Chapter 16

"Skyla, are you okay? You look pale." 

I smiled at Uncle, "Yes. I'm okay" across the table I can feel Anthony staring at me, no, he's staring at the suit jacket draped all over my shoulder. Alam kong napansin din iyon ni Uncle but he didn't ask me kung kanino ang suit jacket na iyon. 

I don't know him too. All I know is the guy on my camera is in the same event as I am. Small world? 

The donation and cutting of ribbons started already, Uncle asked me if I've eaten already and I told him no. He frowned at me, "Are you sure you're okay?" 

"Yes, Uncle. I don't have the appetite right now. I'll eat later." 

"Skyla?" I turned my head to the voice. 

My face broke into a smile when I saw the girl in front of me. When A and I were a kids lagi kami sinasama ni Uncle Bern sa lahat ng social gatherings, para raw matuto kami makihalubilo sa ibang tao. And because of those gatherings, I met her. 

"Sel?" I almost squealed as I stood. The last time I saw her was when we were 17 and then she flew abroad to study. 

"Oh my god, you're so gorgeous. Hindi lang tayo nagkita ng ilang taon, pakiramdam ko mas gumanda ka kesa sa akin." tumawa ako sa sinabi nya. 

"No! That's not true. You're prettier" ngise ko sa kanya. "How are you?" 

"I'm good, I just got back 2 weeks ago." 

"2 weeks ago? You should have told me! Ang dami mong utang na kwento sa akin" kunyaring pagtatampo ko sa kanya. 

She held both of my hands and quietly said, "I'll tell you all of them" there's a certain sparkle in her eyes when she said those words, I can't help but to be excited. 

Sel noticed Uncle Bern, "Good evening po" Uncle smiled at her. Sel turned her gaze to Anthony, wala pang ilang segundo ay she looked away, and she looked at me instead. I frowned at her. 

Selianna Morel is breathtaking. Kahit noon pa man, she has the small face and a fair complexion, she had saccharine sweet lips. They were blossom soft. She had a shapely figure and she's tall, like a model. 

And she's in love with Anthony Sergio all her life. 

"I'm going to borrow her, Tito. Can I?" Sel smiled adorably at my Uncle and my Uncle laughed at her. 

"Return her in one piece" pabirong sabi ni Uncle. 

Sel laughed at my Uncle, "D'accord!" she said her French accent overflowing. Sel spared Anthony a glance and she grabbed my hand, we walked to a less crowded area. 

We stopped and stood near a glass door, "You're still in love with him." it wasn't a question, it's a fact. 

Sel sighed and released an irritated groan, "I thought I was okay, I mean.. I was okay, Sky! Then after tonight... I don't know if I'll be okay" 

Selianna, Anthony and I were close when we were kids kahit na sa mga social events lang kami nagkikita. But as growing up, alam kong may iba na sa mga tingin ni Sel para kay Anthony.

I never knew what it was until I heard her say that she's in love with Anthony. I was happy when I heard her say it, heck, I even thought that if she'll tell him then it'll be a happy ending. 

Selianna Morel confessed to Anthony bago umalis papuntang ibang bansa si Anthony. I was so excited to hear what Anthony is going to say, but he rejected her. He said that she's too young and she doesn't know what she's saying. 

"2017 na Sel, siya pa rin?" pabiro kong tanong sa kanya. 

She laughed at my joke, genuine laugh, I smiled at her. "Kasalanan nya! Ang gwapo nya kasi" namula ang pisnge ni Sel nang sinabi nya iyon, I held her hand. 

"You can't cling to these feelings, Sel," I told her, I squeezed her hand, "it'll destroy you if you do" she only smiled sadly at me. 

"I'll get over him." seryosong sabi ni Sel. 

"You should. Find a guy who'll reciprocate your feelings" ani ko. "I mean look at you, you're gorgeous, I bet most of the guys here tonight ay gusto kang isayaw" and I looked at the crowd. Sel did too, she pouted a little and nodded at me. 

"Maiba ako, kamusta ka? How're your studies?" tanong ko. 

"The experience is really good, I met a lot of people and I learned a lot. I don't regret going there." she smiled at me. 

"That's good to hear. Are you staying here for good?" 

"I don't know yet, Skyla. I haven't decided yet." I nodded. I'm pretty sure that she liked it there, and I'm truly happy for her. 

I looked back to my table to see if Uncle and Anthony are still there pero iba ang nakita ko.

I saw him, he's sitting on a table with other two guys and one girl, the chair next to the other guy in a blue suit is vacant. He was staring at his wine glass, he doesn't have his gray suit jacket because it's still on my shoulders. 

The girl next to him is beautiful, she's exquisite. Her hair was magma-red and it crashed over her shoulders, she leaned towards him and whispered something in his ear. He only nodded in response and stared at his wine glass like it's the most interesting object in this room. 

