Chapter Text
Lisa
I woke up abruptly in the middle of the night when I heard a loud scream outside, at first I thought maybe I was just mistaken so I was sanctifying, but as the scream continue to grow louder, I quickly got up on my bed and peered out the window.
My eyes almost popped out to its sockets to what I saw, I can feel that my own blood has escaped me while staring at a horrific event.
There was a woman and a man in the middle of the road, the woman is screaming in pain while the man's face is buried on the woman's neck. A vampire? I cried out in my mind. I could see how the woman looked pale as if she was already run out of blood, until the man slowly released her and lay her on the floor, and when I saw him, I realized that my presumption was right.
There's a blood dripping down on the vampire's chin, he slowly wiped it with the back of his palm. I really wanted to go away from window and hide but I felt like my body froze, I couldn't will my body to move out of fear, I could see the man slowly turning to me while there were smirk on his lips.
If I can make my eyes even bigger, I would have done it. I didn't know what to do while looking at him, he's whispering some words but I couldn't understand, and he just staring straight into my eyes. I've been watching vampire movies, I know what he's doing, he's trying to hypnotize me using his eyes. That is the power of vampires right? In addition to their super strength and longevity, they are able to hypnotize normal people.
I don't know where I got the strength to get away from the window and quickly return to my bed, I was about to cover my body with my blanket but a hand stopped me from doing so. And again, for the second time that dawn, my body froze, and I could hardly breathe, I also felt my heart beating frantically as if it was going to burst and wanted to get out of my chest. Even though I am trembling, I still had the courage to look up to see who was in my room.
And I almost faint when I saw the man outside earlier, I mean the vampire, a fucking vampire who sucked and drained the woman's blood, he's staring at me with a smirk tugging on the corner of his lips. I don't know if I should cry or pretend that I faint, because I'll die anyway, there is nothing I can do. This is really the end of Lalisa Manoban, I'll die at the hands of an incredible creature, a creature I never thought I would encounter in my whole life.
He started leaning closer to my face and I clenched my eyes the same time I clutch the blanket resting on my lap and my stupid self tilt my head sideways so he can have an access on my neck, it's still the same tho, He will gon' tilt my head to bite my neck, so I did the honour. I could feel the cold breathe on my neck from his mouth.
This is it! I really don't have any choice, I'm gonna die tonight. I'm just hoping that nobody would come up to my room as of this moment. It's better if I'm the only one will found dead than my whole family, but to my dismay, a few minutes have passed until now no teeth have coming down on my skin, I wrinkled my forehead and pulled away myself from him to look at his face, he still had the annoying grin on his lips
"You're taking too long, if you'll continue doing that, I might have a heart attack before you suck my blood.." I said annoyingly and crawled slightly to lean my back against the headboard.
He laughed out loud and stood up. "Who told you that I'm going to suck your blood?" He said between his laughter and sat on the edge of the bed.
"That's what you're supposed to do right?" I asked, making my forehead to furrowed furthermore.
"I actually want to taste your blood hon, but there's something more interesting on you than sucking your blood." He said and heave himself from the bed.
What does he mean by that? Surprisingly, he supposedly draining my blood right now but here is he, having a normal conversation with me and what the actual fuck! I'm actually talking with him casually. My fear I felt earlier that I almost die, suddenly disappeared like a bubble burst by him, even more so, I was irritated because of the long time my head tilted, waiting for him to bite me but he just stayed like that and did nothing.
"What do you mean?" I asked irritated.
"Earlier, I was trying to hypnotize you, but it didn't work, supposedly to normal people like you when you look at vampire's eyes like me, y'all automatically get under hypnotism, but in your case, it didn't affect you even a single bit." He explained and he looked at me closely, as if he's scanning my body and trying to find out what went wrong.
"Is it good?" I asked like an ignorant kid.
"Good? How come that it's good? An ordinary human denied the vampire's hypnotism, it's more like a treat to us.." He paused and look at me with suspicion on his eyes. "Unless you're one of us."
My eyes widened as I heard and rolled out of the bed. "What are you talking about? I'm just a normal person, my dad is a chef and my mom is a housewife, how will am I gonna be a vampire?! " I whispered hardly at him as I paced back and forth.
"Maybe to your ancestors?"
"That's ridiculous! We have no vampire breed!" I still refused and sit down at the end of the bed. "If anything, I wish I was as strong as you are, I wish I had the ability to defend myself!"
