Chapter 3

ISANG MALAKAS NA sampal ang umigkas sa pisngi ni Nina galing sa kaniyang ama at kung hindi lang niya iyon napaghandaan ay baka natumba na siya. Sila Soleil at Argus ay agad naman siyang nilapitan pero may babalang tiningnan niya lang ang mga ito.

Ang kaniyang ina naman ay nasa gilid lang, nanunuod sa kanila. She's already wearing a nightgown covered with her red robe.

"What can I expect from you? I have high hopes for tonight, Nina Celestine but you let me down again. You even embarrassed me to the guests. What will they think of me now?" Sigaw ng kaniyang ama, nakakuyom ang kamao samantalang ang mukha ay namumula sa galit.

Naamoy rin ni Nina ang alak sa hininga nito at ang mga mata ay namumula din, tanda na lasing ito.

"How can I leave the company and foundation with you kung ang simpleng party lang ay hindi pa kita maasahan?" He took a deep breath. "So fix the mess you have with Diether, I warn you, Nina Celestine. He's the only one I can count on."

He looked at her disappointedly then walked upstairs. Her mother approached her, holding her hands not to greet or hug her but just to reprimand her.

"If you had just listened to me back then, Nina, it wouldn't have all ended like this. If you had just chosen to marry Diether and not to study again, you wouldn't have had any more trouble with the company and foundation. When will you listen to us?"

She stroked her cheek while shaking her head then she looked at Soleil and Argus who were behind her before she followed her husband.

Nina exhaled deeply while clenching her fists but she didn't cry. She doesn't want to cry. She won't cry.

"Miss Nina—"

"Don't," she coldly restrained them. "I'm fine. You can rest now."

Kahit nanghihina at nanginginig ang tuhod ay pinili niya pa ring maglakad. The pain in her heart makes her emotionless already and her parent's heartless words make her stronger. That’s just nothing for her. That’s not even half of what she had experienced while growing up.

When the door of her room was closed she leaned over and felt her cheek where her father slapped her. It was numb and she felt like she was deafened by the slap until now. It's painful, yes, but it hurts more to know that she doesn’t matter to them. Her parents didn't even ask what happened to her if she was hurt or at least ask her why she came home late.

At kung iisipin nga, sino ang lalaki sa party kanina? Ang tumulong sa kanya pero bigla na lang naglaho. She knew all the guests but she was just unfamiliar with him.

AT THE DARK of the night, while the rain won't stop, a monster was trying to hide at the narrow corner of the streets. Sinusubakang iwasan ang mga dumadaang tao at sasakyan. He was in great pain and confusion about what was happening in him as he stared at his monster reflection in the mirrors of the building across the alley.

His eyes are glowing like the color of the sun at noon. He was bigger than the streetlights, his claws in his feet and hands are sharp and long while he has dark brown fur. At kung sino man ang makakakita sa kanya ay siguradong matatakot at tatakbo.

As he stared at his reflection, little by little he remembered what had happened and he howled loudly as he finally remembered everything.

That woman!

Hawthorne remembers leaving the woman earlier because he was slowly changing his appearance. For a long time, it happened again. He is weak but he will admit, he missed this feeling. He missed the feeling of transforming into his werewolf form. The feeling of extreme power, the adrenaline rush. Everything!

And he was being greedy again.

"Hayes!"

He growled when he turned around and saw Safiya with Draco and Kyon. Constantine was also among them. Sa kanilang apat, si Safiya lang ang nagulat pero may kasama din iyong pagkamangha habang nakatitig sa kanya. Mukha pa itong naninigurado kung siya talaga si Hawthorne Salvatrix.

"Naaalala mo ba kami?" Safiya continued.

Kyon was holding a crossbow pointing at him. Draco, on the other hand, prepares himself to attack, his eyes are red and his fangs are exposed. While Constantine seems to be just enjoying what is happening.

When Hawthorne moved, the three of them stepped back.

"When was the last time I saw you in this form, Hawthorne Salvatrix?" Constantine asked while smirking evilly.

And Hawthorne knew, Constantine planned everything. He knew that this would happen. That after he saw the reincarnation of Rosemarie, he will transform into his werewolf form.

"When Rosemarie died, right?"

He tried to attack him but his knees trembled, he was overwhelmed by the power he was experiencing again. He was no longer used to such power. He knelt, shouted, and returned to his human form.

"I will kill you, Constantine Wilderheist." He growled, gritting his teeth.

"I know you will but that's the only proof I have, Hawthorne Salvatrix, for you to believe me that Nina Gabriel is your Rosemarie."

Nilapitan siya ni Safiya at agad na ipinasuot sa kanya ang coat ni Draco. Samantalang si Draco at Kyon ay tinulungan siyang makatayo.

