THE KINGDOM OF THIRST

Written by :Alstroemeria. Maeve's Pov "Maeve, you're coming with us tonight right?" Eurika suddenly appeared in my front. Tinignan ko siya na may halong pagtataka. "Where?" I asked my spoiled brat b***h bestfriend. Yes, she's my best friend and I don't why I befriended her before . Like we aren't compatible in each other. Hindi ko nga malaman kung kailan ko sila naging kaibigan ni Harley. Para silang kabute bigla nalang sumulpot sa buhay ko. And they ruined my peace. Ang laki ng pinagbago ko simula 'nung dumating silang dalawa sa buhay ko. Naalala ko pa 'nun dati, nasa bahay lang ako parati. Nanonood ng mga movies o hindi kaya nagbabasa ng books. Hindi naman sa hindi ako pinapayagang lumabas nina mom and dad sadyang ayaw ko lang sa labas. Bukod kasi sa maingay madami ring matang magmamasid sa 'yo. Actually palagi nga akong pinipilit nila mom and dad dati na palabasin ako at magkipaglaibigan sa mga bata pero pilit tanggi ako. Tapos sa tuwing sasabihin ko na sila nalang makipaglaro sa akin, sasabihin naman nila na busy sila kesyo madaming silang works na aasikasuhin . "Hindi pinaalam ni Harley sa 'yo?" she asked again and I nodded. "Oh damn this is insane! Okay ganito kasi may gaganaping party mamayang gabi. It's like a horror costume party and you don't have to worry for your costume because I will let you borrow mine."i "A horror costume party? C'mon, the Halloween is done and it's January now. Isn't it weird?" I faced her to see if she agree to me but I didn't expect that she will smiled inwardly. "It's not weird. It's going to be fun!" masayang tili niya sabay hila sa akin papunta sa taas ng kwarto ko. Napailing nalang ako at hinayaan siyang hilahin ako. °~° After a long hour finally she's done with my make up and my hair. Tumayo na ako at tinignan ko ang aking sarili sa salamin. I almost fainted when I saw myself. Darn it. I look like a real ghost! Nakasuot kasi ako ng white na dress na lagpas tuhod tapos sa likod nito ay may mga tuyong dugo na sa tingin ko ay design na talaga. Yung buhok ko naman is nakalugay at ang sakto lang kasi mahaba yung buhok taga tiyan ko. And what's funny more is my make up. I really don't appreciate it but I don't have a choice but to wear it for Eurika. That spoiled brat b***h! "Isn't it beautiful?" "Oh God you startled me! Look at you!" puna ko kay Eurika habang pinanlalakihan ko siya ng mata. Akala ko yung make up ko ang pinakapangit pero mas may papangit pa pala. I laughed in a witch way. "Let's go na nga hmpk!" inis nitong saad at naunang bumaba kaya sumunod na ako pero bago iyon nilingon ko muna ulit yung salamin. Funny.that's how I describe it. "Tayo lang dalawa? Bakit wala si Harley?" tanong ko kay Eurika. "Nauna na si Harley." she answered. Hindi na ako nagsalita at sinimulan ko nang magdrive. Yes ako ang magmamaneho since Eurika doesn't have a driver license but she knows how to drive naman. Makalipas ang ilang oras na byahe ay nakarating na nga kami sa lugar kung saan gaganapin ang HC party. I don't where this place is. Basta sinunod ko lang yung waze na pinapaano ni Euri. "This place giving me creeps." I whispered to Eurika and glanced up. Ang daming weird na things ang nakapalibot sa labas at may mga dugo pang nakapalibot sa mga ding ding. "How about huwag nalang tayong tumuloy?" I asked. "What? Nababaliw ka naba? Ang tagal kong pinaghandaan 'tong araw na ito tapos sasabihin mong huwag nalang tumuloy! Hell no!" kibit balikat niyang protesta. "If you are scared enough don't worry I'm here lang naman. At saka it's just a design and you don't have to be afraid of it. Oh my god you are so matanda na para matakot sa mga ganiyan." natatawang pang-aasar niya at tinignan ko siya nang masama. "It's not what you think!" I muttered. "Whatever." she said as she pulled me inside. Pagkapasok pa lang namin sa loob ay maririnig na agad ang hiyawan, ingay ng mga tao at ng musika. Nakakabingi lalo na't palapit kami sa harapan kung saan nakapwesto ang dance floor. Maraming nagsasayaw roon sa banda kaya medyo nahirapan kaming makadaan. Mabuti nalang binigyan nila kami ang daan. Ang weird lang kasi matapos nila kaming makita ni Eurika ay nagmake way agad sila. Siguro natakot sila sa mga hitsura namin or nastar struck. I don't know either lol. Habang papalaput kami sa isang table ay napapansin kong bumibigat ang ambience sa lugar na ito. I also notice that there's someone staring at me. I'm not sure but para talagang may dalawang pares ng mata na nakamasid sa akin. Nilingon ko ang buong paligid nagbabakasakaling matukoy kung sino iyon pero to my surprise ang lahat ng tao ay hindi gumagalaw. Like they literally froze. "Darn it!" I cursed. Kinukusot-kusot ko ang aking mata at saka nilingon ulit ang paligid ngunit may kaniya-kaniya na silang ginagawa. "I probably saw them froze." I thought to myself. "Or was it just me imagining?" "Hoy! Baliw ka, kinakausap mo na sarili mo!" napatigil ako sa pag-iisip nang bigla kong marinig si Harley. "Huh?Pangit nga ng make up ko" I confusedly said. "Sabog ka na naman" natatawang puna niya na ikinakunot ko ulit ng noo. "Ang sabi ko baliw kana pero ba't ka naman sumagot ng ang pangit nga ng make up ko. You