Deucalion

Chapter 7

She was attracted

To everything dark,

Maybe that's why

She fell in love

With his soul.

- Prapty

Chapter Seven

On top of the world

Mabilis akong bumangon mula sa kama, kahit masakit ang ulo at nahihilo pa. I woke up again by wet dreams in this room, again. The difference is, I didn't saw Lyon. But I know I'm at their dorm.

I groan when I remembered what happened last night at the bar. All the things I told him. I tweaked my hair and groaned desperately as panic starts to consumed my system but I froze when I notice what I'm wearing. My panicked tripled.

Biglang bumukas ang pinto at pumasok ang pumipito pang si Felix. Bahagyang namilog ang mata nya habang pinapasadahan ako ng tingin. Nangapal ang mukha ko sa hiya at kaba.

He whistled again. "What the f**k are you doing here, Jane? f**k! Are you screwing with my brother?"

"W-What?" My eyes widened. "N-No... No. It's not what you think."

"Then why are you wearing his f*****g shirt?" He pointed at my body.

Mariin akong napapikit at sunod-sunod na minura si Lyon sa isipan. I didn't feel anything though, I'm not sore down there or wala namang nagbago sa'kin so I know walang nangyari sa'min ni Lyon. Pero ang isiping hinubaran at binihisan ako nito ay mas nakapagwawala ng puso ko kahit pa nakita na nito minsan ang dibdib ko.

Iba ang usapan sa taas at iba rin sa baba at iba rin pag lahatan na.

Hindi ko na sya pinansin, basta ko na lang kinuha ang isang nakatiklop na damit sa side table at pumasok sa bathroom. Lutang ako habang naliligo, I don't know how to face Lyon after last night and the fact that he undress me. I don't know if I can face him without blushing.

Hindi ko pa nga sya nakakaharap, namumula na ang pisngi ko.

Okay, Jane, he already saw your two mooshies, so don't give him the satisfaction that you're affected.

But I'm f*****g affected. f**k it!

Okay, act normal. What? Abnormal na ba ang kinikilos ko?

Parang gusto kong bumalik pataas sa hagdan o di kaya tumakbo palabas ng pinto ng makita ang sala. Nandon sila Azalea, Ylona and Lyre. Ang wala ay sila Daelan, Santi, Kael at Elric.

I acted like I'm not nervous, I remained my dull expression as I sat beside Ylona.

It's just so awkward. Nakita kong nagkakatinginan sila kaya napapagaya ako pero sinisigurado kong hindi ako mapapatingin kay Lyon na nasa harap ko pa talaga.

I'm trying not to look at him even though I can feel that he's staring at me intently. With his dark, dangerous and ruthless eyes, he's trying to capture my eyes.

"To make things f*****g clear," panimula ni Felix. "To f*****g avoid what happened to... Siege and... Frances..." He cleared his throat. "We're not f*****g allowed to fall for a mortal."

Mabilis akong napabaling kay Felix na nakatitig pala sa'kin. Sumasakit ang puso ko sa ipinapakita nyang kalupitan.

"No more marks, bonds, tattoos or secret marriage or whatever." Aiken continued.

"That's so easy!" Lorcan said smugly. "Mortals are just food."

Kinuyom ko ang kamao at tiningnan sya ng masama. He smirked at me wickedly.

"Are we clear, Lyon?" Azalea said.

Walang nagawa, tiningnan ko pa rin sya. Walang emosyong mababakas sa kanyang mukha kundi kalamigan lang. He stand and walked away without saying a word.

Mas masakit pa iyon. Siguro dahil sa sakit at pait ay napanatili kong walang emosyon ang mukha at mukhang hindi naapektuhan sa sinabi nya. Napapiksi ako ng maramdam ang isang kamay na humaplos sa balikat ko. Nang balingan ko si Ylona ay malungkot syang ngumiti sa'kin.

I don't know why Frances described Lyon as kind and gentle. He's opposite of all the things she said. Lyon is scarier than the dark. He's the darkness that I always feared, that I keep on hating and fighting but I will always end up defeated. He's the darkness I won't let ruled over my feelings.

I'm a mortal, young, alone and broken. While he's a vampire, dark, ruthless and dangerous. Kahit baliktarin ang mundo, hinding-hindi kami magtatagpo.

He's a beast and I'm always be his prey.

