The Search

Ever since my life began, immortal creatures had been part of me. I believed in them, but I'd never seen any. When I was still a child, mom used to tell me about vampires. She told me they were her favorite among immortals because they were good and amazing. So on her birthday, I had decided to order a vampire-themed-cake for her. It was on the morning of her special day when I looked at the clock on top of our front door; it was only seven in the morning. My first class was nine o'clock, but I was wearing my uniform already because I was to check the cake at the shop if they were done baking it. "Mom, I'm going," I told her, while she was cooking in the kitchen. "But it's only seven, Margot. Akala ko ba nine ang first subject mo ngayon?" she said in a serious tone, facing me emotionless. Obviously, she was in a sullen mood because I didn't greet her yet. Well, that was just part of my plan; I wanted to surprise her at night. "Ah, Mom, Psalm texted me last night. Sinabihan niya ako na dapat maaga raw po ako ngayon kasi we'll be finishing our project. Tomorrow's the deadline na po, eh," pagpapalusot ko. I even used my best friend's name just to convince her. "Gano'n ba? Eh, hindi ka pa kumain ng breakfast. Hindi ka pa rin nakainom ng vitamins mo. Paano 'yan? Pero may dala ka bang payong at towel? Is your allowance enough-" "Mom, Mom..." I cut her off. "I'm okay, don't worry about me. Everything is good. Everything is fine, Mom." I could cry anytime but gladly, I knew how to control myself. I was making her sulky, but she still managed to ignore that mood, and think about me instead. "Okay well, that's good. Ingat ka sa pag-alis, my baby girl," she smiled, and hugged me tightly. "Always take care, okay?" I left the house after I kissed her. I drove my own 2017 Toyota 86 car going to the shop. It was a red car bought by my mom on my debut. I really wished for it, but I didn't ask her for it, kusa niya itong ibinili para sa akin. Mom was really that generous to me. Anything I ask, she would give me. Everything I lack, she would provide. That was because I was an only child, at kaming dalawa na lang ang magkasama sa buhay. Since birth, I didn't meet my dad. I didn't even know what and how he looked like. I was trying to convince Mom to tell me about him, but she refused to. The only thing she told me was that my dad was already dead. Even though Dad was gone already, I didn't rebel because I was just contented with having Mom. Ni minsan, hindi niya ipinaramdam sa akin na incomplete family kami. She was my mom that happened to be my dad also. Kaya ang in-adopt ko na rin na apelyido ay ang sa kaniya, imbes na kay Daddy. Minutes had passed when I finally arrived at the shop. I was greeted by the sweet smell of sugar and the fragrant aroma of bread. Pumunta ako sa counter para i-check ang ipinagawa kong cake. Gladly, the staff were done making it and it was really cute! The cake was topped with a grey to black icing and was designed with webs and bats all over. There was also a woman vampire at the center of it, which was referring to Mom. Adorable! When I was satisfied looking at the cake, I left the shop and went to the campus. I would be back to get it after class. "Ang aga natin ngayon, ha?" bungad sa akin ni Psalm na nakatayo sa doorway. "Nakakapanibago naman 'yan, BFF. Ano bang nakain mo?" he chuckled. "Stop joking around, Psalm," I glared. "You know, today is Mommy's birthday, so I went to the shop to check the cake. Hindi ko naman inaasahan na maluwag ang traffic ngayon, kaya siguro napaaga." Psalm was my best friend since high school. We were always together, whether in ups or downs. Parang kapatid na ang turing ko sa kaniya at parang anak na rin siya ni Mommy. But sometimes, people would find us a couple because of our closeness. Disgusting. "Oo, alam ko. Huwag ka nang magalit, nagbibiro lang naman ako. Sige ka, masisira ang beauty natin diyan, girl." I slightly slapped him on his shoulder. "Don't worry, girl. Naka-shoe glue ang beauty natin kaya hindi 'yan agad-agad maaalis." Psalm wasn't gay. Minsan talaga nag-aarteng bakla lang siya just to make me happy. In fact, he was so handsome and sexy. He had those beautiful eyes like the lighting, a pointed nose, and a kissable rosy lip. Oh god, did I just say kissable? But anyways, many stunning and hot girls on our campus were crazy about him. Walang araw na hindi siya nakatatanggap ng chocolates and love letters. Minsan nagsasawa na rin siya, kaya ako ang umuubos ng chocolates niya. As soon as the class had started, we entered the room and fixed ourselves. In Luxvard University, there were lots of terror teachers, so in order for you not to be scolded, you should follow everything they say. But, I found it good because that was their way of disciplining us, students. So far, the university had achieved so much recognition for being the most organized and disciplined campus in the whole region. I'd been thinking about my surprise for Mommy