It's been a month since the incident happened. Mary's still staying with them and Miyuki had just recovered herself from the trauma of the incident. Everything's supposed to be going well. Unti-unti ng nakakalimutan ng mga tao ang insidente maliban sa kaniya.

Not until...

"Have you heard?"

Pang ilang beses na itong narining nina Miyuki at Erin sa campus. From classrooms to corridors. Pati ba naman sa cafeteria? Those rumors again.

"Where do they even get those rumors?" tanong sa kanya ni Erin. Miyuki just shrugged and continued to eat. Kinakabahan sa mga balitang kumakalat. What if madawit si Gin sa balitang ito?

"Vampires huh? Really? Ano to fictional world? Kagabi rin sa cafe na pinagtatrabuhaan ko puro ganito ang usapan."

"Guys! Guys! Tignan niyo ang school blog! Bilis may video!" Biglang sigaw ng isang lalaki na nasa pila ng cafeteria. "It's a clip from so called vampire incident!"

Nagulat ngunit mas nagpaibabaw ang kuryusidad ng mga tao kaya dali-daling nag log in sa school blog ang lahat. Even Miyuki who was trembling for unknown reasons. Pakiramdam niya may mali talaga sa mga rumors na kumakalat. For so many years bakit ngayon pa kumalat ang tungkol sa mga bampira? Specifically to their school.

She played the video. Halos manlaki ang mga mata niya nang makita ang pamilyar na lugar at eksena.

It was the accident. Her so called accident.

Kahit malayo at medyo malabo ang angulo ng video sigurado siya. It was her. Trying to crawl for safety covered with someone's blood with two vampires behind her. Their claws are exposed and in one certain angle of the video their fangs were seen. She saw herself being lifted with the vampire's claw, before a blond vampire appeared—thrusting his claws to the two and fighting them till death.

She knew it was Chiron even with the black mask that makes him unrecognizable.

The video ended with her being lifted by Gin.

Hindi niya alam kung makikilala ba ng mga tao ang mga taong nasa video. It was blurry and far pero alam naman niyang siya na ang pinaghihinalain ng mga nakapanood rito.

It was dated the same date of their accident.

"Miyuki!"

Napalingon siya lalaking tumawag sa pangalan niya. It was Haunley. He was panicking as he grab Miyuki's arm. Palingon-lingon ito sa paligid kahit hinihingal pa. Does he? He's faking it making it over acting.

"Fuck, if only I could run faster," bulong nito sa sarili bago itinayo si Miyuki. "Kailangan nating makalayo dito."

"Teka sandili! Lee!"

Hahabulin pa sana ni Erin sina Miyuki nang biglang sumigaw si Haunley. "Diyan ka lang! If you don't want to get involved into her mess."

Her mess.

What just Miyuki do?

Lumingon si Miyuki kay Erin at tiyaka tumango. Assuring her she would be fine. Kahit hindi naman siya sigurado sa kung ano man ang gagawin nila at kung bakit niya kailangang tumakas.

Dinala siya ni Haunley sa pinakalikod ng campus, malapit sa back gate. Tanaw niya ang isang itim na van hindi kalayuan labas ng maliit na gate. Walang halos taong napapapunta sa lugar na ito. So why is there a van outside?

Madali lang sinira ni Haunley ang kinakalawang na kadenang na siyang tanging nakakandado rito. He was using his hidden strenght to do so. The strenght he couldn't expose if he would pretend as a normal human.

"Announcement. Students please refrain from going out of the campus this moment. A certain incident is happening outside the school premise please proceed to your respective buildings immedietly."

It was the campus intercom announcement.

"Lee anong nangyayari?" pagtatakang tanong niya habang hila parin siya nito.

"They're after you. Run!"

Mas lalong naging mahigpit ang hawak ni Haunley sa mga kamay ni Miyuki at patakbong nagtungo sa itim na van na nasa kanto. Automatiko itong bumukas at nang makapasok sila ay agad itong humarurot paalis.

Ang lakas ng tibok ng puso ni Miyuki habang nakasandal sa gilid ng van. Tagagtak ang pawis na ngayon ay lumalantay sa sa sentido niya. Running in broad daylight was exhuasting. Mas lalo pa't hindi niya alam kung bakit siya tumatakbo.

Ngunit kaninong van nga ba ang sinasakyan nila?

"Lee? Bakit tayo nandito? Kaninong sasakyan to? Sandali!"

Silang dalawa lang ang nasa backseat ng sasakyan at hindi niya alam kung sino ang nasa front seat. Mabilis ang takbo ng sasakyan at hindi niya maaninag kung sino ang nagmamaneho at katabi nito. There's only four of them in the van all are serious and undistracted.

"Lee!" niyugyug niya ang balikat ni Haunley na ngayo'y nakaupo sa tabi niya.

"Just open your phone! I'm busy!" naiiritang sagot nito na ngayo'y busy sa pagtipa sa kanyang laptop. He's serious and panicking.

Agad rin naman inopen ni Miyuki ang kanyang cellphone at sunod-sunod ang pagiingay nito sa mga mensaheng natatanggap.

It was from Zepar and Erin.