"Ok ok, calm down kiddo. I don't know how you deflect the hypnotism but there's more than that." He said and I shot my head's up to look at him. "I can't smell the scent of your blood."
"What?"
"You're really an interesting kid, looked how you were talking to me, aren't you supposed to scream the moment our eyes met? and even now, we are having this casual conversation." He said chuckling as he started to walk closer to the open window, not even knowing how he opened it even though I was sure it was locked inside.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going home, my daughter is waiting for me."
"You h–have a daughter?" I asked in surprised. If he has a child, does that mean there are other vampires in our area?
"Of course I have and she is the strongest vampire you will ever meet." He said smiling.
"The hell on Earth I would like to meet your daughter!"
"See you soon." He said for the last time and ignored what I had said before he quickly lost in my sight, leaving me dumbfounded in my bed looking out the window.
Is that really true? Am I dreaming? And what does he say? See you soon?! Is he planning to return?! That vampire is crazy!
*******
Five years later....
It's been five years and up to this day the vampire I encountered that night didn't return. I'm not complaining tho, I'm even glad he didn't show up again. Also, since that night I didn't hear anything about vampires, unlike before there were those who were seen dead body on the road and a bite on their necks, they say that it's monsters, but nothing can substantiate their imaginations.
Aren't they know that vampires exist in the human world? As long as they see a dead person, they will immediately conclude, monster. They're addicts! If they just knew what I had experienced that night, having a normal conversation with a real vampire, but on the other hand, I wouldn't let them know that I've encountered one of them though.
And who would ever believe a nerd like me?
"C'mon Lis! I'm begging you!” Seulgi pleads on her knees again and tangled on my arm.
"Seul shut up, you're too loud, the librarian will scolds us for what you are doing!” I hissed at her annoyingly and abruptly retract my hand on her which cause her to stumbled on the floor.
"Ouch! Damn it Lisa! "She complained before getting up and stroke me a dagger look before sitting down next to me.
"You know that I can't, I need to take care of my mom, she's sick and alone." I said a bit harshly but in minimal voice because the librarian had been looking at us since the moment Seulgi came in.
Seulgi keeps persuading me to go with her to underground, she wanted to watch the three famous dancers. Three women that up until this day, no one knows who they are, because whenever they will go to that place just to battle in dancing they wear masks, nor they even say their names, just right after they win they suddenly disappear.
I've been to that place a couple of times even though my parents keeps telling me that it's dangerous to be there, I never listened. After all, after the dance battle, some of the dancer couldn't accept defeat. So the tendency, there will be a chaos and sometimes the police even respond because some illegal activities are happening.
Although I told Seulgi several times to stop going to that place, she never listened, especially when she knows that the trio masquerad is there for a new dance battle.
Seulgi was also a dancer, although we were both dancers, but I just stopped when we were in college. Seulgi and I met when I was 8 years old, we just moved into our house now because of my dad's new job as a chef at the Minatozaki house and I still vividly remember how Seulgi and I met.
I went out to throw the garbage that my mom asked me to do because we're cleaning the house since we were just moved in and I happen to saw her dancing on the side of the road, I was really amazed by how good she is in dancing, her movements are really sharp and clean. If I'm not mistaken, she's dancing pamela mela wan, Vhong Navarro's song, a Filipino comedian. Then she saw me staring at her while smiling, she stopped dancing and walked closer to me.
She asked me if I was in love with her because of how good she is in dancing, I didn't expect that she'll asked that and so I laughed out loud and hit her with the plastic trash I was holding, she got angry and punched me in the shoulder. After that we looked into each other's eyes and laughed and that's how we started being friends, she also found out that I was also a dancer so we had more reason to be close, until we finished elementary, we joined dance clubs and compete with every schools in our town, we always win. Heck! We are the best dancer in our town. I just stopped dancing when we were going to college because I needed to prioritize my education so I could help my parents.
Especially when my mom's illness get worse and I had no choice but to find a job so we could buy some medicine, and the fact that Dad's income from his job as a Chef is just enough for our day to day life, we were just in desperate need of money because of Mom's medicine.
"It's just a matter of time, just after the trio dance, we're leaving, too." She still insisted and shakes my arm.
"You know? I really want to break your bone! "I said with an eye roll.
"As if you can, c'mon Lisa, go with me! You're always immersed on your books, what a fucking nerd."
"Fine fine! I'm going now, can you let me go?! "I said and she let go my arm just to hugged me tightly.
"Yes! I knew you can't resist me!" She said excitedly as she hugged me, I keep trying on removing her hand from me that we didn't even notice that the librarian was standing in front of us.
