Escorting the Vampire Prince

Chapter 26: Pretending everything is alright

(MAPLE'S POV)

"I'm sorry, I can't remember you." Mahinhin na sagot ko "Do I know you? You do seem familiar."

Gulat na gulat ako ng bigla siyang pumasok sa kwarto ko, I thought umalis na sila kasama sina Aurelius. Nung umalis sila ay nakatingin si Killian saakin, does he remember me ba? Hindi ko alam pero kanina pa siya nakatitig. Hindi ko naman tiningnan pabalik.

He was full of wounds and may dark circles na rin sa ilalim ng mga mata niya. is he ok? Ngayon ko lang siya nakita na sobrang lungkot, I remember him having a spilt personality according to Maple's memories.

Based sa naalala ko sa mga memories, may split personality siya due to trauma and experiences. Dahil siguro sa nangyaring massacre sa bahay namin, sinabi niya saakin na nakita niya nga yun. Maybe that triggered it? He did also forget me like I forgot him, pero does he remember me ba?

Wait, what if his split personality remembers me too? I did meet him once sa library, pero madilim iyon and hindi ko na siya nakilala dahil sa bago ng structure at mukha niya. I mean Killian does look cute when we were younger, pero mas lalong gumwapo siya.

Even if I promised the previous Maple na hindi ko pansinin si Killian, hindi ko ata magagawa ito. Her feelings and my feelings were the same! Now that it's combined, mas lalong nagkagusto ako sakanya! damn it-

"Wh-what?" naiiyak na tanong niya... gusto ko sana siyang yakapin pero kailangan kong maging metatag. He did make me suffer, kaya cold lang ang tingin ko sakanya. why is he crying? Hindi naman iyakin si Killian noon! "B-bakit n-naman?"

Bumuntong hininga ako at umiling iling. Nag-acting ako na parang pilit na inalala ang nangyari saamin noon.

"Pasensya kana mister ah? Hindi talaga kita maalala, I only meet your parents." Sagot ko sa tanong niya, that was obviously a lie. Palagi kaya kaming magkasama at tumatakas noon.

"You're lying..." nanlaki naman ang mata ko ng bigla niyang sinabi iyon, did he remember?! No, hindi... it doesn't look like he remember pero parang may nagsasabi sakanya. Is it his split personality?!

Ok, Maple. Keep your cool, wag mong pansinin ang emotion ni Killian. He looks horrible and pitiful right now. Kailangan kong i-keep ang promise ko, her emotions and heartaches. I felt that too... lalo na pagdating kay Killian. Kaya binigyan ko nalang siya ng inosenteng tingin.

"Hey! Wag ka ngang ganon kay young lady. Kagigising niya lang, you promised us not to cause trouble!" malakas na sigaw ni Ophelia kay Killian, wow she grown up so much. Parang dati lang eh nauutal siya pag kausap ako. "Guess ikaw nga yung taong mahilig sumira ng pangako."

Hindi nalang ako nagsalita, she's sooo mad at Killian at naawa na talaga ako kay Kill. Napayuko naman siya at napaluhod. He was still crying, poor guy indeed. Sadly, kailangan ko munang maging cold for the sake of the promise and for the sake of my revenge.

"I... I want to talk to her-

"That's enough Killian, pinsan nga kita pero respect young lady naman!" sabi ni Ophelia sakanya, napakagat naman ako ng labi. We heard a knock at the door at nakita namin si Juno, he's grown up as well.

"Pardon my intrusion. I want to speak with Ophelia, along with master Aurelius." Naka-bow na bati ni Juno, guess he already know I'm awake since naka-act siya as a servant kina Aurelius. "Greetings young lady Maple."

Tumango nalang ako, tumingin naman si Ophelia saakin like she's asking permission na umalis. pero she immediately glared at Killian na busy parin sa kakaluhod. He was murmuring and mumbling something...

"Ok lang Ophelia, I wanted to talk to mister... Killian naman. you should go." She made a face bago umalis, sumabay na si Lucian at Zack sakanila. samantalang si Killian nalang ang naiwan.

