Chapter 17

I have no idea kung ilang segundo, minuto na ang lumipas, but Ivo and I are still dancing. His hand on my exposed back, gentle and sure, his intense stare steady on me, and I can't help but only look at him. If I have the ability to melt, I'd probably create a mess here.  

He looks so handsome up close, beautiful and dangerous, wala ako makitang kapintas-pintas sa mukha nya, it should be illegal. I wonder how old is he, what is his favorite color, what are the things that scare him, and what is running in his mind right now.

"What are you thinking?"

I tilted my head to the side, "I'm trying to figure you out."

He pulled me closer and his face inches away from mine, this is the second most intimate contact I experienced with a man, the first was in 69East when I danced with a stranger.

There's something familiar about Ivo's touch, he caressed my exposed back with his fingertips, and I can feel my knees getting weak with each touch and look.

"How's that going? Care to share?" I closed my eyes, Ivo is too much for me. I think I can't handle his gaze and how close he is. Para akong hihimatayin and my heart is beating so fast; I think it'll fall if Ivo won't stop touching me.

I opened my eyes and looked at him, "I can't. I can't figure you out." 

Ivo gave me smirk, "You don't need to figure me out. Don't waste your time." now he hugged me still dancing, I can't help but lean my head against his shoulders, and I heard him say "let's just enjoy this while we still can."

Am I going crazy? I would never allow any man this close to me; this is too intimate. From the onlooker's view, we probably look like a couple slow dancing. I don't even know him, only his name and the things Sel told me earlier. 

There's a certain aura that surrounds Ivo, the type of character that you'll want to avoid him if you see him walking in the streets. An aura that will make you think twice before saying his name, you'd want to mess with everyone else but definitely not him. 

But Ivo this close to me, I didn't feel scared, but instead I feel safe with him. I feel secure and special. Am I going crazy? Where are these thoughts coming? Am I craving a man's touch kaya naiisip ko ang mga bagay na ito? I think I should consult Alexavia about this. 

Sel's warning came back again in my head, should I be careful around him? But at this moment, I couldn't bring myself to care. I'll just enjoy this moment.

A loud, rippling sound sliced through the air, Ivo was fast, he grips my right hand tight but not painful, and the lights are out, it's pitch black inside the hall. I can hear people screaming and running.

What's happening? 

Ivo intertwines his fingers on mine; I can't see him dahil sa sobrang dilim ng paligid "I need you to listen to me" kahit malakas ang sigawan ng mga tao I heard Ivo clearly, "Don't let go of my hand," I nodded kahit hindi nya iyon nakita. Naalala ko bigla si Uncle and Anthony, where are they? I almost let go of Ivo's hand, as if to read my mind, he held it again firmly, "We'll look for them after you're safe, sa ngayon, don't let go of my hand."

I was about to ask something when Ivo started walking, and I had no choice but to follow him. I can still hear the scream and shouts of the people around me. Their scream and shouts made my heart beat so fast. The glass shattered around us. Screams pierced the air.

The gunshots are loud, as loud as the scream of the people around me. If it weren't for Ivo, I'd probably fall. Masyadong mabilis ang mga nangyari, a moment ago, Ivo and I are dancing na para kaming may sariling mundo and then the next thing I know is that lights are out and people are screaming everywhere.

The smell of the smoke was so bad; it was as if someone had put a piece of coal into my lungs, and I don't have a choice but to breathe it. I'm not sure what's the cause of the smoke, but it's there, and I smell it, my eyes are starting to hurt.

Ivo held my hand so tight; it was almost painful pero ininda ko iyon kasi ayokong bitawan ang kamay nya. Are we going to be okay? Is everyone going to be okay? Who is behind this chaos? What's their reason behind this attack? I almost thought that tonight's Charity Ball would be peaceful, but I guess I thought wrong.

Masyadong mabilis ang lakad ni Ivo and it's challenging to keep up with him with my heels and dress, "Can we slow down?" 

"We can't slow down" seryoso nitong sagot. "I know your feet are hurting, but we can't stop. I need to take you somewhere safe."

"Ivo?" I asked hesitantly, "I don't know you, and you don't know me as well. How can I be sure that you're taking me somewhere safe?"

