Chapter 20: Thousand Years
NANA'S POV
Lalayo muna ko sa lokong Ivo na'to, hanggang sa naharangan na'ko ng mga nagsasayawan. I stepped backward, stepped back. And stepped back. Somebody grabbed my arm. Jesus, it's for the fourth time around a person grabbed my arm. Who the hell again? I turned around and see who was it.
He gripped my right arm very tight. That was a harsh one. His piercing eyes. My body was almost touching his tough chest. It was hard and hella sexy. I can see how madness has gotten into his.
"Nasasaktan ako, get off me." I whined. It was Lydon. The orchestra has changed the style of music into a fusion of various forms of music from Europe.
Literally, naging fast tempo. From modern ballroom turned into an Argentine or Uruguayan Tango. I'm not into dancing but since tango was declared as part of the world's "intangible cultural heritage" I was inspired to enroll tango lessons from my school in States.
Numbers of people dancing in the ball have decreased. Perhaps, only those few who can dance tango remained. He pulled me in the middle of the crowd. Lalong dumami yung mga nakatingin sa'min. Rotten gossipers have mushroomed. He thrusted my hip forward to him, but I pulled my upper body away, and looked over my left shoulder when we were led into a corte.
"Definitely a whore! Pagkatapos ng 2 foreigner, ng boyfriend niya now naman ang Manhattan starplayer! Sobra na siya!"
"But I thought Lydon's girlfriend was hurt by her. How could Lydon even dance that slut?"
"She'll be dead now. Lydon is the right hand of Scorpius. Pity poor Nana."
Those freakin' gossipers. This is incredible. He was expressing his temper out of this Argentine tango dance. Lucky I am, I still remember basic steps typically more gliding but can vary widely in timing, speed, and character, and follow no single specific rhythm.
"Hindi pa tayo tapos." He whispered.
We moved in the style of boleo (allowing momentum to carry one's leg into the air) and gancho(hooking one's leg around one's partner's leg or body) in which the feet travel off the ground.
A real star player can dance a tango? Quite interesting. We're eye-to-eye exchanging death glares. Ang higpit ng hawak niya sa waist ko.
"I've done nothing on you! What the hell do you want?" I pulled his nape. Our foreheads almost touch.
"What about Brianna? Tingin mo palalampasin ko yun?" Mas idiniin n'ya yung yakap sa'kin.
Sa ganitong klaseng sayaw, embrace is often very often, and the complex footwork is augmented with gymnastic lifts, kicks, and drops. The rhythm is described as incisive, exciting, and provocative.
What about my sister? Did they even think about that? How come he feels that fvckin fuss out of her girlfriend and yet he did not even have conscience committing crime to my sister?
"What about you? Di ka nagkaatraso? 2 years? 3 years? or 4 years to be exact?"
Itinulak ko yung dibdib niya but he quickly turned me around and napasandal sa dibdib niya. We're facing same direction. I was almost locked into his hard muscular arms. Nafifeel ko yung chest niya sa bare back ko while still in the rhythm of the fast tempo. He whispered into my left ear.
"Don't toss back my question, Nana."
He slid his left hand inside the slit of my long white gown. The fvck! He's a pervert! My bare left leg! He touche it. I quickly pulled myself out since isang hand lang niya sa waist ko. I was freed. Pervert! Ugh! Maniac!
"You fvckin @sshole!" I whispered. I don't wanna ruin the Silver Collins Anniversary probably Salma so I did not make a scene. I stepped back.
"Nice Swiss knife." He grinned and itinago niya sa black suit niya yung knife ko na nakasabit sa left leg ko kanina. Ugh. Ang bilis ng kamay niya.
IVO'S POV
Anak ng! Bilis ng kamay gagong yun! Kanina ko pa sila pinagmamasdan. Tingnan ko lang kung anong reaksyon niya pag nakita niya si Nana at ako na nakabalik sa ball. Teka anong nangyaryari? May ibinulong siya kay Nana at bigla siyang humiwalay sa ganung posisyon.
Ang Swiss knife ni Nana!
LYDON'S POV
Kudos Rossi and Anderson, nagawa niyo pa talagang umattend sa event na'to.
NANA'S POV
Oh sh*t ! Ang Swiss knife na gift ni Chanel! That's my last birthday gift from her. Sh*t! Lydon, I need it back.
"Take it back! That's not yours."
"Find it 302" He smirked and disappeared from the wide crowd.
IVO'S POV
Umalis na yung 2nd leader ng Scorpius. Ang layo ko sa kanila, ang tao pa. Ano kaya pinag-usapan nila? Sinundan ko si Nom. Madaming nagsasayaw. Pinagtitinginan na naman ako.
"My God, I never saw Lydon could dance tango That was cool!!"
"He really is a starplayer. But where's his girlfriend? Was he alone?"
