Vampire next door

"Jade, listen. I already considered you as a friend because I know you cared for Jin too. The truth is Jiyeon actually never debuted, and now that she realized that it was hopeless for her to become a star her parent will going to send her here in Philippines to study." Salita niya. So, pupunta pala siya rito.

"So what if she came here?"

"Jade, look. I want that bad girl to realize that he left Jin for nothing. I can't let her hurt my hyung anymore. So I want you to help me with my plans. Jebal Noona." Pagmamakaawa niya.

"And what kind of plan could that be?" Tamlay na sagot ko.

"All you have to do is stay in Jin's room the moment Jiyeon will arrive."

"Huh?!" Napalakas ang boses ko. "I can't do that. That's foolish. Even if she might see me in there, Jin will tell her everything."

"Yah.. Even if Jin tells her everything, do you think she won't have any suspicions knowing that a girl is inside Jin's room?" Sumbat niya agad.

"Wait, hindi ba't nakipag break na sya kay Jin? Why would she come in Jin's house?" Curious na tanong ko.

"Aigoo. The reason is simple. Jiyeon is playing her own game with Jin." Sabi niya at napamaang na lamang ako.

After Hyunwoo left, my heart is in so much in pain. It's in chaos that i dont know what sort of feelings am i feeling in my chest right now. Ang masaklap, ni hindi nya ako girlfriend pero nakakaramdam ako nang ganito. But while I am thinking about the plan I don't know but my heart is too hopeful. And I know that my heart already decided to do it.

...

The next day...

Paglabas ko sa campus ay nakita ko na naman ang cute na batang kumakaway sa akin sa kabila ng kalsada.

"Yahh! My pretty Noona." Nakangiting sabi niya habang lumalapit sa akin.

"Noona, can I come with you?" dagdag pa niya as he is making some pa cute gesture.

"I'm going home na Hyunwoo. Unless, there's somewhere you want to go." Sagot ko sa kanya as I pinch his cute cheek. I can't show my feelings to this cheerfull kid.

"No. I want to come with you in your place."

"What? Why?" agad kong tanong sa kanya.

"I just want to.." sabi niya wala na akong nagawa kundi isama sya. Pagdating namin sa unit, ay para na siyang makulit na bata na palibut libut at patingin tingin sa kabuuan ng unit ko.

"Yah!! Noona, are you really a girl? This room isn't a girl's room." Nagulat nalang ako sa sinabi niya. But thinking about it, he is right. My room is plain as it is.

"Did you came here just to tell me that?" sagot ko naman agad.

"Actually Noona, I am here to ask a help from you." Sabi niya habang inilalabas ang isang libro at notebook sa bag niya. So, pinuntahan pala niya ako para magpatulong sa assignment niya and thankfully it's science.

I taught him for about 40 minutes, and habang nagsusulat siya ay nagluluto ako ng pandinner namin. While looking at him, naisip kong mabuti nalang pala at nandito siya kung hindi I'm sure na nakahiga na naman ako at nakatitig lang sa ceiling sa ngayon.

We both shared our dinner. Even if my heart is still heavy and in pain, Hyunwoo's cheerfulness is making me feel a little good. Napapatawa rin ako sa mga pinagsasabi niya. But after our dinner, nakita ko siyang patingin tingin sa unit ni Jin.

"Oi, you came here not just for your assignment right?" sabi ko sa kanya.

"Aishh. You've got me Noona. Well, yeah. I can't give up on him."

"Wow, he's not your real brother but you cared for him so much huh?" Sabi ko.

"Yeah, I don't have any siblings but he is more than a real brother to me. When I was young, he saved me twice. Hyung is a real kind person. From then on, he treated me like his real little brother so i really hated watching him end up with that bitch again. I just can't stand it because Hyung deserves a girl better than her." He said emotionally.

"Just ask me if there's something I can do." Tugonko. Ewan ko kung anong pumasok sa isip ko at nasabi ko ang mga salitang yun. But Hyunwoo seems so glad na narinig niyang sinabi ko yun. Pero, I know that I didn't say it just for Hyunwoo. I don't understand but my heart is still hopefull.

....

Nagluluto ako nang biglang nagpatugtug si Hyunwoo ng pagkalakas lakas.

"Hyunwoo naman, that's too loud." Sigaw ko agad sa kanya.