Tuloy lang ang lakad ni Ivo, sa tingin ko ay hindi nya narinig ang mga sinabi ko. We stopped walking and he let go of my hand, I frowned. Medyo malayo na kami sa mga sigaw gayunpaman ay naririnig ko pa rin ito ng kaunti.

I heard the sound of keys and knobs being twisted. He opened the door and I followed him. I squinted my eyes to adjust because the lights at the corridor are hurting my eyes. Sa loob ng function hall ang black out pero dito sa corridor ay okay naman ang mga ilaw. 

Ivo held my hand again, and we started walking at a slow pace. I studied him for a moment, and I noticed how careful he is as we walk. He checks every corner before we take another step; I saw how calm he is; it's almost comforting. Gentle, yet his eyes are in an intense look—a predator looking for his prey. 

He stopped walking and faced me, searching my face, he sighed, "I know that you're confused and probably asking yourself a lot of questions, why you should trust me. I don't have the answers, but for now, you have to, and when tomorrow comes you don't have to trust me again."

I didn't understand him, hindi ko alam kung dahil ba ito sa mga nangyayari ngayong gabi. Gusto ko syang tanungin kung anong ibing nya sabihin, gusto ko ring linawin nya ang kanyang mga sinabi but before I could open my mouth he grabbed my arm and pushed me behind him. 

I was to shock to react and complain, "Stand behind me and don't move" I wanted to ask him why but his tone made me stop. Full of authority and I did what he asked me to. I stood behind him and didn't move. 

We stood still in the corridor, waiting, hindi ko alam kung anong hinihintay namin o kung may naghihintay man sa amin. My whole body is tense at tagaktak na rin ang pawis ko. I took a deep breath, hoping to ease the tension on my body. 

There was silence, and then it happened, it was too fast, too quiet and impossible to notice but the mark it left on the floor can't be missed. It left a small hole, and it's only a few inches away from my feet. I stared at it, too shocked to react.

I peeked over Ivo's shoulder and saw a man in a black suit, wearing a clown mask on his face walking towards us. He walked at a slow pace as if he has all the time in the world, his holding a pistol on his right hand. Napalunok ako sa nakita ko and held on Ivo's right arm unconsciously. The guy in a mask stop and stood a few meters from us, hindi man sya ganoon kalapit ay pakiramdam ko ay gusto ko ng tumakbo. 

Tumawa ito ng malakas. He laughed like we dropped the funniest joke of the year, I noticed that he has a tattoo on his left hand. I can't tell what the symbol is, but it covers half of his left hand.

"Do you like it?" he casually asks, I only stared at him, "Do you like my tattoo?" I didn't answer him, nanatili lang ang tingin ko sa kanya. "I hate it when women like you are quiet, hindi ko mabasa ang iniisip nyo." he placed his hand on his chin and scratched it, "but I like it when they're noisy when they beg, music to my ears." 

With or without the mask, I know that this guy is dangerous, and I may not see his face, alam kong nakangiteng demonyo sya ngayon. "You're beautiful, and I bet you're a screamer. I'd love to have you in my bed." 

Ivo tensed for a moment, I squeezed his arm, and he seemed to relax under my touch. I noticed that his jaw is tense and his expression deadly, but he remained silent. 

"Still, no answer? I'm hurt" nilagay nya ang kanyang kamay sa kanyang dibdib, kunwaring nasaktan sa hindi ko pag-imik sa kanya. The guy in the mask tilted his head to the side and laughed again; he laughed so loud na akala ko ay sinasapian na sya. "Fucking hell, I didn't notice you there Ivo," ani nito. 

Just who is this guy exactly? Ivo remained silent, kanina pa sya tahimik. Ivo's calmness and silence are scaring me. 

Kung tutuusin ay dapat tinamaan na ako ng bala kanina pero sa hindi maipaliwanag na rason ay hindi nya ito tinuloy at pinatamaan lamang ang sahig.

Para kanino ang bala kanina? For me? for Ivo or for both of us?

"Ivo, Ivo Luca Moretti," the guy in the mask said in disgust, "ang tagal kong hinintay ang pagkakataong ito" he raised his gun and pointed it at Ivo. 