must be gone crazy, huh." "Ahh." tanging nasabi ko. What happen to me? I couldn't say what I want to say and I can't make a single move too. What the heck is wrong with me?! Umalis na si Harley at nagpaalam na pupunta lang ng restroom kaya naiwan na naman akong mag-isa sa couch. Presenteng naka-upo at kahit na gustuhin ko man na manghingi ng tulong ay hindi ko magawa. Hindi ako makapagsalita ni makakilos man lang. This is so frustrating! "Hi beautiful lady. Can I have your number?" nabigla ako nang may lalaking lumapit sa akin. He's wearing a cape and base on what I've observed he must be handsome without mask. Boses niya pa lang kasi halatang nakakaakit na. Is he the one for me? "Don't you already have a number?" I sarcastically uttered and I want to slap myself for saying that. "Uhh yes but I want yours so that we can communicate often." He still smile even though awkwardness is evident in his eyes. Magsasalita na sana ako para sabihing sure ngunit. "No, get rid off me now!" I madly said. He immediately left me. What did I do? Arghh!! I swear this is not me! Kinuha ko agad yung champagne na nasa lamesa at walang pasabing nilagok ko iyon. After a few shots the liquor began to take effect. Pagewang-gewang akong naglakad papunta sa dance floor, walang paki-alam kung may mabangga man. Nang makarating ay nagsimula na akong sumayaw na para kakatakas sa mental. Sayaw doon sayaw dito. Hindi ko namalayan na may kahalikan na pala akong lalaki. I abruptly stopped and slapped him hard. "You jerk! How dare you stole a kiss from me!" galit kong bulyaw sa lalaking iyon. "Stole?" he laughed. "As far as I know you're the one who pulled me and you even kissed me first so shut the f**k up, woman. I don't have time for this stupidity." he hissed at me. My blood immediately boiled up. "Stupidity, my ass." I slap him one more time. Pagkatapos ay umalis na ako sa lugar na iyon ngunit napalingon muna ako nang biglang nagsigawan at hiyawan ang mga tao. The guy who kissed me is having a fight with a man whom I don't know.. N Nakatalikod kasi ito kaya hindi ko makita ang mukha kaya nagpatuloy nalang ako sa paglalakad. "Maeve!" I heard familiar voice calling me out. "Oh no! Where have you been?" " Uh it's Eurika lang pala. "Where am I supposed to go?" I asked her back. "Are you drank?"hindi niya ako sinagot at sa halip nagtanong ito ng iba. Inamoy niya muna ako at ng tama nga ang hinala niya ay agad niya akong binatukan. "Aray!" nasasaktan kong bulyaw sabay hampas sa kaniya. Akmang sasampalin niya ako pabalik ay bigla akong umiwas sabay takip sa aking bibig. "reshrom." sinubukan kong magsalita ng maayos pero hindi ko magawa dahil gusto ko na talagang masuka kaya dali dali akong tumakbo papuntang rest room. I'm glad walang masyadong tao kaya mabilis akong nakadungaw sa bowl. "Iwwz..." nandidiri kong puna matapos makita yung suka ko. I hurriedly flushed it. Akmang tatayo na ako para makaalis na pero bigla nalang akong nanghina. Parang may kumukuha ng lakas ko. Ang bigat rin ng pakiramdam ko. Sumabay pa ang pag-ihip ng malakas na hangin. Tila ba may paparating na delubyo. Nagulantang ako nang biglang bumukas ang pintuan at iniluwa iyon ng lalaking nakaitim. I can't clearly see his face because he's wearing a red cape. But one thing I see for sure is his pangs. Probably a fake one. He must be in a vampire costume. "Who are you?" I asked. I think I'm sober now. He didn't answer my question" I organized this party very well and I made a right decision 'cause you are here. " His voice seems so husky. Do I heard it right? "Me?" I laugh but stop when I saw him na tinatanggal yung cape niya. I literally froze when our eyes met. His dashing blue sapphire eyes. I've never seen an eyes like that. Nang makabalik na ako sa aking sense ay kaagad akong tumayo upang umalis na sana ngunit hindi ko inaasahan ang sumunod na nangyari. He cornered me in the wall using his two bare hands. His directly gazing at me and I felt the urge to fight on. "What do you think you're doing?" As much as possible, I stay calm. I may not know what will happen next if act hysterical. "I've been searching you for a long decades and now that I found I will never ever let you go." He whispered aggressively. That gives me creeps. I hurriedly push him away from me but to no avail he's more stronger that I couldn't withdraw with it. "Have you gone mad?" mariing sigaw ko at tinignan siya ng masama. "STOP!" He just smirked and I can see his fake pangs. Dahan-dahan lumalapit ang kaniyang bibig papunta sa aking leeg. Gustong-gusto kong sumigaw o pumalag ngunit hindi tko magawa. It's look like there's a force na pumipigil sa akin. He finally reached my neck and he kissed it vigorously. "Ugh." mahina kong ungol. I don't know why but I just moaned. But my moan becoming louder when I felt his pang in my neck. 'This is insane.' I thought to myself. I want to scream for help but I couldn't do it. "listen." he stop for a while and stare at me. "You are only mine." He uttered softly that it gives me chill. I look at him with wide eyes. Pagkatapos niyang sabihin ang mga katagang iyon ay mabilis niya akong kinagat sa leeg at ramdam ko ang pagsipsip niya sa aking dugo.