17. Wolves and Date
Ysabel
Humalukipkip ako at sumandal sa bumper ng aking kotse habang pinagmamasdan si Brian Quimio na mangalaiti sa harapan ko.
"Where is Jethro, Ysabel?"
"Anong ginagawa nyo dito?" Tumingin ako sa paligid. "And you actually brought some deputies to scare me?" Bahagya akong nagkunot ng noo.
"I'm not here to play you little bitch. I'm here to get my brother. Kong ayaw mong mamatay na ngayon ay ilabas mo sya." Aniya. Naramdaman kong sumulpot si Thalia sa gilid namin. I sighed heavily. These kids here are pain in the ass.
"Are you threatening me?" Halos pagtawanan ko ang mukha ni Brian. "Here's a question, love, do you believe in immortality?"
Sinenyasahan nya ang isa sa mga bata nya. Ngumisi ako. Mabilis na lumapit sa harapan ko ang isa. May tinusok sya sa braso ko na agad kong tinanggal. Pinakita ko sa kanya ang kamay ko, I smiled and made a way through his heart. Then the next thing I know, he's already dead and his heart is already in my hand.
"Oops..my bad.." kunwari ay nagulat ako sa aking ginawa ,nanlaki ang mga mata ni Brian. "Let me finish what I'm saying, kid..."
"H-How are...Bri, th-that's a werewolf venom.." sabi ng babae na nasa gilid nya. I tilted my head. They are dumb.
"Do you expect me to die with a werewolf venom?" Humalakhak ako. Linapitan ko ang isang kasamahan nya. I ripped his heart out just like what I did in the first man. Pinakita kong muli ang puso sa kanila. "Ang sabi ko, makinig kayo kong ayaw nyong isa-isa kayong maubos at hindi na kayo makakabalik sa pinanggalingan nyo." I said calmly. Umatras si Brian.
"I'm not here to talk, I'm here to get my brother." Mariin na aniya. Pinaningkitan ko sya nang mata.
"Let's get back to the business. Do you believe in immortality?" Tinuro ko ang isang lalake. Gulat nya akong binalingan.
"Y-Yes.." he startled.
"Good! Brian, do you know that your deputies can understand order more than you do?" Kunot noong tanong ko.
"I'm not fucking playing your games, Ysabel—"
"Wrong answer." Isang kasamahan nya muli ang bumagsak sa lupa. Tinapon ko ang pangatlong puso sa harapan nya. "The right answer is yes, you should learn on how to answer right." I said.
"Ysabel." Nag hand gesture kaagad ako kay Thalia nang tahimik.
"Third question!" Tinuro ko ang babaeng nasa tabi ni Brian. Nanlaki ang mga mata nya. "Why did you think that a werewolf venom will kill me? It's one of a hard question but..." I shrugged. Brian's jaw clenched.
You'll gonna regret stepping in my town.
"Because you're a v-vampire." Simpleng sagot nya. Ngumuso ako at umupo muli sa bumper ng sasakyan ko.
"Okay." Tawa ko. "Fourth—"
"I said I'm not here for your fucking games, Arevalo!" Sigaw ni Brian. Kunwari ay napapikit ako.
"You didn't let me finish!" I fakely exclaimed. Bumaba ako sa bumper at lumapit muli sa isang kasamahan nya. This time, it's the one that's nearer in him. Mabilis kong pinutol ang kanyang ulo at inihain iyon sa harapan ni Brian. "You're not a good alpha, you're letting your deputies die." I uttered.
"Brian!" The girl exclaimed beside him. Binilang ko kong ilan nalang sila. Ten little werewolves more to go.
"Have you heard about immortality?" Dahil gusto kong inisin ang Brian na ito ay iyong babae ulit ang tinanong ko. Tumango sya sa akin. "Tell me something about it." Humalukipkip ako sa kanilang harapan. Magsasalita na naman sana ulit ang Brian na iyon pero pinigilan kaagad sya ng isang lalake sa tabi nya. What a stubborn alpha!
"You are an immortal. You can't die." Aniya. I smirked.
