Monsterstruck

CHAPTER XI: Summer Tales

        Summer had shaped its way as the glaring sun embraced it tightly like an old friend that it missed.  It came again, along with its tales that intertwined with one’s nostalgic summer memories that flashed with kaleidoscopic swiftness. Sooner or later, it’d pass and pass it did for us, leaving us another stories and tales to tell, memories to reminisce and hearts to mend.

          Vylet woke up as the sun merrily basked outside. Its rays had clawed its way through the vast greeneries that stretched along the outskirts of the city. The summer gale smelled like flowers as it gently brushed against her cheeks. It was summertime again, her favorite season. It was a very splendid summer morning to start. She pulled out her favorite neon green tank top and a white short from her closet. Staring at herself in the mirror, she tied her hair up in a bun and managed to crack a sunny smile.

        While everybody was hitting the beach with their swimsuit pieces, Vylet and Blaze figured the hell out of summer through racing with their mountain bikes.  What could be more fun with some adrenaline rush? It had been their summer ritual since they became best of friends.

         “I thought you’re going to Baguio with your stepdad.” Vylet piped as she halted.

        “Nah... I’m always bummed out everytime I’m with him. Besides, Tagaytay and Baguio have so much in common, geographically.” Blaze replied.

        “So, you don’t have any plans this summer?” She asked, whipping her gaze into his face. Gradually, her gaze raked into his physique. His arms were now way chiseled than before. She felt like she was staring at Machete’s statue. His skin complexion was now tanned, as she remembered him having an alabaster skin way back then.

        “I don’t know.  Anything that is not reckless and stupid will do for me,” Blaze retorted with a lopsided smirk. “…how ‘bout you?”

        “Same old, same old.” Vylet replied with her gaze still fixated at his brawny arms. 

        “Why don’t you take a picture of it? It lasts longer.” Blaze bantered as he caught her staring at his arms.

        “Have you been hitting the gym?” Vylet asked, ignoring his banter.

          “Gym? I don’t need that damn place. I’ve been working out by myself at home,” he said haughtily and flexed his biceps.

              “Whoa, I see. Chics on the blocks seems to be gushing over you everytime you walk past by them.” Vylet mused.

              “I’m afraid to say that I’m not interested to any chics on the block you’re talking about,” Blaze chuckled dryly and ran his fingers through his hair.

“I didn’t do it to be the next hunk to swoon for. I did it for myself.” He countered.  And for you. He wanted to clip that out.

        “Well, your body looks like kind of Jacob Black from Twilight,” she quipped.  Abruptly, she let out a wild gasp. “Whoa… don’t tell me you’re now a member of a pack?!” she bantered as she covered her mouth.

          “Kind of,” Blaze retorted with a grin. It was half-truth and half- lie. “…wanna see more of my Jacob Black bod?” He teased as he threatened to pull out his shirt.

       Vylet wrinkled her nose. “I’m only a fan of his werewolf version. He’s more of a hero when he’s in his wolf form,” she said truthfully.

      “But beware, because there’s a monster in every hero just like Edward Cullen.” Blaze added meaningfully.

        Monster.

      Vylet’s heart instantly did a somersault upon hearing that word. If only Blaze had an idea how that freaking word could make her insides turned cold. She fell silent for a minute, drowning out the onslaught of memories associated by that word. Little did she know, Blaze had sensed her uneasiness. He never meant to make her feel that way. Sucking a deep breath, he changed the topic.

               “Hey, heard that Craig asked you out to tag along with them in Bora but you bailed out?” Blaze piped up, dismissing the topic.

               “Who told you?” Vylet asked incredulously. Then it dawned on her that there could be no one else but her cousin—Skylar. Ugh.

              “Yeah. I think they’re on that paradise now, probably soaking their asses out.” Vylet replied, wishing that she was there with them if it wasn’t with Craig’s feisty childhood sweetheart who obviously doesn’t like her, Vygnet.

              “Why did you ditch his invitation? You’re friends with him, aren’t you?” Blaze asked with a sarcastic edge in his voice.

  “Blaze, I guess I’m just like you. I won’t do anything reckless and stupid this summer,” she replied quickly. “…besides, you know that I’m not of a swimmer, right?” She added.

                “I see. You just made the right decision.” Blaze quipped as he patted her shoulders.

   “By the way, I met this Vygnet girl at their party,” Vylet piped up. “…she was like…all over Craig.” She added with annoyance.

               “So… does it bother you?” He asked, wriggling his brows.

               The question hit her like an arrow had been struck in her chest.  With that, Vylet felt the heat surge up her face.

      “The hell are you talking about?” She huffed.  The way her own voice sounded betrayed her. She tried to conceal the guilt that threatened to wash all over her senses.

