CHAPTER 13: LUNA

RECAP

"Who's Luna?"

I did not answer him with his question, "I need to find her." Deklara ko.

"I need to find Luna."

—<3—

Simula nang mga panyayaring iyon nagsimula na din akong kwestyonin ang sarili ko. Akala ko noon ayos lamang na wala akong maalala, subalit ngayon iba na ang sitwasyon. Halos kalahating buhay ko ang ala-ala ko.

I must find her. Hindi lamang ang pagiging bampira ang gusto kong itanong sa kaniya pati na rin ang kakaibang pakpak na tumubo sa likod ko at ang mga ala-ala kong bumabalik. Gusto kong malaman ang buo kong pagkatao.

"Argh! Really, the gold digger is here!" She exclaimed. 

Napabaling ang tingin ko sa babaeng nagsalita. Naka-cross arm ito at mataray na nakatingin sa akin. May kasama pa siyang dalawa na nasa likudan niya.

She was wearing her expensive jewelry, bags, and clothes. Ang pagka-elegante rin nito ay kitang-kita. 

Tumingin lamang ako sa mga ito sa panamagitan ng salamin atsaka muling ibinaling ang atensyon ko sa huhugas ng kamay ko.

"This bitch annoys me," irritation was evident in her voice.

Mabilis itong lumapit sa akin at hinila ang buhok ko. Napangiwi naman ako sa sakit dahil sa paghila niya sa buhok ko. 

"Ano ba? Bitawan mo ang buhok ko," utos ko habang binabawi ako ang hawak niyang buhok ko subalit tumulong na din sa kaniya ang dalawa niyang kasama sa paghila sa buhok ko. 

"You deserve it bitch!" The other girl yelled. 

Napa-upo ako sa sahig ng washroom habang sinasabunutan nila. Patuloy pa din ako sa pagmamakaawa na bitawan na nila ako dahil pakiramdam ko matatanggal na ang buhok ko, but they don't care. They keep on pulling my hair.

There was something inside me growling in hostility. I felt something changed. My nails became long and spiky. I also felt a sudden urge to drink blood. I also felt a strange strength in my body, hindi ito katulad kanina. Kinuha ko ang tyansang ito upang maka-alis sa pagkakasabunot nila.

They looked surprised when I grabbed their hand and twisted it. They screamed in pain and begged me to stop when I continuously slammed them into the wall of the washroom.

"Stop you bitch," she yelled at me.

I was out of control. I don't know what I was doing. I can't control my body from torturing them.

"My hand is broken, please stop!" The other one screamed in pain.

I looked at their helpless faces. The pain was visible on their face. The elegant looking a while ago was a mess right now.

"This serves you right,"

I was about to bite them in the neck when someone spoke in the back. I was stunned when I saw her.

"You can't even control yourself," disappointment was written on his face. She crossed her arm and approached me.

It's her. Luna.

"Where have you been? I looked for you!" Tumayo ako at hinarap siya. 

We're alike but her face more looks mature. 

"Hindi naman ako umalis. I'm always here. In fact, I was there too when you awakened your vampire. I watched you two–erm," she stopped and make a fake cough. "B-but, of course, I closed my eyes and leave immediately." She continued.

My whole face becomes red remembering what happened that night and the fact that my twin sister saw as like that.

"I think there's a bond between you and him. Your vampire wouldn't react like that if there's none. But don't expect too much it is just a possibility." Sabi niya habang tinitignan ang mga babae na wala na ngayong malay.

Ayos na sana 'yong una niyang sinabi, e. Kaso dinugtongan pa, e. I am really a vampire. There it is, she confirmed it.

I'm still full of questions. I want to know more about my origin and myself.

"We should move to a place where we can talk properly," she suggested and immediately turned her back on me. It was like I can't have a choice but to follow her.

I followed her until we reached the garden of my school. We sit on the benched near to the  bush.

"Huwag mo isipin na porque sinusundan kita ay magkaayos na tayo. I still have this grudge against you." Panimula niya nang maka-upo kami sa upuan. Hindi naman ako umimik pa dahil hindi ko din naman alam ang sasabihin.

"Sabi mo kanina hinahanap mo ako, Bakit?" Tanong niya sa akin. Ang tinutukoy niya ay ang sinabi ko sa kanya kanina.

"I have so many questions about myself and my origin, running in my head. I know na ikaw lamang ang makasasagot ng mga katanungan ko." Paliwanag ko sa kaniya at tumingin sa kaniyang mga mata. "I don't have my memories of when I was a kid. Gusto ko malaman kung paano tayo nagkahiwalay at kung saan tayo nagmula." dagdag ko pa.

