Chapter 31: Alliance Party
 

MONTHS had passed again like a blur. I felt I lived like a normal people do. Walang barilan, walang patayan, at walang habulang nagaganap ilang buwan na ang nakalilipas.
 
No threats coming from the enemies, and it was making me anxious. Was this calmness before the storm?
 
"Ate!"
 
Nakuha ng atensyon ko ang matinis na boses ni Levin, tumatakbo at puno ng ngiti ang mukha. Kapag nakikita ko ang ngiti niya ay nawawala agad ang pangamba ko.
 
He's comforting me without him knowing.
 
"Hello, handsome!" I greeted him, and he kissed my cheeks when he reached where I was.
 
"I have a project, ate, can you please help me?" he sweetly asked.
 
"A project? What is it? I will always help, 'no!" I pinched his cute nose.
 
"Teacher Beth wants me to take a picture with my pet. Dalawa kami ni Jaki!"
 
Biglang umurong ang dila ko at nagdalawang isip sa sinabi ko. Fuck!
 
His pet?! That freaking jaguar?! Oh God! That wild animal again! Jaki—the jaguar must be in the wilderness and not here in this mansion!
 
It has been months that I didn't see Jaki, and when I first saw him in that golden room, he was just a kid! Bata pa lang 'yon pero kasing laki na ni Levin!
 
"Here's my phone, ate! Tara!" Wala akong magawa sa paghila niya at nagpatianod na lang papunta sa gintong kwartong, 'yon hawak nang mahigpit ang phone ni Levin.
 
As the door opened, it created a creepy sound that made my heart beat faster. The moment we stepped inside, Jaki made a low growl, making my feet tremble in fear as it vibrated through my system. It revealed his long canines, ready enough to break someone's neck if ever he attacked.
 
I felt the air between my lungs and throat get stuck when Jaki wags his tail and jumps off his golden bed. He growled again.
 
"Good boy, Jaki." Levin patted his head.
 
Jaki looks so happy seeing Levin, he even licked him. Napadako ang tingin nito sa 'kin na halos ikinalaki ng mata ko ng maglakad 'to papunta sa direksyon ko.
 
Nanigas ako bigla sa kinatatayuan ng dilaan nito ang kamay ko. He growled again, as if he were demanding to pat his head. I left no choice but to touch his head.
 
Jaki seems to like it, kaya mas lalo niyang nilapit ang katawan sa'kin.
 
"Jaki likes you, ate!" Levin smiled at me. "Ayaw na ayaw ni Jaki ng ibang taong pumapasok dito. Nagagalit siya," kunwa'y bulong niya para hindi marinig ni Jaki 'yon.
 
"Uh. . .yeah? Can. . .I take a picture with you with Jaki?"
 
He nodded. "Jaki! Come here." He tapped his side, which made Jaki sit on his side. He hugged Jaki. "Look at the camera, Jaki, let's take a picture."
 
Jaki growled like he knew what Levin was telling him and looked in my direction. Agad kong tinaas ang phone nito para makunan ko na sila ng picture at makaalis na ng buhay sa kwartong 'to.
 
After that, Jaki and Levin played a minute. Naghahabulan silang dalawa at nagkakagatan—literal na kagatan!
 
"Levin!" I anxiously called while his arm was in Jaki's mouth. 
 
Napatitig ako sa mga tauhan ni Agon at walang reaksyon lang ang mga itong nakabantay. They're even not bothered by the danger that the jaguar will do to Levin. They are so damn calm!
 
Levin laughed hard as if it tickled him. "Jaki, stop na, nagagalit na si Ate Jeykcil."
 
"Let's go, Levin. Baka hinahanap ka na ng kuya mo," pagpapalusot ko pa.
 
"Bye, Jaki! Me and Ate Jeyk will visit you again. We will walk you in the park!" masayang sabi pa niya.
 
I noticed Jaki growled and walked with us and stopped when he reached the door. Levin waved at him at pinilit pa akong kumaway kay Jaki.
 
