CHAPTER FOUR
HALOS mapasigaw ako sa higpit ng pagkakahawak ni Vincent sa kamay ko. He's almost breaking my wrist with his bare hand. He's glaring menacingly at me and I couldn't do anything but to whimper.
"A-aray ko, Vincent," I said, afraid and ashamed. He clearly told me that that place is off limits and he just caught me red-handed.
Thank goodness, he loosen up. But the ferocious glare never left me. I sighed, he took a deep breath. After a few moments of silence, he stepped back.
"Hindi ba sinabi ko na sa'yong bawal pumasok o kahit lumapit lang sa santuwaryo? Ang tigas din ng ulo mo eh 'no," naiinis niyang sabi sa akin. Napatungo naman ako dahil sa kahihiyan. I am humiliated by the fact that he's scolding me in front of the children. They are watching us from afar.
"I'm sorry. I promise not to do it again," I apologised while still looking down, unable to meet his scorching stare. I heard him sighed so many times before he finally let me go.
"Tara na. Bumalik na tayo sa mansyon." He stepped away, taking Ria with her. He carried the little girl like a sack of rice in his shoulder and the latter giggled. I slowly followed them while gritting my innocent nails.
I wish the ground just open up and swallow me.
*****
Days went on and I am really enjoying my life here in Southville. Every morning, I would help the maids. Yesterday, I helped them cook. Every afternoon, I would accompany Ria to the boutique at the Downtown and play with her at the playground.
In the evening, I would set the table with the maids or help them clean the dishes. Kaiser don't want me doing things like that but I managed to change his mind by using his own words against him ("You said I can do anything I want").
One afternoon, I was at the playground with Ria when something strange happened. I was on the swing, staring at the church-like building they call as santuwaryo. Nahihiwagaan pa rin kasi ako sa lugae na 'yon. I saw four men and a woman came out from there. Nakasuot sila ng mga lab coats at may mga dala-dalang paraphernalia. I asked Ria about them and she said they were some scientists. I have a lot of questions about that. Like why are there scientists inside that forbidden place? What is really inside that building?
Gusto ko sanang magtanong kay Kaiser o kaya ay kay Vincent pero lagi naman silang busy at minsan na lang kami magkita. At kapag nagkikita naman kami, nakakalimutan kong itanong. Kaya naman, ginagawa ko na lang na abala ang sarili ko sa pagtulong sa mga gawaing bahay. Today, I decided to go with Ate Emma in the front garden.
"Foreigner ka ba? Kasi wala namang Pilipinong may pulang buhok eh." Ate Emma took my attention while we remove these stubborn grasses.
"H-hindi ko po alam kung anong lahi ng mga magulang ko. But I studied abroad po for five years," I answered. I became friends with the maids here and they are quite amazing people—err—werewolves.
"So natural talaga 'yang buhok mo?" Tanong naman ni Paris, kasama rin naming nagdadamo.
"Yes, I guess so," I nonchalantly replied. The sun is already up and it makes it more difficult for us to work.
"May something ba sa inyo no'ng beta? Napapansin ko kasing lagi kayong magkasama eh," Paris asked once again. This time, I paused and glanced at her. Beta? Does she mean Vincent? I chuckled at her.
"That's ultimately absurd. Sobrang sungit kaya no'n." The thing is, they all agreed on what I've said. See? He's really a little bit grumpy.
"Pero aminin mo, gwapo siya di ba?" Mapang-asar na sabi ni Ate Emma. My forehead automatically creased. But then, I realised that she have a point. Vincent does have the looks; but not the patience.
