Monsterstruck

Chapter III: Saving Grace

              With one mighty force, Vygnet snapped the champagne glass she was holding that made her blood ooze on her olive skin due to the shards of glass. But to hell with the physical pain, she could bear with it. But with the pain she was feeling inside, pulling her under, was what she couldn’t stand. With wavelength of pain swamping all over her, she churned down the remaining wine in the bottle. Craig, the only man who relentlessly runaway her heartbeat happened to be a cresclunar warrior—who was in the pursuit of killing the likes of her. It had her clawing inside, not to mention her mother’s mental illness, and she just got fired from her work. All these miseries magnified before her eyes.

              I need to see him now. I can’t contain this feeling anymore. I feel like I’m going to die.

              With that resolution in her mind, she phoned Craig and asked him to swing by her place.

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              Vylet’s lips parted in shock upon seeing a bouquet of red roses in their porch swing. Inside the bouquet, there was a peach card stashed in it that smelled of musk and honey. She knew by heart that scent--Blaze’s.

Vylet,

I’m sorry for not hanging around.  I hope you could forgive me someday. I love you so much and I’ve been always.

Take care.

                                                                                                                                                Love,

                                                                                                                                                Blaze

              The letter was a bolt from the blue. Why didn’t he just text me up instead? She hadn’t seen Blaze for four days and she just thought that he was just busy with his work.  With curiosity clutched in her, she couldn’t help but to wonder if he was dealing with sort of something right now. As his bestfriend, she needed to know if he was okay or not. With that resolution in her mind, she quickly dialed his number, but there was no answer.

              Was he blowing me off? I just find it strange for him to send me a bouquet of roses for a simple reason; not hanging around. Is it a peace offering?

              I hope you could forgive me someday.

              What does that mean? Of course! It’s totally okay with me if he’s busy with his work if that’s what he meant.

But why do I feel like there’s more to that statement?            

              Or maybe, Blaze had totally lost his mind.

              With a toss of her head, Vylet continued to water the yellow daisies sprawled around their yard and eventually trudged back inside their house to immerse herself in her freelance job as a home-based writer.

*****************************************************************************

              “Thanks for coming around.” Vygnet mumbled heartily as she poured down another drink to her champagne glass. Alarmed, Craig riveted his gaze at the broken shards of glass around the corner. He gently yanked the glass away from her and suddenly noticed the cut on her fingers.

              “Heck, what have you done to yourself?” Craig mumbled sulkily as he held her right hand.

              Vygnet just shrugged it off, giving him the impression that it wasn’t a big deal.

              Cursing under his breath, Craig trudged to the medicine cabinet and nursed his friend. He couldn’t help but to feel pity for her. He had known all her misgivings in life. But it was the first time he had seen her in this very miserable state, like the weight of the world had crumbled down upon her.

              “I can’t bear to see you seeing like that. I want the old Vygnet back,” he muttered as he dripped some Lanolyn oil onto her cut.

              Flashing a plaintive smile, Vygnet affectionately stroked his cheeks.

              “I love you,” she abruptly crooned, staring down at him.

              “I love you too. C’mon Vygnet. C‘mon, you’re better than that,” Craig replied throatily, firmly holding her hands.

              “I mean…. I love you more than being a friend. I’ve been loving you Craig, since we were young,” she confessed with a deep sigh; her voice was imploring.

              With that, Craig went shell-shocked. He didn’t see that coming. There was a foreboding silence for a fraction of minute.

              “Vygnet…” he mumbled, unnerved. “…you’re just drunk.”

              “I may be drunk, but I’m in perfect sense.” Vygnet retorted as she cupped his face. Gradually, she tipped her head down to meet his face and abruptly claimed his mouth into a savaged kiss. She had been wanting to do this— to claim his perfectly sculpted lips, the lips of her saving grace.

              Unnerved, Craig pulled away from her.

              “Why? Don’t you feel the same way for me too?” Vygnet simpered as she tried to hook her arms around his neck.

              With bated breath, Craig braced himself. He didn’t want to hurt her for not feeling the same way. Most of all, he didn’t want to add another salt in her wounds, especially in her miserable state right now.

              “Vygnet, I love you and I care for you. But I want to keep you forever. I mean, I don’t want to lose you. I’m sorry but…”

              “No! I know you feel the same way for me too. Come on! What’s holding you back? I don’t see anything wrong with this whole thing. We’ve been friends for ages!”

              “Exactly Vygnet, we’ve been friends for ages, and I want to keep that forever,” he asserted.

              Then, she fell silent; her lips twisted into a scowl. Her eyes suddenly went downcast.

              “Does that mean…you don’t feel the same way about me?” Vygnet asked in a strangled voice.

              “I’m sorry.” Craig lamented, pursing his lips.

              Hearing that, a white-hot stab of pain shot all over her. With tears brimming in her eyes, she sharply admonished him to leave her alone. But Craig insisted no, not in her poor state of emotion.

              “I do “alone” very well,” she mouthed gruffly at him.

