Note: Actually, I was planning to finish the story before 2016 ends, but I got busy and I still have like 11 chapters in my mind so...enjoy, anyways! Happy New Year, everyone! ;)

***

My plan wasn’t that complicated. Nahirapan lamang ako sa mga pagkuha at pagpasok sa mga detalye nitong pagdiriwang na ito, mula sa blueprint ng gusali hanggang sa pagmanipula ng utilities. Ang mga tauhan ni Sy ay nakakalat sa paligid ng gusali. Ang ilan ay nasa loob habang hindi pa nakikitang nakapasok ang Don.

We’re expecting that his mafia guards will be all around him, so I’ve got the role to come near him before midnight since I can handle the possible attacks. At exactly 12 midnight, the electricity should be cut off by Sy’s personnel. That will be the start of hell as I shower Devon with my bullets. Armand’s men will handle the rest of his mafia guards. And that was it, the start of the ambush.

That was the original plan…

But then, dumbfounded, we ended up kissing as 12 midnight struck. And it completely ruined my plan. He fucking ruined my decisions.

His lips brush mine and nearly knocked all the wind in my lungs. It was soft, warm and slow. It tasted like a mint and wine. It was a very, very unfamiliar feeling. My thoughts were in a complete abyss and made my system in a sudden paralysis. It was brief, not like a tease, but passionate and demanding. My senses went down that I almost didn’t hear the quick panic reactions of the crowd as all the lights went off.

“Aurora,” he whispered as he rest his forehead on mine. His breath fanning me softly. His hand was still cupping my cheeks while his thumb caressing it. It was a chaste moment as we both can’t see each other. No one can see us at this very moment.

“Did you just…” I couldn’t continue. I was breathless.

And, I thought it was over, but then I felt his warm lips pressed against mine once again, stealing my words away. My eyes have fluttered shut in the darkness. His fingers ran down to my spine, pulling me closer until their was no space between us. I lifted my hand on his chest and I could feel the fast beating of his heart against it. Probably, it mirrors mine too, or even louder.

The kiss was slow until it grew deeper, warmer. I was drowned with my thoughts in blankness. His very smell flooded my senses. He claimed my lips as gentle and passionate I could feel. And I don’t know why I’m letting him… That answer must have been undiscovered yet, it is unknown and unfamiliar.

It stopped and I felt him pulled away.

“I have to leave before I get addicted,” he said. I remained wordless as I felt another warm touch on my forehead. He kissed it softly.

He completely drew away as the warmth of his body touching mine slowly faded. Until his presence were already unfelt. The lights went on and I visibly noticed that he was gone. He left without trace and I don’t know where he went.

I stood there, staring at nothing. Paulit-ulit na bumabalik sa aking isipan ang nangyare ngayon-ngayon lamang. I was flustered for a few seconds while just standing at the middle of the hall. Damn! What the hell just happened?

Napabalik ako sa realidad ng bigla kong marinig ang boses ni Armand sa aking earpiece.

“Binibini,” tawag nito. “Ano na ang nangyayare? Natapos na ang hudyat. Asan na ang Don ng Clemente Mafia?”

I have realized that my plan got fucked up already.

“I…I lost him,” saad ko na lamang. “Check the exit. Maaaring papunta na ito roon. Balitaan mo ako agad.” I ordered him briefly.

Pabalik-balik ang paglibot ng aking tingin sa paghahanap kay Devon, pero hindi ko siya makita. Patakbo kong nililibot ang buong hall sa pinaka mabilis na paraan ng aking paghahanap, subalit ay mukhang wala na siya sa lugar.

“Walang anino ng Don ang palabas sa gusali, Binibini,” narinig kong muli ang boses ni Armand. “Ngunit ang aking mga tauhan sa labas ay nagbalita na may paparating na helikoptero.”

“Helicopter?” napakunot ang aking noo habang inaalala ang blueprint ng gusali. Goddammit! Meron itong helipad sa taas! “He’s in the rooftop,” I exclaimed and hurriedly look for my way.

I quickly ran to the elevator like a maniac and slammed it’s button to the rooftop. I was roughly heaving an air to my lungs while staring at the increasing numbers from above impatiently.

He can’t just destroy my plan and leave me. Naghalu-halong emosyon ang aking nararamdaman. I grabbed the slit of my dress and pulled my pistol from its holder, wrapped around my thigh.

This isn’t over yet.

Agad akong lumabas pagkabukas ng pinto at mabilisang ikinasa ang baril na aking hawak. Nasa pinakahuling palapag na ako ng gusali at kailangan ko pang gumamit ng hagdan pagtungong rooftop.

Tinungo ko ang hagdanan at nagmadaling umakyat. Doon ko nakita ang likod ni Devon. Nakatingin ito sa paparating na helicopter. Inangat ko ang aking baril at itinutok sa kanya.

