FOLKLORE FRIDAY

CHAPTER 1

Year 1897

“Brother, I thought you’re going to Danica?” - I asked my older brother. Danica is the bestfriend s***h girlfriend. Yes, they are dating for almost a decade. Well, we can consider them as a childhood sweetheart and that’s great but seems too cheesy for me.

I hate the idea of dating, period. Its like suicide, buying a knife and use it to stab yourself, hmm but don’t get me wrong… I love Danica, she is nice, witty, pretty and most of all she loves my brother, and that’s already enough for me to love her too.

“Yes, I am but its too early for that. I will help father before going”

“Yea right. Its already 4PM brother and I just want to remind you that you will fetch Danica in Bulacan and yes, we are in Metro Manila where traffic is the number one problem. EDSA is waving brother” - I teased since brother seems to forgot that we are in the Philippines.

He’s been alarmed of what I said, he looked at his watch and went to father…

“Dad, I am sorry but I think I need to go, Danica will get mad if I’m late again. I’m so sorry, Dad. I owe you big time. I love you” - he rushed “Alice, please inform mother that I already went to Danica, love you”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Whatever brother. Just send my regards to Danica HAHAHA” - he just waved and hurried to his car. “take care!” - I added.

That was the last time I saw my brother smile, the genuine smile… because before that day ends something horrible happened.

SEPTEMBER 7, 2020 (Present)

“Alice, come on. We’re going to be late” - I just nodded and follow him.

I saw Jayd, Clarry and Jacob getting ready, kuya is always on time. He don’t want to be late since he is geek-s***h-grade-concious stupident.

“Aki and Nate, what are you still doing? Come on!” seems these two sense the irritation from kuya’s voice so they hurried eating the pancakes I cooked earlier for our breakfast and ride on their Cadillac Escalade.

It took only 20 minutes before we came to school, thanks to kuya’s Ford Mustang.

Meanwhile, I saw Clarry and Aki getting down in the car while discussing something, oh! Scratch that… they are fighting.

Clarry and Aki are lovers, not that I already mentioned this but yes obviously they are having a lovers quarrel.

“Aki, did you just shout at me?!” and we heard a loud slap. We, except kuya looked Aki but seems he doesn't care about us but Clarry only. Smell something fishy huh.

“Nate, what happened to the lovers again? Are they going to be okay? Seems its too serious now unlike before”

“Hm yeah. I think Aki did something intolerable this time that’s why Clarry got mad”

“I see, maybe Aki should take the relationship seriously”

Nate just nodded.

Since Clarry and Aki took different way, we just headed to school’s front gate.

“Alice, call me when your classes are done. No party. It’s full moon, remember that” - he just said that without any hint of emotion. “Yes kuya, I will. Take care.”

He nodded and went also to his class.

Anyway. Kuya, Jayden & Nate are in the same class, they are taking up Mechanical Engineering while Jacob taking Civil Engineering, Clarry taking AB Psychology, Aki taking Business course and here I am taking Arts major in Music.

We just headed in our different classes and endure the boring lectures of Instructors.

This one is the reason why I hate school and lazy enough to get up every morning because of this entertaining lectures of these instructors, note the sarcasm tho.

Anyway, I will listen to this instructor in front of me because Kuya will surely know this if I will not. His senses is freaking getting on my nerves because it is hundred percent correct and accurate.

“Music can actually improve or at least have a psychological benefits to the listeners---” I already know that old man, Stop being obvious. “--one of the benefit is that… Music can actually improve your cognitive performance, it can actually blah blah blah blah blah” he continue but I don’t have the courage to listen, I already learned that for Pete’s sake, maybe I’m much more knowledgeable on this than this old hag. Tss.

Instead of listening from him, I just get my phone and text kuya to lessen the damage because I’m pretty sure that this time he already knew that I’m not listening to my lesson.

To: Haydn

Kuya, sorry in advance but this old hag lesson is too boring for me and I already knew this way back hundred years ago. Can I go to cafeteria already? I’m so hungry.

I just sent it and wait for his reply, but Haydn being Haydn… I did not receive even one reply from him.

So I decided to waste my 2 hours to listen from this old hag. No choice! Maybe Kuya is already annoyed this time. What’s new, Alice? Your kuya is always annoyed since then.

After 2 hours of listening to this man, finally he’s done. He actually extend, so we are now 30 minutes over time, so our lunch-break will be affected. Instead of 1 hour break now I have freaking 30 minutes to order a food and finish it.

I packed my things, and shoot! kuya already replied.

From: Haydn

Canteen.

Oh! I’m so touched kuya. You are so sweet.

