Sorry

Every step I made echoed.

I'm walking down the dark hallway. No one's around the hallway anymore because it's eight pm at night. But I'm still here because of Alta.

I glanced sideways as I slowed myself from walking.

My heart thudded as I finally tried to look behind my back.

I sighed in relief when I saw that there was no one there.

I have been feeling as if someone is following me and I can see a shadow in the corner of my eye.

Oh, I'm not going crazy?

'You are so hard on yourself Adra' I said to myself.

You are not hallucinating or maybe I am?

Could it be because I lack sleep?

Shit!

It's because of Alta! She forgot something in their room and I was the one to pick it up because he said he was also going to the gym and he said he would pick it up.

This is definitely Alta to forget! In every part of the school, he left something behind.

But I can't blame her. Sometimes I will forget but I will never forget what Asmo did.

It's been days since I saw Asmo on campus. I don't know why I don't see him or even meet him. But I don't care. If that's what he wants then I will give it to him.

But everywhere I go I feel like someone is following me.

I frowned as the shadow hit the corner of my eye again.

The shadow immediately faded and I shrieked in horror when Alta appeared in front of me.

"Hey! What are you doing there? You're so shocked! It's like you've been seen by a ghost! Or much worse monster or a vampire!" she said.

My heart didn't stop beating because of Alta's surprise.

What the heck just happened?

She suddenly appears, who wouldn't be surprised?

But she is right it would be worse if a vampire appeared in front of me. I wouldn't like to see Asmo at this time of the night.

It's just infuriating.

Then why would he show up? Doesn't he want me to come close to him or see us together? So that won't come close.

I know that he won't.

"What did you get? I'm really sorry Adra. I don't know what's going on with me. I've been so excited lately."

"You're too much of a blast lately? You're a blast every day Alta." I teased her.

"Tsk! This is it! Come on, what kind of dish can you have at your house."

"Our house?" I asked.

"Yes, I will eat," She said with a laugh.

"Couldn't Tito make you?"

"You know that's there, maybe tomorrow we'll be sisters!" She said.

It grinned as we walked.

While I was frowning when looking at him.

What does she mean?

Even though I wanted to ask, I just let it go because my brain was a mess with what was happening around me.

I'm sure that the shadow is not from Alta. It's a different one, it's much bigger and taller.

I shrugged the thought on the way home. I never knew I would be surprised to see Alta's Dad and Mom making dinner.

After eating, I was the one to throw the garbage outside the house, near the road because the garbage truck will pick it up early tomorrow.

While walking, I couldn't help but look at the forest.

My eyes squinted as I saw the shadow in the corner of my eyes once again. But this time it wasn't blurry anymore. I got a good glimpse of who it was.

I stopped where I stood and looked hard at the man.

I don't know what he's doing in there but he's picking up something from the ground. His tall and lean figure reminds me of the guy I met at the forest when I was lost.

I pursed my lips as I tried to remember who it was.

I close my love y s trying to think deeper when the scene in my mind played. I was talking to him in the middle of the woods when I was lost. When I was looking for Asmo but he quickly went away without saying anything.

Yes that him!

What's his name again?

Shit! I forgot it!

I opened my eyes and found out that he is no longer there. I looked around but there was no sign of him.

The bushes caught my attention when I saw it moved.

My feet seemed to have a brain of their own and immediately followed where he went.

There I saw him walking towards something. Then it hit me.

It was Alessandro!

I'm sure of it!

I'm sure this guy is Alessandro. I will never forget its introduction. He was even chopping wood when we met!

Well, based on what he said. I don't know if it's true but there's a chunk of woods near him so I guess it is.

I continued to follow him discretely until for no reason he disappeared again. This time I didn't stop, I jogged towards his direction.

It was difficult to chase him because it was dark and I couldn't see the road well.

I stopped running when I hit something hard. At the speed I was running, I didn't notice it.

I held my forehead and gently rubbed it to make the pain go away and to see if there was a lump.

I looked up to see what I hit.

My forehead creased when our eyes met.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"I should be the one asking you that Adra. What are you doing here in the middle of the night chasing something?" he asked, staring at me intelligently.

"Are you looking for me—" I cut him off.

I knew what he was going to say that's why I went ahead of him.

I straightened my back before uttering a word.

