Chapter 28: Dracula (Part 1)

A/N: Then there was a stillness in nature as the echoes of that thunderous report seemed to come as with the hollow boom of a thunder-clap - the long reverberating roll which seems as though the floors of heaven shook. Then down in a mighty ruin falling whence they rose came the fragments that had been tossed skywards in the cataclysm.
- a deleted excerpt from the Dracula manuscript by Bram Stroker.

My mind was still wandering while Math, the class president stood in front telling us the plans for the upcoming activities for the month. We were supposed to be discussing about our upcoming activity pero naglalandas ang isip ko tungkol sa kondisyong itinala ni Daddy. Argh! Hindi ko mapigilang mainis sa sarili kong ama. Why does he have to decide about who I will marry? Kahit hindi ko pa alam kung sino ang nakalagay sa ginawa niyang kondisyon, I can't help but make a face. The holographic condition for the will that was personally written by Dad was all destroyed, thanks to Jeremy surprising us. When I asked her about what will we do since it was destroyed, ang sagot niya ang maaring may ibang copy niyon. She will check on the other pertinent papers that Dad left o kahit ang computer sa buhay o sa opisina nito ay iche-check niya upang makakita ng katulad niyon. Unfortunately after getting wet by the coke, she stepped on the paper kaya nagkaputik at napunit iyon. And we cannot do anything to read the other parts of it.

What's worse is that hindi pa niya nababasa iyon kaya hindi niya alam kung ano ang nakalagay niyon. May bahaging hindi nabasa pero sa kasamaang palad, ang bahaging may mga importanteng nakatala ang siyang nabasa at napunit. Sinabi rin ni Atty. Rose na baka may isa pang will na lalabas and if it is dated after the first will, the latest will be used.

"Bestie, galit ka ba sa akin?", Jeremy whispered on my side. Pagkatapos niyang malaman na dahil sa panggugulat niya ay nasira ang isang napaka-importanteng papel ay hindi na siya ngumiti pa. He just sulked on the side, looking very guilty. Umiling ako bilang sagot sa tanong niya.

"Sorry talaga Bestie."

"Actually that was a blessing in disguise. Kung hindi ka nanggulat, I may have been very worried by now after reading the name of my future husband", I replied at bahagyang tinapunan siya ng tingin. Still, it wasn't enough to make him feel better.

"Sorry pa rin", he said at bahagyang inilapit ang bibig sa tenga ko upang bumulong. "Pero sino ba ang mapapangasawa mo?" he smiled curiously ad I glared at him. Chismoso pala talaga ito.

"That's the best part, walang nakakaalam kung sino."

"Ah, mystery guy. Hmm, I like that", nakangising wika niya. "So ibig sabihin, hindi ka galit sa akin?"

"No."

"It was a relief, you know. But your Dad must be very crazy o baka naman balak niyang maging si Kupido. He is matchmaking you to-", ibinitin niya ang sasabihin at tumingin kay Gray. The latter happened to look at him too at nagtaka ito sa paraan ng pagtingin ni Jeremy sa kanya.

"What?", he asked irritated.

"Wala, iniisip ko lamang kung ikaw ba ang magiging future husband ni Amber", sagot ni Jeremy at tumawa.

"Je!" That was embarrassing. I am not expecting his name on that will! And even if I am, this dummy need not to shout it on our faces. It is so awkward!

"Impossible. Amber's Dad is closer to Cooler than me kaya kung may isusulat man siyang pangalan, it must be Cooler's", sagot niya. Namamalikmata lang ba ako o totoong may nakita akong lungkot mula sa kanyang mga mata?

I sighed and considered what he said in my mind. He's right, Dad is closed to Cooler. Actually, Cooler betrayed some mafia transactions before for the benefit of Dad kaya kung may isusulat man siyang pangalan it must be his name. Pero pwede rin namang hindi. I mean, who knows how crazy Dad is. Kahit hindi naman siya ganoon, I cannot help but think that he possibly wrote there a name of his business partner who's about 50 years old and enough to be my grandfather. Pwede ring anak ng kasosyo niya o kaya naman ay kung sinong Poncio Pilato na naisip niya habang isinusulat iyon.

