirked. "Sure. What is it?" He crossed his arms.

I took a deep breath for strength and courage...

Before I said those words.

"Your phone number."

Adrian's surprised Pikachu face.

▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

Dahan dahan akong bumaba ng police car. Nandito na kami sa mansion ko.

I don't feel good about this.

"I had to tell it to your mother, Alexia." Saad ni Molly. Nakasunod silang dalawa saakin.

"You could've just said I stayed at your place! Dammit." Inis na inis ang tono ko.

"That was supposed to be our excuse. But your mom said she would visit our houses and I don't want my parents getting involved in this." Saad naman ni Lily.

Wala na kong nagawa kundi irolyo ang mga mata ko. May limang maids ang dali daling lumapit at binuksan ang front gate. Mukhang nag-aalala silang lahat saakin.

"Naku! Buti naman at ligtas ka, Ma'am Alexia." Saad nung isa sa kanila at tuluyan niya nang binuksan ang front gate.

"Marie, sabihin mo kay Madame Cynthia nandito na si Ma'am Alexia!"

"What?! Nandito si Mom?" I said to them.

"Of course she is." Lily said beside me.

Argh.

Dere deretso akong naglakad papasok sa mansion habang sinusundan ako nang lahat, including the damn cops.

A few minutes have passed and I'm already in front of the main door. The maids have opened it themselves.

Bumungad saakin si Mom na nakaupo sa main sofa habang si Manang Criselda ay nakatayo sa likod ni Mom.

Mom quickly ran in front of me as soon as she saw me.

Her eyes are crying.

"Alexia--"

Bago niya ko tuluyang lapitan ay umatras ako. Nilingunan ko ang mga police. "Leave us alone."

At dahan dahang umalis ang mga police na kanina pa nakabuntot saakin. 

Ang natira nalang sa loob ay si Mom, Manang Criselda at mga kaibigan ko.

I displayed a poker face while looking at her.

"You must've done that because of our fight the other day..." Mom started.

"Done what?" I asked.

"Naglayas ka, hindi ba?"

"Nope. I just stayed at a guy's place."

Her face was shocked.

"I'm not gonna go into details since the cops are here to explain that for you," I said while looking at my nails. "But as you can see, your daughter is alive, breathing, and moving. No need to fake your worry or something."

Mom covered her mouth using her hands. "Fake my worry, Alexia? Ganiyan na ba ang tingin mo saakin?" She unbelievably asked.

"Tumigil ka, Alexia."

Nagulat ako nang magsalita si Manang Criselda. Lumapit ito sa'ming dalawa ni Mom at pumagitna. She looked straight into my eyes.

Anger.

"Hindi ko na kayang tiisin pa ang pag-mamaltrato mo sa ina mo."

Hinawakan niya ang magkabila kong braso. "Kung nandito lang ang ama mo ay matagal ka na niyang sinampal dahil sa ugali mo--"

"Bakit ba ang hilig niyong banggitin si Dad?!" Mabilis kong nilayo ang sarili ko kay Manang.

"Dahil siya ang rason kung bakit ka naging ganiyan at iyon ang mali, Alexia!" Malakas niyang sigaw.

"Hindi mo dapat ginagamit ang kamatayan ng ama mo sa ganito. Hindi mo na nirerespeto ang kaluluwa niyang namayapa na! Hindi biro ang nangyari sa inyo pero hindi lang ikaw ang nawalan, Alexia. Kaya tama na..."

Medyo kumalma na ang tono niya at muling lumapit saakin.

How dare her?

Sino siya para pagsalitaan ako!

"Alexia, anak--"

"Get away from me!"

Marahas kong tinulak si Manang palayo saakin kaya agad naalarma si Mom. 

"Alexia! How dare you push Manang like that?!"

"Hindi mo dapat siya tinulak, Alexia." Lily seriously said while gripping my left arm to stop me.

Mom cried even more. "You are a monster, Alexia. I don't even know you anymore..." She said while slowly shaking her head. Dalawa sila ni Manang na nakatingin saakin habang magkayakap.

I am...

A monster?

Am I really?

My heart completely sank by the time I slowly digest that word to myself.

"I'm not a monster!" I shouted with so much outrage.

I quickly stormed out of the mansion once again. 

But this one, somehow... 

Made the deepest cut inside of me.

No one wants to be called a monster, right?

▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

"Hello? Molly? Hey, answer me!"

I heard Lily shouting on her phone while driving. I rolled my eyes as I turned the volume louder.

'Yeah, he found a six-shooter gun

In his dad's closet, in a box of fun things

And I don't even know what

But he's coming for you, yeah, he's coming for you'

"Damn it, she's not answering." Lily hissed as she finally gave up on contacting Molly.

She threw the phone at the back as she looked at me. "Bakit mo naman kasi ginawa 'yon?" She asked me.

