Bab 9: Destruction
HINDI nakuha ni Reese ang maayos na tulog na inakala niyang makukuha niya. She was up all day and maybe she did have her sleep, but it only lasted like two or three hours. Her mind was filled with bad memories and she kept thinking of it all night, she felt unsafe for herself. The brave Reese she knew suddenly left her body.
Maagang nakapag-handa si Reese sa pagpasok at nakabihis na siya ngayon at bumaba siya habang bitbit ang mga gamit na kakailanganin niya sa klase niya ngayon. She's an hour early with the time she usually goes down to have her breakfast with Severus.
She thought that she might be able to kill time if she would help Ms. Ann while cooking their breakfast, she left her bag at the living room and she made her way to the dining room where the kitchen can be seen, but Reese stopped for a moment when she saw Severus at the dining table with his phone and coffee.
Parang nawalan ng gana si Reese na mag almusal nang makita niya si Severus. The words he blurted out yesterday made a huge impact on her and Reese couldn't even imagine why it would deeply wound her. Maybe, she really just had enough of this feeling.
"Good morning, young lady. Shall I prepare your breakfast and drink?" Pagtatanong ni Ms. Ann sa kanya.
Walang buhay na ngumiti si Reese at umiling. "Hindi na kailangan, Ms. Ann. I have to go to school now. I have to go there early, no need to bother with breakfast." Wika ni Reese at tinalikuran ang mga ito.
"But, young lady… the young master is still taking his breakfast, you should wait for him ----"
"I don't need him to take me to university." Malamig na wika ni Reese. After all, she's a person who can't deal with anymore and it would be better not to bother him anymore. She's better by herself. "I'll just ask Butler Mo instead." Dagdag na wika ni Reese at kaagad na umalis sa dining room.
"Young lady ----" Ms. Ann was about to stop her when Severus suddenly spoke.
"Let her be. Let her do what she wants." Wika ni Severus at hindi na napigilan ni Reese ang inis kaya mas binilisan niya ang paglalakad para kunin ang gamit niya at nang makita niya si Butler Mo, kaagad niya 'tong sinabihan na gagayak na sila patungong unibersidad.
Kaagad na nagtungo sila ni Butler Mo sa garahe at kaagad na sumakay si Reese sa isa pang kotse na nakaparada sa tabi ng kotse ni Severus. Padabog na sinara ni Reese ang pintuan ng kotse and she can't control her emotion anymore at all.
Sinimulan na ni Butler Mo ang pagmamaneho at hindi na alam ni Reese kung saan na nagpupunta ang isipan niya. Hindi niya alam kung sino ang proproblemahin. She doesn't want to think of her problem with Sebastian and her parents --- dumagdag pa sa galit ni Reese si Severus.
Hindi niya na nga dapat pinproblema ang asawa dahil una sa lahat hindi niya naman dapat sineryoso ang mga sinasabi nito sa kanya.
Severus usually greets her 'good morning' but this time, he did not greet her at all. This should not be a big deal for her, it's not like Reese cares about him at all. Bakit siya naninibago sa pakikitungo ni Severus? He can ignore her all he wants! Parang hindi naman nabuhay si Reese sa ganitong paraan.
Being isolated and ignored was what Reese grew up with, people hated her and they hated her because of what she is --- cold, heartless and hard to deal with. Ano ang pagkakaiba ni Severus sa mga taong 'yon? They are all the same and Reese was a fool to think that Severus was different from them.
"Young lady, are you fine? You look tired and pale." Wika ni Butler Mo at napatingin si Reese dito.
Reese gave him a faint smile and she looked outside the window of the car. "I'm fine, Butler Mo. Don't worry about me." Reese answered.
Lagi naman siyang pagod at mukhang nanghihina. There's nothing new with what she is, she's always tired with this reality she's living in and Reese couldn't disagree that death could only let her rest for a long period of time.
As soon as Reese arrived at her university, she immediately went to her room and she was there alone. Hindi niya alam kung masyado ba talagang maaga siyang nakarating o siya pa ang ang pumapasok sa loob ng classroom dahil ang ibang estudyante ay madalas na nasa library o sa garden.
Reese looked around the room, to be honest, she should be in fact thankful to Severus. He made her go back and study what she wants. When no one supported her with this course, Severus suddenly came as her husband and he supported her. Mapait na napangiti si Reese dahil sa iniisip niya. Support? She's just a pain in the ass to everyone who tried to act nice and Severus was one of them.
