Monsterstruck

Chapter XXII: Paradise

        “I’m going to Bora with the Clamor boys,” Vylet announced happily to Skylar who just got off from the plane about an hour ago from her Cebu vacation.

        “Wow. I can’t believe it though. You’re going to a paradise with your loathed band.” Skylar jested as she slumped herself onto the couch.

        “Hey, that was past tense,” Vylet retorted smiling at her as she munched some cornflakes.

        “Is Craig courting you? Sorry, but there’s a lot to catch up with you guys.”

        “Yeah, he is.” Vylet affirmed, blushing tomato red.

        “Oh! I wouldn’t be surprised,” Skylar mouthed flashing a smile. “Tell me more about it,” she coaxed animatedly as rush of excitement filled in her puppy gray eyes. Vylet launched into her story on how it all started and all their escapades together. Skylar wanted to hear the nuts and bolts of their courtship and she did as she was told. And as expected, her cousin couldn’t help but to gush over the sweet nothings of Craig.

        “Aww he is such a darling Vylet. If I were you, I’m going to say yes!” Skylar chirped.

        “Relax, I’m not that easy, although I like him.” Vylet said with her voice imploring.

        “Ughh. Maria Clara times are way over honey. If you like him, then go tell him. And besides you have mentioned that there’s this Vygnet girl who seemed to be all over him.”

        “Yeah, but I haven’t seen her since the last time we first met.”

        “Maybe she already backed off for she knew that Craig was not into her. Imagine, the Clamor dudes are all support on your tandem! And they all flocked into your house just to serenade you!” Skylar gushed.

        Vylet liked her cousin for having her around when it came to girl talk. She was her perennial girl buddy with all these hormones stuffs.

        Suddenly the doorbell’s buzz pulled them away from their gushing fits.

        “Hold on Sky,” she said as she went outside and turned to open the gate. It was Blaze.

        “Hi.”

        “Hello, come in,” Vylet beckoned.

        “Well, I came here to deliver a bit of good news,” Blaze beamed as they went inside. Skylar nodded to him to acknowledge his presence and Blaze waved pleasantly to her.

        “So, what is it?” Vylet probed, bubbling with excitement.

        “Dad booked me a flight to Bora this coming week.” Blaze announced joyfully.

        Skylar and Vylet exchanged surprised looks.

        “You mean you’re gonna go with me?” Vylet shot back incredulously.

        “Uh huh, since dad’s business trip is somewhere in Aklan and I was on leave, so yeah.” He confirmed.

        “Wow, so I’m going to be a bummer here.” Skylar puckered her lips.

        “Oh Sky, how I wish I could bring you along with us but…”

        “No just kidding, besides I already went into a trip so no problem.” Skylar backpedaled as she shook her head.

        “I guess mom will be glad to hear that news since she seems like in hysterics with the thought of her daughter going alone with a trip in an island with a group of boys.”  Vylet said saturated with relief.

        “Really?  Why did she allow you?” Blaze asked incredulously.

        “Unless Tita Marcia likes Craig for her.” Skylar butted in and turned to read Blaze’s expression.

        “I mean she trusts Vylet.” She backpedaled upon reading his surly expression.

        “Well, I guess, and she should be.” Vylet replied, shooting them a lazy grin.

        Blaze cleared his throat before the waves of jealousy flood all over him.

        “Can I also have a bowl of cornflakes?” Blaze demanded to Vylet who was pouring milk in her cornflakes.

        “Of course,” Vylet mouthed.

        “Thanks,”

         Blaze sat down beside Skylar who rose to turn on the TV.  The room was now waxed with an awkward silence for a moment until Skylar went batshit crazy upon seeing her favorite local band performing live in a music channel.

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        The statuesque beauty that would make the supermodels make a run for their money held her breath, as her vain eyes mused over her physique in the body mirror that stood beside her four-poster bed.

        “Might as well give that purple haired chic to take a hit on her self- esteem,” Vygnet muttered as she grinned a lopsided smirk. She was fitting the striped royal blue and white bikini that she just bought yesterday for the Boracay trip.

         Vygnet was the epitome of a goddess in flesh. Blessed with sharp facial features as well as with a glorious body to boot for, she couldn’t help but to feel vain and proud. Needless to say, her human features were beyond perfect, earthly blessed but what lies behind this beauty was abominable… for all of this was rubbish if she was not completely human and couldn’t have the man she’d been yearning for.

        “All set huh.” Verona chimed in.

        “Of course,” Vygnet replied curtly.

        Verona flicked the lighter and lit the cigarette that dangled in her lower lip. She blew out a smoke and mused over her.

        “Have a safe trip, dear. I just wish Craig will spare you a look over your hot bod, but I guess he’ll hold no interest with that instead his attention will be all to Vylet…”

        Vygnet’s nostrils flared up.

         “Some mouth you have, Verona. Will you just leave me alone!!!” Vygnet bristled.

        “Hey, I don’t want to dishearten you, but truth hurts Vygnet, you can’t do anything about it.”

