16. E For Ego
Ysabel
"Where did you go? Bakit ngayon ka lang?"
"I'm gonna wash up first, brother. Can I?" Ngumiti ako sa kapatid ko. Kumunot ang noo nya at bahagyang sumimangot pero pinayagan din naman ako.
Habang nagbababad ako sa bath tub ay hindi ko maiwasang hindi isipin si Joshua. I'm gonna check on him later, anyway. Kahit sa labas nalang ng kwarto nya. I just need to make sure that he's okay. I was harsh on him and I didn't think of the possibilities that he'll be hell shock and surprised when I tell him everything.
Ngunit nagawa ko na, eh. Hindi ko naman na kayang bawiin iyon. Besides, he will eventually know everything. Pinaaga ko lang ang pagkaalam nya.
Nagkunot ako ng noo at mabilis nag suot ng bath robe nang may marinig akong kaluskos sa labas ng banyo ko. Nang lumabas ako ay nakita kong naroon si Jett at Thalia.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, mabilis nila akong binalingan.
"Brenna called me." Thalia uttered. Medyo nagulat ako dahil doon. Really? Nagtatawagan sila? Don't tell me they're that close?
"And?" Pinunasan ko ang buhok ko para matuyo na habang nakaupo sa kama.
"Nag aalala sya para kay Joshua Joaquin...what happened? Anong ginawa mo?" Pang aakusa nya sa akin. I chuckled and raise my two brows while I look at her.
"Wala akong ginawa." Simpleng sabi ko ngunit tinitigan lang nya ako. I rolled my eyes. "Fine. When I left last night, I saw him in the middle of the road. Hindi ko lang alam na si Joshua iyon dahil madilim na at umuulan. I was furious so I bumped him with full force, tumama sya sa windshield and he almost died. Halos wasak ang kanyang bungo at maraming baling buto sa kanyang katawan, internal bleeding..." I exaggerated the story.
How would I know such broken bones and internal bleeding, right?
"But you fed him your blood so that he'll survive?" Tanong nya. I nodded three times.
"He was badly injured so I needed to feed him my blood. Wala akong choice."
"And you didn't compell him to forget what just happened?" Sabat ni Jett.
"Bakit ko naman gagawin 'yon? He's a Joaquin. He will soon find out about the world he's into. Besides, he's under the witch's protection." I rolled my eyes.
"Dapat ay ginawan mo ng paraan para makalimutan nya—"
"Oh don't be such a silly. Malalaman at malalaman nya ang lahat ng ito. Pinaaga ko lang. What's your problem, people." Ismid ko at nag hand gesture na tumalikod sila dahil magbibihis ako. They did what I said. Hinarap ko ang aking dresser at kumuha ako ng shorts at simpleng t-shirt doon.
"Ysabel he's vulnerable. Hindi mo manlang ba isina-alang alang ang bagay na iyon bago mo sya gulatin? Nakayanan nga ni Brenna ang pang gugulat mo noon pero sa lagay ni Joshua ay mababaliw sya kapag hindi hinay hinay. You should take things one at a time." Thalia uttered.
Bakit? Ano na bang nangyari sa Joshua na iyon at ganito mang react ang dalawang ito? Did he commit suicide due to shock or something? I doubt!
"The blood of the Joaquin's run into his veins. It will take long but he can take everything in. Besides, hindi ko pa naman sinabi sa kanya na bampira ako..."
Joaquin's are tough and enormous. Baka naman bakla ang isang 'to? Oh God that will be a family curse if ever, kamukha pa naman sya ni Julius!
"Kong ganon, anong sinabi mo?" Humalukipkip si Thalia. I smiled.
"That I'm one thousand and nineteen year old and there's someone who wants him dead?"
"Unbelievable." Ani Jett at umalis na sa kwarto ko. Ngumuso ako at ipinag kibit balikat nalang iyon.
He asked and I answered. What the hell is wrong with that? People are too paranoid.
