DANCING WITH THE VILLAIN

XII | Play Pretend

Rhysand Marfori

Rhysand Marfori looked at his watch for the nth time. He puffed on his cigarette and blew a cloud of smoke. The morning was cold and he's on his car, waiting for Sid to come out. Hindi niya alam kung alam ba ng kapatid niya na may lakad sila ngayon. He doesn't have time to be going inside his house and dragging his brother's ass out once again. Kaya naman pinaandar niya nalang ang kanyang sasakyan and left a message on Sid to catch him at the Sinclaire Grande. 

They still have a few hours before they would go to the west to meet the Corocans. They dominate the west kaya naman maganda sa kanila kung makikipag-ugnayan sila sa mga ito. The Skulls have been garnering more and more enemies each day and their group wouldn't survive if it's only them. They have to expand. 

The Corocans and the Skulls might not have a good start but it's something he is willing to mend. The question would be: how? 

"The usual?" 

Napatingin naman siya sa babaeng nasa likod ng counter. He did not expect her to come early but perhaps Fred had told her to. 

Tumango siya at saka umupo sa silyang naroon at agad na sinindihan ang kanyang sigarilyo. The woman poured him a glass and he is very aware of the glances she has been giving in his direction. 

He knows that look. She wasn't flirting with him or anything. She looked like she wanted to ask or say something. 

"What is it?" he asked at saka kinuha ang baso bago iyon nilagok. 

The woman looked questioningly at him na para bang hindi nito alam ang ibig niyang sabihin. Rhysand placed the glass down and looked at her. 

"You look like you want to say something," he said and met her eyes. "What is it?" 

The woman looked at him and he couldn't see any hint of anything in her eyes except for pure curiousness. Sigurado siyang alam na ng babe kung sino siya ngunit kung makatingin ito sa kanya ay para bang hindi ito natatakot sa kanya. 

Although she did try to avoid him that time when they met in that apartment building. But it was not because of fear. It was something else. And he's got a feeling that is has something to do with their first meeting kung saan hindi niya ito pinansin. She looked more annoyed than scared. Rhysand let out a chuckle. 

Napataas naman ang kilay ng babae habang nakatingin sa kanya. "What's so funny?" 

Maskin siya ay natigilan nang mapagtanto niyang tumawa siya sa harapan ng babae. Hindi na niya napigilan ang sarili niya kanina. So Rhysand just shook his head and looked at the woman. 

"I didn't get your name," he said and eyed the woman. Halatang nabigla ito sa sinabi niya. 

Ngunit nang makabawi ito ay ngumiti ito sa kanya. "Adriene," she said. "My name is Adriene." 

Rhysand nodded and studied the woman's face. She doesn't look familiar and he knew the woman is not someone from Sinclaire. "And I am--" 

"Rhysand Marfori," dugtong ng babae sa kanya. "I know you." 

He played his tongue inside his mouth before he braced his arms on the counter and leaned closer to the woman. "Yeah?" 

Adriene shrugged. "I mean, you're my boss. I asked Fred what's your name. And you ignored me that day when I was asking a question so I have quite an impression on you," she said. She is brazen. He thought. 

"Do you know what I do, Miss Adriene?" 

Natahimik naman ang babae sa tanong niya. Nakatingin lang ito sa kanya na para bang binabasa siya. It was uncomfortable and yet...new. The only people who does that are his enemies. 

"I've heard a lot of things about you, Mr. Marfori," she said and continued wiping the glasses. Then she looked at him. "I've heard how you stole this building. I heard how you are the most feared man in Sinclaire. I know what you do." 

"Then why did you work here?" 

She saw how Adriene gulped. Hindi niya alam kung wala lang itong maisagot o nabigla ito sa kanyang tanong. 

Then she said, "I have a family to feed. I came to Sinclaire without fully knowing what I would do." She placed the glasses carefully and moved on to the next ones. "The Sinclaire Grande is the first I saw the moment I arrived. I have been warned but I need money. I don't care about the consequences. I mean, isn't that what you do too?" 

He raised his brows and looked at her. 

"You don't care how dangerous it is. What matters most is that you protect the ones you love. That's why despite all the things I have heard Mr. Marfori, I chose to work here. The pay is good." 

Nakatingin lang siya sa babae at nakangiti lang ito habang nakatingin sa kanya. A small smile escaped his lips before he picked his glass up and drank from it. 