Natahimik siya na para ba na nag-aalangan. I don't know if I was just imagining it,  but I saw a sudden change of bitterness on her face. 

Tumikhim siya bago nagsalita, "Hindi ko alam kung paano ka napunta dito but I know where we came from, it was called H-Hanlon." There was a bitterness in her words.

I saw him bite her lips, it was like she was holding for something not to do. The pain in her eyes can't escape from me to see. I don't know what happened but I think it was painful for her.

"Can you tell me about Hanlon?" I asked Out of nothingness.

"We lived—," she suddenly stopped and sighed. " We lived there. Mother and father was the Emperor and the Empress of Hanlon. Mother is a vampire while father is a deity.  Sila ang namumuno sa lahat nang lahi sa, Vampires, Witches, Goblins, Wolves, etc. There were so many creatures living in Hanlon Half of them are still unknown. This unknown creature can be a threat to the Hanlon Empire which makes them decide to make a protector which is you and me." She stopped again.

"But only one protector must stay in Hanlon," again, bitterness can be sensed in her voice. Bahagya siyang Sumbawa, "they banished me in Hanlon that's why I'm here, but I don't why you're here." 

"You're lucky you have been chosen to become the protector of Hanlon."

Tumayo siya na ikinabigla ko kaya agad akong napahawak sa braso niya.

"I don't want to be a protector. You can take it. I don't have the qualities to become one. I'm weak." I got scared of myself when I suddenly said those words without my consent, para bang matagal ko na itong gustong sabihin pero hindi ko masabi.

"Wala namang magbabago I already suffer a lot," mapait nitong sabi. 

Bumuntong hininga siya bago muling umupo sa upuan.

"Hindi ko alam kung bakit nandito ka but you need to go back to Hanlon. You must protect our land."

"I don't remember anything how could I protect when I don't even remember it." Nakatingin ako sa kawalan habang pinipilit alalahin ang mga ala-ala.

"That's not my problem. It's your responsibility don't disappoint the people of Hanlon." Muli uli siyang tumayo at walang lingon na umalis.

"Luna," tawag ko dito. Balak ko sana siyang sundan subalit itinaas niya ang kamay niya na parang pinapatigil ako.

"Don't follow me,"

Hindi ko alam na maliban sa pagiging bampira ko madami pa pala akong matutuklasan hindi lamang iyon dahil pati na rin ang pinagmulan ko.

I just can't get it.

Why do they even have to throw Luna into another world when where twins and can protect Hanlon? Isn't two protectors were much better? She suffered here. I know what it feels because I, myself also experienced it.

Tears fell in my eyes when something came back in my memories. It was her being forced to enter the portal.

"Ina! Ama! Ayaw ko po!" Her screamed was all over the palaced. 

"Ayada, Tulungan mo ako! Please, sabihin mo sa kanila na huwag gawin ito." She was begging to stay here, but I was just a kid. I was scared I don't what to do. I cried as she cried.

"Ina, bakit niyo ginagawa ito." I cried.

I saw my mother cried too while my father stays calm.

"Father, mother, please let Luna stay here." Nakita ko ang isang napakagandang babae mas matanda ito sa akin ng mga limang taon.

"Is there nothing we can do to let her stay, Father?" I heard a boy asked. Isa namang  makisig at may nakakahumaling na mukha na binata ang nakita ko. 

They just looked at my twin sister. They looked like that they don't mind even we lost her. It pains me how they look at my twin.

"Only one protector must stay," iyon lamang ang taning sinabi ng aking ama saka ito umalis sa lugar.

My tears won't stop from falling. 

"I'm sorry, Luna. I can't do anything when you were in need." Bulong ko. Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko. My heart feels like it was crushed.

Why do we need to suffer like this? 

"Cry baby," 

Naramdaman ko ang pagyakap sa akin. Lalo akong napaiyak dahil sa pagyakap niya. Bakit siya nandito?

Isa ka pa, isa ka pa sa mga nagpapasakit ng puso ko, Troy. 

"May nagbully na naman ba sayo?" Madiin nitong tanong sa akin. 

I looked at him, his face was serious. He looked at me in my eyes. His jaw clenched while looking at me. I was dumbfounded when he kissed my eyes. He wiped my tears and kissed my eyes again.

"You looked stupid when you cry," he said and kissed my forehead.

I am really stupid to like you. I am stupid to let my twin be banished. I am stupid to forget my memories. I am stupid.