6. Loyalty, Above All
Joshua
"This guy is seriously getting under my skin." Sinipa ko ang bola ng basketball nang paalis na ako ng Gym. Transferee lang sya! What is he trying to prove? That he can have everyone in my team dahil mas magaling sya sa akin? My ass!
Kinuha ko ang cellphone ko nang nasa locker na ako. I tried to dial Brenna's number for the nth time still expecting that she'll answer but she didn't. Weird girl.
Saan na kaya nagpunta ang isang 'yon? Balita ko hindi sya pumasok sa maghapon. Her Mom will be mad because of this. Lalo na't sa Lola nya ko sya drinop kaninang umaga. And now I can't contact her.
Dagdagan pa ng pagka-irita ko sa Vixx Sarmiento na iyon na masyadong pasikat sa loob ng court. Ang sarap bigwasang king inang yan. Masyadong papansin.
Pumunta ako sa Canteen para bumili ng energy drink bago ako dumiretso doon sa Rooftop. It's so much more refreshing here. Bakit ba kasi ngayon pa nag sidatingan ang mga mayayabang na transferee's na yan? Ngayon na senior na ako tsaka sila aagaw sa eksena.
Umiling ako at sinikap na humiga sa bench kong saan ako umuupo. At least I can sleep here.
Ngunit nagkamali ako. Dahil ilang minuto lang ay nagmulat din ako ng mata. Beads of sweat formed at my forehead and my breathing is heavy. Masakit ang dibdib ko nang bumangon ako at mabigat din ang ulo ko.
This didn't happened last night. Marahan akong pumikit at inalala kong ano na naman iyong nagpakita sa panaginip ko. I cussed.
Godammit! What is wrong with that fucking nightmare, it's driving me nuts! Minasahe ko ang aking sintido.
Her smile flashed as I close my eyes. Magkasama kami at parehong naka upo sa isang bench. Only that I'm wearing a formal clothes with those ancient polo and neckties. And my hair isn't the same.
Ganon din si Ysabel na nakasuot ng pangmayaman na dress. It was very very formal. She smile too sweet and she even laughed. Nag uusap kami ngunit wala akong marinig na kahit ano maliban nalang kung tumawa sya.
I opened my eyes immediately. This is crazy, right? Ano ang mga memoryang iyon at bakit napapanaginipan ko samantalang kailanman ay hindi naman nangyari sa akin? O sa amin?
"You fine?" Halos mapatalon ako dahil sa gulat ng sumulpot si Ysabel sa tabi ko. Ngunit pinilit kong ngumisi.
"Ayos lang." medyo hindi komportableng sabi ko.
How can I be comfortable when the girl that is standing in front of me right now is the same girl that I keep on seeing in my dreams? That's absurd, seriously.
"Anong ginagawa mo dito?" Umusog ako para makaupo sya sa bench. She immediately sat down.
"Wala akong klase kaya naglalakad lakad ako." Aniya at tumingin sa kalangitan. "Ikaw?" Binalingan nya ako.
"Nagpapahinga lang. The practice game was so tiresome." Umihip ang malamig na hangin.
"I saw your game. You were good.." puna nya. Nagawa kong tumawa.
"Not as good as Vixx Sarmiento."
"Oh him." Bahagya syang umirap. "Are you somehow bothered by his presence? Napapansin ko'y mukhang hindi kayo magkasundo...aside from you both have different teams, he plays very dirty." She said.
Ngumisi ako at humalukipkip. Mas lumakas ang ihip ng hangin. Nagkukulay kahel na ang langit dahil papalubog na ang araw.
"You noticed that? No one does..." Puna ko. She smiled.
"I know him. We know each other." Aniya tsaka tumango tango. "You want me to talk to him—"
"Oh no." Maagap na sabi ko. Nag hand gesture pa ako. That would be a gay move, people.
"Oh! I'm sorry, boys and their egos." Pinanliitan nya pa ako ng mata. Tumawa ako at umiling. That's not it...
Ysabel
"Kaya kitang paalisin dito. Hindi lang dito kundi sa buong mundo. You will disappear like an ash..." hinaplos ko ang pisngi ni Vixx nang natyambahan kong mag isa sya sa kanyang sasakyan. Mukhang walang kasabay sa pag uwi. I inclined my chair.
Humalukipkip ako tsaka ko tinignan ang kuko ko.
"You don't get to threaten me, Ysabel." Aniya sa nanunuyang boses. Tumawa ako.
"I just did." I said. "At hindi ko na uulitin iyon." I smiled. "Only if you'll quit from the basketball team..." nagkatinginan kami dahil sa sinabi ko. Sya naman ngayon ang natawa.
