We're running——No. He's running and we're connected with this freaking handcuff that I've been tag all along so I got no choice but to run, too. Mabilis ang mga pangyayare at nakita ko na lamang na lumabas kami sa likod ng gusali. Tila alam ng demonyong kasama ko ang mga pasikot-sikot rito.

"Wait!" Pigil ko sa kanya. Hinila ko ng malakas ang metal na kumokonekta sa aming dalawa dahilan para mapatagil din ito.

Inis itong lumingon sa akin, "What now, Aurora?!"

"San ba talaga tayo pupunta?" Puros eskinita na kasi ang dinadaanan namin. And I don't have any idea what's going on.

"You have to leave this place——"

"Kakalipat ko lang!" I blurted out, cutting him off. Tinignan niya naman ako ng masama.

"...for a while." Tuloy nito, emphasizing each word. "We're almost near the place where I parked my car. Mamaya ka na magtanong." Aniya.

With that, he drag me again. But this time, he's holding my hand while we are both running. Sinubukan ko itong tanggalin pero mahigpit ang pagkakahawak nito. Isama pa ang metal na nagdidikit sa kamay naming dalawa. Maybe he's keeping my hand from pulling the chain again. Ugh!

Magrereklamo na sana ako nang bigla akong nakarinig ng maraming yabag ng paa. It's like they're people following us. I'm about to look behind us when Devon abruptly pulled me to a dark, narrow passage. He pushed me against the wall, trapping me with his left arm. He then motioned me to keep quiet by his index finger place on his lips. "Ssh..." He hushed me and I just glared at him.

Di nagtagal ay sunud-sunod akong nakarinig ng pagputok ng lubo. No, I know better, it's a gun. A gun with a silencer. I tried to peek once more. At muli din akong pinigilan ni Devon. Linapit niya ang mukha niya sa may tenga ko at, "The mafia guard we're already handling the situation. Don't let the curiosity kill the cat, Kitten." He whispered in my ears with a hint of smugness. A few seconds, I heard different cries in pain as the gunshots continues.

Devon and I just kept listening to the fight. We waited for almost five minutes until the noises finally and totally subside.

"Can I ask questions now?" I said sarcastically.

"Go ahead." He said looking down at me.

"First," I started. "Why are we this freaking close?" He's not leaving the side of my face yet. And I'm getting irritated. I pushed him away but he didn't even budge a little. Nakasandal na pala ito sa pader at wala na ring aatrasan. Tila pinipilit naming dalawang lumusot sa lagusang pang-isahan lamang. Kinuha niya ang kamay kong pinantulak sa kanya at mas lalo pang lumapit sakin.

"Because there is no enough space." As a matter of fact nitong saad. He lowered his head more and I can feel his breath fanning my neck. "Why? Are you feeling uncomfortable?" He asked nonchalantly. Kahit di ko ito nakikita ay alam kong suot nito ang nang-aasar nitong ngisi.

"No." Madiin kong saad. "I just don't want to be this close with a demon like you."

"If I'm a demon, are you an angel, then?" He breathed. Bago pa ako makasagot ay inunahan niya na ako. "Of course not, you're a kitten." He answered his own question then he chuckled near my neck. Napakunot ang aking noo. Huh?

"Can you leave my neck alone?" I questioned instead in a sharp tone.

"No?" Patanong at sarkastiko nitong saad, "There is no enough space." He added. Then, I felt something soft touches my neck. Unknowingly, my heart begun to race as I let out a small gasp and my posture stiffened.

"What the hell are you doing?" I said scathingly through gritted teeth but he just laugh. Nararamdaman ko ang bawat paghinga nito. It's like a became hypersensitive to touch. What's with my reactions?

"Why does a wicked descendant of Eve smells this sweet and innocent?" Narinig kong saad nito. I felt him smelling my hair. Agad kumunot ang aking noo. Balak ko na sana itong bigyan ng isang malakas na atake para lumayo ito pero kusa na itong umalis sa kanyang pwesto. "Let's go...before I'll lose my control." He said without looking at me then started dragging me again. This jerk!

Ilang liko lang ay narating na rin namin ang tinutukoy nito. Bumungad sa aking paningin ang isang itim na magarang sa sasakyan na sa palagay ko ay pagmamay-ari ng demonyong kasama ko. Pawang napadpad kami sa kabilang bahagi ng lugar at ibang kalsada ang aking nakikita.

Di ako nagkamali sa aking iniisip nang hinila ako palapit ni Devon sa saksakyan at binuksan ang pinto sa driver's seat. "Mauna ka," Saad nito sa akin. I just rolled my eyes at him then went inside to the passenger's seat. Sumunod din agad ito dahil konektado ang kamay naming dalawa. Screw this set up. Di nagtagal ang narinig ko ng umandar ang kotse. Mabilis nitong pinaharurot paalis ng lugar.

