Dark Secrets

Chapter 36: 'Cause Every Night You and I Find Ourselves (1)

(Pluto’s Point of View)

“I command you back to hell!!!” Troye’s last words as he exorcised the demon from the ragged doll.

It’s been a week since I’ve been playing this scene in my dreams at night, none of us wants to talk about what happened.

I ended up spraining my ankle after we all fought the demon while the others had different injuries too except for Troye who was pinned on the wall as he spoke a Latin prayer to cast out the demon.

I woke up Tuesday morning, with the same nightmare as I usually find it hard to forget such demon encounter whenever we handled that kind of case, it takes me a week to move on.

I needed distraction so I went to see Desa but no one was in their unit that afternoon the reason I went to her parents and learned that she was in the university for enrolment.

Right, we’re still college students and we can’t be stuck up being in a supernatural case, we have to get back to reality.

I spent my afternoon with her parents and they invited me for dinner so I came home with them.

I finally saw Desa, lying on the couch, watching TV, just chilling comfortably without even care looking as to whom entered their house before she speaks lazily.

If her parents weren’t around, I could’ve lay down beside her on the sofa and cuddle her as much as I want but I had to hold back.

While having dinner with her parents, I really like teasing her but when she suddenly grabbed my thigh under the table just to warn me to stop talking sweetly with her, the lust I had earlier while looking at her legs got ignited once more.

I grabbed her hand as I wanted her to touch me more, I was half-joking with her because of the expression on her face, but when she actually groped my crotch, my head under my pants stood up hard.

We were both stunned at that moment and if not for Auntie we probably stayed staring at each other as she gropes me.

I filled my head with a lot of thoughts to distract myself from getting wild, I can’t do anything because of her parents around.

But when it’s just us as she sent me off to the elevator, I couldn’t help myself when I found out that she’s still thinking of what happened during dinner.

I cornered her at the wall and when she’s only inches away from me, I touched her lips with mine, it’s my first kiss but I don’t want to be obvious that I don’t know what I’m doing so I tried to move my lips.

She just stood still as she stiffened her whole body though I expected her to push me away and slap me on the face but it’s me who pulled away when the elevator door opened.

I don’t know if she wanted more like I do when she watched me leave but that expression on her face, it’s unforgettable.

That same night, my nightmare became dreams and, in those dreams, I’m having s*x with Desa.

The reason I didn’t go to see her for a week, I’m afraid I couldn’t control the beast in me and ravage her innocence.

24th of August 1976, Tuesday, Desa’s 19th birthday.

It’s just a simple party at their unit, aside from all the SOS members and her parents no one else celebrate her birthday with her, obviously she’s not close with anyone from her class.

“Happy birthday, Desa.” handing her present over.

“Thank you. Can I open it now?” Desa didn’t even hide her excitement like a kid who wants to open her presents immediately.

“It’s yours, do whatever you want.” I smiled at her as I watch her open my present.

“You … why did you buy all of them??!” she’s looking at the 5 pairs of earrings in the jewelry box.

“Because they all piqued your interest. I’m paying attention when where doing shopping for Tia.” I replied.

“I … I can’t accept them.” she closed the jewelry box and handing it back to me. “They’re too expensive.”

“Hey, they’re my birthday present to you. Why are you too worried about my expenditures?? It’s my money I spend them however I want to.” pushing the box to her. “If you give it back to me, I’ll throw them away.” giving her a serious look.

“B-But …” she hesitated but she holds onto the jewelry box anyway. “Fine.” sighing heavily. “I’ll use them well, thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” I patted her head gently.

“Desa.” Diso called out to her.

“Diso-sunbae.” Desa turned to him.

“Happy Birthday. Sorry, I just got here this time.” Diso handing a present to Desa. “Open it.”

“Thank you, Diso-sunbae.” she put the jewelry box from me in the paper bag before she opens her new present. “Oh, wow! Black dahlia necklace.” she smiles but it faded in an instant. “But this must cost a fortune too. You guys …” looking at me and Diso.

“It’s not about the cost, Desa, it’s about the thought. I sincerely give that to you, so please don’t refuse it.” Diso said.

“Diso is right.” I stand beside Diso and put my arm around him. “It’s the thought that counts. Forget about the price tag, it doesn’t matter, just accept our gifts for your birthday.”

“Hai … fine.” Desa sighs heavily. “What can I do, my friends are rich? It’s only natural for me to receive expensive gifts from them.”

“Exactly.” I nodded. “Don’t feel burden anymore.”

“I’ll try to adjust.” she replied reluctantly. “You guys probably haven’t had dinner yet, right? Mom cooked a lot of dish, let’s eat.”

“We’re right behind you.” I responded as I turn my gaze to Diso beside me. “A necklace? Since when did you take interest of women accessories, Diso?”

“I’m not. She likes that flower, it just reminded me of her when I saw it in the shop.” Diso walking with me.

“She likes black dahlias??” looking at him curiously.

“I got that information from Emilia, that little girl told me what Desa told her when they’re in the greenhouse.” Diso replied.

“I see.” nodding. “Thank you for sharing that information to me.”

“Why are you thinking of giving her flowers?” Diso glanced at me.

“Uh-huh … Where can I buy those black dahlias anyway?” I asked.