"Bye, Jaki." I waved my hand, napipilitan lang. Tila nabunutan ako ng tinik sa dibdib ng marinig ko ang pagsara ng gintong kwartong 'yon.
 
Nang makalabas kami ay agad akong sinalubong ni Agon. My heart beated faster the moment our eyes met.
 
Tumakbo na si Levin sa labas, probably want to play with Agon's men again in the frontyard.
 
"Prepare yourself, Blacks are coming." He handed me a paper bag at wala akong nagawa kaya abutin 'to. "Don't make yourself too beautiful. . . nagseselos ako kapag na sa'yo lahat ng atensyon," mahinang aniya sa huli.
 
I act like I didn't hear what he said, pero naghuhurumentado na ang kalooban ko. He really has feelings for me, but I don't know what's in between us.
 
"What did you say?" I managed not to stutter.
 
Tinitigan lang ako ni Agon tila nangtutunaw ang mata nitong nagsusumigaw ng kung ano. He raised his brows. "Do I need to repeat myself?" He closed the distance between us.
 
Ilang ulit akong napahakbang patalikod hanggang sa maramdaman ko ang malamig na pader ang humalik sa likuran ko.
 
I can now smell his minty breath and his perfume mixing on my nose. His distance was so close to me that one wrong move I make, my lips will touch his. He leaned closer at napakurap ako ng ilang beses sa lapit niya, naduduling na yata ako dahil hindi ko pa rin kinuha ang paningin sa mga mata niya.
 
Heto na naman siya. Walang sinasabi at nakatitig lang sa'kin. Confusion was taking over my body. I can tell that Agon has feelings towards me, but iba pa rin ang nagagawa ng mga salitang manggagaling mismo sa bibig niya.
 
Ayokong pangunahan at baka nag-a-assume lang ako sa nararamdaman kong 'to.
 
"Why? Why do you make me feel this way?" I whispered, not breaking our eye contact. "Tell me what you feel, Agon."
 
Agon's finger's trailed on my arms that sends shivers down my spine. He was about to say something when Nick's voice interrupted us.
 
Agad kaming napatingin sa papasok na ni Nick. May mga kasama itong mga babaeng nakauniporme ng kulay pink at puti.
 
"Make sure that the party will go smoothly, okay?" aniya tila isang mayordomang estrikta.
 
"Yes po sir," sabay-sabay na sabi ng mga babae.
 
Napabaling si Nick sa gawi namin at doon ko lang naalala ang posisyon naming dalawa ni Agon. I pushed him hard para makalayo, muntik pa siyang ma-out of balance.
 
"Tss."
 
"W-what's happening? What p-party?" pag-iiba ko ng usapan at pinilit na huwag magkanda-utal pero ganoon pa rin ang nangyari.
 
When Agon's brow arched, I remembered what he said a while ago. Oo nga pala, Blacks are coming. Bakit parang nakalimutan ko agad 'yon? 
 
He really drives me crazy!
 
"Uh. . . yeah I forgot."
 
"Maghanda ka na."
 
I have 5 hours before the party, and all I did was prepare myself. The whole mansion's security tightens, and Agon's men are scattered inside and outside the vicinity, ensuring the place is covered. All are ready, and anyone that screams a threat will be eliminated immediately.
 
The party will be held outside, and the expansive grounds outside have become magnificent. Tables with white linens and canopies are arranged beautifully
 
Isang katok ang naging dahilan para mapabitaw ako sa metal frame ng veranda at napadapo ang tingin ko sa pinto.
 
"Ma'am Jeyk, kailangan niyo na pong bumaba sabi ni Sir," ani Karen.
 
"Susunod na ako," I said as I lastly stared at my reflection.
 
I wore a simple a-line blue dress paired with white stillettos. The dress was made from a silky fabric that shimmered gently in the light. Every little move I made, it swayed swiftly in the air.
 
Nang makababa ay sinalubong ako ni Agon with his black suit. He offered me his hand, and I gladly accepted it.
 
