CHAPTER THIRTEEN

"Stay home" seryosong utos sa kanya ni Romulus pagkababa niya mula sa motorsiklo nito. Nagpahatid na siya dito dahil hindi siya nito tinigilan hangga't hindi siya pumapapayag. May balak pa nga itong pwersahin siyang pasakayin sa motorsiklo nito at itali doon as a last resort. Wala ng nagawa si Caitlin sa pagpupumilit ni Romulus at pumayag na lamang sa gusto nito ngunit mabuti na lang din pala at pumayag siya dahil nakauwi siya ng mas maaga sa inaakala niya. Ang bilis kasi nitong magpatakbo. Ang akala nga niya titilapon na silang dalawa ngunit tumawa lamang ito ng sinabi niya iyon sa binata at sinabing kailangan lang niyang kumapit ng mahigpit sa baywang nito like she's holding for her dear life. Caitlin begrudgingly obeyed; still it took every ounce of her will power not to knock him unconscious. Agad na hinubad ni Caitlin ang suot na helmet at inabot iyon sa binata. Hindi siya umimik sa tinuran nito.

"Just don't go anywhere or do anything stupid atleast until I go back. I think I'll be gone for a we—" saglit na natigil ito sa pagsasalita ng mapansin nitong hindi siya nakikinig.

"Narinig mo ba ako?" nakakunot na ang noong tanong nito.

"Oo naman" agap na sagot niya. Caitlin rolled her eyes. Romulus mouth turned up a bit because of the blatant display of defiance from Caitlin.

"May kailangan lang akong asikasuhin na importante ka—"

"Wag ka ng magpaliwanag. There's no need. You're not my keeper" Caitlin said immediately cutting him off. Marahas na napabuntong hininga si Romulus dahil sa tinuran ng dalaga. "And here we go again" frustrated na bulong nito.

"I'm just stating the obvious. Do you even realize that there's no need for you to explain yourself to me since technically speaking were strangers and you're not my keeper or anyone else so you don't get to say what I should or should not do" hindi na napigilang paghuhuramentado ni Caitlin sa binata. Her mother said she's grounded and this dude is also telling her to stay at home atleast until he's back. It just doesn't sit well on her. And besides they're not supposed to meet after this but the way he talks to her it's like he's telling her that they're going to see each other again and Caitlin can't helped but think that's the last thing she wanted to happen. Associating with him will make things even more complicated and she doesn't want complications in her life even though she owes him a lot.

"Nagkakamali ka. Technically speaking I'm your bodyguard" Romulus suddenly declared. Despite having a hunch, it still took her by surprise. Caitlin had gone quiet.

"Hindi ka magtatanong kung paano nangyari iyon?" Caitlin just shook her head. She doesn't want to know. Honestly speaking, she's scared to know.

"You're so freaking stubborn!"

"Look who's talking" Caitlin muttered sourly.

"Well, since you're not going to ask because you're not interested to know. I'll save myself the effort of telling you the why's and how's" napapagod ng pagpapaubaya ni Romulus sa kanya. "But let me make this clear once and for all. I'm your bodyguard. Stay out of trouble while I'm gone--lalong lalo na sa araw birthday mo. If you can, I will be more at ease kung hindi ka lalabas ng bahay"

"Right. Take all the time you need. No one's rushing you to go--woahh! Wait! Paano mo nalaman kung kailan ang birthday ko?" naaalarmang tanong ni Caitlin dito ng tuluyang mag sink-in ang tinuran ni Romulus. Makahulugan lamang itong ngumiti at hindi nagbigay ng explanation sa kanya. When he goes back again, Selene feels he need to be prepared or she will surely suffer some damage again. He is not healthy for her.

"Sigurado ka bang hanggang dito na lang kita ihahatid? It's still a long walk from here"mayamaya ay tanong ni Romulus habang matiim na pinagmamasdan ang madilim na kalye sa harap nito.