the whole class, kaya natapos ang klase na kaunti lang ang pumasok sa utak ko. "Anong nangyari sa'yo?" Psalm asked. "Kanina ka pa lutang at mukhang ewan." We were heading home and walking at the hallway. Sa sobrang pag-iisip ko sa surprise, Psalm's question didn't register into my mind. Bumalik lang ako sa katinuan nang may ginawang kalokohan ang kaibigan ko. "Psalm, what are you doin'?" tanong ko, nang mapansin kong itinapat niya sa mukha ko ang camera ng kaniyang cellphone. He showed me a bad shot of mine while laughing out loud. "PSALM!" I said and barely looked around. People were staring badly at us. "Psalm," I said once again, trying to calm my voice, "please delete my pictures." "Bakit? Ang ganda mo nga dito oh kahit na hindi ka handa. Ayaw mo 'yon kahit bad shot eh maganda ka pa rin?" he said "Kaya, hindi ko ito buburahin kahit anong sabihin mo." "Ang kulit mo talaga kahit kailan. Ang pangit ko nga diyan, please delete it. Please..." I pouted. "Hindi," mariin niyang sabi. "Okay, bye! Uuwi ako mag-isa." Padabog ko siyang tinalikuran, but I got shocked when someone hit me- oh when I hit someone, I should say. I bit my lip as I saw Kye Vonnier in front of me, looking at me as if I stole his kidney. "Sorry, sorry," I said. Nilingon ko naman nang bahagya si Psalm na pigil na pigil sa pagtawa. Pagkatapos ay muli kong hinarap si Kye. I felt like my cheeks were burning. "Next time, learn to look at the way so you won't interrupt someone," he said in a cold manner and left me dumbfounded. Kye was one of the hottest guys in the university. He was good and wise at everything. Like Psalm, every girl on the campus admired him, and I was one of them. When we were in high school, I liked him already. My likeness for him was as big as Noah's ark, even though I knew he wouldn't like me back. "Hey." Psalm waved his hand in front of my face. "Are you okay?" It took me a minute para matauhan sa kalokohang ginawa ng kaibigan ko. When I was in the right-thinking already, I gave him my sharpest look. "Teka, huwag mo nga akong tingnan nang ganyan. Parang papatayin mo na ako, eh," he said. "Did you see what you've just done, huh? Nakakahiya, Psalm. As in, nakakahiya! Si Kye pa 'yon, oh. What if isipin niyang agresibo akong babae at walang pakialam sa mga kilos niya. What if-" "Stop overreacting," pagpuputol niya sa akin. "Ikaw lang naman ang nag-iisip niyan. Hindi ka naman iniisip n'on." Once again, I glared at him before I continued walking. He kept on apologizing for what he had done until we finally exited the building. "Ay, umuulan," he said. That was the only time I realized it was really raining. Eh, paano ba naman kasi? I was still thinking about Kye and what the hell he would think of me... if ever he would think of me. "Dinala mo ba payong mo?" my friend asked. I heard him, pero hindi ko siya pinansin. "Hoy, sorry na kasi. Ito naman oh, napakaseryoso sa buhay. Sorry na." I looked at him. "It's not that I'm serious in life. Nakakahiya lang talaga 'yong ginawa mo. Kaya mo lang naman nasasabi 'yan kasi hindi ikaw ang naka-experience n'on." "Hala," he said, "sorry na nga." "Sorry your face." "Sige bahala ka diyan male-late ka ng uwi, birthday pa man din ni Tita. Ayaw mo kasing tanggapin sorry ko, eh. Kapag hindi mo naabutang bukas ang shop, huwag mo akong sisihin, ha?" "Sige na!" "Oh, tingnan mo ano ka rin pala." "Anong ano?" "Wala, wala. Ang sabi ko eh isa ka talagang mapagpatawad na kaibigan," he chuckled. "Ano na? Dinala mo ba payong mo?" "Yeah," medyo padabog ko pang sabi, "let me just check it in my bag." I opened my backpack to get the umbrella, but I was disappointed when I couldn't find it. I just realized then that I left it in the house. I face-palmed. "Sorry." "Okay lang. Buti na lang pala dinala ko payong ko. Puwede naman 'to sa dalawa." I smiled. "Alam mo, 'di ko talaga alam kung matutuwa ako sa'yo kasi minsan nakakainis ka talaga. If you get what I mean." "Just be happy kasi meron kang kaibigan na tulad ko. Bukod sa maaasahan sa lahat ng bagay eh, pogi pa," he winked. "Ang kapal." "'Di nga, pogi naman talaga ako, 'di ba?" "May sinasabi ka?" "Sabi ko nga wala," he pouted. "Sige, hindi na ako pogi. Okay lang kahit hindi guwapo basta may mabuting kalooban." "Napakadrama naman," I chuckled. "Sige na, sige na." "Tingnan mo, papayag ka rin pala," tawa niya. "But wait, puwedeng pahupain muna natin nang slight 'tong ulan? Ang lakas, eh. Baka magkasakit ka pa." "Sus," ngiting-ngiti kong sabi habang bahagyang kiniliti ang baywang niya. "Napaka-caring naman ng kaibigan ko. Huwag mong sobrahan, mamaya ayaw na kitang ipamigay sa iba." We just laughed and didn't care about what others would think about us. Having some good times like this was just normal for the both of us, simply because we were best of friends. Never naman kaming lumagpas sa limitation namin. Other people were just the ones giving meaning to this kind of relationship. Like what the hell? Girls and boys could be friends. Anyways, ganito lang