"Sorry Noona." Tanging sabi niya at pinahina ang tugtug. Paglabas ko sa veranda ay lumabas din ang neighbor kung bampira.

"What is that? It's not like you huh?" he casually said.

"Huh? No, it's not me." Protesta ko nang lumapit si Hyunwoo at inakbayan ako.

"It's me hyung." Nakangiting sabi niya.

"And what're you doing in there?" seryoso namang tanong niya.

"Aigoo hyung.. I like Noona, so I want to be with her." Upon hearing those words, tinanggal ko agad ang kamay niya at seryoso ko syang tinitigan. At tumawa pa siya sa naging reaction ko. Ano ba naman ang batang to? Pagtingin ko kay Jin ay nakangisi lang siya kay Hyunwoo.

"Make sure that this kid will go home safely." Sabi niya sa akin at tumalikud na siya papasuk.

"You're really just like that vampire Hyunwoo." Seryoso kung sabi.

"Eh? Vampire? Who? Hyung? You called hyung a vampire? Hahaha.. wow Noona, I like that." Bakit ba ang saya saya niya?

"Pupunta ka na naman ba rito bukas?"

"Of course, I'm coming here to stalk at him Okay?" sabi niya na ikinagulat ko.

"What?"

"Noona, in order to watch him I need to come here more often. So that when that wretched girl enter in hyung's house I'm going to make sure to disturb them." Napanganga nalang ako sa sinabi niya. What's with this kid.

"I'm sorry I can't think of any other plan other than this." dagdag pa niya.

"I have a plan." Agad ko namang sabi na parang ikinabuhay niya.

"What is it Noona? Tell me." Excited na sabi niya.

"Jin is actually coming home later than usual now kaya I think they're dating outside. Sa tingin ko we need to know where are they going for us to stalk at them." I said.

"Wow!! That's a good idea." He is so excited at may hi five pa siya sa akin. "But how could we know about their plan, should we follow him wherever he go?" dagdag niya.

"Nope, all you have to do is go in Jin's room and try to ask him like normal. You just need not to be suspicious. But i doubt if sasabihin niya." Tanging sabi ko.

"Haha. Don't worry noona leave it to me." Hyunwoo is very happy that he keeps on laughing. But I admit that my heart is desperate enough to do anything. I no longer care even how foolish it is. All i know is i need to do something.

....

"Noona!! They're going to the cinema this evening. I'll wait for you at the main door. We need to go there earlier than them. Fighting!! Noona!!" napabalikwas ako pagkabasa sa text ni Hyunwoo. I need to get ready now. And I need is to wear something that can hide me.

As soon as I saw Hyunwoo, lumapit ako agad sa kanya at ginulat siya.

"Yah Noona, you look pretty. And just for you to know, this will be my first date." Nakangiting sabi nang cute na bata.

"Michin(crazy).. you call this a date? We're here to stalk remember." Matamlay kong sumbat sa kanya. Pero hindi na siya nagsalita pa. He just put my hand sa braso niya. This kid is playing gentleman huh.? I'm sure people around are thinking na pumatul ako sa isang inocenteng bata. But, thinking about what he said just now, kung alam mo lang na pareho tayo. This will be my first date too.

The light is still on nang pumasok sila sa sinehan kaya nang nakita namin sila ay lumipat kami sa upuan malapit sa kanila. The sight of them being together is enough to suffocate me but I don't know when did I started to become like this that even though I'm in pain ay porsegido parin ako.

After half an hour, Jiyeon began to lay her head at Jin's shoulder. That moment, my eyes just glued at them. Is this all what we came for? To just watch them? Oo nga pala, we don't even have any plan other than just to follow them. I am so hurt that I can't breathe but I need to stay dahil nandito si Hyunwoo. I need to bear it.

Just before the movie ends, lumabas na kami ni Hyunwoo.

"Noona, are you okay? You look pale." Basag ni Hyunwoo sa katahimikan ko.

"Huh? Siguro dahil malamig." Tanging sabi ko. "Yah! Where are you going?" dagdag ko ng bigla siyang tumakbo.

"I'll be back." Sagot lang niya at tumakbo na siya.

Inililibot ko ang paningin ko sa paligid para hanapin si Hyunwoo nang nakita ko si Jin. Sinubukan kong magtago sa mga taong nasa harap ko nang nagsalita si Jiyeon.

"Oh? Jae deo-ssi..?" sabi niya habang itinuturo ako. They are holding each others hand. Wala na akong choice but to smile back to them.

