CHAPTER TWELVE

MAINGAT na naglakad si Caitlin sa madilim na pasilyo ng kabahayan patungo sa kwarto ng mga magulang niya. Dahan-dahan niyang binuksan ang pinto at sumilip sa loob. Natagpuan niya ang ina na natutulog sa may sofa habang nakabukas ang telebisyon. Tinungo niya ang TV at agad na pinatay iyon. Kumuha na rin siya ng kumot sa may kama ng mga ito at maingat na pinatong iyon sa mahimbing na natutulog na pigura ng ina. Mayamaya lamang ay bigla itong gumalaw at nagsumiksik sa kumot na pinatong niya dito. Muntikan na siyang mapadapa sa semento para magtago when she heard a soft snore.

Nangingiting pinagmasdan niya ito habang natutulog. Siguradong nakatulog ito sa kakahintay kay Papa. Natabunan na naman siguro ng trabaho ang Papa niya kaya't napapadalas ang pag-uwi nito ng gabing-gabi. At sa mga susunod na araw-kabisado na niya ang mga mangyayari. Pagkatapos ng masigasig na pagta-trabaho nito ang susunod nitong ta-trabahuin ay ang paglalambing kay Mama. Natitiyak niyang mapapagkit na naman ito sa tabi ng ina bawat minuto, bawat segundo, bawat oras-buong araw at sa mga susunod pang mga araw hanggang si Mama na mismo ang magpapalayas dito dahil sa sobrang pagiging sweet nito.

Caitlin smothered a laugh.

Siguradong dudumugin na naman ng langgam ang tahanan nila. At kahit gaano man magpanggap ang Mama niya na naiirita ito--alam niya na masayang-masaya ito. At dahil doon hindi gusto ni Caitlin na masira ang kasiyahang iyon ng dahil sa kanya. Kailangan niyang solusyunan ang problemang kinasasangkutan niya ng siya lang. Hindi na kinakailangang madamay pa ang pamilya niya dahil sa pagiging pabaya niya. Malalim siyang napabuntong-hininga.

Bahagya siyang nag-squat sa may harap nito at marahang hinaplos ang mukha nito pagkatapos ay maingat na ginawaran niya ito halik sa noo. "Sorry Ma" mahinang usal niya.

Hindi mapigilan ni Caitlin ang makaramdam ng guilt, takot at kaba. Naghahalo-halo na ang nararamdaman niya at dahil doon pakiramdam niya masusuka na siya. She hated lying to her more than anything else and besides, she's a terrible liar. Siguradong malalaman nito ang gagawin niyang pagtakas ngayon kung hindi siya mag-iingat sa ikikilos niya. She needed to compose herself. She needed to think and act flawlessly, that she's not doing something out of line like sneaking out of the house late at night. It's 10 pm already...too late in her vocabulary as well as for her Mom, kaya nga nakatulog na ito kaagad.

And worse to that, Caitlin was grounded. Sinabi iyon ng ina habang nagdi-dinner silang dalawa kanina. Kamalas-malasan wala doon ang Papa niya para kumontra. Caitlin choked when she heard it. She almost curses when her brain slowly manage to interpret what it actually meant. Actually, as a result, she was about to throw a fit pero napigilan niya ang sarili. That's just like her. Always keeping her emotions in check. At katulad ng normal at simpleng reaksyon ng utak niya sa bawat pangyayari sa buhay niya-mapamaganda man iyon o pangit she found herself rationalizing that it's actually her fault why she was grounded. Accepting that she's actually responsible for it and no one else.

Grounded. Hurrah! Caitlin snorted.

Hindi niya akalain na mag-eexist pala yun sa vocabulary ng buhay niya. She's always been responsible and she' proud of that but it looks like it will be a different matter this time around. Lulunukin na niya ang pride niya-at magpapaka wayward teen kung kinakailangan. And besides it's not like there's any option at her disposal. Parang wala ngang ibang binigay na option ang utak niya.

One thing's for sure, she needed answers to her problems. She need to know where the heck is Lors, make sure she's safe and then find out what's wrong with Luce. She needed to fix everything before it's too late.