Reese frustratedly combed her hair using her fingers when her mind became restless because of the things she kept on thinking. Reese couldn't even think that everything would be like this, akala niya maayos na ang lahat dahil wala na siya sa mansyon ng mga Chen --- hindi na siya ulit makokontrol ng mga magulang niya na parang laruan.
Akala niya tuluyan niya na nakalimutan si Sebastian na isa sa taong akala niya ay palaging nandyan sa tabi niya para intindihin siya at para patuloy siyang suportahan. In the end, siya lang pala ang sumusuporta sa sarili niya. Just like how she grew up.
Napansin ni Reese na isa-isang nagsisipasukan ang mga kaklase niya at napapansin niya ang malalagkit na tingin ng mga ito sa kanya. She saw how they murmured and looked at her with those eyes filled with disgust. Hindi na alam ni Reese ang gagawin niya dahil masyado nang nangyayari sa sarili niya para problemahin pa ito.
"She's the one who seduced the mayor's son? She is the one?"
Reese heard what they were murmuring and Reese couldn't even figure out why and how she got to hear what they were talking about in such far distance. Hindi rin niya alam kung ano ang inaakusa ng mga ito sa kanya. She never seduces anyone, but why the hell is she hearing rumors like that about her.
Nagsi-tahimikan ang mga kaklase niya nang pumasok si Kier at kaagad ito na tumabi sa kanya and Reese can't even explain how annoyed she is right now. Makita niya lang ang mukha ni Kier ay hindi niya na alam kung bakit naiinis siya at ang malala pa ay hindi na kaya ni Reese ang pangungulit nito sa kanya.
"Good morning, Reese." Nakangiting bati sa kanya ni Kier.
Reese just looked at Kier with annoyance and she rolled her eyes, she picked her bag up and she was about to leave her seat when her professor suddenly came inside the room and she had no choice but to go back to where she sat.
"Look at that vixen…" Bulong ng isa sa kaklase niyang nakaupo lang sa hindi kalayuan sa kanya.
Alam ni Reese na mas makakabuti na huwag niya na patulan ang mga ito dahil una sa lahat, wala siyang ka-ide-ideya sa problema ng mga ito sa kanya.
Her professor started the class and Reese started on taking notes from the slides she's reading in front and she has to take everything down, she has to review them before their exams.
"Are you really not bothered with the rumors, Reese?" Pagtatanong ni Kier sa kanya sa pabulong na paraan.
Reese doesn't want to get distracted with what she was doing so she decided not to answer Kier. But, it looks like it was not a good idea to ignore Kier because he really did everything to get her attention. Hinablot ni Kier ang notebook niya at masamang tinignan ni Reese si Kier na mayroong ngisi ngayon sa labi.
"Stop annoying me will you?" Inis na wika ni Reese at hinablot pabalik ang notebook niya at nagpatuloy sa pagsusulat. "I swear to God, I will really shut your mouth using my stapler if you won't shut the hell up." Pagbabanta ni Reese na ikinatikom ng bibig ni Kier.
The discussion went smoothly but Reese could not focus at all. Tila ba lumilipad ang isip niya dahil sa iba't ibang problema ang nasa isip niya ngayon pero wala man lang siyang ni-isang naisip na paraan para maayos iyon.
Hindi niya pa rin maisip nang lubusan ang rason ni Severus para sabihan siya nito ng mga salitang hindi niya inaasahan na lalabas sa mga labi nito.
Iniisip rin ni Reese ang perang hinihingi ng magulang niya sa kanya. Hindi niya kayang hingin ang ganoon kalaking pera mula kay Severus at kahit na sabihin pa ng mga ito na kasal silang dalawa. Her marriage was never an excuse for them to use for their needs.
Hindi nila bangko si Severus para basta-basta na lang kuhaan ng pera na ganoon kalaki. Plus, even if they would threaten her, she won't do it — she won't ask him for money.
Severus already told her that she's hard to deal with and it only means they are already on bad terms. Nonetheless, Reese still considers him as a stranger — hindi kilala ni Reese ng buo ang kinikilala nilang asawa niya na miski siya hindi niya alam kung sino ba talaga si Severus Lim.
Halos dalawang linggo pa lang silang nagkakasama ni Severus, pero ni-kailan ay hindi niya ito nakasama ng matagal sa bahay. It's either she'll be at her room all day during their free time or he'll be at his office and do his work all the time that they often see each other.
Reese felt like they have a relationship as a tenant and landlord thing. Dahil pakiramdam ni Reese na nakikitira lang siya sa malaking villa ni Severus, 'yun nga lang pati siya ay pinasisilbihan at kasal silang dalawa.
