VANESSA was lying on her stomach on the bed. Miguel slowly pulled the blanket away from her body, revealing her bare back. He dipped his head to plant a soft kiss on her shoulder. She opened her eyes and smiled.
Miguel continued to kiss her. He kissed her other shoulder, her lower back, and her waist. Vanessa sighed and rolled to her back. Miguel’s mouth found her breast. She fisted his hair as she moaned in delight.
“What have you gotten yourself into, Vanessa?” he asked.
Vanessa blinked.
“Hmm?”
“Do you really not care who I am?”
“What does your past have something to do with now? We’re happy in our own little world, aren’t we?”
“I have this feeling that you’re going to break my heart sooner or later.”
“Miguel.” Vanessa pulled his face closer. “Don’t you feel safe here anymore? We can move to another place.”
“We?” he uttered in disbelief.
“I’m going with you. I’m going to ask my father. It’s going to happen eventually.”
He slightly shook his head in protest.
“I don’t think that would be easy, Vanessa. Your father would want to see me, to know what kind of a man his daughter had chosen. I could never give you a normal life.”
“I don’t need a normal life. I’ll define my own life,” she insisted.
“You don’t understand.”
Vanessa bit her lip and looked away.
“I guess you’re right.”
“If things were a little different, I would have married you right away.”
“Really?” she asked in a childish tone as she reverted her gaze.
“Because I won’t be as ugly as I look now.”
Vanessa pouted.
“You’re not wearing your necklace.”
“I decided not to wear it anymore. I can’t go on wearing it. It’s not fair. I already found someone who fits me.” Vanessa arched her back as Miguel shifted and parted her thighs. “Miguel...” She stroked his face. “Don’t ever stop making love to me.”
“I won’t.”
She whimpered as he began to penetrate her once again.
“You’re the most beautiful thing that ever happened to me,” he groaned.
“A-and you... you gave color to my life. M-Miguel...” She grabbed his shoulders as he pounded on top of her. Waves of pleasure began to make her feel dizzy again. “D-don’t stop. I love you...”
VANESSA woke up alone in bed the next morning. She looked around her, and Miguel was not around. It felt unusual.
She would usually wake up and find him next to her or make love to her. Sometimes, she would see him in front of the stove making their coffee.
Where had he gone?
Vanessa picked up her dress on the floor and put it on.
“Miguel?” she called as she stood outside.
Miguel would never leave her alone. If he would go to pick up firewood and hunt, he would always wait for her to wake up. Now it seemed like Miguel disappeared without a trace.
She tried to search for him around his hut but found no one.
“M-Miguel?” she uttered helplessly as she ran a hand through her hair.
Vanessa decided to go home even though she was restless. Maybe he would be around this afternoon or evening. She would apologize for not waiting for his return. For sure, he would understand.
MARINEL went inside the poultry hut. The hens were noisy and restless. They were probably starving. She fed them a little late because she had to finish a pile of laundry.
When she reached for the door of the hut, it was already ajar. Her heart pounded. Did a thief try to sneak in again?
She grabbed a rock on the ground. She kicked the door open with her foot. On the other side of the hut, someone was sitting wearing a cloak.
“Who are you?”
The figure moved. He pulled his hood from his head. Marinel gasped in shock, dropping the rock and the feeds on the ground.
“Marinel, I need your help again,” he implored.
“M-Miguel?” Marinel could not believe her eyes. It was him. And he looked... human.
“MIGUEL?” Vanessa called loudly before she could even reach his hut.
She went back in the afternoon, hoping he would finally be there. But her heart pounded in fear when there was no sign of him outside. Miguel was supposed to be making a fire outdoors or feeding his chickens.
“Miguel? I’m back! Where are you?”
To add to her dismay, his hut also looked empty. Even some of his stuff looked missing.
Her lips quivered.
“M-Miguel... you did not leave me, did you?”
AND IT would go on for days. Vanessa would go to his hut hoping that he would be there waiting for her, apologizing for disappearing just like that. But every time, Vanessa would come home, heartbroken and frustrated. And every night, she would cry herself to sleep only to wake up the following day with the pain still there.
