- A KISS TO FORGET -
Lincoln's Point of View
THE NEXT DAY, I woke up with a dull ache running over my body. What the hell happened to me? My body is battered, and I feel numb. My arms and feet have a few bruises. My garment was covered with mud, and the sleeves were even torn. I had a dream that I was running and plummeting off the cliff. Fuck. That wasn't a dream, was it?
Why am I here if that were the case? As if nothing had happened, I was back in my tent. It appeared to be a typical day, just like the one I might have when on vacation. How in the world did that SHIT happen?
I shook my head and rose up. Wala naman kaming ginawang extra-curricular activities kahapon kaya paano naging ganito ang itsura ko? Unless, nag sleep walk ako at kung ano-ano ang ginawa ko kaya ganito. I opened the zipped and get out from my tent. I saw my friends outside fixing their things, preparing now to leave but stopped when they saw me.
"What happened to you?" Killian was so shocked while staring at me. Astro dropped the map that he was holding and pointed to the stain of blood on my chest. He looked so terrified like he had just seen a ghost. Hindi niya alam ang sasabihin sa sobrang gulat at natulala nalang sa damit ko. On the other hand, Eiger didn't see me because he was busy packing his things in his bag.
"Gisingin niyo na si Raven, aalis na tayo," Eiger said, still not looking at me.
No one responded so he looked at them. "Oh? Ba't ganyan mga mukha ninyo? Para kayong nakakita ng multo-- AGH! Anong nangyari sa 'yo? Ba't ganyan ang itsura mo?!" He slowly turned around and jumped in fear after seeing me. Napahawak pa siya sa dibdib niya dahil sa gulat. "Ba't may dugo sa damit mo?!" He added.
"Same question," I answered. I tried to explain, but they just laughed at me. They're not buying my explanation. "Bahala kayo," I said after that long talk.
"Tinatakot mo lang kami eh! Hay naku, sayang sa oras," sabi ni Eiger at bumaling kay Astro. "tour guide, tara na." He joked. Astro just smucked his ass. And just like that, we dropped the topic like it was nothing since it's hard for us to believe that it all happened to me. Kahit ako, ayaw kong maniwala na nangyari sakin 'yon. Mas madaling paniwalaan na panaginip lang 'yon.
"Impossible... eh, 'di sana patay ka na ngayon, ba't buhay ka pa?" natatawang tanong ni Eiger, hindi parin maka-move on sa sinabi ko. Sinapak ko siya sa inis.
"Oo nga. Muntik na sana akong maniwala eh, may pa bloody effects ka pa, taray, may pa props, kaso you're still breathing and alive kaya paano nangyari 'yon? Unless ikaw si Papa Jesus--" Killian couldn't finish what he was about to say because I smucked him on the head. They all made fun of me and I keep on hitting them so they would shut the hell up.
"You guys want me dead, huh? Gago kayo," I glared at them.
Nakababa na kami sa tulong ng mahiwagang mapa ni Astro, siya ang nagsilbing tour guide namin rito. He knows this place more than us who's just here for a mini vacation. He was born and raised in the Philippines but after middle school, he migrated here with his family.
We all get into his car. We were joking about what happened while Astro was driving. Natigil lang kami when we arrived at their guest house. We came to Switzerland along with our family. Since our parents are so close to each other, they planned this mini vacation to visit their longtime friend which is Astro's mom. Kumakaway sila sa amin. Malayo pa ang sasakyan pero tanaw na namin sila.
"Hali na kayo rito at kumain!" sigaw ni Mommy sa amin.
Nasa labas sila ng guest house, hinihintay ang pagbalik namin. May malaking wood table sa gitna at kahit hindi pa kami nakakarating, tanaw ko na agad ang mga pagkain na nakalapag doon, mukhang masarap. Bigla tuloy akong nagutom.
Astro smoothly parked his car on the garage. Lumabas na kami at sinalubong ang mga magulang namin. Nagmano ako kina Tita saka humalik sa pisngi ni Mommy. Nagbihis na ako kanina para wala silang masabi sa itsura ko, baka gaya nila Killian, pagtatawanan din nila ako.