kami, kapag may kaunting away o hindi pagkakaintindihan, naaayos namin agad. Minsan nga ay hindi namin napapansin na bati na kami dahil pareho kaming siraulo. "Uhm... BFF," he uttered, as we were waiting for the rain to stop. "About Kye..." I turned my gaze at him once more as I raised my eyebrows. "What about him?" I asked. "Hindi mo ba napapansin? Parang may kakaiba sa lalaking 'yon, pero ayoko namang mag-assume. Siguro ako lang talaga ang nakakapansin." I puckered my eyebrows. "What do you mean? Wala naman akong napapansing kakaiba sa kaniya. Saka minsan ko lang naman siya makita." "Hindi mo talaga napapansin? Alam mo, sa tuwing nakakasalubong natin siya, tinititigan niya tayong dalawa nang masama." I expressed hesitation. "Do you think pinagkakamalan niya rin tayong couple?" "No, it's not like that. Para bang-" He was interrupted with what he was saying when a sudden ringtone occurred from nowhere. "Is that your phone or mine?" I asked. "Pero sa tingin ko sa'yo talaga 'yon." "Yes, I guess that's mine," he said. "Wait, sagutin ko lang." Hindi ko napigilan ang matawa sa kaibigan ko, mas malakas ba naman ang ringtone kaysa sa buhos ng ulan. It took him a minute talking with the caller, and when he was done, he gave me a look of disappointment or something like disapproval. "What's with that face?" I asked. "Sabi ng president na mag-stay daw muna kami kasi may meet kami. Nandoon na raw sila sa taas ngayon, hinihintay daw nila ako kasi ako na lang ang wala." "Oh..." "Sorry, but I have to go. Sa'yo muna 'yang payong ko. Bye!" "W-wait!" I said, trying to stop him from running, pero tuloy-tuloy lang siya, kaya hindi na rin niya ako narinig. Anyways, he was one of the student officers of our university, so I understood the sudden inconvenience. Actually, this was happening every time, kaya nasanay na rin ako. I looked at my watch before I finally took a step out of the building. It was five thirty already, and since the shop was going to close nearly, I hurried up. I went to the spot wherein I parked my car, at saka mabilis na umalis. The shop would be closing at six sharp. How I wished the traffic wouldn't be heavy. I was on my way and got so irritated by the heavy traffic. Isa pa, palakas na rin nang palakas ang ulan. I was so afraid it might ruin the cake. But, I was even more afraid na baka hindi ko maabutang bukas ang shop. Sobrang lakas na ng t***k ng puso ko't hindi ako mapakali. I was just relieved when I arrived there, and it was still open even though it was beyond six. They told me they really waited for me, and I'd found it so sweet. Nang makuha ko ang cake ay mabilis akong bumalik sa kotse. Sobrang lakas ng ulan, so I tried my best to protect it. It was six-thirty when I continued driving. My heart would likely explode seeing the traffic getting heavier time by time. I actually didn't know if the day was good or bad to me, but because this was Mom's day, I would still be grateful. On my way home, hindi ko napigiling mapangiti. I was so excited to see Mom blow her candle. I knew it would make her happy. Masaya lang akong nagmamaneho, not until a loud thunder aroused from the city. Natigilan ako at napayuko nang bahagya dahil sa ingay na 'yon. My heart was beating faster after that loud thunder. I couldn't explain the feeling, basta bigla na lang akong kinabahan. But, I chose to ignore it, thinking it was just because of the created noise a while ago. Ilang minuto pa'y nasa sentro na ako ng lunsod kung saan napakabagal ng daloy ng trapiko. My car was just moving little by little, sobrang nakakairita't nakasisira ng excitement. At seven in the evening na ako nakarating na sa bahay, but the rain still did not subside. As I parked my car, Psalm appeared in my mind. Did he get home already? But before I could be bothered, I took the cake that was placed at the shotgun seat, saka lumabas na rin sa kotse. The moment I stepped my foot forward, napatigil ako sa kakaibang amoy na nalanghap ng ilong ko. "What's that smell?" I thought to myself. Sobrang lakas ng amoy na iyon. Hindi ba kaya may nagtapon na naman ng basura sa kalye namin? I covered my nose with my handkerchief as I walked closer to the house. I puckered my eyebrows because the light wasn't turned on. Sa tuwing umuuwi ako, laging nakabukas ang ilaw sa labas dahil alam ni Mommy na madilim ang daanan. Everything wasn't just making me confused, but nervous as well. Habang unti-unti akong nakalalapit sa may pinto, pabilis naman nang pabilis ang t***k ng aking puso. I could sense there was really something wrong going on here. "Mommy, I'm home!" I said before I opened the door, but I received no answer. Mas lalo na nga akong kinabahan, kaya dali-dali kong binuksan ang pinto. The smell got worse. Kahit na natakpan na ng panyo ang ilong ko't hindi na rin ako humihinga, malakas pa rin ang amoy n'on ̶ sobrang nakakasuka. I had a hard time finding the switch since it was too dark. And when I finally touched it and turned on the lights... I dropped the cake.