He looked so handsome when his hair was brushed up. Ang sarap niyang titigan kapag ganoon ang itsura niya but all looks are good on him anyway.
 
I spotted Romanov together with his wife, Relliana, looking good with their red suit and dress. Relliana waved her hand as she greeted me with a warm smile.
 
"You're always the star of the night, Jey! You look dazzling in whatever dress you wore," she commented.
 
I shyly smiled. "Thank you. Ikaw rin, sobrang ganda mo ngayon."
 
She confidently flipped her hair. "Of course! I'm beautiful, always!" Hinaklit niya bigla ang kamay kong nasa braso ni Agon. "Sa 'kin na muna siya, ha? You two can chi-chat there! We will enjoy our night today!"
 
Romanov chuckled dahil sa ginawa ng asawa niya. Hanggang tingin na lang ako kay Agon dahil nakaangkla na ang kamay ni Relliana sa braso ko at kinakaladkad na ako palayo sa kanila.
 
"Here!" nakangiting aniya at kinuha ang isang wine glass. "For the alliance!"
 
I smiled as we clanged our wine glasses together. "For the alliance," I said as I took a sip of my wine.
 
The party goes smoothly. All of us are having fun. Nick, Raji, and Ardeen are socializing well.
 
Hindi ko rin napapansin na napaparami na pala ang inom ko dahil sa usapan namin ni Relliana.
 
"Really?!" I laughed. "Romanov kneel in front of your parents?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko.
 
May tinatago rin palang kahinaan ang isang seryosong tao at kinakatakutan ng lahat. Well, women are always men's weakness. Ang taong pinakamamahal natin ang palaging titibag sa matigas nating puso.
 
"Can I join you ladies?" Sumulpot bigla si Rizon dala ang isang bote ng alak.
 
"Are you drunk already? Malalagot ka mamaya sa kuya mo kapag gumawa ka ng gulo rito. Remember Rizon, we are in Del Vecho's territory. Huwag kang magkakamaling dungisan ang alyansang 'to," seryosong saway ni Relliana.
 
Hinawakan ni Rizon ang balikat ko at nilapit 'yon sa kaniya. "Hindi ako gagawa ng gulo, Rell. I'm just having fun, right, Jey?" Kumurap-kurap ito tila pinipigilan ang sariling pumikit. "You're really beautiful. Sayang naunahan ako ni Del Vecho," lasing na aniya.
 
Nanlaki ang mata ko, ganoon din si Relliana. She apologetically smiled at me at naiintindihan ko naman 'yon.
 
Nasulyapan ko si Agon na madilim na nakatingin sa direksyon namin. Pasimple akong umipod para mapalayo kay Rizon, pero muli niya akong hinawakan.
 
"Rizon!" suway ni Relliana. "Bibingo ka talaga mamaya pag-uwi natin!"
 
"Ahm. . .magsi-cr lang ako," nagpaalam ako ng maramdaman kong tila 'di na maganda ang mood ni Agon dahil hindi na nakaalis ang tingin niya sa 'min kahit na nag-uusap sila ni Romanov.
 
Pumasok ako sa loob ng mansion, pero hindi sa cr ang punta ko. Kumiha ako ng baso sa kitchen at napainom ng malamig na tubig ng maramdaman ko ang kamay na pumulupot sa bewang ko.
 
"You know. . . I'm not really into sharing things that I own, lady," he whispered.
 
Nanindig ang balahibo ko sa batok. Tila naitulos ako sa kinatatayuan ng maramdaman ang mainit na hininga nito at amoy ng alak.
 
"Do you know what I do when someone is touching what's mine?" he paused.
 
I swallowed hard when I faced him, his eyes were so burning with jealousy and possessiveness that I couldn't take my eyes off him. It's like he was swallowing my whole soul with that look. My heart was pounding hard with our distance.
 
"W-what?" nauutal na sabi sambit ko.
 
"I mark what's mine."
 
He closed the small distance between us, not breaking our eye contact with a kiss.