"So everything is fixed?", tanong ni Math sa klase na siyang nagpabalik sa akin mula sa pagkahulog sa malalim na pag-iisip. My classmates yelled yes at tila tuwang-tuwa pa. They look so very excited too. "Okay then, see you on Friday night."

Pag-alis ni Math sa harap ay muling humiyaw ang mga kaklase ko. They began talking about how exciting would it be. Teka, anong meron?

I looked at Gray with a furrowed brow at tila naintindihan naman niya iyon. "The upcoming activity is a test of courage", wika niya. "Gaya ng napagkasunduan ng klase, the activity will be on Friday night and it will be a test of courage. We will enter a forest and whoever come back with the thing that they will ask will be hailed as the most courageous student."

Uh. Test of courage in a forest at night? What if there were wild animals or snakes?! But yeah, that's why it is called test of courage. I guess that's the motion that the class agreed so I cannot do anything about it.

"So what do you think about our activity?", Math asked when she returned to our table.

Seriously she's asking it? Isn't my frowning enough to convince her that it is not a great idea at all. Fine, Friday night is Friday night. No classes the next day kaya okay lang na mapuyat. But risking our lives in a dark forest? What if there are wild bears there? Okay, that's lame. I know there were no wild bears here but snakes?!

"Lousy idea."

"Excuse me?", she asked with a brow raised. "Did you just say lousy?"

"Did I?", I mumbled and ignore her. Kahit anong pagprotesta pa ang gawin ko, it was all agreed by the body. And I was the only one who opposed and since majority wins, I cannot do anything against it.

Sumandal si Math sa kanyang upuan at ngumiti. "Maybe this test of courage will bring people together. We're going in by pairs so I will pair with you Gray, okay lang ba?", she asked. She lean on the table since they were on the both sides.

Tila nagulat naman si Gray sa paanyaya nito. "A-ako? Ah-"

I felt Jeremy's arm on my shoulders. "We will pair Be. You know, dark forest and just you and I. Ah, can't wait for Friday night."

Be? Again?

"What?", bulalas ni Gray. "Math, dapat hindi magkaibang kasarian ang ipa-pares. Girls must pair with girls and boys will pair with boys!"

His tone was angry and irritated. He looked like a brat complaining to Math dahil doon. Ayaw ba niyang magkasama kami ni Jeremy? Hala, baka gusto niyang sila ni Je ang magkasama!

"Actually, that's the best part. You can pair with any gender", Math said and smiled. "Takot ka ba?"

"No! Definitely not!"

"Good. I'm afraid so let's pair."

Math is the type of girl who's "what I want is what I get" less the bitchy image and bratty attitude. She's not like Marion but she is bratty and bitchy but she got charisma. Yun bang mayabang ang impact niya para sa akin but other students love that side of her. In fact she is the class favorite and she always get attention. If you will ask the class who's the most loved student, the answer is Mathilde Corazon.

She always has positive traits connected with her name. Math is pretty. Math is smart. Math is kind. Math is a good leader. Math is this, Math is that- yup. Math is everything.

I am not saying this because I am jealous or what. Wala lang. Why is it that my classmates cannot see her cocky side?

Jeremy stuck some lost hair at the back of my ear. "Be, kapag natakot ka, you can just cling to me and I will be on the rescue."

"Really?", I asked in sarcasm. What's up with him again?

"Yeah. I know you're not afraid of ghost dahil mas takot ka sa mga hayop na maaring gumala din sa gubat. I will be there to protect you no matter what", wika niya at kumindat pa.

Bigla na lamang ibinagsak ni Gray ang hawak na libro kaya napatingin kami sa kanya.

"Anong problema mo?"

Gray shook his head and look away. "Nothing."

I felt Je held my face at hinarap ako sa kanya. "So, always remember it okay? Whatever animal it is, I will protect you kahit pa dragon!"

"Talaga Jeremy?", Math said. "Look, may ipis sa mesa mo!" She pointed in our table right in front of Jeremy.