        “How many times do you have to drum it into me huh? I know that I am a monster that I’m doomed with this for lifetime, that no one could break this curse and that sucks. But that won’t make me love him any less for he’s the only man I want, notwithstanding the fact that he’s a cresclunar owner and he might be the death of me. But you know what ticks me off? That the man I love is in love with a monster too, and that is so unfair! I guess I would be relieve if he’s in love with someone who is completely a human, but he’s in love with that girl whom he just met few months ago, and me; the one who’s been there for him through thick in thin, had been rejected, and now trying to conceal all the pain, convincing myself that someday it will dawn on him that I’m the one for him…until that Vylet came and ruin all my fancies!” Vygnet broke into tears.

        Verona wanted to console her and pulled her into a hug, but she was having a cold feet. She knew that it was all her fault.

        “Well, who told you that life is fair huh? Of course, it is indeed unfair, and it is cruelly selfish!” Verona chortled.

        “Thanks for putting me more in a deep s**t. Thanks for your motherly love! I just wish mom was here!” Vygnet said sarcastically and she sauntered out in the room, leaving Verona in a face that was contorted in anguish, and sorry for herself and most especially to her lovelorn child.

        She whimpered silently and grounded her spent cigarette.

        “I’m so sorry Vygnet, I’m the one to blame. If only you knew how much I want to tell the truth that I’m really your mother.”

        Then her mind schemed up into something. She even imagined herself sipping cocktails in that white talcum fine beach, with Vygnet’s company and they seemed to be happy prattling about anything under the sun, without any interference of her fancy about Craig, just she and Vygnet-- lost in the magnetic beauty of that palm studded paradise.

          Meanwhile in her innocent air, Verona didn’t know about where her other child was.  She’d been looking for her over the years, bathed with hope in her heart that someday she’d be with her soon. Vygnet was barely four years old when she and Adela decided to adopt her, without Adela’s knowledge that child was biologically related to them, for she kept in touch with the child before they decided to adopt her. But the aching loss for her other child spurred on her when her other child had been abducted.

Verona went livid over that, her heart was torn into pieces as she looked for her baby, but she couldn’t be mad at the nun for she took care of them while she was away.

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        Two days passed…

        The anticipated summer getaway finally came. The crowd wove in and out in the terminal as the plane was about to taxi out within half an hour. 

        “Lo and behold! Bora we’re coming for you!” Alex crowed as he slammed his bandmates into high five.

        Craig’s eyes were combing for someone. He would look at his wristwatch momentarily.

        “I just hope that she will not bail out at the last moment.” Cameron piped, referring to Vylet.

        “Here she goes,” Jake said.

        Craig spun around only to see Vygnet, clad in an easy breezy outfit. His spirits droop a little for he thought that Jake was referring to Vylet. Vygnet hollered at them and at their manager, Eric who just smiled tentatively at her.

        “Hello guys!” Vygnet greeted gleefully and put off her mini trolley bag.

        “Hello Vygnet, looking great.” Craig noted.

        “I’ve always been,” she shot back smugly and put on her sun visor.

        “By the way where are your girls?” She turned towards his bandmates.

        “Rachelle will be in a moment soon” Jake replied.

        “Jessica is on a seminar for a week in Davao.” Alex said.

        “Amber got some skin rashes all over her, so needless to say she won’t make it.” Cameron countered glumly.

        “Vylet is here!”  Craig exclaimed animatedly as he spotted her from the distance, her purple hair was bouncing up and down as she scurried towards their way.

        “Right, she’s here.” Vygnet muttered bitterly, rolling her eyes, thankful that she had her shades on.

        “Wait who’s that guy?” The Clamor dudes asked quizzically pointing towards Blaze’s direction, whose walking with her in tow.

        “Hi Vylet!” They greeted as they looked quizzically at Blaze.

        “Hello guys!” Vylet greeted amiably and patted Blaze’s shoulder. “By the way, this is Blaze, my friend. He’s also headed to Bora so he just tags along.”

        Blaze cracked a forced smile at them. “Why, Hello Clamor dudes.”

        “Oh really, this would be hella’ fun!” Alex sniggered as if he was declaring a riot to the rivals.

        “Hello Craig.” Blaze greeted as he shot him a lopsided smirk.

        Craig just nodded at him, quite irritated by his presence.

        “Nice to see you again, Vylet.” Vygnet drawled.

        “And Blaze, this is Vygnet Ferrer.”

        Blaze extended his hands to her, and he could feel the tight grip of her fingers to him that he had to flex his fingers afterwards. Vygnet just smiled slyly at him. Minutes later, Jake’s girlfriend, Rachelle arrived, clad in floral romper.

        When they got inside the plane, the guys settled in their seats. Jake was seated beside Rachelle, while Alex and Cameron shared a seat. Eric, the manager occupied a seat beside a middle-aged man who sat behind Alex.

        Vylet was searching for a seat when abruptly, somebody yanked her hand and pulled her beside him.

        “Seat plan is already settled lady, the plan is you’ll seat with me.” Craig crooned and smiled crookedly at her.