After doing all of that-tsaka lang siya makakahinga ng maluwag. Tsaka lang niya magagawang bumalik sa dating boring mundane life niya and forget everything. Fix and then forget everything. Just like normal.

A normal life. Caitlin took one last look to the sleeping form of her Mother...and then she went. Ano kayang matatagpuan niya ng gabing iyon?

MABUTI na lamang medyo natatandaan ni Caitlin kung paano pumunta sa lugar kung saan sila dinala kagabi ni Lors. She managed to catch a cab and luckily familiar din ang driver sa lugar.

Caitlin watched as cars, street lights and houses passes by in her vision as the cab speed through the highway-and she found herself drifting to another feat of thinking.

Actually, Caitlin's been thinking about it the whole afternoon. Everything that happened since that night. Cataloging everything in her memories and then finally came up with the decision: after making sure both Lors and Luce are safe, anything else doesn't matter anymore.

Nothing else matters. And it doesn't matter if she won't be able to figure out what's wrong with her inside like she's on the verge of breaking apart from what she'd known to be her reality and what is not .

It doesn't matter if there's a Grandpa who claimed to know her when she doesn't even know him and still she felt an undeniable connection between them--telling her that everything he said was true. It doesn't even matter-if there's a weird vampire who tried to protect her and that despite not telling her directly that he knows her-her gut feelings tells her otherwise; that it's like he'd known her, her whole life. And worse of all-it doesn't matter if she's feeling something weird about the guy who bit her, no ...he's more like a monster who had every intention of eating her alive but still managed to be gentle at the same time, holding her like she's a fragile glass. And worse to that he also acted like he'd known her when he's clearly a stranger to her.

Biglang nagsitayuan ang balahibo ni Caitlin dahil sa huling isipin. Jeez!! Unknown people keeping popping up everywhere invading her boring normal life. She can't remember his face well-but the sensations of his touch and the way he bit her made her feel something she couldn't explain.

Caitlin doesn't even want to think about it anymore. It doesn't matter. Period. Anyway, she's Caitlin Rose Sinclair, she'll survive, somehow.

And back to her main problem: ang tanging naisip lang niyang paraan para masagot ang mga tanong niya ay balikan ang lugar kung saan nagsimula ang lahat. Baka may makita siyang clue doon na makakatulong sa kanya. If she's lucky enough-she's hoping that he'll be there.

The weird vampire man who save her. Romulus.

Hindi niya alam kung saan nanggagaling ang pakiramdam na iyon-pero hindi niya maiwasang paniwalaan na buhay pa rin ito. Na nakatakas ito mula kay Devon. From the looks of him, he's not just any dude who will die so easily.

Natigil sa pagmumuni-muni si Caitlin ng maramdaman niyang biglang huminto ang taxi na kinasasakyan niya. Hindi niya napansin ang oras-before she knew it she already arrived to her destination. She squinted against the dark.

Sa wakas kasalukuyan na niyang napagmamasdan ang halos abandonadong lugar, partikular na ang mga abandonadong building na pumapalibot dito. Walang pinagbago. Katulad pa rin ang hitsura nito kagabi. Hindi alam ni Caitlin kung ano ba ang ini-expect niyang makita-but she certainly hoped it wasn't just an abandoned building with no other people who's available to answer her questions. And just like before, she's hesitant to step out of the car. Paano kapag lumabas na siya ng taxi? Paano kung may biglang umatake sa kanya and worse isang bampira. Masyadong madilim, katulad ng dati hindi pa rin naaayos ang mga ilaw sa may parteng lugar na iyon. She couldn't make out anything, she couldn't figure out if it's safe or dangerous.

Crap! Itataya ba niya ang natitirang proteksyon niya na hatid ng taxi para saan? May posibilidad na mamatay siya---natigil ang utak ni Caitlin sa pakikipag-argumento ng mahagip ng tingin niya sa may rearview mirror ang hitsura ni Manong Driver. Biglang nanlumo ang buong katawan niya. Bago pa muling magabago ang isip niya, nagmamadali ng dumukot ng pambayad sa Caitlin sa pitaka niya.