“Not so fast, Demon.”

He slowly faced me. The moonlight illuminated the details of his face. It’s our only source of light with this cold wind. Muli kong nakasalubong ang kanyang mga tingin at biglang sumagi sa isip ko ang ginawa nito kanina. Agad kong ipinahilig ang aking ulo upang ito ay mawala.

“You can’t get away from me,” saad ko at matalim siyang tinignan. He can’t just do this to me and leave.

“Finally,” he smirked. “I’ve been waiting for your mutual respond in a very long time. You can’t get away from me, too, Kitten.”

“Shut the hell up.”

“Make me,” aniya. Hindi mawala ang ngisi sa kanyang mga labi. Nagsukatan kami ng tingin.

“You dumbass jerk! You’ve done something really forbidden. Why the fucking hell did you that?” I exclaimed sharply. My brows were furrowed while glaring at him. Kagat nito ang kanyang labi na tila nagpipigil ng ngiti. Ugh, this demon!

“Do I have to say it? Or do you want me to repeat it again? I’m willing to do so,” wika niya. I was about to snap at his remarks, but we got interrupted by numerous footsteps coming from the stairway. His helicopter is fast coming too and it’s blowing more colder wind.

Naglabasan ang mga tauhan ni Sy kasama siya. Mabilis silang pumwesto at sabay-sabay na itinutok ang baril sa nag-iisang kalaban sa aking harapan. Pagbalik ko ng tingin kay Devon ay muling bumalik ang seryoso nitong mukha at blankong nakatingin sa kanila. Ang ingay naman ng sasakyang panghimpapawid nito at palakas ng palakas hanggang ito ay tuluyan ng nakalapit sa gusali.

Hindi kami nagpatinig sa malakas na hanging ginagawa nito habang ito ay dumadapo. Naglabasan ang ilang guwardiya kasama ang kambal na sina Aspen at Ashton. They abruptly jumped to Devon’s side to protect him. Silence came after the helicopter’s engine completely shut off. It was like a deadly battle of two armies.

“Binibining Aurora, tapusin na natin ito,” pagbasag ni Armand sa katahimikan at lumapit sa akin. “Ano pa ang hinihintay mo? Kayang-kaya mong tapusin ang mga pumuprotekta sa kanya ngayon,” bulong nito sa akin. Ang aking mga mata ay nakatingin lamang kay Devon na halatang hindi nagugustuhan ang aking kasama.

“Don’t trust his words,” Devon said while looking directly at me.

Trust. That word again. It is a very big deal to this world that held me confused. Did I really trust the man that killed my parent? Somehow, Devon was right. I did listened to that killer because I’m not here standing if I didn’t, right? For years, did I envisioned everything wrong? Nabulag lamang ba ako sa galit at nais na may managot sa insidente?

My mind is in a massive turmoil right now. Mabilis na nagbabalik ang ambush na ginagawa ng Navarro na iyon. My mom didn’t believe him that it’s the Don’s order, but I did.

Devon’s right. I trusted that filthy killer…

Dahan-dahan kong ibinaba ang baril na aking hawak mula sa pagkakatutok sa kanya. They were all waiting for my words.

“Leave,” I firmly said. It was one final word that shouted different decisions. Walang ni isa ang gumalaw sa gulat sa aking ipinahayag.

“Ngunit, Binibini, ano ang ibig sabihin nito?” marahas na tanong ni Armand. “Wala ito sa ating usapan!”

Tumalikod ako at nag-umpisang maglakad patungong hagdan pababa at nilagpasan sila. Subalit ay bigla akong natigil ng magsalita muli si Armand.

“Kung hindi mo kaya ay kami na lamang ang magtutuloy,” matigas na saad niya na nagpalingon sa akin. He motioned his men to move. They went on positioned, covering my view from Devon.

“Kikilos lamang kayo sa aking ipinag-uutos,” pinaalalahanan ko siya.

“Subalit ikaw rin ang sumira sa ating kasunduan, Binibini,” ngumisi ito at nag-umpisa na ang putukan. Nanlaki ang mata ko sa kanilang ginawa. Bago pa ako gumawa ng kilos ay biglang mga tumakip sa aking bibig. Limang tauhan niya ang mabilis na humawak sa akin upang hindi ako makagalaw.

I muffled a scream as he showed a syringe and harshly jabbed it on my neck. I tried to fight back, but my senses quickly weakened. I looked for Devon, but my views were completely blocked by his men and he doesn’t have any idea of what they’re doing to me. What the hell! I saw Armand smirked deviously at my state. I can feel that whatever poison he put in me, consuming my strength rapidly.

“Tama ang lalaking iyon. Huwag kang magtiwala sa aming mga salita,” ngisi niya.

My sight got blurry as my lids slowly closes and darkness welcomed me.