Kabanata 3
NAIIRITANG pinasadahan ni Marifer ng tingin ang loob ng classroom. Nang makitang wala sa ayos ang mga kaklase niya, mariing sumara ang kanyang mga labi at ang mga mata niya ay matalim na tumingin sa Butler.
"Seriously? My Dad is letting me go to this—" Muli niyang sinulyapan ang mga kaklaseng nagtatawanan. She groaned. Pinaypay niya ang kamay na may mamahaling gloves at binalik ang tingin sa Butler. "I... I can't take this. This cheap place is going to be the death of me. I'd rather be illiterate than be surrounded by cheap people!"
The Butler breathed in deeply, trying his best to compose himself. "My Lady, home-schooling isn't healthy for you anymore. Your father wanted you to be in a prestigious school—"
"Prestigious?" Halos maningkit ang kanyang mga mata habang naiinis na natawa. "You call this... Seriously, this, prestigious? God damn it, Butler Eric, what kind of dictionary did you read when you're younger? This is nothing but a disgusting place for pseudo-elites and obviously social climbers. Get me out of here!"
Kalmado lamang naman itong umiling. "Forgive me, Lady Marifer but it's your Father's decision. I cannot disobey Lord Matthew."
She hissed and rolled her eyes. Gusto niyang maglupasay kung hindi lang mukhang marumi ang marble floor na halatang hindi naman ganoon kamahal. Isa pa napakaswerte naman ng eskwelahan na iyon kung mararanasan nitong malampasuhan ng kanyang damit. It's even lucky enough that her shoes kissed its floor.
Her clothes are custom-made by the best designers in Wales. At kahit required ang magsuot ng uniporme, pinanindigan niyang isuot ang isa sa "pinakamura" niyang dress.
Nagngingitngit ang mga ngipin niya sa inis. Ngayon niya pinagsisihang hindi siya nagbitbit ng gold bar para isapok dito ngayon. Because for goodness' sake, she is Lady Marifer Thompson of Wales! She doesn't deserve to be surrounded by "cheap" people.
"You Father just wanted you to see the world in a bigger picture."
Tumaas ang kilay niya. "Then tell him to have a freaking six feet tall map for me. Bigger picture rin lang naman pala." Nahilot niya ang kanyang sintido sa sobrang inis.
"Lady Marifer, you have to be surrounded by other people—"
"What do you think of my maids? Hayop?" naniningkit ang mga mata niyang putol sa sinasabi nito.
Yumuko na lamang ito. "Forgive me, My Lady."
Bumuntong hininga na lamang siya saka umiling. "I can't believe this is happening right after Grandma's death." She waved her hand. "Sige na sige na."
Tumango ang Butler at tuluyang sinenyasan ang mga kasama upang ipasok ang kanyang sariling upuan. Nang bumukas ang pinto, nairita na naman siya nang maamoy ang air freshener. Her face twisted and she immediately covered her nose. "I smell cheap perfumes and... Ew!"
Agad na kumilos ang Butler, tila alam na mangyayari iyon kaya dala nito ang paborito niyang air freshener. The smell of Dior Elite calmed her a little. Nang masigurong natakpan na nito ang unang amoy ng classroom, tuluyan siyang pumasok nang labag sa loob.
Her footsteps echoed, the students were silenced by her presence. Natulala ang mga ito sa kanya lalo nang makita ang sarili niyang desk na may kumportableng upuan. When they kept staring at her as she settled on her seat like a queen she knows she's destined to be, tinaasan niya ng kilay ang mga ito.
The students immediately looked away except the one sitting nearest to her. The short-haired petite woman with innocent brown eyes stared longer as if fascinated by her— or perhaps with her clothes.
Pinaningkitan niya ito ng mga mata. "Can you stop being a creep now?"
Bigla itong namutla dahil sa sinabi niya at agad na iniyuko ang ulo. Napailing na lamang si Marifer. You ain't gonna survive this cruel world if you're that soft.
Nahilot niya ang kanyang sintido at aksidenteng napatingin sa sketch book ng babaeng inangilan niya. Doon niya lamang napansin ang disenyo ng pulang cotour dress na ginagawa nito.
It's beautiful... But cheap. Still cheap, she reminded herself before she waved her hand to ask one of the maids standing behind her to give her some tea before she decides to walk out of the room after five minutes.