Ibinuhos ko ang atensyon sa pag-aaral lalo na't malapit na ang finals. We will be the first batch to graduate after the eclipse. Like my other classmates, I can't hide my excitement too. We've been very busy for the practices of our graduation in the following days hanggang sa hindi ko na namalayang graduation na namin.

Everything was so fast. Like it's just a snap in my finger. We're all wearing black togas. Even I want to avoid it, I become emotional while looking around and holding my diploma. Everyone is so happy. May malaking tolda na humaharang sa araw kaya pakalat-kalat ang nga nightwalkers. Some of my schoolmates approached me for a selfie and groupie.

Lumapit din sa'kin sila Sally, Ylona at Lyre for a selfie and they congratulated me. I congratulated them too, matapos iyon ay nakihalubilo na sila sa iba. Ngumiti ako ng makita si Daniel na palapit sa'kin. Ibinuka ang kamay, naiiyak. Napailing sya at niyakap ako.

"Congrats," he whispered.

"Congrats too." I said.

How I wished I can still loved him like how I loved him back then. Carefree, not that wild but not that gentle.

But I know, it won't ever happen anymore because this is not my heart. I don't own this heart.

Nakalagay sa braso ko ang nakatiklop na toga habang hawak-hawak ang diploma at naglalakad papunta sa pamilya ko. Nagpahatid ako dito kay Daniel matapos ang graduation, gusto nya pa nga akong hintayin pero pinauna ko na sya. Balak kong mag-overnight dito.

I smiled when I reached my destination then let out a long and hard sigh.

"Hey, dad, mom." I raised my hand and waved my diploma. "I did it, I finished my study... I can work now, I can provide for my own."

Namamangha ako dahil hindi na ako gaanong emosyonal. Lumuluha pero hindi na gaanong kailangan pang saktan ang sarili. Naninikip ang dibdib pero nakukuha ng ngumiti. Nasasaktan pero nakakaya naman.

Ilang minuto akong tulala nang maramdaman ko ang isang presensya sa aking likuran. Kumabog ang dibdib, nang lumingon ay mas nadagdagan ang kaba nang makita si Lyon na nakapamulsa sa kanyang suot na pants. Seryoso at madilim ang mukha, he looks a bit mad.

I've been avoiding him for the past days, I really did it intentionally dahil kahit nakatutok ako sa mga ginagawa nitong nakaraang araw ay sumasagi pa rin sya sa isipan ko.

I don't know what to say to him or how will I act in front of him after everything that happened so I just returned my gaze to my parents grave. Pigil ko ang sarili na humarap ulit ng makalapit sya sa'kin at tumayo sa tabi ko. Humigpit ang hawak ko sa diploma, nang mapansing bahagya iyong nalukot ay kinalma ko ang sarili. Pilit iwinawaksi ang galit na naramdaman ng makita sya.

"What are you doing here?" Tanong ko, hindi na mapigilan ang sarili at katahimikan.

He glanced at me and I can feel the intensity and confusion in his stares.

"If you think that I will hurt myself again. Don't worry, I won't." I continued when he stayed silent, pigil ko nga lang ang sariling emosyon.

Not in front of my parent's grave.

Inis ko syang hinarap nang manatili pa rin syang tahimik pero nagulat ako ng bigla nya akong hilain sa kamay at mahigpit na niyakap. Saglit akong natutula, it felt like everything around us stopped.

"Wha-What are you doing? What d-do you think you're doing, L-Lyon?" Nanginig ang labi ko kasabay ng pagdagundong ng dibdib.

"I wanted to see you," he whispered huskily and with a trace of grudge. "But you're avoiding me..."

Tiningala ko sya, para maitago ang pamumula ng mukha ay sumimangot ako ng makitang nakatitig lang sya sa'kin. Naiinis ko syang tinulak. Lumayo naman sya sa'kin kahit walang kalakas-lakas iyong pagtulak ko. I fix myself while trying to calm my nerves.

"What's your plan now?"

Natigilan ako. Ngayong tinanong nya iyon, parang ngayon ko lang napagtanto ang lahat because I don't have any plans. I don't know what I want, what I need. I don't know what to do. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang naghihintay sa'kin kinabukasan.

"I really don't know." mabagal at mahina kong sabi.

He's seriously looking at me like he's reading my mind. I saw sadness and weariness in his slate-blue eyes.

"Then what do you want, Jane?"

Napakurap-kurap ako sa tanong nya. Hindi nakaimik. Tumanaw ulit sa libingan ng mga magulang. Humangin ng malakas at tinangay ang buhok ko kasabay ng mga patay na dahon. Nang kumalma ang hangin ay doon lang ako nakakuha ng lakas na magsalita.

