"Wow I didn't know that there is a place like this in here." Turan ni Ran habang napapatingin-tingin sa mga display doon.
"So ang first floor pala nito ay parang museum. Wow that old clothes are impressive." Turan nitong napapatingin sa mga glass casings.
Kanina pa ito pinagmamasdan ni Seth mula nang umalis si Ashton. Sa totoo lang ay kanina pa niya sila sinusundan mula nang nanggaling sila sa paaralan hanggang sa naglalakad sila patunggo doon. Ngunit nang makita niyang nagsisimula ng magising ang nakatagong katauhan ni Ran ay napilitan siyang magpakita at paalisin si Ash na mukhang hindi pa alam ang masamang idodolot ng hindi macontrol na kapangyarihan ni Ran. Alam ni Seth na may kakaiba kay Ashton at sigurado niyang may alam ito sa tunay na pagkatao ni Ran, ang hindi nila siguro alam ay ang sumpang nakapalibot kay Ran.
"Oy Seth magsalita ka naman para ka namang bato jan." turan ni Ran na nakapagbalik ng tingin ni Seth dito.
Nakatingin si Ran sa kanya na may bahid ng pagkainis sa mukha. Seth blinks since her face is too close to him, TOO close that he can smell her sweet scent. A mixture of milk and roses… a scent that his sensitive nose can pick strongly.
"Seth, earth to you Seth. Come on, akala ko ba ililibot mo ako rito." Turan ni Ran and her warm breath have touched his face, a scent of her mint toothpaste and the scent of strawberry na probably ininum nito.
Seth closes his eyes to stop himself from being distracted, she is really the woman of the prophesy. Ang mamumuno sa kadiliman na nakaselyo kay Ran ay hindi pa nagigising ngunit umaapaw na ang kapangyarihan ng dilim sa kanya.
"Are you seducing me?" pag-aasar na turan niya rito ngunit seryoso niyang nasaad ang katagang iyon kaya nagulat si Ran.
She suddenly back away from him and bowed her face, she is trying to hide her blushing face. She coveres her mouth using her hand then she slowly plays with her lips.
"Y-you wish j-jerk." Turan nitong pabulong.
Napakamot nalang siya sa batok nang marealize niyang nakakaofefnd nga naman yung sinabi niya. Seth look at Ran still puzzled to how different and mysterious she is but at the same time cute.
"Alright then, let's get this tour over with." Saad niya na nilalampasan ito na bahagyang minumura ang sarili sa kanyang mga iniisip. Naramdaman niyang hindi ito sumusunod kaya nilingon niya ito.
"What are you waiting for? Are you waiting for a kiss? Come on" Seth said na hindi niya namalayang may halong galit yung tuno niya dahil sag alit niya sa sarili.
Dahan-dahan itong lumapit sa kanya at huminto sa mesmong harapan niya.
"EXCUSE ME mr. I don't know you well and I don't care, na daig pa ang nagyeyelong klima ng Antartica sa kalamigan! Not to mention ang ugali mong ubod ng…. nakakagigill! You have no right na pagsalitaan ako ng ganyan, nakakaofend ka nang tao. Kung galit ka sa akin at ayaw mo sa presensya ko SORRY na, aalis na lang ako." Galit na turan ni Ran at para itong iiyak at namumula ang kanyang mukha.
"W-wait I'm sorry, may iniisip lang ako at napagbuntongan kita. L-Lets jus roam around the place and see what Ashton wants you to see." turan niyang nakatingin dito at napabuntong hininga. She is not looking up to see his face and she is bowed.
Biglang napasandag ito sa dingding na nakayuko, naramdaman ni Seth and isang itim na aura na nakapalibot rito habang nakayuko ito na lupaypay sa kaniyang sides and mga braso. Nagulat nalang si Seth nang bigla itong tumihayad at ipinulopot ang kanyang mga braso sa kanyang batok. She raises her face near his and he saw that certain darkness in her eyes that changed color from her usual brown into black and that playful smile on her lips. This is not the Ran and he can feel it. Crap! The other side of her is starting to come out and worse.......she is a complete opposite of Ran.
"Ran?" nautal ni Seth at bahagyang hinawakan ito sa kanyang braso na nakapulopot pa sa kanyang batok.
"Hmnnnn whats this?" she whisperes to his ear and he felt her lips in his neck.
