Storm Academy: Tale of Falsities

Chapter Forty-One

Chapter 41: Blood Drinking Ceremony

Una siyang bumitaw sa tinginan namin. I smirked in victory. Hindi ko alam na sa simpleng titigan namin ay nahalata ko ang pagkabalisa niya dahil sa inakto ko. Was she scared? I licked my lips in delight.

"You really do have the sweetest blood in here." Napatingin ako sa lalaking nagsalita sa harap ko. I furrowed my brows when I didn't understand what he was saying. Ah, right right.

I faked a laugh. "Well, yeah... I guess."

"Good thing everyone here was taught to handle our own bloodlust. Your scent is really addicting so..." Tumango tango ako. "If one uneducated vampire was here, you might get..." bitten, I know.

I smiled at him. "Y-Yeah, I mean, It wasn't i-intentional." Lies.

Tumawa siya sa sinabi ko at ininom ang wine—blood— wine? Na hawak hawak niya. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang iniinom niya, yet it looks like blood, in a way that it also looks like wine.

"I know, who would hurt themselves, right?" I smiled and carefully nodded, pulling the hem of my ball gown as a way of releasing the awkwardness. I did, mister. I did.

Nagulat ako ng may pumalibot sa paa ko na metal. I glanced at my mother who's now smirking at me. Hawak hawak niya ang mic at madramang ngumisi sa akin. She looked away and put down the mic, before heading to another couple.

"You know, I fancy you. Do you want to hang out sometimes?" Andito pa pala siya. I forgot about everything because of her.

Ngumiti ako at umiling. "I'm sorry...it's not in my agenda to date someone." I looked down to disguise my unveiling misery because of what I said. Ano nga ba ang agenda ko? To live here for the sake of the world?

My misery subsided, napalitan ng pag-aalala. Ang mga kaibigan ko ay nandito, nakakulong at hindi ko alam ay baka sinasaktan na rin. I need to help them get out. I need to ensure that they're going to go back to the world alive.

"You know love just comes and blooms, you won't know what the future has in-store." I nodded. Yeah, the future is...scary. At least my future. I'm going to be a rapunzel in this large castle, laging iisipin kung ano kaya ang nangyayari sa labas ng mundo, pero hindi makalabas.

And I don't have a charming prince to save me from this. I am on my own. All alone.

"If the future does change, I'll let it be. But until I handle my own future, I'm going with my agenda. Sorry."

He laughed fakely and nodded. "Well, I got to go..." Tumingin siya sa paligid at nakita ang isang magandang babae na nakatingin din sa kanya. "It was... very nice talking to you, Lady Simone." I nodded and bowed slightly.

Tuluyan na siyang umalis at dumiretso sa babae, at nakipag-tawanan sa isa't-isa. I laughed and looked away. Ang bilis noon ah. Pilit ko pa ring tinatanggal ang nakakabit sa paa ko habang pinanatiling maayos ang mukha ko sa irita na nararamdaman ko.

Someone tapped the microphone, gaining everyone's attention. Kahit ako ay napatingin sa emcee na nasa gilid ko, inaayos ang mga papel na binabasa niya. Sandali rin siyang tumingin sa akin bago inayos ang tayo at kinlaro ang lalamunan niya.

"Has everyone enjoyed the food and music? We're now going to remove our masks and greet each other with our very handsome and beautiful faces," said emcee. Tumingin siya sa akin at tinuro ako. "And have a sight of our beautiful future queen for the very first time."

Everyone clapped and removed all their masks. Bumukas ng kaunti ang bibig ko dahil sa nakita. Everyone was almost alike, in a way. May ibang halata ang lahi, dahil sa mata at iba pang karakteristiks, pero lahat ay sobrang putla, at mapula ang labi.