Monsterstruck

Chapter XXVIII: Hellbent for Love

        The summer gale whipped gently along the shoreline sending an invigorating feeling to the beach goers and all the people that lazed under the sun. Vylet sipped some cocktail as she merrily watched the people frolicking in the pristine sands, making huge castles while some of them were frolicking in the crystal blue water. She turned to look at her attire; she was donning a zebra print two piece which Skylar bought for her even if she didn’t want to wear one, but Skylar was too insistent, hence she just obliged with her demand. She was not confident to wear this skimpy outfit not that she was a conservative type, but because she wasn’t feeling it, her self -esteem was at its lowest range when it came to her body. Throughout her teenage life, she had suffered in the dilemma of being unconfident about her weight. She saw herself as a chubby girl.  She had wide hips. She had flabby arms, like it was not well-toned, lacking in muscles. Regarding with her tummy, she felt like it was a little bloated, and she hated to admit that she was blessed to have a humongous breast, which she wasn’t happy about. She just wished that she had an average size of breasts, because some clothes especially those tight-fitting ones, didn’t look good on her. Maybe she was just being conscious about it because she knew that some men would leer on her and she didn’t want to be ogled by those chauvinistic pigs.

        “Enough for being unconfident with your body, you look great with that bikini.” Rachelle noted flashing a cheeky smile. She hovered by her side wearing a wide brim hat, with a cocktail in her hands.

        “Err it’s my first time to wear a bikini,” Vylet fretted.

        “I see and you look great!” Rachelle beamed.

        “I don’t think so, but thanks,” Vylet chuckled and sipped her cocktail.

        “You look great too with your swimsuit by the way,” Vylet chirped as she mused at her electric blue high- waisted swimsuit.

        “I didn’t say that for you to compliment me as well but thanks.” Rachelle chortled.

        “No wonder, your indeed Jake’s girl.” Vylet bantered and they both let out a soft peal of laughter.

        Suddenly, they saw The Red Pistols passed by them. Vylet could feel an avalanche of fear twisting in her stomach. She already knew their real identity, for Blaze had told her so that they were also monsters like them. Out of the blue, the vocalist of the group, Tyrone shot them a grin, his black orb eyes were smiling mischievously on them.  With that, Vylet shot a panic glance to Rachelle.

        No! You can’t prey on this girl! She felt an impulse to cast a venomous look on the vocalist of the group and he seemed to be enjoying it, flashing an amused grin on his face, while the other guys were oblivious with his action.

        “Here goes the fockers,” Rachelle muttered under her breath in a fake British twang, making a face. Vylet understood the snide remark coming from her, Jake and her girl shared same dislike for these men, for they were Clamor’s archenemy, and they were cocky to the core. She kept on throwing daggers to the lead vocal of the band whose cocky air remained constant, the other men, Leon and Zion gawked on them as they strode along the fleeting crowds while Paul just shot them a poker face. Rachelle mumbled something unintelligible as they passed by.

        “Uhmm Rachelle, should we go find the Clamor boys?” Vylet egged as her nose wrinkled.

        “Oh, I think they went scuba diving with Eric except for Craig. I opted not to go with Jake because I’m a little bit tired that I’d rather lax here.” She replied with a lazy grin.

        Craig isn’t with them? Where could he be? The last time she had seen him was about an hour ago, after Blaze’s amuck.

        Before she knew it, The Red Pistols was nowhere in their sight. She heaved a deep sigh after that. She had no excuse now to Rachelle to leave their place.

        “Where is Craig?” Vylet asked in a hesitant tone.

        A smile played on Rachelle’s thin lips as if suggesting that Vylet really have a thing for him.

        “I don’t know, but I could help you find him.” Rachelle said and shot her a wink as she pulled out her iphone.

        “What are you going to do?” Vylet asked, alarmed.

         “I’m gonna call him and ask where he is.”                                                                                                                      “No!” Vylet exclaimed.

            “Yes.” Rachelle dialed his number.

            “Hi Craig, where are you?”

            “I’m here along the La Boracay Garden.”

            “He’s at the La Boracay Garden,” she whispered to Vylet.

            “Err yeah right, because I haven’t seen you with the boys so just wondering where you at, okay bye!”  Rachelle hung up.

            Another wave of panic materialized before her as it dawned on Vylet that that place, “La Boracay Garden” was where the yomas will hold a clandestine meeting tonight!  Vylet’s eyes widened in alarm as she summoned all her strength to dash back at the hotel to get her sheer kimono and afterwards, she would head straight to his place. She heard Rachelle calling after her, but she just threw her a backward glance and yelled “I’ll be back”.

