8 Last Bait

I've been living in the city for two weeks and I decided to rent an apartment. It would be more convenient for me, so I chose my humble abode across from Andrei and his wife's flat, a very strategic location perfect for my plan. Most importantly, my room was on the top floor which meant it is surely visible in Andrei's eyes.

I was fixing my stuff when my phone rang. It's the unregistered number again. I pressed the answer key but the caller didn't talk. There was a long silence then I heard a man clear his throat.

"Allondrah?"

The voice was unmistakable. It's Andrei!

"Who's this? And how did you get my number?"

"Uhm... it's Andrei."

"Who?"

"Andrei Martin. Allondrah please stop acting like you don't know me," he said with a hint of frustration in his voice.

"Yes? So, what do you want?" I asked nonchalantly.

"Can I... can we talk?"

"For what? I am quite busy now so if you wanna say something, you can tell me now!"

"No, I wanna see you. I wanna tell you in person."

"Very well, let's meet in the Haven Restaurant at lunch."

I turned off my phone and smiled devilishly. "Am I really diabolic? Not even close. Those people in Castillo de Diablo are devils. What I'm doing now is nothing compared to what they've done to me," I gritted. "Do I care about his wife? Na. His wife is just a puppet I can surely use when the right time comes," I uttered as I looked at myself in the mirror.

I touched the tattoo on my chest, revealed when my robe slipped off my shoulder when I lifted a carton of books I was going to display on a hanging bookshelf in the living room.

"How dare you?! I will make you pay for everything you did for me!" I muttered. I wiped the tears that freely streaked down my face upon remembering the bitter memories I had in the past. Those years of neglect and exploitation. The only thing I am thankful for is the fact that I am alive and still a virgin!

Satisfied, at last, I decided to clean myself up. It's only ten in the morning, I still had much time to plunge into a relaxing bath.

As soon as I entered the restaurant, the friendly waiter approached me with a big smile on his face, looking so pleased to see me.

"You're back! And you're looking so beautiful, too. Well, as always," he gushed. I giggled then my smile faded when my eyes met Andrei's warning stare. I smiled at the waiter even sweeter and tapped his shoulder.

"Ah! You're such a darling," I flirtatiously said. He blushed. Then, he looked around as if looking for someone.

"You came alone?" he asked, quite hopeful.

"Sadly, I am here for a lunch meeting," I replied, emphasizing the word meeting. "See you around!" Then I tapped his arm and went straight to where Andrei was sitting. He was keeping a straight face yet irritation was still apparent.

"I didn't know that you and that waiter are friends," he sardonically said.

I raised my brow but deep inside I was smiling. He's obviously jealous.

"Hmmm... I don't understand why you even care," I answered, equalling his sarcasm. He sighed.

"Sit down. What do you fancy? It's on me," he said. He was acting like a true gentleman, pulling a chair for me, and taking care of my needs.

"Uhm... I am not a child, Andrei. I can manage," I told him. He looked at me. "I am not used to it."

"Why are you so hard to please?" he whispered but I was able to hear it.

"What did you say?" I asked, pretending that I hadn't heard anything.

"Uhm... do you already have your order?" he replied.

"Yeah. I'll have an order of Haven's special menu with a vegetable salad and a glass of wine. 'Bout you?"

"I'll have what you're having," he said then call the friendly waiter's attention and told him our orders.

"Ah... just like the last time," the waiter said. I nodded. When the waiter left, Andrei cleared his throat.

"Allondrah,"

"What?"

"I don't like the way you treat each other."

"What exactly do you mean?"

"Uhm... I don't like that... I hate it when you smile at him, looking so in love."

"Why? Why do you hate it?"

"You're not a couple!"

"Your point is?"

"God! Allondrah, you're not a couple but you're acting like one. It's a terrible sight!"

"Damn, Andrei! Whatever your point is, just say it coz I am clearly discombobulated right now. What are you saying? Why~,"

"I think, I like you!"

It was almost a whisper.

"What?!"

"I said... I like you~ a lot!"

"Are you insane?!"

"Maybe I am!"

I wanted to say more but the waiter brought our food.

"Enjoy your meal," the waiter said before leaving us.

"Eat up."

"Don't give me orders!"

He sighed, clearly frustrated.

"Alright, please eat."

"We can talk about the thing that you wanna tell while eating. So, what is it?"

He stared at his food as I sliced some meat. I could see his agitation, his anxiousness.

"Allondrah, what... ahm... what do you think of me?" he asked. I nearly got shocked when he asked it. And I looked at him in irritation.

"We came all down here just to ask my opinion about you? That's some serious mental there," I replied without masking my sarcasm.

"No. No. I mean...," he sighed. He didn't know what to say and how to say it. He was struggling to grasp the right vocabulary to explain his intentions. I waited for an answer. He fidgeted.

"I don't know how to say it."

"Maybe, we can eat first."

"Thank you."

We tried to finish our food. No one dared to speak, both seemingly afraid to break the fragility of the silence. I had to put up with the awkwardness of the situation and focused on my food while Andrei reluctantly ate. Instead, he kept drinking his wine.

I chuckled. I couldn't help it. He looked at me, amused.

"Sorry. If someone will see us, they might think that you're my hostage," I joked. He smiled, at last, showing those dimples again.

"Do I look silly?" he asked shyly.

"Yeah. You look cute though," I blurted out. His face lit up. Realizing what I'd just said, I looked away. I cursed myself a hundred times for being so careless.

"Hmmm... so I am cute, huh?" he teased.

"I have to go," I said then I stormed off, leaving him grinning.