Sabay kaming kumain at masayang nagkukwentuhan. End season na ng winter nila rito kaya maaliwalas ang panahon at hindi na masyadong malamig. Wala na ring winter storm. But I still wore my sweater and partnered it with a jacket. Sem-break namin ngayon kaya nandito kami. We were just enjoying the rest of our stay here because tomorrow was our flight back to the Philippines. It's been a long time since I bonded with my childhood friends. We did a lot of things together, and we all enjoyed it. We went fishing, played golf, went on a food trip, went hiking, and now swimming.
Binalikan namin ang lagoon na pinagmamalaki sa amin ni Astro kahapon. Malinis nga at pwedeng inumin ang tubig. The water here is different. I even tasted it. I don't know how to explain it, but it tasted kind of sweet to me. After swimming for almost 1 hour, we were hungry, so we grilled the pork and beef we bought from the market. We already marinated it before going here. Killian brought four folding chairs, Astro brought their portable stove with butane and cooked rice, we set everything up, and now we're about to eat. Eiger and I only contributed to cooking our food.
After eating, Astro and Killian decided to take a nap while Eiger and I were busy swimming. I stopped swimming when I noticed something from the forest. Umahon ako sa tubig at kinuha ang t-shirt kong nakasabit sa folding chair saka isinuot ito. I heard a sharp stringing in my ear. It sounds so annoying. Like small noises coming from cute creatures.
"Oh, bakit?" Nagtatakang tanong ni Eiger nang mapansin ang pag-ahon ko.
"Did you hear that?" I asked him. I raise one finger in the air pointing at my ear.
He frowned. "Hear what?"
"That small noises?" I looked around and found no one except us.
Umiling si Eiger at bumalik nalang sa ginagawa. He must have thought I was just hallucinating or making things up to scare them, so he ignored me. "Ewan ko sa 'yo," he said, shaking his head and continuing his swimming.
To prove a point, I followed where the noise was coming from and surveyed the lagoon's coast until I reached a dead end of the rock formations. I looked up and saw a cliff above. This place...
I looked down and there I notice some stains of blood on the sedimentary rocks up on my feet. Whose blood is this? It finally dried up but it's obvious that this is new since the color hasn't change yet. Iginala ko ulit ang paningin sa paligid, baka sakaling mayroong ibang taong nandito bukod sa amin but all I could see is the quiet forest and the calm lagoon with no one else but only me on this side. Saka ko lang napansin malayo na pala ako sa mga kaibigan ko.
I have to go back now. Babalik na sana ako nang mahagilap ng tingin ko ang isang babae sa gubat. She's standing there while staring at me. But when she caught me staring at her, she suddenly ran away. Out of curiosity, I walked my feet to follow the lady in the forest.
"Hey, wait! I won't hurt you! Stop!" I called her. Baka sa kaniya galing 'yong dugo? May sugat ba siya? "Teka lang, sandali!"
I didn't stop running and kept on chasing her in the wilds. There are some big woods and brunches of trees everywhere kaya nahirapan akong sundan siya. Till she's gone from my sight.
"Where the fuck did she go?" I whispered, catching my breath, hoping she could hear me. I look everywhere. "Where the hell is she?"
I stopped running when I realized I was in the middle of the wild forest. All alone, with no way out. "The fuck. I'm lost." I cursed.
I don't know how to go back. The fog was getting thick on this side, so I couldn't see where the place on this earth or hell I was. I tried walking to get back from the lake but fuck, I didn't know which path to take or which way should I go to lead me to go back to where my friends are. I'm sure they're finding my lost ass now.
"Fuck you, idiot. Why'd you have to follow that girl..." I cursed myself under my breath. What if there are some wild animals and poisonous snakes around? I'd rather die in a crowded place than be lost in this giant forest and be bitten by some snakes or get eaten by some wild animals!
"Fuck, this is a worse place for me to die..." Seriously, I'm not joking.
"Are you lost, little boy?"
I heard a lusty voice from a woman who spoke behind me. I faced her, and my eyes widened because of shock since she looked so weird. How come a girl like her is in this forest? I shook my head in answer to her question earlier. She was smiling creepily like a ghost in a haunted forest. As if she was not at this point?! Her nails and hair are long and dirty, her eyes are red, her dress is messy, and most importantly... why does she have fangs?!
Slowly, I take a step back. I had planned an escape in my mind.
