Under Love's Illusion

PROLOGUE When the full moon showed up, or together with the sun it overlapped— may its power flow in your veins, and the desire in your body reigns. Make him beg for the kiss and he will turn into a beast of seductive flesh he is hungry, of appealing blood he is thirsty. Let your tragedy be his bitter memory, and the tears cried be river of eternity where his prayers and wishes swim about your death he sees in his dream. Things were blurry. As if a strong wind passed my body so I cannot see clearly. As if the heavy rain poured onto the city and its mist did not only cover the windows but also my eyesight. Everything felt... strange. Wala akong ideya sa posibleng rason ng pinaghalong pagkahilo at blangkong pakiramdam na kahit ako ay walang ideya sa posibleng rason. Nakatayo sa harap ko ang isang lalaking hindi ko naman kilala. Nakaharap sa akin ang kaniyang malaking katawan, ang mga matang kay talim ng tingin ay sumuri sa aking kabuuan, at ang utak marahil ay may mga nabuo ng opinyon patungkol sa akin. The setting was inside a mansion. With furniture positioned showing the richness of the owner and the design chosen screaming the elegance of its wholeness, I wonder where I am. “You are now one of us,” the man uttered in a low voice, teeth gritting. Kasabay ng kaniyang pagsalita ay ang pagpasok ng malamig na hangin mula sa mga bintana. “You will be one of us.” I did not speak a word. Nanatili lamang akong kaharap niya. “No more tragedies...” Sa isang iglap, nabalot kami ng mga larawan ng iba’t ibang uri ng mga nilalang na mayroon sa mundo. Umagos ang dugo mula sa kanilang katawan at ang iba pa ay nagpakita ng pagiging brutal. “He killed them all.” He turned to me. “It was all forbidden love he has been fighting since you existed.” I gulped. I heard voices. “No! Don’t kill me! Don’t kill my child!” It was painful. “I have to. If I will not kill myself, I will have to kill you. This is the only way I can let you survive and keep me alive the next time our love story will be written.” The pleas were killing me inside. “My love is bounded to this ring, and with this eternal love, my dear, my life, I will love you, forever.” I covered my ears. “Because right from the start, we knew we can’t be together. We, really, are not meant to be, but if doing what is forbidden can make me this happy, I’ll gladly disobey the rules and do this again and again.” I fell on my knees crying. Pumailanlang sa magkabila kong tainga ang iyakan ng mga babaeng paulit-ulit na nasawi sa pag-ibig. Bumalot sa puso ko ang pighati ng kanilang sakit na nararamdaman at biniyak ito. Ilang beses na binasag, dinurog. Nandidilim ang paningin ko. Nahihilo ako. When the sounds stopped, I opened my eyes. Wala na rin ang mga larawan. Humugot ako ng isang malalim na hininga at ibinuga ito. Tiningala ko ang lalaki sa harapan. Isang nakakikilabot na ngisi ang kaniyang pinakawalan. “Being one of us, does that guarantee your happy ending?” He knelt down and held me by my chin. “What is forbidden means forbidden. What is ill-fated stays ill-fated. A tragedy is always a tragedy.” I gathered my strength to speak. “N-No!” He smirked even more. I shrieked when he brought out a glimmering weapon and pointed it to my heart. “Please, no! Let us be happy, please,” I whispered under my breath. The tip torn my cloth and made way to my bare skin. I screamed as pain is now enveloping my system. “You are now one of us, but this foolishness has to come to its end.” #