Bigla na lamang napatalon si Jeremy sa kinauupuan at sinipa ang mesa namin. It made a loud noise kasabay ng sigaw niya. "Shit!" His expression was so priceless.

Just then Math burst into laughter. "Kahit dragon ha, eh ipis pa nga lang takot ka na." She continued laughing at hinila ang mesa namin. "It's a black button. I got you there!"

"Mathilde Corazon! Can I kill you for once? Ah no. I will kill you gazillion times! Hindi ako takot ano! Nagulat lang ako, isa pa madumi ang ipis so I cannot prevent my reflexes! Ipapalunok ko sa iyo yang butones mo eh!"

Math just continued laughing samantalang inis na inis naman si Jeremy sa kanya. The class was dismissed earlier kaya napagpasyahan nilang tumambay muna sa cafeteria, dragging me along with them.

"Math, why did you choose a forest in the next town for this test of courage?", nagtatakang tanong ni Gray. That was a good question since I clearly opposed to that idea. Siguro kapag nasabi na niya ang intention niya for choosing that activity, maybe I can make a motion to reconsider the test of courage.

"It is because sigurado akong magiging interesado kayo sa activity na ito", sagot ni Math. Interesado? Who's interested in going to a forest and scare ourselves? Tsk.

"But why the next town at gabi pa? Isn't it dangerous?", I asked.

"Hindi ka ba nakikinig kanina?", she asked and I prevented myself from raising my brow. Tama naman siya, hindi talaga ako nakikinig kanina dahil distracted ako. "It's because we will be staying in our tents there dahil kinabukasan ay ang medical mission which we volunteered to lend a hand. Hello? Did you forget about the CSR that we made?"

Oo nga pala. We have social responsibility and Bridle High always conduct a program. My mind is floating lately so I totally forgot about other activities at school.

"And to answer Gray's question-", she lowered her voice and made sure that no one can hear us. "May sabi-sabi kasing may bampira doon."

"BAMPIRA?!", Jeremy blurted out loud, attracting attention kaya napatingin sa amin ang ibang nasa loob ng cafeteria. What the hell?!

Math pulled her hair out of frustration. "Argh! You don't have to broadcast it! Hininaan ko nga ang boses ko diba?" She sounded so annoyed at him. I understand why. Kapag nalaman ng iba ang tungkol sa "bampira" they would be freaking out for sure.

Gray let out a fake laugh. "Vampire? They are just myths. Amber and I encountered a case like that before and it turns out that there isn't any vampire. Actually, those are marks made by a weapon with venom and the sucking of blood is the way of removing it."

I felt my face become red when I remember that case. It was the day after we discovered that Zeus is Cooler at nagpunta kami sa bahay nina Gray. It was the time that a small fangless snake tangled in my foot. Argh! Ayaw ko ng maalala pa iyon! And basing on Gray's smirk, I think he's enjoying reminiscing that time!

"Talaga? So what happened?"

"It's just some family issues and the culprit took advantage of the resources that is available in their home. They thought it's a vampire but it turns out to be hatred", Gray answered.

"Iba ang isang ito. There is this person whom they call Dracula", kwento ni Math.

Bigla na lamang nabulunan si Jeremy sa kanyang kinakain. "Dracula? Ang old fashion naman! Why not name him after Damon Salvatore? God, I love Vampire Diaries. Nina is so damn hot", Jeremy said.

"Oh, I'm more into The Originals", Math replied. "I love Klaus and Caroline-"

Bago pa man sila magkwentuhan sa kung anu-anong bagay na hindi ako nakaka-relate ay pinutol na sila ni Gray.

"Why do people call him Dracula?"

Inilibot ulit ni Math ang paningin sa paligid, cautiously lowering her voice upang walang makarinig sa sasabihin niya. "He got fangs."

Jeremy clicked his tongue. "Fangs? Eh ano ngayon? Andaming pangil ni Avril Lavigne!"

"No. Not like her, it's two fangs on both sides", sagot ni Math na mahina pa rin ang boses. "What else is interesting? Hindi siya lumalabas ng umaga. Sa gabi lang."

"Baka night lover? Alam mo na, may mga taong gusto na lumabas ng gabi. O kaya night shift. Nocturnal."