"Thank you po" nakangiting saad niya dito at agad na inabot ang bayad niya. Akmang aabutin na sana iyon ng matanda ng bigla itong natigilan na animo'y may napagtanto ito. Nag-aalangan itong napatitig sa kanya at sa perang binabayad niya dito. Mayamaya lamang ay pinasadahan nito ng tingin ang paligid bago bumalik ang tingin sa dalaga.

"Sigurado bang dito ang punta mo hija? Hindi ba parang masyadong delikado naman lalo't na babae ka" hindi na napigilan nitong puna.

"Salamat po sa pag-aalala pero dito po talaga ang punta ko. Magiging ayos lang po ako. Tsaka may ka-meet po ako dito ngayon" pagsisinungaling na lamang niya para maibsan ang pag-aalala nito.

"Boyfriend mo?" nakakunot noong tanong nito. Sa kawalan ng maidadahilan, napatungo na lamang siya.

"Tsk.Tsk.Tsk. Alam ba ng mga magulang mo kung nasaan ka ngayon? iba na talaga ang mga kabataan ngayon" napapailing na lamang ito sa kanya.

Ngumiti na lamang si Caitlin sa matanda. Saglit na kinapa ni Caitlin ang bulsa ng pantalon niya-ng masiguro na naroon ang natitirang proteksyon niya agad niyang pinatong sa nakalahad na nitong palad ang bayad niya. Pagkatapos ay nagmamadali na siyang bumaba at kinawayan ito bago tumakbo papunta sa direksyon ng isa sa mga abandonadong building na pupuntahan niya. Hindi pa lumilipas ang ilang minuto ay narinig na niya ang tunog ng makina ng taxi-at makailang saglit lamang ay tuluyan na siya nitong iniwan ng nag-iisa. Magkahalong kaba at relief ang naramdaman niya.

Pinagmasdang mabuti ni Caitlin ang lumang istruktura sa may harap niya. Mabuti na lamang maliwanag ang buwan ng gabing iyon, kahit papaano nagsilbi iyon na ilaw. Pilit inaalala ni Caitlin kung saan nga ba sila pumasok ng gabing iyon. Paunti-unti niyang bahagyang iniikutan ang lugar habang pinag-aaralan na rin ang bawat sulok niyon ng bigla siyang makaramdam ng kakaiba. Hindi niya maipaliwanag ng maayos ang nararamdaman ngunit biglang nagsitayuan ang mga balahibo niya sa katawan.

Natigil siya Caitlin sa paglalakad at napako sa isang lugar. Hindi niya magawang humarap ni Caitlin likuran niya at hanapin ng tingin ang dahilan ng pagtaas ng mga balahibo niya sa katawan. Instead, she slowly closes her eyes and then tries to ease her rapid heartbeat and breathing that feels like it's going on for miles. Nang masiguro niyang kahit papaano ay kumalma na ang pakiramdam niya, muli niyang binuksan ang kanyang mga mata at ng masilayan niya kung sino ang kasalukuyang nakatayo di kalayuan sa harapan niya hindi na siya nagulat pa.

Since last night, Caitlin is not sure with everything else. Ngunit ang tanging kasiguraduhan lang ng mga sandaling iyon ay ang nararamdaman niya. Dahil kasabay ng kaalaman na kasalukuyan lang namang nakatayo sa may harap niya ang lalaking prumotekta sa kanya--kahit malaki ang posibilidad na isa rin itong bampira- tuluyan pa ring nawala ang lahat ng takot at kabang nararamdaman niya.

Sa isang iglap lang, animo'y hinawi nito ang lahat ng pag-aalala niya.

"Sabi ko na nga ba at babalik ka" napapailing na turan ni Romulus. His voice sounded too deep as it struck a chord that resonates inside her chest but Caitlin immediately shook off the feeling. Mayamaya lamang napansin niya na pinapasadahan siya nito ng tingin mula ulo hanggang paa na animo'y naghahanap ng mga sugat o galos sa mukha o katawan niya. Nag-aalala ba ito? His eyes look like he's really worried.

