That Nerd Is A Vampire (New Version)

11.

Chapter 11

A way to show your sincerity needs to be said personally. Sa ganong paraan, makikita natin 'yon expression niya. It can be seen through the eyes, not through a note. 

Tsaka kulang ang sinulat ni Tyler at may mali. He didn't wrote sorry for being a ghost for three days during the practice. Nagmumukha akong tanga do'n sa dance studio. Tumitingin din sa 'kin ang ibang mga mananayaw and wonder if I still have a chance to join the cotillion dance. Mukhang ang saya pa nga nila, e. Because it looked like Tyler just dumped me like a garbage by not showing up.

'Buti nalang talaga at tinuturuan parin ako ng bading na trainor. Minsan di nay nagsi-switch kami ni Reign o ni Jesse ng partner nila. I already thought of backing out. Hindi ko na kasi naaaninag ang kaluluwa ni Tyler kaya mas mabuting umatras kaysa mas mapahiya pa ako. 

Ang mali din sa note niya ay nilagyan niya agad ng period after the word sorry. Instead of a period, dapat ay pinatuloy niya ito sa explanation niya. Nagmukha siyang napipilitang humingi ng tawad sa 'kin. This piece of bloody note really gives me a nerve to punch him in the face.

Magkasama kami ni Reign at Jesse sa library. Just chilling with the air condition while faking to read a book. Sa pagpapanggap namin, Jesse's book were upside-down. Binibigkas pa niya ang mga salita kahit na hindi naman talaga siya nagbabasa. Reign and I should've laughed very hard. Kaso may librarian.

Reign pulled down my book while looking around for a sign of the librarian. 

"Bakit ayaw mong kausapin si Tyler? Ang arte mo. Pwede mo namang tanggapin yung sorry note niya."

Pinatong ko ang siko ko sa lamesa at bahagyang lumapit kay Reign. Jesse's just watching us. They saw me earlier ignoring Tyler at the canteen. Alam kong gusto niya lang akong kausapin tungkol sa cotillion pero nawalan ako ng gana at binalik sa kaniya ang papel. 

"Kung ikaw yung binalewala, kakausapin mo pa ba?" I answered Reign with another question.

Inirapan niya lamang ako at bumalik sa pagbabasa—sa pagpapanggap na nagbabasa.

* * *

Two days before the university president's eighteenth birthday. Pero hindi na ako sumulpot sa practice kahit na tadtad na ako ng text messages at missed calls nina Reign at Jesse. Pati na rin si Tyler. 

I wasn't supposed to do this. I already readied my extra clothes and put on my tshirt and leggings when Ma Luisa called me. Emergency raw. She needed to talk to me right away. 

"You can't go to that party this Sunday," she said after I stepped into her office while unbuttoning her fur coat. Umupo lamang siya sa kaniyang swivel chair habang may binabasa na papeles patungkol sa business.

Nagtagpo ang kilay ko. Paano siya naging kalmado matapos akong tawagan na kailangan kong dumating dito agad-agad? I thought it was emergency? Tapos heto, madadatnan ko siyang nakaupo lang at parang walang nangyayari.

I hate people who are giving me false news. I thought this was urgent that's why I skipped the practice. She's more important to me than the cotillion dance. Pero takte, ganito madadatnan ko.

"Ma," I called out. She didn't respond nor raised her head to me.

Lumanghap ako ng hangin, finding my courage to speak as calmly as I can be.

"Ma. You called me this morning and told me to come here. Urgently."

Hindi niya parin ako tinitingnan. May sinusulat lang siya sa mga papeles.

"Oo nga. This is urgent. I don't want you to go to that party," she responded calmly.

Umiling na lamang ako. Tumalikod ako at akmang aalis na nang may dinagdag pa siya.

"The Locious clan will be there. They'd destroy everything including the people

I quickly turned my heels back. Parang nanindig ang mga balahibo ko nang marinig ko ang Locious. I encountered one of them. Pinugutan ko pa ng ulo.

"Bakit naman sila lulusob do'n? Kauri ba natin ang presidente ng university at kaaway sila ng Locious?" 

I never felt so thrilled after I beheaded one of them. And scared.

Wait, why would I be scared? I killed one of them. Maybe that'll be enough to feel that I can protect my own against them. Pero isa lang ang napatay ko. I still don't know how strong they are. 

"That was the case, Luvina."

"Ha?" tanging sagot ko sa sinabi ni Ma Luisa.

"You killed one of them and they want revenge. Huwag mong maliitin ang kakayahan ng Locious."

Napaatras ako. Nasagi ko pa ang music box ni Ma Luisa na nasa coffee table. My mind went blank and my heart went wild. Of course, I should be scared. I shouldn't underestimated them the moment I took down one of their members. I shouldn't be feel proud killing one of them. Shit.

"You can save yourself from them, Lucy. But can you save the others?"

No. I couldn't save them, of course. Mag-isa lang ako at ang dami nila. Both the people and the Locious. Ako ang pakay nila at ayokong may madamay nang dahil lang sa 'kin. 

Ngayon lang ata ako natakot nang ganito. Nangangatog ang tuhod ko at kumakabog nang malakas ang dibdib ko.

For the first time, I thought of living back with them. I also thought of killing Lucy Genevive Mariana Diaz and change my identity into someone else and leave this town.

"Ma." Pumiyok ang boses ko. Pinikit ko ang mga mata ko at hinayaang rumagasa ang luhang kanina ko pa pinipigilan. I hate it when I feel scared. Kasi nagiging emosyonal ako. "Ma, tulungan mo ako."

Nag-aalalang lumapit sa 'kin si Ma Luisa at niyakap ako. I felt her arms around me and her hand's caressing my head. It somehow calms me.

"Of course. We'll help you, Luvina. Trabaho namin ng Papa mo ang protektahan ka kahit anumang mangyari."

Para akong batang inaway ng kapwa kalaro. I admit, madali lang akong matakot. I have this soft heart that easily breaks down if I feel a tiny emotion inside it.

Defying Geek
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