Chapter Twenty-nine
"Dude, I know you love her and all but she's my cousin. I still get uncomfortable when you do that in front of me!"
I glared at my stupid cousin. Gusto ko na naman siyang batuhin ng sapatos. I thought sumama na siya kayla Logan.
Vini smirked before letting go of me. "Suck it up, stupid head. I'll be hogging her all night whether you like it not."
Josh chuckled, now holding a shot glass. Ngayon ay kasama na rin nila si Ivan, yung korean boy.
"Welcome to Olympus, Hera!" Jace declared laughing so loud despite of the music. "Damn. I've been waiting for so long to say that!"
"Every Black Blade member has been waiting for the Queen." Ngisi ni Ivan sa akin.
I thanked god because the party is at it's peak, madilim kaya hindi niya nakita ang pag pula ng pisngi ko.
"Hera? Who picked my codename?" I sighed. Hindi naman sa ayaw ko, I can think of a way better codename than Hera! Freedom of choice people!
"Sino pa ba?" Josh smirked before taking the shot. Ni hindi man lang ngumiwi sa ininom.
"You're Cara there," Rix points at the door behind me. "And you're Hera here. Welcome to our kingdom my dear cousin!"
I chuckled at that. He sounded like a kid, ang saya saya niya.
"Why Hera?" I asked instead though I already know why. I'm assuming the devil's spawn is Zeus. It makes sense. Gusto ko lang marinig galing sa kanila.
"Because Hera was Zeus' wife, his queen. And technically you are his queen. Kaya Hera ang codename namin sayo rito." Jace recited like it's the most obvious thing in the world.
"May I remind you that Zeus was a player." I raised my brow at them.
"Were just taking the name baby, not the whole story." Vini chuckled, holding onto my waist again.
"Look around baby!" Rix yelled. "You're in our world, what's ours is yours!"
"I can't believe Tito let you build all of this under the Delevinge Hotel." I breathed and started to look around. High end club nga ito, I imagined it to be katulad nung kayla Rix but this is way bigger and more equipped. There were stairs leading to a never ending rows of doors na hindi ko alam kung hanggang saan aabutin. Mga kwarto siguro for god knows what. There were booths too and private rooms. Music was blaring from ginormous speakers from every corner and may mga naka unipormeng lalaking nag iikot balancing different kinds of drinks on their trays, kahit na may bar na.
Nakikita ko sa mga narito ang estado nila sa buhay base sa mga suot at galaw nila. They don't have a care in the world and their clothes screamed branded. Ganitong klaseng lugar talaga ang pupuntahan ng mga taong ganito. I don't know if they're gang members or sabit lang ng mga members, flings and such.
"He doesn't know." Vini smirked.
"How?"
"Lee's the one handling this Hotel, mas hands on si Dad sa international branches kaysa sa local. Lee allowed me to build this here nang mag simula rin ang construction ng Hotel, iba ang naging construction for Olympus at iba rin ang Architect and Engineer para hindi mag duda si Dad."
"What a smart boy," I chuckled. "You're so lucky your brother's Lee. Although he wants you out of trouble, he still allowed you to build this. Nakakaloko lang."
Hindi sinasadyang nahagip ng mata ko ang isang familiar na mukha.
"Si Sanz ba yun?" I asked, eyeing Sanz Dela Cruz habang nakikipagsayaw ito sa isang babae sa dance floor. Kahit na medyo maraming tao ay na single out ko parin siya.
"Sino?" tanong ni Rix at sinundan ang tingin ko. "Oh. Yung pinsan ng isa mong manliligaw."
"Hindi ko sya manliligaw." I rolled my eyes. Hindi naman kasi talaga.
"Whatever, baka andito rin 'yon ngayon."
"Si Ethan?"
"Yeah, madalas rin yon dito lalo na pag weekeneds kasama yung iba nyang pinsan."
Nangunot ang noo ko but I focused on Sanz again, he's now laughing with Lake and some guy I don't know.
"Are you saying they're..."
Jace draped his arm over my shoulder as the other boys lined up smirking at our view of Olympus.