School hours went by within a blink of an eye. Dahil sa lalim ng iniisip ni Reese sa bawat klase niya ay parang mabilis lang ang naging takbo ng oras.
Inayos ni Reese ang gamit niya at saka niya lang napansin na sa bawat klase na pinupuntahan ni Reese ay palaging nakatabi sa kanya si Kier na para bang linta.
Sinabit ni Reese sa braso niya ang bag niya at blangkong mukha na tinignan niya si Kier.
"Do you really plan on sticking with me the whole day? Are you a dog or you're just plain stupid?" Seryosong wika ni Reese at tumayo.
"Buong araw ka'ng nasa loob ng campus, Reese. Pero ba't wala kang ni-isang napansin na kakaiba sa paligid mo?" Pagtatanong ni Kier sa kanya.
Reese gave a sigh. She completely knew how people were looking at her with disgust and she felt like she's been judged by hundreds of worthless people around her.
"What they think is not even important to me, Kier. I attend my classes to learn not to give a damn about how they think about me." Malamig na wika ni Reese at nakita niya na silang dalawa nalang pala ni Kier ang nasa loob ng classroom.
Kier sighed and he grabbed his phone from his pocket and he opened it. He threw the phone for her to catch and Reese did catch the phone.
"Take a look." Wika ni Kier at nakapamulsang tinignan ang cellphone na hawak niya. "That's our university's page. Look what's trending." Dagdag ni Kier.
Out of Reese's curiosity, she looked at the phone and Reese saw photos of Kier and her. Reese looked at it closely and Reese gave a short laugh.
This is plain stupid. This was just an accident two days ago. Kier was at fault that time, bakit hindi nila kinuhaan ng litrato nu'ng sinapak niya ito dahil sa galit.
Reese threw the phone back to Kier and gave him a sarcastic smile. "Look, I don't know what's great with those photos that they made it a big hit inside the campus." Reese noted. "Let them believe what they believe. A vixen? Bitch? Slut? I always get those nicknames and it was nothing." Reese added.
"You're not worried about it at all? I thought you were married, won't your husband get angry with this?" Kier broke in.
Nakangising tinignan ni Reese si Kier at tinaas niya ito ng kilay. "Labas ka na sa problema na 'yon, Kier. I don't know why you find this issue such a big deal, unless…" Reese stopped and she looked at Kier with her glare. "...you were the one who plotted this, unless you wanted me to see to get worried and go gugu-gaga about this issue that is just plain stupid."
Kier's mouth slightly parted and from the looks of it, he was about to protest with what she just said and Kier wasn't able to continue with what he was about to say when someone suddenly came inside the classroom while clapping.
Napalingon si Reese sa pumapalakpak at nakita niya ang maaring nasa likod ng issue na 'to. Wala namang iba kung 'di ang kapatid niya na walang alam kung 'di magsimula ng gulo at magsimula ng mga bagay na alam nito na ika sisira niya.
"I don't know if I'm watching something interesting or not." Wika ni Reema at pinag-krus pa nito ang mga kamay sa dibdib. "What a shame, big sis. Why would you carelessly cheat with someone who's three years younger than you? I really pity my dear brother-in-law." Dagdag pa nito at hindi na alam ni Reese kung ano ang irereact niya sa mga sinabing walang kuwenta ni Reema.
"Hindi na ako magtatanong kung ikaw ba o hindi ang nagpakalat ng walang kuwentang balita na 'to. I mean? For hell's sake, Reema… this is an old trick used by losers, wala ka na bang maisip?" Malamig na wika ni Reese at kaagad na nilapitan ang kapatid na bakas ang inis sa mukha.
Ngumisi si Reema at lumapit sa kanya. "Don't act all high and mighty here, Reese… you wanna go back what you suffered when you were just a stupid and coward child?" Bulong nito sa kanya na ikinatigil ni Reese.
She can feel her body starting to get numb and she looked at her sister who was really hapoy to see her suffer and Reese already suffered enough.
Hindi na lang alam ni Reese ang sumunod na nangyari. She just found herself really pissed to the point that she already choked her sister and she's pushing Reema towards the wall and she raised her as if she was nothing.
"S-Stop! I-I can't breath…" Mahinang wika ni Reema at Reese couldn't care less because she was really angry by just hearing what Reema just whispered.
"Reese! Let her go! She's losing her breath!" Narinig niyang sigaw ni Kier at bumalik na sa huwisyo si Reese at napatingin kay Reema na kokonti nalang ay mawawalan na ng malay.
She let her sister go and Reese kept on stepoing backwards. Nakita niya na napaluhod si Reema at panay ang paghagilap nito ng hininga at panay ang pag-ubo nito.