"Ayos lang ako. Hindi naman ako nasaktan" ang tanging nasabi na lamang ni Caitlin habang hindi niya inaalis ang tingin sa mga mata nito. Kahit pa madilim ang lugar na kinatatayuan nilang dalawa-kitang kita niya ang kulay ng mga mata ng binata. It wasn't the same blood red eyes-instead it's the same color of warm shade of honey and sunshine as it glows against the dark. The same color she saw when she think he's calm and relax.

Nagkibit balikat ito. "Hindi ako nag-aalala" maikling sagot nito.

Siya naman ang napakibit-balikat. "Sabi mo e"

"Anong ginagawa mo dito?" walang paligoy-ligoy na tanong nito. Dahan-dahan itong naglakad papalapit sa kanya. Hindi gumalaw si Caitlin sa kinatatayuan niya.

"Alam mo kung bakit nandito ako" pabalewalang sagot naman ni Caitlin. If she's not mistaken with what happened last night, they can read minds right? Romulus jaw twitched and his eyes turned a shade darker. And for a split second, Caitlin saw him grinned viciously, spurring her into an alert mode.

"And you know you shouldn't be here. Delikado para sayo" anito. Biglang nag-iba ang tono ng boses ni Romulus at biglang binalot si Caitlin ng kakaibang lamig. Hindi na niya napigilan ang bahagyang panginginig ng kanyang katawan. Still, Caitlin stood her ground. She immediately shake it off.

"It doesn't matter. Gagawin ko kung ano ang dapat kung gawin" ani Caitlin sa kalmadong boses.

"Napakatigas talaga ng ulo mo" Romulus said in a dangerously low voice as he started to walk towards her direction.

"He's getting close. He is getting close" her mind suddenly shouted incessantly.Her heartbeat suddenly sounded harsh and deafening. It feels like she's going to hyperventilate. Ang akala ni Caitlin hindi siya natatakot dito. After all niligtas siya nito noong nakaraang gabi pero ngayong papalapit ito ng papalapit sa kanya-bigla siyang sinalakay ng halo-halong pakiramdam.

It is also the same feeling she got from Devon and the guy who bit her--it felt like she's going to be devoured by him. She's going to be eaten alive.

Namalayan na lamang ni Caitlin na mahigpit na pala ang pagkakahawak niya sa kabilang braso niya-just to stop it from shaking so hard. It took every ounce of her will power to stand up straight and face him head-on.

She can't back down. Not now! Caitlin silently thought slightly jutting out her chin without taking his eyes off him. Romulus chuckled lowly and it sends an undeniable warm straight through her insides.

"You're stubborn and brave. What a perfect combination for a wannabe troublemaker and here I thought you were supposed to be a goody-two-shoes"

Caitlin flushed bright red with the comment. He hit a sore spot straight through. She was even more tempted to give him a good beating but before Caitlin could even so much as blink, one moment he was a couple of steps away from her and then next he's already slowly trailing his fingers in her flamed cheeks. Napasinghap si Caitlin sa sensasyong dinulot ng simpleng pagdampi ng daliri nito sa balat niya. Sa hindi niya malamang dahilan biglang nanlambot ang mga paa niya.

"Stop blushing Princess or I won't be able to stop myself" he warned lowly while his fingers slowly make it's descent to the hollow of her neck, his face too dangerously close.

Too close! Alarms went off in her head. Caitlin stepped away from him and for the first time since that night she averted his gaze from Romulus. "I'm not a Princess. So stop calling me that" Caitlin muttered lamely, not knowing what else to say.

Romulus snickered and Caitlin's head snapped back in attention and glared at him. "But everyone calls you their Princess" he stated with brows raised-clearly daring her deny it. Caitlin gritted her teeth. She won't take the bait. She won't ask him.

"I need to find Sebastian Mercer. Please tell me where I can find him" walang paligoy-ligoy na pahayag ni Caitlin dito.