I inhaled sharply and kept myself busy looking at the window. I can feel my heart is still hammering. And I'm not even nervous. Hindi ako nakakaramdam ng ganon sa kahit ang sitwasyon. So what is this? Napahawak ako sa leeg ko. It's like that soft feeling still lingering on my skin. What was that? What did the demon had done awhile ago?

I didn't know how long I'm staring at nothingness. All I know is that I'm busy thinking about where are my stupid reactions came from. My thoughts were just disturbed when Devon grabbed my chin with his free hand and forced me to face him.

"Aurora!" He called, looking puzzled.

Nakapagtataka pero sinulubong ko ito ng masamang tingin habang napakunot ang aking noo, "What?!" I snapped at him, not minding the fast beating of my heart. Maybe I'm just suffering on some sort of illness or whatever.

"I've been calling your name numerous times." Aniya. Doon ko rin napansin na tumigil pala ang sasakyan sa gilid ng kalsada. "What is it? What are you thinking?" Tanong nito.

I brushed his hand off my chin and went back to my position. But I can still feel Devon's burning stares at me. "What did you do to my neck awhile ago?" Walang kagatul-gatol kong tanong sa kanya. I glanced at him and he looked taken aback for a few seconds until a sly smile crept on his lips, slowly.

Instead of answering me, he started the engine again and went back in driving. "I didn't know you could be this naive." Aniya at di pa rin nabubura ang ngiti nito habang nakatutok ang tingin sa daan. "Palibhasa puros pagpaslang ng buhay ang alam mo." He murmured that reached my ear. Inis ko itong tinignan. Is he mocking me?

"How about you start explaining about dragging me out of the apartment?" Sighal ko sa kanya, pagbabago sa paksa. Nabura ang ngisi nito at naging seryoso. I can almost envisioned some sort of dark aura radiating off his body.

"About that..." Pag-uumpisa nito. His emotionless eyes remain focus on the road. "Are you doing crazy things that you're not telling me?" Tanong nito. Naguguluhan ko itong tinignan.

"Like what?" I asked with complete lack of interest. Crazy things that I've been doing? Hah! That's too many to mention.

I felt our speed increased. Good thing the road is almost empty. He's driving really fast and I don't know if his planning for a suicide trip but I still remain unfazed. "Like communicating to other organization." Aniya. Napataas ang aking kilay.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"We've spotted numerous guards surrounding your apartment. And it's not mine. They're from other organization. I don't know the exact details yet but it's too alarming. I even detected three snipers and who knows if some of their assassins are already inside that damn building. It looks like it is well-planned. Like... they're about to start an ambush." We whispered that last part. Nakita ko ang mahigpit na paghawak nito sa manibela.

Ambush? "Don't be too hysterical." I said with a sneer. Gulat ko na lang ng biglang tumigil ang sasakyan. The car drifted to the right and abruptly stops that I'm almost thrown sideward. I quickly face him, ready to trash talk, pero naunahan niya na ako.

Disapproval was written all over his face. "We both know that can absolutely happen." Nanggigilas nitong saad. Sinalubong ko ang tingin nito.

"Yeah. And so?" Balewalang tanong ko. He opened his mouth for a comeback but then closed it like he lost his words. Halos 'di makapaniwalang nakatingin ito sa akin. But then, he droop on his seat and look else where but me. It settled on the road and we became quite.

Napaisip naman ako sa impormasyong sinabi nito. Ni hindi ko lang naramdaman ang mga guwardyang nakapalibot sa gusaling iyon. Kung sabagay ay masyadong abala ang utak ko sa pag-iisip ko tungkol sa liham na pinadala sa akin. And then a thought crossed my mind. Hindi kaya nakapalibot na sakin ang nagpapadala ng mga 'yon at 'di ko lang napapansin? I need to observe objectively.

"Can you just at least care a little for your own life." Mahinang saad nito kinalaunan. Humalumbaba na lang ako sa may gilid ng bintana. Seriously? Why are even talking about this? It's nonsense.

"Why would I?" It's not like my life would start a world peace. Ugh, "Wait! Are we going to debate on how I handle my life again?" I asked sarcastically. This goddamn topic is getting too common. And annoying, too.

Napapikit na lang ito at tila kinakalma ang sarili. "This is a hopeless case." He murmured moreover to himself. I can't keep but to grin evilly.

"Give up, Demon. You can't handle me."

Napamulat naman ito at deritsong tumingin sa mga mata ko. Sumilay ang ngisi nito sa kanyang mga labi at pinagmasdan ko lang ang buong mukha nito. "No. You got it wrong." Inangat at pinakita nito ang kamay naming pinagkonekta ng metal, "You're already stuck with me." He said like I just gave him a motivation rather than a hindrance. With that, he drove again.