Reese's mind went completely blank and she looked at the hands she used to almost murder Reema. Hindi niya alam kung saan niya nakuha ang ganoong lakas para itaas si Reema at hindi niya alam kung bakit ganoon ang nangyari sa kanya.
If Kier didn't call her attention, she might probably have murdered her own sister and Reese was afraid of what she did. She, herself was surprised with what just happened.
Reese walked away like nothing happened and she's clearly losing her mind. Hindi niya alam kung ano ba ang nangyayari sa kanya and maybe everything was too much for her to handle.
Gusto ni Reese na lumayo — she wanted to lose sight of everything she saw. She's slowly turning to a monster she doesn't want to be.
Reese was surprised when someone suddenly pushed her in the middle of walking on the outside hallway she always feared to go.
Natagpuan niya na lang ang sarili na nakaupo sa tapat ng araw at hindi niya alam kung ano na ang susunod niyang gagawin. She felt like she should not leave where she is and just burn herself there until she turns into ashes.
Nabigla na lang si Reese nang hinablot siya ni Kier patayo at dinala sa lilim. Hindi nakita ni Reese kung sino ang tumulak sa kanya dahil dalawa na lang sila ni Kier ngayon sa outside hallways.
Reese felt like her skin was burned and she's slowly feeling tired. A thirst for something kicked inside her system and Reese was not sure on what she'll do with herself.
"Reese, don't lose your consciousness…" Saad ni Kier at kaagad na kumuha ng isang pamilyar na inumin sa bag nito.
Reese smelled the strong scent she was craving for and because of that she strongly opened her eyes and grabbed the drink Kier was holding. Reese felt weird when she finally took a chance to sip from the drink that Kier had with him.
It has the similar taste with the cranberry drink she had back at home. She hungrily drank the drink and Reese can't feel anything but satisfaction and power as she finished the drink within just seconds. Her skin did not show her allergic reaction and Reese did not feel any kind of pain when she got contact with the sunlight.
Napakuyom ng kamao si Reese at pinilit niyang tumayo para harapin si Kier. she threw the empty boxed juice and Reese felt nothing but anger and she can't somehow control it, she was thinking too much and it made her react like this, she's like a hostile beast that no one can't tame.
Iniisip niya ang sinabi ng kapatid niya kanina at 'yun lang ang naging rason para makaramdam siya ng matinding galit at pagkamuhi dito. She almost ended up killing her own sister with her own hands by choking her to death.
"Reese! Stop yourself from thinking things like that! Please, you have to control your anger ---"
Mariing napapikit si Reese at wala sa sariling sinapak ang pader and Reese can't even feel any kind of pain when she punched the wall but she can see Kier's surprised face looking at the wall she just punched.
Napatingin si Reese sa pader na sinapak niya at nanlaki ang mga mata niya nang makita niyang bumaon ang ginawa niyang pagsapak sa pader. Reese looked at her fist and there were no signs of bleeding or bruising, how did she get a strength like that?
Napayuko si Reese at mas napahigpit ang pagkuyom ng kamao dahil hindi niya na maintindihan ang mga nangyayari, she's slowly breaking down and she never knew that the emotions she's been keeping for ages can make her burst in anger. Hindi maintindihan ni Reese ang galit na raramdaman at takot.
"Reese ---"
"Piss off!" Malamig na wika ni Reese nang hindi tinitignan si Kier, mukhang hindi naintindihan ni Kier ang sinabi niya at sa pangalawang pagkakataon ay sinabihan niya muli ito. "Leave!" Sigaw ni Reese at tinignan niya ang binata na nanlilisik ang mga mata.
Kier was terrified with how she acted and Kier left her alone there and Reese could tell how violent she looks right now. Hindi niya na alam kung paano kontrolin ang sarili at hindi niya na alam ang gagawin sa sarili.
Masyado na siyang nahihirapan and all she wants to do is to isolate herself again. Gusto niyang bumalik sa kung paano tumakbo ang buhay niya ng wala ang lahat ng nagpapahirap sa kanya.
Nanghihina ang mga tuhod ni Reese at walang nagawa kung 'di mapaupo at sabunutan ang sarili. Her frustration is visible and it makes her really confused.
Napatingin si Reese sa juice box na binato niya kanina at nakita niya na parehong-pareho ito sa pinaiinom sa kanya ng doktor niya na eksklusibo lamang para sa kanya dahil sa kalagayan niya. Is Kier the same as her?
Reese can see that there is a big difference between him and Kier, he's not allergic to the sunlight and he's more stable than her.