What had she done wrong? Did she scare him? Did he simply want to get rid of her but did not know how?
“Vanessa, are you all right?”
Vanessa jumped at his father’s voice. She was standing by the kitchen with a vacant stare on her face.
“F-Father.”
“You look pale. What’s wrong with you? Are you sick? You’ve been like that for days.”
“I’m sorry, Father. I’m fine. I guess I just need more rest.”
“Just go to your room, then. Sleep early.”
Vanessa nodded unenthusiastically.
“Thank you, Father. See you around.”
Virgil nodded and pulled her into a tight hug.
“I’m worried about you, Vanessa.”
Vanessa bit her lip as she held back her tears from falling.
“Did something happen?”
INSTEAD of going back to her room, Vanessa found herself crying her heart out at the creek. She could not get mad at Miguel. Maybe he had his reasons. Maybe he was somewhere out there, watching over her. Maybe he would show up to explain once he saw her crying.
You’re so pathetic now, Vanessa. Look at you. You look so miserable.
But what could she do? She had no idea where to find him anymore. She did not care about Miguel’s past. But now that he left her without a word, who was he really?
“W-where are you, Miguel?”
Vanessa jumped at the sound of a stick breaking behind her. When she turned, she found a tall man standing behind her. There was a shock on his handsome face. And when their eyes met, she saw sadness and familiarity in them. Her heart skipped a beat.
Why did she have this feeling that she had seen him before?
But she had no time to look for answers. She stood up from the ground and harshly wiped the tears from her face. She turned and hurriedly walked past him.
“VANESSA, I haven’t seen you in a while.”
Vanessa forced a smile.
“How are you, Marinel?”
“Well, you don’t look well.” Marinel stroked her face. “Is everything all right?”
“Just missing someone,” Vanessa replied with a shrug.
“Oh. Isn’t Sir Ernest coming home already?”
“It’s not Ernest.”
“Really?” Marinel eyed her teasingly. “I wish I could cheer you up.” She grabbed her arm as she led her to the poultry hut. “Would you like some salted egg, perhaps?”
Vanessa giggled softly. “That would be lovely. I’m sure it would bring my appetite back.”
“YOU SHOULD just stay in your room if you’re still not feeling well,” Virgil said when Vanessa appeared at the pub that night.
“It’s all right, Father. I would only sulk if I could not fall asleep right away. Besides, I miss the noise of the pub. I think it would be a great distraction.” She grabbed the bottle of wine and glass from him. “Now, where do I bring this?” she asked with a sheepish smile.
“To that man at the corner,” Virgil pointed.
Vanessa turned and found a figure alone at the table. His head was covered with a hood, so she could not see his face.
“Be careful, Vanessa.”
“I know what I’m doing, Father.”
Vanessa was greeted by their regular customers while she was on the way to the corner. She returned the greetings with a smile.
“Here you go, Sir. Enjoy your drink,” she said as she put the wine and the glass on the table.
He slightly nodded his head. Vanessa could only see his nose and his lips. He looked young, too. But it was already enough to make her think that she had seen him before.
“T-thank you,” he remarked and cleared his throat.
“Have we met before?”
He unconsciously tugged at his hood.
“I don’t think so.”
Vanessa nodded when she realized it could not be. During the past week, she was spending her time with Miguel. There was no way she would have time to see new faces and make acquaintances.
And now it’s just so hard to go back to her regular routine and pretend nothing had changed. She bit her lip and turned her back before she could cry.
“WHERE have you been again?” Marinel asked as soon as he entered the kitchen door. She did not sound reprimanding but somewhat concerned.
“Nothing changed that much, huh,” he said.
“I know you missed your old life, Miguel, but it’s not just safe for you and for everyone who knows you.”
“I did not go outside to have fun. I was looking for something that could lead me to the truth.”
Marinel’s eyes widened as she stood beside him.
“Are you serious?”
“I’m already free from this curse. And I won’t stay living out of people’s sight. I’ll make the culprit pay, Marinel. And then…” I could finally be with the woman I love.
“And then what?”
Vanessa’s sad eyes flashed his mind. It was hard to be with her in the same room, and he could not do anything about it. His Vanessa… she was heartbroken. He had been dying to touch her.