"And you actually expected that the venom will kill me?" Pinakita ko sa kanya ang kamay ko kong saan tinusok ang syringe kanina. There's an infection in there but it immediately got healed. "That's too sad because it really won't have any effect." I uttered.
"How is that possible?" Tanong nya. I smiled at her.
"This is my game, I'm the one who should ask questions but since I like you then I'll tell you what. Hmm.." kunwari ay nag isip ako. "It's simply because I'm also a werewolf." I smiled sarcastically. Laglag ang kanyang panga.
"I-I thought you're a vampire?" Takang tanong nya.
"Did I said that I'm not?" Takang tanong ko rin.
"You're a hybrid." Banggit nang isa. I immediately rolled my eyes.
"Oh please I will never be a hybrid," I uttered ,disgusted. "Sabihin nalang natin na pwede akong maging bampira at werewolf...which makes me the most powerful creature in the world." I smiled. "Now Brian Quimio, you want your brother back? You have to kill me first." Sambit ko. Sumandal ako sa bumper ng sasakyan.
"You said you're an immortal, he can't kill you." Giit noong babae. I shrugged.
"Which means, you can't have your precious brother." I pointed out. "Now," pumitik ako sa hangin. "It's either you leave and never come back or you stay and you'll never have the chance to breath. How about choose?" I mocked.
"You bitch.." ani Brian. I smiled widely.
Isa isa silang nawala sa paningin ko sa isang idlap. Nang lumingon ako sa aking likuran ay nakita ko si Jett na nakatingin sa amin sa malayo. Noong magtama ang paningin namin ay mabilis syang umalis kong saan man sya nagtatago.
"Easy." I murmured.
Linapitan kaagad ako ni Thalia.
"You didn't have to kill four in his pack." Aniya. I rolled my eyes and nodded many times.
"I know ,I know. Ang kaso ay masyadong matigas ang ulo nya. Maayos na pag uusap sana iyon kong sumunod sya sa gusto ko." I tss-ed. "Kamusta si Joshua?" Tanong ko sa kanya kalaunan. Huminga sya nang malalim.
"Fine...I guess. Just don't shock the hell out of him ,Ysabel. Hinay hinay lang, okay." Aniya. Umirap ako.
"I've heard that a couple of times now," bagot na sabi ko. "Pwede ko na ba syang makausap?" I asked again.
"I don't think you can." Aniya. Kumunot ang noo ko at inis syang tinignan.
Fine!
Hindi ako pumasok nang ilang araw sa paaralan dahil iyon ang hiling nila sa akin alang-alang sa kapakanan ni Joshua Joaquin. I don't even know why I followed what they want. I'm used on breaking rules. I am the rule.
But dammit.
Nagsalin ako nang alak sa baso na hawak ko. Nakaupo sa sofa si Rafael ngunit linagpasan ko lang sya. Tatlong shot ang nainom ko pero hindi padin ako tinatablan kaya ilang beses akong lumagok habang nakatingin sa labas ng bahay.
"Huwag kang masyadong mag inom." Puna ni Julius sa akin nang nadatnan nya ako sa bahay na umiinom ng alak. Ngumiti ako at tinignan sya.
But it was a mistake because I accidentally saw the vein in his neck. Napapikit ako at mas uminom. This will distract me from the hunger of blood.
"Magkita tayo bukas." Kahit gusto ko pa syang makasama ay nasabi ko iyan. Kumunot ang noo nya.
"May gagawin ka ba?"
Para akong napaso sa titig nya.
"A-Anong.."
Tumalikod kaagad ako nang maramdaman kong nagbago ang mga mata ko sa harapan nya. Kumurap ako nang ilang beses at uminom muli.
"Sorry." I uttered and left him there.
It's the same place where that scene happened. Doon sya nag simulang magtaka. I was aware. But I couldn't care about it ,all I want is to seize every moment and to let him feel how I love him dearly.
Dahil akala ko ay magiging sapat iyon na dahilan para hindi nya ako patayin. I think that'll be enough reason for me to be exempted on the vampires that he's killing. It was a mistake.
Because no matter how I showed him my love hundred times, when he already knew that I was a vampire, he didn't doubt on killing me.