Sakto namang pagkatapos niyang ubusin iyon ay dumating sina Sid at Marcus. Hindi tumakas sa paningin niya kung paano makatingin ang mga ito sa kanila ni Adriene. And when he looked at Marcus, he was grinning from ear to ear at alam na niya agad kung anong iniisip ng mga ito. 

Before they could even say something, he immediately picked up his coat and stood. He gestured his brothers to go out. Nang makalabas ang mga ito ay lumingon siya kay Adriene only to find her smiling as she was wiping the glasses. 

"I could change your impression," he said and she looked at him with questioning eyes. "I could change your impression about me." 

Tumaas naman ang kilay ng babae bago nanliit anf mga mata nito habang nakatingin sa kanya. "And how do you suppose to do that?" 

Rhysand shrugged and said, "It's a surprise. Kung makakabalik ako ng buhay ngayong araw, meet me here at nine tomorrow." 

Her expression changed. Nakita niyang sasagot na sana ito ngunit agad na siyang tumalikod at naglakad papalabas. And he couldn't even hide the smile on his face as he walked back to his car where Marcus and Sid were giving him curious looks and Eliza was giving him a questionable one. 

Hindi na niya pinansin ang mga ito at nagsimula nang magmaneho. 

***

Adriene Constance

Sinclaire Grande

Her smile faded as soon as Rhysand Marfori went out of the door. And the moment she was sure that he was totally gone, she sighed and braced her hands on the counter for support. Hindi niya alam kung anong mararamdaman. Exchanging words with the man she perceived as a monster felt different. She was scared and she barely managed to keep it up. Hindi niya alam kung paano niya nagawang ngumiti sa harap nito.

Rhysand Marfori doesn't look like he would care for someone like her. She thought that Rhysand Marfori wouldn't even spare her a glance or just ignore her, like what he did the first time they met. But then things have taken a dangerous turn. Kung hindi siya nagkakamali ay inaya siya ni Rhysand. He was telling her to meet him up in this place tomorrow. For what? 

She thought that perhaps he has seen through her lies but then he looked like he truly believed her. But then he might just be acting about it. He is Rhysand Marfori and she sees him as someone deceitful.  

"Ayos ka lang ba?" tanong ni Fred nang bigla itong sumulpot sa gilid. Muntikan naman siyang mapatalon sa gulat. She sighed and nodded at Fred. 

"I'm fine," she said. "Kulang lang sa tulog." 

She saw how Fred rolled his eyes and proceeded to mop the floor. "I told you it's alright if you don't stay to accommodate party-goers."

Adriene stayed late last night hoping to get a glimpse of any Marfori. But then the only one she could see was Marcus. Hindi niya rin makausap ang lalaki dahil nasa isang VIP room ito kasama ang iba't-ibang naggagandahang mga kababaihan. She just rolled her eyes and continued serving the customers. Luckily, no one spared her a glance. Iyon ang gusto niya. To be noticeable as much as possible. She can't afford to be involved in any kind of trouble. Not when she's supposed to be someone undercover. The one guy she slammed with a bag only gave her a short glance before he went on with his business. 

She planned to stay all night to wait for the Marforis. She was hoping she could get more information she could report to Ariela the next next day. She already one crucial thing and that is the Marfori's have a secret sister not known to anyone, even the Crown. Ang hindi lang niya maintindihan ay bakit ito itinago sa publiko. She couldn't help but think of so many possible ways why they would hide their sister. 

Is it because they have so many enemies? Pinoprotektahan ba ng mga ito ang kapatid nitong babae? But if they are protecting her, bakit malayo ito sa kanila? Wouldn't it be easier to have their sister close to them? 

But then again, the best way to hide something is to make the others think it's near them. Perhaps it was that. Ngunit kahit na ganoon ay hindi pa rin mawala sa isip niya ang mga teoryang nakapalibot doon. 

Besides, she has something else to worry about. And that is the fact that Rhysand had asked her to meet him. It added to her anxiety that she didn't know what it was about. Ang tanging nasa isip niya ay baka nalaman nito ang totoo tungkol sa kanya kaya makikipagkita ito para patayin siya. Hindi niya maiwasang kabahan. No one could blame her if she felt that way, though. Rhysand is someone who is feared by anybody. Hindi niya rin maisip na date iyon dahil impossible namang mangyar ang bagay na iyon. She saw the woman whom he was with the other night. Maganda ito. Balingkinitan ang katawan. And she looked like a foreigner--or someone with a mixed blood, at least. 