Buong puwersang tumayo si Reese at kaagad na umalis sa pwesto niya. Reese decided to run away from everything, mas gusto niya na mawalan na lang ng koneksyon sa lahat ng tao sa paligid niya.
Reese made sure that the sun was down, hindi siya dumaan kung saan makikita siga ni Butler Mo and it would be better for her to go and take a cab to Faith's bar and ask her friend if she can stay with her for a while. Hindi na kasi niya kaya ang nararamdaman niya sa paligid niya.
Before Reese could even step outside the university's gate, her phone immediately rang and she froze when she saw Butler Mo waiting for her outside the university's gate.
"Young lady…" Bati sa kanya ni Butler Mo at pinag-buksan pa siya nito ng pinto.
Reese reached for her phone and it was a phone message notification from her mother and she was telling her to go and visit Reema at the hospital and apologize with what she did to Reema.
Reese clenched her teeth as soon as she had seen her mother's message and Reese didn't want to apologize at all. Wala naman siyang kasalanan para humingi ng kapatawaran kay Reema, this is not about her pride — but it was because she was provoked.
Reese blocked her mother's number and she forgot that Butler Mo was just in front of her. She just decided to run away from everything and then here's Butler Mo, stopping her from escaping by fetching her outside the university's gate.
"Young lady, we should get going now…" Pagtawag sa kanya ni Butler Mo.
Napayuko si Reese at patagong nspakuyom ang kamao. Without thinking twice, she went inside the car and she won't have any choice but to go home or the innocent butler would be in trouble.
She doesn't want to trouble innocent people at all and she can't even think of ways on cutting her ties off with her family and husband when her life's cycle always includes them.
Napansin ni Reese na kinuha ni Butler Mo ang ear piece niya kung saan tumatanggap ito ng tawag habang nagmamaneho. From the looks of it, Butler Mo got a call from someone.
"Yes, young master… we'll be on our way there." Wika ni Butler Mo na ikinakuha ng atensyon ni Reese.
Hindi na kailangan pa na alamin ni Reese kung sino ang nakausap ni Butler Mo, from the way Butler Mo had addressed the caller — Reese already knew that it was her husband.
Reese just then realized that they did a u-turn and it was clearly not the way back at the villa. Nilagpasan lang rin nila ang university at mukhang may iba silang pupuntahan.
"Where are we going, Butler Mo? Is there some place Severus wants me to be?" Pagtatanong ni Reese kah Butler Mo.
Butler Mo didn't answer her and from the way she looks at Butler Mo's eyes from the rear mirror inside the car — Severus maybe asked Butler Mo not to tell her where they'll meet and Reese can fully feel that the place they will be going won't be a place Reese would like at all.
Hindi naman ititikom ni Butler Mo ang bibig niya patungkol dito, maliban na lang kung ang lugar na pupuntahan nila ay labag sa kalooban niya.
Facing this kind of problems, Reese is more than willing to go poor and give up her title as the young miss of the Chen family. She just wants to be free, she wants to break free from this misery her life has right now.
Reese doesn't care about title, wealth or power at all! All she wanted was to remove this kind of feeling from her heart. She's been trapped and scared her whole life — faking her braveness is tiring and she can't deal with herself anymore and at that moment Reese felt like she's not far from people who criticized and gave up on her.
She also gave herself up and it scares her.
Mariing napapikit si Reese at mahigpit na napahawak sa phone niya. Reese can't control everything anymore and she's giving up. As soon as she forced her eyes to shut, everything that traumatized her and changed her the way she is now.
Reese felt that the car stopped and she felt that someone opened the door beside her. She remained her eyes shut and she felt something dripping on her hands. She slowly opened her eyes and she saw that there was blood dripping on her hands and she knew then that her nose was bleeding.
"What the hell happened?!" Someone suddenly asked out of concern and she looked at her side and there she saw Severus standing outside the car looking at her bleeding nose. "Butler Mo ---"
"I don't need medical assistance. You don't have to deal with my matters anymore, Severus." Reese looked around and she saw that they were in front of the hospital. "What the hell are we doing here?" Malamig na tinignan ni Reese si Severus at kinuha ang panyo niya sa bulsa para agad punasan ang dugo sa ilong niya.
"We are here to give your sister a visit, I heard from your mother what happened and you don't have to go to this extent, Reese. Reema is still your sister ---"
Napangisi si Reese at kaagad na kinuha ang bag niya at lumabas sa kotse. "You don't know anything, Mr. Lim." Her voice became much colder. "I won't go inside that place and apologize to her. I did what I did and I'm not sorry for it." Tinalikuran niya si Severus at akmang aalis na sa lugar pero nabigla siya nang hilain siya ni Severus pabalik at dinala siya sa loob ng hospital.