Dahil sa gulat ay hindi na makagalaw si Seth. All of his strengths seem to vanish as he just stood there. He didn't even notice that he is holding her in her hips to balance them since she's already leaning on him. He felt her tongue playfully playing with his neck's skin. He swallowed hard, this is bad....all his strength seem to vanish in her touch. He fletch when she bite the spot which she have been licking, he gasp when she is now sucking it like a baby sucking its mother's milk. Naramdaman niyang bigla itong tumigil sa ginagawa, her arms slowly slide down to his chest. Naramdaman niyang nawala yung nakakakilabot na aurang nangagaling dito.
"S-Seth let go off me...p-please." Narinig niyang turan nito.
Dahan-dahan niyang binitawan ang balakang nito at humakbang siya paatras ng isang hakbang. Nakayuko ito ngunit kitang-kita niya ang pamumula ng mukha nito. Nanginginig din ang mga paa at katawan nito.
"I-I'm so-sorry, what just have happened. Why am I------." Hindi nito tinapos ang sasabihin sana nang bigla niya itong hinawakan sa magkabilang balikat.
"Come on, I'm going to give you a tour to this place. I know where Mr. Aston said that you will like." He said to her and he shove the strand of hair that is covering her eyes into her ear.
She is not yet aware of her potentials at ang sumpang nakabalot dito. The threat her hidden self will bring......one of this days.
"Seth saan naman ang susunod nating pupuntahan?" tanung ni Ran na kanina pa tumitingin sa paligid.
"We still have the basement. The place I know you will really love." He said as he walks towards the stair case going down. Ran walk fast to walk beside him.
"So what is down there anyway?" Ran asks as she walks beside him, her face is still red.
"Long ago the very first mayor of Vengeance Mr. Benedictus Zanques has been collecting this whole pile of books, history book and such. Ahmnnn he- when he died his house and his collections was preserved by his ancestry. Nadagdagan pa ang mga libro dahil sa mga pamilya nitong nagpatuloy sa pagkolekta. They renovated their old house and made it into a special land mark of the town. To further preserve the safety of the books, they made an underground basement for the books. People are free to come and read, borrowing is prohibited. It is to preserve the good conditions of the old books." Seth said as he opens the steel door and a bright light welcomed them. He looks at Ran to see her amazement as she looks around the wide room.
"Wow! Wow!" Ran kept on mumbling as she looks around the room full of old books.
"Yup." He said as he looks around the room to.
He feels this weird feeling being in there. It has been long years since he last went in this damn old house.
"Just—wow!" she said again as she scan through the pile of books.
"Alright look around—oh! And try not to knock over the arrangements." He said as she looks at him with this face like an excited little girl given by her father a permission to play around. Somehow, the way she looks now is so cute. Para itong innocenteng bata na hindi alam ang mga bagay bagay.
"Really wow! Okay....I think I should thank Ash for bringing me here. Seth?" he turns to look at her as she faces him with her sweet smile.
"Yes what wrong?" Seth said as he walks closer to her, namumula ang mukha nito and she looks so pretty.
"Thank you." She said and she paced through the pile of books. He smiles as he watches her look at the books with her smile on her face. So she really love books, make sense.
Seth yawns as he wearily turns the page of the book he is reading.......holding as the matter of fact. He already read the entire books there so he is uninterested on reading that book na hawak niya. He raises a gaze to Ran who is just sitting across him reading a book with this smile on her lips. Pile of books is in front of her as she giggles on the book she is reading.
"Oh no it's already 10, the guys must be worried." He looks at her when she suddenly stands and her face looks so dreadful. May kinuha ito sa kanyang bulsa at pinagmasdan lang niya itong nag-aalalang nag-eescan sa cellphone nito. Nakita niyang may dinial itong numero at ngayon ay nakikipag-usap ito. He put his elbow in the table and laid his chin on his knuckle as he watches her sigh and smiles as she pockets her cellphone and sat again. She looks at him and smiled.
"Hmnn ang weird naman dito. Natatawagan ko yung iba at sumasagot sila ngunit pa gang tatawagan ay malayo sa Vengeance ay hindi pwede at lagging out of reach." takang turan nito na sinisipat ang kanyang cellphone.
"Ang mga lalampasang lugar patuingo rito ay walng mga cell tower kaya mahirap tumawag o magtxt rito sa mga nasa malayo. But when you are nearer to the cities ay meron na." paliwanang ni Seth na sinusubukan na hindi ito makahalata sa mesteryo ng lugar.
