Chapter 4: He’s a vampire?!

“Why does he have such a bad attitude?”

Annoyed, I threw my jacket, which still had food in it from earlier, on the tree. He didn’t even give me plastic to put something on. I even looked like a beggar on the side of the road.

I’m close to that house because I might change my mind. If I don’t agree to that, I’ll be sleeping on the road now. But no matter where I look, I really don’t want it. Its dirty!

Doesn’t he know how to clean the house?

I just sat on the floor as I just stared at the passing car in front of me. I stopped looking at a mirror on the side of the road—in front of me. I see my reflection there. I remembered something again.

Déjà vu

When I looked away from there, my eyes went to my old school. I used to study there but since my friends and I had a fight, I voluntarily changed schools.

“Rackhie!”

I looked at Celine who was close to me. I was still smiling until she got close to me, so I was surprised when she suddenly slapped me.

It was so strong that I grabbed my cheek. Why did she slap me?

I looked at her in surprise. “What’s that for?”

“You are so bad!” hee eyes were full of anger. I also felt that she was about to cry so I was even more confused.

“What do you mean---”

“Rackhie, how can you do that to us?” it was Renzo’s voice who was also looking at me seriously. Sunny followed from behind him who couldn’t look at me properly.

“What is that? I’m not doing anything wrong!” that’s my defense. What did I do to make them angry with me?

“Nothing? Wendy told me everything!”

Farrah…

“Farrah, please explain because I don’t understand…” I asked to her. I tried to hold her hand but she immediately shook my hand. “Please, I really don’t understand anything. I’m confused. Please tell me what I did…”

“Don’t be a victim anymore! You used your parents to remove Aia from school!” she shouted angrily at me. “You know what happened next? Aia is now missing because other schools don’t want to accept her anymore!”

“W-What---”

“We never judged you, and questioned your actions whenever you were actually overdoing it! But how did you do that to her?! She is our friend!” she still shouted at me.

When I looked at Renzo to ask with my eyes, he just bowed. He also held Celine’s hand to help calm her down. He looked at me very badly. Sunny still can’t look at me directly.

“What?! You can’t answer, can you? Because it’s true!”

“Farrah…” it was Sunny’s voice.

“How can you do that? We welcomed you! You wouldn’t really be our friend if it weren’t for Wendy, but we still befriended you even though we didn’t like you at first! Then after everything you will turn us back? After Wendy, Aia? Who’s next? Me?” Farrah continued.

My mouth fell open at what she said. Our friends didn’t even stop her.

“Y-You guys… Yiu really don’t want to be my friend?” I repeated what she said. “So, all this time, you really don’t like me? I’m the only one who insists that I’m your friend?”

“We don’t want to see you anymore,”

“Farrah. Let’s stop this here, let’s just help the police find Aia so we can talk about this later---”

“From now on, you are no longer our friend. We no longer know Rackhie Sun Mendiola. Forget us because we will forget you too. Don’t even show up. If possible, just switch schools because when I see it, my head boils even more.”

“Okay,” that’s all I said. I was also holding back my tears and sobbing so I only said one word. They might hear my voice hoarse.

“I’m sorry,” was all Renzo said before they left in front of me. One by one. I don’t even see them at our school anymore. So is Wendy.

Because I was so sad that I didn’t have any friends there and for the peace of all of us, I just changed schools.

Ameer’s house earlier looked exactly like the house Wendy went to last year. I remembered them again, it was annoying.

Add what I saw earlier in the mirror. That’s how I remember when I try to go back to the incident of the day I was left there in the dark room.

“What? Can’t your pride really come back?”

My eyes widened when I saw Ameer behind me. His forehead was wrinkled— as if he was annoyed for some reason I don’t know.

I immediately stood up. “That’s not called pride. I hate a dirty house. If you’re here to force me to sleep in your dirty house… well, I don’t want to.” I said directly.

His brows rose from his frown. “Who said I will force you? Your face is indeed thick as hell.” He said rudely causing my mouth to open slightly.

Did he tell me I have a thick face? Why! Me? Shameless?!

“What are you doing here if you don’t force me?” I asked him with a shouting tone.

“I just bought something. Then I saw you here.”

