Chapter 13: Azalea Village

It took us another two hours to finally reach our destination. The mountains and vast blue sky brought incredible scenery enough to remind me why this place meant so much to me.

"This is heaven," Kristan mumbled.

I chuckled. "The only heaven where we are welcome. This is the Azalea Village— a small community of vampires. I once lived in here."

It took us another ten minutes to finally get into the village. The censorious look of the vampires welcomed us. Some would even dare to walk close to us, smelling us and even touch us. I didn't mind because they were harmless, so did Kristan.

"Do they know we are vampires?" he asked.

"Only vampires can enter this place, so most probably, yeah."

A potent magic spell bounded this small village. Only vampires can get into here or even see it. They were just being weird and critical since this was their first time seeing us. It's a small community, after all. They knew each other.

Yeah. It's really been a long time since I came here.

We have finally reached the most prominent house in this community. It's a Victorian-style house. Unlike from the city, the homes here were not gated.

I parked my motorbike beside Terrence's. Mukhang nauna na talaga siya rito. Hindi lang niya alam ang lugar na ito, tila kilala rin siya.

The pointed arch door suddenly opened. Napangiti ako nung makita ang isang babae na nakaputing bistida. Hinawakan niya ang laylayan ng damit bago dali-daling lumapit sa akin.

"Nathalia!" she immediately hugged me.

I hugged her back. "Mother..."

No. She's not literally my mother. But since she is the leader of this small village, they all consider her their mother. They just don't see her as their leader but also as a family. I really think a good leader is a good listener.

"I couldn't believe you really came back as you promised us." She faced me, teary-eyed. Hinaplos pa niya ang pisngi ko. "You still look so beautiful."

"Really fitting to this place," I kidded and sighed. "I missed this place."

She laughed before finally turning to Kristan.

Kristan knew it was his turn to introduce himself. He cleared his throat and respectfully offered his right hand. "I'm Kristan, Milady. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Mother just stared at him.

"I'm Nathalia's friend," he added, confused.

Sa halip na tanggapin ang kamay niya ay hinawakan siya sa pisngi ni Lady Tania. Iyon ang pangalan niya, pero mas gusto niyang tinatawag na mother.

"Nathalia has a friend..." Mother whispered.

I blushed in embarrassment. I lived here, but I didn't even make friends. I was always alone, and no one dared to talk to me. Siguro ay dahil ayoko rin. I was healing at that time. I didn't feel like to need anyone.

"That's right, Milady. I am your daughter's friend."

Mother cupped his face in her hands and kissed both of his cheeks. Kristan looked uncomfortable, but he tried to smile at her.

"Welcome to Azalea Village, Gentleman."

"Where's Lady Massie and Lady Dinah, Mother?" I asked.

Tinalikuran na ni Lady Tania si Kristan para humarap sa akin. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at hinaplos. Tila hindi pa rin makapaniwala na andito na ako.

"Lady Dinah was cooking something for us, and Lady Massie..." She frowned, and I knew why.

I laughed. "She must be in the garden again."

"Shall we go inside?" she asked us, thrilled.

The house's interior has a medieval influence— from flower-designed wallpapers, wooden furniture, and patterned floor tiles.

Lady Tania brought us to the kitchen. Naabutan naming nakatalikod sa amin ang isang babaeng maikli ang buhok habang nagluluto. Hindi ako maaaring magkamali. Siya si Lady Dinah.

When she finally felt our presence, she immediately turned to us. A loud, screeching voice escaped her lips as she straight away ran toward me. Niyakap niya ako habang hawak ang sandok.

"My beautiful sister..." she whispered as she tightened her hug to me. "Muntik na akong magtampo kasi akala ko ay hindi ka na uli babalik!"

Among the three sisters, she's the only who can speak in tagalog. Siya rin ang pinakamaingay at makulit. Kahit na ayoko ng kausap noon, hindi niya ako tinigilan na kausapin. Siya ang unang nakapagpalagayan ko ng loob sa kanilang tatlo.

Hinarap niya ako. Agad niyang hinaplos ang buhok ko at inamoy. Kinuha ni Lady Tania ang sandok mula sa kanyang kamay para siya na muna ang maghalo sa niluluto.