"What're you doing here." Seryosong tanong ng vampire. What's wrong with him, galit ba siya na nandito ako? Magsasalita na sana ako nang dumating si Hyunwoo.

"I'm with her Hyung, nagpasama ako sa kanya na magwindow shopping kasi I am so bored." Seryoso ding sabad ni Hyunwoo. Then lumapit siya sa akin at inilagay sa leeg ko ang scarf na hawak niya. Kaya ba siya umalis kanina para bumili nang scarf? Ang sweet naman ng batang ito.

"Aren't you going home now? Let's go together." Nakangiti nang sabi ni Hyunwoo.

"Fine, ka ja." Agad namang sabi ni Jin na parang ikinagulat ni Jiyeon. While we we're following them, nakakapit parin si Jiyeon sa kamay ni Jin na para bang wala na siyang balak kumawala sa kanya. I am so focused at them at hindi ko na tinitingnan ang dinadaanan ko when someone bumped at me. Ang lakas nang pagkabundol ko so I am about to fall when Hyunwoo catched me. Tumayo ako agad pero ang totoo ay na sprained ang paa ko. Napalingun si Jin.

"Are you okay?" nag-aalalang sabi ni Hyunwoo.

"Yeah, of course." Pagkasabi ko non ay nagpatuloy na ang dalawa sa paglalakad. Ngumiti nalang ako kay Hyunwoo para di na siya mag-alala. He knows na malakas ang pagkabundol ko kaya siguro ganon ang mukha niya. I don't want to make him worried even more kaya I tried my best not for him to notice that I was hurt.

Hanggang sa naghihintay na kami ng taxi. Pinipilit ko si Hyunwoo na mauna na siyang sumakay sa taxi dahil medyo kalayuhan ang pupuntahan niya. Pagkaalis niya ay nakakuha ako agad nang taxi. I am about to ask Jin kung makikisabay sya when I saw jiyeon kissed him. I watched them for a while when the driver talked. Natauhan ako at agad akong pumasok sa taxi.

That sight is still clear in my mind. I felt like I'm having a heart attack. My heart seems like a glass that is slowly breaking down. I felt like a blizzard suddenly approached my heart. And it's so painful.

Pagbaba ko sa taxi ay hindi na lang puso ko ang masakit. Nararamdaman ko na rin ang sakit nang na sprained kong paa. But the pain of my feet is nothing compared to the pain in my heart.

Paghiga ko ay nakatitig lang ulit ako sa ceiling.

....

I don't know what time I fell asleep last night. It's already 10 in the morning but I felt like I don't have the strength to stand.

Pero, wala pa rin akong nagawa kundi bumangon at ayusin ang sarili ko. Tinitingnan ko ang paa ko at medyo namamaga na siya. Medyo may gasgas rin sya. Mabuti nalang at hindi siya nasugatan. Pinilit kong lumabas para pumunta sa clinic.

Paglabas ko sa building ay napaupo ako dahil hindi ko na matiis ang sakit nang paa ko kaya umupo nalang ako sa sulok. Hah, paano ba ako makakapunta ngayon? Tatawagan ko sana ang classmate kong si Mira nang may lumapit sa akin.

Pag-angat ko nang mukha ay, nakatingin sa akin ang bampira. Umupo din siya sa harap ko at tumingin sa paa ko. And he gazed back at me. And then tumalikud siya.

"Hurry, hop on." Sabi niya at kumabug na naman ang puso ko. Hindi ako nakapag react agad at napalingun siya.

"Wae? Would you rather want me to carry you like a princess?" Nakangising sabi niya na dahilan na naman ng pag init ng mukha ko. Para maitago ko sa kanya ang mukha ko ay wala na akong magawa kundi sumunod sa kanya. He stood up carrying me at his back.

"Heavy." He said in his playful tone.

"Sasakalin kita." Sabi ko and he just chuckled so inocently. Nagulat ako dahil parang ang cute niya. Ahh, nakalimutan ko na naman ang sakit na kanina lang dumudurog sa puso ko.

And so we stayed like that until a taxi came.

...

Nang nasa clinic na kami ay sinabi ng doctor na kelangan muna niyang hilain ang paa ko.

"Just bear with it okay? I will count.. ready? 1...2...3!!!"

Napapikit na lang ako sa sakit.