HER HELL continued. Tatlong araw pa lamang siya sa Notre Dame Academy ay iritang-irita na siya sa mga taong nais makipagkaibigan. She often stare at them in a cold way, silently judging the price of their stuff.
"I'm going to throw a party on Saturday. Punta ka!" the Miss Popular said. What's her name again? Ah, she can't remember. Or perhaps, she didn't mind remembering at all. Natatandaan lang niya ito dahil pwersahan itong nakipagpalit sa babaeng mahilig gumuhit ng damit.
"Where's the venue?" she asked in a cold, obviously uninterested tone.
"Sa bahay namin—"
"Ew, no." She rolled her eyes. "That's cheap people stuff."
"Oh, uhm, yeah, I think you're right. Can you recommend me a place then?"
She flashed an insulting smile. "Try the King's Court. Maybe I'll consider."
Napawi ang kurba sa mga labi nito hanggang sa unti-unting namutla. Umismid siya at tinaasan ito ng kilay. "What? Your family can't afford the real prestigious world of elites?"
"I—It's not like that. I'm —"
"Yes, it's like that." Pinasadahan niya ito ng tingin mula ulo hanggang paa. "Just because you're popular, doesn't mean you have the class. I'm sorry but I don't attend pretentious people's party."
Halatang napahiya itong nagmartsa paalis sa kanyang harap. Wala namang pakialam na inirap ni Marifer ang kanyang ulo bago siya nagpasyang lumabas muna ng silid.
"Lady Marifer, your next class is in five minutes—"
"I don't care. Mas mahal pa ang ballpen ko sa sahod ng boring na teacher na 'yon," walang gana niyang ani sa Butler bago tuluyang nagtungo sa library. If there's anything she atleast like about the academy, it's the huge library.
She immediately went inside to get herself a book to read when she spotted a familiar girl sitting on a corner, hugging her knees while her shoulders are quaking.
Pinasadahan niya ng tingin ang palidi. She realized it's the section where not many people would even want to explore. Marahil ay dahil more on religion books at history ang naroroon.
The carpet prevented her shoes from making a sound. Kaya siguro hindi nito namalayan ang kanyang paglapit.
Pinagmasdan niya ito. Doon lamang napansin ni Marifer na may mantsa sa likod ng uniporme nitong tila sinulat ng marker. Ang buhok nito'y tila ginupit at may ilang bahaging parang nadikitan ng bubble gum.
Hindi niya mapaliwanag ang inis na lumukob sa kanya. Maybe because she really hates weak women. All her life, she's molded to be tough enough to go against unreasonable people. Sumobra lamang siguro ang kanyang lola sa pagsiksik ng mga bagay-bagay sa kanyang isip ngunit pagdating sa prinsipyo, nananatili ang turo ng kanyang namayapang ina.
Her instinct kicked in. She walked towards the familiar girl and held her arm. The girl snapped, her teary eyes stared at her in a confused and terrified way.
Naningkit ang mga mata ni Marifer nang makitang maging sa mukha nito ay may sulat ng marker. May tila sungay sa noo nito habang sa magkabilang pisngi ay tila nakabaliktad na krus.
"What happened to you?"
The girl sniffed and wiped her tears with the back of her hands. Marifer groaned. "Don't do that. That's not how a woman should wipe her tears."
Humikbi ito. "S—Sorry."
Marifer sighed. Tuluyan niyang dinukot ang mamahalin niyang panyo sa bulsa ng kanyang coat at iniabot dito. "Tell me what happened to you."
Nahihiyang tinanggap ng dalaga ang panyo. "This always happen. Medyo... Medyo mas malala lang ngayon."
Tumaas ang kilay niya. "Bullies?"
The girl nodded, ashamed and about to burst out into tears again. "They call m... me crazy be—because of my vi... visions." She sniffed. "The doctor said I... I have schizophrenia but..."
Sandali siyang natigilan. Visions? Could she possibly...
Tiniklop ni Marifer ang kanyang mga braso saka siya tumikhim. "Is that true? Are you really mentally unstable?"
Mabilis itong umiling saka bumuntong hininga. "I didn't ask to hear the trumpets... To see things I'm not supposed to... To see..." Tiningala siya nito. "A—Are you going laugh at me, too?"
Marifer sighed. Paano siya tatawa kung gaya nito ay pwede rin siyang tawaging baliw ng mga tao dahil sa mga bagay na nararanasan niya minsan kahit mulat ang mga mata niya? That's why she prefer staying in the castle and not be surrounded by other people because they will surely not understand her.
