3: Bride 💐

Halos mamuti na ang mga palad ni Khala mula sa pagkakakuyom. Kanina pa siya hindi gumagalaw. Natatakot siyang sa kaunting paggalaw niya ay maililipat sa kanya ang atensyon ng tatlong magagandang nilalang sa harapan niya lalong- lalo na ang lalaking nangngangalang Eizen na kanina lamang ay muntik na namang humalik sa leeg niya.

They were on the grand dining hall of the new neighbors. Magpipinsan daw ang mga ito. Ang mga magulang ay nasa Romania dahil doon naka- based ang main branch ng international company na pagmamay- ari ng pamilya ng mga ito.

The man with purplish- blue eyes, the one with buttery blond hair who had a domineering look was Rio Alford. His father was an English gentleman and that’s what explains his eye and hair color. Kise Hattori was the man with ash gray hair and gorgeous hazel eyes. He was the one who among the three, seemed to be easygoing and laidback. Sa kanilang tatlong magpipinsan ay ito lang ang hindi madamot ngumiti. His father was Japanese but his mother was of a European decent.

Napalunok si Khala ng madako ang mga mata sa lalaking kanina pa gumugulo sa sistema niya. Wala itong imik habang nakatingin sa goblet na may lamang red wine. At kahit wala itong ginagawa ay nangingibabaw pa rin ito.

Eizen Klyde--the man with the darkest hair and eyes. American and European blood were running in him. Idagdag pang kagaya ng dalawang pinsan, ay may dugong Pilipino ring nananalaytay sa mga ugat nito. Maybe, that explained his perfection. Pero ang hindi niya maipaliwanag ay ang kakaibang pag- init ng katawan niya sa tuwing nadidikit sa binata.

Was her body beginning to be corrupted? What kind of sin does her body feeling?

“Sweety, you’re not eating your food.” Untag sa kanya ng kanyang ina.

“S- Sorry po, Mama.” Paghingi niya ng paumanhin sa ina.

“Looks like she has been raised well.” Nakangiting komento ni Kise. He elegantly lifted his goblet and took a gulp. Napansin ni Khala na wala namang kumakain sa tatlo kahit pa napakaraming pagkain na nakahanda sa hapag. Lalo na si Eizen na hindi man lang binabawasan maski ang wine nito.

“Of course. She’s our princess. She’s precious to us.” Sagot ng ina ni Khala. Napatingin ang dalaga rito.

Seryoso ang mukha ng kanyang ina habang nilalaro- laro ng tinidor ang pagkain sa plato kapagkuwa’y malungkot ang ngiting tumingin sa kanya. “Pero darating ang panahong kailangan na naming siyang pakawalan.”

“Mira.” Mahinahong saway ng ama sa Mama niya. Umilap ang mga mata ng ina.

“Permanent things die in this world.”

Lahat ay napatingin kay Rio, na nagsalita sa pinakaunang pagkakataon mula kanina, bukod kay Eizen.

“You should have prepared yourselves for the changes that might come.” Rio lifted his goblet and gently tilted it. The wine was redder than usual.

Naguguluhang napatingin siya sa mga magulang na kasalukuyang nakayuko. Gayunpaman ay hindi nakatakas sa kanya ang pagkuyom ng kamay ng ama.

“P- Papa?” She called her father, curiosity and anxiousness eating her.

Huminga ng malalim ang ama kapagkuway maingat na ngumiti ng tumingin sa kanya. Nang tumayo ito ay lalo pang naguluhan ang dalaga.

“Sweety,” her father trailed off and Khala began to convulse with the kind of look his father was showing, “you will become the new bride of this household. You are going to marry Eizen Klyde.”

...🍷...

“What outrage did you just blurt out, Kai?!”

Eizen closed his eyes as he heard Rio’s voice erupting in the four corners of the room. He was talking to Kai, the lady’s “father”. If he was like before he lost his power, he wouldn’t be as calm as that. He hated his status right now. He was powerless like a mere mortal. He still moved fluidly though, his speed still fast like lightning but what he hated was that it was limited. Without the core of his power, he was worthless.

With this, my domain might end to a ruin.

“I could at least spare my daughter some grace, can’t I?” His voice was half dignified half pleading.

Kise smirked. He hailed up from the large sofa bed and stride towards Kai. “Daughter, eh?” He asked mockingly.

“He is my daughter.” Kai emphasized each word. Even in front of the deadly Sovereign, he will remain sturdy for his daughter. That was the time when Eizen snapped open his eyes and Kai flinched back with the intensity of his gaze.

Eizen faced the man who was kneeling in front Rio. He strode towards him and Kai bravely met his gaze so much to Rio’s annoyance.

“It is not an excuse to make that lowly mortal marry the Sovereign, you imprudent fly.” Rio intercepted, his voice deceptively calm but deep. “Yes, she is the bride, but not the bride you consider in this world. The Sovereign won’t stoop down to your whims giving this mortal a human wedding!” Eizen hold up his right hand when Rio started pulling off his choker. Rio without his choker is dangerous.

