32

TVS 32: Truth

F I R E

It has been a month when we started the training of the newbies. Freshly graduated from different slayer's schools. They were all 50, we divided them. 10 trainees per coach.

I was assigned to enhance their archery skills and weapon knowledge. Frost in combat skills, Marquis in enhancing their planning skills (he is the brains of us all), Lucas in quick action, Elenor in direct attacks, the one who doesn't use any weapon, that's why Elenor is good.

We have his specialty, we will train them for one month. We will be replaced by trainees, it doesn't matter that they will go through all of us, they will learn all the skills. We were not given any more missions, other groups of Elites were sent, sometimes the regular slayers as well.

These passed few weeks, thrice when Xavierre passed by my house. Sometimes he was with Vish, Tanj, Drac and Zephyr. But often he was really alone and taught me to cook.

Today is Saturday and the trainees will also rest until tomorrow, tomorrow's my 24th birthday, 28th day of August. No one knows-there is! Nay Maria and Auntie, but I also don't feel like celebrating a birthday since I lost my loved ones.

"Hija, can I stay?" I heard Nay Maria's voice. I'm at the living room doing nothing.

"Nay naman! Of course it's possible. Come on, come in." I stood up to help him sit on the sofa.

"You know Fire, I treat you like a child, your birthday is tomorrow, maybe you want to ask me something as a gift?"

"Hey, Mother Maria. There's no need, to treat me like your child is more than the gift I want to get! Do you want something to eat?" I offered her, of course I'm pretty good at cooking now.

"Do you know how to cook?" I just laughed at him and then said Xavierre taught me. He shot me a teasing look. He agreed to have dinner with me.

"Delicious ah! Maybe Xavierre is really good at teaching!" He was still laughing and suddenly looked at me with a serious face.

"You, admit it. Are you getting better? Not a week goes by that I don't see him visiting you!" W-What the--

"N-Not in the g-ganu--"

"Oh you see! You're still stuttering! Haaaay! You're old, you can get engaged! One more thing, I want Xavierre for you." He said and then resumed eating.

"Nay naman!" I don't know, but it looks like the edge of my lip is rising on its own.

......

I suddenly woke up because I heard strange sounds coming from my living room. Add to that the ray of light that hits my face.

I ignored that at first, only later when I came down. I immediately showered, I could still feel the cold drops of water down my body. It made me relax though.

Ugh. By the way, today's my birthday. Who cares anyway?

After showering and doing other morning rituals, I dressed with my usual clothes, oversized gray shirt and black dolphin shorts. This kind of clothing feels comfortable for me, don't you know.

I went down slowly, there were still the strange sounds I had heard before. I never let my guard down. I was ready in case someone attacked me.

"3 ... 2 ... 1 ... Happy Birthday !!!" I heard something crack, and in a flash there was confetti falling on my face.

"Happy Birthday Vallez!"

"Fire, happiest birthday to you!"

"Woah! What are you all doing here?" I asked them, tss. There's even a different set-up ready!

"We're going to celebrate your birthday!" Elenor said, she was with the three, Frost, Marquis and Lucas.

"H-How did you know?" I asked and confetti fell in my mouth.

"Secret." Frost approached me, and removed the confetti that was in my mouth.

"By the way, thanks for all of these. I appreciate you guys." I hugged them, I started with Elenor, a quick hug for Marquis and Lucas, and hopefully the same for Frost.

But he wrapped me in his arms, I pushed him and he even laughed.

"What are we waiting for? Christmas? Blow the candle! Make a wish!" I confronted Elenor, she’s now holding a cake with a flamed candle on top.

I closed my eyes, and tried to make a wish.

I wish everyone's safety, I wish to already meet the vampire king, I wish to end this pain I've kept for a very long time.

I opened my eyes and blown the candle, they applauded.

"Yown! Eat it!" We celebrated until afternoon. After that they let me go first, I waved my hand at them and thanked them again for what they did.

.....

"Tss, you're late. This afternoon we'll be alone later." I was surprised and looked at the maindoor. Xavierre's standing there, and looks impatient.

I sneezed before speaking, "Why are you here?" I asked him.

"You're still asking, go upstairs. We're going somewhere." He ignored my question, so I stiffened.

"I don't want that."

"Aish! Don't make it too hard for me. Will you get dressed or will I dress you?" A-What is it?

My eyes widened, I just realized what he said! Arrghhh! Pervert!

"N-Are you crazy already? I really don't want to!" I moved away from him and he came closer and closer.

"You're the one who's driving me crazy. Get dressed, don't make yourself regret when I did that." I hurriedly ran upstairs, his seriousness was frightening!

........

"We're here. Wear this blindfold." Xavierre said and the blindfold reached out to me.

"Why is there a blindfold ?!" I protest.

"Just wear it. Haaay! It's me-don't be naughty." He said so and put the blindfold on me.

"Slowly ... I'll help you, don't worry." I can feel his gentleness as he guides me along the way.

"Just a little-oops there's a rock, wait." I just laughed because of that.

"Why are you laughing?" Even though I can't see you, I can feel his forehead furrowed.

"Tss haha, it's like I'm a baby if you support me. It's just like a simple rock!" I slapped his hand that was holding my shoulder lightly.

"Yes! Because you're my baby!" I heard her laugh. What a recovery! I slapped him, he just laughed. He still did not let go of me and carefully supported me.

"This is for real, we're here." He said, and left then removed my blindfold.