              Who knew that was where those sick bastards are headed to and they might concocted some evil ploy to capture him which she couldn’t tolerate notwithstanding the fact that she was also a yoma, and he was a cresclunar owner, her kryptonite, and might be the death of her. But she couldn’t care less. Above all of these, her feelings for him dominated and she was hell bound to save Craig.

            After she got her kimono and draped it around her, she quickly looked for the La Boracay Garden.  She realized that she was panting, her blood was singing to her veins, beads of sweat danced across her forehead. She turned to look at her wristwatch and it read 12:00 noon, broad daylight and far from nightfall, but knowing the hideous airs of monsters, they chose no time to attack and besieged the prey.

        Vylet asked some passersby about the direction of the said garden resort and fortunately, they knew it and gave her the exact location. She clutched the crescent necklace he had given to her, hoping for luck.

            After what seemed like a thirty-minute walking, she finally reached the place. She mused at the beautiful garden that gaped before her, but the fear in her clawed back and yanked her away from her astonishment in the place. Blaze said that in this very place, lays a secret passage which was impenetrable by humans.

      “f**k Craig, what has gotten into you to go here?” She mumbled petulantly to herself.

        She scoured at the whole surroundings; the deafening silence of the place increased the fear sweeping in her jittery nerves. She saw the “La Boracay Hotel” beside the “La Boracay Café”  and an aisle to another….garden?

        “Craig!!!!!” She yelled at the top of her lungs.

        She didn’t care if she was making noise that might piss the customers of the resort. After all, it looked like there were no people around the proximity. Strange as it seemed, for a typical summer day or so she thought as she caught a glimpse of a group of people from the distance who just emerged from the shower room of the resort.

        “Craig!!!! Where the hell are you?” She shouted laced with fear and with few quick strides, she stumbled upon a thorn of bushes, and it pricked her skin, blood oozed in her ankle.

        “Ouch!” She winced. But she managed to stand up despite the pain that caused by that small cut and continued to look for him.

        Suddenly she heard a noise, and it was coming to her direction.

        “Vylet?” 

        Yes, it was the musical voice that she was yearning to hear. She spun around to face him.

        “Craig!” Vylet cried happily and pulled him into a hug.

        “I was worried sick about you. I thought you have been captured by those monsters!” Vylet deadpanned.

        Craig was dumbfounded by her action, but he couldn’t help but to smile. He pulled her closer and wounded his arms around her waist. They were both standing in a greenery shrub, the front passage of another garden connected to the aisle.

        “How did you know that I’m here?” He rasped as he cupped her face.

        “Rachelle told me and what are you doing here?” She asked in a hoarse voice as she looked at the greenery enveloping around them.

        “It’s a resort, more likely a garden resort and I’m planning to set a date here by the way, but you ruined it,” he taunted playfully tucking her purple locks behind her ears.

        “A date? You moron!” Vylet cried indignantly and pushed him away.

        “Why? Is there something wrong with this place? Look it is so beautiful!” He shot back with his arms spread wide.

        “Yes, danger abounds this place, Craig!” She interjected as her face hardened.

        “What?” Craig’s brows pulled together as he c****d his head in a flurry.

            She did not answer as her lips trembled, groping for words.

        “Look Vylet, I know monsters are everywhere and the murder that took place last night was just a proof, but I don’t want to go back to Tagaytay carrying those gruesome memories. I want to relish the beauty of this paradise. Come on it’s our last day here and tomorrow we’ll fly back home.”  He crooned tenderly as he paced towards her.

        He was right. She didn’t want either to carry gruesome memories when she got back at home; those mess that she had created. She wanted to savor the beauty of this magnetic paradise as well, whatever danger lies ahead.

        She cracked a smile.

        “I’m so sorry I’m just being paranoid; I don’t want to lose you.” 

        Upon blurting out those words, her catlike eyes popped wide and so did his.

        “Did I hear it right?” Craig said dripping with happiness.

        “Maybe yes.” Vylet replied sheepishly, flushing tomato red.

        “Why?”  He asked as his lips twitched into a smile.

        “Because you’re my…. friend.” She faltered.

        “I don’t think that’s the reason.” He chuckled, shaking his head.

        “Well, is there any?” She kept it smug.

        “Yes.” Craig looked at her intensely and her heart melted with such fervor tenderness in his chestnut brown eyes, with his lips only an inch away from her.