I shrugged my shoulder weakly then glance at him. "How about you?"

Kumunot ang noo nya. "What do you mean?"

"What do you want, Lyon?"

"For now," He stared at me intently. "I'm not really sure."

Hindi ko alam pero nakaramdaman ako ng pait na agad kumalat sa buong katawan ko. I don't know why I'm expecting something. Hindi ko alam kung bakit may parte ng pagkatao ko na umaasa.

Humakbang sya palapit sa'kin na ikinakaba ko pero hindi kayang umatras at hindi kayang alisin sa kanya ang tingin.

Malungkot akong ngumiti, tumingala sa kalangitan. "Seriously, Lyon, what are you doing here?"

He step closer then he encircled his arms around my waist and slightly pulled me for a hug. I felt his lips on my head, I can hear him murmuring something but I can't clearly understands it.

"I already told you!"

I lean on his chest and I felt this peacefulness. Slowly, everything just went blank, gone.

"I missed you, Jane!"

My heart flounced violently and a sad smile appeared on my face. Humawak ako sa laylayan ng kanyang damit.

"Lyon, can you take me to the highest building on earth."

His body tensed. I pulled away. "Don't worry, I'm not planning anything."

Tinitigan nya ako sa mata, kumabog ang dibdib ko. Pinanindigan ako ng balahibo ng gumapang ang kanyang kamay pababa sa sa palapulsuhan ko.

Nag-init ang pisngi ko, naliliyo. Malamlam ang matang nakatitig na sa kanya. Humigpit ang hawak pero hindi iyong tipong nasasaktan ako saka iginiya ang kamay ko palibot sa kanyang katawan habang nakatitig pa rin sa'kin. Samantalang ako, nakatitig na sa labi nya.

Nabitawan ko na ang toga at diploma, lutang na sa presensya at titig nya.

"Closed your eyes, baby." He whispered huskily and embraced me tightly.

My breath hitched and heart thudded as I closed my eyes, ni hindi na napagtuunan ng pansin ang pagtawag nya sa'kin ng baby dahil sa nararamdamg kaba. Naramdaman ko ang pag-angat at paghangin ng napakalakas. Mas humigit ang yakap ko sa kanya.

Nakakatawang ang daling mawala ng galit, takot at alinlangang nararamdaman ko sa yakap nya lang, sa konting pag-uusap lang namin, gumagaan na agad ang pakiramdam ko.

Napaigtad ako ng maramdaman ang pagdampi ng labi nya sa tenga ko at ang malamig na simoy ng hangin.

"Open your eyes, Jane."

Slowly, I opened my eyes and gasped when I saw where we are. We're on top of a building, my lips parted as I looked around. We're surrounded by skycrapers. Dahil sa sobrang taas namin ay ang mga skyscrapers ay naging maliliit na building na lang. Mahigpit akong napahawak sa kanyang braso ng malula. Takot pero mas nangingibabaw ang pagkamangha.

"Wow!" Iyon lang ang nasabi ko kahit ang daming gustong isigaw ng isipan ko.

Tinulungan nya akong umupo, may pag-iingat ang kanyang hawak samantalang ako ay mahigpit at alam kong nasasaktan sya sa uri ng pagkakahawak ko pero hindi naman sya nagrereklamo.

Magkatabi kaming nakaupo habang tinitingnan ang mga gusali sa harap. Both of my hands are holding his right hand while his other hand is on my back, guarding my body. The hem of my dress moves along with the wild wind, it slightly showing my legs but I don't mind at all. All my attention was at the breathtaking scenery in front of us and Lyon beside me.

We stayed that way until sunset and watched the sun goes down the horizon, the color yellow and orange sky and now the peaceful scourged of the wind. I looked at him at the corner of my eyes, he's so calm and silent beside me. Amazed and beguiled too.

Noon, natatakot ako pag dadating ang gabi dahil sa pagkalat ng dilim. Hindi makahinga sa takot. Pero ngayon, kapanatagan at kapayapan ang nararamdaman ko. Ni walang halong pangamba o takot. Umusod ako sa kanya at sumandal sa kanyang dibdib. Dumilim ang paligid at kumalat ang mga ilaw sa ibaba. Pakiramdam ko nagkabaliktad, nasa itaas ako at mga bituin lahat iyon.