"You're being unreasonable. Ganyan ang asta mo ngayon dahil gusto mong mag quit ako sa basketbal—"
"No don't be silly, Vixx! You know that's not the only reason." My eyes darted at him. Matalim din ang naging titig nya sa akin. "I don't wanna see you in the court whenever I need to watch a game. It's irritating me. Now," pumitik ako sa harapan nya. "It's either you quit the team or get lost...forever." I showed him my fangs. Nakita kong lumunok sya kaya agad ko ding itinago.
I chuckled and tapped his cheeks.
"You're as charming as before, do you know that?" Linapit ko ang mukha nya sa akin.
"I won't quit Ysabel." Ngumisi ako dahil sa sinabi nya. This is one tough guy. I didn't know that after three hundred years, he will disobey what I say.
"You will." I showed him my hands. Nanlaki ang mga mata. The next I saw is that he's already groaning and my hand is already close touching his heart. "You will quit, won't you?" Gamit ang isang kamay ko ay hinaplos ko ang pisngi nya. There are beads of sweats in there.
"Y-Y-Ysabel..." hirap na banggit nya sa pangalan ko.
"Yes Vixx? Are you finally taking an order from your superior?" Malambing na sabi ko. Lumunok sya.
"F-Fi-Fine! I-I w-will!" Aniya.
"Good!"
I removed my hand inside his chest. Pinunasan ko kaagad ng tissue ang kamay ko bago sya balingan ulit.
"Does that hurt? I'm sorry...I needed to take it from the hard way." I mocked him. Dumaing sya dahil medyo matatagalan talaga ang paghilom ng sugat sa kanyang dibdib. I ,however, smiled at him again. "Here." Kinagat ko ang aking kamay at tinapat sa kanyang labi. He gladly took a sip. Pumikit ako nang tapos na sya.
My wound immediately healed.
"Take good care. Mag d-drive ka pa naman." I ,again, sweetly uttered before going out of his car.
Maayos na sana ang lahat ngunit nang dadaan na ako sa harap nya ay tsaka nya pinaharurot ang kanyang sasakyan. Too bad he missed me. Mabilis ko syang hinila sa loob nang makalapit muli ako.
"You are making this hard for the both of us." I murmured.
Just like what I've planned, I took his heart out of his chest.
He tried to kill me? Here we go.
The next thing I knew is that Dianne is already protesting outside my house while I'm happily eating. Huminga ako ng malalim at mabilis na pumunta sa pintuan para pag buksan sya. Nakakairita ang mga sigaw nya sa labas.
"Wow I'm amazed you discovered it easily." Linahad ko ang loob ng aming bahay. Thalia is beside me while Jett continued eating.
"What did you do?" Bulong ni Thalia. Nangangalaiti padin si Dianne hanggang sa makapasok sya sa aming bahay.
God this girl is so loud!
"Bakit mo pinatay si Vixx? He didn't do anything wrong!" Sigaw ni Dianne sa harapan ko. I closed my eyes ,controlling my temper. Narinig ko ang kalampag ng kubyertos sa kusina, marahil ay nagulat si Jett dahil narinig nya ang sigaw ni Dianne.
Sa laki ba naman ng bunganga ng babaeng ito.
"Ysabel.." tawag ni Thalia. Nag hand gesture akong tumahimik lang sya.
"He tried to kill me." I simply replied at Dianne. Her jaw clenched. Galit na galit dahil sa nangyari.
"This is unfair! Hindi ka mamamatay sa simpleng bangga lang ng kotse! You took his heart out of his chest just like that!" Sumisigaw padin sya. Nagbuga ako ng malalim na hininga dahil sa inaasta nya.
"I threatened him, he didn't listen. The talk was fine but he tried to kill me. Whoever that'll try to go on my way will end up dead. He didn't know that, did he?"
"Alam nyang hindi ka nya kayang patayin! He probably just did that because...because he was mad at you!" Giit nya. Umirap ako sa kawalan.
"And I am mad at him too." Pigil galit na sabi ko. She pushed me. Nagpatulak ako.
"You don't have any damn right to kill anyone just because—"
"I have the right because my blood made him alive. He's already dead." I said emphasizing the last sentence. "He's already dead and I made him alive...if he'll go against me then I'll have to kill him. That simple, Dianne!" Iritadong banat ko.
"You are a monster." Unti unting tumulo ang luha sa kanyang nga mata.
Pagak akong tumawa.
"He's communicating with Justin and he was compelled. He's sired to me yet he didn't followed my order! Bakit hindi ko sya papatayin? Binigyan ko sya ng tyansa pero sinayang nya." Mariin na sabi ko. Hinawakan ni Thalia ang braso ko dahil sa sinabi ko.
"He-He's what? H-How?" Tanong ng kaibigan ko. I rolled my eyes.