"Mula noon hanggang ngayon ay manloloko ka pa rin, Constantine. Walang nagbago."

"I told you, I did it because of you. You need to taste the real power for you to be strong again, Hawthorne. You've already transformed, next time you'll find the desire to taste blood. You also can't resist the urge. The lust. And if you can't control yourself now, you might hurt her again. "

"I will fxxking kill you!"

"I'm helping you, Hawthorne. If this happened and you didn't restrain yourself while that woman was in front of you, what do you think would happen?"

NANG MAKITA NI Hawthorne si Constantine, agad niya itong sinuntok sa mukha pero hindi man lamang ito nasaktan. He even grinned while massaging his jaw. Nagising siya sa hindi pamilyar na lugar na iyon at alam niyang pagmamay-ari iyon ni Constantine because he can smell him everywhere.

His strength returned. He felt even stronger, as did his sense of smell and hearing.

"How sweet of you to greet me a good morning like that, Hawthorne." He sarcastically said. "And by the way, you are welcome."

Sa pagmamadali at naguguluhang isipan, hindi na siya maayos na nakapagbihis. He was wearing only a white drawstring pants that had not been properly tied.

He frowned. "Where are they?"

"They're waiting for you at the dining area. As a good host to my beloved visitors, of course, I prepared a grand and delicious breakfast for you all."

He turned his back on him and followed Draco's voice and he wasn't surprised to find that they were already eating. He sat down as well and began to eat, not caring what Constantine was saying.

"So what are your plans now that you finally found her?" Kyon asked while they were all eating.

"Actually," Constantine raised his right hand. "I was the one who found her."

But no one paid attention to him. It's as if they can't see him.

"Yep! Thank you, Constantine." He added and shook hands with himself.

"Will you tell him what you are? Or who she is?" Draco asked as well.

Back then, he just wanted to be with her for the rest of her life. To spend every second with her, to enjoy their life together. He promised then that once he saw her again he would never let her go again so that's what he would do.

PARA KAY NINA, sigurado siyang hindi lang basta imahinasyon ang lalaking tumulong sa kanya pero paano niya maipaliliwanag na hindi man lamang ito nakita o nahagip ng kahit na anong CCTV sa hotel kung saan nangyari ang party.

Tatlong araw na niya itong hinahanap pero lagi din siyang nabibigo.

"Good morning, Nina. What's with the face?"

That Friday, she was at her animal clinic. And she could not hide the shock of seeing Titus Asa with his dog.

"Good morning too, Mister Asa."

Umasim ang mukha nito sa itinawag niya pero wala naman itong sinabi tungkol don.

"I named her Kiki." He said, talking about his Doberman.

"What a nice and weird name, Mister Asa." She then called Darby for assistance.

"Are you busy, Nina? Can I ask you to go out? Like a date." He asked when they were left there.

She doesn't know if he was serious or what but the playfulness in his eyes wants her to doubt him. But his straightforwardness is something she adores from him.

"I'm sorry, Mister Asa but I'm getting married soon. So no, but still, thank you."

That's her always excuse when someone tries to ask her out. But Titus was probably the first man to ask her without hesitation and fear. Though she's sure that he was not attracted to her.

Hapon na ng sunduin sila ni Argus pero sa halip na dumiretso sa kanilang bahay ay inutusan ni Nina si Argus na dumaan sa hotel.

"Sa nakalipas ng mga araw ay lagi tayong dumadaan dito, miss Nina. Do you still expect to see the man who helped you that night?"

She doesn't know what to say to Soleil, they know her very well and for sure they are wondering why she is acting like this because this is the first time she has had an interest in a man.

"Good evening, ma'am." The female receptionist greeted her with a smile that surprised her and then handed her a folded paper.

Kahit nagtataka at sa kuryosidad na din ay kinuha niya iyon. Binuksan at kumabog ang kaniyang dibdib ng mabasa ang nakasulat sa papel.

If you want to see me. Stay away from those with you. - Xavier

"What's that, miss Nina?"

Sainubukan pa ni Nina na itago ang papel pero nakita na nila iyon.

"Nababasa mo iyan, miss Nina? Ano ang nakasulat?" Soleil asked.

"Why? You can't read it?" She asked too, staring at them weirdly.

Soleil just stared at her as if she was a strange creature.

"Lumang salita. Wala ng gumagamit niyan simula ng mawasak ang Psicadiasis, Nina." Argus informed them as he stared at the paper she was holding.

"Then how can you read that, miss Nina?"

Umiling siya, agad na ibinulsa ang papel.

"Pakihintay na lang ako sa sasakyan. May dadaanan lang ako."

She did not wait for them to answer and quickly turned away. She walked straight to the function hall of the hotel. When she entered, only silence greeted her. Everything is neat and clean.