I glanced at what he was holding. He did buy something, in plastic. I first saw the pain killer because it was a familiar brand. Then almost everything I see is fruit.

“Oh. Go home now,” I said simply but inside I wanted to immediately take back what I said. I don’t show it but I really want him to force me. That is impossible.

Even if it’s really dirty, I’ll clean it. It’s OK. It’s only one day, right? One day only?

He turned his back on me.

Please just force me. Please, I hope he will force me. Just push me please. Please.

He immediately walked away—back to his house. I just followed his back as he walked away.

When he went inside, I didn’t see him anymore. There is a wall blocking it.

I just sat where I was sitting earlier. I just sighed and frowned. It’s easy to force me! He did not even try!

I kicked the small stone in front of me because I was annoyed. I immediately regretted it because fuck, the pain! I feel like I’m going to cut off my little finger!

“Shit,” I frantically removed my shoes that were just dry earlier. My socks got wet and smelled like that.

When I looked at it, my little toe was red.

I sighed again. I can’t help but frown because this is where I’ll be sleeping tonight. Then my little one will pass, it will be painful!

“What a fool,”

“Whoah!” I almost fell out of my seat because of the shock. My heart was pounding because I thought I was going to fall. Good thing I caught my foot.

“What? You really won’t follow?” he asked me. I can also feel the annoyance in his tone. Why does he seem to be the most annoyed? I’m the one he didn’t force. “No one will accept you here. You might even get threw with eggs and tomatoes.”

“Why did you come back? I thought you just bought something?” I asked again—trying to hide my grin because my mind knew that I was really the one he came here for.

“Would you rather lie here all night? And people here are looking at you.” He says.

I looked around and confirmed what he was saying. I just noticed that he was wearing a mask. He was only looking at me with his eyes.

“You don’t want to force me,” I whispered.

“What?”

“I said, I have no choice because your house is dirty,” I said without emotion. “How did you know I was here?”

“Didn’t I buy something? You didn’t see it?”

“What?” I’m still teasing. His face was so irritated that he was about to explode in just a few seconds.

“I saw your picture here in a news article earlier. I’m sure the reporters will come here because you’re scattered. Your name is still hot in the public.”

“Huh?! You saw me in the article?! Are you serious?!” I said surprised.

“Do I look like I’m kidding? If you don’t want to believe, don’t. That’s your problem.” He said back annoyed. “Do I look like a joker?” he whispered but I still heard. That did not escape my eyes.

I grinned, “Yes. That’s why you’re my type,” not in my own whisper.

I lost my smile when what I said played in my mind. Stupid?! Did I say that?!

“Huh,” was all he could say. I feel like my cheeks are red from embarrassment.

“S-so, you’re here to pick me up…”

“Let’s go.” He said and turned back again.

I frowned before standing up to follow him, “Alright then. You forced me,” I whispered again and then faked a sigh. “Even if the house is dirty, I will clean it myself.” I’m still sorry.

He faced me again—he frowned again as he looked at me.

“What?” pretending to have no idea I asked.

“I cleaned the house earlier before I left to come here.”

When he turned back again, I couldn’t stop smiling. Really?! He cleaned the house for me?!

Does he like me?

I kept smiling as I followed him on the walk. He was looking at me so I immediately removed my smile. Maybe what else he thinks.

When we got home, the floor was already clean. The sky was already dark when I saw it from the window. It’s getting late.

“Where can I sleep?” I will ask.

He is in front of me now. He is fixing the air conditioner of a room. I know that I will sleep here but I pretend I don’t know. It’s hard, I might be embarrassed again.

“The other room hasn’t been cleaned yet,” he said, then put down the wrenches and faced me. “Where do you think?”

I bit my lip, still pretending to have no idea. “I do not know,”

“Don’t you have common sense?” he said irritated before looking back at the air conditioner he was fixing.

“I’m asking!”

He didn’t confront me, instead he just continued to fix it. “This room is pink. I told you the other room is dirty. This air conditioner, I even cleaned it for you to use. Where else do you think?”

“I do not know! Maybe you want me to clean the room I’ll be using myself,” I said.