"Focus on the road." I coldly said at hindi ko na siya nilingunan pa. Tinuon ko nalang ang pansin sa car window. The view is blurred because of the hard rainfall.

'All the other kids with the pumped-up kicks

You better run, better run, outrun my gun

All the other kids with the pumped-up kicks

You better run, better run faster than my bullet'

Lily said that Molly already left the time I was fighting with the both of them.

Hindi ko nga napansing nauna na pala siya. Hell, I was too angry to even think that my friends are also inside the mansion, watching all of that chaos unfold before them.

Molly's parents died due to an unknown reason which she hasn't revealed to us yet. The only thing she said about them is that they died when she was only eight.

Now that I think about it, maybe that fight with Mom brought her so much pain. How rude of me to argue with my mother in front of someone who has none? Tch. I'm so stupid.

"Where do you want us to go?" Lily asked me.

I glanced at her as I finally lower the volume of the music in front.

"Decide." I answered with no life.

Lily kept driving and passed by roads that I don't even know. Weird to say but I trust her, if she plans to put me in danger then I'm in.

I'd do everything to forget this pain.

"We're going to a bar," Lily said while focusing on the road.

"Bar again? I used to love bars but it's getting boring there now."

"You said I'd be the one to decide, right?" Her tone says common sense.

"You better make my jaw drop on that 'bar' you're saying." I rolled my eyes.

I saw Lily in my peripheral vision, looking up as if she was thinking of something.

"You know what? Let's consider that."

"Consider what?"

"I'm gonna make your jaw drop, literally. Hang in there," She switched roads while holding the driving wheel intensely.

"I don't like that smirk, Lily." I furrowed my eyebrows at her. What on Earth is she thinking about?

"Come on, it's gonna be fun. You like fun right?" She smirked even more.

"But your smirk, Lily! It's like, uh." Frustration is evident in my voice.

I drew circles on my forehead to cool myself while taking a peek at the car window.

"Fine. Do your thing. If this ends up in whole new chaos I'll slit your throat."

"Oh trust, this is another chaos, Alexia." She laughed between her words.

She is really the type of friend who won't get you into trouble. In other words, she's a safe friend to be with...

I smell trouble.

▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

"We're here."

Tapos nang i-park ni Lily ang kotse sa parking lot.

Ako ang naunang lumabas.

I was shocked to see that we're at a mountaintop. Open space and fresh air.

Unlike the location of the Salvador bar, there were no ocean or city lights. All I see is a huge carpet of the dark sky and not many trees in sight. It's a literal field at the mountaintop.

In the middle lies an enormous and astonishing establishment from afar. I'm guessing that was the bar.

I've never seen this before.

"Bitch where are we-- what are you wearing?"

I glanced at Lily who had just gotten out of her car, wearing a black facemask and black sunglasses. She's wearing a cropped leather jacket, a white top, and black jeans.

As soon as she went near me, she directly throws a black facemask and a cap which I immediately caught.

Looking at my confused expression made her talk. "There are some dangerous people inside, wear that." She casually said.

Dangerous people?

How'd she even know that? And why is she so calm?!

"What do you mean dangerous people? I knew this would be a bad idea!"

"You look like a cat about to take a bath, Alexia." She said.

Referring to me as a cat makes me more annoyed at her.

"Stop this, Lily!"

"Shh. Quiet bitch," She said in a lower voice. "Just stick by my side then, coward."

What did she just?! Argh!

We already walked towards this unknown bar. I couldn't care less about how it looks expensive and exceptional, I'm fucking confused.

"But seriously, stick by my side, Alexia." She said while walking. "And about what I said, forget about it. There's not a dangerous individual in here but we never know."

"Where exactly are we?" I ignored what she said. The rainfall already stopped a while ago.

"Nasugbu, Batangas. This bar is only exclusive for important and rich people that's why it's an enclosed area." We both scanned the surroundings. It sure is. "Loud music and dancing bitches aren't that much." She explained.

Good. I don't like being in a crowded place for now.

We already reached the entrance of the bar. There are a few people in corporate suits on the side talking, some with cigars. Lily is in front of me to pay for our entrance.

Nakapasok na kami after a couple of minutes.

As usual, it looks expensive and Lily was right, there is no loud music but a soothing saxophone instrument being played all over the bar. The lights are gold but not so bright, wood is the material of the chairs and table. Many other men and women in this huge area are talking and babbling shit.

Now that I think about it, what are we doing here?

I was about to ask Lily that but she was nowhere to be found in front of me.

"Over here!"

Lily called me as I saw her on the wooden stairs. I was so spaced out I didn't even know she was already there.

We already reached the second floor not leaving my oh-so-great friend's side. This floor consists of the same thing, except they got to have a view of the ground floor and that big-ass chandelier hanging in the middle.

Overall, this looks like an expensive bar inspired