I hurried to the canteen and look for our table. Yes, kuya always have reserved table for our family. I don’t know how can he do that but well obviously I really don’t care as long as we have table and we can eat peacefully.

“Alice, we are freaking waiting for you. You are 30 minutes late for f**k’s sake”

“I know Jacob, don’t state the fact” I rolled my eyes. This guy always getting on my nerves but yeah we’re basically close, so why bother.

“What do you want to eat, Alice?”

“I only want vegetable salad with lemon garlic sauce and a water please”

“You eat like a vegetarian, Alice. You are not hu---”

“Yeah yeah yeah. Whatever kuya, just please take our orders, I’m freaking hungry”

“Fine, but watch your words” he just rolled his eyes and went to cafeteria bar.

“Who’s that guy, Clarry? I’m askin’ you.” annoyed Aki asked his girlfriend but seems Ate Clarry don’t give a f**k and that’s a LOL.

“Clarry, one more question and if I did not receive any response from you,I will surely kill that guy. You know me” - Aki nearly whisper that but I still heard it.

“Whatever Akihiro, I am Clarisa Carter not Clarry, stop calling me that.You douche-bag” she snorted.

Maybe this couple need a serious talk not like this. Students are already looking us because of Ate Clarry.

“I can hear you, Alice and I don’t give a f**k” I just smiled because annoyed Clarissa is much scarier than kuya’s.

“Ouch! f**k!”

A loud shout filled the cafeteria, and I saw kuya trying to stop the urge, to restrain and here we are trying to control also ourselves.

What’s that smell? I scan the cafeteria and I saw wine-coloured liquid with a rusty smell on the floor. It’s just a small amount but trigger us to drain her.

I saw Aki, Clarry, Jake, Nate and Jayd restraining the urge. Its look like they are ready to kill and then I saw a girl holding her hand while on the floor. OMG!

“Haydn, get out of here now. Stop yourself please. Don’t make this hard for us, please kuya. I can’t afford to transfer school again. Please. I reminded” talking to him in a distant.

I saw how Haydn tried to stop his hunger but seems any minute he will just jump on her and drain her.

“I---I’m really sorry Miss. Really” still trying to calm himself.

“It’s okay, but can you help me get up? My butt is hurting and my hand is bleeding” the girl said while raising her hand for Haydn to help her but instead Haydn see the wound and that’s freaking torture. This girl!

But Haydn did not respond on that so the girl tried to hold his hand using the wounded hand but before she can do that, kuya already did an unexpected… and now stupidents are shocks and clueless if where Haydn go.

I sigh.

“Haydn, please next time be careful. Don’t use any of that in front of many humans.”

“I know, Alice. I’m not dumb but I feel weird. She smell weird”

“We can talk later, Kuya. Maybe you can go home and I will go with Aki later”

No reply.

But the girl shouted again… “Huh! That ill--mannered jerk!”

We just laugh about that.

It’s better to leave like that Miss, if you just know.

----

“We’re home” I effortless said, because I know he’s already here. I can feel that.

But still, no response.

So I went to my room and finish my stuff before going down and eat my dinner.

I went to the dining area and saw them laughing including the lovers. Seems that they are already okay. Hm. Idiots!

“I heard that, Alice.. loud and clear” Clarry glared at me. HAHA! I just gave her a awkward smile and go to my side.

“Hi everyone, let’s eat?”

“But we don’t have food, Alice” - nearly crying Jacob

“Oh! Please stop the act Jacob, you are used to that” - eyeing to his glass of wine-coloured liquid.

“But this is not from human, Alice. This is from freaking animals. No taste! Ekk” - Nate’s protest

“We are all animals here, Nate. And in fact no one will die here if we did not eat as long as we have that”

“Tsk”

“Anyway. Haydn, what happened to you earlier? You are not like that”

“I don’t know. It’s weird”

“It was just a drop but the way I look at you earlier until… It’s like you are ready to murder that girl in front of those students and its bother me”

“I said, I don’t know, Alice”

“Among us, you mastered how to restrain the urge but earlier you look like not” …. “and why did you that huh? What you did there is not supposed to do… what if one of them is a Black Coven? What will you do huh?”

“I’m sorry, but that girl… her scent..its different… her scent is like jasmine”

“O my golly molly, what did you say Kuya?” - I shouted. Even Aki busy fliritng with Clarry got shocked because of my voice.

“What?” … “I did not say anything… you’re being delusional, Alice”

“No, you said she smell like Jasmine”

“You heard that?”

“Yes, of course. You just said it”

“What the f**k?!”

And left us dumbfounded.

What was that?

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