He gave me a sarcastic smile, “I wish you had thought of that earlier before you acted and left the house to lay on the side of the road.”

My eyes widened. Why! It’s terrible! Me? Acting? It’s really dirty! And one more thing, I didn’t even layed down there earlier!

“I didn’t lay!”

“Yeah. Whatever,” he whispered before he arranged the tools and left the room. Even though he turned his back, I can still feel the annoyance on his face now.

It’s hard to stop laughing.

“I don’t like the color pink!” I shouted before laughing.

When the surroundings became quiet, I looked around the whole room. It’s really nice! The previous owner of this room was obviously girly.

Does he have a sister?

I also felt tired so I just lay there on the bed. I took my phone to play until I fell asleep.

When I woke up, I immediately looked at the window. It’s still night. I only slept for a few hours. The music on my cellphone is also dead. I was going to check what time it was but my phone wouldn’t turn on.

Well, it really doesn’t want to be opened!

I sat down to see what happened. It didn’t fall, because if it fell there might be a crack—or it should be on the floor.

Unless someone picks it up?

“Come down,” Ameer suddenly appeared in front of the bedroom door, obviously just taking a bath because his hair was still damp. “Eat.” That’s all he said and then he left me here.

I looked at my phone again and then checked to see if it was broken or something.

It’s annoying! Now it’s not working! I even forgot my password on some of my social media accounts. I might not be able to open it!

Even after crying, I got up to leave the bed and go downstairs to eat. I still carry my cellphone. As if it’ll work again when I cry blood.

When I got out I still had a hard time finding the kitchen. Fortunately, Ameer passed in front of me with a plate in his hand, he was going to the kitchen to eat.

He sat on the chair so I also sat on the chair in front of him. Only the rectangular table separates the two of us. He took a spoon and fork from the holder in the middle. I got it too.

Then, he spooned some rice from there into the rice cooker. He put mine first and then his.

And because what he did was overwhelming, I thought of teasing him again. “That’s nice, isn’t it,”

He looked at me but his expression was still blank. I know deep down he wants to hit me but he’s just holding himself back.

When we finished putting the food on our respective plates, I thought of praying before eating.

But just as I was closing my eyes to make the sign of the cross to pray, Ameer suddenly moved so I looked at him. “What?” I asked.

“What will you do?”

I frowned at him, “What else? Isn’t it obvious? Praying before eating.” My answer. “Don’t you know how to pray?”

Instead of answering, he ignored me. He just stood up and started to leave so I was a bit confused.

“Hey! Why are you leaving again? I thought we were going to eat?”

“I lost my appetite,” he answered simply and then left in front of me.

“Huh?” I stood up from my seat. “Why? You don’t pray? Are you an atheist or what?” I asked one question after another but he still ignored me.

Well, he was angry!

“Alright, don’t eat anymore. I’ll just eat it all. I will not give you anything even left-overs even for a bit!” I shouted while returning to my seat so I could start eating.

It seems he really doesn't want to.

The hell, who did he scare? He is not my boyfriend so I should worry about him. I just feel sorry because he is the one who cooked and prepared the food and then he is the one who can’t taste it. I’m hungry too!

I just ate his rice porridge. Infairness huh! He’s good at cooking. It’s really good!

After eating, I put his rice back in the rice cooker, after all, there is no deduction.

Then I washed what I ate because it was embarrassing for him. I’m the one who lives and then I eat. Evem retreat him, I will not do? I could be named ‘Shameless’ by then.

I’m done with everything. I don’t want to sleep because I just woke up. What do I do now?

I just sat there again in the same place I was sitting earlier and fell down. My cellphone caught my eye so I frowned and just played with it in my hand.

“How is it? I can’t even play. It’s boring, hay.” I said with a frown. “Why are you broken now?” I asked over there on the cellphone as if it knew how to speak even though it does not.

“Oh,”

I looked up at the person who spoke.

“Hi!” I screamed suddenly—I stood up from my seat. The cellphone almost fell, but I caught it right away. “Why?”

His two eyebrows met while looking at me, “Put it in your cellphone,” he pointed to the battery that he placed there on the table.

My eyes widened. “You removed the battery?! Why?!” I raised my voice even more as I glared at him—the expression still mixed with shock.

