Love in the Woods

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

DULCIS

I woke up smiling as the sun showed up from the east. It’s been ninety-one days since I met that frightened guy here in the forest. I never thought of a guy strolling out here that night. He accused me as a ghost! How could he?

But look, I marvel his beauty I saw last time we had seen each other. Even he was frightened because of me, I adore his eyes, nose and lips. Those features are rare for me because I’ve never seen a lot of boys in my lifetime. I... am hoping and waiting for his comeback.

"Goodmorning, Tin," he bleakly stated.

"Goodmorning, Darke." I gently touched his face. "Why? I mean... bakit parang iba ka?"

He grinned. He organized my clothes here in my small house. Oh yeah, he gave me a house and this is better than my previous habitat.

"Alam mo kung bakit kita binigyan nitong bahay?"

I thought of it for a little while. "Para kasya na tayo kahit mag-overnight ka sa akin?"

He laughed. His laughter made me laugh, too. Nakakatawa rin kasi ang tawa niya. Hinawakan niya ang braso ko saka nilapit sa kanya.

"No, Tin. Kasi..."

"Hmm?"

"Kasi I'll be out of the country for a--"

I felt like crying even the phrase is still incomplete. He’s leaving me for the first time.

"S-sorry, Tin. Alam naman ito nina Mommy and Daddy. I'll ask someone to check on you, okay?" I didn't speak up. Para saan pa? The right thing to do is to be taciturn. I don’t have the right to complain either. He’s so special to e and Iunderstand his life now. Hindi na siya itong nakikitulog sa bahay ko na may dalang mga books and papers.

Ano’ng mangyayari kung hindi ako magsasalita?

"O-okay lang..." I finally replied.

"Then why are you crying?"

"H-hindi ko alam..."

Lumapit na siya sa akin saka niya ako niyakap. His lips touched my forehead. "Look, I'll be back in a month..."

"A-ang tagal..."

We silenced. He examined me worryingly. "Ganito na lang, we'll spend the night together mamaya. Okay? Tapos pagbalik ko, sa akin ka na rin titira para lagi tayong magkasama. Ayos ba, Tin?" he said, cupping my cheeks.

I slowly nodded my head and felt the lightened burden inside my chest. "Okay," I retorted. "Kelan ka ba aalis?"

"B-bukas ng hapon..."

"Are you sure one month? Hindi ba one week?" I queried without hesitations. He is still here so I want to shower him oodles of question.

He chuckled sexily. "One month, innocent. Hmm... tignan mo 'to, may mga books akong nilagay dito sa bookshelf."

"English?"

"Mixed. May Tagalog pa. Gusto mo?"

"But it would be better if English di ba?"

"Eh, maganda 'to I swear. Just A Night With Him, Hands All Over, Heartless, Falling To A Heartless Vampire, Red String of Fate... kuwan. Nicholas Sparks na yung iba. Danielle Steel, Fern Michaels, John--"

"Ang laswa yata ng nauna," I mumbled. Yeah, I'm interested in reading books but something is not good with the first two titles.

His eyes widened. He gathered all those books and started to scan the pages. I am laughing hard when I caught his eyes dilating in surprise. I chuckled at the sight.

"Huwag na pala. Hindi pala pwede ang mga ‘to para sa'yo," aniya.

Finally, we ended up in my single bed. He tried himself to lay beside me so I made a space for his huge body. Yes, huge because his body is... muscular. His biceps and triceps are big but very enough for his age. His quadriceps are captivating, too, just like tonight as he wore his pants off. He is only wearing a boxershorts now.

"Sana katulad ko kayo," I uttered sadly out of the blue. "Iyong bang... by quarter kayo nagiging beast. Iyong kapag full moon lang ganun. Kapag gusto ninyo. You can control your transformations unlike me."

"You're not a beast." He is always pushing that thought that I am not a beast. How can he tell?