Ok Maple, time to act once again. Wag kang padala sa emosyon, just... just don't be yourself. Magkaparehas pa naman kami ng personality ng dating Maple. Well duh, it's because she is me and I'm her. nakalimutan lang talaga namin.

"Uh... mister-

"Killian." Mahinang sabat niya saakin, inosente lang akong nakatingin sakanya at tumango tango. "Just call me by name, don't call me mister. It's like... I'm somebody."

"O-oh! Sure Killian. So uh... bakit parang galit na galit ka saakin dahil hindi kita nakilala?' naging seryoso na ang tono ng pananalita ko. he stood up and walked towards me. "Are you someone important in my life?"

Cold lang ang tono at tingin ko sakanya pero nakayuko lang siya, am I too harsh? Should I be harsher? Mas mabuting lumayo muna siya saakin for the meantime, I have business with Berry at baka ma involve na naman siya.

"You see, whenever I see you. Parang may bumuo na galit... or something. When I look at you, I only feel anger." Dagdag ko naman, I'm going to push him away for the sake of promise and revenge. "May ginawa ka ba saakin sa nakaraan?"

"I... I did." Mahinang bulong niya at mas lalo naman siyang lumapit, para siyang batang iyakin. Noon, Killian wont even cry in front of me at palagi nalang siyang nagma-matapang. "H-hindi ko ginawa ang p-promise ko a-and left you, because of...her"

Ang honest niya naman, I just said asked blunt at sinagot niya naman ako ng maayos.

"He said you remembered me." napatigil naman ako sa sinabi niya. He? His split personality? Nakakausap niya pala ito? Wow... so... he can see me too? "He said we met before."

Oo nga pala, naalala ko. The only way para mawala ang split personality niya is to find a link. Babalik kaya ang alaala niya if meron na siyang link? Will they also be combined like me and and dating Maple? Ano kaya ang mangyayari?

"And you said you love me." halos hindi ako makagalaw sa sinabi niya. What?! I do remember I did! Pero hindi ko inexpect na sasabihin niya ng ganon lang iyon!?

"Talaga? Sorry hindi ko talaga kasi maalala." Muntik na akong mautal!!! Shit. Pero my acting was always on point, cold and innocent as it is. Sagutin at kausapin mo lang siya ng ganon Maple, he won't know. Napatingin naman kami ng biglang bumukas ang pintuan ko.

"Young lady, I have something to report." Sabi ni Maple habang nakatingin kay Killian. Thank God! I was saved by Ophelia!!! Tumingin naman si Killian saakin, naiiyak na naman siya... bakit siya umiiyak? Is he guilty?

"I...I will see you again." walang ganang sabi ni Killian at hinay hinay na lumabas sa kwarto ko. I don't know why he;s acting like that. Guilty ba siya dahil naiwan niya ako? Or he has regrets dahil si Vanilla ang pinili niya? Or does he love me too...?

It's either one of those or none...or all of the above? Hindi muna tayo tatalon sa conclusion. Humarap naman si Ophelia saakin at nagbow. "Welcome back young lady."

"Thank you Ophelia, now let's get on to business. What did I missed and tell me everything you know." Seryosong sabi ko at tumingin sa malayo, I don't have time for Killian now. All I need is a sweet revenge.

Ophelia told me about Berry or Belle, isa daw siya sa inexperimentuhan ng pamilya ko. kahit ako eh walang alam dyan, I didn't even know my family does that. Belle is from the Tigris Family, it wasn't really a popular family before. I don't know why Berry needs to act as my sister dati, but she does it good.

Ophelia said that Aurelius has the remaining information that we need. And we will be discussing it soon pag maayos na ako, so all I need is to take some rest and be healed soon. Thank God hindi ko muna makikita si Killian, I'll let Ophelia handle him.

"Oh and young lady. Sabi ni Tita Kailey that you will be staying in the Leopold residence once you're healed. Doon na din idi-discuss ang information tungkol sa pamilyang Tigris, she also said she can't wait to see you."

What?!