NIGHT [GXG] (BOOK 2)

Chapter 2

NYX

"Vlad, I fucking hate you!" I yelled at my twin sister, my voice cracking with frustration.

She grinned at me, that smug, knowing grin that always got under my skin. "Oh, I love me too," she retorted, flipping me the bird before turning and sauntering out of my room.

"You piece of shit!" I yelled after her, my anger bubbling over. "Putanginang Vlad!" I muttered under my breath, shaking my head in exasperation. She always did this, barging into my room, messing with my stuff, just to get a rise out of me.

"Hey, young lady. Yang bibig mo ha!" Mom scolded me the moment she got in my room.

"Kasalanan naman talaga kasi ni Vlad, Mom. Ginugulo niya ako lagi, wala naman akong ginagawa. I'm so stressed na nga dahil hindi ko alam kung ano ang isusuot sa debut namin ni Vlad next week, Mom I need your help." I whined, hoping to elicit some sympathy from her.

She sighed, rubbing her temples, the familiar gesture that always signaled a brewing headache. "Anong kai-stress doon? You just have to pick your preferred gown and it's done, that's it."

"But Mom, there are so many options! What if I choose the wrong one? What if it doesn't look good on me? What if..." I trailed off, overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices.

Mom chuckled, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "Relax, honey. We'll go shopping together, and we'll find the perfect gown for you. You'll look stunning, I promise."

She patted my hand, her touch of comforting reassurance. I knew she was right. Mom always knew how to make things better. And she always knew how to make me feel beautiful, even in my most stressed-out moments.

I leaned into her embrace, feeling her warmth enveloping me. "Thanks, Mom," I whispered, a grateful sigh escaping my lips.

"Mag-prepare ka na, alam niyo namang walang patience and Dada niyo, kanina pa siya nagagalit sa dining room." She stated, her voice laced with a hint of warning.

I rolled my eyes mentally, "Yeah yeah, baba na po." I knew what she meant.

Dada was notorious for her short fuse and her tendency to fly off the handle if things weren't exactly to her liking.

Bumaba na ako after nag-ayos, they were all in the dining room. I sat across Vlad who was smirking at me, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

Si Ate Vaughn, she went to visit our grandparents in Novosibirsk, Russia after graduation.

"What took you so long, Nyx?" Dada asked calmly, but I knew he was fuming.

Duh, siya pa, lagi naman galit.

"Marami lang po akong inayos sa kwarto Dada, si Vlad kasi-" I started to explain, but she cut me off before I could even finish my sentence.

"Stop blaming each other for once!" She raised her voice, her face turning red with anger.

Oh, ayan galit na naman siya. I sighed, knowing that this was going to be a long meal.

"Vlad, you know how much your Dada hates it when you disrupt your sister's routine." Mom chimed in, her voice soothing, trying to diffuse the tension.

"But she's always so uptight! I was just trying to lighten up the mood," Vlad retorted, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

I rolled my eyes,  "Lighten up the mood? By messing up my entire room?  You know I have a very specific way of organizing things."

"See, she's uptight again," Vlad muttered under her breath, but I could hear her clearly.

I glared at her, but she just grinned back mischievously.

"Alright, that's enough you two," Dada finally interjected, her voice firm but surprisingly calm. "Just eat your breakfast, okay?"

I knew she was holding back her anger, but I also knew she was trying to be the bigger person, especially since it was our debut week.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. I knew I had to keep my cool. It was going to be a long week, and I needed to avoid any unnecessary drama.

Besides, Vlad was right, I was uptight. But I couldn't help it. I was just so stressed about our debut. There were so many things to plan and organize, and I was feeling overwhelmed.

I saw Mom touch her arm to calm her down. Go, Mom, pakilandi yang asawa mong laging galit para naman mabawasan ang pagka-high blood niya.

"And you, Vlad. What did I tell you about the cars? May binangga ka na naman... you're grounded!" Dada's voice boomed across the room, her anger palpable.

Sinasabi ko na nga ba, delikado yung pagkakalma ni Dad.

Vlad slumped in her seat, her shoulders drooping. I discreetly smirked at her, knowing she'd seen it. I could almost hear her groan in frustration, and I felt a little pang of sympathy.  But it was quickly replaced by a triumphant sense of justice. Deserve!

"But Dada, it was just a small scratch!" Vlad protested, her voice laced with a hint of defiance.

"A small scratch, Vlad? You almost hit a pedestrian!" Dada countered, his voice unwavering.

"It was just a little old lady, Dada," Vlad muttered under her breath, but I could hear her.

"Vlad!" Dada admonished her, her tone sharp.

I couldn't help but laugh, a small, mischievous chuckle escaping my lips. She was such a drama queen. But I knew she wasn't truly upset. She was just trying to get a reaction out of Dada.

"See, Dada, she's always so mean to me," Vlad mumbled, her voice tinged with faux-innocence.

"Alright, that's enough," Dada said, her voice softening slightly. "Just be careful next time, okay? You know I don't like it when you drive recklessly."

Vlad nodded, her face still glum. I knew she was just pretending to be upset. She loved pushing boundaries, and she loved getting a reaction out of our Dada.

I took a bite of my breakfast, enjoying the drama unfolding around me. It was a typical morning in our house, filled with chaos and laughter. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

After our breakfast, I was the first one to leave the house. I got in my car, a sleek black sedan that Dad gifted me for graduation, and drove to Morningstar University. It's our first day of school, a new chapter in our lives. I just graduated from senior high school, so now, I'm entering my freshman year. I took Entrepreneurship, wanting to help Mom in the Morningstar Publishing Company. Meanwhile, Vlad, took Linguistics, following in our parents' footsteps. Gaya-gaya kasi.

As I pulled into the university parking lot, I saw Trevor leaning against my car, a smug grin plastered on his face. He held my waist tightly, pulling me close and immediately kissing me on the lips. I pushed him back after a while, his lips lingering on mine for a moment too long. He's smirking at me, his eyes twinkling with amusement. I rolled my eyes at him, my heart beating a little faster than it should.

"I've missed you, baby girl." He winked at me, his voice smooth and charming.

"Hello? Baka nakakalimutan mong break na tayo?" I reminded him.

He snorted, "You broke up with me over a text message, that's not a genuine way to break-up, baby. So tayo pa rin."

"Nah-ah..." I shook my head, trying to maintain my composure.

He was so persistent, and I knew he wouldn't give up easily.

"Come on, Nyx," he pleaded, his voice softening. "Let's just talk. We can work things out."

"There's nothing to work out, Trevor. It's fucking over." I looked at him with dead eyes.

He sighed, his shoulders slumping. "Fine, fine. But you'll miss me, you know. I'm the only one who can handle your fiery spirit."

I couldn't help but snort a little at his arrogance. "Gag-"

"Nyx!"