Ivo didn't even flinch, sa katunayan walang takot sa mga mata nya. His face is so calm na para bang araw-araw ay may tumututok ng baril sa kanya dahilan para masanay na sya.

Ang mga daliri nya ay nasa gatilyo na ng baril, isang galaw ng daliri nya maaring katapusan na. May kasalanan ba si Ivo sa kanya kaya nya ito gustong patayin? Ano ang dahilan ng lalakeng ito? Sya ba ang may pakana ng lahat ng ito?

May atraso ba ang pamilya ni Ivo si kanya? Ang dami kong tanong na gusto na kasagutan pero hindi naman masasagot ang mga ito kung tuluyan ngang iputok ng nakamaskarang lalake ang baril nya. Is this what Sel's warning all about?

"Polina" I looked at Ivo, he said it so softly that I could have missed it, but I didn't. Polina? 

He was on his knees before the gunshot reached my ears. I looked at my back; you could hear her high-heels click-clack down the corridor. She was with Ivo and the other two guys earlier at the table. She's wearing her red dress, her lipstick red as her hair. Her eyes are fiery. And she's carrying an HVR gun. She's a woman you don't want to mess with. 

"Polina" the masked guy hissed with disgust, Polina walked towards him with confidence, her body relaxed and her face calm and all smiles. She raised her left leg, her skin showing and kicked the guy's face, I flinched, I think I heard his bone cracked. 

"Fucking impostor," her voice is cold as ice. The mask fell on the ground, Polina pointed the gun at the guy's face. He's now crying, "Please wag po. Napag-utusan lang po ako." 

The guy is probably in his thirties, his face bloody and his knees bleeding dahil doon sya pinatamaan ni Polina. "Sino ang nag-utos sayo?" kalmadong tanong ni Polina, hindi ko mapigilang mayakap ang sarili ko. 

She looks so beautiful when I first saw her, exquisite even. But this woman in front of me is a monster. No remorse and no mercy.

"Close your eyes" narining ko si Ivo pero hindi magawang sumara ng mga mata ko. Gusto kong makita ang gagawin ni Polina, gusto kong makita na pakakawalan nya ang lalake at ilalayo ang baril na nakatutok sa mukha nito.

Gusto kong makita kung totoo nga ba ang mga narinig ko mula kay Sel. Gusto ko makita.

"Hin-di ko po pwede-ng sabihin, papatayin po ni-la ang pamilya ko" ramdam ko ang takot at kaba nya, walang emosyong nakinig si Polina. "Nagmamakaawa po ako-"

His body fell on the floor; Polina didn't even blink when she pulled the trigger. She picked up the mask from the floor, stared at it for a moment, and threw it on the nearby wall. She screamed in anger and frustration, "I'll kill him. I'll fucking kill him." 

Impostor? Ang lalakeng nasa sahig ay isang impostor? Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyayari at kung sino ang ibig sabihin ni Polina pero sa nakikita ko ngayon ay malalim ang galit nya kung sino man ang taong ito. She turned to us, she glanced at me for a moment then looked at Ivo.

"We have to go. Severin and asshat are waiting" Ivo nodded and walked towards her. Polina looked at me, "You, the lady in white. Your companions are waiting. You should go too." she casually said, like she didn't kill someone a minute ago. 

She killed someone like it was nothing. Like she's doing it every day, like its natural. As if the life she took when she pulled the trigger didn't matter. 

I didn't move as I stare at her and Ivo. Who are they? Who are these people in front of me? Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa mga nakita ko at hindi ko rin alam kung makakatulog pa ako pagkatapos ng gabing ito.

Ivo stared at me, who is he? There's nothing scary about him when we were dancing earlier, but now that he's standing next to Polina, I can't help but ask myself, "asan na ang lalakeng kasayaw ko kanina?"

Something flashed beneath the surface of his hardened expression, and I hurried to investigate the sudden shift. It was too late, the emotion disappeared before I could identify it, and I don't think I'll ever get the chance. Ivo didn't say anything and started walking towards the exit.

And when he's gone, I can't help but ask myself, "Will I see him again?" 

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