That Nerd Is A Vampire (New Version)

25.

Chapter 25

I'm inside the place I kept on dreaming lately. Gargoyles every corners of the hallways, torches illuminating the whole place instead of those fancy chandeliers, the bare walls, and the velvet carpet on the floor's almost turned into black from the muddy shoes.

May dalawang men in black cloaks sa magkabila ko, both palm's gripping my arms. Gusto kong kumawala pero masyadong mahigpit ang pagkakahawak nila sa 'kin.

Huminto kami sa gitna ng hallway nang may tatlong pigura ang nakatayo sa pinakadulo ng hallway; one man and two women. The woman on right is wearing a black night gown, smirking at me. Ang isa naman ay may suot na pulang dress na umaabot ng tuhod, watching me here with her eyes twinkling and sparkling.

Suzy? Is that Suzy and Miss Suzzane?

Kinaladkad ulit ako ng dalawang lalaki palapit sa kanilang tatlo. I watch their figures slowly turned into big 'til I can see their faces clearly now.

"Maligayang pagdating sa iyong tahanan, aking tagapagmana."

The man stretched his arms, making the two women on his sides jump and back away. Binitawan na ako ng dalawang lalaki na kung kumaladkad sa 'kin ay 'tila ba isa akong preso.

Niyakap ako bigla ng lalaking, five inches—I think—taller than me. I hugged him back like I knew him before. Nang kumawala siya mula sa 'kin, napatitig ako sa kaniyang itsura.

Hindi gaano kakapal ang kaniyang balbas. Pitch black ang kulay ng kaniyang buhok, matangos ang ilong, pointy cheeks and his eyes looked weak and tired.

"Darling, would you mind if I remind you that she's not your heiress anymore?" sabat ni Miss Suzzane na nasa likod, now wrapped her arms around Suzy who's now smirking and eyeing a dart look on me. The sparkle in her eyes didn't fade. Ano bang iniisip niya ngayon at ganiyan siya makatitig sa 'kin?

Lumingon kay Miss Suzzane ang lalaking nasa harap ko habang hindi tinatanggal ang kaniyang braso sa balikat ko. 

"She's still my heiress, Riana. My daughter, Esmeralda's daughter."

Tila nakarinig ako ng malakas na tunog ng kampanilya at napatingin sa lalaking nakapulupot parin ang braso sa 'kin.

Tita Esmeralda? Teka, mommy ni Tyler? Paano? Ano?

Lumapit sa 'min—sa lalaki, which I think was my real father—si Miss Suzzane at pinulupot ang braso sa leeg niya. I watch her lean closer to my father and took a smack on his lips. Mabilis lang 'yon pero pakiramdam ko nakasaksi ako ng isang eksenang hindi ko dapat makita. 

"I'm sorry, darling, but isn't it supposed to be Zee? Lucy will be marrying Valentine's son. The heir or heiress of the clan must be the last one to get married, and Lucy is the first one to get married, so it must be Zee who's taking your place. My daughter, darling, not Esme's daughter."

Tumingin sa 'kin si Miss Suzzane, smiled sweetly—I don't know if it's fake or forced or sarcastic— and held my palm. Agad ko 'yong binawi at pinagsalikop ang mga daliri ko. 

I don't want her to touch me again. Suzy manipulated and bullied me back in League University, Miss Suzzane threatened my life. Now that I'm alone, I need to stand up on my own feet and be brave to stand against them.

"I hope you won't mind too, Lucy, that my daughter will be the one to take care of our clan if time comes. There has to be someone who'd look after our clan and let it run 'til forever."

Tumango ako kahit na wala ako masyadong naintindihan sa sinabi niya. 

"Oh, you need to understand it, dear."