"I just don't know yet." Inis na sabi ko at tinalikuran na sila. Dianne is left there dumbfounded while Thalia followed me.
Yes, lahat ng mga taong ginawa kong bampira gamit ang dugo ko ay dapat sundin lahat ng gusto ko. Some may hate me but they have no choice but to follow what I want them to do. At kaninang hindi ako gustong sundin ni Vixx ay gusto ko na agad kunin ang buhay nya.
Bakit si Justin ang naisip ko?
Because a vampire couldn't compell another vampire unless he's an original. And I won't compell my deputy, they simply follow me. Bukod sa akin ay si Justin lang ang makakagawa ng bagay na ganoon. My other brothers are dead. Kaming dalawa nalang ang nabubuhay dito ngayon.
That means...he's just around, waiting for the time for him to put a stake in my heart or whatever his genius plan is. I just don't care right now.
Malamang sa malamang, narinig na din nya ang tungkol kay Joshua Joaquin, now ,I need that little witch to be on my side before Justin fuck everything up.
Mabilis akong uminom ng alak. Sumabog sa apoy ang wine glass ng itapon ko iyon doon. Dammit! How can I know whether if he's around or not? Tanginang 'yan.
"Ysabel." Tawag ni Thalia.
"What?" Inis na baling ko sa kanya. Her eyebrows met.
"Have you seen him?" She asked. Ngumiwi ako at inilingan sya.
"I haven't seen him yet, alright." Humalukipkip ako. Minasahe ko ang aking sintido. What are you planning right now, brother?
"Kong ganon ay bakit mo nasabi iyon? Paano ka nakakasigurong..." hindi nya tinuloy. Ako naman ang nagkunot ng noo ngayon. Tinignan ko sya. Jett entered the room.
"Is it possible for a vampire to compell another vampire?" Salubong nya. Mabilis ko syang nilapitan. Humakbang kaagad sya papalikod.
"Yes it is." Tinignan ko ang kanyang mga mata. Linagay ko sa kanyang kamay ang dagger na mula sa lamesa. "Ngayon saksakin mo ang sarili mo at huwag kang titigil hanggang sa hindi ko sinasabi." I raise my two brows.
Mabilis nyang ginawa ang sinabi ko. He kept on groaning but he won't stop because I simply say so.
"Ysabel!" Saway ni Thalia. I smiled at her.
And she couldn't be compelled because I turned her but she fed on Justin's blood. And she's also not sired to anyone because there's two different bloodline that's running in her veins. Iyong pagpili nya kong saan sya papanig ay sarili nyang desisyon. And she chose to be loyal with me...not with Justin.
"Stop it." Baling ko kay Jett. Mabilis syang bumagsak sa sahig pagkatapos non.
"Why on earth would you do that!" Sigaw nya. Tumawa ako.
"I answered your question." I said.
"Nonsense!" Aniya habang iniinda ang sakit na dulot ng mga saksak nya sa kanyang sarili. Lumapit kaagad si Thalia tsaka nya ito pinainom ng dugo. His wounds immediately got healed. I shrugged.
"An original can compell an ordinary vampire." Ani Thalia kay Jett.
"Damn originals." Jett said when he already regained his strength. "You're crazy." Baling nya sa akin. "I am sired to you! Why on earth will you order me to hurt my self?!" He spats. Tumawa muli ako.
"Being sired is different from being compelled, Jett."
You have a lot of things to know more, kid.
That's the right statement. Masyado lang talagang mabait si Thalia sa Jett na ito...hay! I don't know why. It irritates me ,though.
"If you're sired you will grant everything she wants but not when it's killing your own self. That simple. Kahit alam mong masama ay gagawin mo kong sasabihin nya. Hanggang doon lang iyon. Follow the orders and that's it." Thalia breathed. "And if you're compelled, it's like you're stuck in there. Gagawa ka ng bagay na sasabihin nya pero hindi mo na maaalala kapag nakawala ka sa compulsion. Para kang nakakulong. Whether it'll be good or bad thing...ikapapahamak mo man o ng ibang tao, gagawin mo. Because you're in a dungeon. And you're not yourself."
"Dammit!" Mura ni Jett bago umalis sa kwarto.
"Let it go, Ysabel. He doesn't know much about you and our world." Ani Thalia bago lumabas na din.
I rolled my eyes. Pumihit ako patalikod at salamin kaagad ang bumungad sa akin. My eyes widened when I saw Justin's reflection behind me.
Ngunit nang lumingon ako ay wala na akong makita!
Am I hallucinating? Shit!
"Justin!" I ,still, yelled. Walang sumagot kaya lumunok ako. I broked the mirror behind me.
Godammit!