"Hindi mo pa rin ba ako papansinin?" Tanong ni Rafael nang akmang lalagpasan ko nanaman sya. But like I always do, I didn't even turned to face him.
Dumiretso ako sa kwarto at doon inubos nang diretso ang alak. I'm hungry. Godammit. Kailan ba ako pwedeng pumasok sa paaralan? Nakakasawa dito sa bahay.
And then I gave them another 3 days to calm Joshua or to solve whatever his problem is. Sa tatlong araw na iyon ay halos mapanis ang laway ko dahil wala akong makausap nang matino sa bahay.
"Ysabel." Umirap ako nang huling araw na ng 'bakasyon grande' ko ay kinausap ulit ako ni Rafael. Gusto kong lagpasan ulit sya pero huli na ang lahat noong sumalida sya sa harapan ko at hinawakan nya ang braso ko.
Agad ko syang tinulak dahil doon.
"Don't...touch me." May diin na sabi ko. Suminghap sya.
"Why are you avoiding me so much?" Tanong nya. Gusto kong tumawa dahil doon.
"I'm not avoiding you." I boredly uttered. Uminom ako ng alak. "I just don't wanna talk to you or even see your face around." Hindi ko alam kong humina ang tolerance ko sa alak dahil ilang buwan na akong hindi nakainom ng fresh na dugo o talagang pagkatapos ng limang araw na palaging alak ang iniinom ko sawakas ay nalasing na ako.
"At bakit?" Matigas na tanong nya. Now I had the guts to chuckle because of what he said.
"Are you seriously asking me that now? You stabbed me in the stomach without any mercy!" Galit na sambit ko. "Of all people around me, I never did expected that you'll do such a thing. At hindi kita magawang gantihan dahil hindi ko kaya! Because you are my family.." pinakita ko sa kanya ang alak na hawak ko. "But then you can do that thing easily, without even blinking. I envy you."
"Ysabel." Tawag nya nang papaalis na ako. Tinaas ko lang ang kamay ko para tumahimik na sya. "I'm sorry." I heard him murmured when I'm already entered my room.
Why the hell is he even sorry, tss. From now on, brother, I will no longer care about your business.
Joshua
"How do I use this?" Pinakita ko kay Jett ang isang hindi pamilyar na equipment na nakahain sa harapan ko. May mga patalim doon na gawa sa kahoy at may hindi pamilyar na marka. You can either put it in your arm or legs, I'm not sure.
Pinakita nya sa akin kong paano iyon gamitin nang isinoot nya sa kanyang kamay.
"Whatever you do, do not doubt to shoot the predator. In the heart." Aniya at binigay sa akin iyon. I wore it. Sinubukan kong itutok iyon sa kanya ,nang lumingon sya ay tinaasan nya ako ng kilay.
"I said, don't doubt. You had all the time to shoot me but you didn't. You'll have to pay the price." Agad ko syang tinulak nang lumapit sya sa akin at pinakita nya ang kanyang pangil.
"It's not funny. Besides, you're not a predator." Umismid ako. Tumawa sya at pinakita ang iba mga armas.
It's been almost two weeks since I discovered those unbelievable supernatural things and I am still having some trouble to believe.
Palaging nasa paligid ko si Jett maging ang kaibigan nyang si Thalia. Brenna became more vocal and so does Niccolo and Hayley. Hindi ko alam kong alam ko na ba talaga lahat ng mga bagay na nangyayari, but what I think for sure is that I'm already left behind.
Kompara sa mga nakapaligid sa akin ay bobo na ako dahil wala manlang akong kaalam-alam.
Tinanaw ko ang pinaka mataas na parte ng family tree dito sa bahay namin. And I didn't even care about history. Ngunit kong hindi padin ako makikialam ngayon ay talo ako dahil hindi ko malalaman kong ano ang gagawin ko.
The first family of Joaquin's here in San Joaquin was made by Herculine and Amanda who's pictures are on top. May lima silang anak ngunit ang dalawa ay hindi na nagkaroon pa ng ibang generasyon dahil agad din 'daw' namatay. It was Render and Janea Joaquin, who's blood are hybrid na...pumatak kina Niccolo at Hayley. The three others are Harvey, Lynea and...Julius Joaquin na sobrang kamukha ko.