"Can you please get out if you wouldn't mind? You're too noisy, as you can see, you're not the only person inside the Library!" She scolds irritatedly while her arms resting on her waist.
"I'm sorry ma'am." I apologize before picking up my bag and books hastily and heads straight to the exit.
"Annoying old maid nerd librarian." Seulgi hisses and rolled her eyes.
"You know that it's Library but your loud ass can't understand that! Seriously Seul? This the first day of our college life and yet we got scolded?!" I scowled and smacked her head.
"Ouch! If you had agreed to it immediately, we would not have been kicked out, and hello? As what you've said, this is our first day of college life and yet you're in the library?" She said sardonic as she caress her head where I hit her.
"Alright then, It's my fault, happy?" I sarcastically told her and I made my way straight to the university parking lot. "I'll go home first for Mom's medicine." I said while removing the chain attached to my bike and placed the books I was holding in the basket.
"Ok, I'll get my clothes change, just make sure that you'll get out of your house! I'll throw a brick on your windows if you don't come out!" She threatened, I just rolled my eyes before I started trampling on my bike.
We were about to leave the parking lot when a car suddenly passed by in front of me which cause me to suddenly hit the break and lost my balance.
"Ouch! "I wince as I fell on the floor.
Seulgi hurriedly got off her bike and reached out to help me get up. "Are you okay?" She asked worriedly.
"I'm fine." I assured her then bend down to retrieve my broken glass, it also had a small crack and I flicked my tongue. "Great! Dad just bought it for me!" I looked over the car that stopped not too far away from us and a man came down.
"You fucking nerd! You almost scratch my car!" He yelled at me, I was about to retaliate but Seulgi had spoken first.
"Excuse me? You're the one who almost hit my best friend and you dared to complain? What do you think? You're on the highway and you're driving too fast?!" Seulgi shouted back and she was about to storm towards the man but I quickly stopped her.
"Wow! How dare you to be mad when y'all bunch of weirdos blocking the way!"
"What a fucking dumbass! Do you own the road huh? You're too smug because you have car? asshole! You also having bad breathe when you wake up in the morning so don't be so bumptious!" I giggled softly at what Seulgi said, but I quickly stopped when the guy shoot me a dagger look. "What? Do you think we're afraid of you?!"
"Seul that's enough, we're getting attention." I reprimand while tugging the sleeve of her shirt, because there are some students who are looking at us, it's as if they are watching some action from one of the famous race cars movies.
"What a fucking dumbass!" The guy screamed and walked back in his car, he looked at me with his eyes squinting for a moment before he drove his car away.
"Tsk! I thought he wants some fight but turns out that he's a coward." Seulgi whispered again before turning to face me. "Are you sure you're ok? You were not injured– oh my God! Your eyeglass!"
I scrunched up my nose and sigh. "Unfortunately, Dad just bought it last week, he'll scold me again when he sees this." I said devastated before I hopped on my bike.
"You really should have let me beat that guy and let him paid your broken eyeglass!" She said, still annoyed.
"Nevermind, I'll keep a little bit of my salary from my part time job so I can buy a new one." I said and we both starts pedaling again.
"Don't worry Lis, when I won the dance competition held in our village on Saturday, I'll buy you a new one." I laughed at what she said, but I shook my head in denial.
"Are you crazy? You joined on that so you can buy the cellphone you want and then you'll spend it on others?"
"There's a lot more dance competition that I can join." She said with a shrug.
"Stop it, don't worry about the glass, I can buy it on my own. I'll take care of it." I still insist. "All you have to do is to make sure that you'll win."
"I'll win! Don't you trust me?" She said proudly. "But it would have been better if we both joined that competition."
"Seul.."
"Yes, I know. You don't have time to practice because you have to take care of your mom." She says with a penitent expression, I honestly want to dance and participate in dance competitions like we used to do, but since Mom was sick, I stopped wasted time on other things, and dancing was one of them.
"Sorry." I said weakly and a small smile.
"Crazy why are you saying sorry? you don't even want your mom to get sick, nobody wants it to happen."
"But even so, since mom got sick I was no longer with you in your every battles. I always misses everything, but if you win you always shared your prize with me, sometimes, you're the one buying Mom's medicine, and that makes me wonder. "
She spared me a side glance before looking back in her front with her brows narrowing "What?"
"Do you have a crush on me?"
"Damn you!" She shouted so hard that I couldn't help but to laugh out loud. "I can feel the thickness of your face until here, and stopped stoling my line!"