Romulus grinned but aside from that he didn't give any indication that he noticed that she's trying to avoid a certain subject. "I refuse" Romulus answered in a jiffy not giving Caitlin any chance to process what he just said.

"I see you ref-- WHAT?!"

"I said I refuse"

"What the heck!"

"Walang dahilan para hanapin mo pa siya"

"I have every reason to find him! After all he's the main reason why we got ourselves entangled in that mess!" Caitlin yelled before she could even stop herself and as an after she thought said something she didn't quite expect..."probably"

"Probably?" Romulus echoed. Caitlin stilled, cold dread creeping its way into her insides. Bakit ko ba sinabi iyon? Did that mean I'm still having doubts?

"Ibig sabihin meron ka pang naiisip na iba pang pwedeng dahilan?" Romulus said dead on, Caitlin's eyes grow wide as saucers. It feels like she'd eaten a bucket full of sand. Is there any other possible reason that could justify what happened last night? Caitlin just wanted to believe that Sebastian Mercer is the only reason for what happened last night-just him and nothing or no one else.

"What exactly are you planning once you find him?" Hindi nakasagot si Caitlin sa tanong ni Romulus.

"Kakausapin mo siya? That won't do, he will probably sink his fangs in your pretty little neck and drain you to death before you could even say so much as hello but of course you know that already. After all you're smart" hearing his compliment made Caitlin feel like he's mocking her. It made her feel worse than she already did.

"Wag mong sabihing maghihiganti ka?" pagpapatuloy pa ni Romulus. Hindi makasagot si Caitlin. Animo'y tuluyan na siyang napako sa kanyang kinanatayuan. Hindi din niya maigalaw ang mga kamay dahil namamanhid iyon para man lang magamit niyang pantakip sa mga tainga niya dahil kanina niya pa gustong gawin iyon para hindi na niya marinig pa ang ibang sasabihin ni Romulus...Hindi niya gustong marinig pa ang mga salitang ayaw niyang marinig mula dito.

"Kahit na. alam mo sa sarili mo na hindi lang siya ang nag-iisang dahilan sa lahat ng masamang nangyari sa inyong magkaibigan? "sa wakas ay bulong nito sa kanyang tainga. Hindi malaman ni Caitlin kung paano ito nakalapit ng ganoon sa kanya-her normal reaction would be to push him away but she didn't or she's supposed to feel warm and ticklish like it always did whenever his near but her body suddenly didn't react that way either. She only feels cold from head to toe enveloping her like a safety blanket. Her mind growing darker. Her heart dimming and shrinking, getting farther and farther away from her eyes.

Magkaibigan huh?

"Are we playing mind games now?" Caitlin asked in a cold empty voice that froze Romulus in his tracks. He slowly leaned back and stared at Caitlin's eyes.

He wasn't mistaken. Just like how her voice sounded. HAer eyes looks empty and cold.

"But I'm done playing games. This will be last time I'm going to ask you. Where can I find Sebastian Mercer?"

Romulus sighed. "At uulitin ko rin sa Iyo wala ng dahilan pa para hanapin mo siya. Stop being so stubborn"

"Fine. I won't force you anymore." Romulus smiled painfully. He can practically guess what she's thinking right now even without reading her mind. "Pero hindi ibig sabihin noon sumusuko ka na hindi ba?"

Caitlin just stared for a moment leaving Romulus somewhat lost. He's used to seeing her barely hidden expressive eyes and face, aggressive gestures and glares he can't stand seeing her like this.

Cold and empty. It's like he's seeing a reflection of himself.

"Kung alam mo naman pala bakit kailangan mo pang itanong?" He needs to snap her out of it and he only knows one thing how to do just that.

"Sasabihin ko ito sayo ngayon para itigil mo na ang paghahanap kay Sebastian. Kailangan mo lang naman malaman na ligtas ang kaibigan mo hindi ba? Then I'm telling you right now, Lorelei is safe. She's a lot safer more than anyone else right now. There's no reason for me to lie about this. Now, Caitlin Rose Sinclair nothing else matters right?"

