DEMONS XIV

Ley got a call from her sister- Adrienne Jayzel Doezon wanting to be fetched at the airport kaya naman nandito siya ngayon, may hawak na placard ng pangalan nito habang hinihintay ang kapatid. They're sisters, yes, but they don't have the same father. Thou they do have the same face and the only difference is Jayzel looks angelic while Ley look like a walking bitchface. She really don't know how it happens when they almost looked identical.

"Jayzel!" She waved her hand at the sight of her. Jayzel cut her hair short with a few curls which suits her. Mas madali na tuloy ma-determine which is which sa kanilang dalawa dahil mahaba ang itim na itim na buhok ni Ley at halos umabot na pwetan niya.

"I missed you, Ley!" Jayzel said while giving her a tight hug.

"Hey! I c-can't breathe, woman." Reklamo niya naman kaya binitawan siya nito sabay tawa bago nag-sorry.

"Ako ba talaga ang na-miss mo? Or, siya? For all I know hindi ka pa moved on." Pang-aasar niya sa kapatid.

"Hinayupak kang bata ka. Tse!" Angil naman nito and Ley simply laughed at her annoyance.

~•~

"Halina kayong mga bata at nakahanda na ang dinner sa baba." Saad ng ina nila matapos ang mabining katok sa pintuan ng kwarto ni Jayzel kung nasaan sila ngayon.

"Mame! We're not a kid anymore." Maktol ni Ley matapos nilang makarating sa dining table. She's used to calling her mother, Mame (ma-mè) and father, Dada dahil mas kumportable siya dun.

"Both of you are still a kid for us, Ley." Mahinahong tugon naman ng Dada niya na ikinatango naman ni Mame niya.

"Anyway, eighteenth birthday na po nitong si Ley few days from now. Is there a party po ba?" Biglang tanong naman ni Jayzel.

"Nope. Not gonna happen." Maikling sagot ni Ley.

"Gaga. Once in a lifetime lang to eh. How 'bout we organized a masquerade party?" Jayzel suggested.

"Good idea anak. We still have time kaya pwede pa namang asikasuhin." Sabi naman ng Dada niya. And that's what Ley admired about him because he always treated Jayzel like she is his own blood.

"Sino ba naman ako? For all I know, one out of three ang laban. Basta akoyo ng sobrang daming eighteen ek-ek. Eighteen roses or whatever you call that dance would suffice." She said defeated.

"Malaki naman yung garden kaya baka palagyan ko na lang muna ng glass floor yung pool para dun ganapin ang Eighteen roses mo anak. Then, gawa na lang ako ng parang stall where the guests can put their presents." Masayang sambit ng Mame niya.

"Perfect! All settled then." Nakangiting sambit ni Jayzel na tinanguan niya lang.

Matapos ang dinner ay umakyat na rin silang dalawa sa kanya-kanya nilang kwarto and Jayzel decided to stay at Ley's room.

"Sama ka?" Tanong ni Ley kay Jayzel na nakadapa sa kama niya habang nakapangalumbaba.

"Where?" She asked.

"EliGa. I have a race tonight. Two weeks din akong nagpahinga sa karera." Sagot niya at mabilis naman itong tumango.

"Sureness." She said giggling like a child.

"Aangkas ka ba sa motor ko? Or, you'll use one of my cars?" Tanong niya ulit. Nandun na kasi sa pupuntahan nila ang gagamitin niyanh kotse pangarera.

"Pahiram nung Bugatti Veyron mo." Nakangisi nitong saad na tinanguan niy lang. Lumabas na ito ng kwarto niya kaya't nagsimula na rin siyang mag-gayak.

Nagsuot lang siya white crop top shirt na mahaba yung manggas saka black ripped jeans na tinernuhan niya ng silver watch at white rubber shoes with hidden wedge. At paglabas niya ng kwarto ay naabutan niya si Jayzel na kakalabas lang din ng kwarto nito. Nakasuot ito ng maong shorts, black crop top shirt and an ankle boots.