Dahil siguro doon ang naging rason kong bakit hindi nagpakita sa hapag ang dalawang iyon. I'll kill them both. Tinusok ko ang karne pero wala talaga akong gana so I went to the blood on my wine glass instead.
"So where did you really go?" Pagbabalik ni Rafael sa hindi natuloy na usapan namin kanina. Nilingon ko sya nang ubos na ang dugo sa aking baso. I need a fresh and warm blood from the veins. I need it so bad.
"Ferdinand." I answered my brother. Kumunot ang noo nya sa akin.
"Isang buong araw ba ang byahe papunta sa Ferdinand?" Tanong nya. Tumawa ako.
"Hindi." I answered.
"Kong ganon ay bakit ka natagalan?" He really speaks so nice and formal. Just like my Mom. I smiled slyly.
"The answer to our problem is solved." I said. Humalukipkip sya.
"You meddle into my business."
"I didn't ,brother. I just needed to check some things with myself—"
"You are really breaking my ego, little sister. You think I can't handle that one?" Nanlaki ang mga mata ko dahil sa kanyang boses. He seems upset.
"You almost got killed yesterday because she fooled you, Raf—!"
"And I told you that I can handle it! Babalikan ko sya at ako ang kukuha ng mismong sagot—"
"When will that be, then? Cuz you see, I'm strong enough to face the witch." His piercing dark eyes darted in me. He clenched his jaw and his fist. Lumunok ako.
"Hindi porket nabuhay ka ng mas matagal dito sa mundong ibabaw ay hindi mo na ako rerespetuhin! Yes you probably are stronger than me but I am still your older brother and I should be the one taking care of these certain simple things!" Sigaw nya. Ngumiwi ako dahil doon. Now he's furious.
"It's just your ego that's making you furious. Dahil hindi mo matanggap na nakayanan kong kunin ang impormasyon na kailangan mo ng walang kahirap hirap samantalang ikaw ay nasaktan kahapon—"
"Don't you dare!"
Dumaing ako nang tumama ako sa sahig. He simply grabbed my jaw and pinned me into the wall using his one hand.
"Don't you dare insult me like that, Ysabel!" Aniya. Sinipa ko ang kanyang dibdib kaya muli akong nahulog sa sahig. Umatras sya dahil sa lakas ng sipa ko.
"I'm not insulting anyone! I'm just telling you that if you need help then I can help you—!"
"I don't need your help!" Sinaksak nya ako gamit ang bread knife sa aming hapag. Muli akong napasandal sa pader. Binaon nya ng mabuti ang kutsilyo kaya nanginig ang kamay ko at nahirapan akong tanggalin iyon.
"Do you also want to live in a vault underneath the sea floor for the next 5 centuries of your life?" Malamig na aniya. Nang natanggal ko na ang kutsilyo ay tsaka palang ako nag angat ng tingin. His cold eyes is directed at me like I'm just nothing.
Bahagya akong napapikit.
"Put yourself together and don't you never ever interfere again." Huling sinabi nya bago ako saksakin ulit ng panibagong kutsilyo sa tyan at tsaka umalis na sa kusina.
I groaned.
Saktong pumasok si Thalia doon. She was shocked when she saw me. Agad nya akong nilapitan at tinulungan na tanggalin ang kutsilyo sa tyan ko.
"What happened?" Tanong nya. Napaupo ako sa sahig. The wound begun healing. Tumungo ako. Binigyan kaagad ako ni Thalia ng bagong baso na may lamang dugo.
Godammit!
Brenna
"Joshua has been in his room for three consecutive days."
"You were hiding in your grandma's jacket for a week when you knew..." ayan na naman ang pakiki usyuso ng bruha sa mga bagay na hindi naman na sya kinakailangan.
"Bakit ngayon mo lang naisip magpakita?" Halukipkip ni Hayley sa tabi ko pero hindi nya sinagot.
"Hindi ako makapasok sa kwarto nya.." humalukipkip din si Ysabel. Kumunot ang noo ko. "Why don't you go in, Hayley? And explain everything to—"
"Hindi pwede, he's been avoiding me." Ani Hayley. Ysabel's eyebrows met.
