Was she abducted in the Philippines?
Was she kidnapped? Or did her family put her up as trade of some sort?
Did she come here alone?
As if I thought about her too much, when Nero left to get her water, her head turned towards me, Dex, and Siege.
I pulled away from their hold to walk towards her.
I was itching to ask her questions, but I didn’t know if she’s up for talking. So, I waited.
“Alam ba ng jowa mo na nilalandi mo yung dalawa?”
My brows shot up to my forehead at her blunt accusation, and I knew already that I had underestimated this girl.
“I’m not flirting with them behind Nero’s back, if that’s what you’re thinking.” I wasn’t sure if I should disclose to a nine-year-old girl the technicalities of my relationship, but maybe she needed a distraction. Who knows? I’m willing to give it to her if it will help her forget about the situation she was in.
“I’m dating all three of them,” I finally said with a shrug. “And yes, they all know.”
To my surprise, Callista actuallysmiledat that, nodding as if she respected it and was in awe of me.
“But yeah. Finish your food, and I’ll help you get settled in. You can stay here for the night. I’m sure you need the rest.”
Footsteps.Wood creaking ever so slightly under the weight.
I sat up on the bed, the three guys surrounding me on Siege’s ridiculously huge bed fast asleep while I lay awake because of their snores.
I’m glad I was awake though, as I got to hear the faint sounds from the hallway making their way downstairs.
Carefully, I pried myself from under their holds.
The weight of their arms and legs on me was not light, but I managed to get out from under them.
I went out the door, following the source of the sounds, to find a small shadowy figure digging through my bag that was on one of the couches in the living room.
“Callista?” I called out, and I could make out her head turning towards me.
Even without seeing her eyes in the darkness of the Azuls’ mansion, it felt as if she was boring her eyes into my soul.
Though I can’t see it, I could feel the need to get away from here.
It’s why she’s sneaking out, isn’t it?
Silence fell between us, and even without a single word, I understood.
And she understood I wouldn’t stop her.
“Wait,” I whispered before she could fully turn around and leave.
I approached her, grabbing the money I had hidden in a secret pocket in my bag, handing it to her. “This is all I have.”
Then, I unlocked the phone I had in my hand, removing the password as I said, “Keep this. Nero, Siege, and Dex’s numbers are all in here. Call or text them if you need anything, okay?”
I looked down at her, or at least, what of her that I could see, and I leaned forward for a hug, silently thanking her in my head that she didn’t pull away. “Please be safe,” I mumbled before letting her go.
And in the dead of the night, Callista left the safety of the Azuls’ home to do whatever she needed to do.
37
