That Nerd Is A Vampire (New Version)

16.

The house is as big as a castle. Nakakalula sa laki ang bahay ng Adara—ang pamilya ng president ng university. If I will have a chance to live here, it would take me months to memorize every rooms and passages of this mansion. 

The red carpet and the decorations led us directly to the ballroom. Nakapwesto sa iba't ibang direksyon ang mga round tables na tinabunan ng puting tablecloth na may gintong lace sa ibabaw. Everything's shining with gold and white. 

At exactly eight in the evening, the lights went out and at the other side of the ballroom, a spotlight was focused on a girl wearing a tube royal-style ballgown. White and gold parin, syempre. But the gold on her gown's glittering. Lumiliwanag ito. And the waist part is decorated with feathers. The debutante's hair was kept in a perfect bun, with clips and decorations on it.

Sinundo siya ng lalaking unang kasayaw at hinatid sa kaniyang upuan na isang trono na pinalamutihan ng mga bulaklak. The emcee started the opening remarks. Prayer, welcoming remarks, and then the cotillion dance.

Just like what we practiced, the dance went smooth and perfect. Hindi naman gaano karami ang sumali sa cotillion kaya kasya lang kami sa ballroom. After the dance, dinner was served.

* * *

Aalis na dapat ako after the dance kaso kinakaladkad ako ni Reign at Jesse sa kung saan. Nasa iisang table lang kami nila Tyler at ang mga kaibigan niya. Palagi namang nagbabangayan sina Reign at Christian. 

Sa paglibot namin sa ballroom, may napansin akong babaeng pamilyar ang tindig at kilos. She's wearing a glittering in gold fitted dress. When I heard her voice even if I'm far from her, nakumpirma ko agad. 

Paano siya nakapasok dito? 

I looked from left to right. Busy si Reign at Jesse sa pagpili ng mga dessert kaya tumakas muna ako at lumapit sa babae. Hinawakan ko siya sa braso at sa pagikot pa lang niya, tinanong ko agad kung bakit siya nandito.

"I was invited, Luvina. What do you expect? I'm a business woman."

"Nasa'n si Papa Aldrin? Bakit wala siya dito?"

Pabulong na sumagot si Ma Luisa, "He's calling for help. Locious will be here soon."

Nanindig ang mga balahibo ko nang marinig ko ang Locious. Nakalimutan kong magugulo pala ang party na 'to nang dahil sa 'kin. I should have left sooner. Baka susundan ng Locious ang scent ko.

"No. They won't follow your scent. Plano na nilang wasakin ang party," sambit ni Ma Luisa.

"Ano? Bakit?" naguguluhang tanong ko. Ano naman ang kasalanan ng pamilya ng Adara sa Locious?

"It's—"

"Lucy!" tawag ni Jesse sa 'kin mula sa likod. Ma Luisa immediately left, turned into camouflaged with the rest of the people.

"Kanina ka pa namin hinahanap. Bakit ka napadpad dito?"

I think I already got it. Vampires don't just attack people—unless they really are a monster. Locious is a dangerous and manipulative clan. But I know they're also cautious with their actions. They don't just litter their dirty works especially to people. Sakim sila sa kapangyarihan at awtoridad but they act professionally.

Unless they want a war. Unless one of the Adara is a vampire. Pero hindi, eh. Madali kong ma-identify ang mga kauri ko. I can either smell their scent or see within themselves. Adara family is definitely not another vampire clan. 

"Lucy. Ba't natulala ka?"

Oh. I was just having my theories. "Wala. Tara balik na tayo."

Reign and Jesse's plates are full of desserts. I still can't believe they're going to eat that. I've never saw them eating food in League University's canteen.

* * *

Eighteen roses—Tyler, Christian and Mario are invited to dance with the debutante, of course. Tig-isang puting rosas ang labing-walong magsasayaw sa birthday girl. The three boys are still sitting with us, waiting for their cue. Para naman sa eighteen candles, kulay ginto ang kandila. 

May set ng instruments ang nasa gilid. Ang mga nagpapatugtog nito ay nakasuot ng black tuxedos.

Sa eighteen candles, the part where your friends or close one's going to give you a message. May umiyak, chill lang, tumatawa, nagpapatawa, o kaya'y nakangiti lang. But the debutante's crying her tears out. Katabi pa niya ang daddy niya na binibigyan siya ng tissue.

"Miss Suzy Valley," tawag ng emcee.

No Suzy Valley stood up. Tanging sina Marianne at Angelique lang ang nando'n sa table nila—with their partners, of course. Nag kibit-balikat si Marianne habang si Angelique ay sinusubukang kontakin ang kaibigan.

"Miss Suzy Valley. My God, where are you?"

Suzy is the last one to give her message. It's her time to shine, but she missed it. It's her time to have her spotlight, but she's nowhere to be found. 

The emcee chose to give up on Suzy and passed the last candle to a random girl near her. 

"Now, time for champagne!" anunsyo ng emcee at pumasok ang mga magseserve ng champagne sa ballroom.

Kumuha ako ng isang glass at nilagok 'yon. I tasted the sour and a little bit of sweetness of the drink. Uminit din saglit ang lalamunan ko pero keri.

May naglapag ng isa pang champagne sa harap ko. When I look up to see who put another drink in front of me, si pianist guy lang pala. 

"No—I'm good, thank you. Kumuha na ako ng—"

"She said she won't be needing another shot, Andre," giit ni Tyler na nakapagpalundag sa dibdib ko. Kilala niya ang isang 'to?

The pianist guy—Andre—just laughed and retrieved the glass of champagne from our table.

"Magkakilala kayo?"

Tyler took a sip from his champagne. "Don't ask." And gulped it all.

Napansin kong unti-unting nawawala ang background music. Unti-unti ring humihina ang mga boses at sa isang iglap, almost half of the people in this ballroom blacked out. Heads rested on top of their round table.

When I checked out the others, some of them are still awake. Red-eyed, veins started to turn black, and teeth slowly turning into a fangs. 

I looked at Tyler, playing with an empty glass, and his bloody red eyes were staring at me. Pati sina Mario at Christian. Reign and Jesse. The debutante, the president, and other people from school, and other invitees. 

Napatili ako. Tumayo ako mula sa inuupuan at napaatras. Lahat ng mga mapupula nilang mata ay nakatutok sa 'kin. 

Is this it? Sila na ba ang Locious clan, pretending to be the invitees? But I think no. If they were them, they'd already crushed me and turned me into pieces. And sips the normal people's blood. 

Naguguluhan ako. Everyone was acting normal until—shit, what's going on?

"Luvina."

Napaigtad ako nang hawakan ako ni Ma Luisa sa balikat. I can't believe it. Reign and Jesse, Tyler and his friends and the other people who I thought to be a normal people. Kauri ko din pala sila. Masyado kong in-overestimate ang kakayahan ko.

"Ano 'to? Ma, anong nangyayari?" 

"Papunta na sila dito," sinabi ni Ma Luisa kaya mas lalo akong naguluhan. Who? Locious?

Hindi pa man ako nakakapagsalita ay biglang nabasag ang paligid. I didn't know we were covered with glass.

The shattered glass scattered on the floor. And a numbers of vampires in black suites entered. Mas madami ang bilang nila kesa sa 'min. 

Hinawakan ako ni Ma Luisa sa pulsuhan. "You'll have to leave, Luvina. Kami na ang bahala dito."

"What? No!" But it was too late. Tyler already grabbed my arm and started running away.  

Defying Geek
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