Hinila ako ni Lady Dinah sa upuan saka hinarap sa akin. Tila kinikilig pa siya. Akala ko ay hindi niya napansin si Kristan, ngunit nung bumulong siya ay natawa ako.

"Pakilala mo naman ako kay pogi," bulong niya.

I looked at Kristan. I caught him looking back at me. Sinenyasan ko siyang lumapit sa amin. Biglang tumili si Lady Dinah at nagmadaling lumabas ng kusina.

"Maliligo muna pala ako!" sigaw niya.

Napailing na lang ako. Umupo sa tabi ko si Kristan at gaya ko ay nakamasid lang kay Lady Tania na naghahalo ng pagkain.

"Are they sisters?" he asked.

"Yes." Lady Tania turned to us, smiling. "If Nathalia didn't just leave, she could have been one of us now. Not like she was never one of us."

Kristan nodded in awe.

"That smells good!" he said.

Lady Tania giggled. "We are preparing potato soup— the best partner for bread and fish. It's almost done. Do you want some wine?"

"Yes, please," I said.

Kumuha ng isang wine sa cabinet si Lady Tania saka dalawang wine glass. Tumayo si Kristan para kunin 'yon sa kanya. I knew he was a gentle man, but this was the first time I've appreciated that.

"What a gentleman," Lady Tania smiled.

Kristan poured me some wine before him. I was sipping on my drink when I remembered Terrence. His motorcycle was outside. Before I could even open my lips to ask, the backdoor creaked and opened.

Terrence entered, carrying a basket of fresh apples. Hindi ko alam kung hindi niya ba kami napansin o mas pinili niyang lapitan si Lady Tania at hindi kami pansinin.

"Here, Mother. Lady Massie refused to come with me." Terrence put down on the table the basket and still didn't look at us.

"Want some more?" Kristan asked me.

I nodded. He poured me another wine.

Lady Tania sighed. "Tell her that Nathalia is here."

"Who?" Terrence asked.

My brows arched. What?

"Remember the woman I was telling you?" She then turned to me. "It's the beautiful lady sitting in front of us, Terrence. She's Nathalia."

That's when Terrence looked at me. His lips slightly parted.

"Isn't she so beautiful?" Lady Tania looked at me with a dreamy feeling looming in her eyes.

"L-Lady Nathalia..." Dahan-dahan na lumapit sa akin si Terrence. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at hinalikan ang likod nito. "It's my pleasure to meet you."

I remained silent. What is he trying to prove?

"She's not so friendly, is she?" Terrence chuckled.

Lady Tania gracefully laughed. "Give her some time, Terrence. Thank you for the fruits. Go ahead. Tell Lady Massie about her. She would surely go with you without hesitation. She's looking forward to this day."

"Pleasure..." Muling humarap sa akin si Terrence at kumindat bago lumabas uli.

I sipped on my wine.

I heard Kristan chuckle. "I didn't know he was your brother."

"He's not..." I said, rolling my eyes.

I stood and put my glass on the table. "I will come with Terrence. I want to surprise Lady Messie myself."

"Sure!" Halos tumalon na si Lady Tania sa tuwa.

I turned to Kristan. "Do you want to come?"

"I'll stay here and enjoy my wine," he said.

I nodded.

Lumabas ako sa pinto na nilabasan ni Terrence. Hindi pa siya nakakalayo kaya agad ko siyang nahabol. Pinantayan ko ang paglalakad niya.

He yawned and put his hands on the back of his head. "I missed this place."

"What did you do here?" I asked.

He smirked at me. "I just found this place by accident— stumbled and found myself loving it. Tumira din ako rito dati."

"I don't believe you." I glared at him.

There's no way he found this place by accident. He must be on to something. Knowing this guy, he has a lot of secrets under his sleeves.

"I didn't ask you to believe me, Milady." He stopped walking and turned to me. "But I hope you will believe me if I say... I will win you back."

I was stunned for a moment. He managed to walk away while I was sinking into my thoughts. If he knew about my connection to this place, I'm afraid he knew more than I wanted someone to know about me.

