92 Claire de Lune

"CAREFUL ON YOUR STEPS, over here."

"Malayo pa ba?" tanong niya habang `di mapigilan ang kumakawalang hagikgik. Nakapiring ang mga mata niya habang inaalalayan siya ni Night sa paglalakad.

"Two more steps, okay, stop here." Agad siyang huminto. Naramdaman niyang tumayo ang binata sa likuran niya at dahan-dahang tinanggal ang buhol ng piring. "Keep your eyes closed. Open them on the count of three."

Natanggal na ang piring pero nanatili pa rin siyang nakapikit. Her heart was pounding so hard she wanted to release the ball in her throat that she wasn't aware she holds. His lips grazed the tip of her left ear as his low voice vibrated and made her skin icy burned. "One, two, three. Open it."

Pagbukas niya ng mga mata ay hindi niya inaasahan ang nakita. Lexine froze on her feet and her eyes swelled in awe. Is this real? Is she dreaming? Nagtakip siya ng bibig habang malaya niyang pinagmasdan ang lahat ng nasa harapan niya.

Unang bumungad sa kanya ang napakalaki at napakaliwanag na arch ceiling. Sa gitna niyon ay isang malaking chandelier habang nababalutan ng sandamakmak na ilaw ang buong pabilog na kisame. Higit na nakamamangha ang mga gold baroque designs sa paligid. Meron sa kisame, walls, railings ng bawat palapag at kung saan-saan pa. Apat na palapag ang malaking opera house na napapalibutan ng mga pulang upuan habang may mga pulang kurtina na nakasabit sa bawat veranda nito. The baroque architecture of the entire theater was tremendous and jaw breaking.

"This is..." Hindi niya maituloy ang sinasabi dahil hanggang ngayon ay `di pa rin siya makapaniwala. The whole opera house is empty but it only made its beauty more magnificent. She's speechless.

"Welcome to the Opéra National de Paris," bulong ni Night sa likuran niya.

Humarap siya rito. "H-how... how did you know that I want to see this place?"

Bilang isang ballerina. Isa sa mga pangarap ni Lexine na makapag perform sa France. At sa tanyag na opera house na ito nagtanghal ang mga word class play and perfomance. Ang makapagsayaw mismo sa entabladong ito ay isang malaking goal na gusto niyang matupad balang araw.

"Let's just say that I have sources." Night smiled mischievously with pride.

"This is... Night... this place is magnificent!" Tumingala siya at naroon ang higanteng pulang kurtina na nakatali at nakatupi sa kisame.

Ginayak siya ni Night patungo sa gitna ng malawak na entablado. Lalong nanlaki ang mata niya nang makita sa gitna ang isang Sound of Harmony Concert Grand Piano. Umupo si Night sa maliit nitong stool at inangat ang cover keys niyon. She didn't know that he knows how to play. Magaan nitong pinatong ang mga daliri sa keyboard at tumingala sa kanya. "For you, mon amour."

Nagsimula itong magtipa ng keyboard at agad binalot ng melodiya ang buong opera house. The music was mellow and bittersweet, like a tale of a young woman––who was patiently waiting under the beautiful moonlight––for her soldier lover who took off for war. She knows that exceptional piece: Clair de Lune.

Napaka payapa tignan ni Night habang tumitipa ito sa piano na para bang kaisa nito ang musika. It was a sight that is worth keeping inside her treasure box. Nilibot ni Lexine ang tingin sa malawak na entablado at mga bakanteng upuan sa harapan niyon. A wave of joy embraced her entire body. The music was seducing her to move.

Pinikit niya ang mga mata at nagpa-agos sa alon ng melodiya. Awtomatiko na tumingkayad ang mga paa niya kasabay nang pagpilintik ng kanyang mga daliri. Ginabay siya ng musika sa gitna ng entablado at dahan-dahan niyang sinayaw ang tugtugin na naaayon sa pintig ng kanyang damdamin. She spun, jump, bend and hop. Eveything dissapear and it's only her, Night and the music. Lexine was dancing above the clear water. Her white dress was flowing smoothly, and she looked like a beautiful white lily glowing under the ocean of stars in the evening sky.