“We’ll all be happy.”
VANESSA must be out of her mind. She found herself taking the trail toward Miguel’s hut even though she would end up disappointed again.
If I did not find Miguel, I’d give up, she told herself.
She could not help a sob. But could she really give up?
Did I ever mean something to him? Did he not care about my feelings?
Vanessa glanced up at the sky as the thunder roared from a distance. Right, what perfect timing to torture herself.
When she almost reached the hut, rain began to fall. She hurried.
Vanessa saw that there was light inside the hut. Her heart that was already racing, skipped a beat. Someone was in there. It could be Miguel!
“M-Miguel!”
And she was right. There was someone inside. But it was not her beautiful beast. He jumped at her presence.
“W-what are you doing here?” she asked in shock.
“I… I was out hunting when it rained, so I…” He swallowed. “I did not mean to be an intruder.”
“You were that guy from the creek,” she said.
His shirt was a little wet, his muscles sticking into the thin fabric of his shirt.
“And the guy from the pub.”
“I’m not here to cause trouble, Miss. Believe me. I just need shelter.”
“Did you see the owner of this place?” Vanessa asked firmly.
He shook his head.
“I-I thought it was abandoned.”
She sighed. It really was time to give up, then. She looked away as she felt tears welling up at the corner of her eyes. She turned her back.
“Where are you going, Miss?”
“L-leaving, obviously.”
“You don’t have to. You can let the rain pass first. You might catch a cold. If you worry about your safety, don’t worry, I’m not a bad person.”
Vanessa cleared her throat and walked to the bed, which she used to share with Miguel. She sat down quietly.
“Do you own this hut?” he asked.
She shook her head.
“Someone I know owns this. But he left, and he has not returned since then. I’m already worried about him. He did not even leave a single word. He should have told me not to wait if that’s what he wanted.”
Vanessa took a deep breath. Well, that was embarrassing. She could not tell her father what was hurting her, yet she easily burst out to a stranger.
When she glanced up, he had already turned his back at her. She was silently thankful. She would not want him to see how miserable she looked while saying that.
“I’m sorry,” he said as if he was the one who caused her pain. “Maybe he had reasons. Reasons you may not understand for now but someday. Maybe if things would turn out well, he’ll come back to you. Who knows? He might just be watching you from afar.”
VANESSA’S eyes opened as she felt a stroke on her hair. Her mind shouted Miguel’s name, but to her disappointment, the stranger's handsome face from last night welcomed her.
Last night…
She got up abruptly. She had fallen asleep inside Miguel’s hut with a stranger!
“Good morning, um, I did not mean to interrupt your sleep,” he said apologetically. “But, uh, I found something, and I made coffee for us. You might need something to warm you up before you go home.”
Vanessa’s lips quivered as she remembered Miguel’s demeanor. He would surely do the same as this stranger did.
“Y-you did not have to bother.”
“You could have driven me away last night, but you didn’t. This is nothing compared to what you’ve done.”
“Why didn’t you leave yet?”
“I can’t leave you alone. I don’t think it’s safe.”
Vanessa stared into the stranger’s eyes. She had this feeling that she had seen him before. Not at the creek. Not even at the pub.
He looked away.
“The coffee’s getting cold.” He motioned to the small bedside table.
Vanessa slowly took the mug and blew on it, drinking her coffee quietly. At first sip, she was stunned. The taste reminded her of the coffee which Miguel would usually make for them.
She hastily brushed the tear that fell from her eye and went on drinking.
“THANK YOU,” Vanessa said when they reached the creek.
“For what?” Miguel asked. “I should be the one to thank you.”
“For the coffee this morning, for walking me till here, and for watching over me last night.”
“That was nothing. I’m sorry.”
Vanessa blinked.
“For what?”
“Because that was all I could do for you.”
Vanessa laughed blandly.
“You don’t know how simple things could do to people, do you?”
He smiled.
“I actually do.”
“I’ll be on my way. See you around.”
“Please take good care of yourself,” he uttered sincerely.
Vanessa stared in amusement but eventually smiled.
“Thank you.”