(A/N: Happy National Snake's Day! It's been 2 years since they called Taylor a snake on social media and flooded her with snake emojis. Now she's using it to rose up from the grave of her reputation. I lab y'll! And oh! It's chapter 13, what a coincidence.)
End Game 13
"Never see it coming"
Art Antonio
Nakatayo kaming anim sa harapan ng isang malaking gate. This is where they hide.
"Pumasok na tayo." Boses iyon ni Trip.
"Nasisiraan ka na ba? This is a secured place." Wika ni Axel. Napangiwi na lang ako nang maaninag ko ang anim na bantay na papalapit sa amin.
Malalaki ang mga katawan nito at armado ang mga iyon. "De quoi avez-vous besoin?"
Nagkatinginan kaming anim. "Pinagsasabi nila?" Tanong ni Jonathan. We all shrugged.
"La résponse!" Nabalik kaming anim sa katinuan kaya naman hinarap na ni Ice ang mga ito.
Malamig na hinarap ni Ice ang lalaki. "Je suis désolé, we can't speak French fluently." He paused at tumanaw ito sa malaking bahay na nasa likod. "Can we enter?"
"Only Art Antonio." Matalim akong tumingin sa lalaking nagbanggit ng pangalan ko. "Our master wants you to come only."
Master? Humarap ako sa magkakapatid. May pagtutol akong nakikita sa mga mata nila. Alam nilang magagalit si Sheliah kapag nalaman niya 'to.
"Elle attend..." Pagsabat ng isa pang bantay. Wala na akong nagawa kundi ang sumama sa kanila pero narinig kong nagsalita si Ice.
"Don't you ever do it again Art." Tumalikod ito at naglakad papalayo sa amin. Sumama na ako sa mga bantay at nang makapasok kami sa loob, sumisigaw iyon ng karangyaan.
May fountain sa loob nito at malaking chandelier na kumikinang. Marami ding mga gamit na antigo ngunit matataas ang halaga.
"Where's your boss?" Tanong ko sa kanila. Hindi nila ako inimik at sumunod na lang ako paakyat ng hagdanan.
Nakarating kami sa harapan ng isang malaking pintuan. Kulay puti iyon. Kumatok ang isa sa kanila. "Il est ici."
Bumukas ang pinto kaya naman daretso akong pumasok. Sumara ang pinto na siyang kinagulat ko.
"Quit playing games. Ilabas mo sila Divina at Autumn." Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa aking harapan at naroon Ang isang swivel chair na nakaharap sa bintanang gawa sa glass stained.
Unti-unti itong humarap sa akin at ikinuyom ko ang aking mga palad nang malaman ko kung sino iyon.
Akmang susugod ako papalapit sa kanya pero may inilabas siyang remote, hindi ako tanga para hindi malaman kung para saan ang bagay na iyon.
She smiled devilishly. "One wrong move darling and the two girls will explode together with your lovely fiancé." She laughed. "N'est-ce pas excitant?"
Unti-unting nanghina ang mga tuhod ko sa nadinig.
No... She can't do that. Hindi pwede.
"Why are you taking this too far?" I asked with my trembling voice. Sheliah...
Tumayo ito at naglakad papalapit sa akin. I'm kneeling in her marble floor while the sound of her heels are ruling the whole room.
She put her hand in my shoulder. "She's done with her revenge so it's my turn to do mine." Umikot siya sa akin at humalakhak. "Look at yourself Art, mukha kang miserable! I'm disappointed na hindi ka nakikita ni Sheliah ngayon, maybe she will gone mad and she's planning her moves but aww she's not here. Sayang talaga."
Tumayo ako at sumigaw. "Ano bang kailangan mo?!" It caught her attention and she face me. "Hindi ka pa na nadala Monica? Everytime you plan and set something it gone terrible! You never learn from your mistakes and sins. Tumigil ka na please lang!--"
"YOU SHUT THE F*CK UP!" My breath flew away for a second. I looked upon and she's gritting her teeth. "You made my life miserable! Nangako ka sa akin noon Art. You promised me that I'm the first and the last girl you will look but then she stole your heart. Akala mo madaling mag-move on? No! At wala akong balak." She raised her hand while holding the remote.
Kumalabog ang aking dibdib. Don't tell me... "MONICA STOP! Put that down please! I'm begging." Lumuhod ako sa harapan niya. Mukha ng tanga kung mukhang tanga, wala akong pakialam. Their life is at risk.
"Then cancel the wedding Art! And marry me instead." She said.
Umiling ako. "I will never marry you! Si Sheliah ang papakasalan ko. At the end of the day, we we're set by God's will--"
"And I have my own will!" She laughed insanely. "Say goodbye to your love." May lumabas na TV screen and there was Sheliah sitting on the balcony while reading a book. Nag-zoom ang video and there's a red light on her head. "By the way, I hired a sniper so that red light will end her right now if I click this button."
Paano? Bakit? This is all my fault. Everything is about me.
"How can I stop you from killing her?"
She grinned. "Cancel the wedding, forget her existence, let her live her life and marry me Art."
Tumulo ang isang butil ng luha mula sa mata ko. Hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko, how did we end up like this? How can we escape this hindrance?
Is this the end of our love story?
"I'll count Art. In the count of 10 you should have your decision already."
Ipinikit ko ang mga mata ko at sinariwa ang mga ala-ala naming dalawa.
"One..."
I am the player and you were my ball, I bounced you multiple times until you had enough and you hit me in my heart.
"Two..."
When I first saw you across the room, I already know that my heart is in danger.
"Three..."
Iniiwasan mo pa ako noon dahil natatakot kang baka paghinalaan ka ng mga Kuya mo, they are over protective.
"Four..."
I texted you that you'll be mine and then the next day, the excitement on your face breaks me. I said it's just a prank and it's not me then I saw the sadness between those beautiful eyes.
"Five..."
Nung linagawan kita, it's the best thing I had ever made. You said yes without any hesitations.
"Six..."
I still remember the look on your face when I held your hand right in front of the class. You we're sweating.
"Seven..."
We just spend a limited time and then my real agenda was exposed and you left... You left me bleeding.
"Eight..."
You planned your revenge and it's so perfect, everything is settled and you made me suffer. You're too high to be reach.
"Nine..."
When you forgive me, I think I can finally breathe a fresh air. I've been trapped inside a cold cage but you set me free and you now decided to spend your life with me.
"Ten."
I'm sorry if I can't hold on to our promises... I'm sorry if I would break you again, maybe we're not meant to be together in this life but in the next life... I will love you again.
"I love you Sheliah..."
"I'll click this now, bye Sheliah--"
I interrupted Monica. "Marry me Monica."
Her face softened. Dahan-dahan niyang ibinababa ang remote. "What?"
I cleared my throat. "Marry me." Sheliah...
Maluha-luha niya akong yinakap. "Yes I will!" Hinayaan ko lang siyang yumakap sa akin.
You're now safe...