Chapter Two: Evan

~Evan~

Their kind has been depicted in array of versions across culture- embedded in myths and legends. Ngunit, ang karamihan sa mga paniniwala tungkol sa kanila ay nasa imahinasyon lang ng sangkatauhan. May mga bagay parin silang hindi alam sa misteryosong mga nilalang na katulad ni Evan.

But all of these has changed in the past months. His father was bold enough to exposed their very existence to the world. Kahit na marami sa kanilang angkan ang kontra dito ay walang nakapigil a kanyang ama. Hindi lang sa kanilang angkan kundi pati na rin sa mundo ng mga tao. A great scientist and doctor, his father is an exeptional man who has successfully integrate vampires into human society. Evan still feel the surreality of it all. Sa isang kisap mata ay animo naging instant celebrity silang magakakapatid. Their father especially insisted they make themselves more visible to humans. Katulad na lang pakikibagay nila sa mga teknolohiyang kinahuhumalingan ng mga tao.

Nang makababa si Evan ng chopper ay dumeretso siya sa loob ng kanilang manor house. Here, in the deep woods sorrounded by mountains and snow, their race were kept hidden for centuries. Co-existing with human society was way too impossible as they will always be threatened by vampire's mere existence, but not any more. At siya ang napili ng kanyang ama na dumalo ng mga press conference at interviews instead of him. Busy ito ngayon sa pagma-manage ng kanilang lipi as he is also considered the current leader. The elders who serves as his fathers advisors were in conflict pati na ang mga prominenteng pamilya sa kanilang angkan. Hindi sang-ayon ang iilan sa naging desisyon nito. They emphasized that there will be repurcussions now that humans know they exist. Mayroon din naman suportado ang kanyang ama. They believe it was a necessary move to ensure that there race will survive for the generations to come.

His stand on the matter is hardly much of a concern. Pero kung siya ang tatanungin, he does not wanted to do anything with humans. Mas gugustuhin niyang manirahan at magkaroon ng tahimik na buhay sa tagong lugar na ito. It does not have to do with any ideological conflict but he has personal reasons not to like humans. Napabuntong hininga siya. He's exhausted. He had several interactions with humans in the last few weeks, and it appears that they're draining the life out of him.

And then there's that girl.

For the past few weeks, images of him kissing her, holding her in his arms, and the moonflower symbol embedded in her neck had been assaulting his mind. Kapag nag-iisa siya ay mas lalong lumalakas ang pagragasa ng mga alaala ng gabing iyon. Mas detalyado, animo naka-glue sa kaniyang isipan ang amoy ng pabango nito, ang mga emosyon sa mata nito habang nakatitig ito sa kanya, ang init ng bibig nito.

Natagpuan niya ang kaniyang mga kapatid na nagtipon-tipon sa sala. Each of them have their own businesses. It was still odd for him seeing his sibling holding devices that humans dearly love- well, except kay Stanley. They used to spend this times reading books, or playing board games. He missed those gold old days. Pero may iilang bagay paring hindi nagbabago. The twins, Stanley and Margeary on the other ends of the sofa. Habang ang pinakabata sa kanilang si Freya at ang sumusunod sa kanyang si Nickolai ay naglala ro na naman ng online games sa kanilang mga PC.

"Oh my god! Look! I got over a thousand followers in I*******m!" her little sister Margaery squeeled with glee. Her eyes were fixated to her phone as they all lay sitted in a huge sofa. Stanley rolled his eyes on her at ipinagpatuloy ang pagbabasa, but his twin sister is such a huge disturbance that he slowly started to loose his patience.

" Can you please shut up, Margaery?" tiim-bagang saad nito.

" Excuse me, if you are going to read that damn book you should go to the library. Nauna ako rito kaya wala kang karapatan para sabihan ako kung ano man ang gusto mo."

They are at it again, naisip ni Evan. Minsan napapaisip na lang siya kung paanong buhay pa ang isa sa kanyang mga nakakabatang kapatid when they are always at each others throat.

" Do I have to remind that this space is for everyone and it is improper to raise your squeeky voice, stupid."

" Y-you imbecile!" Margaery was fuming mad and tried to attack Stanley pero maagap niyang nahawakan ang kamay nito. Knowing their capabilities, this manor might collapse if they physically involved in a fight.

" Whoah! Easy, Margy," aniya sa kontrolado ngunit malamyos na tono.

" Evan! Kailan ka pa dumating?"

" Uhm, five minutes ago. I was watching you guys have 'fun' with all this human things but I think, masamang ideya ito dahil nadagdagan naman ng isa ang isangdaang rason para mag-away kayo ni Stan."

''She started it. Ang ingay niya. "

Pinandilatan ito ni Margaery.

" Edi umalis ka, duh."

Bago pa mag-away ulit ang dalawa ay pumagitna na siya sa mga ito.

" Stan, why don't you go to the library? Mas tahimik at kompartable ka doon."

" Fine," ani ni Stanley. Pero bago pa aman ito makalabas ng pinto ay binelatan nito si Margaery saka tumakbo.

" That brat-"

" Margy, let him be okay? "

Thankfully, Margaery calm down ng sabihin niyang tutulungan niya itong kumuha ng litrato para sa i*******m nito.

" Evan! Why don't you join us? Ang galing ng game na to oh! The graphics and the effects are just way too cool, " yaya sa kanya ni Nickolai. He stride over to their side at ginulo ang buhok ni Freya. Hindi naman ito napansin ng kanilang bunso as she is too abosorbe in the screen.

" No, I'm good. Dinamay mo pa talaga si Freya sa ka-adikan mo sa online games."

" Sabi niya turuan ko daw eh."

" Kung ano-ano lna lang ang itinuturo mo diyan kaya ang bilis lumaki ng baby na to eh."

Freya is only five years old but she is too advance for her age. She is a fast-learner at kayang kaya nitong pataubin si Stanley pagdating sa kinahuhumalingan nitong astrophysics.

" I am not a baby anymore. You guys should learn to treat me like any one else," simangot ito. Natawa naman siya sa tinuran nito.

" Ayoko," matigas na saad niya. " You will always be a baby in my eyes". He hugged her but she pushed him gently.

" Eww, Evan!"

" Si Papa? Hindi mo ba siya kasama?" tanong si Nickolai habang nakadikit pa rin ang mga mata nito sa screen.

" Nope, he passed by the council to discuss some important matters to the elders."

" Ah.. so sinabi na ba niya sa iyo?"

" Ang alin?"

" He wants you to attend a normal human university this year. For the whole year, I mean."

Evan was to stunned to speak. The thought of him going to the same school with humans made him feel uncomfortable. They were taught by private tutors of their own kind before. Some of their kind do go out to the human world to study - just like his father did. But, he is not interested in those things . He believed he is more than capable of anything as his father's successor. Ilang oras pa lang nga siyang nakikihalubilo sa mga tao ay napapagod na siya, ano pa kaya ang isang buong taon? Isa iyong impyerno. Napatiim-baga siya, his father is going way too far with his

schemes.

"To where?"

" Philippines."

His brows twitched. Of all the places, why the hell would his father send him into that place?!

" And why?"

Nagkibit-balikat lang si Nickolai, " I dont know. I just overheard Uncle Dylan and father talk about it."

An eerie silence broke into the room. Philippines is where his mother lives now. The thought of her awakenened a sense of relentlessnes and anger in him.