"Everyone here is either a gang member or a fling of one of the members, some are official girlfriends and boyfriends. My answer to what you're thinking right now is yes." Jace smirked.
"What Gang?" I trailed my eyes again, and there by the stairs, Atlas Dela Cruz is making out with a girl.
"Archame Reapers." Logan said. "Constantine High's resident Gang, named after their first ever leader. The Dela Cruz triplets and Ethan are members."
I wasn't really shocked. With Ethan's appearance I should've thought of that sooner.
"Look what the wind brought in." A familiar voice mused. "Calliope Rain, what on earth are you doing in a place like this at this hour? I believe it's already pass your bedtime."
"Don't tell me he's a gang member too." I said turning to the boys, naka turo ako kay Drake.
"Nah, he's just here to party." Josh laughed.
"I see you're the special guest they're talking about." Seth smiled, nodding at me.
"Oh please people stop hogging her!" Rix yelled, pushing all the people who're surrounding me.
"She's here to party and to be officially introduce so if you don't mind, I'd like to be her official tour guide for tonight."
"Officially introduced? What are you---"
Bago ko pa man matapos ang sasabihin ko, kinaladkad na niya ako patungo sa napakaraming tao.
"Rixon Travis!" I screamed in frustration. Kahit na sa gilid kami dumaan to avoid being stepped on.
He glanced at me with a playful smirk on his lips. "I'm not Rixon."
"Then who are you?" I rolled my eyes before glaring at him.
"I'm Oliver Queen." He gave me a playful smirk again, his eyes twinkling.
"A Billionaire Playboy?"
Biglang sumama ang tingin niya. "Guess again."
"Arrow?"
I was really going to guess Arrow first but I wanted to tease him.
"Correct!" He pumps his fist in the air.
"Why Arrow? Can't you think of anything cooler?"
"Bakit ba? I love it," he shrugged. "Ikaw naman ang bahalang pumili ng codename mo. Walang mangingialam sayo."
"Is that why you have an Arrow tattoo behind you ear?"
He looked shocked for a second but then his expression turned normal. "You knew about that?"
"Yeah," I pursed my lips. Nakita ko iyon noong natulog siya sa kwarto ko one time, it was a simple small arrow just behind his left ear. He has two tattoos now. The Arrow and the Black Blade.
I wonder what the other's codenames are.
"Hey Arrow!"
Nilingon naming parehas ang pinanggalingan ng boses. Galing ito sa isang lalaki na medyo may hawig kay Ivan but the guys has blue hair...
"Blue!"
Of course his codename is Blue.
"Iver Santayana, my name here is Blue. You must Hera." He gave me cheeky grin, I kinda dig his eye smile. It's super cute.
"Um, yeah. Hera, that's me."
"She's still getting used to the name," Rix chuckled.
"Where are the others? Shot wants to discuss an important matter with Zeus."
"We left them by the entrance with Seth and Drake." Rix points behind before dragging me again. "That was Ivan's brother."
"Obviously."
I let myself be dragged kahit na ayaw ko. If I resist baka madapa lang kaming pareho.
Napansin ko na we're approaching a booth crowded with guys.
"Oh no!" Pigil ko agad sa kanya. "I don't wanna be the awkward topic for the night!"
"Oh come on! They're dying to meet you and we promised to introduce you tonight."
"Then let them die!"
"A sadist huh? I expected you to be such a sweet girl. Master really knows how to pick his girls." A voice said.
He's standing right behind to me. I can feel it.
"Hey Arrow! Leo! Who's the girl?" I heard someone yell. I inwardly cursed.
Hindi na ako makakatakas because they already noticed me.
Rix smirked before tugging on my arm.
Someone whistled as we approced the booth.
"Don't let Master hear that or you'll be dead." Rix said to the culprit.
I took a second to study all of them. Hindi ko na sila nabilang basta mas marami pa sa sampu! And all of them are dangerously good looking. I think all of them being in the same room is illegal. Hindi makatarungan.
