CHAPTER 4 - LIGHTS OUT

TASHA

“Hey!”

Sadie’s voice drew me back to reality. I didn't realize that I was zoning out. “W-What?”

“I’ve been calling you multiple times. You’re spacing out,” she said. “Are you okay?” I shook my head, gesturing no. “I’m sorry about your father. If you don’t want to go to the party, I can drive you wherever you want to go.”

“I’m…” I breathed, “I’m fine.” I forced a smile, and that’s when worry flashed through her face even more. “As soon as this evening is over, I'll deal with my issues.”

She didn’t express anything. I stood up when the make-up artist called my name…and I was there. As I sit on that semi-raised seat, brush strokes trace the contours of my flesh, yet everything... everything appears to be a haze. Everything is freezing and inert, and it's a dismal day. Perhaps the sun setting, which was once awe-inspiring to me, has become drab and uninteresting.

All I could think about was the reality that my mother had told me, the truth that she concealed for my own safety, for our own protection. However, this is something more than that. It is the kind of secret… that we should keep as long as we possibly can. This is the kind of information that the rest of the world should not be privy to.

She’s a Luna—supposed to be a Luna—not until she rejected the Alpha, named Sandalio, of the Moon Valley pack, the highest-ranking pack in the Kumori Woods. At first, I was reluctant to believe her story. A wolf living in a mortal world without these mortals finding out about who she really is? Sure. Yet, she showed me something I never envisioned nor imagined seeing in person. She can still summon her inner wolf—barely, but she can. When she turned him down, the entire pack turned against her. They forced her to work in the packhouse for as long as she was physically able. They were on the verge of killing her, but she managed to escape.

My father was one of the hunters who sought to hunt and kill wolves in the Kumori Woods. When my mom barely made it out alive from Sandalio’s subordinates, my father was there to help her. He tried to keep my mother hidden for as long as he could, but Sandalio was relentless in his pursuit of them. He followed them everywhere and into every crevice that they could get their feet into. They stopped fleeing the day they found out about me. My mom escaped…but my father died as he fought for our safety, fighting for his family, as he pondered how he could give my mother and me a future in which we don’t have to run nor hide anymore.

I clenched my fist, thinking that if they didn’t find out about me, they could’ve escaped that place together. If it hadn't been for me, the outcome would have been very different. Mom’s right, aside from Sandalio, it was love that killed my father.

“Once we’re in, there’s no turning back,” Sadie uttered. When I peered outside, I saw every student in tuxedos and beautiful dresses making their way into this massive entire concrete wall encircled by faint lights of various hues. “So, what’s your decision, Tash? I can still pull back if you feel too uncomfortable—”

“We’re going in,” I answered. “As I said, I’ll deal with what’s messing up with my head after this night.”

She sighed. “I’ll be on your side throughout the party,” she assured me.

We both went out of her car and gave our passes to the event organizer up in front as our entry passed. A few eyes gawked on us, but that's the least of my concerns at the time being. Likewise, Rendall was staring off into the distance with his glass of wine in hand, but I promptly took my eyes off him. I want to get this over with as soon as possible.

The event began with a dance of the prom attendees, trailed by an exceptional performance of the music and dance organization in the university. The school principal then delivered his speech—it is the same discourse he gave a year ago but still got a loud round of applause while I only took a deep murmur. The foods were served afterward by the catering hired by the school head. I noticed a particular serving given to the wealthy students situated at the center of the dance hall, which is nothing new, so I didn’t bother looking at them again and reminded myself to mind my own business.

Lights were dimmed to emphasize the spotlight searching for the best possible candidate for the prom king and queen awards. What they’re doing right now is the same as what they did last year. Nothing new.

“Our first nominee for the prom king title, Wesley Matthews!” announced the host. I clapped my hands against my reluctance. Wesley is one of the most well-known athletes in the school. Aside from that, he was known to bully a number of students. If he’ll win the award, well, he doesn’t deserve it.

“The second candidate for the prom king title, Tyler Miller!” same with Wesley. A jock. A bully. Seriously? It appears that they are not even looking for a potential and qualified candidate.

“Our last candidate for this award is no other than…” I knew who it was even before the announcer could announce it, “Rendall Endrano!”

As expected. Nothing shocking about it. 

“Let’s move on to our prom queen candidates,” the host said. “For our first prom queen candidate, Annica Svensson!”

If she and Rendall will win these awards, all of us can see—live—how they’ll share a very, very passionate kiss—note the sarcasm. With their reputations? It won’t change anything.