I shook my head and immediately followed him.

We went to the far side of the backyard where Lady Massie's garden stood. I was mesmerized by the blooming color of the azalea flower. I ran my finger through the flowers as I looked around.

It was all colorful at first until it suddenly went dark. The familiarity of this scene moved my feelings, too. She used to cover my eyes using her gentle and soft hands.

"Lady Massie..." I mentioned her name.

She giggled as she removed her hands from covering my eyes. Hinarap ko siya. Napakurap ako. Alam kong maganda siya, pero iba ang dating niya ngayon. She has a rosy cheeks, red lips, curly hair, and beautiful eyes.

"Sister!" she hugged me.

Napatingin ako kay Terrence na nakatayo sa likod niya. His hands were inside the pocket of his eyes, pretending to be looking at somewhere else.

"You just came back at the perfect time. My azalea flowers have just begun to bloom three days ago." She held my hands and spun me around.

"I still think Azalea would be the right name for you!" I said, which made her laugh. She finally stopped spinning me around. "I missed you, Lady Massie."

"Oh. I missed you more. I missed braiding your hair and painting your lips using my flowers. Let's do it again, please?"

"Sure!"

Terrence cleared his throat. "Your sisters were preparing soup. I think we should go now before it gets cold."

Magkahawak-kamay kami ni Lady Massie habang naglalakad pabalik. Nauuna sa amin si Terrence na walang kibo.

"Are you alone?" she asked.

I shook my head. "I'm with a friend."

I heard Terrence chuckle.

"You have a friend?" Lady Massie gasped.

I pouted. "Stop acting like I am not capable of befriending someone!"

"I'm not!" she laughed softly. "I want to meet her!"

Bumalik na kami sa bahay. Nadatnan naming naghahain na sina Lady Tania at Kristan. They were even having a conversation which something our arrival interrupted.

"Finally..." Lady Tania turned to us.

"W-who is he?" Lady Massie asked, referring to Kristan.

Binitiwan ni Kristan ang hawak na plato saka pinunas sa damit ang kamay bago lumapit sa amin. Nakangiting bumati siya kay Lady Massie at pinakilala ang sarili.

"Oh..." Sumulyap sa akin si Lady Massie. "You are Nathalia's friend."

"I am." Kristan was all smiling. "You must be Lady Massie. Mother had mentioned you to me."

Oh. Mukhang alam na niyang hindi ko talaga nanay si Lady Tania. Ano pa kaya ang mga napag-usapan nila?

"I am..." Hindi pa rin kumbinsido si Lady Massie na siya ang tinutukoy kong kaibigan. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Kristan. I hope we can get along."

Nauna nang umupo si Terrence. Inaya na rin kami ni Lady Tania na maupo. Pahaba ang lamesa na may tagtatlong upuan sa magkabilang panig.

Kristan and I sat on the chair, facing Terrence. Tumabi naman si Lady Tania kay Terrence habang si Lady Massie ay tinawag si Lady Dinah na mukhang naliligo pa rin.

"Oh. The wine..." biglang sabi ni Lady Tania.

Sabay na tumayo sina Terrence at Kristan. Nagtinginan pa sila na parang tinatantiya kung sino ang kikilos. Hanggang sa si Terrence na ang kumuha ng alak kaya bumalik na lang sa pagkakaupo sa tabi ko si Kristan.

I turned to Kristan. I caught him staring back at me.

"Remember our deal," I whispered to him.

He just nodded. But I caught him frowning.

"I hope you can stay here for a month, Nathalia," Lady Tania said, hopeful. "We will have our first flower parade by the end of the month. It will be showcasing different costumes made of flowers. Lady Massie would lead the said event."

"Actually... I just came here for a week of vacation," I responded, hesitant. "But I think I will come back to witness that."

"Oh, please. Lady Massie would very much appreciate it." She rested her hands on the top of the table, intertwining her fingers. "But I am really happy you still remember us."

Pagkatapos makakuha ng alak ay bumalik na sa pwesto si Terrence. Napansin ko pa ang pasimple niyang pagsulyat kay Kristan na parang nang-iinis.