Erin qouted, "Miyuki? Where the heck Haunley brought you? Sana nakapagtago kayo or kung ano man. There are medias and crazy researchers looking for you."

Zepar qouted, "Where are you? Are you safe?"

Wala siyang nireplyan kahit na isa at agad na nag online. Halos nasakop ang newsfeed niya ng mga shared posts mula sa iba't ibang media outlet. All were tagged at her.

"Accident or killed? It was confirmed by the police that the bloody van incident a month ago was due to distracted driving, but earlier this morning a certain clip arouses online. Showing what might have happened during the incident. It was rumored to be caused by a vampire. Today, we will ask an interview to the remaining surviv—"

"You've heard enough. Tama na."

Isang malamig na kamay ang dumampi sa kanyang braso at kinuha ang kanyang cellphone. Si Gin, na nakasilip mula sa front seat. Napatingin siya sa rear mirror at napagtanton si Chiron ang kasalukuyang nagmamaneho. Bakit ang seryoso nila saan ba sila pupunta?

Napabuntong hiniga siya nang muling maalala ang nangyari. Tama nga siya't malalaman talaga ito ng mga tao. Her, as the only survivor and witness that could prove the claim.

"Gin. Sa'n tayo pupunta?"

"Chiron's lair."

"Master that was my house. Not just a lair. Pinaghirapan kong kitain ang pinangtayo ko roon," sabat ni Chiron kahit tutok sa pagdadrive.

"Whatever." Bumaling ang tingin nito kay Haunley. "Any clue?"

"Sandali. Wala akong matrace mula rito sa laptop ko. They're blocking everything. Kailangan ko si Azerty."

Tumango si Gin at kasunod ang pagsagot ng kanyang cellphone na kanina pa nag riring.

"Gin?! Where's Miyuki?"

It was Alina panicking.

"She's fine. Kasama ko siya pero kailangan mong umuwi ngayon. We need to lie low. Kung gusto mo naman sige magpahuli ka sa kanila," mahinahong sagot ni Gin. He was actually worried about Allina but all those pissed off moments with her reminded him to not just care about her.

"Thanks for your concern Ginny dear," sarcastic na tugon ni Alina. "Gusto ko mang umuwi ay hindi pwede. I have a meeting with my employees. Their safety is a must now. People are raging to lure these vampires out. So yeah got to go."

Agad na naputol ang tawag at kasabay nito ang pagpasok ng sasakyan nila sa pamilyar na gubat. The former Bathory's forest.

Nakarating agad sila sa bahay ni Chiron na tanging nag-iisa lamang na nakatayo sa paligid ng lawa. Even at noon, the lake is sparkling and screams beauty. Medyo malamig rin ang simoy ng hangin kaya ilang sandaling nawala sa isip ni Miyuki ang kasalukuyang nangyayari.

"Miyuki? Chiron? Gin? Bakit kayo nandito?"

It was Mary opening the front door for them. Kung tutuosin para na ngang mag live in si Chiron at Mary dahil sa naging set up nito matapos ang insidente. Mary after losing her memories had Chiron who took care of her. Wala silang alam sa pinanggalingan ni Mary. Even her school records, it says she's been living all by herself since 15 kaya ngayon sila muna ang kumupkop rito. Specifically it was Chiron.

"We've been chased," sagot ni Gin at agad na pumasok sa loob kasunod sina Chiron at Miyuki. "Kayong dalawa huwag kayong lalabas kahit anong mangyari. If something happens just hide."

"Bakit? Isang interview lang naman ang mangyayari ah? Bakit kailangan ko pang magtago? I could just lie to them straight face," nagtatakang tanong ni Miyuki.

If only ganun nga lang ang mangyayari.

"As if you could lie," usal ni Chiron at dumiretsyo ng Kusina. Pagbalik nito may dala ng malamig na tubig ng pitsel at mga baso na inilagay nito sa center table ng sala. "They definetely knew that we exist. It's just that they need someone to lure us out."

"Lee," tawag ni Gin kay Haunley na tahimik lamang at seryoso sa ginagawa nito.

"I can't do anything right now." Inilapag ni Haunley ang laptop sa center table. He'd given up tracking just by his laptop. Whoever spread those footage was surely a big shot to hide and erase the address of the origin source. "Kailangan natin si Azerty."

Bumaling ang tingin ni Gin kay Miyuki na nakaupo sa katapat na sofa katabi si Mary na naguguluhan.

"Why use her? To lure your kind?" Mary asked. It's not that there's something special about Miyuki to be used as a bait. There might be something deeper.

The fact that this issue hasn't gone through the government. Someone was brave enough to publish such informations to the media. Making ordinary people, media people and researchers go berserk.

Alam naman ng gobyerno na nag eexist sila. Ang mga bampirang katulad nila. It was actually a deal between the vampire regime and the government to co-exist and live with each other, in condition of not harming any human being. If things go worst, vampire related crimes are held by vampire police offficers. Those caught will either become test subject for Eloquence Research Institute the highest and most advance research laboratory or received beheading as death penalty punishment.