"Lyon," paos kong tawag sa pangalan nya.

"Hmm,"

I blew out my cheeks to removed my nervousness. I calm myself so that I can talk to him properly, but my heart is wildly whipping my chest.

"Jane," angil nya at napatayo na rin ng tumayo ako.

"Can you now control Aiken's ability?"

He's trying to hold my hand firmly pero bumitaw ako.

"Jane!" He warned, I can see the rage and fear in his eyes and face as he try to capture my hand.

"Catch me if you can, Lyon Stonesifer." Ngumisi ako at hinayaan ang sariling magpatangay sa hangin.

"f**k it, Janina!" He screamed angrily as he jumped off the building just to capture me.

I smiled at him and raised both of my hands to trace his face. Parang sya lang ang nakikita sa mga oras na iyon, parang wala akong pakealam kahit nahuhulog na ako. Or maybe, I already fall for him. I blink when he suddenly disappeared and gasped when I felt arms around me.

"That's not f*****g funny, Janina." Lyon spite angrily.

I blink again and stared at his face then laughed. He cuss and continued scolding me. Pumikit ako at niyakap sya ng mahigpit. Sumasalubong sa'min ang malakas na hangin, reality hit me. I looked down at para akong mauubusan ng hininga at mawawalan ng malay tao. A tear fell from my eyes.

I looked up to him and smiled. "Pag malapit na tayong bumagsak, bigla tayong mawawala. This time, dalhin mo ako sa lugar kung saan mo gusto."

Seryoso pa rin sya, mahigpit ang pag-aalalay sa'kin. I looked around. Astound, I never thought that I can do this craziness. Never in my entire life or wildest dreams, even in my imagination that I can actually do this and I don't know if I will do this again. I don't think I will.

I started shouting, inilabas lahat ng sakit na nararamdaman. Nang makitang malapit na kaming bumagsak, I buried my face in his neck and close my eyes. Napasinghap ako ng maramdamang buhat na nya ako. Dahan-dahan akong ibinaba ni Lyon, medyo nilalamig pa at nanginginig. Binalutan naman nya ako ng kumot. Inilibot ko ang tingin sa paligid.

We're surrounded by bulbs and fairy lights and flowers, there's a stripe cloth at the grass and foods at the side. And not far from where we are, I saw a beautiful castle.

"Don't do that again." He growled at me.

I control myself from smiling baka kasi lalo syang mainis.

"What? That was fun---"

His stares are like daggers so I stopped.

"Why are you so mad? Why? Natakot ka ba doon sa ginawa natin? Are you afraid of heights?"

"Janina Steinfox!"

"What?"

"I'm not afraid of anything." His jaw clenched and he gritted his teeth. "I'm more afraid you, damn it!"

Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi nya, naguluhan. I gulped nervously then looked around to avoid the awkwardness between us. Namangha ako sa mga nakita sa paligid namin.

"Where are... We?"

He sigh heavily. "This is my home, Jane. Welcome to Darkstone castle."

Hinawakan nya ang magkabila kong balikat at inalalayang umupo sa tela.

The idea of him preparing this is making my chest hurt and happy at the same time, my head was dizzy with delight. I'm smiling and ecstatically amazed.

Saludo na ako sa'yo, Lyon. Napaghandaan mo talaga ito o matagal na ito? Iyong kausap mo ba kanina ang inutusan mong gumawa nito?

I have lots of questions to him but I chose to shut my mouth and eat. When we're done eating, he lie down then used his arm as his pillow then stared at the sky. I lie down beside him and stared at the sky too. I frozed when he shifted to faced me. He lifted my head then placed his arm at the back of my head and slowly he let go of me.

Natigilan ako, ilang minuto pa ang pinalipas para pakalmahin ang sarili bago sya nilingon. His eyes were closed as if he's sleeping. I raised my hand and touched his cheek. He moaned, gamit ang kamay na ginawa nyang unan ko ay hinila nya ako palapit sa kanya. Namilog ang mata ko at napalunok pero hindi ako tumigil, I traced his nose then his eyebrows.

"Lyon, you said you're scared of me... Why?"

With his hooded eyes, he looked at me. He growled and I froze when he embraced me, ang nagawa lang ay titigan ang mukha nya habang pigil ang hininga.

"I don't know, maybe I'm just scared of the idea of losing you..."

He said in an undertone as he closed his eyes and moved closer to me, his lips almost touching my lips.

"Hell, I'm scared to lose you when I know that... You are not even mine."