"I am. I can hurt and slay people. I look very eerie and very scary. Pati nga hayop dito matatakot sa akin. Gabi gabi iyong sa akin. How awful..."

"Dulcis..."

I cracked a smile and it somehow eased the pain inside me.

He wrapped his arms around my waist like what I had been doing with my childhood stuffed toys. "Take care..."

"Yeah, I will." What time is it? "Hala eleven na! I need to prepare myself."

"I'll come."

"Wag na..."

"Dulcis, please." Bakit gusting gusto niya akong sinasamahan?

"Makikita mo akong magiging halim--"

"No! Don't say that!"

"That's the truth."

In the end, he walked and stayed with me. "Goodluck," aniya. I cracked a smile again and this time, it ached. "Pwede ba, huwag mo akong ngitian?" He looked away. I knotted my temple and frowned. I pouted my lips to suppress my eagerness to cry.

Pangit ba ang mga ngiti ko? Halata bang pinipilit ko? How do I look when I let out a grin or what?

"See you later, Darke," sabi ko saka pumasok sa balon hanggang sa mahulog ako. "I'm gonna lock it. Hintayin mo ako ha?"

Moments later, I am forced to howl, scream and transform.

I shifted.

"This curse sucks!" I exclaimed. Kinalmot kalmot ko ang mga bricks dito sa loob. Now, I am out of myself.

After that dreadful moment, I fumbled for the key. Minsan kasi, nahuhulog ko na lang sa may tubig at kailangan ko pang hanapin. Climbing is dreadful, too! Sakto lang kasi sa akin iyong balon pero okay na rin, nakakaakyat naman na ako ng maayos. I grabbed my robe and went out. I bet it's already one in the morning.

"Am done," I said to him. Darke is standing still but not facing me. Ang umikot siya para tingnan ako ay napa-face palm siya at kita kong namumula ang mukha niya kahit medyo madilim.

"Didn't I tell you to dress yourself immediately after that fvcking transformation?! Asan yung robe?! Punyeta naman, Dulcis! Are you planning to kill me?!"

Halos mabingi ako roon sa sigaw niya. I stared at his frustrated eyes.

"What are you waiting for?! Isuot mo!"

I chuckled. I slowly put my robe on. I began reaching him to his feet. "Okay na? Tara, ligo na tayo," aya ko.

"Tss... am gonna wait you here."

"Huh? Sumama ka na," I professed.

"Papatayin talaga ako ng babaeng 'to," he mumbled.

"Ano?"

"Wala! Tara na! Pasalamat ka sexy ka!"

"Huh?"

"Wala!"

"Hindi ako maganda?" Umilinng siya saka ngumisi. When he reached me, he kissed my temple.

"More than beautiful, Dulcis," he said huskily and grabbed my hand to lead me the way to my bathing place.

Tahimik kaming dalawa nang nakarating kami sa batis. I’m so excited at fist but when I saw Darke looking pissed off by only seeing the water, I frowned.

"Inaantok ka na, Darke?" His eyes were tired and closed. "Okay ka lang? Bakit ka nakapikit?"

"I want to respect you, Dulcis. Kaya wag kang lalap-- aaaah!" he yelled when he found me on his side already. Tinakpan niya ang kanyang mukha. "Ahon na, ahon na! Tama na! Oo, inaantok na ako! Kung ikaw, Dulcis, hindi pa aahon, iiwan kita rito!"

Nasasanay na ako sa ganitong asta niya. Siya kaya, nasasanay din sa akin?

"Ang gwapo mo pala, Darke," sabi ko saka ngumiti.

"Tss... huwag mo akong dinadaan sa bola mo." He stood up. He’s seminaked while I am completely naked.

"Pakiabot naman yung robe ko, Darke," I said. "Aray!" Marahas niyang binato sa akin iyong pinapaabot ko. Tumayo akong walang saplot pero hawak kop pa rin iyong tinaponn niya robe ko at tumakbo papunta sa kanya. I slapped his biceps lightly. "Bad ka ha!"