"It's fine. We can't afford to be seen together. At tsaka malakas ang pandinig at pakiramdam ni Mama. May posibilidad na gising na iyon ngayon at hinihintay na ako or baka lalo iyong magising pag narinig ang tunog motor mo"

"Alright, then. Here" Inabot nito ang mabigat na plastic bag sa kanya na may lamang icecream. Nagmamadaling hinablot naman agad iyon ni Caitlin. "Thanks. Muntikan ko nang makalimutan"

"Wag mong sabihing kakainin mo lahat iyan? I know you like sweets but isn't that an overkill?" Uminit ang buong mukha ni Caitlin, siguradong kulay kamatis na siya ng mga oras na iyon.

"Hindi ah! Para kay Daddy ito!" Caitlin vehemently denied. Though Romulus is somewhat right—she bought too much. Yung iba kasi para sa kanya talaga. Just a little earlier, she got a weird text from her Dad telling her to go buy an icecream for him and also telling her to go home early. Hindi niya alam kung bakit bigla na lang nitong naisipan magpabili sa kanya ng icecream pero hindi niya mapigilan ang magtaka at mapaisip. He knew she was outside. Nabuko na ba ng Mama niya na tumakas siya? She shook off the bad feeling she's having.

"Alis na ako and don't follow me!"

Romulus snickered. "As you wish Princess"

"Stop calling me that, Pervert!" Lakad takbo na umalis si Caitlin—annoyed the hell out with Romulus. It's true that it will be a long walk it'll probably take 10-15 minutes ang aabutin ng paglalakad niya kung hindi siya magmamadali. Mabuti na lang maliwanag ang dinaraanan niya kaya kahit papaano hindi siya matatakot maglakad ng mag-isa.

Biglang natigilan si Caitlin. It can't be. Biglang umukilkil at nagpaulit-ulit sa utak niya na parang isang sirang plaka ang mga sinabi ni Romulus kani-kanina lang.

It's still a long walk from here.

It's still a long walk from here.

Bago pa mapigilan ni Caitlin ang sarili agad siyang pumihit at nagmartsa pabalik kay Romulus na kasalukuyang nakahalukipkip at nakasandal sa motorsiklo nito. Na animo'y inaasahan na nito na babalik siya dito. When Caitlin reached him, he was smiling like normal but she noticed it. Underneath those fake smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, his expression was serious and worried.

"Alam mo ba kung saan ako nakatira?" Romulus just quietly nodded without taking his eyes off her.

"You said you're my bodyguard. For how long have you been spying on me?"

"You mean to say, protecting you. I've been doing this job since you were just a kid" Caitlin swallowed the humungous lump in her throat. So, it's really true. He knew her for a long time already more than she expected it to be. Caitlin just never thought that he's been spying on her since she was just a kid!

"I can answer your questions you know. I'll tell you everything I know. There's no point in hiding it from you anyway. Haharapin ko na lang kung anumang parusa ang ipapataw sa akin. The moment I saw you walk back to that place only proves that altering your memories or erasing it won't be enough to keep you from knowing everything. I know you're a lot stronger than that and that's why here we are now"

"So you're the one who screwed with my head?!" Caitlin shrieked in anger. Heat crawled up her face—her head feels like its going to explode.

"Not really. Basil did it"

"Basil?"

"Yeah. The old man with a cane, remember?"

Caitlin let out a derisive snort. Of course, naaalala niya ito. "Yeah. He's been talking a lot of weird things last night, of course I remember. I should have known"

"He's not supposed to show himself to you but at that time you were in grave danger so he had no other choice—just like I was"

"So what about my Mom? Did he screw with her head too? You see magkaiba kami ng natatandaan"

"I don't know, maybe a third party?" paiwas na sagot ni Romulus. Napapagod na napatingala na lamang si Caitlin sa madilim na kalangitan. Wala siyang makitang bituin, she was hoping to see some just to lift up her spirit because she's feeling like a total wreck right now but there was none. Only that awfully ominous moon that looks like it's if mocking her. She's such an idiot.

"I'm going home" said Caitlin in a quiet voice.