“I see,” Eizen began as he looked down to his subject, “that you come to love this human girl as your own.”

“She is my daughter, your Sovereignty.” Kai replied in a weak, pleading voice. If vampires could cry, maybe, the vampire was crying right now. “Mira and I raised her for 18 years. I know that we became negligent as we love this child even when we know that it is forbidden. But this is the least that we could do. She is a human. The two of you cannot dwell in one roof without doing the sacrament the mortals considered as holy. She will be condemned.” Mahabang paliwanag ng lalaki.

Kise snorted. “What’s the point of protecting her name? She will die, anyway.” The X- class vampire remarked carelessly.

Kai’s jaw tensed, his palms clenched into fists. In their world, a bride as they call it is different from the bride the mortals know. A bride is a vampire’s human vial. This human only exist to provide blood for a bloodsucker and not to literally marry them as humans do. He heaved a deep breath and bravely stood up even without the Sovereign’s consent, facing him bravely.

The two X- class vampires were stunned with Kai’s recklessness. They suddenly changed stance, preparing to protect Eizen who was standing calmly while looking at his subject who learned to love a girl as his daughter.

“You need her blood, then you should at least protect her body.” Kai stated.

“What is this tongue- tied sucker spouting?” Kise asked, baffled. He was pulling out his ring and Eizen stepped forward before he could totally pull it out. You wouldn’t like Kise without his ring.

“Enlighten me.” Eizen ordered Kai and the two X- class vampires was stoned. Kise even muttered a curse. Kai’s face perked up, hope showing his eyes.

“A human’s body is weak, your Sovereignty.” Pagpapaliwananag nito. “And my daughter is no different from them. Pinalaki namin siyang hindi nasasaktan. Hindi namin siya hinayaang makarinig ng masasakit na salita mula sa ibang tao. She is basically sheltered. But this is their world; humans are a race of judgmental species. They would condemn anyone or anything that would run against the way they believe things to be…” Kai trailed off, his lips started quivering. “Y- You need her presence beside you to continue existing while waiting for the Bloody Moon. It would just be necessary that you two wed so you could stay in one roof without the people condemning my daughter for immorality.”

Eizen closed his eyes as he heaved a deep breath, as if to calm himself. He hated the idea of having no other choice. It makes him feel weak and he never stooped down to anyone’s words not even Kise and Rio who has been there for him for hundreds of years now. But he needed the girl—he needed her blood.

“Very well.” He breathed, Kise and Rio was in utter shocktheir foreheads furrowed in disbelief. “I would like to marry the girl before la luna sangre.”

ᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥᴥ

“M-Ma… what just happened? I- I cannot marry that man!” Sa sobrang pagkataranta ay hindi napigilan ni Khala ang pagtaas ng boses. Her parents were silently sitting on the sofa while she was anxiously walking back and forth in front them. His father’s revelation was a bomb which just exploded in front her in the most untimely moment.

She couldn’t marry him. Not because she doesn’t like her. God! No sane woman could ever resist such divine being. Eizen Klyde was sinfully handsome and extremely rich but he’s intimidating her. Pakiramdam niya ay hindi siya tatagal sa iisang lugar na kinaroroonan rin ng napakagandang nilalang na iyon.

Kaninang napakalapit niya sa binata ay tila nagaapoy ang katawan niya sa hindi malamang kadahilanan. She felt so ungraceful. Noon lamang niya naramdaman ang ganoong pakiramdam. And it was so discomforting. He doesn’t want to feel it because of a man. Because of a stranger named Eizen Klyde who had invaded her personal space twice!

“I’m so sorry, sweety.” Bulong ng Mama niya sa nanghihinang tinig.

Khala’s knees began to tremble. Nanghihinang napaupo siya sa single sofa. Mabilis siyang nilapitan ng ina. Lumuhod ito sa harapan niya at kinipkip ang nanginginig niyang mga palad.

“M- Ma, I’m so young…” Her lips quivered as her eyes swell with tears. “I couldn’t even take care of myself. P- Paano ko po maaalagaan ang mapapangasawa ko?” She asked, fear creeping her whole body. Natatakot siya sa binata ngunit mas natatakot siyang madismaya lamang ito sa kanya. Lalo pa siyang napaiyak dahil hindi na niya maintindihan ang sarili niya.

“Khala, the arrangement has been made.” Anang Papa niya sa ma- awtoridad na tinig. “You were born to marry the first born son of the regal Klyde’s. We can’t just back out with our words. Eizen will take care of you.”

Lalo pa akong napaiyak. She felt so selfish. Hindi niya na naisip ang kapakanan ng mga magulang niya dahil sa personal niyang interes. She felt so ungrateful.

“P- Papa, I’m so sorry…” She sobbed.

Lumamlam ang mga mata ng ama. Tumayo ito sa kinauupuan at naupo sa armrest ng sofang kinauupuan niya. Maingat itong umakbay sa kanya.

“You will eventually learn to accept your fate, my child. Everything will be alright.