"No. Now get up." Hinatak niya ito sa braso saka niya hinubad ang kanyang coat upang isuot dito.
Natulala sa kanya ang babae, halatang kinagulat ang kanyang asta ngunit hindi na lamang niya pinansin. Hindi rin niya maipaliwanag kung bakit naiinis siya nang ganito dahil sa ginawa rito ng mga tao. Tila ba may bahagi ng kanyang sistemang sinasabing walang karapatan ang sinuman na gawin iyon sa babae.
"What's your name?" Malamig niyang tanong dito.
The girl sniffed. "I... Irene Lyncher."
"Well congratulations, Irene Lyncher. You're officially promoted to be my friend." Her jaw clenched as her expression turned furious. "Now you're gonna tell me who did this to you whether you like it or not."
Irene's brow furrowed. "W—Why are you doing this?"
She sighed. "You're too angelic to experience the cruelness of this forsaken world..."
Kabanata 4LIHIM na napangisi si Bjourne habang pinakikinggan sa malayo ang mga sinasabi Marifer habang nasa banyo ito at tinutulungan ang kaklaseng malinis ang dumi nito sa mukha. Nakaupo sila ni Levi sa isang bench sa school ground at tahimik na kumakain ng binili nitong sitsirya.He chuckled softly when he heard her say "cheap" for the twentieth time. Mukhang may kota itong isandaan sa isang araw dahil kalahati pa lamang ng araw ay lalampas na ito ng bente.He shook his head and pursed his lips together to stop himself from bursting into laugh. Oh, Nafas. You're getting meaner every year..."King?""Hmm?" Bumaling siya kay Levi nang marinig itong tinawag siya."Siya ba ang lagi mong pinupuntahan kapag wala ka sa Remorse?" tanong nito.He nodded and fixed his cap, his biceps flexed when he leaned to rest his elbows on his thighs. "Besides my personal hunts, yeah."
Kabanata 5TAMAD na tiniklop ni Marifer ang workbook saka niya hinilot ang kanyang sintido. Nasa library sila ni Irene upang gawin ang kanilang pair activity para sa huling klase ngunit ang utak niya ay nasa sinabi pa rin nito noong nakaraang linggo.Irene flashed a Mona Lisa smile after putting back the cap of her pen. "Tapos na ako, Marifer."Kumunot ang kanyang noo at napasulyap siya sa orasan. "Ilang minuto pa lang? What are you?"Irene's smile widened a little. "Uhm, para kasing napag-aralan ko na dati kaya..."Tinaasan niya ito ng kilay. "You mean you feel like it's not your first time doing it? Sino ka ba talaga? Can't you remember that part?"Napahugot ito ng malalim na hininga saka malamlam na tumingin sa kanya. "S—Sabi ko naman sayo, hindi ba? My visions are... Like memories of my past lives. Pakiramdam ko... Pakiramdam ko hindi ito ang lugar kung saan ako nababagay kaya l
Kabanata 6PIGIL na pigil ang hininga ni Marifer nang sa wakas ay marating niya ang kanyang silid. She immediately shut the door behind her then finally released the air in her lungs. Kanina pa siya sa sasakyan, hindi mapakali at marahas na kumakabog ang dibdib.Why did she feel that way? That man is almost twice her age if she'll calculate it. Pero ang epekto nito, bakit ganoon kalakas? Tila ba sinalanta ang kanyang buong sistema ng hindi inaasahang bagyo.And that smile he flashed... God, she almost fainted when she saw how perfect his set of pearl white teeth is and how sexy his lips looked when it curved upward.Hinagod niya ang kanyang dibdib saka siya naupo sa gilid ng kama dahil baka kung manatili siyang nakatayo ay bumigay nang tuluyan ang mga tuhod niya.She swallowed hard and was about to slap herself when she remembered she doesn't deserve that. She's turning eighteen in a coup
Kabanata 7"AZRAEL paid a visit. He even addressed me using my heavenly name."Napabuntong hininga na lamang si Bjourne nang marinig ang balita mula kay Eric. He rubbed his palm on his face before he rested his arm on the stone table. Nasa Templar's cave ang kanilang pangkat, pinag-uusapan ang mga nagaganap dahil sa mga kalaban."Hindi pa rin nagbabago. Napakapasaway pa rin pagkatapos ng lahat," kumento ni Magnus. Nakasandal ito sa upuan habang nakatiklop ang mga braso. Mayamaya ay tumikhim ito. "Did Azrael already make his decision? With whom is he siding now?"Klaus shrugged his shoulders. "Still playing safe, I guess.""There's no such thing. Either he'll choose our side or I'll send him back to hell myself." Umigting ang panga ni Eric. "I can't believe Jophiel considered saving him.""Relax, Raphael." Kiara leaned forward, her long wavy black danced as she moved. "Jophiel is wis