"Do you need help?" She asked in a voice that sounded like a witch to me.
"N-no... I'm fine, thank you." I replied at tinalikuran agad siya. I was about to run away, but she rode on my back, making us fall to the ground. I tried to escape, and somehow I managed to pull her away from me using all of my strength. She then started screaming crazily. It was deafening in my ear that I had to cover it. I saw a rock in front of me and hit her head with it. She didn't even budge and just started laughing evilly. Hindi siya nasaktan sa ginawa ko!
She's insane! She's not normal anymore!
Humarap ako at nakitang nakatayo na siya sa harapan ko. Shit. Nasugatan yata ang likod ko sa matulis na kuko niya. I was breathing heavily. What kind of creature is she?! She's far from being human! Cannibal? Will she hunt me down and take me to her tribe? Or a sacrifice? Do these kinds of things even exist in Switzerland?! In this generation?! Well, I firmly believe nothing is impossible. Yes, I like different things, but surely not like this one!
"Your blood... I want your blood... Give it to me!" She screamed like a mad witch. Mabilis ang galaw niya at sa isang iglap lang ay sinasakal na niya ako. She was sitting on my stomach while choking me. I almost ran out of breath and lost consciousness because she was too strong. I can't handle her! I grabbed a wood of stem on my side at hinarang ito sa pagitan namin, ginawang pang-sangga mula sa kaniya. I was holding the wood using both of my hands on each side.
I pushed her with all my strength but she bit the center of the stem, but the wood was thick so she failed to destroy it. I stopped her from getting closer and biting my neck by pushing her away. Halos mawalan na ako ng lakas dahil sa sobrang lakas niya but I didn't stop. Ngunit unti-unti na akong nanghihina. Nauubusan na ako ng lakas. Habang tumatagal, dahan-dahan ring lumalapit ang mukha niya sa aking leeg.
"Your blood smells so tasty! I want to taste--"
Before she could finish her sentence, I saw a hand pierce directly through her chest, revealing her heart in front of me. Someone attacked her from behind! I couldn't move because of so much shock. And since she was facing me, all I could see was her creepy smile slowly turning into tears of blood, and it started rolling down her cheeks when the hand took her heart out, and in just a snap, she was slowly fading into bits of pieces. I couldn't move. Not even a blink!
When the crazy witch finally disappeared from my sight, the lady I was following earlier was now standing right before my eyes! I can't believe that she's standing in front of me. My heart started beating loudly. This is not because of fear. She didn't look scary to me, even though she was licking the blood on her hands with so much amusement in her eyes. I swallowed hard. Her eyes were fixed on me while licking the blood on her hand. The color of her eyes glows redder, and she also has... fangs?!
But why it doesn't appear disturbing, unlike the crazy witch earlier?! Why do I find it so attractive when it comes to her?! Why the hell am I thinking like this? I am going crazy. I knew it. Maybe because she saved me, I kind of... feel this way to her? But hell, I guess I'm also not normal because normal people would freak out and run in this situation but look at me. I even had the energy to check her out! No. She's dangerous. She just killed the witch who almost killed me!
"Are you okay?" She asked, slowly lending me her hand since I wasn't moving and remained lying on the ground. Her angelic voice contradicts her facial expression.
I didn't take her hand, so she helped me get up. "Let's go. I will bring you back to your friends." I couldn't even understand what she was saying. She put my hand over her shoulder and supported my weight so I could stand up. She did that so effortlessly. Did she just cast a spell on me? Why am I submitting to whatever she does and say without me saying anything?
But I lost so much strength, so I don't have the energy or time to argue with her. I don't know her, alright? But she saved me and she doesn't seem like a bad person so I will follow whatever she says. I'm indebted to her so I won't refuse her help. But just because she saved my life once doesn't mean I'm going to trust her. No. I won't trust her. I don't trust strangers that easily. Especially, her.
Fuck. My eyes... my eyelashes feel so heavy. After a minute of standing, I submerged into a slumber.
Third Person's Point of View
LUMUBOG NA ang araw at napalitan na ng takipsilim ang kalangitan. Pinaghahanap na si Lincoln ng kaniyang mga kaibigan at magulang. They already reported it to the police pero dahil wala pang 24 hours na nawawala ang binata, it wasn't counted as missing. They were encouraged to go back to their houses and wait for Lincoln there. They were very worried to death but there was nothing they can do about it, all they could do is pray and wait for him to go home safely.