The guy's eyes winded sa sinabi ng pinsan ko. All of them started looking at me from head to toe, some cut their gazes fast while others lingered. It made me feel uncomfortable. Good thing I wasn't wearing anything revealing.
"You're Hera?" tanong ng isa.
"The one and only, bastards! Better check her out right away before Master gets here." Rix chuckled.
Someone brushed pass me, alam kong siya iyong nagsalita sa bandang likuran ko kanina. And some guy called him Leo. I wasn't surprised that he was good looking too, meron rin siyang Lion tattoo sa kaliwang braso. It kinda had a weird design but hindi ko na tinignan ng todo. He's intimidating kasi.
Now I wondered kung paano silang nagkakakilala lahat. I bet hindi pa ito ang lahat ng members ng Black Blade.
"Calixx Salvador, but you can call me 'X'" Pakilala ng isa sa akin. Hindi naman siya nag lahad ng kamay kaya tinignan ko lang siya. He's got a buff build, siguro player ito. Sports, I mean. Halata naman sa katawan. He kinda cute too because he emitted a playful aura.
"Wag mo nang balakin pa na magpakilala kami isa-isa dahil matatapos rin naman ang gabing ito nang hindi mo kami kilala." He smirked.
"Not really planning on it." I gave him a small smile. Sa totoo ay wala sa plano ko itong party na 'to but life can turn in fast and twisted ways.
X offered me a drink but I declined. "May pasok pa bukas."
"How 'bout dance?"
Umiling ulit ako. "I'd rather stay here than mingle with sweaty bodies thank you very much."
Leo chuckled but his eyes weren't on me. Nakatuon ito sa baso niya. "I guess they were right. You really are no saint, Hera. You're the correct fusion of a good girl and a bad girl."
My brow raised at what he said.
"X is a football player in SAU. Architecture student siya." Rix informed, diverting my attention.
"Nabanggit ni Serpent na doon mo rin balak mag aral. It'll be cool kung mangyari iyon." X said, sitting down on the leather sofa.
"Who's Serpent?" Kunot noo kong tanong. They can't expect to know the codenames agad!
"Logan." One casually answered.
"Enough about college stuff!" Rix waved his hands in front of me. "Anyways baby, these are some of Black Blade's memebers. Yung iba andyan lang sa tabi tabi."
"Hey! You've met the others!" I heard Jace's voice.
"Thunder!" Nakipag high five naman ang isa sa mokong. Habang si Josh, Logan, at Ivan ay naupo na sofa.
"Where's Zeus?" Tanong ni X.
"Had something to discuss with Shot sa private room, he'll be here later." Josh answered.
"I'm guessing you're Lightning since Jace is Thunder." I discreetly pointed at Josh, nginisian naman niya ako bago tumango.
"Where's KT?" Tanong ni Logan kay X. Uminom naman muna ito ng something, which I'm guessing is vodka, bago sumagot.
"Busy doing his girl, that guy is whipped." X shook his head before chuckling.
"How's the recruitment with the Quarterback?"
I don't really know anything about their conversation but mukhang sila lang ang maayos na nag uusap dahil may kanya kanyang mundo na ang iba.
"I don't know man. Ni hindi ko masabi sa kanya. He'll punch me for sure. I know he's not the gangster type. He's more of the suffer in his own silence type. Sa itsura lang yon mukhang gago."
"But he has the skills," Logan said.
"I know. Marami pa namang iba dyan. Let's not bother Reigan anymore, iba nalang."
I don't know who they're talking about. Mukhang may nire-recuit lang silang tao.
What you see, what you hear, what you feel, when you go leave it here.
It feels like every conversation going on around isn't allowed to be metioned outside.
Uupo na sana ako sa tabi ni Josh nang may humapit sa bewang ko.
"You want to stay?" he whispered enough for me hear.
"Pwede ba akong umalis?" I whispered back my answer. I can feel eyes on us kaya medyo inilapit ko ang mukha to sa kanya to hide my flaming cheeks.
"Gusto mo na ba?"
"Yeah, I'm not really in the mood to party. May pasok parin bukas kahit half day lang."
