Intrigued

My body trembled as I watched them rush Vlad to the hospital door.

"Wait, is that Vlad? Did I see correctly, Adra? Is that Vlad on the stretcher? What happened to him?"

I was too stunned to speak.

I don't know Alta.

I don't know what happened to him.

The people around us who had gathered have left.

They moved on with their own lives, that fast. I can't blame them because they don't know Vlad but what the heck.

We had an argument earlier, including Bernadette, but I never thought it would happen like this.

But...

Is this something to do with me?

Why do I feel like it is connected to me?

Is it because that made me feel bad that I feel this way?

Why do I feel guilty about what happened to Vlad?

"Hey! Are you okay Adra?" Alta asked.

"Huh?"

"Are you okay? You were stunned when you saw Vlad."

"I don't know what to feel about this Alta."

"Oh why? You should be happy because he finally got his karma. Whatever happened to him is really dasurv dasurv!" Alta said.

"That's what he gets from trying to turn the tables and hurting you. In fairness huh? Ambilis ng Vlad's karma. When will Bernadette be?"

I glared at her.

"What?" Her eyes widened.

"Don't wish bad luck for others Alta."

"I'm not wishing them bad luck, Adra. I'm just wondering when they will have their karma. Why would I wish if I know they will have karma! I'm not sure when," he said.

"Even Alta." I insisted.

"Tsk, when have you been kind Adra? Oh no. It looks like you'll get burned if you touch me because you're so kind."

"It's not like that Alta. I felt bad about what happened to him."

"Oh why? I mean, I was also saddened by what happened to him, but not that much because I know how bad Vlad's conscience is. Then why do you feel guilty? You didn't do anything, it's not your fault what happened to him, Adra. So chill and let's go back to the mall. Because it's so hot here."

Alta is right, why do I feel this way? I'm not doing anything wrong.

I didn't even lay a hand on him but why am I concerned about what happened to him?

Could it be because I pushed him?

I pushed him hard but he was fine afterwards. Alta even fought with us and turned the story upside down.

So how is that connected?

He was in a good situation when we left.

He is not bloody and helpless, unlike what I saw earlier.

What the fuck happened to him?

Did he wrestle with bears? Or the wolf?

Fuck shit.

My eyes widened as it hit me. It all makes sense now.

"Hey Adra! Let's go! You're dumbfounded again!"

"What is wrong with you Adra? Don't scare me like that! You're always dumbfounded!"

"W-what if, what happened to Vlad has a connection to me?" I asked her.

Her forehead creased.

"Huh? How about that."

"I need to go, Alta," I said without telling her any reason, there's no time to explain. I need to know the truth from him. I can't go on like this.

I stopped when she grabbed my arms. Her forehead was wrinkled when I faced her.

"Huh? Where are you going? I thought you wanted to unwind? Why are you leaving now?"

Before Alta could ask again, I ran home. I don't know if he is going to be there, on the same spot. But all I know is that I need to confront him.

I need to make sure that he didn't act stupidly.

I slowed my pace as I remembered my phone in the purse. I left it in the mall where Alta and I sat down.

I stopped for a moment at the stand, I haven't run that far yet.

I can still go back to the mall.

I took a deep breath.

I need to talk to him now but my phone is also important. Mama might call, when Alta answered the phone and said that I ran somewhere, that would worry her badly.

With that thought in mind. I turned my back and ran again. I need to get my phone back.

I also reached the mall quickly. I don't know why my body feels so flexible and strong now. It's like I have an incredible amount of strength and I'm fast for some reason.

I shook my head and let that thought linger somewhere else. I entered the mall, the cool breeze of the aircon and scent made me feel relieved.

I went to the milk tea shop where Alta and I hung out earlier.

To my surprise she was not there. My forehead creased as I looked around, delving my eyes on every corner of the milk tea shop, hoping to find her there.

I even waited for the shop's bathroom door to open, thinking she would be coming out from there.

I threw a glance back at our spot, my purse is not on the table anymore. Maybe she brought it with her, but where did she go?

I tilted my head, trying to figure out where she could possibly be.

It's strange that I just walked around the mall. I was too hot outside earlier that's why I thought of staying at least five minutes before having a fight with Asmo.

I passed by the bookstore. The wall is a see through mirror so you can see who is inside as well as the newly released books.

One book caught my eye, it's about the green moon that Silvana mentioned before when we were looking at the mall exhibit where there is a painting of the green moon.

Almost everywhere I go I see about that green moon. That's why I entered the book store. I was about to grab the book when I heard a familiar giggling voice behind my back.

I threw a glance behind my back, my eyes widened in surprise as I saw Alta hand in hand with Silvhari. My eyes remained on their clasped hands.

Fuck what's going on?

Is this real?

Is what my two eyes see true?

I blinked multiple times. Because maybe I'm just delusional or delirious because it's so hot outside. My heart jumps when Silvhari throws a glance in my direction. We both looked at each other, I immediately looked away and turned away.

Shit!

I immediately grabbed any book I could touch, opened it and covered my face.

I ducked down a little bit so they wouldn't see me.

Well duh, as if Silvhari didn't see me already.

But even so. He can think that I'm just delusional. Or maybe it doesn't look alike.

I peeked in their direction.

They are talking and giggling while grabbing books. I stared at Alta. I looked down at what he was holding, that my purse was indeed his.

Damn it.

Should I approach them?

And what will I say?

Alta will probably be surprised to see me because she thought I'd already left, another thing is I'm pretending? That I don't know Silvhari?

Why is he even here?

Shouldn't he not go to crowded places?

I know that he won't be affected by the rats of sunlight because Silvana told me that they are not the traditional kind of vampires.

But...

How did he meet Alta?

How did these two meet?

I'm so consumed with my own fairytale that I forgot to check on Alta.

I thought I was the only one good at keeping secrets but oh boy how wrong I was.

I even feel guilty because of that.

I looked away and returned to the books. Walking and avoiding them, I got away from the book I wanted to look at.

I looked at them. Alta stared intently at Silvhari.

Hmm…

Is there something that I need to know about them? Maybe it was just a coincidence that the two met? But holding hands?

That tells me that they are not strangers to each other.

Isn't there something between Silvana and Silvhari?

Fuck, what's going on?

Silvhari didn't seem to see me. I was waiting for the two of them to leave the bookstore, I even thought they wouldn't leave because they were talking for so long.

What are they talking about?

Does Alta know that he is a vampire?

By the looks of it, she doesn't know. Because she would be scheming like a crazy person like me if she knew.

I heaved a deep sigh of relief when they walked out of the book store.

Finally the two left.

I have a lot of questions in mind but this is not the right time to think about it. I don't want to confront them either. I don't have any right to interfere with whatever they have, yes I'm curious and I want to know but I'm sure Alta has reasons why she doesn't want to share it with me yet.

Now where should I go?

To the forest...

I decided to stay in the mall for five minutes to make myself calm without knowing that I would find intriguing things.