              “You’re not alone. You got me. It may be not what you wanted us to be, but you could always count on me,” Craig shot back indignantly; his chestnut eyes were filled with worry. He could still taste her mouth which was reek with alcohol.

              But Vygnet was too broken to care to hear those cliché words of consolation, especially coming from the man who just broke her heart.

              “Leave me alone,” Vygnet muttered in a sharp voice with a strong emphasis in the last word. Craig, poised to throw her arms around her, flinched when she dismissively gestured her palms away from him.

              With a heavy heart, Craig treaded to the doorstep and in no time, he was gone.

              Fury roared through her as she flung her glass in the wall and it burst into glittering crystal shards; an exquisite reminder on how broken she was.

              And in the end, she was all alone again.

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3 days passed…

              Bubbling up with buoyancy, Vylet pawed on the CD racks in the metal section, looking for a brand-new album of some of her favorite metal bands. Then, she suddenly thought of Blaze. It had been a week since they last saw each other. She tried to check him on f*******:, but there was no update. She even asked his officemates in their department about his whereabouts, and they told her that he filed a leave. Did he go to his stepdad in Baguio? It was disconcerting for her to think that her best bud was being elusive, like he was hiding something from her. 

              With a resigned sigh, she held out a Lamb of God and Slapshock album. Out of the blue, she heard a hushed voice, a familiar raucous voice resonating again inside her head. With that, fear spurred on her. Vylet knew damn well that voice; her worst nightmare was back! Muttering a short prayer, she braced herself. But it seemed like she was being tormented again by the haunted voice; her insides suddenly went cold; her head was spinning. In her vision, she saw a numerous pair of red and golden-catlike eyes bored sinisterly at her.

              Terrified, she unconsciously hurled the two albums she wished to purchase, making the CD cases shattered into pieces.

              “Are you a psycho or what?” the cashier resented sharply at her. “…You’ll going to pay for that!” the cashier added in a sharp voice.

              “I’m sorry,” Vylet mumbled unnerved, and quickly fished a bill to pay for the CDs.

              “Consider it paid.” A familiar velvety voice chimed in.

              She slowly tilted her head to face whoever it was.

              Behind that navy-blue hoodie, with his eyes slightly covered by it, she couldn’t be mistaken.

              It was his loathed rockstar, Craig.

              Smirking lopsidedly at her dumbfounded face, he hovered by her after paying for the Cds.

              “What?  You look like you have seen a ghost. What was that? I nearly thought so that you already gone bonkers,” Craig blurted out with a wide grin.

              “Were you stalking me?” Vylet asked thoughtlessly.

              “Excuse me?” Craig retorted with a chuckle.

              “Nothing,” she mumbled in flat monotone, poised to bolt out from the CD bar.

              Damn why does he always appear when I’m in the verge of bullcrap? Why does he have to be my savior! Good grief! I don’t want to owe another gratitude to him!

              “Newsflash, I can pay for those CDs. You don’t have to do that; I got a goddamn job as a freelancer!” Vylet blurted annoyingly.

               “You’re welcome. Now, come with me. We’ll grab some coffee,” Craig retorted and quickly grabbed her hands and made their way outside the store. 

              “What the heck!” Vylet exclaimed, trying to pry out his hands.

              “Craig Samuel douchebag Davis!” She cackled, gritting her teeth. Craig gagged her mouth for a moment and threw her a warning look. With that, she shut up. It dawned on her that he was shying away from the crazy fans and snoopy media men. Well, that explained why he was wearing a hoodie with his floppy bangs that sheathed his eyes.

              “This is kidnapping!” Vylet muttered indignantly.

              “I don’t think so. Let’s put it this way. You owe me a coffee for saving you again,” Craig pressed coolly.

               “Thanks, but I don’t drink coffee.  Plus, I didn’t ask for you to pay for those! Now, get off  of me!” She said tersely, still trying to break free from his grip.

              “I will until I say so,” he replied firmly without sparing her a look as he scanned around the stalls in the mall.

              Involuntarily, a sudden jolt shot all over Vylet’s arms with his hands hooked on her wrist. Before she knew it, her face suddenly flushed into a delicious shade of red. She tried to squash it, before he saw her blushing.

              Crap, why am I flustering?  No. No.

              Pecking her cheeks with her one hand, she silently cursed herself for blushing. She suddenly thought of giving him a roundhouse kick, but she was just afraid to make a scene in a public place.

              “Is that Craig Davis?”

              “You’re screwed, bro. They recognized you.” Vylet hissed at him. But Craig remained unfazed.

              “Yeah OMG!!!” Some girl squealed.

              “Wait, who is she? Is she his gf?” Asked the other one in an acid voice.

              What the f**k? It rang cacophonously in her ears!

              “They’re coming over here! I thought you’re shying away from them?” Vylet hissed alarmingly at him.

              “I thought so, but it seems like these ladies are harmless. They weren’t the type of obsessive fans.” Craig noted.