"Oh why can't you answer? Maybe you really have a crush on me?" I teased and hasten my trampled to get away from her.
"I'm having goosebumps Lisa, I will never like you, I might even put you on the sack you animal. " My laughter grew even stronger as she laugh with me. I know she wouldn't really like me, because first of all, we both like women, we considered ourselves as a top, so it was really not gonna happen to liked each other. And Seulgi and I, we're like sisters, we even almost adopt her because she was always in our house anyway.
When we got home we both parted our way separately, we just decided that she would be waiting in the corner of our street so her mom wouldn't see her going out again. For sure she'll go out again without telling her mom. What a crazy girl.
When I got inside the house I hurriedly pad to the yard to visit my Mom, because she was always there to get some fresh air. We have a lot of plants and trees in the yard, Dad and I planted that for Mom, she has Acute Myeloid Leukemia, it's a rare kind of cancer. We only found out two years ago, the doctor says it's hereditary disease, but that's really rare case, so when we found out that Mommy was sick, our world fell apart and crashed, we were so devastated that time, so I was forced to stop from dancing and find a job so that I could help my dad. It would be hard for us to rely on my dad and my dancing.
"Mom?" I called softly as I approached her.
She looked up at me and her broad smile immediately rose. "You're home, do you want me to get you a snack?"
"Thanks mom but I'm not hungry. Have you taken your medicine?" I asked as I sat beside her.
"Later, it's still not time for my med, why are you so early? Don't you have a job? "
"It's my day off, and Seulgi invited me out." I replied as I fixed the pillow behind her and I carefully leaned her over.
She looked up and smiled even more when she heard what I had say. "Is that a dance competition?" She asked.
"No mom." I said softly and I avoided her gaze when I saw her frowned. My mom was really my number 1 fan when I was dancing, she also encouraged me to participate in dance competitions, so every time she knew I was leaving and it's not about work or school, she'll immediately asks if Seulgi and I have joined a dance competition, just like today.
"Lisa, what did I tell you? Just keep dancing, wouldn't it be you and Seulgi's dream is to be recognized worldwide as famous dancers?"
I took a deep breath and reached for her hands and held her in my arms. "Mom, I already told you, taking care of you is more important because you are the most important thing in my life." I said softly as I looked straight into her eyes.
"I know how important it is for you to dance and I don't want my illness to cause you to throw away your dream."
"Mom, I didn't throw it away, that's still my dream, but I need to take care of you first before anything else." I told her pouting.
She cupped my face and looked me in the eye. "Lisa listen to me and make a promise." I shook my head even if she haven't say anything. Because I know that I don't like what she was about to say. "Aish, listen to me first! "
"Mom, we are always like this, you won't gonna die because you'll be fine, don't even think about the money because it's easy to earn! What you need to think is those thing will happen when you get better, I can go back at dancing while you're supporting me in every fight as you used to do! That's what you have to say! Not those– ouch!" I cried as I held my head when Mom hit me.
"You said too much that you didn't even let me speak first!" She said angrily and smacked my head again.
"It hurts!” I complained as I stood up.
"You're too annoying! That's what I was going to say but you didn't let me! I know that I'm saying that over and over again, but I'm not going to say it again!"
"Oh oh, calm down, aren't you sick?" I said jokingly, Mom had given up on me and was about to hit me again and I had to retreat so she couldn't reach me.
"Just get going, just be careful and don't stay out too late if you don't want your Dad to chastise you!"
"Alright, that's just a moment. We'll be home soon, just don't forget your medicine, okay? You're old enough, you know what you need to do." I instructed and quickly kissed her on the forehead and walked away before she could pinch me on my side. "Love you mom!" I yelled as I entered the house.
I quickly changed my outfit and I wore a black hoodie and ripped jeans partnered with white sneakers, I also wear a contact lens so I don't need to wear glasses, I'm not going there with my nerdy look for fuck sake. If I did, I will probably get bullied.
"I'm leaving mom, I'll be right back. " I shouted as I came down from my room.
"Ok, just please be careful."
"Yes ma'am!" I shouted back and stepped out the door and shut it, I took my bike that we only use when we go underground and I drove to the corner of our street where Seulgi and I decided to meet, while approaching on the meet up place, I could see Seulgi standing on the sidewalk next to her bike. She was also wearing her favorite hoodie and ripped jeans and her black Vans. "Let's go?" I asked as I stopped in front of her.
She lifted her eyes from her shoes and smiled. "Let's go."
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