Nefarious

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Konstantine

Upon my request, the man appeared from the shadows of the woods. His black cape flared behind him. It created such elegant wisps and noises that the tranquil lake slightly shook.

Tama akong siya ang inabutan ko sa pusod ng dilim at ang hinatid ako sa bahay pauwi. At kung hindi ako nagkakamali ay siya rin ang umalis ng walang paalam. Kahit ang sariling pangalan man lang ay ipinagdamot din.

It was true that my whole life was a curse but I was able to see this man again. In his flesh and mine. He was no god yet he stood before me like it was a sacrament, putting all my evil thoughts to shame and giving me the spell of a lifetime.

“You’re here again,” I whispered.

The man looked down at me, standing so tall that I might think that the sun was too low. He remained under the shade of the trees as his eyes raked on my form.

“My lady,” he bowed slightly, his golden medallion hanging in the air.

Naalala niya rin ang kaniyang tawag sa akin nang gabing iyon na para bang sinasabing hindi ako nalimot. Hindi ko alam kung para saan ang unti-unting pagngiti. Marahil sa isang linggong pag-iisip dahil kahit anong busal ko sa utak ay mag-iingay lang muli sa tuwing masisilayan ang kastilyong nakadungaw sa gilid. Baka naman dahil mataas ang tirik ng araw at ang isang katulad niya ay ginagawang magaan ang lahat. Baka pareho.

Ginaya ko ang kaniyang pagyuko at pinigilang ngumisi.

“Hmm,” he hummed in approval. “I see you learned how to pay your respects.”

Tahimik na tahimik ang lawa, ang buong kagubatan at kahit ang himpapawid sa itaas. Parang nakikinig at nag-aabang sa aming dalawa.

“I see that you’re here again,” I mumbled.

He nodded, patiently waiting while looking at me.

"You're here again after a week of disappearing without saying goodbye,” I continued.

It was not an easy task. Having to think about him all day and night. Most especially in the night. I didn’t like the night before but I was able to now because it reminded me of him.

Slowly, a curve on his lips appeared, his thick eyelashes slowing as it went down. His dark eyes were glinting lazily as he continued looking down at me. The tension on his broad shoulders lifted as he exhaled a heavy breath.

“I only said I will take you home. Never did I say that I will bid you goodbye.”

Nagkatinginan ulit kaming dalawa. Ang itim na itim niyang mga mata ay nagtatagpo sa aking mga kulay putik na sinasalamin ang mahiwagang asul ng lawa. Sa tuwing magsasalubong ang pagtitinginan namin ay parang humahalik ang itim na alon papunta sa kulay tsokolateng dalampasigan. Aalis, babalik. Aalis pero babalik.

“Then don’t say goodbye,” I whispered softly.

His eyes stayed with me like the waves of an ocean that just wouldn’t leave the shoreline. His dark and stormy eyes that seemed so serene as he looked at me from the shadows. I basked in it without shame.

Napaayos ako ng upo sa malaking bato, tinitingala ang nagdidilim na langit. Kanina lang ay maliwanag ito. Hindi lang ang kagubatan ang nanahimik dahil pati ang himpapawid at ang haring araw ay nagtago na rin sa likod ng higanteng bundok.

“Anong ginagawa mo rito?” tanong ko sa lalaki.

The clouds rolled in after the sun went away. Shadows loomed over the entire lake.

Unti-unting lumabas ang lalaki mula sa ilalim ng mga puno. Habang papalapit ay mas lalo ko lamang napapansin ang kaniyang tangkad at tindig. Mula sa mahahabang mga binti paakyat sa hitang niyayakap ng itim na tela patungo sa malapad nitong dibdib at balikat.

He clicked his neck and groaned, the deep rumbling sounding like a lion that had just woken up.

“I was hunting.” He nodded at the dead deer.

Dumapo ang isang malaki at kulay green na bangaw sa dilat na dilat na mata ng usa.

“That...” I pointed at its open stomach where blood was gushing like a waterfall. “Isn’t hunting. That’s slaughter.”

“I’d rather call it the art of butchering. I like it when a prey resist. It runs for its life while I pretend, letting it think that it can actually escape.”

Napanguso ako sabay balik ng tingin sa nakahandusay na hayop.

“You’re going to eat it?” I grimaced.

The poor beast died in agony. I should’ve pushed it into the lake and drowned it instead. He too looked at the little lifeless thing and tilted his head, his long, midnight hair swaying with his slow movements.

“I’m not that cheap, my lady. I don’t drink blood that tastes like dirt.” He squinted his eyes at the deer.

“Kung ganoon, anong gagawin mo sa kaniya?” turo ko sa kawawang hayop.

“Score it. Frame it. I will add it to my collection of sheds.”

Pumasok sa utak ko ang imaheng kakaladkarin niya ang usa sa lupa ng kagubatang ito. Dadanak ang dugo hindi lang sa mga dahon at d**o pero pati na rin sa kaniyang itim na itim na kapa at gintong medalyon.

