Chapter 7
Ingrid's POV
"AKO ANG mag-i-sketch, 'tapos ikaw ang magka-cut, okay?" sabi ko kay Erina.
Nandito pa siya sa penthouse. Gumagawa kami ng pang-cheer para sa tournament bukas ng madaling araw.
Ako ang nagdodoodle ng name ni Hansel sa red cartolina habang si Erina naglalagay ng glitters sa paligid ng placard na pagdidikitan ng gugupiting doodles. Kung paano kami nagkaroon ng school supplies? Ewan ko rin. Basta nagpaalam sa akin si Erina na lalabas muna at wala pang five minutes nakabalik na siya at may mga dala-dala na.
"Kyaah! Ate, excited na ako."
"Ako nga rin, eh. Hindi ba magagalit ang Kuya mo na gagawa tayo nito?"
"Hay naku, Ate Ing, madaming babae ang gumagawa nito kay para kay Kuya kapag tournament. Kaya nga gagawa tayo ng colorful para mamukod-tangi, 'di ba?"
"Maraming fans ang Kuya mo?"
"Oo daw. Haha, wala naman akong pakialam sa mga fans ni Kuya eh."
"Hmm, puwede bang magtanong tungkol kay Hansel?"
"Sure, Ate, ano 'yon?"
"Nagka-girlfriend na ba siya?"
Napatingin sa akin si Erina. "Hindi pa, 'no. Kahit marami sakanyang nagkaka-gusto, ni isa wala man lang pinag tuunan ng pansin. Hindi ko alam kung pihikan lang siya o wala talaga siyang nagugustuhan sa kanila."
"I can't even imagine Hansel being in a relationship. He's so uptight and moody."
"Haha. You got that right. At saka si Kuya kasi ang successor ng crown kaya hindi siya puwedeng mag girlfriend lang nang mag girlfriend."
"Gano'n? Pressured pala siya kasi expected na dapat lahat ng decisions niya would be great."
"Yup. Kaya ganoon siguro ugali niya eh." I nodded. Dapat siguro intindihin ko rin si Hansel. "Oh, my Kuya is coming." dali-dali naming itinago ang art crafts.
"Paano mo nalaman?" nagtatakang tanong ko nang mailigpit namin ang lahat.
"I just know." Kibit balikat niya. "Ayan na."
Hinila niya ako paupo sa kama ko. We pretend na nagkukuwentuhan. Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit, siguro kasi ayaw niyang makita ni Hansel ang ginagawa namin.
"Erina, it's time for Ingrid to sleep. Umuwi ka na muna," sabi ni Hansel pagpasok niya sa kuwarto.
"Ha? Okay lang naman. 'Di pa ako inaantok," nakangiti kong sabi.
"Kuya naman, eh. Nag-e-enjoy pa kami ni Ate Ing, eh!" Pagmamaktol ni Erina.
"Huwag makulit, Erina! Kailangan na niyang matulog! Tingnan mo nga, oh. Ang groggy na ng hitsura niya."
Napasimangot naman ako sa sinabi niya. Nang-inis pa talaga, ah.
"Anong groggy pinagsasabi mo? Okay pa ako, hindi pa ako pagod!"
"Sige matulog ka na. Bukas na lang natin tapusin," Erina said with a knowing smile.
"Tapusin ang alin?" tanong ni Hansel.
"'Yong kwentuhan namin ni Ate," palusot ni Erina.
Pagkalabas ng dalawa bigla na lang akong napahikab. He's right. Inaantok na pala talaga ako. Mukhang nag-enjoy lang ako sa company ni Erina kaya hindi ko naramdaman ang antok.
It's three AM in the morning and it's time for me to sleep. Medyo sanay na ako sa ganitong setup. Tulog sa umaga at gising sa gabi.
Nahiga ako sa kama at ramdam ko ang pagod
* * *
I woke up surrounded by a cold mist. Fogs were all around me and I could not see. I stood up and slowly walked. I can see light dancing in the air like it was guiding me towards something. I followed it and I felt a twig scratch my arms and legs. I can feel bruises all over.
Nevertheless, I continued walking. Then the light guided me towards an empty forest. In the middle of it were ashes. Maybe bonfire was made.
Then suddenly I heard a soft voice calling out my name. That familiar voice that I've missed so much.
"Ingrid... Baby... Where are you?" I thought I heard the voice behind me, but when I turned around, there was nothing.
"Is that you mom?" I called while roaming around.
"Baby, please come home..."
