Chapter 32: Betrayal

Kristan left without paying for his haircut.

"Let's just put him on our blocked list," Emelyn said, gently spinning my chair. "He could have just stated his name or contact number, and I would let him get away without paying. He's hot."

"Am I not hot enough for you to get the same promo?" I asked jokingly.

She was stunned and stuttered, "O-of course, you are the hottest client I ever had! I was just kidding about that rude guy. Do you want some wine or blood?"

I smirked. "A mixture of both, please?"

"I will charge that man if he comes back," she whispered. "What an impolite jerk!"

I sighed. He did good pretending to be someone else— someone who doesn't know I exist. But somehow, someone who knows that I am in a fake relationship with my mistake from the past.

Hindi rin naman ako magtatagal sa pagpapanggap na ito. Terrence and I both know that I don't like him for me to pretend that I somehow enjoy his company. Sooner or later, he will also find out about my actual plan. I have to act quickly as long as I still have the chance.

I sat there for another two hours until Emelyn finally called it done. She never heard a complaint from me because I know she did her best to give me the best result, which was worth it. She's really the best hairstylist in New York City.

I turned my back, tilted my head in the mirror, pouted my lips, and captured a few shots of myself. Hindi na rin ako nagtagal doon dahil baka kanina pa naghihintay si Kristan. Dinamay ko na rin siya sa bayad ko.

Pagkalabas ko ay umuulan na naman ng niyebe pala. Sandali akong huminto sa paglalakad para kunin ang pulang guwantis sa loob ng pouch ko saka sinuot ang mga 'yon.

My phone suddenly rang. Nung makita ko ang pangalan ni Dylan ay agad kong binalik sa pouch ang cell phone at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad.

I finally saw him, leaning against the car, crossed arms, and looking straight at me. Kahit na madilim dito at malayo pa ako sa kanya ay napansin kong nakasimangot na siya.

"How long is your hair?" he asked from a distance.

I chuckled. I understand his frustration because I also hate waiting. Paano pa kaya kung dalawang oras pa? My hair is longer than my patience after all.

"Seriously, Nath? Isa-isang hibla ng buhok ba ang kinulayan?"

"My hair deserves all the time in the world!" I stood in front of him, flipped my hair to tease him more. "Swerte ka nga dahil ikaw ang isa sa mga unang nakakita nito!"

His pouted lips stretched into a smile.

"Hello, girlfriend..." he whispered.

"G-girlfriend..." Napaatras ako.

"Oh, shit. We are not pretending anymore?" Kumamot pa siya sa batok na parang nakaligtaan ang parte na 'yon. "I'm sorry. I got carried away."

I couldn't utter a word. Alam kong nagkukunwari lang siyang hindi niya alam na hindi na siya dapat magpanggap, pero hindi ko magawang ipagsawalang bahala ang sinabi niya.

Girlfriend. Why did that sound... foul but good at the same time?

Oh, my feels!

"I was joking..." he flashed a grin.

I swallowed and shook my head. "We better go home now."

Hindi ko na siya hinintay na sumagot. Pumasok na ako sa loob ng sasakyan. Pinatong ko sa hita ko ang pouch saka sumandal sa upuan.

Pumasok na rin si Kristan kaya tumingin ako sa labas ng bintana.

He ignited the engine and maneuvered the car out of the parking lot. We had already left the parking lot, but I could still feel the words he said following us.

"Are you mad?" he asked.

I sniffed. "I am not your girlfriend—"

"I know—"

"You should not make a joke about that in the first place!" I glared at him. "Do you understand me, Mr. Admiral? Ayoko ng gano'n na biro."

He pursed his lips. "I get it. Why so affected?"

"I am not fucking affected—"

"Stop screaming!"

"I am not fucking screaming! I am just—"

"Fine. Fine." He chuckled. "I just thought that the word girlfriend was synonymous with my lady since I used to call you that. Bawal na rin ba kitang tawagin gano'n?"