       “And the only thing that bothers me about him is the way his father died. The way things went for him… was so strange.”

               But Blaze didn’t look convinced.

       “So, you’re playing this sleuth chic now? Vylet, you’re no Nancy Drew! You can’t figure it all out by yourself. Can’t you see? That case went rotten as years passed by.” Blaze sulked.

               He was right. She was no Nancy Drew.  But knowing that the likes of her did this to his dad could help.

               “You don’t understand Blaze and I bet you will not.” Vylet shot back indignantly, looking over the elephant clouds framed across the horizon.

              “I’m afraid to say that you’re right.” He replied coldly.

 “But I do trust myself. And I’m determined to do that,” she asserted firmly.

  “Vylet. Why are you so concerned about him? Because it doesn’t look like it’s just your fascination about that damn case of his dad.” Blaze speculated.

              "What does that supposed to mean?” She asked with an arched brow.

     “What does that supposed to mean? Oh, just only the possibility that you’re falling in love with him! Is that you wanna hear but you’re just scared to admit it? And what makes it even scarier is ...this guy in front of you— who has been madly in love with you, even admitted it by his own goddamn tongue in front of you!” Blaze interjected.

                Hearing that, Vylet went agape. Blaze’s words cut through the morning air with a sharp intensity.

   “Admit it, Vylet. You’re falling for that guy!” He prodded, hurt swimming in his eyes. Vylet wanted to cup her best friend’s face and tell him that he was just overreacting. A part of her also wanted to punch him for being such a nutfreak in reading her emotions. He knew her damn well. She hated the fact that maybe he was right—she’s falling for Craig.

               “This conversation is going nowhere.” Vylet mumbled, miffed, and hopped onto her bike.

                “I thought you’ll not do anything reckless and stupid this summer. Well joke’s on you!”  Blaze countered in a ragged voice.

              Vylet just shook her head and slammed down on her pedal and wordlessly sped her way out of Blaze’s sight.  As she pedaled, she felt a twinge of guilt.  Why does he have to be that outspoken? And… why does he have to be right?  

              She wanted to get away. She felt the adrenaline rush surge all over her as the summer breeze whipped past by her. Carelessly, she veered her way towards the left intersection of the road that was lined up with thick bushes.

               “Oh shoot!” Vylet exclaimed as her bike went out of control. She fell over the bushes, accumulating her gashes around her forehead. She felt her head stung as she strained to get up.

              “Vylet!” called a familiar velvety voice.

              That voice!

              Was she just hearing things?

              Slowly, she shot her head up.

              She couldn’t believe what she was seeing right now that she had to blinked twice, thinking that it was just a pigment of her imagination and may disappear into a puff of smoke, leaving her in clouds of blur.

              “Why…are you… here? You’re supposed to be in Bora, aren’t you?” Vylet asked, dazed.

               But he just replied his rockstar grin. Craig closed in and gently held Vylet’s arms.  He methodically checked her arms if she had been sprained from falling. Afterward, she carefully latched her arms onto his back and hoisted her.  Vylet was too stunned to speak as she tried to catch her breath. She could hear her blood pounding in her ears.

               “Don’t be shaky.” Craig mumbled under his breath.

    “I’m not,” she retorted, flushing. Thank God, he couldn’t see it.

    “You should have bought a kiddie bike instead.” Craig remarked snidely.

    “It’s just an accident.” Vylet replied weakly. Too weak to play bickering game at him.

    “Yeah right, an accident. Gotta credit you for trying,” he scoffed.

    “Where are we going?” She asked, fumbling.

    “At Dr. Bautista’s clinic, few blocks away from here.” Craig answered. He could smell her irresistible lavender scent. He wondered if her sweat smelled like that.  He wanted to cuddle her all night and nuzzle on her—

      “You could now put me down,”

     “I won’t until we reach Dr. Bautista’s clinic. He’s our family doctor if you might ask. Besides I felt like carrying a ten-year-old kid, so no fuss.” Craig jested.

              “Wow, touché.” Vylet replied, rolling her eyes.

        Soon enough, they had reached Dr. Bautista’s clinic. A tall wrought-iron gate loomed before them. The gate was open, and Craig treaded his way inside, still with Vylet clung on his back. Damp green moss and wild vines that clung to the oatmeal painted walls gave an eerie touch to the ambiance of the surroundings of the clinic.  Surprisingly, it didn’t look like a clinic— but more like a botanical garden!  The feeling of nostalgia crept towards Craig as he reminisced the early days of his father.

“Is this where we supposed to go?” asked Vylet, mortified.

 “Yes. Dr. Martin Bautista’s clinic was inspired by my dad’s botanical garden,” he said matter-of-factly.

