Chapter 26: Deal

"ANG sarap!" I took the last bite of the roasted chicken. Mahina akong napadighay at rinig na rinig 'yon ng nasa table.

"Enjoying yourself, huh?" Raji commented, napapailing pa habang nakakrus ang mga braso.

"This is so good!" segunda ni Nick, pinapapak ang balat ng lechon. "Babe, you want this? You need to try this!"

"Patikim nga!" Inagaw ni Ardeen ang lechong nasa kamay ni Nick at sinubo ng buo 'yon. "Hang sharap!" aniya habang nasa loob ng bibig ang lechon at nahihirapang magsalita.

Natawa ako sa kanilang dalawa pero agad na naudlot 'yon ng mapansin kong tumayo si Agon.

"I'm going somewhere." He glanced at me. "Stay close to Raji. H'wag mong pairalin ang kuryusidad mo sa lugar na 'to. Be careful," he reminded before leaving us here.

Napaisip tuloy ako bakit kay Raji niya ako hinabilin, eh, tatlo naman ang kaibigan niya. Napabaling ako kay Ardeen at Nick sa kinauupuan nila pero wala na ang dalawa.

That's why.

I found them having a conversation to whom I don't know. Maybe making friends? Or gaining trust to some group.

My gazed was fixed to Agon again. He walked as if he owned this hotel with oozing confidence and danger in his aura.

"Who are they?" I asked curiously at Raji when I saw where Agon was headed.

"They are the Blacks."

My eyes widened. "You mean, the one that we need?"

He nodded. "Blacks are powerful and not that easy to deal with or to form an alliances. I don't know if we can gain their trust this night. Trust are rare in this world, as well as loyalty."

This world that we are in is really dangerous, but at the same time, it piqued my interest. I have a lot to learn about how this world operates, and I have a long way to go to know the unspoken rules of this underworld.

As I had been part of their world the moment I was sold to them, I know how danger opened its way to my life. I've learned to fight and keep up with this ruthless world, learned that loyalty is fragile as a thin glass, and learned that power is the most wicked thing in this world.

I watched how Agon shake hands with that one person, maybe their leader.

"That's Romanov, head of the Blacks," Raji answered the question in my mind.

That Romanov was shorter than Agon, and his build was half as big as Agon's body. Skinny and his loose suit made him look like a sick person. Magulo rin ang buhok tila hindi nakakikilala ng suklay.

"He seems. . . weak," I judge.

"Looks can be decieving, you all know that."

"But how can we close a deal with them if you are not sure that we can make it?" Napatitig ako kay Raji pero ngumisi ito.

"It's a gamble," aniya na nagmamalaki pa. Gago ba siya?!

My mouth hanged open. They put their heads to this dangerous place where enemies are lurking around just for a gamble? And I'm freaking here together with them for the thing they are not sure of!

"All of you are insane!" hindi makapaniwalang sambit ko.

"We truly are." Tumawa si Raji.

"This is impossible! We are all dead," kinakabang pahayag ko at napatitig sa buong paligid.

Maraming tao, maraming grupo ang nagsisiringan ng masasamang tingin at may mga ibig sabihin ang mga ngiting nakapaskil sa bawat labi nilang lahat.

Nabalik ang atensyon ko kay Raji.

"Not really. Hindi mo pa nakita kung paano kami manalo sa isang larong dehado na kami," makahulugang sambit niya.

My gazed fixed to Agon, who's busy having a conversation with Romanov. I was in the middle of watching Agon when I felt that I needed to pee.

"Raji, saan ang cr dito?"

"Why?"

"Of course iihi! Saan ako iihi rito? sa ilalim ng table na 'to?"

He laughed. "P'wede naman, kapag gusto mo."

I rolled my eyes. "Hindi ka nakatutuwa."

"I'm not joking." Kumibit-balikat siya.

"Bahala ka r'yan."

Mas lalong siyang tumawa at sandaling tinuro ang malaking paskil sa glid na comfort room. Inismidan ko siya bago ko tinalikuran at pumunta sa cr.

I do my thing after I reached the comfort room. Parang nabawasan ang loob ko ng makaihi ng matiwasay.