"Holy shit, Kristan. Just drive." Humigpit ang hawak ko sa pouch. Kaunting tulak na lang ay mahahampas ko na ito sa kanyang mukha. "Don't talk anymore."

I heard him laugh.

The audacity of this man.

We were silent for about a few minutes until he suddenly asked the foulest question someone could ask me. "But am I allowed to have a girlfriend that's not you?"

"Stop the car," I sighed.

"You can answer me without stopping—"

"Stop the car and get the fuck out of here, Mr. Admiral!"

He pulled off the car on the sidewalk. Lumabas ako ng sasakyan saka umikot sa kabila. Pinagbuksan ko siya ng pinto at sineyasan siyang lumabas na ginawa naman niya.

I got in the car and by the time I looked outside, he was already gone. Paglingon ko sa gilid ko ay nakaupo na siya sa kaninang upuan ko. Nagawa na rin niyang ilagay ang seatbelt.

"I didn't know driving was your stress reliever," he said casually.

That's it.

I was about to throw a punch when my phone rang. Nanginginig pa ang mga kamay ko no'ng kinuha ko ito sa loob ng pouch ko. Sa pagkakataong ito ay sinagot ko na ang tawag ni Dylan.

"What is it, Dylan?"

"I am outside your building. Ang sabi ng security guard ay wala ka raw—"

"I am on my way home. What is it?"

I put my phone on speaker and started driving.

"I just thought of giving you flowers. Hopefully, it would not end up in the trashbin this time," he chuckled. "But... I also want to talk to you."

"Ten minutes. Can you wait?"

I heard him laugh. "I have been waiting for an hour now. I don't mind waiting for another ten minutes."

I ended the call.

"Tinapon mo ba sa basurahan ang pinahawak kong bulaklak na binigay sa akin ni Dylan sa airport?" kalmado kong tanong sa lalaking katabi.

"I'm sorry—"

"Good. I don't want any part of him in the same room where I sleep," I cut him off. "But, you should have told me. You cannot decide for me."

He didn't respond. So I thought he got my point.

"Is it bad for me that I like it more when you are annoyed than when you are cold?"

Napatingin ako sa kanya. Nakatingin siya sa labas ng bintana.

"Yes," I answered. "Because you are not allowed to dislike me."

"There's nothing to dislike about you. Just a least favorite part of you."

"That's the same."

He sighed. "It's not. I like you, but sometimes, I like you more. It's just always either of both. Trust me when I say there's not a time that I dislike you."

I smiled. "So... you already opened this topic. Am I allowed to like a part of you, too? Not like I like you. Let's get that fact straight. Just some part of you."

"What is it?" he asked, thrilled.

I took a glance at him. "I like it when you are vocal about your feelings. It's scary knowing how straightforward can you be. But I like it. I don't know."

"I just did it, and you almost killed me."

"Foul words."

"What is the foulest word I had ever said to you?"

That's when I decided to ignore him.

Not the foulest word, but the foulest feeling.

The foulest feeling that still lingers in me.

I stopped the car in front of the building. Sinabihan kong si Kristan na siya na lang ang mag-park ng sasakyan sa loob. Nilapitan ko si Dylan na nakatayo sa entrance ng building.

"There's a backdoor," I said to him.

"That's for illicit couples only. The whole world knows about us." He smiled and gave me the bouquet of red roses. "I know that..." He sighed. "Hindi ka seryoso sa akin o sa meron sa 'tin."

"Walang meron sa atin, Terrence."

"Wala na ba talagang pag-asa?"

I wanted to scream the answer, but I just shook my head.

"I will be better this time, Nathalia. I promise."

"You could have been better when we were still together." I embraced the flowers in my arms. "If you really loved me, you should have known that I would never commit the same mistake. You are the loudest mistake I have ever committed."

He casually slid his hands into the pocket of his pants.

"Bumalik lang talaga ako para sa 'yo..." aniya. "I don't think I can win back something I already lost, can I?"

I just stared at him.

He nodded. "I was just making sure. Now I know."

"I need to rest now."