And just with that, just as Romulus expected. Caitlin's face broke out with a relieve smile. Her shoulders sagged like a heavy weight was lifted off her and her legs suddenly gave out, she almost kissed the cold hard pavement when Romulus arms snaked around her waist to keep her from falling. Caitlin found herself plastered against Romulus body. Before she could even stop herself, Caitlin clutched his shirt so hard and buried her face in his chest.

Caitlin nodded. "Hmmm...nothing else matters" she answered quietly. Trying so hard not to cry. She can cry later, when she's alone.

"Are you an idiot?" Romulus suddenly blurted out exasperation tainting his voice. He suddenly grabbed her shoulders and slightly pushed her away from him so he could see her face and scold him right in the face.

"Say something else! Say that you want to get your revenge!"

"Ano b-ang sina-sabi mo?"

"You knew right? Somehow, alam mo kung anong nangyari kaya hindi ka na ngayon nangangamba. You knew that's why you looked so relieved right now. Kung talagang naniniwala ka na nasa kapahamakan siya ngayon or that she's probably dead you shouldn't have believed me right away when I told you that she's alive and safe. It's only natural not to believe me but you still did that's because you knew Caitlin. You just want to hear it from someone else. Hindi ko alam why you're acting like a stupid ignorant brat right now even though it's so very unlike you but I knew deep down that you that you believe she must have been somewhat involved. After all siya ang nagdala sa inyo sa lugar na yun under false pretenses and carefully woven lies!"

"Are you done?"

"No! I'm not done yet! Just say the word. I'll kill her for you. Just don't make that stupid face right now like you weren't betrayed! Just...just don't look relieve and painfully happy right now!" Caitlin stepped back, freeing herself from Romulus and his almost painful grasped, his words grilling her insides and tearing her heart apart, somehow creating a small dent in her carefully built resolve that she mustered before coming here.

Nothing else matters Caitlin silently chanted to herself.

"Hindi mo naiintindhihan"

"Then enlighten me Princess. Explain it to me. Give me whatever foolish excuse you could come up with to convince me that it doesn't matter that you were betrayed by your best friend!"

"Are you being emotional right now? I thought vampires don't care much about those kinds of stuffs. I was expecting you'd say something along the line like it's normal to be betrayed like this. I mean people always betray each other right? No matter whom it is."

"Tama ka. Wala akong pakialam and I also do believe to be betrayed is so natural like breathing for humans but things are different when it comes to you"

"When it comes to me? What the heck is that supposed to mean?" hindi na napigilang tanong ni Caitlin sa binata.

"And here I thought you're not going to ask" exasperated na saad ni Romulus sa kanya.

"Stop reading my mind!"

"Sigurado ka bang wala ka ng ibang itatanong? You can ask me now-I might answer you"

"No thanks. I'm not interested"

"Yeah right. Just as you ALWAYS said, nothing else matters."

Hindi nakasagot si Caitlin. Hindi na niya gustong ipagpatuloy pa ang pag-uusap na iyon. Hindi niya gustong pagsisihan sa huli ang mga bagay na hindi niya pinag-iisipang mabuti bago gawin. She's done making mistakes that so far done nothing but endangered their lives and made her feel like she's a complete loser.

"I give up! Let's go. I'm taking you home" Romulus suddenly burst out. Looking irritated and beaten at the same time. That's most probably because of her.

"Hindi! Hindi na kailangan. I can take care of myself" agap na tanggi ni Caitlin sa alok ng binata.

It doesn't feel right to be indebted to him again. And she promised herself that she'll solve her own problem and not let anyone else get involved anymore. She can take care of it by herself.

Suddenly, Caitlin heard Romulus snickered. She felt her hackles rise.

"Something funny?"

Caitlin glared at him and his barely contained smile got even wider that annoyed her all the more.

"Ikaw" walang paligoy-ligoy na tugon naman nito. Namamanghang napagkit ang tingin ni Caitlin sa binata. Nanlalaki ang mga matang napaturo siya sa sarili.

"A-ako?" nagugulamihang tanong niya dito

"Yup. Ikaw nga"

"What the heck is so fu-!"

