Chapter 4: The Girl On The Mask

Saylor's P.O.V

Red liquid are keep flowing from his body, people are screaming, some students are starting to faint when they saw how abomination it is the body of the student, chaotic is the right word at this moment. 'What a poor soul, i remain my eyes on the body i didn't even flinch when i saw him jump on the top of the building. 'The world must have been cruel to you, his swollen neck got my attention. Monsters indeed, my attention remain on his body observing how the police lift his body, 'Man, how lucky. 

I was keep on admiring the sight when someone caught my attetion, 'Kaiden, i really don't like him. He's kinda looking at something, uneasy and keep on walking back and forth, he is ten steps away from me but i already can see his sweats on his forehead. I frown when i saw how awkward he is, now he already bitting his finger nail. 'How unsual of you, though i still don't like him. "What a poor blood line of yours, Kaiden," i whispered. I keep on observing at him, when i couldn't keep my curiosity anymore i roam my eyes to see where his attention was. 

And only to see Veronica, i could see how uneasy she is. Her attention was on the ground where the man jump on, "The red liquid," she's scared of those, she has hemophobia. 'How irresponsible! I didn't even remember that she's with me. She's too far from me, slowly i walk going to her direction, didn't minding the people i shove jud to get her. 'Please don't fall, i could already see her eyes was about to fall she might collapse in any minute.

"Ano ba!"

"Dahan-dahan naman!"

"Please! You can say excuse me when you wanted to pass. How rude of you."

"Sino bang nanunulak diyan?"

"Salita naman oh kung dadaan!" 

"Gosh! How rude, didn't expect from unica ija from a big family to have no manners."

I didn't mind their side comments, i keep on shoving them. Their noise causes to everyone to caught some attention, slowly some of the students giving me way or else they might get shove. My attention was still on Veronica, i was already five steps away from her and like a slow motion when her body already give up. "No!" I reached my hand feeling like i could save her from falling even though i was still far from her body, i closed my eyes expecting to heard a loud bang from her but i didn't heard anything. I remain my eyes close and waited to hear anything until i feel like it was already taking too long, slowly i opened my eyes and only to see a mans figure.

He is looking at Veronica with his worried eyes, he is holding her body with full of care like a fragile. 'She didn't fall, i was relief by the fact that her body didn't meet the ground. I composed myself and look on the crowd if someone saw what just happened, slightly felt ashamed of my reaction and possition. I cleard my throat to catch the man's attention, 'Hunter, im still not convince of this man, he look at me like he was expecting me to come. "Bring her to the clinic," i ordered. And without hesitation he followed, i initiate the way while he was on my back. 

While we walk through the hallway with full pax of students, we immediately caught their attention. Some students that we can pass are giving way for us. I could feel the eyes of the students looking at the man whose on my back, shocked can be seen into their faces, chatting and murmuring gives noise to the building. 'Im used to it, but i know im not the reason of their attention. 

We remain walking on the campus while the students still has a shock face when they saw a sight on my back. 'Why it take us so long, my feet are slowly aching. It feels like it takes forever, when i already saw the signage of the school clinic i release a long sigh. 'At last! Just a few steps then my suffering will be done, we are about to walk through the corner of the clinic when i was startled by the sudden figure of a woman on my front. 'Bitch, i almost had heart attack, her attention was on my back, her fake worried eyes are looking at Hunter.

"Are you okay?" She asked softly, tch! I don't even understand how people easily fall into her 'angelic voice' "What a pretender," i said, just enough for them to hear. "Ayos lang ako, si Veronica ang kailangan naming dalhin sa Clinic," his voice are stuttering, i can feel his panic and wanted to rush to clinic. 

Disappointment can be seen into Ava's face. She bite her lips like she is holding her tears, 'deserved! "Excuse me!" I flip my hair and bump her shoulder slightly indicating to give us way. I walk pass to her still feeling my moment when Hunter immediately run through the clinic, his legs are long its like he just took two steps until he reached the nurse asking for first aid for Veronica.