Hindi na nagpumiglas si Reese at malamig niya na lang na tinignan si Severus na hawak-hawak ang kamay niya ng mahigpit. Reese was too tired to argue and it felt like she's chained inside a birdcage.
They stopped in front of a private room and she saw that it was named after Reema. Reese wondered why people treat her like this. She looked at Severus and she thought at first that he really understands her, but he doesn't.
Hindi namalayan na nakapasok na pala sila ni Severus sa kuwartong inuukupa ni Reema at isang malakas na sampal ang sumalubong kay Reese. Alam niya na ang gagawin ng ina niya sa kanya lalo na at si Reema ang nasaktan at siya ang may kagagawan.
They would do everything for Reema even if she's hurt --- they don't even treat her as their daughter at all.
Nakita ni Reese na tinaas muli ng kanyang ina ang palad nito at akmang sasampalin siya nito muli sa pangalawang beses pero humarang si Severus at ang binata ang nasampal imbes na siya.
Even if he did something like this, Reese won't be moved anymore. To him, she's a cold and heartless person whom he can't deal with anymore.
"Pathetic…" Mahinang wika ni Reese pero sapat na iyon para marinig nilang lahat. She held her swelling cheeks and she saw how her parents, sister and husband looked at her. "I must be really stupid to let you slap me, mama." Dagdag ni Reese at walang ni-isang luha na tumulo mula sa mga mata niya na galit at lungkot ang sinisigaw.
"Reese, hindi ko alam kung ano ang nangyari sa'yo. You don't have to go to this extent and try to kill your sister like that." Wika ng ina niya. "Hindi ka ba natatakot sa ginawa mo? You are a part of the family and you don't have to scorn our family like this."
"I really can't believe you can do this to Reema! Muntik mo na siyang patayin!" Sigaw ng papa niya sa kanya at nakita niya lang na nakatingin sa kanya si Severus na tila hinihintay ang sasabihin niya kung totoo ba ang sinasabi ng mga magulang niya sa kanya.
"You don't have any idea who I am because you only focus on Reema…" Nakayukong wika ni Reese at mahinang natawa. "Maraming taon lang ang nagdaan at parang kinalimutan niyo lang na parang hindi malaking bagay ang lahat ng naranasan ko sa inyo.. And do you think I will apologize with something small like this?"
Bakas ang gulat sa mga mata ni Severus dahil sa sinabi niya. He might think that she's a psycho from what she just said, but little did he know that she was the one who suffered more than what Reema is suffering right now.
"How dare you say things like that to us? Hindi ka ba nahihiya at nandito ang asawa mo?" Seryosong wika ni Reema. "All I wanted for you to do is to apologize, mahirap ba na gawin 'yon?" Dagdag na wika pa ni Reema.
"Shouldn't be the one who needs to apologize is you?" Reese asked out of the blue. "What game are we playing here, huh? You're just wasting my precious time and please don't force me to apologize to things I'm not sorry at all, besides…" Reese looked at Reema coldly, "you're lucky that I still gave you a chance to breath and mock me until the very end."
Before Reese left the room, she saw how Reema paled and her parents were even shocked with what she just did. Nagpatuloy lang sa paglalakad palabas ng hospital si Reese at nabigla siya nang tawagin siya ni Severus.
"Reese! Reese!"
Hindi pinansin ni Reese ang pagtawag ni Severus sa kanya hanggang sa makalabas sila ng ospital at kaagad siyang hinila ni Severus papuntang parking lot kung saan nakaparada ang kotse ni Severus at sapilitan siyang sinakay ng binata sa shot gun seat.
Reese knew that Severus was now inside the car and she heard the loud bang of the door of the car which Severus closed out of anger. "What was that, Reese?! What's with you? Bakit mo ginawa 'yun!?"
"Which one?" Pagtatanong ni Reese. "Is it the way I answered my own family or because of what I did with my own sister?" Reese asked in a mocking manner and she can see the frustration in Severus' eyes. The way people look at her when they finally know what kind of person she is.
"How can you be like that, Reese? All they asked you to do was to apologize. Gaano ba kahirap gawin 'yun, Reese?" Severus sounded so disappointed. "I know you're in bad terms when it comes to them but, how can you treat your family like that?"
Napayuko si Reese at mahigpit na napahawak sa bag niya. "Now tell me, Mr. Lim." Mahinang wika ni Reese. "What do you think of me now? Nagsisisi ka na ba ngayon na kasal tayo?" Pagtatanong ni Reese sa mahinang tono at nag taas ng tingin.