               “Oh okay.” She replied as she scanned the whole area. It looked like creepy. She could see in her naked eyes the tiny black spots and bits of moss stained in the planks of the garden’s bridge, an aisle which they must cross before they reached into the clinic’s main door.

                As expected, the wooden plank squeaked and moaned as Craig stepped on it. By the time that they have reached the main door, the eucalyptic scent of the air greeted them.

                Craig looked around and took a deep breath.

        “What’s wrong?” Vylet asked, sensing his uneasiness.

               “Nothing. I bet this clinic hasn’t been renovated since the last three years,” he responded.

              “Glad to see you, Craig!” boomed the bespectacled gray-haired man clad in all white. With that, Craig whirled around.

     “Whoa. Dr. Bautista. I’m sorry. I’m just about to knock. I didn’t see anyone there lately. Where’s Mrs. Perez? She used to attend to the patients before you meet them?”

“She passed away, months ago.” The doctor replied with a sad smile.

Craig’s mouth hung open and mumbled an apology to the doctor.

    “Put me down.” Vylet hissed.  Craig did as he’d been told.

    “Anyway, what can I do for you? And with your lovely companion?” the doctor asked, cracking a smile as he adjusted his spectacles.

    “Oh, she fell over the bushes…with her bike.” Craig noted.

    “Can you make it sound not that stupid?” Vylet groaned at him.

        Dr. Bautista laughed merely and beckoned them inside. He methodically put Vylet into a stretcher and examined her pulse and had her x-rayed.  No bones had been fractured, just a minor sprain on her left arm.  Afterward, he proceeded to rip a long thin scrap from the table of white cloth and twisted it around her arms.

        “Haven’t seen such a nice hair color.” Dr. Bautista remarked.

        Vylet smiled briefly at the raw humor of the doctor. Maybe he was doing it to ease the pain. Her eyes darted towards Craig’s direction who was sitting with his legs squared at the leather sofa, with both his arms folded across his chest, eyes closed He was taking a nap.  She winced in pain as the doctor dripped some syrup against the gashes in her forehead.

        “This will make the pain less painful.” The doctor said soothingly as he tended to the remaining gashes in her skin.

        How could the doctors just say that and make it sound better? This will make the pain less painful. How could the pain even be less painful?  If the pain lessens, you’re still in pain, the only difference is — it may not be as painful as before, but a whole less painful.  Yet, you still feel the pain.  

Slowly, she felt her lids shut down and she fell into a slumber.

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        Anger and remorse welled up on Blaze’s veins as he took sharp turns in his bike, pedaling towards the hills, searching for Vylet.  He thought of calling her up but discarded it for he knew that she was not going to answer his call.  He searched frantically to the places she might go, calling out her name. He knew that Vylet would not head home that quickly. She must be somewhere near here. Aggravated, he cursed himself for saying those words. He wanted to punish himself by eating cow’s s**t.

        Maybe it was about time for her to know the truth, for it will set her free away from danger. Maybe it was time for her to know that the way she saw the world around that douchebag Craig wasn’t going to be the way she’d see in her real world. Surely, she’d have her happy ending but not in this pathetic and god-forsaken human world, but instead in his world— that was also her world, to where they both belong— to where they were destined to live solidly.

          As Blaze scoured around, he caught a glimpse of a thick stand of shrubs, and a bike.

        He jumped off his bike and quickly ran toward it. It looked like someone who rode it fell over. He scanned the bike and it screamed ‘It needs to be overhauled’.

    “s**t, where could she’d been?”  He combed out the area but found no trace of her. Suddenly it dawned on him that maybe she met an accident with her bike… or someone abducted her! All those horrible thoughts made his heart skip in a beat.

    Impulsively, he pulled out his phone and called Mrs. Amarillo.

    “Hello Tita Marcia, Was Vylet already at home?” He asked on the other line.

    “What do you mean Blaze? I thought she’s with you?”

    “Yea, she was, lately. Then we have this little argument and she stormed off. I’m currently searching for her… and I found her bike leaning against this thick stand of shrubs, but she’s nowhere here. I’m sorry. I know I’ve should not let her—”

    He was cut off in the mid- sentence and heard Vylet’s mom let out a wild gasp.

      “You’re seriously giving me a panic attack Blaze… I’m so disappointed. I’ll call her.” Blaze could hear Mrs. Amarillo clucked her tongue out of disappointment and hung up.  With that, he felt that he was in a creeping ball of shame. Mrs. Amarillo’s tone sounded reproachful, but he couldn’t blame her, he deserved it. It was his fault.

    “Arghh!” He poked his head for being so stupid and reckless. Well, who was laughing now?