I stoped walking and remain myself outside of the clinic, looking and observing Hunter reacted to Veronica. 'Who are you? I crossed my arms while looking how careful he is while placing Veronica on the bed, i keep myself outside of the door watching Veronica peacefully sleeping. 'Maria, i know there is something you are hidding from me. And i would not force you to tell me, i wouldn't feel guilty anymore, "We are now even." 

Bimp! Bimp! I was taken back by the sudden noise of my phone, i look at it and saw a message. 

'The mighty cat had already arive, the little mice must shall hide.' He's comming, my hands are shaking just reading the text, i took a deep breath and check the time of my phone. Im already late for my class and i also lost my interest in attending anyway. I'll just wait for Veronica to wake up so that i have a reason to skip my class. 

I look at the door of the clinic and saw Hunter was about to leave, i raise my eyebrows as our eyes met. It was my way of showing i was not pleased by him, but i was not expecting by his sudden move. He went to my direction while his hands are on his pocket, he stopped just one meter away from me.

"Please take care of her-" i wasn't expecting from him to say those words, i felt offended. "You don't have to tell me, im gonna do it even without your favor," so full of himself. I rolled my eyes as i look at him, and it annoys me more when he showed his genuine smile. "I know," he softly said, jerk! I was about to leave him when he suddenly hand me a white paper. "Pwedeng paki suyo?" i look at him puzzle, "Alam ko kasing hindi na makakaya ngayon kaya.. Ibibigay ko na lang contact ko para makasiguro." He couldn't look at my eyes, but i couldn't feel any mischivous from him, his favor is genuine. 

I immediately grab the paper and saw his number on it, 'he's telling the truth. Now my attention was fully on him, my chin was up while my arms are crossed, "At paano ka nakakasigurong hindi ko 'yan itatapon?" My tounge are playing in my mouth while waiting for him to answer. "Kasi alam kong hindi ka masama," warm. I couldn't reply by his answer, i feel like there is a pile of rock on my throat that prevented me from talking. I look at him and all i can see is his sincerity, i immediately cleard my throat and crampled the paper on his front.

"Lame," the last word i say as i throw the paper on the ground. You don't know anything, you don't know how hard i try to keep my image. Slowly i felt a sudden liquid on my cheek, 'that jerk! I wiped it before i entered the clinic, i cleard my throat once again as i saw Veronica. 'I must have just touched by his heartwarming answer, but that can't make me soft immediately. "I already come to this far, no one could ever know how hard i work for it."

Veronica's P.O.V

'I couldn't make it anymore. My body already gave up, within a second my body collapse. The last thing i saw was the swollen neck of the student. Tug-Dug! Beat, the smell of lavander-mint are running into my nose. I was expecting to fall into the ground but instead i felt someones arms, it can't be. I was forcing my eyes to open to make sure my thoughts are right but my body would do the opposite. 

'I just wanted to have a glimpse, i feel like my time is running i couldn't control my conscious anymore. I was about to give up when the man who catch me spoke, "You're now safe in me, Maria." Tug-Dug, those voice. It has so much emotions and sincerity, and just like a snap i felt butterflies on my stomach, 'it can't be. My heartbeat is beating rapidly, i wanted to control my conscious to see him, i was holding my self when his last statement made me think, "I will take care of you from now on, Chesa." 

And just like that i lost my conscious, a loud ringing filled my ears, questions are started running into my mind, still confused by his last statement. 'But im not Chesa, suddenly i felt this strange feeling to my stomach. 'Is he indicating to other person? slowly i felt warm thing in my stomach that affects my chest, 'pain. I know to myself that was im feeling right now, 'But why? Why do i feel this strange things? Why did he call me in others name? Why does he always hang me with questions.

'Who really are you, Hunter? 

"You must not trust anyone, Nica. Know the people you talk and encounter, that is one of the most important thing in securing yourself." The voice of my mother echoed in my mind, "You're precious to me darling," the image of my mom sitting in my bed side while brushing softly the cheek of little Nica.

Its a memory of younger me and my mother, the white coat of her suits her so much. "Mom, can you tell me some stories?" The innocent younger me asked, my mom smiled and immediately let the younger me lay down so that she can place the blanket properly.

