Chapter 19: Semestral Break
Nagising ako sa amoy ng malambot na kama. Lavender. The bed smells like lavender. Binuksan ko ang aking mga mata at binati ng maliwanag at tahimik na paligid. It was mid-day at ang tanging maririnig na ingay ay ang pag galaw ng mga kamay ng orasan.
Bumangon ako at pinagmasdan ang hindi pamilyar na kwarto. I felt a sharp pain on my wrist. Where am I? Tumayo ako at umapak sa marmol na sahig. This is definitely not my room.
Binuksan ko ang pintuan at lumabas ng kwarto. The hallway was well lit but empty. Monaghan. I thought. Isang bahay lamang ang alam kong may ganito kagarang interior. Naalala ko ang mga nangyari. Ang volleyball game. Ang aksidente. Si Landon Monaghan.
Bumaba ako sa sala. Mukhang walang tao sa mansion. Pagdating ko sa kusina halos sumigaw ako sa gulat.
"Thank god, I thought no one's here."
Standing in front of me is Yllona, with her signature pumps and black dress. Her lips are the color of fall, dark red.
"I just came here and well..."
Tinitigan ako ni Yllona. Doon ko napagtanto ang aking ayos. I must have look like trash. Suot ko parin ang gym uniform ko mula kahapon. And from the looks of it, Yllona was taking the wrong idea.
"So, you slept here," nakangiting sinabi niya. There was a strange glint in her eyes.
"Whatever you're thinking, you're wrong," agad kong saad. "I didn't even know why I'm here."
Ang huli kong natatandaan ay nawalan ako ng malay dahil sa labis na pagod. Isa pa, suot ko parin ang suot ko kahapon. Landon didn't do anything stupid, did he? Umiling ako. What the fuck am I even thinking?
"Did you finally give in to Landon's game?"
"No. What the hell?"
Yllona laughed. A graceful, sophisticated and somehow venomous laugh. They always have it, that sting, that air that made them stand out from the rest.
"Then why are you in such frustration?" Yllona asked.
Hindi parin naaalis ang ngiti sa kanyang pulang labi. Like she knows something I don't.
"It's okay to admit it. We both know why Landon bring women here. To bed them."
Halos mapanganga ako sa direktang mga salita niya. Is she always this blunt?
"He didn't," mariin kong sinabi. Hindi ito gagawin ni Landon. I know what his types are. He may annoy the hell out of me but he won't go to such extent. I won't allow him.
Pero mukhang hindi na nakikinig pa si Yllona. Para sa kanya napaka-natural para kay Landon na mag uwi ng babae dito. Taking them down in his own mansion is not surprising at all.
"Kailangan ko ng umuwi," sinabi ko. Wala akong balak magtagal sa lugar na ito. And wherever Landon is, hindi ko gustong maabutan niya pa ako.
"This early?" asked Yllona. "Why are you in such a rush? Isn't it already your semestral break?"
She's right. Kahapon ang huling araw ng quarterly exams. Ngayon ang simula ng dalawang linggong bakasyon. Some of my blockmates had planned beach trips and out of towns. Isa lang ang plano ko ngayong bakasyon. Ang magtrabaho sa coffee shop at kumita ng pera.
"I have an idea!"
Sa tono palang ng boses ni Yllona may pakiramdam akong hindi ito magiging maganda.
"Why don't you join us for semestral break? We'll head to the beach house at-"
"No, thank you," mabilis kong sagot. "I have other plans."
BINABASA MO ANG
The Devil's Trap
Vampire"She's my best friend, and she's the thirteenth victim." Nangako si Althea Denise Limerick at ang best friend nitong si Elyse na hindi sila magiging biktima ng kumakalat na serial crime. But when her best friend never came back one night, napagtanto...