"No, listen. Iba talaga eh. Why don't you go there with me tomorrow? I am visiting the site at makikipag-usap ako sa mga baranggay officials para sa program natin", paanyaya ni Math.

Nagkatinginan kaming tatlo na para bang nag-uusap kami kung sasama ba kami o hindi.

"We'll go."

"Ayoko."

Napatingin silang tatlo sa akin nang sabay kaming nagsalita. Gray and Jeremy agreed and only me declined. I met their gazes to show that I am not really interested. Hindi naman sa ayaw kong makasama sila. Let us weigh things out. First, we will skip class. Ibig sabihin, we will trade the information that we're about to learn sa pagpunta doon. Second, we are wasting money, time and effort. Money for transportation purposes, time for going there and effort dahil nakakapagod kaya pumunta doon para lamang patunayan na may Dracula nga na nabubuhay ngayong 21st century. Uh, what's wrong with these people?!

"Sama ka na lang Amber", Math said. She let out a cute and girly voice to convince me and I prevented the urge to make her shut up. Ang arte-arte ng boses!

"I will try", sagot ko at tumayo. "Excuse me, CR muna ako."

Hindi ko na hinintay ang sagot nila at agad na nagtungo sa CR ng cafeteria. Pagpasok ko doon ay tinitigan ko ang sarili ko sa salamin. I was thinner than the usual. There were bags beneath my eyes at alam kong epekto iyon ng sobrang pagtulog. Hindi lamang pala ang magpupuyat ang nagkaka-eyebags kundi pati na rin ang sumobra sa tulog.

The door opened at pumasok si Math. No other students were inside the CR kaya pagpasok nito ay nagkunwari akong naghuhugas ng kamay. She walked towards the me at naghugas din ng kamay sa tabi.

"Amber?"

I can feel her gaze at me through the big mirror in front. "Yes?"

"May problema ka ba sa akin?"

I stopped from what I was doing at nag-angat ng tingin sa salamin. When I met her eyes ay agad akong nag-iwas ng tingin. I want to answer her question with a Yes. A big YES. I mean, the problem with her is her attitude. Braggy, bitchy and a pain in the ass. Braggy since she expanded her furniture shop. She's just to boastful. I mean ayos lang naman maging mayabang but she's just to much. I just hate her because of that. Masyado din siyang pabida. Isa pang rason ay hindi ko siya pinagkakatiwalaan.

She came in a surprise. I mean wala namang masama sa pag-transfer but her sudden appearance in the scene is still a mystery to me. I don't know her. I don't know her story. I don't trust her at hindi ko alam kung mapagkakatiwalaan ba siya. Her being a genius is questionable. I mean matalino naman talaga siya but still I cannot risk myself to trust her. I learned that trust took years to build but only takes a suspicion to destroy it. I was starting to trust her but when the footage where she and Jeremy was involved and neither of them explained what is it about, the trust that I build went back to zero.

"Bakit mo natanong?", nakakunot ang noo kong tanong.

"Come on Amber. I'm not dumb not to notice it", she said and laughed a little.

"I don't trust you", diretsang wika ko.

"Why?"

"I don't know. Maybe instinct ko lang na huwag kang pagkatiwalaan. And another thing, I don't like your overconfidence. Nagiging mayabang ka na."

She let out a laugh. "Mayabang? Atleast I can walk the talk, can't I?"

Kahit mahirap aminin, it's true that her talk really match her walk. When she boast about being smart, she really is smart. In fact she's a genius. When she says she's pretty, she really is. She's good at everything so no arguing about her claim for herself. Hindi na ako nakasagot dahil muli siyang nagsalita.

"Thank you. That answer is enough. At least I know now", she said. Nawala ang pagkaseryoso sa mukha niya at ngayon ay nakangiti na siya. "Halika na. Naghihintay sila sa labas."

She acted like nothing happened at hindi man lamang hiningi ang paliwanag ko which I think very unusual. Now I don't trust her more. I took a deep sigh at sumunod sa pintong nilabasan niya.

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-ShinichiLaaaabs