"Caitlin..."

"Don't follow me. I had enough. Let's do this some other time"

Tinalikuran na niya ang binata at agad na naglakad palayo dito. She heard him call her name—but she didn't stop walking. She walked away without looking back. Caitlin's walking so hard and fast, she's already out of air. Her chest unbearably hurts but it didn't stop her—dahil alam niya na kahit anong bilis niya maabutan pa rin siya. She's just trying to hold on this ephemeral delusion she's having that she could walked away, even for a while.

Where there are no vampires, Romulus and Basil.

Where there's no ugly memories that keeps haunting her no matter how much she tries to bury it to the deepest part of her mind.

Where there were no betrayals. Where there's only her—Caitlin Rose and an equally weird and idiot best friends Lorelei and Lucia. If only that delusion, could be her reality.

Sa sobrang bilis ng paglalakad niya, namalayan na lamang ni Caitlin na nasa may tapat na pala siya ng bahay nila. Then she sees her mother only wearing her robe, standing by the doorstep talking with someone. A lone police car parked by the side. What the heck?! Dahan-dahan siyang naglakad papalapit sa mga ito—feeling confused and a bit scared about what's going on. Her mother looked pretty much grouchy but extremely worried, deep creases formed on her forehead and her normally perfectly styled hair is now in a complete mess. As if sensing her presence, her mother look towards her direction. Her eyes widened and relief washes through her face. She bit her lip as if trying hard not to cry in front of the police officer. She took a deep breath before speaking.

"There she is—I told you, may pinabili lang ako sa kanya sa may convenience store"

Lumipat naman sa kanya ang tingin ng pulis na kausap ng ina. Pinasadahan siya nito ng tingin lalo na ang plastic bag na dala niya. Napahigpit ang kapit niya doon. Agad siyang tumabi sa ina at hinarap ang police officer na nag-iinterrogate dito.

"Ano po bang nangyayari?" hindi na niya napigilang tanong dito. Matipid na ngumiti ito sa kanya—pero nananatiling iba ang pinapahiwatig ng mga mata nito. His dark eyes look suspicious as he ran his eyes over her.

"Good evening Ms. Sinclair. May ilang katanungan lang ako para sayo tungkol sa ka—"

"Mr. Sanchez, mas mabuti pang ibukas na lang natin ito. It's hardly proper to do this at this hour. We're all tired here. Let's do this tomorrow. Pupunta na lang kami bukas sa police station" agad na awat ng ina dito.

Napabuntong hininga si Mr. Sanchez. "If you say so Mrs. Sinclair—inaasahan po namin kayo bukas"

"Wait! Ano ba talagang nangyayari?"

"Caitlin!"

"Sa tingin ko kinakailangan niyang malaman kung anong nangyari. Natagpuang duguan sa sarili niyang bahay kaninang ala-otsonng gabi si Matilda Joo, nanay ng kaibigan mong si Lucia Joo. At ayon sa mga witness—nakita nilang nagmamadaling umalis ng bahay ng mga oras din na iyon si Lucia sakay ng isang itim na sasakyan. Habang duguan ang damit at balisa"

"What the hell are you—"

"Sa ngayon wala pa kaming konkretong ebidensiya laban sa kanya pero isa siya sa mga prime suspect. Pinaghahanap na siya ngayon ng mga awtoridad. Inaasahan namin—"

Hindi na rumehistro sa utak ni Caitlin ang iba pang sinasabi nito. It's like she's drifting farther away. There were no noises. Everything had gone quiet even her heartbeat sounded so faint in her ears. Everything just, spiralled out of control. It was a disaster—a deadly disaster. Caitlin can't help but think this is only the beginning. The beginning of an end.

Ilang araw na ang lumilipas ngunit pakiramdam ni Caitlin nananaginip pa din siya ng gising. She keeps on thinking inside her head that she wants to wake up from this nightmare. Ngunit kahit anong gawin niya, paulit-ulit na sinasampal siya ng realidad, na ang lahat ng nangyayari ngayon ay pawang katotohanan. Pakiramdam niya parang sasabog ang ulo niya sa kakaisip. This is definitely the worst summer vacation ever!

