Crazy For You

CHAPTER 13

Eulalie Nyx's Pov

Nang dumating ako sa bahay ni Mireille, hindi ako muling pinalad sa pagsasalubong sa kanya. Ang bahay ay tahimik at wala siyang natagpuang tao sa loob

Nanginginig ako sa takot habang sinusubukan kong pumasok sa mga kwarto, na may mga bagay na naka-witness at mga simpleng basura. Sa kwarto ni Mireille, wala akong nakitang kakaiba.

Habang naghahanap ako ng anumang clue o indikasyon ng kinaroroonan ni Mireille, biglang nag-ring ang cellphone ko. Agad kong sinagot, umaasa na ito ay si Mireille na nagbabalita sa kanyang kinaroroonan.

"Hello?" ang aking boses ay puno ng pag-aalala.

"Eulalie, I need to talk to you. Meet me at my house." ang boses sa kabilang linya ay parang kilala ko ngunit hindi ko agad matandaan.

"Sino 'to?" tanong ko, ang aking boses ay puno ng pag-aalala at pagtataka.

"Eulalie, it's Raden. Please, I need to talk to you. Meet me at my house," ang boses sa kabilang linya ay halatang may kaba at pangangailangan.

Naramdaman kong bumilis ang t***k ng aking puso. Hindi ko alam kung bakit siya ang tumawag sa akin sa ganitong oras, lalo na't may mga bagay na hindi pa malinaw tungkol sa kanya.

Pagkarating ko ay tahimik na naman sa kaniyang tahanan kaya pinagdududahan ko na baka wala talaga ang mga magulang niya at siya ay nagsisinungaling lamang sa'kin.

Huni lang ng mga ibon at mga ingay ng nagsasayawang halaman lamang ang naririnig ko habang naglalakad patungo sa pinto.

Maya-maya. Habang nag-uusap kami sa sala.

Hindi ko napigilang magtanong kung may sikreto ba siya.

"May sikreto ka ba, Raden?"

Raden smiled, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes. "Everyone has secrets, Eulalie," he replied softly.

"Some are just better hidden than others." His words sent a shiver down my spine, but before I could ask more, Raden excused himself to grab more drinks. Alone in his room, my curiosity kicked in.

I remembered Mireille's mention of a hidden room and decided to take a look around.

My mind immediately flashed to what Mireille had mentioned about a secret room in his bedroom.

Once inside Raden's room, I immediately went to his only bookshelf, searching for the book titled "Embers of New Light".

As I pulled it from the shelf, a red button was revealed behind it. I hesitated nervously but then pressed the button. The bookshelf slid open, revealing a hidden door.

Mireille wasn't kidding...

The door wasn't locked, so I cautiously turned the doorknob and pushed it open. The room was dark kaya kinapa ko ang pader para hanapin ang switch ng ilaw. When the light flickered on, I gasped, my body freezing in shock and fear at the sight before me.

"What... the hell?" I whispered, my voice trembling.

The room was plastered with pictures of Myself-on the walls, the ceiling, even scattered across the floor. Every inch of the space was covered with my images, creating an eerie collage. May mga pictures ako doon when i was elementary, nung nag graduate ako and the others were very creepy kung saan ay natutulog ako, sketching in my study table and watching a movie in the living room of my house.

This was the secret room Mireille had warned me about... Raden.

As I stood there, trying to process the disturbing scene, I heard soft footsteps behind me. I spun around and saw Raden standing in the doorway, his expression unreadable.

"Raden," I whispered, my voice trembling. "What is this?"

Raden stepped into the room, his gaze locked onto mine. "It's my room, Eulalie." he said softly, a strange calmness in his voice.

"And now that you've seen it... I can't let you leave."

Napaatras ako ng maglakad siya papalapit sa akin.

"You are mine, only mine. No one else can have you. The idea of someone else being with you makes me crazy. I've watched you, learned everything about you. Every moment you're away from me feels like forever. I need you here, where you belong." He said deeply.

"I'll do anything to keep you with me, to make you see that we are meant for each other. You belong to me, and I belong to you. Always. "

"A-ano bang pinagsasabi mo? n

Nababaliw ka na, Raden!" I said while nervous.

"Don't you see? We're meant to be together. You feel it too, right? The connection between us. You can try to ignore it, but it's pointless." He speaks, ignoring my words and caresses my cheek using his thumb while speaking.

"Pero hindi ito tama," I stammered, my voice shaking. "This isn't right. You need to let me go."

Raden leaned in closer, his breath warm against my ear.

"Let you go? Never. I will protect you, keep you safe. You belong with me. Forever."

I tried to steady my breath, searching for the right words to break through to him.

"Raden, you can't force this. Love doesn't work that way." He paused.

"Love? This is more than love. This is our fate." He pressed his forehead against mine, his voice a deep whisper.

"We are meant to be. You'll see." I felt a tear escape and slide down my cheek.

"Please, Raden, let me go. If you really care about me, you'll let me go."

He pulled back slightly, his eyes reflecting a mix of emotions.

"I can't. I won't. Not now, not ever." He looked at me with darkened eyes.

"You're mine. Only mine."