"Hmmm. Terrence," I called him. "May I ask how long you stayed here?"

"Just for a month," he smiled at me. "But enough for me to know a lot about you. Lady Tania loved to talk about you and your beauty."

I nodded. I see. Azalea Village has been a sanctuary for the lost vampires. Even insurgents are welcome here. But I don't think Terrence was lost at that time.

Napansin kong naghihilahan sina Lady Massie at Lady Dinah sa bungad ng kusina. Nung mapansin nilang nakatingin kami sa kanila ay umayos sila ng tayo saka na tuluyang pumasok.

"Sit down now, Ladies," ani Lady Tania.

Prenteng umupo sa tabi ko si Lady Massie at sa tabi naman ni Terrence si Lady Dinah. Nakayuko lang ito at tila nahihiyang tumingin sa amin.

"Shall we enjoy our food now?" nakangiting tanong ni Lady Tania.

It's self-service here, but I noticed how Terrence helped Lady Massie with everything, including pouring her some wine.

I looked at Kristan. Tahimik lang siyang humihigop ng sabaw. Ako na lang ang hindi nakakuha ng pagkain. Napansin 'yon ni Terrence kaya aktong tatayo siya pero agad na akong kumilos para kumuha ng pagkain para sa sarili.

We have talked about a lot things already, but Lady Dinah has been unusually quiet. Sa pagkakaalam ko ay siya lagi ang pasimuno sa mga pag-uusapan.

"I missed this..." Nakangiting sabi ni Lady Tania.

"Lady Dinah, are you okay?" tanong ni Terrence.

Umangat naman ang tingin ni Lady Dinah. Nakangiting tumango siya, pero hindi makatingin sa diretso. Agad kong naintindihan 'yon. I think I know the reason now.

I smirked and tilted my head to Kristan. "I think Lady Dinah wants more soup, Kristan. Her wine glass was also almost empty."

"No!" Lady Dinah blurted out. "I mean..." she bit her bottom lip.

"Sure." Tumayo si Kristan para bigyan ng sabaw si Lady Dinah. Saka niya rin nilagyan ng laman ang baso niya. "Here, Milady."

"T-thank you, Kristan."

"Nahihiya ka ba kay Kristan, Lady Dinah?" tanong ko.

Lady Dinah glared at me. "Bakit naman?"

"Whoa. You can talk in tagalog!" manghang sabi ni Kristan.

Tila nahiya naman si Lady Dinah. "Hmm. Yeah. But let's not talk in tagalog." Saka pa niya pasimpleng nginuso sina Lady Tania at Lady Massie na walang maintindihan.

"We only have one more vacant room," sabi ni Lady Tania. "If you don't mind, Nathalia. I could share my room with you so Kristan can have the vacant one."

I was about to say something, but Terrence butted in. "I can share my room with Kristan."

"No," I opposed.

Terrence frowned. "Please? Since he is the only man here beside me, I want to be friends with him. So I won't feel out of place."

"Or Kristan can sleep in my room—"

"Lady Dinah..." I cut her off.

"I was just joking!" she laughed.

"So... it's settled, then." Nag-angat ng kilay si Terrence. "Are you good with that arrangement, Kristan? I will share my room with you."

Napatingin sa akin si Kristan, parang nanghihingi ng permission. I shook my head. I don't him to be associated with this asshole.

"Sure," he answered.

Napainom na lang ako ng alak.

Kaming tatlo nila Lady Dinah at Lady Massie ang naiwan sa kusina para magligpit. Si Kristan naman ay hinila ni Terrence at wala akong nagawa. Si Lady Tania ay hinahanda ang kwarto ko.

"Magkaibigan lang ba talaga kayo?" tanong ni Lady Dinah.

Pagkatapos kong punasan ang plato ay nilagay ko na ito sa lalagyan. Saka ako bumaling kay Lady Dinah na nagpupunas ng lamesa.

"Is Kristan really just your friend?" ulit pa niya.

"What's with that question, Lady Dinah?" tanong ni Lady Massie na siyang nagsasabon sa mga plato. "He can be anything to her and it's none of our business."