"Woooooow!" That's all I could say, a very beautiful scene opened up to me. We were on a cliff, as in the end of a land where everyone could see! I can see the vast sea, on this cliff there is a beautiful round table set up. With two chairs yet huh?

I also see a lot of flowers around. This is what is often seen in romantic movies. There are lights, which are more highlighted because it is getting dark. The place is fairytale-like in beauty.

"Happy Birthday." I heard Xavierre whisper to me from behind.

"Did you like it?" Tameme I'm still really in a nice place. I have never been this happy since my parents passed away.

"W-Why are you crying? What's wrong?" I felt my cheeks get wet.

"Fire--" I didn't finish or Xavierre, I hugged him tight.

"Thank you ..." I sincerely told him that. All these years, it's only now that I feel like this again.

He embraced me back, and a few moments later I heard a ringing. It's a soft music.

"May I have the pleasure to dance with the most beautiful woman I've ever seen?" Xavierre suddenly held out his hand to me, which I gladly accepted.

"H-How did you know that it's my birthday?" I asked him.

"Remember when I left a month ago? I went to Manila." Ahh is that it? What has that got to do with it?

"Yeah? And?" I said waiting for him to continue. We still continued to dance softly.

"I went there to meet your Auntie. And she said that your birthday is August 28, which is today."

"N-Did you meet my Auntie ?!" P-How did he find out?

"Yup. And when I found out that--"

"2 weeks before your birthday, that won't bother you with the thought of a gimmick!" Someone interrupted.

I saw Vishnyr, holding a wine, wearing a waiter's suit.

Tanj, Zephyr and Drac also came out. The same goes for what they are wearing. They greeted me one by one, and I thanked them.

"Shut up Vishnyr, you're really good at ruining moods." Xavierre is throwing bad looks at him again, pfft.

"Fire! Don't make me laugh!" It's hard to paint Vishnyr's face, the three of them just laughed at him. I've been close to them since Xavierre sometimes takes them to my house. And I really am enjoying being with them.

We stopped dancing with Xavierre, I felt embarrassed because I think they had been watching before.

"Because your face is ugly Bro! Come on! Ms. Fire looks hungry!" Now it was as if they were actually waiters, handsome waiters who brought food and served it to us.

"Stop staring at them, I'm more handsome than those." I raised an eyebrow at Xavierre, and stared into his face. Vishnyr came over to pour wine into my wineglass.

"Hmm, I don't think so." I lied, yes. He being the most handsome.

"Pfft. HAHAHAHA! First blood!" Laughing Vishnyr said after translating into Xavierre's wineglass. It ran fast because he felt like Xavierre could strangle him anytime. Pfft.

"You know what we just ate?" I said, I could still feel Xavierre's deep breath.

"Let's go first, enjoy your meal. Because of Jollibee, the star is--" Vishnyr scratched his hand and couldn't continue to say because the look in front of me hit him again, Drac just pulled him away, with them.

We finished our meal, Xavierre never spoke again. Until we got in his car and were already driving to take me back. It was late at night, and I still didn’t know what it was calming down. Incapable---

"Why are you so quiet?" I looked at him, I barely looked up to get his attention.

I got no response. "Hey."

"What's your problem? Is that it? They're more handsome than you?" His forehead furrowed even more. Confirmed, that's the reason.

"You're not really handsome to me!" His already wrinkled forehead wrinkled even more, pfft.

"What are you laughing at?" He was still serious about driving.

"Nothing." Haaaay!

"Here we are." He got out and opened the car door for me. He was about to leave but I restrained his arm so he faced me again.

"You're not handsome, because you're not just handsome ... You're overly handsome, for me you're perfect." In the blink of an eye, it was as if something shone in his eyes.

"One more, you're different from them, you're different from Vishnyr, Tanj, Drac, and Zephyr ..." I paused, he didn't answer and just waited for me to say something.

"You're the only one who can make my heart beat faster as if I were racing a horse--"

Arghh. Not again.

He didn't let me finish what I was going to say, he pulled me closer to him. His hands were around my waist, and the next thing I knew, I felt like high voltage electricity wrapped the whole of my body.

That's how it feels to be kissed by him. My whole system seems to be electrified.

........

"Damn! Looks like I don't want to go home!" When Xavierre snapped, we were still outside my house. I'm forcing him to go home.

"Aren't you tired of my face huh? You come home almost every week." Haaaay the kulit!

"Why would I? If it's your face I always want to see!" I stopped at what he said.

"Ah basta! Go home, tomorrow." It messed up my hair.

"Aish! All right! I'll be back, tomorrow. I'll bring my things here!" Pfft. Nakakaloka!

Haaaaay! Finally! I went home too! I lay down on the sofa in the living room. I finished showering and I went down to watch t.v. of this time. I'm not sleepy yet.

*knock*

I heard a knock, who is going to come at this time?

I opened the door and an unknown man opened up to me. Her eyes are red, a vampire! A vampire with familiar scent! I feel like I smell somewhere.

"Relax, I'm not here to suck your blood. I just want to say hello to your date." I didn't let him in but his baritone voice echoed inside my house. Her voice was terrifying.

"I've heard that today is your birthday, I have a gift for you." I arched my brows.

"What the hell is it?"

"It's the truth." He has no intention of hurting me.

"What do you mean?"

"Xavierre is a vampire! But not an ordinary one because he's the king! So you should be careful of him, not with me." He smiled and then handed over a card before finally leaving.

I was stunned by his words. And at the same time bothered by it. I feel weak because of that. Anytime I would fall from standing.

Xavierre is the king I'm looking for ?! This whole time! He's lying to me!

To be continued...