"Are you trying to be cool? Or are you shy enough to even say 'ouch' or 'aray'?" The vampire said habang nakatingin sakin. Ahh, nandito siya? Bakit ba hindi siya lumabas?

"If I say 'ouch' or 'aray', mawawala ba ang sakit na nararamdaman ko?" Wala sa sariling nasabi ko. Napatitig siya sa akin as soon as I said those word. I just looked back at him, too. Pero as usual i averted my eyes again.

.....

Pagbalik namin ay buhat parin niya ako hangang nasa harap na kami ng unit ko. Ibinaba na niya ako pero how i wish that we stayed like this a little bit more. And thinking about it, this vampire never said anything since we left the clinic. He feels weird right now.

"Uhm, thanks." Tipid na sabi ko.

"Don't be reckless. Ingatan mo yang paa mo." Pagkasabi nun ay walang lingun likod siyang umalis. That vampire, bakit parang nag-iba na naman siya? He should look happy now that his love one is here. But why is it that his eyes looks like there's something troubling him? I don't know but he feels different. At habang pinapanood ko siyang palayo ay napaisip ako. Talaga bang hanggang dito nalang ang love story ko? I fell inlove with a vampire next door, but that vampire is still inlove with some else.

...

Its Saturday when Hyunwoo texted me that he will pick me up. After an hour, he came and we both entered inside Jin's house.

"Hyunwoo-ya, wae...?" Jin seems surprised that I am there.

"Aishh.. Wae? Do I have no permission to invite your dear neighbor?" malakas na sagot ni Hyunwoo.

"That's not what I meant. I just felt something fishy sa ginagawa mo ngayun." Nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi niya. Psycho ba sya?

"Aigoo. I invited this pretty Noona to help me cook. Masama ba yun?" sigaw naman ulit ni Hyunwoo.

"Pabo, this is not about her. I'm talking about you. When did you start to learn cooking anyway?" Matamlay namang sagot ni Jin as he go back to his couch and opened the TV. The two of them are just like brothers.

Sumama naman ako agad kay Hyunwoo at nag-ayos nang lulutuin when my goodness. This guy knows nothing in cooking at all. Nalaglag na ang mga balikat ko sa katitingin sa mga gulay na hiniwa niya. He can't even cut it right.

"Hoy!" hindi ko napigilan ang sarili ko at napasigaw ng bahagya sa kanya. Pero nang nagulat sya ay kumalma rin ako.

"You can't even cut it right. How am I suppose to cook that one. It looks gross Hyunwoo." Laglag ang balikat kong sabi sa kanya. Then, narinig nalang namin ang malakas na tawa ng bampira sabay sabing;

"Aigoo. Hyunwoo-ya, I don't think your little partner can even stand you. Hahaha."

"Shut up!! I brought food so you must be the one to cook it and not just sit there." Hyunwoo said at dumiretso na sya sa door. Huh? Lalabas ba sya?

"Oi Hyunwoo, saan ka pupunta?" agad kung sigaw sa kanya.

"I'll go buy something. Yah!! Hyung, help her. Okay?" sabi niya and then he closed the door. In the end, both of us cooked together. But I am too happy that I forgot about the plan.

Nakaluto na kami pero wala paring bumabalik kay Hyunwoo. So, Jin called him. Afterwards, Jin told me Hyunwoo can't come kaya both of us eat together for our dinner. At this moment, I felt like we we're in a date. I felt so happy that I can't stop smiling. I can't explain the feeling but I just wish this moment not to end.

....

I am washing the dishes now, but I still can't stop day dreaming. My heart is filled with joy. Wala na ang attention ko sa hinuhugasan ko kaya nang natapik ko ang isang baso at nabasag sya ay nagpanic agad ako. I suddenly pick the broken glass when Jin came at napatingin ako sa kanya. Pinilit ko nalang na ngumiti sa kanya sabay sabing "sorry". Afterwards, I am about to throw the broken glass I am holding when I felt like my hand is bleeding. Napatingin nalang ako sa kanya when I think naintindihan naman nya agad. Mabilis syang lumapit sa akin at hinawakan ang kamay ko.

"Your finger is bleeding. Huwag mo muna syang tingnan, kukuha ako ng band aid." Sabi niya at kumilos na sya agad. Pagbalik niya ay pinunasan muna nya ang kamay ko then he's now gently putting the band aid in my finger when... the door opened.