"Magdamit ka na!" Sinuot ko na at proud na humarap sa kanya.

"Let's go, then," sabi ko naman.

Hinapit niya ako sa baywang at nagulat ako roon. He has an effect on me. Minsan ay napapatameme ako kapag niyayakap o hinahawakan niya ako. "Let's go, baby," aniya.

I smiled.

I am so happy they gave me Darkre to keep me safe. I hoped one day we’ll be able to live normally as possible especially me. I wanted my sleepless nights with Darke to be happy and I will cherish every moment of us.

"Goodnight, Darke..."

He didn't answer because he was already sleeping soundly. He must be very tired of noticing my actions. I kissed his forehead and slept beside his massive body.

One of the most frustrating now is knowing that Darke will not be around for days and weeks. Ang saklap naman nun. Even he left a one month supply of food, eating will vary without him by my side.

I tidied my clothes inside the cabinet near my bed. "I will miss Darke..." I whispered to myself.

Naalarma ako nang narinig ko ang magkakasunod na katok.

"Hija, andyan ka ba?"

That is Darke's mother! I rose to my feet and finally reached the door. "Good morning, Tita!" I hugged her tightly. "Wala po kayong kasama?"

"Si Alkynes, pinsan niya, ang kasama ko."

"Hello, Ate Ganda!"

I cracked a smile to this bespectacled little girl. Ang cute a bata! No wonder they’re cousins because she’s so cute and attractive like Darke. "Hi there, little angel!"

"Ang ganda naman po ng dress mo, Ate Ganda!" she praised as I offered them to come in.

"Darke gave me this," nahihiyang sabi ko. Her mother smiled widely.

They gladly inspected the house and judiciously commented on the structures. "Maganda itong kinuha ni Darke. Pero hija, pwede namang sa amin ka na lang tumira..."

Pieter family is the most precious group of people to me. They are the ones taking good care of me since my early childhood. I can clearly remember that moment when I hardly breathe and they look after me here in the woods. I was thirteen back then. I still lock myself in that well. I was feeling oppressive that time that I cannot climb back. They hoisted me up by the use of the rope. I tightly gripped that thing and waited to be lifted out there. It happened thrice from my lifetime and I am grateful that they are still here, supporting me unconditionally.

"Hija, is Darke courting you?"

My temple wrinkled. What do you mean by courting me? Assisting me?

"Girlfriend ka na ba ng anak ko?"

Tumango ako. Girl? friend? Oo naman.

"Hay! Iniwan ka niya rito?! Sana sinama ka na lang niya sa States! Kawawa ka naman, hija..." Now she's worried.

"Okay naman po ako eh."

"Sige, hija, iaayos ko ang mga dinala naming prutas at iba pang pagkain sa kusina." She headed to the kitchen and we were left here.

"Ate, magpa-paranormal kami rito! May mga multo rin ba? May multo ka bang nakikita?" I nodded. Yeah, ghosts exist. "Oh my God! This will be great! Magpapa-schedule kami rito! Magca-camping kami kaso malayo dito kasi naman hard to reach itong bahay mo, Ate."

"You can visit me anytime," sabi ko pa.

They stayed there for another hour. It was twelve noon when they left me. Ugh! I'm being left again.

Hmm... So they come here in the woods for that ghost hunting or something? I cleaned up my house so the unexpected visitors will be pleased.

"Shower na!" I exclaimed. I headed towards the bathroom and there I enjoyed bathing.

Mas masarap ang tubig sa batis pero okay na rin ito. Here comes the dusk again. I frowned nang nakita kong dumidilim na ang kalangitan. Minsan mabilis ang oras at minsan naman ay hindi.

"Kailan kaya yung ghost hunting? Makikita ko kaya ulit iyong lalaking napagkamalan akong multo?"

I sighed. I hope I will see him again.