"Seth.......lets go home." Napaangat ulit yung tingin ni Seth kay Ran nang bigla itong nagsalita isang oras na ang lumipas.
"Hmnnnnn ahh okay." He said and he stands still looking at her.
Ran is looking at the pile of 5 books laid in front of her in the table. Those books are what she has chosen a while ago. She look at them as if she was still not welling to leave, or shall I say leave the books to be exact. Napangiti siya ng hindi inaasahan saka napatingin sa kanyang relo.
"Let's get going. It's Saturday tomorrow and our party will be at 3 so you can sleep the whole morning if you want to." He said as he walks behind her and he carried the books she is staring at. She follows after him with her gaze of confusion.
"We can just borrow this, use my name and they will let us bring it out for at least 5 days. Return it then after." Seth said and he saw this certain glimmers in Ran's eyes when he said that she can take the books home.
"H-Huh! T-talaga p-pwede kong ilabas ang mga ito?" turan nitong hinarangan siya at mukhang napakasaya.
"Geeeeee honestly, I'll just tell them and they will let you. We own this place anyways." He said casually as he walks by pass her again.
Napahinto nalang siya nang bigla itong humarang ulit sa harap niya na mukha'y puno ng pagkagulat.
"ANOOOOOOO YUNG TOTOO? SA INYO ITO? REALLY?" turan nitong manghang nakatingin sa kanya.
"Yah....and quite shouting. My ears are already throbbing. The first mayor is my great great grandfather." Seth said and he passes her again with this slight smile forming in his lips.
Tahimik naman itong sumusunod sa kanya hangang sa marating nila yung counter kung saan nakatayo ang isang babaeng nakatalikod. Mahaba yung itim na buhok nito at may iniaayos itong mga libro sa isang box.
"Ahmnnn Amy I would like to take these books out." He said and the girl turns. Her face brightens upon seeing him.
"Welcome back sir. It's been awhile, Master Seth." She smiles as she put all the books he laids in the counter inside a paper bag.
"You look well Amy." Ngiti niya sa babaeng naka assign para alagaan ang lugar na iyon.
"Sir pwede ninyo po itong ibalik within two weeks. With good condition as usual." Ngiting turan ni Amy habang napapatingin it okay Ran na nasa likod ni Seth.
"Okay, thanks for this Amy. Si Ran nga pala isa sa mga practice teachers sa Purge na pinadala mula sa city. Ran si Amy, ang tagapamahala sa lugar na ito." Pagpapakilala niya sa dalawa na nagkamayan at ngumiti sa isa't isa."Here you go sir. Nice meeting you Miss Ran." Ani ni Amy.
"You to Miss Amay." Sagot naman ni Ran na nakangiti.
"See you tomorrow. Don't forget the party okay." Seth said as he took the paper bag she is handing him. She smiled and nod. Hinarap niya si Ran na naabutan niyang humihikab.
"Let's go, I'll bring you home. Baka nag-aalala na yong mga kasama o at hanapin ka kung saan-saan." Saad niya at tumango ito.
After walking for almost like eternity they finally arrive to the place where Ran and the others are staying. The lights are on but he can see that they all are sleeping. Napatingin siya kay Ran and he smiles to see her slowly dozing. Napapabangga na ito sa kanya.
"Come on, to your bed already. You seem so tired." Saad ni Seth na hinahawakan ito sa kanyang balakang upang hindi ito matumba.
"Inaantok na ako." Ran said and her eyes seem to close in any minute, hindi na nito ininda na nagpangahas siyang hinawakan ito sa kanyang balakang.
Inalalayan niya itong tumaas sa hagdanan hanggang sa makarating sila sa kwarto nito. Inilagay niya yung bag nito sa gilid at yung paper bag na naglalaman nung mga libro ay nilagay niya sa stand na malapit sa kama. He let Ran sit on the edge of the bed when she suddenly opens her eyes widely as if she have seen a ghost when he is about to stand straight and walk away.
"STOP. Wait, Seth ano kasi…?" turan nitong hindi mapinta ang mukha habang hawak- hawak ang kanyang damit as if stopping him from moving away. He just looks at her worriedly.
"What's wrong? Para kang nabangongot sa itsura ng mukha mo." Turan niya rito.
Nakayuko ito at nakatingin sa mga kamay nitong nakahawak sa kayang damit. His eyes widen when he saw small drops of tears coming down from her cheeks.