Kabanata 8"LADY MARIFER, Lord Matthew wants to speak with you."Nanatiling tulala si Marifer sa harap ng bintana, hindi napansin ang sinabi ni Butler Eric. Lumilipad pa rin ang kanyang isip dahil sa nangyari sa coffee shop. She's been restless for days and for the first time, she didn't seem to care about the dark circles under her eyes.Bakit ganoon ang sinabi ng lalake sa kanya? Bakit kung makapagsalita ito, tila ba may napakalaking kasalanan siyang nagawa noon? Why did he sound like he knew her?She sighed and clutched her fingers on her unruly hair. Nang madama niya ang paghawak sa kanyang balikat ay halos mapapitlag siya at ang puso niya ay parang muntik nang tumalon palabas ng kanyang dibdib. Her hand automatically reached for the bar of gold, ready to smash the intruder's face."Butler Eric! Hindi ka ba marunong kumatok? I could have killed you!" She let out a heavy breath as she put the gol
Kabanata 9BJOURNE can't help but sigh heavily when he saw who's sleeping on his couch. Yakap nito ang throw pillow at malakas na naghihilik habang nakabuka ang bibig. Ilang araw na itong nangungulit sa kanyang sabihin na rito kung saan nakatira si Kiara dahil aakyat umano ng ligaw.Pambihira. Klaus may only be Kiara's birth father in this world but he often forgets Kiara is Gabriel. Nagiging istriktong ama ito kapag usapang manliligaw. Lalo naman ang kinikilalang Lolo ni Kiara na si Karlos. He's one of the most terrifying lycan leaders ever existed, at wala itong sinasanto. The overprotectiveness of the two will surely just cause him and Hank trouble. Ngunit kahit yata anong pananakot ang gawin niya kay Hank, tila bingi ito at paiiralin pa rin ang kagustuhang makitang muli si Kiara.He rubbed his palm on his face as he gritted his teeth. "Lintik ka talagang bata ka." Naiinis siyang humakbang palapit dito upang gisingin nang mapauwi
Kabanata 10HINDI umalis si Bjourne ng infirmary ng Astrid Pack hangga't hindi naaalis sa sistema ni Hank ang wolfsbane na sinaksak dito ng mapang-abusong ama. Tyron Venzon works at the headquarters as a cell guard. Marahil ay doon din nito nakuha ang wolfsbane na karaniwang ginagamit sa mga preso.Wolfsbane is dangerous for the lycans and excessive amount of it could paralyze a lycan. They only give the prisoners a moderate amount, enough to weaken someone's wolf and prevent healing. Pero ang nasa katawan ni Hank, halos triple ng dosage na dapat ay sapat na. A few little more and Hank will surely be in coma for weeks.He acted normal in front of them, little did they know he's already struggling on the inside. Napagtanto ni Bjourne na noong mga panahong nagsasabi itong gustong makita si Kiara, it's not all about the lovesick he was feeling.Hank knew Kiara's presence will help him heal..."Lo
Kabanata 11MARIFER can't help but smirk when she finally had a look at the gowb designed by her newly-promoted bestfriend. Mas naging grandehiyoso lamang ang damit dahil sa detalyeng dinagdag ng pamosong designer mula pa sa kabilang Distrito.A teaser. A bloody and exquisite teaser... she murmured to herself.Hinaplos niya ang mga batong disenyo sa bandang dibdib pababa sa tiyan saka niya tinignan ang designer na siyang humawak ng design ni Irene at nagdagdag ng ibang detalye."Ruby?" she asked."Yes, Lady Marifer. Five million golds worth of Rubies," the mid-fourty's designer proudly said. Marifer noticed instantly the fine lines on the woman's face that she tried to conceal with her makeup. Tahimik siyang nagpasalamat na bata pa siya at maganda pa ang balat niya. The thought of growing old and having those wrinkles in her pretty face make her sick.Tumaas ang kilay niya sak