"Ako nalang." Ani Jett diumano na kasama nina Thalia at Ysabel na pumunta dito. Nilingon ko kaagad sya.
"Paano mo naman sasabihin sa kanya lahat—"
"Ysabel, the plan is not telling him everything. It's making him calm so we can explain it clearly." Ani Thalia. Humalukipkip si Ysabel at bahagyang umirap. Binalingan nya si Jett na seryosong nakatingin sa kanya ngayon.
"I'll remove his ring and compell him so he can be calm—"
"That's a ridiculous idea! Remove his ring and I'll remove your head right away." Tinulak sya ni Ysabel ng walang kahirap hirap.
"We don't want any mess here." Ani Nic.
"So shut up." Maagap na sabi ni Ysabel. Niccolo shrugged. Suminghap ako. What a control freak bitch. "Remove his ring and make him forget everything ,I'll kill you the moment you step outside his room." Hinawakan nya sa balikat si Jett at nakita kong napangiwi sya. That hurts. Wala talagang pakealam sa iba ang babaeng ito. She always want to rule. Gusto nya, iyong sasabihin nya lang ang masusunod.
"Now, what's your plan?" Ani Ysabel at binitiwan na sya. Mabilis ang paghinga nya nang binitiwan sya ni Ysabel sa balikat. Crazy control freak bitch.
"Kakausapin ko lang sya." Ani Jett. Suminghap si Thalia.
"Hindi mo ba sya pipigilan sa ginagawa nya? She's being a bitch to everybody." Hindi ko mapigilang bumulong. Nag hand gesture kaagad sya ng tahimik dahil naririnig kami ni Ysabel. Oh ,yeah right. Those vampire super powers.
"If ever there's a compulsion that'll happen, what will I do to you?" Ani Ysabel.
"You'll kill me." Malamig na sambit ni Jett. And look who's compelling who.
"That's good to hear!" Ani Ysabel at tinulak na si Jett. "Go ahead. Hihintayin ka namin dito. Siguraduhin mong hindi ka papalpak dahil kaya kitang patayin ngayon." She uttered while raising a one eyebrow. Napahinga nalang ako ng malalim.
Jett entered Joshua's room without any single word that's coming from his mouth.
"You shouldn't have compelled him." Ani Thalia pagkaraan ng ilang minuto.
"I just did." The bitch coldly said and immediately disappeared. Napailing nalang ako. No one will ever love her. She will keep losing everyone around her if she's like that.
Why do I care anyway, that's not my problem anymore. Tss.
"I'm sorry. She got some problems." Paumanhin kaagad ni Thalia.
"Ilang taon na kayong magkasama ng babaeng 'yon?" Ngiwi ni Hayley. Mukhang hindi din makapaniwala na itong mabait na Thalia ay nakakasama ang Ysabel na yon sa iisang bubong. I think there are some kind of misunderstanding. "By any chance, are you sired to her? Or are you compelled?" Hayley concluded. Maging ako ay naghihintay ng sagot.
"I've been with her for almost 5 centuries now." Ani Thalia na nakapag palaglag ng panga ko.
"F-Five hundred years?" Hindi makapaniwalang pag uulit ko. She simply nodded.
"She must've compelled you—"
"She's not compelling me. I'm not sired to her either. Believe me, it's hard to understand her but when you've been with a particular person for almost 500 years, you'll get used to it." She explained.
"Hindi ka manlang ba nya pinag tangkaang patayin?" Walang kwentang tanong ni Niccolo.
"She never laid a single finger in me." Aniya. And that's...unbelievable. "Unless she's furious...pero hindi naman lumalagpas sa puntong sasaksakin na nya ako." Plastik syang ngumiti. There's something in her eyes when she smiled. Like sadness, pain, agony...