"Have you heard about the story of a Brave and Strong Woman who defeated a hundreds and thousand of people?" My mom is good in story telling, she motion her hands describing on every thing she says and her emotions changes whenever the story change the mood. And that is one of the reasons why the younger Nica loves to hear her stories.

"Does she have a super strong hands and body that she could be able to defeat them all?!" Excitement can be seen into younger Nica, my mom gently pat the blanket and snap her fingers causing for me and younger Nica to startled. "Wrong!" She laugh softly, "The thing was she has no strong arms or strong body to defeat them all." Napakunot ang aking noo at ng batang ako, 'I don't remember her telling this kind of story to me.

"Body and masculinity is not the only thing that can make the people defeat, sometimes its also the power and words of a woman." She gently tap the nose of younger me, suddenly her words stuck into me. 'I don't remember her telling me this, but mom would always say words that has meaning on it that the younger me would not understand. 'But now that i get old, things she says makes sense.

"She is young but also the most beautiful lady in their town and she is loved by many. The lady has knowledge, beauty and strong personality. And that causes to men in their town would always admire her." She continued, "She is almost perfect, that's what they say. But the lady herself said she isn't perfect at all." She said softly, her eyes were like sparkling while saying the story to the younger Nica. 'Why do i seeing this memory?

"The thing was their time was  colonized by a foreign country. They are not free as what you think, the poor people of Yaden had lack of knowledge and power, that causes to completely being slave by the foreign country." She motion her hands indicating on someone's colonizing, the younger Nica has serious face while listening to mom, "The people of Yaden are having a lack of foods because of the foreign people, they were suffering at that time. And the lady as the daughter of the master of their tribe says, if she is perfect then she would have contributed any help for the people of Yaden," mom said, 'She's right.

"The people of Yaden are scared by their built and counts of the foreign people, seeing the big equipments that they have that can assassinate a person within second. All of that are the reasons why the people of Yaden doesn't have any choice but to obey, they felt helpless." Mom immediately changes her emotions causing for the younger Nica to question her.

"I thought it is a good story? Why are they helpless now?" Sadness can be seen in her face, 'How i miss the innocent Nica. Mom brush the hair of young Nica using her fingers, "It's not yet finish darling. The thing was, the lady doesn't have confidence on her self. It frustrate her because its impossible for her to achieve when in reality she really can do it. Until time flies one year had passed the people of Yaden suffered more, the foreign people are slowly multiplying. It was already hopeless for all the people of Yaden." Tuluyan nang sumimangot ang mukha ng batang Nica, "I don't want it anymore, its sad story mommy." 

My mom laugh softly and continue to brush the long hair of young Nica, "It's not, keep your patience Nica. After a year of being colonized by a foreign country the lady had already made up her mind. Slowly she already had a courage to do what she think its right, and her journey had began. In order to happen what she wanted, she must find the house of  Coven. That's what they call to the house of Vampires." Beat, Vampires. 'Why is this scenarios flashing in my memory? 

"Along with her journey she's finding so hard, had a sleepless nights and couldn't eat properly because of lack of food. She is really determine to find the house of Vampires just to save the people of Yaden, she took so long until she met a man who can help her to the house of Vampires, and because of the mans offer she agreed. And then she met the Knight Family Vampires."

"Are they not dangerous? Oh no! Will they kill her mommy?" Takang tanong ng batang Nica, my mom smiled seeing the excitement of the child. "They were supposed to, seeing a human in their house is like a chocolate cake has been served in your table. But suprisingly they didn't," kunot-noo kong tinitigan ang imahe ng aking ina at ng batang ako. Pilit ko paring prinoproseso ang kaniyang mga sinabi, 'ano ba 'ng ibig sabihin ng memoryang ito?

"They were amazed by the words that the lady has been said, all the suffering and situation of Yaden she tell them to the Vampires. She asked them for help but in exchange for the flesh of the foreign people."

"That's terrible but cool," the young Nica yawn after she said those words. Mom immediately changed the lights of her bedroom into mid, "Indeed, so long story short. The people of Yaden got their freedom in help of the lady and the Vampire Clan, the battle between the foreign and vampire was bloody but it's also one of the reason the Human and Vampires ignite." 