She looked around and tried to find him. She stopped in the middle of the function hall then turned around as she remembered what happened that night but she stopped, terrified when he took a glimpse of a man. She looked at it but no one was standing there.

She gasped, her eyes widening and shivers crawled along her spine. She felt immense fear.

"I know you're here. Why don't you show up yourself?"

Naghintay siya na may sasagot pero wala pa rin, kahit lumipas na ang ilang minuto ay walang nagparamdam sa kanya kaya wala sa sariling natawa na lang siya. You're a fool, Nina Celestine Gabriel.

"And why do you want to see me?"

She sighed as her heart beat faster. She clenched her fist to suppress any feelings that were slowly enslaving her.

"You shouldn't trust me."

She was paralyzed. She knew that the man was just behind her, she could feel its strong stare sinking into her soul and she didn't want to look back because he might disappear again.

Her hand was shaking and she felt this again like she was having trouble breathing. Just like what happened in the car when they almost had an accident and what happened at the party. Nangyayari ulit ang mga iyon.

"You saved my life,"

Nina said matter-of-fact but she knew that's not the reason why she wants to see him.

"I just want to say thank you." She continued.

Trying to fight the pain that causes her vision to darken.

"You already did."

She puffed a breathe, she wanted to turn around and see him. Ngayon ay napatunayan niyang kaya niyang tiisin ang kahit na ano at mayroon siyang hindi matatawarang pasensya.

"Why did you leave that night? Who are you?" Tanong ni Nina, mahinang sinuntok ang kaniyang dibdib.

"Do you want to know?"

She was slightly taken aback by the thunder but she ignored it.

"Of course." She almost screamed at him.

Because she wants to know who he was and why he sound so familiar. She also wants to know why she feels this way.

She almost shut her eyes as she felt the warm presence behind her. His breath hitting her nape transports electricity to her entire body.

"Who are you?" She asked again but this time, it was so weak like she was already surrendering to him.

The pain slowly faded away and was replaced by the feeling she had just felt for the first time in her life. He made her shudder and she felt her feminine throbbed. She never expected that she would feel that for the first time with someone she didn't know. The heat and lust are blinding her and wants to curse herself at the same time.

His hand went to her hip and Nina knew that he wanted to touch her kaya ganon na lang ang gulat niya ng marinig ang pag-angil nito saka tumakbo palabas. Hindi niya alam kung magpapasalamat ba dito o magagalit.

Pero siguro ay tanga talaga siya dahil sinundan niya pa rin ito hanggang sa hardin ng hotel at don na ito tuluyang naglaho sa kaniyang mga mata. Habol ang hininga na tumigil siya, sinusubukang makakita sa dilim habang marahas ang paghinga.

Malakas ang ulan na ipinagtataka niya. Maaliwalas din ang panahon kaninang umaga at hapon,  maliwanag ang kalangitan kaya nagtataka siya kung bakit umuulan ngayon.

"You should have run when you got the chance."

Lumingon si Nina sa pinanggalingan ng boses at limang hakbang mula sa kanya ay nakatayo ang lalaking hinahanap niya. He became even more frightening because of the darkness of the night but for her, she knew he would not hurt her and that was what she also wondered to herself. She didn't trust that easily but she feels differently about this man.

"Why are you so eager to see me?" He wondered, slowly walking towards her.

He already knew that she was looking for him but he was still hiding from her. What a jerk!

"Funny isn't it? It's only been a few days but I can't resist you while you, a thousand years."

What he said confuses her.

Napaatras siya ng tumigil ito sa kaniyang harapan, unable to meet the intensity of his eyes. She's already wearing heels but she's still up to his shoulders. His shoulders are broad, his body is large and sturdy but not too massive, his limbs are long and strong. He has a look that you would rather stare at for the rest of your life. His face is gentle and his eyes are associated with darkness in its depths.

"Who are you?" She murmured as her heart pounded violently, her knees shaking too.

Why does she feel this way? This weakness and pain? And she knew it was not because of the rain. She doesn't even care if she's shaking because of the cold while her body and clothes are already wet.

When Nina looked up at him, she was so shocked when she saw how different the color of his eyes was. He was also breathing violently. Her eyes widened as he suddenly transformed into a large and frightening creature. Sa sobrang takot at gulat ay pakiramdam niya hindi na siya makasigaw kahit gustuhin man niya.

Dahan-dahang umatras si Nina. His torn clothes were scattered at his feet. He was howling loudly too like he wanted everyone to know how powerful he was.

Nang bumaling ito sa kanya, don lang siya tumakbo pero may mga braso na pumigil sa kanya. She try to shout but someone covered her mouth. She tried to fight but a syringe was injected into her neck that slowly make her weak.

Ang halimaw ay pinalibutan ng isang babae at dalawang lalaki. She could still see them turning to her before she lost her consciousness.