"Mama, kamusta na si Tita?" agad na tanong ni Caitlin sa ina pagkalabas pa lamang nito mula sa kwarto ni Tita Matilda. Dahan-dahan nitong sinara ang pinto bago lumapit sa kanya. She's been waiting outside the room for quite some time now. Kasalukuyan silang nasa ospital ng mga sandaling iyon—at tatlong araw na ang nakakalipas simula ng maisugod ito sa ospital.

"Nakausap ko ang doktor niya kanina. Vitals are good. She is slowly recovering pero--"

"Hindi pa rin nila alam kung bakit hindi pa siya gumigising hanggang ngayon?"

Tumango ang kanyang ina. "It's been three days!"

"I know but I'm sure everything will be fine. Sooner or later magigising rin si Matilda. We just have to pray for her" malumanay na saad nito.

Nahahapong muling napaupo si Caitlin. Tumabi naman sa kanya ang ina. "How about Lucia? Any news about her? Tinawagan ka ba niya?"

Napailing si Caitlin. Mas lalong lumaglag ang mga balikat niya sa tanong nito. "Not yet. Ilang beses ko na rin siyang tinatawagan pero hindi niya sinasagot ang mga tawag ko"

Saglit na natahimik silang dalawa.

"By the way you're Tito Jun will be here by tonight. Umuwi ka muna sa bahay para makapagpahinga ka. Ako na munang magbabantay kay Matilda"

"Pero Ma—"

"No buts. Kasama ko naman si Jun magbabantay mamaya. Magpapalitan na lang kami. Siguradong pagod din yun sa biyahe. And besides kailangan ko rin siyang alalayan—he must feel terrible right now with what happened to his wife and daughter"

"Luce didn't do it Ma" mahina ang boses ngunit matatag na saad ni Caitlin sa ina "Hindi niya kayang saktan si Tita. That's why it's even more important na magising agad si Tita para malinis niya ang pangalan ni Luce at ngayong pinaghahanap na si Luce ng mga pulis na parang isang kriminal" Caitlin gritted her teeth in anger. She took a deep breath just to calm herself.

"We really need to do something about it!"

"Wala tayong magagawa—Lucia is the prime suspect. It's an attempted murder"

"She didn't do it! Or may—be, maybe it was just an accident!"

"Then why did she run away? Bakit hindi niya pa tayo kinokontak hanggang ngayon lalo na't ganito ang kalagayan ng mama niya. You can't blame the authorities that they will be suspicious of her. They're just doing their job"

"And what about you? Sa tingin mo ba kayang gawin iyon ni Luce?"

"I don't know sweetie. It's just that all the evidences—"

"That's a load crap! Dahil lang mahilig sa occult stuff si Luce hindi ibig sabihin na ginawa niyang parang isang sacrificial lamb ang sarili niyang ina. I know she's weird but not crazy"

There must be some other reason behind this Caitlin silently thought.

"Kung totoo nga ang sinasabi mo—what about the weird markings they found at the scene of the crime? Yung kutsilyo na ginamit sa krimen? Kay Lucia ang ceremonial knife na iyon and the police confirmed that she bought it from some occult store out there. Sweetie, she bled her mother to death. Hindi lang iyon isang normal na attempted murder—it almost looked like a reenactment of a ritual. You saw the pictures from Officer Sanchez, you can't ignore that"