She finished her piece with a graceful arabesque; one of her leg is standing strong while the other is straight and extending long behind in the air. Her arms raised above her head in the letter "V" position while her pointing fingers were delicate as silk.

Lexine slowly opened her eyes. Una niyang nasilayan ang nagliliwanag na mukha ni Night. Huminto na ito sa pagtipa at nakatitig lang sa kanya na para bang wala itong ibang nakikita kundi siya lang. He stood up and strolled towards her. His eyes were full of admiration and scorching passion. Night intently gazed at Lexine as though he was looking at her for the first time. Is this how his face brightened––like a ray of sunshine––every time he watches her ballet show in the shadows? Nahigit niya ang hininga nang mabilis nitong tinawid ang natitirang distansya nila at siniil siya ng nagbabagang halik.

"You're so beautiful," he whispered against her lips.

Everything was so overwhelming for Lexine and her chest suddenly ache; it sucked in all the oxygen she breathes like a vacuum. As though lost in a daze, Lexine stared back at the most stunning coffee-colored orbs—that has all the power to alter her entire world in the most fascinating yet ominous ways. These eyes that she will never misremember. They were already ingrained and embedded in her soul.

Then it suddenly hit her. The awareness was enormous, and she felt that she was drowning in the deepest part of the ocean. She was trap inside the bubble, and everything around her was dark. Lexine hears nothing except the voice of her own heart that kept on shouting, screaming, and roaring the indisputable truth that her soul wanted for her to see and accept.

She's in love with the prince of darkness.

At ang pinakamasakit sa lahat dahil sa kabila ng katotohanang iyon ay wala na siyang sapat na panahon upang iparamdam sa binata ang nararamdaman niya. Lexine looked back on how they talked about the future; the things that they wanted to do together. Oh, how she badly wished to make it all happen. But she needs to make a choice. Ang kaligtasan ng lolo niya o ang kaligayahan niya sa piling ni Night? At alam ni Lexine kung ano ang sagot.

"Make love to me," she whispered. Her voice almost soundless like a wind.

Night swallowed hard as his shoulders stiffened. The flaming desire of the beast instantly arisen in his eyes. It vibrates like a throbbing heartbeat. They are hungry for her.

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay nito habang hindi paawat ang pagtaas baba ng adams apple nito. It was so clear to his distressed face how much he was trying to control himself, but the beast's eternal hunger was impossible to conquer. Night was craving for her flesh like his life was reliant on it.

"Are you sure?" tanong nito sa matigas na boses.

Hinaplos niya ang pisngi nito. "I've never been so sure `bout anything in my life until I met you."

He didn't move. He didn't flinch. Night just closed his eyes. His face was stone hard and seems like he was battling a glorious war inside of his mind. Nanatiling walang kibo si Lexine at tahimik na pinagmamasdan ang mukha nito. Kumakabog ang dibdib niya at nabibingi siya roon. At last, Night finally looked back at her. She silently gasped. His flaming eyes were the core of the stars.

"God, you make me insane."

He kissed her and again and again and again. Hindi na niya namalayan na nilamon na pala sila ng itim na usok at nagulat na lang siya nang nahulog sila sa ibabaw ng kama. Napatili siya. Nasa ibabaw na siya ni Night at malaki ang ngiti nito habang nakahiga sa malambot na kutson.

"It's more comfortable on my bed than on the stage floor," bulong nito na may pilyong ngiti sa labi.

She giggled as they continued devouring each others lips. Sa mga bisig at piling ng prinsipe ng kadiliman napatunayan ni Lexine na wala siyang pinagsisihan na nakipagkasundo siya rito. Dahil sa pangalawang pagkakataon niyang mabuhay ay kaduktong ang pagkakataon na makapiling at mahalin niya ang lalaki.