"Cool! So its really a happy ending, so what happened to the lady mommy?" My mom suddenly stoped by the sudden question of little Nica. "The lady, she was praised by many. They gave her a title as a 'Living Truth' and i want you to take the lesson of this story. Woman may not have masculinity and a powerful body, but they have power in words and orders especially they are holding truths. Once you speak truths the people around you would not harm you, and i want you to always remember and do that." Mom sweetly kissed the forehead of young Nica 

"To make your night clear the lady has  already accepted that she's a perfect. And i want you to always remember and bring every word i say because all of this won't cause you any harm. Good night now darling." And after that the young Nica had already fall into sleep, while i'm still clueless by all the stories that she says. Slowly my memory was about to end when i was puzzled by the last words my mom says, "Sleep tight my Chesa." Beat, my heartbeat is so fast hearing the name of someone i don't know from my mother. Hunter also called me Chesa, who is Chesa? Why does Hunter and the memory of my mom called me Chesa?

Why are this weird things happening to me? Puno ng tanong ang aking sarili ng biglang napukaw ang aking natutulog na katawan sa biglaang lamig na aking naramdaman. "Is she alright?" Slowly i opened my eyes and only to see Steven standing beside the door while Saylor is sitting in a chair close to mine while crossing her arms. "She's awake!" Steven shouted, dalidali naman itong tumakbo pababa ng hagdan na para bang may humahabol sa kaniya, ng matauhan sa aking paligid ay agad kong nakompirmang nasa bahay ako. 'Anong nangyari? Itinuon ko ang aking pansin sa taong nasa aking harapan. "Anong nangyari?" Akmang uupo ako ng biglang pinigilan ako ni Saylor.

"Just rest first, kararating mo lang galing school clinic. It's still four in the afternoon you lost conscious after we ate our lunch, i'll call your maids so that they can bring food for you, you must be hungry... Well i see that you're awake now, i'm gonna leave for now Nica." Seryosong tugon ni Saylor dali dali naman itong tumayo sa kaniyang kinauupuan at ikinablit ang kaniyang bag. 

Akamang aalis na ito ng nakuhang pigilan ng aking kamay na hawakan ang kaniyang braso. "Sandali, aalis kana? You don't want to stay for a minute?" 'Saylor is acting strange, she wouldn't leave in just like that and i know she's naturally serious but her face and aura are screaming cold. "Is there something you are hiding from me Saylor?" I asked softly scared that she might offended on my question. Taas kilay niya akong tinitigan at unti-unting binawi ang kaniyang braso, "Is there something i must hide from you Nica?" Cold, her voice is cold. Her face is dead serious, what's happening to you Saylor?

Slowly she smiled like she taken back from what she says, "I must go for now Nica, see you in school." Tango ang itinugon ko sa kaniya, blankong tinitigan ko na lang siya taka parin sa kaniyang biglaang pag iba ng ugali. Nang tatlong hakbang na ang layo niya sa akin ng biglang nagsalita ito, "I forgot," dali-daling may kinuha siya sa kaniyang bulsa at bumalik sa aking kinaroroonan. "Pinapabigay," she handed me a clean pink paper and just like that the noise of her shoes filled the hallway of our house. 'I know she's hiding something from me. The Saylor from grade school are slowly showing again, 'im not dumb Saylor, i know you're living on your mask again. 

I sigh, when i couldn't see her image anymore i look at the paper she handed to me. It has a phone number, kunot noo ko itong tinitigan, its just a phone number without any context. Akmang babalewalain ko na lang ito ng biglang nakuha ng aking atensyon ang likod ng papel. 

'When the world is the one who's holding our paths, shall i change the world just to be part in you' 

Go Hunt And Find For Answers. You shall not be blinded by the things they say and do to you.

"Hunt," kunot noo ko itong tinitigan. "Hunter.." Nalilito sa kaniyang pinapahiwatig, when slowly something hits me. 'There is always things that i don't know but i keep myself from questioning about it. It might sound impossible but my guts are telling me he can help me.

Thus i shall not be blinded, he's right. The image of someone suddenly come up into my mind. 'I must seek for answer.

- Sa susunod na kabanata - 

Happy reading!