On the other side, dinala ni Ziliana si Lincoln sa lagoon at inilublob ang katawan nito sa tubig para gumaling ang natamong sugat nito mula sa ligaw na Corrupted Vampire kanina. The faeries acknowledge her presence and helped her.
"Oh! The former princess of Silonra is back! Come on! Let's help her!" The lake lights up because the faeries dance and circle the two of them in the water while Lincoln's body is leaning against her. The faeries make little noises chanting their ritual to help their new friend. She had formed a bond with the faeries the other night, which is why they were helping her.
"Thank you..." She said to her little sparkling friends.
"Are you okay? You can smell his blood, right?" The fairy asked in a very tiny squeaky voice. All the faeries here are friendly and nice. But they're not visible to humans.
"Yes, I'm alright. I can only hold back when I'm in the water." She answered them, politely.
"Eh? Why? Why? Why?"
"Thanks to your power, the smell of his blood won't affect me, not even a bit."
"Who's this guy anyway? Is he your lover?" Inulan siya ng maraming katanungan at tukso sa mga faeries. Kinulit siya ng mga ito ngunit ngumiti lamang siya at hindi na tumugon. "Kyaaaaaah! He's your lover, right? Right? Right? Right?" Pangungulit pa ng iba. Natawa na lamang siya sa mga tukso ng mga faeries. Lumapit ang isang fairy para silipin ang mukha ng binata. Nagulat ito at mabilis na lumipad palayo saka nagtago sa likod ng kasamahan.
"Eh? But he's a human! How come a vampire loves a human?! That's bad! It's forbidden love!" The others became alert and flew to hide from them.
Nagtago na ang mga ito at isa-isang nawala sa paningin niya. She didn't mind them. Alam niyang takot lang ang mga ito na masangkot sa gulong pinasok niya. Mababait ang mga white faeries, hindi sila marunong lumaban. These faeries is the mainly reason why this lake is clean and the water can heal their bodies. Water is the home for the white faeries, they are the kindest among the other faeries.
Tuluyang naghilom ang sugat ng binata at unti-unting nagising ang kaniyang diwa. He finally opened his eyes. Nagulat siya nang makita ang maamong mukha ng Prinsesa sa harapan niya. Nakasandal siya sa dibdib nito habang siya'y nakahiga, unan niya ang isang braso nito at ang isang braso ay nakapatong sa tyan niya. "You're finally awake," Ziliana said.
Natauhan siya nang marinig ang boses nito. Mabilis siyang umiwas at lumayo rito. Naalala niya ang nangyari. "Sino ka?! What are we doing here?! What did you do to me?!" Sunod-sunod niyang tanong dito. The faeries gasped hearing what he said. "Discourteous! She just saved your life, you know! No respect!" The faeries was getting mad at him but he couldn't see nor hear them so he didn't know what they were saying.
Sa isip ni Lincoln ay hindi siya takot rito bagkus ay ayaw niya lang itong pagkatiwalaan dahil hindi niya pa alam kung anong totoong pakay nito sa kaniya, kahit pa, nagawa siya nitong iligtas mula sa panganib kanina, hindi niya pa rin kayang magtiwala sa kahit sino. Tao man o ibang nilalang. Kaya alerto siya rito.
"The bleeding has stopped. It would be best if you went back. Your families must be worried about you." Ziliana stated, ignoring his rude remarks. Tumayo ang dalaga at naglakad na papalayo sa kaniya.
He instantly stood up. "S-san ka pupunta?!" tanong niya sa Prinsesa.
Hindi niya maiwasang matakot dahil baka may isa pang baliw na sumulpot sa harapan niya tapos mag-isa lang siya. Huminto ang dalaga bago humarap sa kaniya. Isang metro ang pagitan nila sa isa't isa. Unti-unting sumilay ang liwanag ng buwan dahil gumalaw ang mga ulap na tumatakip dito. The light from the moonlight reflected on the calm lagoon. Mas naaaninag niya nang maayos ang mukha ng Prinsesa dahil sa pagliwanag ng lawa.