              “Hi Craig! Can we take a picture with you?”

              Fixing his floppy bangs that covered his eyes, Craig smiled at them brightly “Sure ladies.” He mouthed and the girls gushed as they took a groupie with him.

              Err, what do these girls see on him? She could never understand the hormonal rush with all these group of teenage girls and girls at her age, hobnobbing and worshipping his band like their demigods, especially him. For her, Craig sounded like a bawling hippopotamus every freaking time he sings.

              “Thanks Craig!” They squealed in delight and the girls turned to look at her with their arched brows and walked away.

              “Did you hear what they say? They thought that I’m your gf! Urghhh! And you didn’t rectify it!” Vylet groaned.

              Craig c****d his head in bemusement “Really? I didn’t hear that!” He shot back. With that, she felt like she was in a creeping ball of shame.

              “And why didn’t you?” Craig retorted, grinning at her.

              Vylet’s face suddenly went tomato red again. He smiled at her reaction as he shook his head off.  This girl is really amusing, he thought.

              “Let’s just find a goddamn restaurant,” she said tersely, sidestepping his question.

              Finally, they spotted a restaurant. It was a quaint looking restaurant framed with lace curtains over the capiz windows, thus giving it with a rustic charm.

              “Well, the moon didn’t grant your wish. He granted my wish instead— to meet you again.” Craig piped in, smiling at her.

              “Why did you wish that?” Vylet asked, feeling the butterflies in her stomach.

              “Because my heart says so.” He crooned, shrugging off his shoulders.

              An infinitesimal moment of silence suddenly cut in. Until Craig’s laughter broke the spell.

              “Just kidding,” he added, smiling crookedly at her.

              Vylet threw him a glacial look. Seriously though, douchebag is his middle name!

              In no time, the waitress clad in a pastel uniform welcomed them with a warm smile as she handed the menu towards them. 

              “Chicken ensalada, greenpeas and pineapple juice,” Craig ordered.

              The waitress jotted down the order and turned to Vylet.

              “Shrimp pasta, mango juice and chocolate waffle,” Vylet ordered nonchalantly.

              “So would you now tell me your name?” He prodded.

              “I’m Vylet Amarillo,” she mumbled flatly as her eyes darted across the room, clearly averting his smoldering stare.

              “What a cool name, as cool as your hair color,” he noted, giving her a brooding stare.

              “Cool would be an understatement for my name.” Vylet retorted feistily, finally bouncing her gaze at him.

              “Really? Would you prefer to describe it as ‘hot’ instead?” Craig jested.

              “That’s the most unforgiving crap I’ve ever heard,” she cringed with a toss of her head.

              “Thanks” he retorted, grinning.  “…Well then, nice to meet you, Vylet” he said, musing at the beauty in front of him.

              Oddly enough but hearing her name— slipped out from his mouth, she felt a rush of euphoria —like an angel had pronounced her name with benediction.

              Gosh, Vylet. What the hell were you feeling? You don’t like to think that you’re starting to have a crush on him?

              But why not?  The other side of her brain defended.

              He had saved your life, and you must admit that he’s a good-looking guy.

              Slamming back to her senses, Vylet smiled darkly.  In no time, their orders came, and they quickly indulged in their meals.

              “So…where do you live?” asked Craig as he sliced the tender meat of lamb.

              “Elsewhere away from losers,” she replied brazenly, twisting the noodles of her pasta.

              Hearing that, Craig chuckled and rolled his eyes. Can she just be diplomatic for a moment?

              “Why do you go out with a stranger huh?” Vylet piped up with a tinge of curiosity and irritation as she nibbled the waffle.

              “You’re not a stranger for me… It’s just that I haven’t got to know you better.” Craig replied as he leaned his face forward.

              “Is that necessary?” She wondered aloud as she felt awkward with his face only an inch away from her.

              “Of course… you amused me,” he shot back as his pearly white teeth glistened like salt crystals of Pacific Ocean.

              With that, her brows shot up into a bewildered slit.

              “Hypocrite,” Vylet barbed and went on indulging her pasta.

              “And may I ask the same question with you?” He heckled as he looked at her intensely.

              Vylet squirmed at her seat with all these interrogations.

              “I didn’t go out with you! You…drag me here!” She yelped.

              “Well lady, it’s still the same gist, whether I drag you here or not, the bottom line is you’re here with me,” Craig quipped as a lopsided grin plastered across his face.  She just made a face over his point. Besides, she was partly responsible for why she was here with his loathed rockstar.

               “So… are we friends now?” He asked reluctantly, breaking the ice.

              “I… I’ll think about that,” she stammered, feeling quite abashed.

              Upon saying that, a rockstar grin flitted across his face.

              “Take your time,” he said, still grinning and continued to indulge in his meal.

              A smile played on her lips as she realized that he didn’t bother to interrogate her with all the chaos that had transpired last week, and for what had happened earlier in the CD bar. After all, he made her forget all those chaos even in his most annoying blurbs.