I am his doppelgänger, that makes my blood special, Brenna said.
Sya lang talaga ang nakakuha ng atensyon ko. And what Brenna told me bugged me a lot.
"Those dreams that I blocked in your mind with Ysabel Arevalo wasn't you at all, Josh. It was Julius Joaquin and her from 1516."
Sinabi nyang huwag kong sasabihin sa iba, lalo na kay Ysabel na alam ko ang tungkol sa bagay na 'yon.
I was expecting Ysabel to come to me sooner or later but I was wrong. Mahigit dalawang Linggo ko ding hindi nakita ang anino nya. Something unexpected.
Pero kinabukasan, nang nag jojogging ako at bigla syang sumulpot sa tabi ko ay inisip ko kaagad na sana hindi nalang sya sumulpot sa isip ko kahapon.
"Hi!" Bati nya at walang kahirap hirap na sinabayan ako sa pag jo-jogging. Wala talaga akong balak syang pansinin. "Hindi mo manlang ba ako lilingunin? Dalawang Linggo kitang tiniis!" Aniya. Nilingon ko sya at pinag kunutan ng noo.
Now she's acting normal and weird. Alam kong mabilis lang mag bago ang mood nito eh. From nice to serial killer ,tss.
"Now we're good! How was Jett handling you?" Tanong nya, sumasabay padin sa jogging.
"No one's handling me. I can handle my own self." Malamig na sabi ko. Ngumuso sya at pati nong papasok na ako sa bahay ay sumunod. Walang hiya.
"Ang sungit naman. Ano bang pinakain ng mga pinsan mo sa'yo at ganyan ka umasta ngayon, so unusual." She said.
"Why don't you just go back to the plastic you, it's better ,tss."
Tumawa sya.
"Ah, you mean the nicer me? God, that sucks! I hate being nice." Aniya. She's so unbelievable, is she even aware of that?
Umiling ako nang tuluyan nang makapasok sa bahay.
"Hello Mrs. Joaquin, I'm here to bond with your son." Nilingon ko kaagad si Ysabel nang batiin nya si Mommy. She stared at her.
"Stop it." Iritadong sabi ko at bahagya syang tinulak.
"What?" Natatawang tanong nya.
"What is wrong Josh? Is she your...friend?" Baling ni Mommy sa akin. Nilingon ko kaagad sya.
"Never mind ,Mom. Can you just leave us alone?" Pigil hiningang sabi ko. She looked at me weirdly before nodding.
"I'm actually about to go out." Aniya. Huminga ako nang malalim at hinalikan sya sa pisngi bago sya umalis.
"I was not compelling her, Josh. I was simply telling her that we'll—"
"Whenever you stare at a particular person, Ysabel, it's like you're taking their lives out of them. That's how dangerous your presence is." Galit na sambit ko.
"Woah. Don't wag a war, babe. I'm here to talk to you." She said. Nginiwian ko lamang sya at umakyat na. Since she can't enter inside my room, she remained outside, ngunit wagas padin kong makatitig sa akin.
"What is it that you want?" Tanong ko nang tapos na akong maligo at magbihis ay nasa tapat padin sya ng pintuan ko. Keeping it open.
"A date." Walang kahiya-hiyang aniya. Kunot noo ko syang tinignan.
"A what?" I think I heard it wrong.
"A date ,Josh. I haven't seen you for weeks, don't you think I deserve that?" Nguso nya. My lips parted a bit because of that. Para akong sinuntok sa tyan habang tinitignan sya kaya tumalikod kaagad ako.
To hell with this woman.
Bakit nya gusto ng date? I probably remind her so much of Julius Joaquin. Yes, that's probably the reason why. Kong sabagay, sobrang magkamukha kami. I can't deny that fact.
Huminga ako ng malalim at nilingon sya.
"Fine, let's date." I uttered. Sumilay ang ngiti sa kanyang labi.
"Great!" Palakpak nya.
I'm going to use this oppurtunity to know everything that I want to know. Julius Joaquin, huh?