"You are the only thing that matters to me, Nathalia. I don't care about my career. Hindi naman talaga sa akin 'to. I killed the real Dylan Carter and stole his identity."

"And you are going to ruin my career too?" I arched an eyebrow. "Is that how pathetic you are, Terrence? Wala ka bang ibang alam kung hindi ang manira?"

His eyes flickered red. "Why are you acting like a saint here? Hindi ba pinatay mo rin si Bryson para lang maisalba ang career mo?" Humakbang siya palapit sa akin. "You are no better than me, Nathalia. You are just like me."

I chuckled. "Never did I compare me to you, Mr. Maniago."

"You are so brave for someone who has a lot of things to lose..." Sinubukan niyang haplusin ang pisngi ko kaya iniwas ko ito. "I am not sure what's the most valuable thing to you. You don't even care about your family, nor do your friends. You don't stick in one place, so I don't think losing your career is that much of an effect on you."

"Get lost now, Mr. Maniago."

"Kristan?"

I shrugged.

"Does that man mean something to you?"

"What do you think?" I smirked.

He shrugged. "I won't mind him, though. He could be your biggest and sweetest regret. Maybe... I will just stick here and watch you suffer? What do you think?"

"I'm off here. Thanks for the flowers." Tinalikuran ko na siya saka lumapit sa trashbin. Bumaling ako sa kanya bago tinapon sa basurahan ang bulaklak.

I immediately got him off my mind when I entered the elevator. If what he said was right, that Kristan could be my biggest regret, I don't think he would still be around if that happened.

My fists clenched. I will get rid of him soon.

I need to find the book Initium Libellus and burn it into ashes.

"Where's the flower?" tanong ni Kristan pagpasok ko.

Inalis ko ang sandals ko saka pabagsak na umupo sa sofa kung saan natutulog si Lilly. Nakalimutan ko na ngang bagong ayos ang buhok ko.

Damn. How dare he show up and ruin my moment with my newly dyed hair?

"Where's the flower?" Lumapit sa akin si Kristan saka ako inabutan ng alak. "Huwag mong sabihin na tinapon mo na sa basurahan? That's my job."

I sipped on my drink and smiled as soon as I tasted his blood mixed on it.

"What did he say this time?" Kristan sat beside me. Pinatong niya ang kanyang kamay sa hita ko at hinaplos 'yon. "Why did you invite him to come over?"

Tumulala lang ako habang umiinom. Hindi ko namalayan na humigpit na ang pagkakahawak ko sa baso kaya nabasag ito sa aking kamay.

"Shit. Are you okay?" alalang tanong ni Kristan pero hindi ko siya magawang sagutin. "What really happened, Nathalia? What did he do?"

"I will kill him..." I smiled at Kristan. "One way or another."

"I will help you."

"No. I just don't want to kill him." Dinilaan ko ang dugo sa aking kamay habang inisip na dugo ni Terrence 'yon. "I want to enjoy it at the same time."

"Nathalia..."

"You can commit a lot of mistakes in your life. I understand it. Vampires are not far from humans. I even think we are worse than them, if not the worst." I stood and prepared to leave. "But there's one mistake in existence that you cannot escape from. Do you know what's that mistake, Kristan?"

He shook his head.

"Betray me..." I smiled and walked away.

Traitors are my real enemies.

I am not a good vampire, but I can be the worst one.

I decided to take a shower even though Emelyn advised me not to yet. Kung kinakailangan kong maligo pagkatapos makausap ang lalaking 'yon ay gagawin ko.

Nakaharap ako sa wall at nakatingala sa binubugang tubig nung marinig na bumukas ang pinto. Hindi ako lumingon. Naramdaman kong niyakap niya ako at pinatong ang baba ng ulo sa aking balikat.

"The least thing you should worry about me is betraying you, milady."

He placed one hand on my chest and my neck, playing my lips with his thumb. I felt his lips kiss my earlobes before he placed them on my nape, tightening his grip over me.

"What should I worry about you then?" I asked.

"What do you think?" he whispered in his seductive voice.

"I don't know."

"Let's leave it there, then."