A tear fell down my cheeks as I heard my mom plead for me to go home.
"Mommy! I wanna go home! Where are you!" I said while crying.
"I'm here baby. Just follow my voice."
Still crying, I followed Mom's voice. Then I saw her, wearing a white satin long dress with a hooddie covering her head.
"Mom? Is that you?" We were just one meter away from each other. She extended her arm without showing her face.
"Baby..." she said in low voice.
"Mom... I've missed—" The moment I held my Mom's hand, it suddenly changed into a man's hand. A masculine cold hand.
I felt the heavy panting on my chest. It was so loud that I could not even hear the birds chirp.
"At last. You're mine, Ingrid." The man slowly removed his hooddie. My eyes widened as I saw a proverbial face. His teeth had fangs that were full of blood. His red eyes that were so inviting that I only want to look at them.
"H-Hansel." My voice was trembling. He grabbed my left arm and tauten his grip. "H-hansel... Y-you're hurting me." I said while trying to free myself from his grip.
"Are you scared of me now, Ingrid?" He said between gritted teeth.
"W-why should I be?" I tried my best to calm down.
"Well, you should. Because I'm your worst nightmare." With those words, he let go of me. He showed me a lady whose neck was full of blood. Then, the realization hit me.
"Mom?! Mom!" I sat next to her and saw a bite on her neck. "What did you do to my mom?!" I shouted angrily at Hansel.
"I did nothing. I just fed my thirst." He calmly said.
"You monster!" I cried.
"I already warned you!"
"Yes! But you didn't have to kill my mom! You bastard monster! I hope you go to hell for what you did to my mom!"
"I'm already in hell sweetheart. And to correct you, my dear Ingrid, I'm not a monster." He paused and walked towards me and brought my face close to his. "I'm a Vampire."
His last words were etched on my mind.
I'm not a monster. I'm a Vampire.
Napabalikwas ako sa kama dahil sa napanaginipan ko. Tumatagaktak ang mga butil ng pawis sa noo ko at ramdam ko rin ang lalim na paghinga ko. Parang totoo. Mixed emotions ang nararamdaman ko ngayon.
First, I miss my mom so much and I wanted to hug her tight. Second, there's this anger inside me. I know it was only a dream, but no one can blame me. I just saw my mom got killed by a monster, oh scratch that, by a vampire rather, in my dream! Third, Hansel was the Vampire. A dangerous predator. I don't believe this dream. Was it a warning for me? I don't understand. Why all of a sudden did I have this kind of dream? I don't even watch horror movies especialy vampire.
Sumasakit ang ulo ko sa kakaisip. I glanced at the wall clock. It was twelve in the afternoon and I'm famished.
I jumped out of my bed and wore my bunny slippers. I took a bath first before going out my room. I wore my plain yellow dress that has ribbon at the back.
Pagkalabas ko ng kuwarto, dumeretso agad ako sa kusina and to my surprise, may nakahaing pagkain.
Did Hansel cook?'I asked my self. There were hotdogs, sunny-side-up eggs, bacon, friend rice, cold orange juice and fruits. My eyes sparkled with the view.
"Food!"
Agad akong umupo sa may table na may naka-taob ng pinggan. There's a note when I flipped the plate. I read it.
Ingrid,
Went to practice. Don't leave the pent without Erina. She'll accompany you to the tournamet. Enjoy your heavy meal. I bought it. Sorry, can't cook. Take care.
PS: Remember what I told you. Trust me.
Hansel
Napangiti lang ako sa note niya.
Katatapos ko lang kumain nang marinig kong may nag-doorbell.
Sino kaya 'yon? sa loob ko. Patakbo akong lumapit sa pinto at pinagbuksan iyon.
"Ate Ingrid!" hyper na tili ni Erina. Natawa lang ako.
"Oh, gosh, Ate, tapusin na natin 'yong placard. Excited na talaga ako," kinikilig niyang sabi.
"Sige-sige. Mauna ka na sa kuwarto. Maghuhugas lang ako ng pinagkainan." tumango siya saka patakbong pumunta sa kuwarto.
Hinugasan ko naman ang plato ko at saka ko ibinalik sa cupboard. Pagkapasok ko sa kuwarto, tapos nang gupitin ni Erina iyong doodles at idinidikit na niya ito sa placard.
"Madali na palang matapos, eh," sabi ko saka tumabi sa kanya.
May dinagdag pa akong kaunting drawing para mas visible siya at saka mas attractive.