"Then, no?" Nanliit ang mga mata ni Lady Dinah.

"He's a friend, Lady Dinah," I said.

Habang hindi pa tapos magsabon si Lady Massie ay umupo muna ako. Saan kaya dinala ni Terrence si Kristan? Damn. What if he was trying to brainwash him?

I stood and prepared to leave.

"Where are you going?" Lady Dinah asked.

"I need some fresh air."

"Can I come?" she asked.

"Sure. Leave this to me," said Lady Massie, smiling at us.

Lady Dinah chuckled. "Act lowkey, Sister Massie. Don't make it too obvious that Terrence—"

"Lady Dinah..." Lady Massie pouted.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Nothing!"

Humalakhak si Lady Dinah saka na hinawakan ang kamay ko at hinila papunta sa likod. Gusto ko sana sa harap dahil doon pumunta sina Kristan at Terrence, pero alam kong pagdududahan na naman niya ako. She might assume I was looking for Kristan, not like I wasn't.

It's getting dark now. Sa ibang lugar ay malamang na papasok na ang lahat ng kanilang mga bahay, pero dito ay ganitong oras lumalabas ang lahat.

"I think crush ko si Kristan," biglang sabi ni Lady Dinah.

Napatingin ako sa kanya. I should be surprised since they just met a few minutes ago, but then I remember Lady Dinah attaches easily.

"Don't tell him," she even warned me.

I nodded. As if Kristan will be pleased to know about that. He doesn't even know how attractive he is. Ano pa kayang magka-crush sa kanya?

Napapikit ako nung umihip ang malamig na hangin. Napangiti ako. Tila bigla akong nagsisi kung bakit ngayon lang ako bumalik dito.

"You know what?" biglang sabi ni Lady Dinah kaya napamulat ako. Yumuko siya saka pumulot ng bato. Pinaglaruan niya ito sa kanyang kamay. "I envy you, Nathalia."

"W-what?"

She laughed. "I mean... you are so brave. I admire you for that."

"That's different from being envious, Lady Dinah."

"No. I was envious of how brave you are. Did I say it correct this time?"

I shook my head. "The only one who can hold you back is yourself."

She sighed. "Sa sobrang tagal ko na rito ay natatakot na akong lumabas. I mean... this is the safest place for an insurgent like me. But sometimes, I still think of the freedom if only I belong to a clan."

"What really happened to you?"

I know that she's an insurgent. She told me about that back then. But I had no idea why they kicked her out. But then, I didn't ask her about that.

She shook her head. "The wife of the leader of my clan exiled me."

My lips parted. "What? That's ridiculous. For what reason?"

"She caught me kissing her husband."

I laughed. "Gaga. Kaya pala."

Sumimangot pa siya. "I didn't want to kiss him. He's the leader, Nathalia. Puwede ba akong tumanggi sa gusto niya?"

Napaisip naman ako. "Bakit naman kasi kayo nahuli?"

Humalakhak siya. "Fool!"

I sighed. "Don't tell me this is one of your made-up stories again?"

I frowned. Why did I even believe her for a second? Mahilig siyang gumawa ng mga kwento. It gets frustrating sometimes. 'Yong kuhang-kuha na niya ang atensyon mo tapos hindi pala totoo.

"Bahala ka na nga riyan!" Saka na ako nagkunwaring nagtampo para makalihis ng daan at mapuntahan sina Kristan at Terrence.

"Sorry na!"

"Ewan sa 'yo."

"Ito totoo na talaga 'to."

Hindi ko na siya pinansin.

"Alam mo bang may namagitan kina Terrence at Lady Massie?"

Nanigas ako sa kinatatayuan.

Pumunta sa harapan ko si Lady Dinah. Nakangiti pa siya habang ako ay sobrang gulat sa siniwalat niya.

"I-I'm not up for another lie, Lady Dinah."

As much as I hate how she usually lies to us, I want her to say that this is one of them. Please, make this just one of her lies.

She shook her head. "No. I am telling you the truth."

If that's true, then I am right.

He's really up to something.