At pagkatapos iuwi ang hayop ay siya mismo ang kukuha ng patalim para sukatin at pagplanuhang mabuti kung paanong kukuhanin ang sungay ng patay ng usa, hahasaing mabuti hanggang sa maging pino ang bawat sulok. Sa dulo ng mahabang proseso, ikukulong na ang produkto sa isang parisukat na lalagyan at isasabit sa pader kasama ng iba pang mga sungay ng patay na hayop.

Wala rin lang kinahantungan ang maliit na buhay dahil bukas-makalawa ay heto na naman siya at mangangaso.

“What’s wrong? Tell me.” His demanding voice came gently.

It was like he was holding back from doing anything that might scare me off like the deer that he just butchered. He was so calm with me and very docile yet the danger following him as he moved said otherwise.

“Nothing…” My voice trailed until it was gone.

The lake was still blue and clear despite the large amount of blood that came from the wild animal. Inunat ko ang mga binti pero unti-unting tiniklop din. Tumama ang aking mga tuhod sa dibdib habang patuloy na tinitingnan ang taimtim na lawa.

Sa gilid ng aking mga mata ay nanatiling nakatayo ang lalaki habang pinagmamasdan ako. Hindi ko alam kung anong tumatakbo sa isip niya pero sa pamamaraan ng kaniyang pagtingin ay nagkakaroon ng malaking hukay sa aking dibdib.

My heart was supposed to race with the lightning, its beats spiking in a breakneck speed. But it was so much more than just racing heart beats. It was the ultimate darkness that swallowed my whole heart, eating it raw and not allowing a single thump to escape. That was how he looked at me. And I craved it so much.

“I’m sorry for leaving without goodbye…” His voice came from behind but when I looked, he was no longer there.

“Here,” he whispered, coming from the other side.

Nilingon ko ito na ilang pulgada lang ang layo mula sa akin.

He was just too tall that only when sitting on a boulder did our eyes level. From our distance, I could smell the natural masculine musk mixed with the lavishness of his clothes. He smelled like newly washed linens, earthy scent, and a hint of whiskey. He smelled clean and expensive.

I took another subtle sniff and slightly closed my eyes. With just his scent, I could picture him, sitting on his red, velvet, Victorian chair just beside the crackling fire place and a whiskey in hand. He sat there with wads of cash sticking out of his pockets.

“I’m sorry for not coming back sooner,” he breathed low, eyes gently searching mine.

Sinalubong ko ang kaniyang tingin, sinasabayan ang sayaw ng kaniyang mga mata.

“Babalik ka ba ulit sa bahay mo pero isasama mo siya?” Tinuro ko ang hayop.

He stared at me for a couple of seconds before threading his gaze carefully towards where my index finger pointed at. His eyes precisely scanned the beast, giving it only a couple of seconds before fixing his eyes on mine once again.

“Hindi na,” iling niya.

Kumunot ang noo ko.

“Iiwan mo na lang siya sa tabi?”

Kumunot ang kaniyang noo. Sa pinakita niyang iyon ay bahagya akong napaatras. Napansin niya ito at kaagad na bumuntong hininga. Awtomatikong nawala ang kahit na anong marka ng galit sa kaniyang mukha. Nang umatras ulit ako ay walang nagawa ang kaniyang mga mata kung hindi ang damhin ang dinagdag na distansya ngunit masugid at masuyo pa ring sumusunod.

I shivered under his intense eyes. It was too much. He was too much.

“Hahanap ako ng lugar kung saan pwede akong maghukay at ilibing ang usa,” tango niya sa akin na para bang nangangako.

“And?” I breathed slowly.

“At hindi na muling papatay pa ng mga hayop.” His voice was firm, carrying out his promise.

Dumaloy ang katahimikan sa pagitan naming dalawa.

Dahan-dahan ay sinubukan kong iusog ang maliit na katawan papunta sa kaniya pabalik sa dati kong pwesto. His long arms shot up behind my back, hovering in the air like he was afraid that I might fall. Unti-unti akong napangisi. Nang nasa dating pwesto na ay umayos ako ng upo.

He didn’t need to wait a breath to put something on my shoulders.

His cape felt so soft under my skin. There was no warmth in its confines and the only telltale that someone owned and wore it before was its heady scent that was now hovering around me. The black cloak around my shoulders did a much better job than my white t-shirt and shorts that were still damp from my afternoon dip.

“Salamat…” Dahan-dahan akong ngumiti.

There was no response from him as he continued staring at me. He gave a small hum, his eyes glinting with something so evil yet so gentle.

“Can I ask you something?” I grabbed the opportunity to ask.

“Anything,” came his fast reply.

The clouds up above huddled together even more so, creating a much darker shadow that highlighted his aristocratic nose. I tried hiding myself under his penetrating eyes with his black cape.

“What’s your name?” I asked sleepily.

He released a heavy breath as if trying to let go of the weight on his shoulders. His eyes were almost closing as he whispered, my mouth tasting the holiness of his name.

“Konstantine.”