He looked at me. He took the chair to move it so that he could sit properly. Then he crossed his arms and looked at me—straight into my eyes. “The noise of your cellphone. What you are singing is also ugly. In short, it’s irritating,” he answered. “So stop it.”

“So you removed the battery?! You even hid it!”

“Why didn’t you look for it?” he fired back.

Annoyed, I took the battery and put it in my cell phone.

Yes, I was a bit stupid in that I didn’t realize that the battery was missing. Because it’s closed! I do not know! But what he did is the bigger matter because he removed the battery and hid it from me.

“You’re annoying,” I whispered. “Tomorrow I will look for a place to live. I’m leaving here.” I said and left in front of him— I went into the room where I slept earlier to just lie there.

When my cellphone turned on, I scrolled through my music list again to find what I was playing for him so I could annoy him even more.

But I’ve searched all over the song but still nothing comes up.

Don’t tell me he deleted my favorite song?!

He thought so huh! Even if he deletes that song, I will still see it on the internet. There’s a lot to get music from now!

I went back to the old site that I downloaded from. I downloaded that song again to annoy him even more. Why is he so annoyed by that song? The song doesn’t do anything bad to him, he even deleted it.

Say You Won’t Let Go

James Arthur

“Why does he dislike this song so much? The lyrics are beautiful,” I said to myself as I played the song, I even turned up the volume.

“I met you in the dark, you lit me up… you made me feel as though I was enough---”

I was surprised when the door suddenly opened. The sound at the door was even louder!

“Hey! It might break! Don’t you know how to knock---”

That’s how surprised I was when he suddenly took my cellphone and threw it. Every piece kept rattling.

“What the hell?!” I shouted and ran to my cell phone to see if it would still work. First I put the battery back inside and try to open it. Fortunately, it was opened.

My cellphone is very important to me. My sister’s last message is still here. All the important accounts I use in school and public are also here.

I gave him a hard slap.

The shock disappeared from my face—it was replaced by fear when I saw his eyes.

His eyes changed color! It turned red. Red, like blood.

His angry expression calmed down. The color of his eyes also returned immediately. It went from red to brown.

“G-Get out,”

“Y-You’re a monster!” I screamed at him in fear. Even though I was screaming, the voice coming out of my lips was still very weak. My knees were shaking from fear and so I sat on the floor. “You’re a monster!” I’ll say it again.

“Please get out,” he said and was about to approach me but I blocked him with my hand.

“I’m leaving! Don’t touch me!” I shouted again and went sideways so we wouldn’t touch. I’m nervous.

“Don’t tell anyone about this---”

“I won’t! I promise!” I cut him off. It’s really scary. I can’t explain how I feel right now.

I took a paper bag and put some food I bought earlier. I left the others in the fridge to thank him, so I’ll bring this one.

“How did that happen?” I whispered while turning my back to him.

“I’m sorry,”

I stopped what I was doing and faced him. “What kind of person are you—if you really are? How did you do that?”

He sighed deeply. "I'm a vampire—also an actor,”

“W-What?”

“You need to stay here. You can’t leave. I don’t trust you. I’m sorry,” he said and closed the door. I heard him locking it there so I panicked.

“Open it! Let me go!”

“You’re not leaving. You’ll stay here until you die.” I heard him say before I heard him walk away.

“Let me go! Damn you! Fuck you! Fuck off! Fuck! Let me go!” I’m cursing him one after the other.

I’m having trouble breathing from screaming and I’m too tired to move the door to try to see if it can be opened. But really don’t want to. It didn’t even move.

I tried to open my cellphone but it won’t open. I think he has something to do with my cellphone breaking again. Does he have powers?

I’ve been taking a few breaths here but still nothing is happening. He seems serious about locking me up here.

Did he think I had something to say? As if anyone would believe me, almost everyone on social media now says my whole family is a liar.

“Ahhh!” I shouted and threw the pillows I could grab as well as the comforter one after the other. I’m really annoyed.

Why did I go with someone I don’t know? Fuck. I have never learned before. I repeated. What a fool you are, Rackhie! What a fool you are!

I’m fucked.