Nilapitan niya iyon kaninang umaga nanag makita niyang umaakyat ito sa hagdan. The woman was wearing very short shorts and an oversized shirt. Nginitian niya ito and the woman did not even smile back. The woman was about to walk past her when she managed to grab hold of her hand, making her to stop walking. Napatingin ang babae sa kanyang kamay na nakahawak sa pulsohan nito. Hindi rin tumakas sa paningin niya ang pagtaas ng kilay ng babae.  

"What do you want?" tanong nito sa kanya. Mataray ang babae, iyon ang nakikita niya. 

But she maintained her smile and said, "I saw you come in with your boyfriend the other night--" 

Bigla naman siyang natigilan nang lumapit sa kanya ang babae. They were about of the same height ngunit tila mas matangkad ito sa kanya nang makalapit ito. 

"Are you saying you're going to tell the landlady about it?" tanong ng babae. Her gaze was sharp and she could tell that if she says the wrong thing, the woman would probably punch her. 

She shook her head. "No," she said. "Of course not." 

The woman looked at her questioningly. "Then why did you ask?" tanong nito sa kanya. 

"It's just that, I want to bring someone over to and I would like to know what time is the landlady sleeping so I could sneak him in. How do you get your boyfriend inside the building?" she whispered.

The woman looked at her and then she started laughing. Nakatingin lang siya sa babae habang tumatawa ito. She didn't even say something funny. 

"Dear, that man you were talking about is Rhysand Marfori. Not even the landlady could stop him if he wants to come here," the woman said. "As for your question, you can sneak someone in when the clock strikes nine. The old woman is already asleep by then." The woman then leaned and went on, "I suggest you practice s*x while being gagged so you wouldn't make much noise." 

Her brows furrowed, trying to fight the flush on her cheeks. "I thought the walls here are soundproof?" 

"Nah-uh. You didn't hear me the other night because I was gagged. And stifling your moans while having s*x is more of a turn on," sabi ng babae at kumindat pa talaga ito sa kanya. Naglakad ito papalayo at hindi man lang siya hinintay na makapagsalita. Akang tatawagin na sana niya ito nang bigla naman itong tumigil sa paglalakad at tumingin sa kanya. 

"And by the way," the woman said. "That guy is not my boyfriend." 

"Oh," she muttered as she blinked at the woman. Doon niya naman naintindihan ang tunay na relasyon ni Rhysand at ng babaeng iyon. 

Kaya naman nang ayain siya ni Rhysand kanina ay hindi niya mapigilang isipin ang isang bagay na ayaw niyang isipin. That Rhysand thinks she is someone who would do whatever he wants if he pays her. Kitang-kita niya ang tingin na ibinigay nito sa kanya noong una silang nagkita. He was looking at her as if she was like those women she saw on the streets on that same day.  

He wasn't planning on making me like one of his women, right? She shivered at the thought of it. She thought about whether to go or not. Ngunit naisip niyang pwede niyang magagamit iyon para may malaman siya tungkol dito at maisabi niya kay Ariela.

She worked for the whole day that day. May mga pumapasok sa loob and would sing thei hearts out habang siya ay abala sa pabibigay ng mga inumin. Nang sumapit ang gabi ay namalayan nalang niya ang sarili na hinihintay ang pagdating ng lalaki. Hindi niya alam kung saan sila nagpunta. Then she remembered he said earlier about coming back alive. Either it was meant as a joke or he was really off to do something dangerous. 

Adriene shook her head and decided to go home straight. Not because he was tired but because she wanted to choose her clothes. Kailangan niyang mamili ng magandang damit. She figured she would try and get on Rhysand Marfori's good side in a wholesome way. 

Habang iniisip iyon ay hindi niya mapigilang isipin ang nangyari kanina. For some reason, she couldn't forget how he smiled. No matter how much she tries to convince herself that it was because he might have been luring her into his trap, she couldn't help but think he was genuinely amused by whatever she did. 

And no matter how much she tries to deny it, she couldn't seem to forget the kind of looks he was giving. His eyes were curious as if he was trying to figure her out. And he looks at her as though he was very amused by everything she says. 

Perhaps she had done a good job at faking her smile but she did not feign the blush that crept her cheeks. It was absurd because how could she be blushing because of an enemy? And if Rhysand was faking it too and managed to make her blush, perhaps Rhysand had done a good job too. 

Damn it. 

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