Chapter 1.1 - Death

I was busy watching the butterflies, sitting on the grass and leaning on the chest of a man I never thought I would love. He tighten his hug and lean closer to give me a soft kiss on the head. 

"I love you.." he whispered. 

I closed my eyes to feel his embrace and stayed quiet for a minute, I thought he will continue speaking but he remained quiet too. That's when I opened my eyes. My eyes widened as I saw the color of his eyes changed. From brown eyes, it turns into red one, like a flame and it darkens as time passes by. He gritted his teeth and I saw fangs on it. 

He was about to bite my neck when I heard a loud alarm. 

"Damn! I'm dreaming about it, again.." I said the moment I opened my eyes and realize what happened. 

I breathe heavily while thinking about my dream. It felt real, I thought it was real. I've been dreaming it since I was 10 years old. His face isn't clear but I know it was the same guy I've been dreaming all these years. I don't know what does it mean but I'm sure whoever he is, he is an immortal blood-sucking demon..

He is a vampire. 

I lazily stood and turn off my alarm. It's been a week since the school year started. Today is the day of choosing clubs and orgs so I woke up early to prepare. I did my morning routine. I cooked breakfast for myself, I ate peacefully alone before taking a shower. I'm wearing my club shirt because we will have a little art exhibit to attract artistic students to join in our club. I've decided to bring umbrella and a jacket, I have a feeling that it will rain today. Just the guts. 

As soon as I'm done fixing my things, I heard a beep outside. I took my bag before I went out of my house. I locked and double-check it before going inside Vernon's car. Vern is my bestfriend since highschool and I can say that he is the only friend I have ever since my mother and I lived here in their neighbourhood. I have girl friends before but they suddenly ignored me just because the guy that they adore, likes me. How childish of them. 

"Here's your lunch," he uttered and gave me my lunch box. 

This is a normal thing to us. He is the one in charge of our lunch, at first I insisted but he told me that it was his father's idea. His family has a mini restaurant and this is where our food coming from. His father is the best chef in this town and all the people here loves their family. Sadly, his mother died when we were in highschool and that's when I promised to myself not to leave him behind.

I took the lunch box he gave me and placed it inside my bag. He turned on the radio and started driving. 

"What's with that face, Mystica?" 

He glance at me once and focus on the road. I'm looking outside the window, still mesmerize by the beauty of nature. Even though this place is already a city, it is still surrounded by greens. This is the only thing I love here in Peculium Ville. It feels old-fashioned, you're so close to nature. I feel like I'm in the 18th century. 

"'Di ba, nasabi ko na sayo yung tungkol sa panaginip ko?" I lazily told him. 

I looked at him to see his reaction, if I'm not mistaken he isn't listening to what I told him before! 

"What is it? You've told me many dreams, alin doon?" 

I sighed. 

"About the vampire guy.." 

He suddenly stopped the car and looked at me with shocked expression. Muntik nang tumama ang ulo ko sa unahan! I stared at him angrily and gritted my teeth. 

"Reckless driver!" I hissed. 

Still with the shocked expression, he started driving again. I double-check my seatbelt incase he accidentally stop again. 

"You didn't told me about that! Anong bampira?" he curiously asked. 

"I've already told you, you didn't listen!"

Pumangalumbaba ako sa bintana habang nakatingin sa labas. 

"Then, tell me about it again. I'm curious." 

I sighed and started telling him my dreams. 

I've been dreaming about it since I was a kid. Mom told me that it was just a nightmare but it keeps bugging me every night. Before, I'm just dreaming about his face but now this is worst! I'm having sexual dream about him! I've never been into relationships before but I'm not that innocent when it comes to sex! I know how it goes but I never did it. Miski first kiss, wala pa 'ko! 

"How sure are you that he is a vampire?" tanong n'ya nang makarating kami sa parking lot ng unibersidad. 

I took my things and went out of his car. Ipinatong ko sa braso ang jacket. I didn't wait for him, I walked on a faster pace instead. 

"Mystica, sandali!" he shouted. 

Hell, ito na naman ang mga tinginan nila na para bang bago sakanila na sabay kami ni Vernon pumasok. 

"Well, he has fangs and his eyes turned red but it darkens. He was about to bite me but my dream ended because of a stupid alarm clock," sagot ko rito nang maramdaman ko s'ya sa gilid ko. 

He stopped walking so I turned to him. I curiously looked at him because he looks weird right now. Nasa malayo yata ang utak nito. Unti-unti s'yang lumapit sa'kin at bumulong. 

"Keep this secret, okay? My grandfather has seen a vampire before and he gave me a notebook full of informations about it." 

Pinanliitan ko s'ya ng mata dahil sa narinig. Slowly, I pushed him away using my index finger and pinch his shoulder a bit. 

"I'm not in the mood for your joke, Vernon," sambit ko. 

I started walking and left him there. He didn't laugh or even chuckled so I guess he might be serious, but hey? Do vampires are real? I don't know and I don't think so. 

Naramdaman ko na naman s'yang nakasunod sa'kin. He looks frustrated now that I did not believe him. Who would believe him, anyway? What he told me is just too hard to believe! We're now living in the 21st century, wala nang naniniwala sa mga gan'on!