        “I…”

        “Say it Vylet, say you love me too.” He crooned closing his eyes, bending his forehead onto hers, gently rubbing the back of his hands on her cheeks. His touch burnt against her skin. Her bones suddenly liquefied like the first time he held her hands.

        “Yes! I do love you Craig Samuel Davis.” She finally said heartily. With that, he pressed his lips against her and hooked her arms around his neck. Their lips moved in harmony, tracing the sweet curves of each other’s. So, this was it, her first kiss that felt like heaven; all the glorious feeling coursed deep down in every fiber of her heart. She was sharing a kiss with the man she ever loved her one true love. It felt like the earth had tipped into its axis.

        “I do love you more Vylet Amarillo.” Craig rasped and scooped her with his arms and tactfully kisses her nose. They wandered happily, with their hands and hearts entwined.

        “You’re seriously killing yourself for giving me a date huh. Come on, you don’t have to do that.” She jested as they walked along the shore.

    “I will do anything for you Vylet. I’ll risk it all even my life.” He beamed amorously.

    “I don’t want you to put yourself in danger just for my happiness.” She yelped.

    “That’s how much I love you.” He said as he leaned closer to her face.

    “I love you more and I’m also hell bent to fight for you, to fight for us,” she replied, looking at him intensely.

        He just replied with a smack on her lips and dragged her playfully to the crystal-clear water.

        “Swimming time!” He crowed.

        “No way,”

        But before she could disagree, he scooped her again with his arms and put her legs between his neck.

        Beneath the water, they met and shared a quick kiss, amidst the water current that rhythmically entwined their bodies and soul.

        “This is what I call a date,” Vylet rasped wounding her arms around his neck.

        “Really? Sorry not to give you a…”  Her lips suddenly pressed against his before he could continue. She playfully traced the curves of his perfectly sculpted lips with her fingers; the lips that made her feel all the blissful feeling, the lips that made her fly, the lips that made her forget what she really is, the lips that sung such melodies she had both hated and loved.

        Will you still love me if I’m not what you think I am?” Vylet asked overwrought, looking blissfully into his eyes.

        He placed her dainty hands to his chest. “It will still shout your name hell or highwater. Yes, people do change but my feelings for you will remain the same, even when you became the most annoying person in the world, whether you changed physically or mentally, I’m still here.”

        But she couldn’t contain her doubt. Maybe someday he would eat his words. But she didn’t want to ruin this moment with her first boyfriend. Craig seemed to read his bothered expression.

        “Why?” He asked worriedly as he held her chin. “You don’t believe me, do you?”

        “No. I do in believe you. I’m just afraid…” she fretted.

        “Nothing to be afraid of… as long as we got each other.” He crooned. The light coming from the sun glistened in their damp skin.

        “I know,” she smiled cheekily, and they shared a kiss again, despite the unwavering waves tossing on them. She noticed his cresclunar was glowing again, it emitted a blinding white light, but this time it didn’t make her wince or back away from him.

        “I think we got the blessing of the cresclunar,” he bantered musing at it. She turned to look at the fancy necklace he had given to her and flashed a warm smile. Strange as it seemed, the light strike on the fancy necklace and it didn’t make her flinch as the usual feeling she got everytime she would come near to the amulet.

        The white light went up to the immaculate white sky that framed over the horizon, and it vanished just before their eyes, leaving them in astonishment. They cherished their first day of being a couple as they ran after each other and shed end up being caught by him. They even wrote their names on the sand, just like the usual couples in love at the beach and enclosing it by drawing a huge heart. They wandered along the vicinity of Boracay and even took a snapshot of themselves in a nearby photobooth.

        “Now put your best smile on this one, just think of something that puts a big smile on your face.” He admonished swiftly as he set the camera.

        “Can I think of someone instead of something?” Vylet squealed in a whimsical tone.

        “Someone?” Craig drawled as he flashed a crooked smile.

        “Yes, this adorable someone,” she beamed as she shot him a wink.

        “So, I’m thinking about this guy, who I really, really hate at first, and never did I thought that I will be smitten by him, and eventually I fell in love with him slowly and surely,” she said in a tenderness infused tone and leaned closer to him. In a jiffy, their lips converged, and the camera flashed; snapping a shot, a picture perfect of a young couple in love, sharing a kiss; a kiss that glorified all the blissful feelings they have in their hearts, hell or highwater, both hearts knew no bounds and hell bent to fight for their love.