I can hear the faint music playing, seeping through the door. I fixed my hair and adjusted the strap of my dress. I heard a sudden movement outside the cubiclele, but it didn't make me stop opening the door.

I was about to open the door when a sudden kick suprised me, but I managed to avoid it without getting hit.

"Oh! I'm so sorry! I slipped!" she apologized with a hint of sarcasm.

I raised my brows at her. She stood tall and fierce, looking confident towards me. Her snow-like skin emphasized her black gown and glistened when a light hit the diamonds on her gown. She radiated a dangerous energy just by standing in front of me.

Without a warning, I kicked her, which made her stumble on the floor.

"Opps! I'm sorry. I mean it," I said as I used the same tone she did.

She glared and got up, putting her black purse in the dry sink. She lunged at me, swinging her arms to punch me in the face. I easily dodged it and sidestepped as I grabbed her hands and twisted it. Her exposed back kissed the cold tiles of the comfort room.

"Oh, enjoying yourself there?" I mocked.

She glared and gave me a forceful kick but I managed to dodged it.  We exchange blows, powerful kicks with our stilettos on, and dodges measuring each's strength as we fight.

Now, I'm really happy with how I keep up with her movement, and I can see through what move she'll  make. But, this is not the time to celebrate, this night is a long way to run and I don't know how long I can keep up with the enemies.

We clashed in silence without someone knowing what we were doing inside this, our heavy breathing filled the four corners of the comfort room.

She grabbed my arms and pushed me against the wall—a loud thud engulfed this small space. She grinned. "Gotcha!"

"You're too early to celebrate."

I kicked her legs as I managed to free myself from her. We lauched another set of kicks and punches until we were heavily breathing.

There's a small distance between us as our eyes are locked on each other. I noticed that her body relaxed and began to laugh.

Nangunot ang noo ko sa ginawa niyang 'yon, nagtataka.

"So you're Agon Levitico Del Vecho's wife, huh? He picked a nice ass wife," she commented and face ld the mirror. She elegantly wiped the beads of sweat on her forehead. "I'm Relliana, just call me Ree."

I don't know where she knew my name. I'm quite famous, huh?

Hesitant I was, but I introduced myself. "Jeykcil. Jeykcil Reyn Eluetero. . .Del Vecho."

Muntik ko ng makalimutan na asawa pala ako ni Agon ngayon. Fuck!

Relliana showed me her smile genuinely. " I know. You're quite strong. I like it." She winked and turned her back to me.

She walked out of the comfort room as if nothing had happened. 
Nagtataka ko siyang sinundan at nadatnan na lang na nasa tabi na siya ni Romanov.

My eyes widened when I realized that Relliana was the wife of Romanov.

Great! What will happen to Agon's plan if Romanov knows what happened to Relliana a while ago? Fuck!

I bit my lip as they looked in my direction, as if Relliana said something about them.

She waved her hand for me to come, inviting me together with Agon and Romanov. I hesitantly walked towards them, but when I saw Agon nod, I walked confidently until I reached them.
 
Agad na hinapit ni Agon bewang ko ng makalapit na kasabay ng pag-init ng pisngi ko sa ginawa niya.

"A lovey-dovey, so sweet naman," komento ni Relliana at kumunyapit lalo kay Romanov. She look at  Agon. "You've got a strong and fearless wife, Del Vecho. Don't waste such a gem in your side."

"Don't worry, what is mine is mine and no enemy will take that from me."

Tila may sumipa sa dibdib ko sa narinig kong 'yon kay Agon, pero panandalian lang iyon. Hindi ko alam kung totoo ba talaga 'yon o hindi at pawang kasinungalingan lang.

Relliana whispered something at Romanov, matagal iyon tila may pinapaliwanag dahil tango nang tango si Romanov. Napapasulyap din siya sa gawi ko.

Suddenly, Romanov initiate a hand shake, nagkatinginan kami ni Agon

"Since my wife really likes her encountered with your wife a while ago, I'll consider an alliance."

And a simple handshake formed a new beginning of alliance; a sealing form of agreement happened between them. An alliance that everyone wishes made its own way to our hands just easy as that.

A smile formed on my lips out of satisfaction.