I looked at the other two guys, I can't really see how they look since they're back is turned against me, but when the blue suit guy turned to his side, I saw his face for a while. He's also handsome and has a kind face. 

The guy in the red suit said something that made the beautiful girl laughed and she flipped her middle finger at him. The guy in blue tapped the back of the red suit guy na para bang sinasabi na "okay lang yan" 

I stared back at him and he's also staring at me, I could look away but I couldn't. His gaze is so intense that I can feel my body temperature rising kahit na he's sitting only a few meters away from where Sel and I stand. 

Napaawang ang bibig ko, Sel noticed who I'm looking at she touched my face and forced me to look at her, "No, Skyla. Just no" 

"Wh-what?" I can still feel his gaze on me. 

"Tignan mo na lahat ng lalake dito, wag lang si Ivo." 

"Ivo?" 

"Yes, Ivo. Ivo and his friends. They're all bad news. If I were you, I'll stay away from them, don't even look at them" 

I looked back on the table of Ivo and his friends and noticed that Ivo isn't the only one who is staring at me but the others too. The beautiful girl next to him leaned again and whispered something to his ear, he nodded while his gaze is still on me. 

"God, look at the way he looks at you, para ka nyang kakainin" hinila ako ni Sel sa isang sulok kung saan hindi ako makikita ni Ivo at ng mga kaibigan nya. 

"Who are they?" I asked. 

"I don't know much about them, Skyla. But my parents told me that they're all bad news." she leaned closer to me para ako lang makakarinig ng sasabihin nya, "..rumor has it they're sons and daughters of Mafia bosses. In fact, hindi sila complete, the other guy is not here" she stepped back a little.

I know that Mafia mobs are still around in some parts of the country, but in our town? the thought never came to me. Looking back, there's this commanding aura that surrounds them and I shivered at the thought. 

"Some people call them The Elites." I arched my eyebrow at her. 

"Why? Because rumor has it that they're sons and daughters of criminals?" 

"Partly but it's because they're untouchable. No one messes with them. Piss off everyone but definitely not them and their families" 

"But it's just a rumor. I'm not defending them, Sel, don't misinterpret, but you and I know better than rumors" 

"I know what you're trying to say, Skyla. But it's better to be safe than sorry" 

"Why are they here tho? if those rumors are true?" 

"They're families are the biggest donators of this event. Lalo na ang family ni Ivo. If you looked up on the internet, you'll see the cases about his family, but the Moretti family always wins in every case and complaint filed against them" she looked at me seriously, "It's like going in a war but they're always unscathed" 

We heard the music play and we saw that the people around us are dancing. Hindi ata kinaya ng utak ko ang mga sinabi ni Sel sa akin, I should feel scared but I don't feel scared. In fact, I'm curious.

Niyaya ng sayaw si Sel ng isang lalake, "Skyla, catch you later," she said and she took the hand of the guy. I nodded and smiled at her. 

Nasa isang sulok lang ako at pinapanood ang mga tao habang sila ay sumasayaw. Iniisip ko pa rin ang mga sinabi sa akin ni Sel. Pero totoo nga ba ang mga sinabi nya sa akin? o isa na naman ito sa mga walang basehan na storya ng mga tao para may pag-usapan lang. 

"Why aren't you dancing?" I gasped and looked at the source of the voice. Napaawang ang bibig ko ng makita si Ivo, I can't read his expression pero parang pagpapawisan ako sa mga tingin nya sa akin. 

"No one asked me to dance," I said softly to him. He smiled, a lazy smile, it didn't reach his eyes but I can't help but blush. 

He stretched his right hand towards me, "May I have this dance?" I looked at his stretched hand and back at him. I don't know what possessed me but I took it. All of Sel's warnings are gone. 

He held my hand in a gentle manner, I can sense the slight roughness on them but not in a bad way, the roughness tells me that it's from working hard. 

He turned elegantly, his body in tune with the slow music. He pulled me closer to him and I almost lost my breath. His hand warm on my exposed back. Yet, there was a sort of harshness to him, like he was someone who shouldn't be underestimated. 

Ivo guided me across the dance floor as if we were in some kind of dream. He kept his eyes on me, yet still, he knew exactly where to take me. Every moment, every angle seemed to be planned in advance. Nothing felt forced; I literally thought I was floating. 

The warmth between us grew more powerful every second. My heartbeat was growing steadily along with it. Our dance was perfect; everything from our breathing to how our feet moved stayed in sync. His eyes on me, like I'm the only person that matters in this room.

I broke the silence between us, "I heard rumors about you" 

He looked at me and leaned close and whispered, "Are you scared?" 

"Should I be scared?" I'm probably dancing with fire and danger right now but instead of being scared, I welcomed it. 

He didn't say anything, he just held me closer and gave me his lazy smile again.

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