“You can’t buy them anywhere.” he replied with a smile.

“What do you mean I can’t buy them anywhere??!” furrows my brows.

“There ain’t no black dahlias in any flower shop in the world.” he said.

“Then where the hell did, she get to like that black dahlia??” thinking hard until I found the answer on my own. “At the Crossey greenhouse?? In that Gothic garden?!”

“Yes. That’s why I brought that flower home. I’m raising them in my balcony with the guidelines that Mike gave me on how to take care of dahlias since it’s past summer now.” he responded.

“You’re one sneaky bastard. Name your price, my friend.” tapping his shoulders. “I’ll buy those black dahlias.”

“I’m not selling them; I’ll give them to Desa on Valentine’s Day.” he said with a cunning smile. “Auntie, you cooked everything?”

“Who else? My husband and daughter only know how to eat.” Auntie said. “Come you two, and have dinner.” inviting us to the dining table.

“Thank you, Auntie. Oh, please, you don’t have to serve me, I can do it on my own.” Diso politely said to Auntie when she’s taking care of us when we sit on the chairs.

“Thank you, Auntie. Is that Desa’s birthday cake?” pointing at the cake on the center table.

“Uh-huh. She specially requested that chocolate flower on top. You two missed when we sang the birthday song, you didn’t see how Desa’s face turned red because of shyness from everyone.”

“Mom! Will you please spare a day without embarrassing me to my friends?! Why do you have to tell them about it??!” Desa served us drinks. “It supposed to be a non-alcoholic beverage but Troye made it a Fruit Punch because he and Alessia are staying here for a night.”

“Can I sleepover here tonight too?” smiling at her cunningly.

“If you want to share the same room with Troye when he’s drunk then that’s fine with me.” Desa get back at me.

“I guess I’ll sleep at Diso’s unit tonight.” conceding defeat. “We also got a serious matter to settle, man to man.”

The office men left the party at 10pm because they still have work tomorrow and its only Tuesday night.

The Aussie boys left an hour after before they totally get drunk of the whiskey they brought for the party, since neither Desa or her parents drink hard alcohol.

Diso and I stayed until midnight to help Desa clean up as she told her parents to take a rest when the Aussie boys left.

“Thanks for helping me to clean up the house.” Desa sending me and Diso off from her unit.

“You’re welcome.” Diso patting her head gently. “Happy Birthday again, Desa. I hope you had fun today.”

“I really had fun today. You guys made me happy on my day.” She said with a sweet smile on her face.

“Goodnight, Desa.” Diso walks over to his unit’s door.

“Goodnight, Diso-sunbae.” then she turned to me and slightly bowed her head before she closed the door without saying anything to me like she’s suddenly becomes awkward.

“Not even a goodnight?” still looking at the close door of her unit.

“Do you want to drink beer?” Diso opened his door for us to enter.

“Yeah, I think I need more drink too.” entering his unit. “Where’s Ace-hyung?”

“Somewhere in middle east.” he replied as he took out two cans of beer from his fridge.

“You and Ace-hyung are completely opposite in ever way, you often get sick when traveling overseas while he’s enjoying traveling the world.” walking over to the balcony. “Seriously, Diso, how much?”

“I also told you seriously, I’m not selling them.” he pulled me over before I pluck the black dahlia from the pot.

“Are you making a move on Desa, next year?” giving him a serious look. “Are we going to be rivals?”

“Maybe. I originally want to wait for her to graduate college but I might lose to you if I just let you be.” he stated.

“I guess I’m going back to Belgium and asked Mike for black dahlias too. I can’t let you win me on Valentine’s Day.” I responded.

“Hahaha. Suit yourself. By the way, I’ll leave the house to you tomorrow morning since I know what time you get up. I can trust you, right? You won’t take anything without my permission.” he said.

“Of course. I’ll find a way on my own. I know how to fight fair.”

“I just want to be sure.” he nodded. “I’m going to bed now.” he emptied his can of beer before he climbed upstairs to his bedroom.

“Why do we have to like the same girl? I prefer you to be my ally than my enemy.” I muttered as I watched him enter his room.

The next day, I woke up alone at Diso’s unit, well he got to go to the hospital for his summer internship.

I just had cereals for breakfast since I don’t know how to cook and he probably had the same because the cereal box was already on the table when I went to the dining room.

I left his unit after a meal and before I had the urge to pick the flowers he has on his balcony.

When I got home, I made an international call to the Crossey’s mansion to made a deal for his plants, fortunately we have an accord and there’s no need for me to go to Belgium as he will send the seeds for me through package delivery.

Few days later, it’s the start of the 2nd semester, I only have class on Monday to Thursday but since I’m still a member of dance crew I have to go back to the campus on Saturdays.

I’m supposed to quit but because that’s the only thing that makes me interact with Desa more, I can’t, I will stay until I graduate.

I saw her class schedule and her PE is on the afternoon this semester and her social welfare class in the morning, she probably considers the practice time of our crew.

The reason I proposed to the team to have our practice in afternoon so that we don’t have to wake up early morning on Saturdays.

Almost everyone agreed anyway and I only had to convince the others who still prefers a morning start.

When Desa came after lunch for practice, she gave her schedule to our coach who gave me a look as she got it why I changed our time.

... To be Continued ...