ERI. This institute is the only known capable of doing these kind of exposure with their connections. Although monitored under vampire regime, Gin definetely hinted that ERI has something to do with Miyuki's envolvement and footage spreading.

He hinted it all along.

"Kailangan naming bumalik sa mansyon. You two stay safe here." Before heading out Gin reminded and patted Miyuki's head. "Don't do anything stupid. Huwag kang lumubas ng bahay. Huwag tatanga-tanga't baka mahulog ka na naman sa lawa."

"As if I don't know how to swim!" Miyuki replied bitterly making Gin's brows twitched. Mas lalo itong nagtagal kakatitig sa kanya. "Okay fine. I don't know how to swim and oo na hindi na nga kami lalabas."

Tumango lamang si Gin bago tuluyan ng lumabas sumunod naman nito si Haunley at Chiron.

"Chi—Chiron?" Mary called faintly and unknowingly making Chiron looked at her in his usual playboy smile that somehow did not affect Mary. "You'll be back home right?"

"Sure thing. I'll take good care of myself for you, Marylethia." He winked at her but Mary's seem unbothered by what he just said.

"Wew, playboy," bulong ni Miyuki sa sarili habang nakatingin sa kanila. Alam na niya ang galawang Chiron. Hopefully Mary won't get herself too attached with him. He's really a hardcore playboy.

Two days after Miyuki stayed in Chiron's house, she noticed strange looks and actions of Mary.

"Have you heard."

Ngayon kasalukuyan niya itong kasama na nakasandal sa malaking puno sa likod bahay habang nagmemeryenda. Miyuki was not really that good in baking and for some reason, Mary has a good taste in baking kahit wala itong maalala sa nakaraan niya.

"Tungkol saan?"

"May nabasa ako mula sa gamit ni Chiron." Ibinaba ni Mary ang cookies na kanya sanang isusubo. "There are noble vampires and there are none in which has its own advantages ang disadvantage."

"Tapos?"

Bakit ba ito nakwekwento sa kanya ni Mary? It's not that Mary's really interested with vampires.

"The nobles were picked and used for laboratory research. Some of them became rebels. Hindi naman daw kasi pwedeng magsama ang isang normal na tao at isang bampira. It's against to their norm and also scientifically impossible."

"Tapos? Anong point mo?"

Tila walang narinig si Mary at diretso lamang ang tingin sa lawa. She seemed to be in deep thoughts.

"Once there were two vampires that fell inlove," Mary narrated in a soft voice like she was telling a bedtime story. "Not with each other but with a human. Both tried to break the axiom but failed and ended misarable." Bumaling ang tingin nito kay Miyuki. "That was Gin's parents story."

Miyuki went silent. She didn't knew what had happened with Gin's parents. If that's what it is, it does make sense. Noong bata pa sila minsan niyang nakikita ang ama ni Gin na nakatingin sa isang litrato ng babaeng nakabestida habang umiiyak. She even asked Gin about it but he would just tell her that it was their dad's true love.

"So it was your mom?"

The ten year old Gin just smiled at her and patted her head covered with leaves as she was secretely following Gin's father in the garden.

"No. It's someone else."

"Ehh? Bakit? Sabi ni Papa makakagawa lang kayo ng baby kapag love ninyo each other. Bakit kayo nagawa ni Ate Alina? Kung iba ang love ng daddy ninyo?"

Napatahimik si Gin. Bakit nga ba? Would definetely be everyone's question but he knew it already. Their parents are victims.

"Maybe magic?" sarcastikong tugon sa kanya ni Gin at bahagya siyang tinulak pababa ng kanyang kama. "There are things that even if you want it that much it won't be given to you. In daddy's case he wanted his true love so bad but he got mommy instead."

"Nasaan ang mommy mo?" inosenteng tanong ni Miyuki na limang taong gulang pa lamang.

Gin smiled at her bitterly. "We never meet her but daddy said she's a good wife."

Lumapit si Miyuki sa harap ni Gin at umupo sa harap nito't hinawakan ang kanyang pisngi. "Don't be sad. I am here."

Miyuki realised that all along since they were young. Gin had an idea how broken his family was. How unfortunate their parents is — and he's just there— trying to understand everything. She never heard Gin complain. She never heard Gin regret for having these kind of parents. She didn't hear how Gin was struggling all along.

"Naiintindahan mo ba ang point ko Miyuki?" Mary snapped her out in her senses.

Bumaling ang tingin niya kay Mary na nakatingin na sa kanya. "Hindi. Bakit? Ang labo."

Mary sighed before she straightly said those words that for some reason made Miyuki's heart beat faster.

"Don't fall for Gin. Don't make him fall for you either. You want to help him right? Keep your distance and let Gin finish his goal."

"Goal?"

"He wanted to break the axiom Miyuki, for everyone. If it was the norm— madali lang itong suwayin but science is powerful. He wanted to break it scientifically so please help him. Don't be his hindrance."

Miyuki went silent again. That was too much of an information. In what way has she become Gin's hindrance? Did Gin love her?

"Instead of focusing on his experiments he is here helping you clean up the mess you were involved. You're becoming everyone's bait to lure Gin. Don't make him love you and be his hindrance."