"C'mon, I'll take you somewhere." He smiled before dragging me away bago pa makapag reklamo si Rix at ang iba.
"Drake is such a whore" Nahagip na naman ng mata ko ang walang hiya nang dumaan kami sa bandang dance floor.
"Dito lang naman nakakapag ganyan yan dahil hindi kakalat sa media." Vini chuckled.
I noticed na may mga tumatawag sa kanya nang dumaan kami but he ignored it at nagpatuloy lang sa paglalakad hanggang sa makarating kami sa pinto.
May pinindot lang siya doon sa touchpad sa gilid at nag bukas na rin ito.
Nabalot kami ng katahimikan when the door closed behind us. Grabe ang pagiging soundproof ng Olympus. Mas maganda nang ganon kaysa mabulabog pa nila ang mga guest rito.
"It's almost midnight." I glanced at my wrist watch bago ko siya lingunin. "Where are we going?"
"You'll see." He smiled before entering the elevator. Sumunod naman ako. I checked my reflection again, buti nalang ay malamig ang lugar kaya hindi ako mukhang haggard.
"Top Floor?" Mukhang matagal na elevator ride 'to ah!
"Rooftop to be exact."
"Will there be food? Gutom na ko. Nabanas ako kay Rix kanina and I never got to eat my yogurt dahil kinidnap na nila ako."
"The resto is still open, punta nalang tayo mamaya."
We stayed silent after that. But it was a comfortable silence so the whole ride wasn't awkward. Lumabas na kami and he leads me to the stairs na patungong rooftop.
Our hands were entwined as we run up the stairs.
I was the one who opened the door, ang agad kong nakita ay ang helipad. Malawak rin naman itong rooftop. Ang sarap sigurong mag stargazing dito.
"I want to show you something"
I let myself be dragged again, dinala niya ako hanggang sa dulo bago bumitaw.
"Wow..."
Citylights.
I admired the beautiful view for a few seconds bago humarap sa kanya ng naka ngiti but he wasn't looking at me, his eyes were locked to the view in front of us with a different glint.
"April 15 ang alis ko." He sighed, still not taking his eyes off the view.
"Akala ko ba ngayong Friday?"
"Not for Brazil," he shook his head then paused. Parang nagdadalawang isip pa siya kung sasabihin ba niya o hindi.
"I'm heading to Paris this summer."
"I thought you're going to New York. Bakit sa Paris?" Naguguluhan kong tanong.
"I'm going to sent there to train before heading to NY to study. I'll stay there for a month or so I guess."
"For business?"
"Yeah," Parang ayaw pa niyang sumagot.
Ibinalik ko ang tingin ko sa harapan. The view made the air a bit relaxing despite the topic we're talking about.
"Rebel days are over?"
"Rebel days are over." He confirmed with a nod and a small chuckle.
"Didn't know this day will come. I thought you were a hopeless case." I tried teasing him by poking his arm but he only gave me a small smile bago muling sumeryoso.
"I don't...I don't want Dad to have a heart attack sa sobrang kunsomisyon sa akin and I want Mom to stop looking at me like hindi na ako makakabalik ng bahay ng buhay tuwing makakikita niya aking umalis." He sighed, his voice almost breaking. "I'm still on phase of accepting, there's really nothing else I could do. I've grown tired of defying him. From the start, I already knew College will be the turning point. Siguro ay iyon lang talaga ang hinintay ni Dad to finally chain me to the business world."
"Look on the bright side, you got to live the life you wanted before that."
"Yeah, I guess I did." He smiled.
"How long will you wait for me?" I asked after a few minutes of comfortable silence.
I glanced at him and he smiled. He suddenly opens his arms, inviting me in. "Come here."
I did not think twice on hugging him. The emotions were there, everything around us was hanging by a moment. Right now, it feels like he's already slipping away. There are still a lot of days na magkakasama kami pero bakit feeling ko ang ikli nalang?
"I will wait for you no matter how long it takes." He whispered against my hair. "With me leaving the country won't be the end, as long as there isn't an 'us' the story goes on."