Kahit na pinaliwanag na ni Thalia ang lahat sa amin tungkol sa pagkakakilala nya sa Ysabel na 'yon ay hindi ko padin magawang maniwala na limang daang taon na silang magkasama. It's a little bit impossible, you see.
Ang laki lang ng pagkakaiba nila.
But what bugged me the most that she said was: "She was not like that before."
What was she before then? More heartless, ruthless, more bitchier than she is right now? Or? Hmm...what was she like when she's inloved with Julius Joaquin? Probably a lot more different person?
Pinilig ko ang aking ulo.
But then I guess, positive and negative do really attract each other.
Jett
"Akala nila may masama nang nangyayari sa'yo." Kunot noong sabi ko nang makita ko si Joshua na nag pupush up sa kwarto nya. Everything seems normal. He's fine, his body and acts are fine.
"I'm not dumb, Jett." Aniya. "I'm not some kind of fragile boy too, tss." Ngiwi nya.
"Just what I thought." I uttered.
Pagkatapos nyang mag push up ay umupo sya sa katapat na sofa ng inuupuan ko. Tinuro nya ang kanyang tainga tsaka ang pintuan ng kwarto nya.
"They can't hear us. Brenna did something.." I said. Tumango sya sa akin tsaka huminga ng malalim. "Hindi tayo pwedeng magtagal dito. What do you want to know?" Hinga ko.
Kumunot ang kanyang noo.
"I know everything, Jett. I'm not dumb." He repeated. Hinawakan ko ang aking batok at tinignan sya ng mabuti.
"Are you sure you're fine?" I asked, full of doubt.
Tumango sya at nangalumbaba sa harapan ko. I tilted my head. "Are you one of them too?" Tanong nya. Sandali akong natigilan dahil sa sinabi nya. I decided to nod instead. Huminga sya nang malalim at tumango din.
"How long have you been one of them?"
"Dalawang taon palang, Josh." I uttered. He licked his lower lip. "What's your plan? Hindi pwedeng paniwalain mo sila na gulat na gulat ka sa mga nalaman mo. They are worried and you're fooling them." Sabi ko. He clenched my jaw.
"Someone wants to kill me, who is it?" Diretsahang tanong nya.
"It's Ysabel's oldest brother."
"Bakit?"
"That's not my story to tell. Why don't you ask Ysabel yourself?" Tinalikuran nya ako nang sabihin nya iyan. Uminom sya sa kanyang tubig.
"I can't face her. She's too dangerous." aniya. Huminga ako nang malalim.
"She really is."
"Kaya ayokong harapin sya."
"May suot kang singsing na rason kong bakit hindi ka nya mapapatay, dude.."
"She tried to kill me that night!" Giit nya.
"Hindi nya alam na ikaw 'yon." Maagap na sabi ko.
"Can't you see that? She's too dangerous to be around!"
"She's here to protect you from his brother. She's not going to kill you." Iritadong sabi ko.
"If his brother wants me dead then she probably want me dead too!" Aniyang muli. Minasahe ko ang aking sintido.
"Why don't you stop being a dick and face everything?" Halos itulak ko sya sa kanyang dibdib. "This is your fate! You can't fucking run from it!—"
Marami pa sana akong sasabihin pero bumukas ang pintuan ng kanyang kwarto kaya humakbang ako papalayo. Nakita ko sa labas ng kwarto si Thalia.
"Jett, Brian is here." Aniya kaya nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Kumunot ang noo ni Joshua at akmang magtatanong na pero agad akong lumabas sa kwarto bago pa sya magsalita.
"Who's here?" Takang tanong ko.
"Brian from..."
"From Venice." Pigil hiningang sabi ko.
"Who's that?" Tanong nang isa sa mga pinsan ni Joshua. Nilingon ko iyong babae na nag ngangalang Hayley.
"Ysabel." Nilingon ko muli si Thalia.
"She's dealing with them. Leave. Pumunta ka sa bahay. Rafael is there."
"Who is Brian?" Ulit noong Hayley. Muli ko syang nilingon.
Brian is...my brother.