He was stunned at her beauty. She looked like a goddess. A goddess who has white hair and red eyes. He couldn't find the words to describe just how gorgeous she was. Pretty, cute, beautiful, these words are not enough to justify the beauty right before his eyes.
"I have to go..." Ziliana stopped his thoughts.
Habang tumatagal niya itong tinititigan, gumagaan ang pakiramdam niya. His mind is at peace and his heart is calm. Lalo na't mabait ang tuno ng pananalita nito at mahinhin ang boses. Kasalungat sa itsura. Mapupula ang mga mata, lumalabas ang dalawang matutulis na pangil kapag nagsasalita. Magkahalong emosyon ang nararamdaman niya. Takot at pagkamangha.
"Where?" He asked but she didn't respond. Huminga siya nang malalim at balak sanang lapitan ang dalaga ngunit napahinto siya dahil sa sinabi ng Prinsesa.
"You have to forget about this," saad nito sa mababang boses.
"Forget about what?" kunot noong tanong niya rito.
Hindi sinagot ng dalaga ang tanong niya at tinitigan lang siya nito. Ayaw niyang ipaalam sa binata ang totoo niyang pagkatao dahil alam niyang kakatakutan siya nito at ayaw niya iyong mangyari.
"What are you--" He only blinked once, but she suddenly appeared before him.
"Don't move," It wasn't a command but a spell.
Nagtaka si Lincoln dahil hindi niya magawang igalaw ang buong katawan niya. "What are you doing to me?" galit niyang tanong. He tried to move his hands and feet, but to no avail. He only let out a tired sigh. "What did you do to me?" He asked under his breath, gritting his teeth in annoyance. He clenched his jaw and stared directly at her glowing bloody eyes.
"It's just for a while. You can move after this." Ziliana knows the vampire hunters can now sense her because she used her power. "I need to do this fast since they're coming here..." She said, referring to the vampire hunters, but Lincoln couldn't understand what she meant by those words. Palipat-lipat siya ng lugar at bansang pinupuntahan para lang hindi siya matunton ng mga ito. She even toned down her energy and channeled her power lowly to make her presence invisible, but now it has come to this, her efforts were in vain because she didn't achieve anything with it.
"Do what?" He was worried and annoyed at the same time. It sounded like someone is after her life. He should do something about it. He doesn't want her to be in danger. "Stop this," utos niya rito na hindi sinunod ng Prinsesa. Masama ang loob niya. Pakiramdam niya, ito na ang huli nilang pagkikita kung wala siyang gagawin.
"No," Ziliana whispered. "This is for your own good."
Hindi niya maintindihan kung anong pinapahiwatig nito. "Anong gagawin mo sa 'kin?"
"I will erase this incident from your memory and change it." Ziliana formally stated. Na parang normal lang ito. Na dapat hindi siya mag-alala. Pero hindi ganun ang nararamdaman niya. May kaunting kaba.
"What?! that means..." ika niya sa mahinang boses.
"You will forget about me."
May kung anong takot sa puso niya. Mas natakot pa siya sa sinabi nito kesa noong muntik na siyang mapahamak sa baliw na babae sa gubat kanina. "H-How can you do that..." he paused and realized what is happening. "Anong klaseng nilalang ka?" He was scared at his own question.
Ziliana's lips formed into an amused smirk. "Do you really wanna know?" hamon nito.
He swallowed hard but nodded his head to answer. "Y-yes..." He said.
"I'm a vampire," The cold wind blows and she starts unleashing her power. "...and now you will forget about this." She stared at his eyes intensely. Her eyes glow redder, and she started casting her spell. It's hard to do it verbally, so she went closer to him and held his jaw.
Lincoln's eyes widened at her statement. "W-wait! I haven't said thank--" and you haven't said your name yet. He lost his words when she went closer and devoured his lips for a soft kiss.
"Don't worry. We will meet again... I'm going to protect you and follow you wherever you go." She whispered, wearing a pleased smile on her lips after planting a spell on him with a kiss.
"Goodbye for now... Sleep." She planted a kiss on his forehead causing him to doze off to sleep. She caught his body immediately when he fell asleep.
She then manipulates everyone else's memories to make sure this incident has been erased from their memory. It was like these moments in their lives had never happened. She was forgotten.