“Our second prom queen candidate, Jobelle Bryce!” is just another queen bee.

“Our third and last candidate for the prom queen award is…”

I stood up after casting a glance in Sadie's direction. “I’ll just go to the bathroom—”

“Tasha Almirante!”

Wait, what?! Who? Me? Am I a candidate for the prom queen title?

“What a turn of an event because for the first time in the history of our beloved university, we got a nominee from outside the group of queens and jocks!” said another announcer.

Oh no…this is not good. I should keep a low profile…I must keep a low profile. I perceived how the group of affluent students gawked at me, and I immediately took a seat when I realized that I was standing up.

“What’s happening, Sadie?” I asked her, practically murmuring. I peered down to avoid the eyes of everyone. “Why am I nominated?”

“I don’t have the slightest idea, Tash,” Sadie replied empathically. “It appears that you're in an awful situation based on the way the queen bees and the jocks are looking in our direction. That is beyond a doubt."

I gritted my teeth and clenched my fist because I knew she was right. After tonight, they’ll indeed lay their eyes and attention to me. Getting their eyes and their attention is not what I want. Not now. I still have a year to put up with it. I can't allow them to undermine my peace of mind.

I immediately made my way to the bathroom. I occupied a single cubicle as a thin anguish had begun to poke in my head. It's challenging to keep my breath steady as I try to quell the panic that's steadily growing up inside me. Something within me became more intense when I heard the restroom door open.

“How could she be nominated and not me?!” said a voice. “That Tasha is not even worthy of that spot!” Sweat poured down my body as I stayed still as possible to not make any noise after hearing my name.

“You can deal with her anytime,” another voice suggested.

“I will,” the first voice replied. “If she’ll win tonight, expect the worst situation after this evening.”

My heart froze, and my stomach turned frigid the moment she said that. As tears began to form on the sides of my eyes, I nibbled on the inside of my lower lip. I slowly released some air when I heard the bathroom door shut. I opened the cubicle door and examined myself in the mirror, still perplexed as to why I was included in the list of the candidates. There are other girls out there, so why me? If this is just for fun, who on earth would do it?

A Series of deep breathe escaped through me when I realized how my problems are slowly building up right now.

I chose to return to the dancing hall because Sadie was there by herself and I didn't want to leave her alone. But just when I was about to take a seat, the announcement for the prom king and queen title winners began. Great, just great.

“Our prom king this year is no other than Rendall Endrano!”

The mere mention of his name caused my heart to pound violently. When he got up and went to the stage to get the stash and the crown for the prom king, the unwanted heat I’d been feeling was back. I gripped on my dress when he looked in my direction with the same playful smirk that he gave me the day he offered me a ride.

“Sadie…let’s go…” I said. “I think we should go. My hunch is telling me that we should leave this place…”

“Huh?” Sadie’s brows are creased. “It’s almost done, Tash.”

“For our prom queen, the award goes to…”

“Please, Sadie…let’s—”

“Tasha Almirante!”

Shit. 

Sadie gave me a remorseful look, and I had no choice but to go up to the stage and take the stash and the crown as prom queen, no matter how embarrassing it was. Right there and then, I felt like I’m about to cry. Can somebody tell me this isn’t happening?

I looked at the table of the queen bees, and I noticed that they were all wearing playful grins on their faces. Annica even gestured a death sign towards me, and fear cripples me, freezing every muscle of my body. I could no longer control my hands; they were shaking in an odd shuddering rhythm. My eyes went in Rendall’s direction, and he was looking at me with that intense stare he’s giving me the first time I laid my eyes into him. Why are they doing this to me?

Both of us received a congratulatory message from the announcer, who then told us to lead the final dance of the night. Once again, I peered in Annica and her friends’ direction, and they were all glaring at me. I almost lost my balance as I felt my knee weaken the longer I stood up in that stage. When Rendall placed his hands on my waist, it was as if a beast was holding me captive, and that beast took control of my entire being. I wanted to flee for safety when he started to take a stride when the song began, but my feet and the situation would not allow me to do so.

In a split second, total darkness filled the place when the lights went out. My heartbeat started pulsating in my ears, drowning out all the other sounds because of what happened. The last thing I know, somebody grabbed me, and Rendall’s lips brushed mine, gently, delicately, sufficiently long that I could inhale his breath.

When the lights returned, I pushed him away and ran out of the venue. What did he do?!