Stella waited for Ully until he goes to bed. He has no idea what she'll be doing tonight that's why she's showing no slight intentions of leaving. She thought Ully has no suspicions and that made her feel confident. Kapag kinakausap siya ni Ully kanina, she tried to compose herself not be so suspicious at all kaya siguro walang napapansin si Ully sa kanya. Well, she believed so. Gusto man niyang ipaalam sa kaibigan ang magiging plano niyang ito, but she'll be meeting their allies enemy so it was a risk after all. Sana lang maintindihan niya ang gagawin niyang ito.
It's for our career naman, Ully. Anito sa isip.
Nang marinig ang malalakas na hilik ni Ully ay senyales na iyon para umalis na siya ng motel. Dahan dahan iyang bumangon sa kama at hindi hinayang mag-ingay upang hindi magising si Ully. Nang makatapak ang paa sa lapag, tumayo ito at kinuha ang jacket sa clothing hook. Tumungo naman ito sa pinto at dahan dahan din niyang pinihit nag pinto.
Nakahinga nang maluwag si Stella nang tuluyan itong makalabas ng motel room. She doesn't want him to find out her agenda tonight. It's her only chance to get to this vampire and get all of her stories. Kahit na noon ay pinagbantaan ang buhay niya. Sa puntong ito, ang mahalaga lamang ay mabuo ang kanilang story para sa project. Sa ngayon, siya lamang ang kikilos.
She looked at her phone checking the time. It's almost midnight and she needs to be at the meeting where she would be seeing Alycia. She knew that this is risky pero nilakasan na lamang niya ang loob. Pwedeng ito ang maging huling gabi niya. Maaaring ito pa ang maging tulay sa magandang takbo ng karera nilang dalawa ni Ully.
Naniniwala kasi siya na ang mga journalists ay walang inuurangan. Mapa-bagyo, lindol, o kahit ano pang sakuna ay haharapin nila. Kaya buong loob niyang tinatagan ang loob sa abot ng kanyang makakaya.
Stella headed to the car pero natigilan na lamang siya ng maalala niyang hindi niya nakuha ang susi ng sasakyan. Napasinghal na lamang siya. Hindi na siya babalik sa loob ng kwarto kaya nag-isip ito ng ibang paraan upang makarating agad a kinaroroonan ni Alycia.
She grunted. "I hate this," she muttered and started running towards the direction of their meeting place. Malamig ang sumasapong hangin kay Stella kaya mabuti na lamang ay nakuha niya ang jacket.
It took her fifteen minutes before she reached the centennial park, near the fountain area. Hingal na hingal naman niyang tinatanaw sa paligid ang bampira pero mukhang naunahan niya pa itong dumating. Napahawak na lamang sa kanyang baywang habang binabawi ang hininga.
Tahimik ang paligid. Mga ilaw lamang ng poste ang nagbibigay liwanag sa paligid. Malamig din ang pagaspas ng hangin kaya swerteng nakadala siya ng jacket.
She frequently checked her phone, looking at the time, and might've thought that something bad will happen. Pero hindi na niya susukuan ito. It could be her only shot to lead them to their finished line.
A moment later, someone just appeared right beside her. Nagulat pa si Stella nang makita ito pero may kakaiba sa bampirang ito ngayon. She looks so young and pretty. Napaisip na lamang si Stella no'ng mga panahong hindi pa ganap na bampira si Stella pero bagamat sa kanyang natamo, nananatili pa rin ang naturang kagandahan nito—malayo nga lamang sa kaamuhan ang kanyang personalidad ngayon.
Kalmadong tinitigan ito ni Stella. Ang inakala ni Stella na si Alycia lamang ang kikitain nito ay biglang dumating si Reubert. Agad naman siyang nakaramdam ng pangamba. She knew what Reubert could do to her after what happened earlier, but Alycia ordered him not to do anything. He's far more dangerous than his girlfriend so he knew how to kill this human instantly.
But Stella wore a lot of courage and guts. She stepped forward, raising her head. "Nagsasabi ba kayo ng totoo sa sulat na nabasa ko?"
Napangisi naman si Reubert at bahagyang natawa naman si Alycia.
"Bitch, hindi ka ba maniniwala?" tawa pa ni Alycia.
"I know so I why would I?" ngisi pa ni Stella.
"I think you should," she said. "And let me be clear to you."
"I would just like to correct you. I'm not a bitch," sagot pa ni Stella.
Alycia's face scrunched, fell on irritation. "I don't care. Listen to what will I say o kung ayaw mong mapahamak ang buhay mo at ang kaibigan mo."
Stella rolled her eyes. "I'm not scared and keep threatening me. Wala ng effect sa akin 'yan." Kinuha naman niya ang kanyang mini-pad sa bulsa ng jacket at ang ballpen. Natawa naman ang mga bampira dahil pansin nilang handang-handa ang dalawa. Hidni naman iyon pinakialamanan ni Stella. Nandito siya para magtrabaho. "Okay, start. Tell me what you know.
Alycia crossed her arms. "I mentioned that I know where you can get a copy of the history book and I will only tell you its location but for one condition. You know, everything always comes with a cost. Are you in?"
"Bago ko sagutin 'yan, you should also promise if agreed na hindi niyo kami sasaktan ng kaibigan ko."
"Just you," ani Reubert.
Alycia nodded. "He's right. Ikaw lang dahil ikaw lang din ang nandito. At pagkatapos nito, you can't mention to anybody—t your friend, Edmond, Eilus, lahat na! Tayo lang makakaalam nito or else if you failed, wala na ring effect ang hindi ka namin sasaktan. Naiintindihan mo ba kami?"