"You are far worse from what I heard about you." Sagot kaagad ni Severus. "You are not the person I expected you to be."
"You don't have to expect anything from me, Mr. Lim — because you don't really know me." Malamig na saad ni Reese at kaagad na bumaba sa kotse. "Before you call me worse, you should take a look from how they treated me as their daughter and you'll get to know me without even trying." Reese closed the car's door and she walked away like nothing happened.
She immediately hailed a cab and she decided to go to Faith's bar and let time pass without her even trying to ruin herself because of this big misery she's facing.
REESE paid her cab fare and she immediately went inside the bar. The rave music filled the club with its colorful light that stood as the only light inside the place. Reese can see people dancing on the dance floor like wild animals.
Kaagad na nagpunta si Reese sa parati niyang pwesto sa bar bukod pa sa DJ's Lair. Even if Reese's in a bad mood, she won't go to the DJ's Lair to relieve her pain. She needs alcohol to disinfect her painful heart.
She saw Faith's employee at the bar's countertop and she can clearly see the liquors displayed in front of her and the employee was surprised to see her visit the bar looking like a dead man.
Reese sat on the bar's stool and she tied her hair into a ponytail. "Can I have your hardest liquor?" Reese started. "Where's your boss?" Reese asked the employee.
The employee gave her the liquor she asked for and Reese took the glass."Sorry, Ma'am Reese. Wala po si Miss Faith ngayon. Um-attend daw po ng seminar sa Baguio."
Reese took a sip from her drink and she gave the employee a nod. "Is that so…? Thank you." Mahinang wika ni Reese at napatingin sa mga taong nagkukumpulan sa gitna para sumayaw.
Reese felt jealous with how carefree and happy they all looked as they danced like there's no tomorrow. It was something Reese wanted to feel once in her life.
Now, she's facing a lot of problems and she can't even handle them anymore. Everything's getting out of hand and Reese just wanted to disappear at this moment.
Reese finished her drink and she accidentally looked at her ring finger. She looked at the ring she was wearing and she gave out a light chuckle.
Nakakatawa isipin na hindi niya man lang naisipan na tanggalin ang singsing na ito sa daliri niya. It felt like she's really serious about the marriage.
Simula nu'ng lumabas sila kahapon ni Severus para kitain ang mga kaibigan nito ay biglang nagbago ang pakikitungo ng binata sa kanya.
She acted out of impulse yesterday and she knew that it impacted on Severus. Her problem with Sebastian should end now and she should not think of him anymore.
Ginulo niya lang ang sarili niyang isipan kasi nakita niya ulit ang dating kasintahan, her memories with Sebastian was important for her and maybe that was the reason why she thought she still loves him.
Sebastian is her first love and he will always be, but in this case, dalawang taon na ang nakalipas mula nu'ng araw na pinangako niya sa sarili niya na kailangan niya na itigil ang nararamdaman niya sa dating kasintahan.
She should just wish him well and let him be happy with his new love. That would solve her problem with Sebastian, she will cherish the memories she had with him and everything needs to come to an end now.
Reese was surprised when someone handed her a glass of liquor and Reese looked at the person who gave her the drink and she rolled her eyes as soon as she saw that it was Kier.
"Mukhang malalim ang iniisip mo." Nakangiting wika ni Kier at muli nitong inalok ang isa pang inumin na binigay ng binata sa kanya. "Came here to cool off?" Pagtatanong nito.
"Bakit ba kahit saan ako magpunta, naka sunod ka? Are you a stalker?" Iritadong tanong ni Reese.
"I'm not a stalker, bakit kita susundan kung kahit sa'n ako magpunta nando'n ka rin? What's the point of being a stalker when I always see you coincidentally?" Tila proud na sagot ni Kier sa tanong niya.
"That's just plain stupid." Reese said and she looked at him with sarcasm. "Did you hit your head or what? You're a weirdo, Rivero." Malamig na wika ni Reese at akmang aalis na nang hilain siya pabalik ni Kier.
"C'mon, Ree. Stop being cold towards me, I saved your life earlier." Nakangiting wika ni Kier.
Reese remembered that he gave the same juice she was drinking that was only exclusive for her.
Bumalik sa pagkakaupo si Reese at seryosong tinignan si Kier. "Where did you get that drink? Do you also have sun allergy?" Pagtatanong ni Reese.
"I'll answer you, if you accept the drink I am offering you."
