The Vampire's Kiss

Chapter 3

Picture

After that day, it feels like I have something to look forward. Hindi ko rin maintindihan ang sarili. Marami na akong nakitang gwapong lalake, lalo na sa paaralan na 'to. Karamihan ay anak ng mga mayayaman. But it feels like I was drawn to him. Maybe I was amazed by his out of this world beauty.

We will meet him thrice a week. May isang araw pagitan sa bawat meetings na 'yon. But not bad. The first time was just a short introduction. Hindi niya na kami pinakilala isa-isa dahil wala ng oras. They had urgent faculty meeting. So, my amazed-self was upset.

"Bago ang teacher na 'yon dito!" I heard one of the girls whisper then giggled after.

"Grabe, sobrang gwapo niya. I mean there's a lot of gwapo na teacher here, but his face? Do you think he's open about, you know..." hindi ko na narinig ang kasunod.

Napabuntong-hininga ako nang malalim. Obviously, it is not only me. Napailing-iling ako. Tila nabuhayan ang lahat ng babae sa klase na 'to. And they are all looking forward to meet him again. Nakahihiya man at nakapagtatakha, ako rin. I don't want to admit it fully. Because I feel stupid with this feeling. Ayoko na ganito, na biglang interesado ako sa isang tao dahil lang sa sobrang gwapo niya. I am more than this!

Paano kung masama pala ugali? Right! That's right. So Laurelia Therese, calm yourself.

Ipinasok ko 'yon sa isip sa buong panahon na hindi ko pa siya nakikita bago siya muli magklase sa amin. Ngunit ng pangalawang araw namin siyang mameet, I was really disappointed with myself. Habang tuwid na nakaupo, nakasandal ang likod sa upuan, ay titig na titig ako sa kaniya.

Why did I call his beauty as out of this world? His hair is kind of brownish. When someone has a brown hair, you expect them to have a softer feature. But not on him. His golden eyes are cold. Kapag nakatingin siya sayo ay tila wala siyang iniisip o emosyon. Basta't nakatingin lang. It is defined by his thick brows and lashes. Matangos ang kaniyang ilong. Ang labi naman niyang napakapula ay laging nakatikom. His face structure is so perfect. He's indeed a masterpiece. Ibang-iba at pakiramdam ko ay siya lang ang may ganito kagandang hitsura sa buong mundo. It is not just his face. There is something about his aura that I can't explain.

I sighed and shook my head. Is he even real? Ang kulay ng mata niya ay bukod-tangi sa lahat. Kaya sinong hindi mapapatitig sa kaniya? O baka naman contact lense lamang iyon. Pero posible na may iba lamang siyang lahi. Kung ganoon ay napakalakas ng dugong iyon.

"Pst! Ikaw na," marahan akong siniko ng aking katabi. Napakurap-kurap ako at natauhan. I felt myself blush when I saw my classmates staring at me.

"A-ano 'yon?" mahinang tanong ko.

"Ipakilala mo sarili mo," mariin na bulong ng Ysmael. Lalo akong nakaramdam ng hiya. I saw Sir A glance at his watch. Kumunot ang noo niya bago ako tinignan. He looks bored as his eyes landed on me.

Hiyang-hiya akong tumayo.

"I'm—"

"Here in front," seryosong saad niya. Agad-agad akong tumango at lumakad patungo sa harap.

I want to slap myself. Because of daydreaming, I'm facing this kind of embarassment.

"Good morning everyone, I'm Laurelia Therese Bernardino. 17 years old, uhh—" I stuttered when I don't know what to say anymore.

I saw Ysmael whispering something. Napatango-tango ako nang makuha ang ibig niyang sabihin.

"And I—"

"That will happen when you are not listening. Sit down," malamig niyang turan.

Hiyang-hiya akong bumalik sa upuan. Pakiramdam ko ay gusto ko na lang magpalamon sa lupa. I'm so upset with myself. This is the first time I experienced this. Mula noon, lagi akong nakikinig. I'm always attentive that's why I am always able to follow the teacher's instruction. Last sem na ng grade 12, ngayon pa ako nagkaganito?