"If that's going to guarantee my safety then it's fine," Stella agreed, nodding her head.
"You're smart," Alycia smirked. "I know what you are."
"True," ngisi pa ni Reubert. "She's a what, babe?"
"A bitch," tawa pa ni Alycia. "Anyway, in this way it would be a win-win situation for both of us. You'll get something and we'll get something we wanted, too. It's a fair arrangement."
"I know," Stella said.
"And here's my condition," Alycia said. "Napansin namin na napapalapit ka na kay Edmond at sa mga kaibigan nito. Gusto namin na sabihin mo sa amin ang lahat nang mga pina-plano nila at mga sikreto. In that way, you'll pay us for what you asked for."
"At hanggang kailan ko ito gagawin?"
"Hanggang kapag sinabi ko," ani Alycia. "Anong masasabi mo?"
Napakibit-balikat naman si Stella. "Hindi ko sigurado. Hindi mo pa rin naman sinasabi sa akin ang lokasyon ng libro."
"Of course, I would tell you that. I'm just stating my conditions and everything. Kaloka ka. I just need to say it first para malaman mo kung anong pinapasok mo kasi kung magkamali ka man, ba-bye world ka na."
Stella grunted and rolled her eyes. "Okay, fine. I will do it. So it's yes."
Kinuha naman ni Alycia ang mini-pad at ballpen ni Stella para isulat niya roon ang lokasyon ng history book. Tinatanaw pa ni Stella ang sinusulat nito kung totoo ba ang lahat ng mga sinasabi nito. Kasi tama naman si Alycia, if she failed, she could die.
She wrote the location on the pad and handed it over to her. Mabilis naman kinuha ni Stella at mini-pad at hinigpitan ang pagkakahawak dito. Rining naman ni Alycia ang mabilis na pagtibok ng puso ni Stella kaya mariin niyang hinawakan ang kamay nito para sa huling babala niya sa babaeng mamamahayag.
Ramdam ni Stella na tila bumabaon ang kuko ng bampira sa kanyang balat.
"Remember, stick to the plan, Stella," Alycia warned, gritting her teeth. "Know what Edmond's been doing nowadays and tell me all about it right away. At this very place, every midnght. Malalaman ko kung wala ka rito o hindi. Kung hindi ka susunod, simulan mo nang umalis ng Freymount."
"She's right," Reubert said. "If you choose to break the agreement. Makikita na lang ng mga tao ang katawan mong walang buhay. That's the last thing we want to do to you now."
"I'm sure you have an idea that we can compel a normal person, but we won't do that to you. So from now on, your life depends on who you trust and who you believe in."
"Good luck witch—I mean, bitch," tawa pa ni Reubert.
Makaraan lang ang ilang segundo, nawala na lamang ang dalawa sa kanyang harapn. Mas tinindigan naman ng balahibo si Stella dahil sa lamig na dumayo sa paligid niya.
Hindi naman nag-aksaya ng oras si Stella at binasa niya ang nakasulat sa mini-pad. Napakunot-noo na lamang ito dahil parang joke-joke ang lahat.
Souvenir shop. Basement.
Hindi naman makampante si Stella. Feeling niya hindi pa sapat ito.
Gusto niyang lukutin ang pahina kung saan nakasulat ang lokasyon pero nagtimpi na lamang siya. Hindi niya alam kung saan niya hahanapin iyong souvenir shop na iyon. Hindi nga gano'n kalakihan ang Freymount Town, but this place really holds something. Kailangan pa niyang isa-isahin iyon and she doesn't have enough time. But if she doesn't act as soon as possible, buhay naman niya ang magiging kapalit.
Hindi man siya sigurado kung totoo nga ba iyong sinulat ni Alycia. But there's no harm in finding it out. She really craved for the story at ipaalam sa mundo na totoo ang mga ganitong creatures. She wasn't afraid that all these creatures would come after her once she told the world that they exist long before time.
She put her things back in her jacket's pocket. She wrapped herself from her jacket and decided to walk back home. Napalingon naman ito sa madilim na kalangitan. Natatabunan ng ulap ang mga bituin hangga't sa unti-unti niyang naramdaman ang panaka-nakang pagpatak ng ulan.
Tumakbo naman ito pabalik sa kanilang motel room. Inalis naman niya kaagad ang jacket dahil nabasa na ito ng ambon. Dahan dahan naman niyang pinihit ang doorknob at tuluyan siyang pumasok sa loob ng kwarto. She was trying to sneak in quietly but when she came in, she saw Ully wide awake. Napangiwi na laang si Stella.
"It's late, Stels. Where have you been?" he asked. "Akala ko kung sino na 'yong papasok. Akala ko nilooban na tayo."
Natawa na lamang si Stella. "So sorry to wake you up. Lumabas lang ako para magpahangin pero bigla nang umulan."
"I see... mabuti na lang ay may dala kang jacket."
Tumango si Stella. "Yup... I got lucky."
"We'll talk tomorrow then. Matutulog na ulit ako."
"Sweet dreams," ani Stella.
"Same, Stels," Ully murmured.
She felt relieved when he didn't make any suspicions out of it. Nagdahilan na lamang siya ng maisasagot sa kanya at mukhang naniwala rin naman ito. She wanted to let him in to this plan pero sasarilihin na lamang niya ito. She'll just look after him because after all parang kapatid na ang turing niya kay Ully.
I hope I won't screw this. She thought and took a deep breath. Her safety was now depending on every situation she'll do and if she failed, they'll suck her blood out of her system until she died. So Stella believed she'll make it by herself.