        “Damn why are you guys are making a big fuss out of seats?  It’s so high school fieldtrip.” Vylet chuckled and went on to put her stuff in the overhead compartment.

        “Well, I guess we’ll share a seat.” Blaze mumbled to Vygnet.

        “I never thought that you would be here.” Vygnet said flippantly and sat petulantly as she glanced at Craig.

        “Me too. But I’m just like you Vygnet, I had to keep my eye on my girl.”  Blaze said in a compelling voice.

        The stewardess’s voice resonated in the background announcing the plane was about to take off and ordered the passengers to strap in their seatbelts.

        “Are you aware that your guy bud likes you?” Craig asked casually.

        “He already told me that,” she answered as she flipped the pages of the pocketbook nonchalantly.

        “So… what did you say?”

        “I said that he’s just a brother to me.”

        “Really? So… you do not like him? I mean you don’t see him as a potential boyfriend, don’t you?” Craig asked intensely, looking at her pretty face. Vylet squirmed at her seat as she continued to flip the pages.

        “Okay, guess that’s a rhetorical question, I’m sorry I’m such an ass for asking that. But how about me?”  Craig asked overwrought, his Adam’s apple loped up and down, waiting for an answer.

        “Can you stop asking questions like that or I’ll switch a seat with your manager,” she shot back.

        “Fine, fine, no more interrogations Ms. Pokerface,”

        “Good.” She mouthed feistily.

        But still, Craig couldn’t help but to smile. His spirits heightened upon hearing from her what Blaze was to her, that she didn’t see him as a potential boyfriend, though they have been best buds for a long time.  A glimmer of hope flickered in his heart for the possibility that maybe she felt the same way about him too. He looked at her in the corner of his eyes as her nose was buried in her book. Vylet glanced gradually at him through the screen of her hair and delighted to found out that Craig was staring at her, his chestnut eyes were imploring that she had to catch her breath. She couldn’t keep up with what she was reading as she went rigid at her seat.

        “Can you please stop staring at me?” She fretted.

        “Sorry I can’t do that.” Craig apologized as he leaned closer to her. She could smell the musk scent of his cologne.

        “Am I really that distracting huh?” He asked, grinning a playful smirk.

        “I hate to admit that you are,” she replied without looking at him.

        “Then you’re also distracting me…” he crooned, “In a beautiful way.” He added.

        Vylet stifled a smile as she shook her head and tried to keep up in reading.

        The plane swept by the bay and Craig peered from below. “Wow amazing view from here,” he mused. Vylet shot up and also turned to look below and enthralled to see the stellar view.

          “Paradise,” she sounded almost breathless and they looked at each other, as their eyes filled with anticipation and glee. 

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        The scenery was a breathtaking magnet with its fine talcum beach, no wonder it was hailed as the finest beaches in Philippine archipelago. It was cradled in a butterfly shaped and palm studded island that was situated in the island of Western Visayas.  Tourists filed along the shore, treading their feet at the white sand that looked like a baby powder.

        “Touch down Bora!” Jake exclaimed as he draped his arms to her girl, Rachelle. Cameron and Alex couldn’t help turning their heads to the hot babes walking past them.

        “Some boyfriends you are,” Vygnet quipped, shaking her head. The two guys just grinned at her and went on checking out some prospects.

    “I bet that you two are very thankful that your girls didn’t make it here, eh?” Eric said knowingly.

        “They really are.” Craig chimed in and walked past them.

        “Bet Jake will be doing the same thing if I wasn’t here.”  Rachelle countered as she eyed his boyfriend sternly.

        “I wouldn’t be surprised if he does.” Blaze bantered in. Jake just threw him a dirty look.

        “Let’s get unloaded guys before we dive in.” Eric reminded and beckoned them to the hotel.

        Vylet was savoring the picturesque beauty that she only saw before at the glossy pages of a magazine; she couldn’t believe that it will crank into life—that she would set foot in the fine sand of Boracay. 

        “Dream came true, eh?” Vygnet yanked her away from her reveries.

        “Yeah.”  Vylet answered vaguely and wandered her eyes at the fleeting crowd on the shore.

        “Well welcome to Bora, Vylet. I hate to start in a negative note, but this may be one of your dreams and it did come true, and I’ll let you have this moment. But I won’t let you have one of your fancies… the one you’re trying to lure away from me.” Vygnet told her brazenly.

        Vylet was stunned to speak; she did not expect her blurting snide remarks at her in this paradise.

        “I won’t let you have my dream, and that is him, Craig. I will let your dream with him, stay as a dream in your dreamland honey.” Vygnet said with a sharp edge in her voice and walked past her shoulders as she headed to the hotel.

        “Vylet come on!” Blaze called from the distance and beckoned her inside the hotel.

          Vylet took a deep breath and willed her thundered heart inside the hotel and spared a look towards Craig, who was talking to Vygnet and they seemed to be in a jolly mood.

        Vygnet’s snide words were ringing in her head as they settled in their room assignments where she’d share a room with Rachelle and Vygnet. Marginally, she thought that this place was a paradise, but now she was having a second thought that maybe it was a piece of hell, disguised as a beautiful sanctuary.