Romulus flicked her forehead that surprised her even more than she already did when she saw him smile. And his smile is so different from earlier it made Caitlin feel warm and ticklish in the inside. For a moment she felt the warm rays of sunshine. It made her feel stupid that's why she can't take her eyes off him or bite back a retort. His face is too close too, their bodies almost touching. A rushed of heat spread from her chest all the way to her toes that rendered her feeling confuse and breathless all the more. Just what the heck is going on with her?

Romulus cleared his throat. Looking so embarrassed even though his cheeks remained as pale as snow and for the life of her she couldn't figure out wha--Caitlin's thoughts stop in its track. Rewinding what her mind just said a few seconds ago. Caitlin's face grew red hot with embarrassment.

What the heck! Did she just say warm and ticklish? Warm rays of sunshine and whatnots? He is definitely reading her mind!

"Stop re-"

"Can't help it. It's amusing to know what you think of me"

Caitlin's eyes bugged out for what felt like the hundredth time that night before she could even stop herself she kicks him on the shin with full force she could muster and grunted in pain. It felt like she's the one who got kicked than the other way around.

"Stop hurting yourself. I'm a lot stronger you know" Romulus said almost nonchalantly. "Show off" Caitlin muttered feeling more embarrassed she wanted to dig a hole and hide there for the rest of her natural born life.

"Anyway, I'll take you home. Masyadong delikado kung uuwi ka ng mag-isa and besides it'll be faster that way"

Tumikwas ang kilay ni Caitlin. She thinks it's time for her retort.

"Bakit? Sasakay ba ako sa likod mo? Are we going to run or fly at the speed of light?" sarcastic na tanong ni Caitlin sa binata. Napapailing na tumingin sa kanya si Romulus.

"What?"

"Stop watching too much vampire movies or other supernatural stuffs. It's muddling your head"

"Whatever" iritableng angil niya dito.

"Or kung wish mo talagang sumakay sa likod ko pagbibigyan kita. I'll be your Edward and you can be my Bella. Just say the word"

"Shut up! Are you taking me home or not?" kulay kamatis na ang mukhang angil ni Caitlin kay Romulus. Wala na bang ibang sasabihan ito na hindi ikaka-init ng ulo niya?

"Ok! You're too hot-headed"

"And you're being too warm and bubbly for a vampire You're creeping me out!"

"Am I? Maybe it's the effect you have on me?" Romulus said playfully without taking his eyes off her.

Caitlin stilled. For the countless time, he rendered her speechless, surprised and annoyed at the same time, AGAIN. Caitlin counted inside her head from one to ten while trying to gather her scattered wits and composure altogether. When she felt like she's close to normal as she can be, she blurted out the first thing on her mind.

"I...I should s-tay away then. It'll be bad for your image" Romulus smiled warmly then. His eyes glittering like stars. He shrugged then stared up at the moon. And then he spoke so gently like a sweet hot caress setting a fire on her skin. "It's not that bad. I rather like the feeling"

Caitlin feels like she's going to pass out. She fanned herself using her hand while easing her breathing.

"Ayos ka lang?" nag aalalang bulalas ni Romulus. Lumapit ito sa kanya ngunit humakbang siya palayo dito.

"Wag kang lalapit!" natatarantang utos niya dito

"You look like a lobster. You're all red"

"Pervert!" Caitlin yelled at the top of her lungs.

Romulus stooped dead on his tracks. "Hey! Hey! That's not a nice thing to say"

"You're a pervert! Stay away from me Pervert!"

Kumaripas ng takbo si Caitlin palayo sa binata. Kailangan niyang maglagay ng distansiya sa pagitan nila ni Romulus dahil kung ano-ano nalang ang nararamdaman niya.

"Hey! Saan ka pupunta? Ihahatid na kita!"

"Lumayo ka sabi sa akin!" It's better to run away this early from him. The earliest the better. She needs to put an enormous amount of distance or else she'll get caught. She can't let Romulus catch her or all will be lost.

She can't lose to herself.

However, she can't help but feel that getting caught by him may not be a bad thing, probably.