Pretty but Deadly

Chapter 27: Black Mood

"Where's Devon?" I asked April when I saw her came out of the restaurant.

"Sir Devon just arrived at the mansion from a special appointment out of the country," she answered courtly. "April will be back here quickly. Kailangan lang tignan ni April ang kalagayan ni Miss Stella sa ospital." Napataas ang aking kilay dahil sa pagtataka. But then, I realized that she'stalking about Barbie. So, she was brought in the hospital, hah.

"Tell her to get well soon," I told her like I'm concerned. "I'm not yet done detaching every single parts of her body." Well, I'm not even starting yet.

She just smiled, nodded, and excused herself. Pinanood ko lang umalis ang sinakyan nitong kotse.

I opened the glass door and went in utterly. All the attention of the employees went to me. When I looked at them, they all simultaneously looked away. I hissed silently and walk to the counter. Ang empleyadong naroon ay agad nagsi-alisan ng may takot sa kanilang mga mata, tila dumating akong may dalang nakakahawang sakit. Perhaps, they already heard what happened and Barbie was rushed to the hospital. I look for Katy but I can't see her. Marahil ay nasa kusina ito.

After my encounter with that woman, my feet led me back here for no apparent reasons. That old woman... her words still hang in the air before she vanished.

'I hope he can still keep you sane.'

Hindi ko siya napatay. She left me disoriented with my own thoughts.

"Bat' ba andito 'yan?"

"Oo nga. Wala namang ginagawa. 'Bat nila hinahayang nandito?"

"Baka kumakabit kay Sir."

Nagpantig ang aking tenga sa huli kong narinig. Isang matalim na tingin ang ipinukol ko sa tatlong serbedorang nag-uusap tungkol sa akin. Agad naman silang nagpulasan paalis. Kung hindi lang maraming tao ang narito ay siguradong mamamatay ang tatlong iyon. Their judgement over-crossed the line. Tsk, why am I even here? Dapat ay 'di ako bumalik rito.

Tumalikod akong muli upang tumungo palabas nang mabungaran ko ang isang pamilyar na pigurang kakapasok lamang sa restawran. Napatigil rin ito at nagkatitigan kami. 'Di nagtagal ay binawi nya rin ito at naglakad papunta sa may sulok at bakanteng lamesa. Sumunod ako sa kanya.

"Finally," wika ko ng maupo ako kaharap niya. "Iniisip ko na kung paano ka papatayin kung hindi ka pa magpapakita. I thought you've decided to be a wimp like who you really are." Isang tipid na ngiti ang isinukli nito.

"Nahirapan akong hanapin ang restawran na ito na pinapasukan mo. At isa pa, nahirapan din ako sa pinapahanap mo." Gazelle answered as she fixed the loose strands of her hair.

"So, tell me now about it. Ano ang bunga na iyong mga paghihirap? Who's Devon Henderson?"

Bumagsak ang tingin nito sa lamesa at huminga ng malalim. Napapikit ito ng mariin bago muling tumingin sa aking mga mata. "I...I don't r-really know how to explain this but-" she stopped like she lost her words.