Tall, Dark and Dead

Sucker for Pain

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

A l e k

I saw Clive rush inside her daughter's private room. All I can feel is guilt. He knows I was there but he didn't even take the time to look at me. Of course, he was mad. What was I thinking? Maybe I should leave? Natalia will be fine without me. Wait, no. This is my fault. I should stay. I'll be here until she wakes up. 'Yun man lang magawa ko para sa kanya.

"So, who else is alive?" I asked Teddy, who was busy eyeing the nurse. Maganda naman yung dalaga, but not as much as that of Natalia Lois Claveria. "Hey, focus!"

"What, what?"

I snapped my fingers, mouthing a hello. I, myself, also need to snap out of it; I'm daydreaming about her again. And again. Kanina pa 'to. "Can you please stop with the winking? Para kang tanga. This isn't how we roll, Teddy."

"Paano ba dapat, Leona? Dapat hard to get, gano'n? Mysterious?"

"Nevermind."

"May etiquette pa pala pagdating sa landian." Mahilig talagang mag-tap ng braso 'to. This time, mas malakas ng onte. "You are uptight. Bet ba ni baby Cali ang old school?"

"Don't call her that. They're not the same."

"Okay, so, who are we trying to convince here?" I literally grabbed Teddy and brought her to the parking bay. "Alright, alright, fine." Teddy, being sarcastic that she always was, leaning on the roof of somebody's Audi, smiling. "Let's go for a drive, shall we?" I guess this is her car. Teddy got rich over the years, a former daughter of a poor man. Teddy was twenty-three when I turned her. "Leo-" I raised my hand, gesturing for her to stop talking. "Oh, you changed your name."

The car tire screeched as she makes that sudden stop. "Jesus, Teddy! We're actually dead but don't expect people to believe na mabubuhay tayo pareho kahit na nagkandapira-piraso 'tong sasakyan mo." I pushed my hair back, sighing deeply. "We both know we could both lose it with our weaknesses. And mind you, I know what you're afraid of."

"Like I don't know about you being claustrophobic." Teddy chuckles, eyes on the road. "That is why Juan Karlos Samaniego had chosen to throw Cali into that dark, narrow pit. Ikaw namang engot, tumalon ka." I leaned my head back on my seat, going back to that moment with my eyes closed. "I'm sorry, buddy. It's just that-"

"Save it."

"But-" Teddy pouted her lips, looking disappointed. And then, she nudged me. "What is it then? Your name? Vampirina?" Binatukan ko ng malakas si Teddy. Loko-loko talaga. Para tigilan niya ako, sinabi ko na lang. "So, you're technically someone else's daughter. Nice cover."

"Adopted daughter."

"Even better. Mysterious nga ang peg."

-

Sa isang kilalang paaralan ako dinala ni
Teddy. "The hell are we doing here?" I look around, students are making indistinct mumbles. Teddy and I were catching glances as we enter a huge building. "Why do I feel like I'm heading straight towards a trap?"

"Hmm, not quite."

"'Di pa lang kasi sabihin kung sino ang narito."