"Here!"

Hinagis ni Ley yung susi ng kotse niya dito saka siya nagpatuloy sa paglalakad pababa. Nakarating sila ni Jayzel sa underground garage ng bahay at saka sumandal sa mga sasakyan habang naguusap dahil maaga pa naman para umalis.

"Are you happy?" Tanong ni Ley bigla.

"Of course! Matagal din akong hindi nakauwi." She answered beaming.

"Stop fooling yourself. You're not." Walang emosyon niyang sabi sa kapatid.

"I knew you too well for me to conclude whether you're happy or not." Dugtong niya pa.

"I miss him every damn time and I wanna see him, but I can't. Nakakainis si Dad." Angil nito na tila maiiyak na.

"Try to understand him. Benefit of the doubt. Una sa lahat, I bet he don't want to risk your life. Ikaw ang nag-iisa niyang anak and the sole heiress of the Organization. Alam kong ayaw mo ng bumalik rito dahil masakit para sayo, but if there's really a mole within the organization, you really  need to help him. And stop running away cause one day, you would need to face him." Mahabang sabi nalang ni Ley.

"I know. I just can't help it. Masakit pa rin kasi. And, I'm the reason we're both hurting." Malungkot nitong tugon.

"We've met. Though naiiwasan ko siya, he is under the impression that I am you. Nagkataon kasing iisa kami ng naging school. They were transferees. Buti patapos na ang school year nun. Kaya nag-transfer din ako. To avoid complications. Also, I don't want to drop the bomb. You have the right to do that. Not me." Mahabang imporma niya dito ng mga pangyayari. Those are events in her life na dapat ay alam nito, especially it's about him.

"Thanks, Ley. I owe you a lot." Tila naluluhang sambit nito habang nakakatitig sa kawalan.

"Don't mention it. Tara na bago ka pa umiyak." Nakangising saad nito kaya nakatikim siya ng suntok mula sa kapatid.

~•~

"You coming?" Yeol heard her ask from the other line right after he answered the phone. Naririnig niya ang takbo ng motor, so he assumed that she's on her way to EliGa.

"Sure thing. Kailan ko ba pinalampas ang mga laban mo?" Nakangiti niya pang tugon sa kausap.

"Tss! Where are you anyway?" Biglang tanong nito na tila pasigaw dahil sa ingay ng mga sasakyan at ng makina ng motor nito.

"Dito sa Empyrean kasama yung mga ulupong." Tanging sagot niya.

"K. Bye." Mabilis nitong sagot saka pinatay ang tawag. "Abnormal talaga yun." Yeol said to himself.

"Whose that?" Tanong ni L ng makabalik siya sa loob ng game room.

"Si Empress. May race daw siya tonight, so I need to go." Paalam niya nalang.

"Syempre aalis yan. Wala naman siyang pinalampas na race ni Devi eh." Nakangising tudyo ni Hoya and he just glared at him.

"Kasama niya kaya si Nielle?" Nakangising munggago na tanong ni Dongwoo.

"She knew the risks. She'll never bring a friend there." Simpleng sagot ni Gyu.

"And why are you even calling her friend that?" Tanong naman ni Sungjong.

"Ha?" Tila walang muang na tanong ni Dongwoo.

"Si Ice. You're calling her Nielle." Paliwanag ni Namu. 'Kahit ako ay nagtataka din sa isang ito eh.' Yeol said in his mind.

"I just felt like I knew her when I saw her eyes. Saka I have a gut feeling na mas bagay sa kanya ang Nielle instead of Ice." Simpleng tugon ni Dongwoo.

"Baka inlove ka na, tol?" Tanong naman ni Namu dito.

"Ha? Talaga?" Napasapo na lang sila sa noo sa tanong ni Woo. "Clueless asshole." Yeol muttered under his breath.

"Bahala kayo dyan. Aalis na ako." Simpleng saad niya pa na iiling iling sabay lakad palabas ng silid na iyon.