"Excuse me I'm not looking for you and I don't have a plan to do that. I don't even know that you are here. I'm following something and that is not you. Do I know that I will see you here," I said.

"And why are you even here? Are you waiting for someone? Or are you waiting for me?"

I close my eyes tightly. Fuck shit. Why am I even thinking of that?

Who am I to wait for him?

Does he really not want me to stay away from him?

And I will.

I will stay away from him as long as I can. I am not the one chasing the one chasing him.

It's time for him to chase me. To turn the tables around. I'm done chasing a hundred year old vampire.

For Pete's sake. I'm so much younger than him.

I should be the one being chased because I'm younger, I'm not the one chasing an old vampire like him!

I wanted to roll my eyes right now but I can't because I know that he will notice it.

"I'm not waiting for anyone."

Suddenly my heart sank when I heard him say that. There's still part of me hoping that he is waiting for me. But the good thing is, he doesn't have anyone waiting for him, aside from me.

I'm waiting for him to chase me this time. I knew that he was in fact in love with me. He likes some but he is too scared to break the rules of his world. Too afraid to be in love with a human like me.

"Okay, then bye."

I didn't waste my time with him. I don't want to talk to him first because I want him to chase me. And that won't happen if I talk to him all the time.

He needs to long for me.

And I know that he is longing for me.

I turned around and took a step forward. I still have to chase someone and that is Alessandro. I didn't even know he existed until I saw him.

He is also a mystery to me.

He seems weird for some reason. Unfortunately we only have one chance to meet.

Our conversation didn't last long because Asmo had already seen me.

Why is it that every time I see Alessandro and I want to ask him where, this Asmo always appears?

"Adra."

I stopped walking when he called my name.

I took a deep breath before facing him.

What does it need?

Is he going to chase me or what?

"What?" I asked as I looked him in the eye.

I don't know if it's just my feelings but his eyes are pleading. It really looks like he is longing for me.

He didn't speak for a second.

"What is it Asmo? If you don't say anything I will leave because your vampire relatives might see us. I don't want to be the one to ruin your relationship with them besides I'm just doing what you told me to do."

Thank you.

Even in the vampire world, relatives are still villains.

Anywhere!

Can't I just have good relatives?

Or even just Asmo so that we are happy ever after.

I turned away from him again as he just stared at me.

What happened to him? Did my presence make him deaf?

"I'm sorry," he said.

I stopped on my tracks. Did I fucky hear it right?

Did he say sorry to me?

"What?" I stuttered, not gripping on the reality that he really said it.

"I'm sorry that I want you to avoid me. If it's hard for you, it's even harder for me, Adra. For many years I have never met a woman like you, who is brave enough to confront her inner demons, who's dedicated to what she wants and what she believes in."

"Asmo," I said, tears started to pool in my eyes.

All I wanted for him was to chase me but these words coming from his mouth, from his heart and his thoughts are so much for me.

"That's why I don't want to risk your life for me, Adrasteia, once you're gone and I'm left alone in this curse world of mine, I have no chance of forgiving myself that I was the reason you didn't t get a chance to see a bright future ahead of you. A future without me. It's more than enough for me to watch you from afar, living your best life rather than seeing your grave up close."

Tears pooled in my eyes every time he uttered a meaningful word. My chest tightens as it beats faster every time he speaks.

I didn't know this is how Asmo feels. I was so clouded by my own thoughts, feelings and pride that I decided to obey what he wanted me to do and to create hatred for him for avoiding me. For not being brave enough to love me. I was too busy making him chase me without knowing he has no plan of doing so because he loves me so much that he is willing to let me live my life rather than live with him in fear.

"I couldn't bear it, Adra, because you're the first human that I love."

Tears started to roll down my cheeks. I pursed my lips together and ran to him. I wrapped my arms tightly around him.

I was wrong.

I was so blinded by my feelings that I forgot he had one that I'm putting aside.

He is a vampire but he is not heartless.

He is selfless and true to his principles.

He hugged me back so tight, this time I felt how strong he was.

He seems to be more excited now than the first two of us. I buried my face in his chest.

This is where I should be.

I look up at him and he stares back at me.

"So who was the first vampire you fell in love with?" I teased him. I'm grinning from ear to ear.

"Silly, of course my Mom. I said a heartfelt message and that's what you remembered?" He chuckled.