It's true that Tita was almost bled to death in Luce's bedroom. Nang pumunta sila ng Mama niya sa police station para tumulong sa imbestigasyon, may mga pinakitang pictures sa kanya ni Officer Sanchez na kuha sa kwarto ni Luce. Blood was splattered all over the room—sa may dingding, sa sahig kahit pati sa bintana. And Officer Sanchez confirmed that it was Tita Matilda's blood ayon na rin sa forensic officials na nagsagawa ng DNA testing. There were slashes of knife in her body but there were no bitemarks that could prove her gut feelings that's it's a work of a vampire. Ang ibig sabihin ba noon walang kinalaman dito ang mga bampirang na-encounter nila noong nakaraan? So there's a possibility that it's a completely different scenario from what she's thinking. The knife that was use—it's really one of Luce weird mementos no doubt about it. Nang ipakita naman sa kanya ni Officer Sanchez ang mga weird symbols sa sahig ni Luce—hindi na siya nagulat doon and she told Officer Sanchez the truth about it. Luce had drawn those symbols on her floor a long time ago. Tinatakpan lang iyon ng kaibigan ng carpet nito para hindi makita ni Tita Matilda dahil sa tuwing nakikita nito ang ka-weirdohan na pinag-gagagawa ng anak nagagalit ito at kahit din madaming beses nang inuutos ni Tita na tanggalin iyon hindi sumusunod si Luce sa utos ng ina. Kahit pati nga ang walls ng kaibigan meron ding iba't-ibang doodles but that's not actually what's really bothering Caitlin the most.

It's the other symbol on the floor near Tita Matilda's body that is the only one drawn by blood at ayon kay Officer Sanchez hindi nila mai-dentify kung sino ang nagmamay-ari ng dugong iyon. Caitlin can't help but think that there's something with that symbol. Because that's the only symbol she didn't recognize—the only symbol that she's sure as heck not Luce's drawing. At kapag nalaman niya kung ano iyon—maaring makatulong iyon sa imbestigasyon ng mga pulis. She needed to find out what's going on. She needed to save Luce as soon as possible.

Marahas na napatayo si Caitlin. Naikuyom niya ang mga kanyang mga palad. "I'm going to find her" buo na ang desisyon na deklara ng dalaga.

Nanlalaki ang matang marahas na napatayo ang kanyang Mama. Animo'y mas lalong nahapis ang mukha nito dahil sa sinabi niya. Kung pagmamasdang mabuti ang ina animo'y magkakasakit na din ito dahil sa hitsura nito. Kapansin-pansin din ang lalim ng eyebags nito patunay lamang na nitong nakaraang tatlong araw ay kinulang ito sa tulog. Ang kanyang Mama kasi ang halos nag-asikaso ng lahat na dapat asikasuhin sa ospital lalo na't halos lahat ng kamag-anak nila Tita Matilda ay nasa ibang bansa. Pa-biyahe pa nga lang pabalik ng Pilipinas si Tito Jun ang Papa ni Luce mula sa business trip nito sa London.

"What?! Hindi pwede! You're still grounded! You can't go anywhere. Didiretso ka ng uwi!" bahagya ng tumaas ang boses nito—ngunit agad din naman nitong napigilan ang sarili ng may dumaan na nurse sa gilid nila.

Alam niyang dadagdag na naman siya sa isipin nito kapag tinuloy niya ang balak na iyon. Hindi pa nga nila napag-uusapan ang ginawa niyang pagtakas 3 days ago—or more accurately, her Mom refused to talk about it. Mukhang paninindigan nito ang alibi nito na inutusan lang siya nitong bumili sa convenience store—at kung iyon lang ang tanging paraan to ease her mind ayos lang iyon sa kanya. Muling pinasadahan ng tingin ni Caitlin ang ina. Hindi pa rin ito nakakapagpalit ng damit. Gusot na ang puting simpleng plain white blouse na suot pa nito kahapon at magulo pa ang pagkakatali ng buhok nito. Caitlin sighed. Ayaw na sana niyang lalong ma-stress ang ina pero hindi niya kayang walang gawin lalo na't tatlong araw na ang nakakalipas simula ng mawala si Luce.

"Hahanapin ko si Luce. I've been sitting around for days doing nothing but wait. Hindi ko na kayang gawin yun" mahinahong tugon naman niya dito. Caitlin just has to stay clam and let her see her point. She just has to convince her to say yes.

"No! It's a NO! Caitlin! Paano kapag saktan ka rin niya?"

