✔ Killer in the Attic

[25] VIGINTI QUINQUE

"I think you already know what I am. Do you wanna know what I can do?" She teased. 

At hinimas pa niya ang mga braso ko habang pilit na inilalapit ang kanyang dibdib sa'kin. I had to literally pull her hands away to keep her from touching my body and glared. This is very uncomfortable.

"Look, I appreciate the help, but you shouldn't meddle with what I do. We're from different leagues and..."

"And?"

Shit. Mahirap pala talagang magsalita kung may succubus na lumalakad papalapit sa'yo. Don't get me wrong, I don't find her attractive at all---well, she is attractive---but that's not the point! Argh. Bullshit.

I kept my eyes on hers, never straying away. Hindi ko pinansin ang lantarang pang-aakit niya.

"And shouldn't you be dealing with your own business? Have sex with men in their sleep and all that crap?"

Ngumisi si Vela. She inched her head closer to mine kaya walang-gana akong humakbang papalayo. "I'm already tired of that. At nagkataon na habang nakikipagtalik ako sa isang mortal, I saw you running pass his room's window so I decided to ditch that guy and follow you. I want frontrow seats to all the drama in Eastwood!"

Hindi na ako sumagot.

I honestly don't know how to act in a situation like this. Noong binuhay ako ni Oriana, wala namang "How to Avoid an Attractive Succubus" manual. I was created to help Oriana face her fears and live happily ever after---kahit na "masamang espiritu" ako sa paningin niya.

Marahan kong inalis ang kamay ng succubus na kasalukuyang hinihimas na naman ang katawan ko.

"I need to go."

She caught my arm. Biglang naseryoso ang mukha niya. "Look, I've been watching you for quite a while now... Layuan mo si Alec. That rotten imagination's gone insane! I can small it from a mile away!"

I smirked. "Tell me something I don't know." Kasi kung kabaliwan lang din naman, mukhang nakikipagsabayan na ako kay Alec. Pero sa hindi malamang dahilan, hindi pa rin binibitiwan ni Vela ang braso ko.

"You don't understand! Alec is a different kind of evil. Ginagamit ka lang niya para sa mga plano niya."

What the fuck?

"Tsk. Bitiwan mo na nga ako. I need to be back by dawn. Hahanapin ako ng tao ko." That was partly a lie. Hindi ko naman alam kung hahanapin nga ako ni Oriana pagkagising niya.

Nang makawala ako sa pagkakalingkis ni Vela, I ran back to the house. It's funny that we know where to go even though we have no idea where we are. Like an internal compass that knows the destination.

Back to Oriana.

Nang makabalik na ako, I slowly entered the door that led to the house's attic. I stopped when a gun was pointed at my forehead. Nang silipin ko ang may hawak nito, the bastard just gave a cocky smirk. His eyes twinkled with mischief. "You look like shit."

Frustratedly, I pushed the gun away from me. "Para saan naman ang baril?" Kung hindi ako nagkakamali, it was just Alec's normal way of saying hello: pointing a gun at your head.

Nagkibit siya ng balikat at ibinato sa isang sulok ang baril. "I'm just messing around. I call it, the 'Guess the Intruder' game. Kung babae ang papasok, tututukan ko ng kutsilyo sa leeg. Kapag naman lalaki, baril ang gagamitin ko. It's fun. You should try it sometimes."

I rolled my eyes at him and leaned against the wall.

"What if you can't tell if the intruder is male or female?"

"Hmm... good point. Maybe I should just use a chainsaw for everyone," he grinned.

Baliw na talaga. I then recalled what Vela said earlier. Bago ko pa man pigilan ang sarili ko, lumabas na ang mga salita sa bibig ko. "Hey, Alec. May kilala ka bang Vela?"

From his sitting position, Alec's face darkened. Tumalim rin ang tingin niya. I have a feeling about this.

"Yup. Why?"

Napailinga ako. "She told me not to trust you."

Mula sa pwesto ko, nakita ko ang pagsiklab ng galit ni Alec. His eyes flamed dangerously while his hands clenched into fists. Ano bang problema nito? Mas lalo tuloy akong naguguluhan sa mga nangyayari.

"Sebastian, she's a sneaky little demon who'd do anything for entertainment. She's been messing with me ever since. Siya ang 'wag mong pagkatiwalaan. She's evil."

Tumango na lang ako. What the fuck? This is why I hate trusting other creatures. Hindi mo alam kung ano ang tunay na mga intensyon nila. At sa nakikita ko ngayon---between Alec and Vela---I can say that one of them is lying.

I just don't know who is.

Napatingin ulit ako kay Alec na abala sa kung anumang kinakalikot niya. Nang masilip ko kung ano 'yon, kumunot ang noo ko.

"Para saan ang digital camera na 'yan?" I asked.

Nang lingunin niya ako, nakita ko ang pagkaseryoso sa mukha niya. Nawala na ang anumang bakas ng kapilyuhan. "This is for my final show. I've got a lead on the whereabouts of my creator. Kailangan ko nang itodo ang pagpapapansin sa kanya, don't you think?"

I smirked. The sooner this is over, the sooner I can live with Oriana in peace.

Or so I thought.

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