Ang Boyfriend Kong Demon King (Soon To Be Published)

Chapter 16 - Santorini

(POV Maddie)

Jared already explained to me kung anong nangyari sa mommy ni Maia. Jared drew the man on his vision para ma track using a facial recognition software. He is talented like my father and he can draw anything kahit isang beses pa lang niya nakita. But the man is indeed mysterious, walang kahit anong records. Even the famous IT tech Amos is unable to find him.

For the whole summer vacation, we stayed in Greece. Jared stayed in Kalabaka with Maia hoping na magigising ang mother niya, samantalang ako, I decided to spend my summer days for leisure. Since hindi ako nagwork ngayon sa Vienna, I will be joining Jared every weekend sa dog shelter.

"Hindi ko kailangan ng bodyguard, Cole. Bakit mo ba ko binabantayan?"

Ever since na sinabi niya sa akin na ikakasal na siya, I started to avoid him. Pero sinusundan niya ko kahit saan ako magpunta.

"I'm not your bodyguard. I was just asked by your grandfather to accompany you."

"Di ko need ng yaya."

"I won't leave, Julia. Kahit ilan beses mo ko takasan, I will surely find you."

Simula nang dumating ako dito sa Santorini, palagi na nakasunod sa akin si Cole. Tinakasan ko na din siya multiple times at mabilis niya ko nahahanap.

For almost ilang weeks, para kaming naglalaro ng hide and seek. And he's right, he can easily find me as if my GPS chip ako sa katawan. Di na ko magtataka dahil kaibigan niya si Amos, ang assistant ng daddy ko na isang computer genius.

"I will be going back to Manila tomorrow. Si Jared baka sa isang araw pa. Would you like to join me for dinner?" tanong ko kay Cole pero di ko siya tinatapunan ng tingin habang naglalakad kami sa mga makipot na cobblestone street ng Oia, Santorini.

"Are you sure gusto mo ko kasabay kumain?"

"Di ba ikakasal ka na? Di ko alam kung magkikita pa tayo ever so why don't we end it with a fabulous Greek dinner?"

Sumama naman sa akin si Cole at nagdinner kami sa isang restaurant malapit sa hotel na tinutuluyan ko.

"Saan mo nakilala girlfriend mo?" tanong ko sa kanya habang umiinom ng wine. Tinaasan niya lang ako ng kilay as if saying It's none of my business.

"Fine. I won't ask about her. Am I even invited to your wedding?"

Di pa rin siya sumagot at umiling lang. Sabagay, baka isipin niya sisirain ko yung wedding nila.

"Yung anim students na nagkaroon ng heart attack. Any news about them?"

Cole suddenly stopped sipping his wine. Tama kami ng hinala ni Jared, there's something fishy about those students. They did not die of natural causes. Someone or something must have killed them.

"Heart attack is the cause of their deaths. That's it," sabi niya after long silence. Cole is very professional at hindi siya mag didiscuss ng kahit ano unless may permission ng Lolo Rusty.

"If you will keep me in the dark, I can assure you that I will find a way to unearth the truth. So ngayon pa lang, humingi ka na ng permission sa lolo ka na sabihin sa akin kung anong nangyari."

"Julia, leave it. Nagkataon lang ang deaths nila. The demons that are no longer under the command of your brother is a more pressing matter."

"Nagkataon na nagka heart attack sila right after namin pumasok sa university? I remembered three of my classmates suddenly dropped out of school when I was in highschool. Namatay din ba sila? Heart attack din or heart failure? Who knows kung ilang heart related deaths ang umiikot sa amin ni Jared?"

"Julia, your hand..."

Nagulat na lang ako nang makitang parang smoldering lava ang kamay ko. Hindi ko alam kung dahil sa mystery na bumabalot sa mga unusual deaths or dahil ayaw sabihin sa akin ni Cole ang totoo, or dahil ikakasal na siya.

"I'm sorry... I'm just furious..."

"Sasamahan kita bukas pag uwi sa Manila. Your brother will stay here for a few days more. Ikaw lang ang tao sa bahay."

"Di ba magagalit ang fiancee mo na sa amin ka mag stay?"

"She'll understand."

"How nice. A loving and understanding girlfriend. You must be very lucky Cole to have her. Alam ba niya na hinahalikan mo ko at niyayakap mo ko na parang isang girlfriend?"

Cole remained quiet. He just answered me with his signature glare as if hindi siya natutuwa sa huling tanong ko sa kanya.

Bumalik ako sa Manila and Cole is always with me. Kung hindi niya sinabi sa akin na may girlfriend siya, eh di sana na-enjoy ko ang bakasyon ko.

"Julia, saan ka ba galing? Kanina mo pa hindi sinasagot ang tawag ko!" galit na tanong ni Cole sa akin pag-uwi ko sa bahay. Di ako nagpaalam sa kanya na aalis ako ngayon.

"Are you really asking me or alam mo na kung saan ako galing?" inis kong sagot ko sa kanya sabay pasok sa bahay.

Simula nang bumalik kami sa Manila, hindi niya ko kinakausap at pinapamukha niya sa akin na trabaho lang, walang personalan.

Hello lang? Nagkiss na kaya tayo ilan beses?

"Let me change my question, anong trip mo at binisita mo yung parents ng anim estudyante na namatay sa heart attack?"

"I am part of the student council so I just offered them my late condolences. I'm planning a small commemoration activity during the start of school on Monday. Did I answer your question? Kung wala ka ng ibang sasabihin, magpapahinga na ko," sabi ko sabay akayat sa second floor.

"Julia, ano ba sabi ko sayo? I told you to leave it."

"Why are you so affected? Natatakot ka ba na may madiscover ako?"

"Ang sabi ko lang, tigilan mo na ang issue na yan."

"Fine. I won't bother them anymore. Nakuha ko na ang gusto ko."

"And what is that?"

"Well tigilan mo din ang katatanong dahil di ko sasabihin sayo. Hindi ko sasabihin sayo na na discover ko na pumunta kayo ng Lolo Rusty at ni Uncle Syl sa mga parents ng victims."

"What do you mean?"

"Come on, Cole. You know what I mean. I know that the three of you visited the mourning parents months ago. Wag ka mag alala, di ko sasabihin kay Jared ang nalaman ko. But make sure na alam niyo ang isasagot niyo sa kanya in case malaman niya na may tinatago kayo," sabi ko sabay pasok sa kwarto ko pero pinigilan ni Cole ang braso ko.

"How did you know?"

"Wala ka na pakialam kung paano ko nalaman..."

"Answer the damn question, Julia!" sigaw niya sabay hila sa akin palapit sa kanya. I can sense that he's angry and afraid at the same time.

When Cole told me about the demons who are now immune to Jared's compulsion, it is as if he is not worried at all. Pero ngayon he looks different. He's scared, not for himself but for me. And when he's like this, I can't help but to surrender.

"I saw it in my visions when I shook their hands. Pero di ko alam kung bakit andoon kayo," mahina kong sagot.

Without warning, Cole hugged me and touched my hair. Sigurado ako na nangangamba siya para sa akin.

"Julia Maddison, I'm begging you, please just let it go. Wag mo na ungkatin ang dahilan ng pagkamatay nila. We are hiding it from you and Jared for a reason. And please trust me on this. Just focus on your studies."

"It is you who doesn't trust me," bulong ko sa kanya.

"I trust you, Julia," sabi niya sabay halik sa noo ko.