"He-hey---."
"I'm so scared. Pakiramdam ko may masamang magyayari sa akin at madadamay ang mga kaibigan ko. I kept dreaming about this scary man every night. He has this eyes that give me this uncertain feeling....like as if just looking at him will kill me. Nakakaramdam ako ng kakaiba....pa-para bang....pa-para bang......one of this days I'll just disappear. K-Kung hindi yung nakakatakot na lalaki ay isang babaeng hindi ko makita yung mukha ang napapanaginipan ko...she always runs after me and catch up. She always laughs and laughs habang sinasabing hindi ko daw matatakbuhan yung nakatadhana. I'm –I'm so scared....can I ask you a crazy favor?" Ran said with her trembling voice as she hugged her shaking body, nagulat si Seth sa sinabi nito. Sa narinig niya ay sigurado na niyang malapit na talaga ang nakatadhanang araw.
"W-what is it?" tanung niyang nakatingin lang dito. Nakayuko ito at parang isang batang napapagalitan.
"Can you stay...a-again tonight? Ku-kung nandito ka kasi parang nawawala lahat ng t-takot ko. H-hindi ko rin napapanaginipan ang mga bagay na nakakabagabag sa akin. Ca-can you? A-ayos lang kung a-ayaw mo pwede naman na…" she said with a shaky voice at napahinto ito sa pagsasalita as if thinking carefully what she will say.
Seth looks at her then give off a sigh, what favor was he thinking? That was so lame for him to think that she will ask something malicious. He stood straight and he touches her head and took the pin tying her hair in a knot, making her long black hair falls on her shoulders.
"Fine.....but first....." he walks towards the door.
"W-Wait, Where are you going?" saad ni Ran na napatayo at nakatingin sa kanya na para bang nababahala.
"Just sit there and relax your feet. We need to do something to your swollen feet." He said and he left the room.
Napapabuntong hininga si Seth habang nagpapakulo ng tubig. He then reheat some food and with the tray of stemming food in his other hand and the bowl of warm water with a towel in the other. Pumasok siya sa kwarto ni Ran at nakita niya itong nakaupo sa gilid ng kama nito at pinipilit na hindi maantok. Inilapag niya sa isang maliit na table yung tray ng pagkain at inibaba niya sa paanan ng paa ni Ran yung maligamgam na tubig. Tumayo siya at binuhat yung table na pinaglagayan niya nung tray ng pagkain at nilapit kay Ran.
"Kumain ka muna at magkape....while I'll do something about that." He said as he pointed her swollen feet. She blushes but she just nods, he feels his check burns seeing how beautiful she is like this.
"T-Thanks." She said in a soft tired voice.
Lumuhod si Seth sa harap nito at tahimik na hinugasan ang paa nito ng maligamgam na tubig. Tahimik lang itong kumakain at pinapanood siyang hinuhugasan ang paa nito. Narinig niyang natapos na itong kumain. He wipes her feet with the dry towel he set aside a while ago.
"You can sleep now. I'll be just beside you." Seth said as he set aside the bowl he used and the table she have just eaten with.
"I-I need to change my uniform then." Ran said softly looking so embarrassed as she slowly laid her feet on the floor and walk towards her cabinet almost bumping the table he set aside. Kumuha ito ng mga damit saka nito sinara yung cabinet.
Nakatingin lang siya rito, tinanggal ni Ran yung blazer nito and when she was about to unbutton her blouse she stops and turn to look at him. He nods and he turns his back to her. He can hear her clothes being taken off and his face reddens a bit.
"Oh no! This is starting to get dangerous." He whispers to himself.
"I'm done pwede ka ng tumingin." Narinig niyang turan nito.
Seth turns to see her walking towards her bed wearing a man size t-shirt and a warm brown short. He turns a bit red upon seeing how she really looks cute in those simple clothes.
"A-ahmnnnn then rest." He said as he pulls her blanket towards her shoulders. He stares at her as she closes her eyes.
Seth sat on the stool he saw beside her bed and he just look at her. It seems like she already have drifted to sleep and he know that she is dreaming something good because of that smile on her face.
"That's good, she is dreaming something delighted. Dreams huh? Sooo time is really running fast....the day of the first red full moon is fast approaching. I can feel the dark one's presence already....seems like HE already found her." He said while he looks at the window...to the moon above.