Napatingin si Reese sa inumin na kanina'y inaalok sa kanya ni Kier, kaagad niyang kinuha iyon at ininom ng isang lagukan. She wiped her lips and she looked at Kier who's grinning from ear to ear.
"I finished the drink." Seryosong saad ni Reese kay Kier at binaba ang baso. "Now, answer me."
Kier took a sip from his drink and she gave Reese a smile. "Because we have the same blood!" Tipid na sagot nito.
"What are you saying we have the same blood?" Nagtatakang wika ni Reese.
"Let me ask you something," Saad ni Kier. "what did they tell you about what the drink contains?" Dagdag na tanong ni Kier sa kanya.
"Cranberry. It's a cranberry juice." Sagot ni Reese, "Are you stupid, Kier? Iniinom mo yung juice na 'yon pero hindi mo alam kung ano?" Bakas ang sarkasmo sa boses ni Reese.
Mahinang natawa si Kier, tumayo ito at naka pamulsang hinarap siya. "That's all I can tell you. You should try to get to know yourself, Reese. Mukhang hindi mo pa kilala ang sarili mong katauhan." Wika nito sa seryosong tono. "See you when I see you." Paalam nito at kaagad na umalis sa harap niya.
Nakatingin si Reese sa palayong bulto ni Kier, hindi maiwasan ni Reese na maguluhan sa mga pinagsasabi ni Kier sa kanya.
She stood up and Reese was shocked when she suddebly felt weak with her palpitating heart. Reese held her chest as she took a deep breath. She does not have her drink with her and she doesn't know what's happening to her.
Reese walked her way outside the bar and she can feel that her body's starting to get weird again — Reese kept on hearing different voices in her head and she can also hear every person's heartbeat that makes her completely confused and nervous.
Pagkalabas na pagkalabas ni Reese sa labas ng bar, mas lumala ang nararamdaman niya sa dibdib niya. She started to walk away and everytime she took a step forward, it felt like her world's spinning and it felt like she's drunk even though she's not.
Reese was startled when someone suddenly carried her and Reese was too weak to fight and try to escape the person. Nabigla na lang si Reese nang binagsak siya nang kung sino at nanghihinang tinignan ni Reese at kumuha sa kanya.
It was a stranger who's looking at her like she's a big feast and she knew that this person had bad intentions because she can clearly see that the man brought her into a hidden alley near the bar.
"What… do you want from me…?" Nanghihinang tanong ni Reese at dahan-dahan siyang tumayo.
Nabigla si Reese nang may inilabas itong kutsilyo at mariing napapikit si Reese dahil lumalala na ang pakiramdam niya. She suddenly felt that there was something wrong with her teeth and she can feel that she's getting really thirsty… her incurable thirst is kicking her body.
Dinilat ni Reese ang mga mata niya at malinaw na nakikita niya ang itsura ng lalaking kumuha sa kanya, Reese can sense his heartbeat and she knew that the person was scared.
"How… How did you change your eye color —" Hindi naituloy ng lalaki ang sasabihin niya nang malapitan na ito ni Reese at nakatapat na ang labi niya sa leeg nito.
Reese got the knife he was holding and Reese threw it away. Reese can hear a small voice somewhere in the man's neck, so she looked at his ears and she saw the man had the earpiece with him.
Reese grabbed the earpiece, she equipped it and she can clearly hear a woman's familiar voice.
"You got the bitch, right? Kill her now and I'll give you the money." It was Reema speaking.
Nakaramdam ng matinding galit si Reese kaya mariin niyang tinignan ang lalaki. Reese couldn't stop her thirst anymore, she just found herself biting the man's neck as the man screamed to death.
"You're a monster! Monster!" The man kept on shouting and Reese ignored it. They were in a hidden alley where no one could hear them from their position.
Reese sucked every ounce of blood the man had and as soon as she finished drinking his blood, the man collapsed on the alley's floor and Reese looked at him.
Reese's heart beat came back to it's normal beating and Reese touched her lips. She looked at her hands and she saw the blood she got from her lip.
Napaatras si Reese nang malaman niya na siya ang pumatay sa lalaki. She knew that she sucked his blood and instead of feeling disgusted, she was satisfied and energized.
Reese was shaking from nervousness and confusion, she wiped her lips using her own hands and she did not waste any minute and she left the place.
She immediately ran away and she stopped running when she found herself in front of a transportation stop.
Nanghihinang napaupo si Reese at napaluha. She killed another man, she saved herself by killing another man… by drinking his blood out of thirst and this is not something a normal person would do.
Reese doesn't want to believe that she is not who she thought she is… there's no such thing as those kinds…
She won't call herself a vampire — she is not a monster…
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
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