"That girl beat the girlfriend's @ss off! But I saw his longhair boyfriend here. Don't he get jealous when he let his girl dance with this gorgeous starplayer?"
"Hey, he's getting near to her. Mukha pa naman siyang goon, poor Ducati girl, baka ilang beses na ring nabugbog."
Loud girls. Nasaan na ba siya?
"Hey Ivo. You're heading where?" Salma asked. May kasama siyang lalake.
"My boyfriend. Remember? Back in our college years." Salma added. Hindi naman ako nagtatanong.
"Man, I'm Craig. 23, Ohio. Remember? We did a good match in soccer games with your cousin Ulysses, right?"
"Good match? Nilampaso ko nga team niyo. Tss." sabi ko.
"What?" Craig asked.
"Oh, I mean yeah, I remember you, looking forward to have another match with you, man! Anyway, I've had fun tonight Salma, see you both soon I gotta go." paalam ko.
"Hey Ivo! Where you goin'??" Salma shouted.
"I'll find Nom!" sabi ko.
NANA'S POV
Fcvk that stupid manwhore! How dare him sliding his hand in my bare left legsl and even stealing my precious Swiss knife. Anong binabalak niya? Should I need a help to meet this jerk in his said room number? Ugh. Bahala na.
The door is not locked. I went inside. It's a typical luxury hotel room furnished with elegant touch of black, grey and white. I stepped inside. Wide room, nobody's here.
"Lydon Yap. I need it back. Just show up!"
I went near by the 5-meter wide floor to ceiling glass window seeing the beautiful night view; the romantic city of lights. Where the hell you are Lydon? I extended my right hand and touched the colorless wide glass window when suddenly--
I saw his reflection. He's behind me attempting to choke me using the chain! Sh!t! Naabot niya ako ng kadena niya. Fvck! Nasasakal ako!
"Gaano ba kahalaga sayo itong Swiss knife, little Chanel?"
What did he call me? I froze off. Hell no. Lydon recognized my identity?
"Bitawan mo ko! Ano bang sinasabi mo?! " I'm choking, ang lakas nya!. Nasasakal na'ko sa higpit ng chain na yun sa leeg ko. Nagpupumiglas ako!
"I still remember how gorgeous your sister Chanel." He is drunk. Ang tapang ng alcohol na naamoy ko sa bibig niya na. His face at my left side. Almost touching his face to my left ear.
"Ano bang pinagsasasabi mo! You're drunk! Take my Swiss knife back!"
"Do you know how I badly wanted to make her body mine?" He brushed my hair and bit my earlobe. Fcvk! He's a real maniac!
Bigla na lang nag-init yung mga mata ko sa sinabi niya. My kindhearted sister. She was hit by a vehicle but the justice unrevealed the real cause--gangraped.
She died.. No, she was killed, Nana..
They killed her.. He killed her..
He killed her!
"You killed her!" sigaw ko. He held tightly the chain in my neck and using my bare feet I ran upward the huge glass window in front of me. Pati ceiling nilakaran ko paikot hanggang sa tuluyang bumagsak ang mga paa ko sa floor backward niya.
My energy went back and doubled as I heard indecent words coming out from his mouth. Ang lakas ng loob niyang bastusin ang pagkawala ni Chanel. He's a criminal! You five are fvckin immoral! You crossed the line now that you deserved to pay her death.
I freed myself from gripping and whipped him a meter long chain in his thigh, turned around and kicked his jawline. Blood stained in his mouth. Sinugod niya ako ng Swiss knife na hawak niya. Naging pansangga ko yung kadenang hawak ko sa bawat pag-atake niya. Ilang mamahaling furnitures na rin ang nabasag.
"Hindi na'ko magtatakang ikaw yung babae sa locker room, little Chanel."
"Wag mong ibintang saken yang mga sinasabi mong yan! Si Brianna ang kinalaban ko! Labas ka na dun!" Itinulak ko siya.
"Tingin mo paniniwalaan ko sinasabi mo? Di pa rin ba sapat yung ibinayad naming lima at palabasing hit-and-run yun!"
Ibinayad? Palabasing hit-and-run? My tears starting to burst out. Nag-iinit ang mga mata ko sa mga sinabi niya. I can't breathe properly.
"Ngayon sabihin mong hindi ikaw ang half-sister niya. Na hindi ikaw yung namblackmail kay Atom, na hindi ikaw yung tumawag ng security at pasundan si Wess sa Hong Kong at hindi ikaw yung babae sa locker room, NomQueen?"
Inihagis nya sa harap ko yung asul na rosas.
"Hindi pa ba isa pang pruweba na ikaw yung batang babaeng nag-iiiyak habang pinupulot mo sa labi ng kapatid mo yung pira-pirasong asul na rosas, Ms. Nana Rossi?"