"She won't Ma. She won't hurt me"

"Hindi mo alam ang sinasabi mo. Just because you've been friends since childhood—hindi ibig sabihin noon kilala mo na siyang talaga. She can still hurt you"

Natigilan siya sa sinabi nito. Lors face flashes in her mind. A stabbing pain quickly sliced through her chest. It's almost painful to breath but despite that Caitlin smiled faintly.

"Maybe you're right Ma. There may be things that I still don't know about her. There may be a possibility na kaya niya akong saktan but that's beside the point. What I feel for her is real. I care for Luce. At isa lang totoo at sigurado ako—she's an important person to me just like you and Dad. Whatever happens I choose to believe in her"

That's right. It might be painful now—it might be even more painful tomorrow or even longer than that but despite everything, I choose to believe in them because we're friends. Caitlin is sure of it. She knows what she needed to do.

"And what if you're wrong? Paano kung isang pagkakamali ang maniwala sa kanya? You'll be in danger!"

Diretsang tinitigan niya ang ina sa mga mata. "Then so be it. I refuse to give up. I will never give up on her" matatag na desisyon ni Caitlin.

Millicent can't help but smile despite the situation. Her daughter had been spouting big words since earlier—she can't help but think that she's not the same little kid she used to baby anymore. She's all grown up. She knows what she wants to do. And she won't listen to her anymore. Especially now that the people she cared about are involved. Alam niyang dati pang ganoon ang anak, ever since she's a kid—she maybe the most rational and level headed person na kilala niya pero kapag ang mga taong mahalaga na dito ang naaagrabyado o kinakailangan ng tulong—Caitlin will just charged right through—forgetting all the sensible preparations and logical reasons. Trying to save everyone even though it means endangering herself in the process. It was foolish but beautiful and it just made her shine even brighter in her eyes.

That's just how devoted Caitlin is to the people she loves. Millicent just wishes that Caitlin won't be betrayed by those people. Her daughter may have a big heart and a strong will but she's still human just like everybody else. And she might not notice it now—but that personality will bring her in the midst of danger and if she won't be careful she might crumble and also lose herself because of it.

Sana nga lang hindi aabot sa puntong iyon. Hindi niya kayang mawala ito. And she can't forgive herself if that ever happens.

"Hindi na ba kita mapipigilan sa gusto mong gawin?" defeated na tanong ni Millicent sa anak. Caitlin shook her head.

"Just please don't do anything dangerous. I can't lose you"

"Don't worry Ma. I'll be careful. Tatawagan kita agad kapag nakita ko na si Luce"

"Make sure of it Caitlin. Mag-iingat ka"

Niyakap niya ang ina ng sobrang higpit. "I love you Ma"

"I love you too anak." Her mother hugged her back tightly-pakiramdam ni Caitlin ayaw na siya nitong bitawan. Caitlin smiled and as an after thought.

"And Ma, please fix yourself. You look terrible by the way. Ayaw mo naman siguro na abutan ka ni Tito Jun na ganyan ang hitsura mo. Mas lalo yung magui-guilty" Caitlin joked trying to lighten up their conversation.

"Wha—what?!" nauutal ng saad nito. Hindi na ito magkanda-ugaga sa pag-aayos ng buhok nito. "Do I really look that terrible?"

Caitlin just laughed. Millicent flushed bright red.

"Jeez. Thanks for the reminder"

Caitlin bit her lip hard to stop herself from laughing hard. "Wag kang tumawa!" nahihiyang saad ng ina.

"Sorry—I'm really trying"

"Alright! Mag-aayos na ako kaya wag ka na tumawa" Naka-pout na nagmartsa ito pabalik ng kwarto at akmang bubuksan na ang pinto ng saglit itong tumigil at tinitigan siya ng diretso.

"Caitlin promise me you'll be careful"

"I promise"

Her mother smiled gently. "I'll be waiting for you"

"I'll be back at sisiguraduhin ko kasama ko si Luce pagbalik ko. Pangako iyon"