"Kung ayaw mo maniwala, ipapabasa ko sa'yo ang notebook na bigay ni Lolo. I even researched about it!" sabi pa nito. 

We're talking while walking, medyo maraming estudyante sa hallway ngunit wala namang pake ang lahat kaya malaya mong magagawa ang gusto mo. 

"Your joke isn't funny, Vern. Vampires aren't real. You know what, forget about what I told you, it's just a dream—"

I didn't finished my sentence because I bumped into someone. I apologize to him before turning to Vern who's busy looking for something in his bag.

"I didn't bring it now but I'll give it to you later—"

I cut him off. 

"Vampires aren't real, Vern! I'll go now, baka mag start na ang art exhibit namin. I'll see you later!" 

I walked my way to the art exhibit without waiting for his respond. He texted me that we'll meet later for lunch. I didn't reply to him, gets n'ya na 'yon!

Naabutan kong nag-aayos ang mga kasamahan kaya tinulungan ko ang mga ito. We placed our artworks in their proper places. Hanggang ngayon ay marami pa rin ang pumupuri sa gawa ko kahit matagal na nila itong nakita. 

"Lahat talaga ng gawa mo, palaisipan, ano? Kaya sayo ako, e," biro ng isang kasamahan sa club. 

I laughed at them. After a while, we've decided to open our art exhibit. There's only few students who enter, ang iba'y kuryoso lang, ang iba naman ay gustong sumali. Whenever someone's asking, I answered them right away. Pinakamaraming tanong pa naman ay yung mga artworks ko. 

"I like this one, this is cool. What's the story behind it, ate? What does it mean?" one of the freshmen asked. 

I stared at my artwork, the one they're talking about. It's really hard to figure out the story behind it especially if you're not the one who did it. The art they're talking about is just a vampire, they can't see it if they will based it on their own point of view. Medyo magulo kasi ang pagkakagawa ko roon bagay na sinadya ko. Isa s'yang imahe ng bampira, base sa imahinasyon ko, na pinaghiwa-hiwalay ko lang ang bawat parte ng mukha. Itim at pula lang ang kulay na makikita at kung titingnan ay napaka-simple lang n'ya. 

"Death," someone from the back said. 

I smiled and nodded at him. 

"What's your name?" I asked him. 

"Maeve Silvan," he casually said. 

"Mr. Silvan, why do you say so that this artwork means death?"

He's looking at me intently which I find familiar. I've never seen him before but I feel like I've known him my entire life. What's this weird feeling?

"Base on the color you chose, both red and black symbolizes death.." simpleng sagot nito. He's got a point but it's not just about that. 

Napatango ako at tiningnan isa-isa ang mga estudyanteng nakikiusyoso sa'min. I let a small smile plastered on my lips the moment I saw how curious they are. 

"He's right. This artwork symbolizes death not just because of the color. Actually, this image is a vampire. Just look closely and you will see." 

Agad na nagsi-lapitan ang mga estudyante at nag-tanguan. Ang iba ay nag-agree sa sinabi ko, umaliwalas ang mukha nila dahil napunan na ang kuryosidad. 

"Once you became a vampire, it means you're already dead. So for me, vampire symbolizes death," I explained. 

Nang matapos doon ay lumipat naman sila sa ibang artworks. The guy remained standing in front of me, still looking at my artwork. 

"Do you.. need anything Mr. Silvan?" I asked. 

Mukhang bago lamang s'ya rito, is he a freshman? Hindi naman s'ya mukhang freshman. Baka mas matanda pa nga ito sakin, e.

"I want to.. give it back to you." 

He lend me my jacket! Bakit nasa kaniya 'yon? 

"It fell on the floor earlier, when you bumped into me," he answered my questionable look. 

I took it from him. Ngayon ko lang naalalang may nabangga nga pala ako kanina. Hindi ko man lang namalayan na nahulog pala ang jacket ko! 

"Thank you and.. sorry kanina."

I look at him intently, he's like a Greek God who came all the way from Mount Olympus. Very pale skin with impossibly attractive face. His sharp eyes were watching me as I'm staring at his god-like face. He's got a high cheekbones, strong and attractive jawline, a manly nose and perfect thin lips. I think he's around 6'0 with a muscular body like a menswear model.

"I'd like to see some of your artwork." His cold sharp eyes watched me intently. 

I gasped and awkwardly nodded. 

Iginiya ko s'ya sa mga gawa ko. I'm silently observing his every moves as he gazed into my works. 

"Can I join in your club?" tanong n'ya. 

I panicked a bit. He caught me watching him! I excused myself to get the notebook and ballpen from my club mate.

"Just write your name here and bring art materials tomorrow. Meet us in the art gallery, we'll see if your work passed our club president's standards." I lend him the notebook and ballpen. 

The moment his fingers touched mine, I remembered familiar feeling. Napatingin din s'ya sa mga daliri naming magkadikit bago kinuha ang ballpen at nagsimulang mag-sulat. I shrugged my thoughts off and continue explaining things to him.