I can feel tears streaming down my face The chain in my hand fell on the floor. I wiped my tears; I raised my head and looked at Lydon.
"Four years gone, Nana. Hindi na maibabalik yung buhay niya! Ano pang magagawa ng palihim mong pag-atake sa aming lima? Ako ngayon? Sunod si Edge? At ano si Kyx sa huli? Grow up. You can never take her life back."
Inilabas niya yung talim ng Swiss knife at mabilis na ibinato papunta sa'kin. I lost myself and hindi ko na naiwasan ang pagbato niya. Bumaon yun sa kanang balikat ko. Blood shed. Pero mas nangibabaw pa rin yung pain emotionally-Chanel's death.
I was numb physically but I was hurt and totally my heart wrecked. My energy all drained out. Gusto kong umiyak. Gusto kong sumigaw.
"You'll end your game, Nana." Itinutok niya sa'kin yung isang 4-inch avila gun.
I came back into my senses.
"No."I whispered.
I stepped backward. Sapo-sapo ko ang duguan kong balikat. Labis ang kirot.
I stepped back.
"Ikamusta mo na lang ako sa pinakamamahal mong kapatid, Nana." he grinned. Papalapit na ng palapit ang pagtutok niya ng baril sa noo ko. Lavos ang pintig ng dibdib ko sa kaba.
"Bitawan mo yan." nanghihina kong sabi. Nanginginig ang katawan ko sa halo-halong emosyon.
"No, I won't." He grinned.
Stepped back..
Stepped back..
Bang! Bang!
SALMA'S POV
Why Ivo was rushing? Finding Nana? I thought Nana and that Scorpius 2nd leader were dancing Argentine or Uruguayan tango in the middle but left after.
"Are we goin' to find her?" Kirsten sipping her Château Cheval.
"Nom can manage things up alone. She asks help when she knows she's in trouble." I said.
"He's with Ivo. Everything's fine." Kirsten said.
"Well, sure does. "
"Yeah right. Let him make a move."
The emcee made an announcement.
"Ladies and gentlemen. Tonight, witness one solemn performance from one of our very own special guests, let's welcome from the representative of Vargas Shipping Company--Mr. Khalil Vargas."
The crowd applauded this young tall handsome man wearing white tuxedo and black rectangle-rimmed eyeglassses.
"Georgina's fiancé, right Salma?" Kirsten asked.
"Indeed, he was the one she's talking about."I said.
Visitors rest on their seats while the orchestra has changed again into another kind of music. The lights went dim and more dramatically. Most of the girls murmuring about this handsome young man as he walks in the middle. The spotlight casts on him. Some say, he's one of Manhattan instructor where Nom is enrolled same as George where she'll going to switch off places.
All eyes on him. He was standing in the middle. He seemed like a prince charming wearing a white suit and looked more romantic as he carried a Baritone saxophone. He's somewhat going to serenade her lucky girlfriend.
He took the microphone.
"Good Evening to all of you. Salute also to long progressive years of Collins Corporation." he said. A big round of applause.
It echoed within the 4 corners. He really is somewhat very handsome instructor.
"A big thanks for a warm invitation. As an appreciation, let me play you a short piece." he said. He has more like a Western-look rather than Asian-blood. Levels like the Cage cousins with thick eyebrows, towering nose, strong jawline, luscious lips and big-buffed sexy body. Silence filled the Collins wide event's place.
He continued...
"A girl once told me that. Playing saxophone while wearing white suit is the most romantic date could ever be.' I ignored what she said but without telling her, I took sax lessons." he said and smiled.
"I want to surprise her in a date that she'll never forget. I want to make her witness how I could make things possible even I thought I cannot. Tonight's the same date she'd wished before. She reminds me in every corner of this place. Never would I make her see my surprise to her. If only I could turn back time. I wish I was too eager to play this sax for her. I want you to see me. I want you to hear me playing this song. But how? When you can no longer hear it anymore."
The orchestra has started while the guy started to blow the sax in the tune of Christina Perri's "Thousand Years" .
"Heart beats fast. Colors and promises
How to be brave. How can I love when I'm afraid to fall.."
The message was tear-jerking. It wasn't for George like really? It's for someone else who's gone. I can see most of the visitors were touched to this guy and even Kirsten at my side.
"You cryin' Kirsten?" I asked.
"Romantic, mon cher ami." Kirsten wiping her cheek.
"Yeah right. Telling his affaire d'amour à haute vox."
The saxophone version added the emotion of the song. It's too emotional.
"I have died everyday waiting for you..
Darlin' don't be afraid. I have loved you for a thousand years..
I'll love you for a Thousand more.."
The piece was endearing, the song was full of its message. That's hella heart-warming. He plays the sax passionately; the audience was almost carried away. He might be waiting for nothing. The girl might broke up with him. Or could it be--she passed away?