My Love, Darkness

Chapter 32

Kellan stayed for a moment after watching Titus teleporting back to the Philippines.

Wala pa siyang balak bumalik. He still has a few hours before he starts his job too. His mind was filled with questions because of Larid's sudden change of character.

"Chill, Titus. I'm just confirming something. I'm just pissing you off purposely."

"I just confirmed. Phoebe is the luckiest mortal in this era."

Kellan blows a loud breath before turning his back and entered Larid's house once again.

Nadatnan niya si Larid na kusina. Nakayuko na ito sa mesa habang lasing na humihilik. Niyugyog niya ito sa braso.

"Bud, wake up. I have something to ask."

Larid just groaned before turning his gaze on him. "What is it?"

"Hour ago. What is that?" nakakunot-noo niyang tanong.

"What?" Larid yawned, still sleepy.

"What happened hours ago. Why are you pissing off Titus? You do know he's a type of a man who doesn't take jokes lightly just like what you did."

Larid smiled to him before laying his head again to the tabletop, making Kellan irritated.

This time, he shook Larid's shoulder way harder. "Larid, answer me. I'm f*****g waiting for your answer, dimwit."

"You don't have to worry about anything, Kellan. Titus will be fine," sagot nito sa kaniya pero hindi siya kumbinsido.

Somehow, he can feel in his guts that their Russian Nephilim friend is hiding something. Something about his grim-reaper friend and Phoebe.

"You do know something, aren't you? About Phoebe and Titus," tanong niya rito na hindi man nito sinagot, hindi rin naman tinanggi ni Larid.

"f**k, wala kang kuwentang kausap," Kellan said, leaving the kitchen room with Larid secretly smiling for his friends.

TITUS is smiling as he places a plate of lasagna on Phoebe's study table. Tulog pa si Phoebe nang makarating siya sa kuwarto nito. But just like on Phoebe's rule number one, gusto nito kumain ng lasagna kaya bawat umaga ay kailangan niyang pumunta sa paborito niyang fastfood restaurant at bilhin ang gusto ng alaga niya.

Titus chuckles as he realizes that Phoebe's request was against the Rhoades' personal pediatrician. Mukhang gusto nitong kainin ang paboritong pagkain na hindi nalalaman.

"Smart," he said as lower down on Phoebe's side and stare at the little girl he almost lost.

"I promised, little girl. No matter what happens, I will always be by your side. Protecting you just like I always do."

"Bud, you sound so cheesy."

Titus rolled his eyes as he stopped the time. "And you are loud. Baka magising si Phoebe. Why are you here?"

Kellan shrugs. "Binibisita lang si Phoebe. Bawal ba?" ani Kellan kapagkuwan ay tumingin kay Phoebe na para bang sinusuri ang katawan nito.

"Hindi naman nasaktan si Phoebe, hindi ba?" tanong ni Kellan na para bang nag-aalala.

Umiling si Titus na nakangisi. "Yeah. Siya nga itong nasampal ang kaaway niya."

Kellan's smile widely as he stares at Phoebe again. "Well, look at that. Your Princess is now a fighter, huh? Guess that she doesn't need you, bud."

"Nope. I forgot to tell you, guys. Phoebe needed me more than she does back then. Mga bully ang nakalaban niya kaya iyong Dad niya ay nag-hire ng bodyguard para sa kaniya."

Kellan's jaw dropped. "Please don't tell me you applied."

Muling umiling si Titus. "Nope."

"Thank goodness. I thought you--"

"Someone is but I will be possessing him because honestly, he doesn't know Phoebe's special rules," natatawang sabi ni Titus na muling ikinatanga ni Kellan.

"This girl set her own rules?" ani Kellan habang nakaturo sa natutulog na si Phoebe.

Tumango si Titus bilang sagot. "Yup so, I will be gone for almost six hours looking after Phoebe."

"Dude, you do know that you have a job to do right?" tanong sa kaniya ni Kellan na ikinatawa niya ng mahina.

"Yup. Pero hahabol na lang ako sa kota ko. I promised her already and I don't want to break it."

"But I thought we already talked about it?"

Napabuntong-hininga si Titus sa sinabing iyon ni Kellan. "I know. It's just... I am more into protecting Phoebe. Especially right now that she's out. She can go wherever she wants. Hindi kagaya dati na nandito lang lagi siya sa mansion. But I promised that I won't be dodging her in any experience beneficial with her growth."

Kellan sighed as he put his hands inside his pockets. "Fine. How about when you needed to get closer to her?"

"Well. I only have one way to solve that."

JUST like what her Dad promised to her, her Dad made it clear to everyone in the town why Phoebe humiliated those three fake friends of her.

"No doubt. Mister Philip Rhoades was clearly warning us if we ever mess with Phoebe."

"Now those bitches know who are they messing with."

"Glad to know she slapped Brittany hard. Nakita ko sa f*******: ni Brit iyong pasa sa mukha niya."

Phoebe sighed as she walks past the students who are whispering about her. Habang naglalakad patungo sa classroom niya, she can feel everyone's eyes on her.

Definitely thinking that she's untouchable after her Daddy dismissed the case filed against her by Brittany's Daddy.

"So what? Is she one of the queen bees now?"

"No, until she joined a group here and lead them."

Umiling-iling siya. Definitely doesn't want to be in any group of their university. Because she knows, not everyone in this school can be trusted.

Just like her first three friends she thought she belongs with. They are bullies with a tendency of backstabbing her if ever she messes with them but now, she just did.

Kaya naman nang makasalubong niya sila Kendra, Brittany at Letisha ay alam niyang sobra na ang galit nito sa kaniya lalo na si Brittany na sinampal niya. Brittany's face was still red and swollen.

Napabuntong-hininga siya, remembering her Dad's word.

"Whatever happens, do not engage in a fight, okay? You have your bodyguards to deal with those who will hurt you."

After what happened to the mansion, everything went smoothly. She understands now what her Dad has felt for so long. Being torn between her and Stepmother.

Her Dad doesn't know how he's going to deal with her Stepmother so for a long time, her Dad made his self busy to the point he forgot the problem he has in their mansion.

But her mother, Ava was once again pursued by her Dad when her Stepmother, Francheska can't get herself pregnant. It means their fixed marriage is nothing if Francheska can't get herself pregnant and give an heir for Rhoades' billion dollar wealth.

That's where her Dad found Ava again and offered her to be the surrogate mother of their child. Although everything turns out that her Dad was still in love with her mother and so is her mother. As a result of their mistake, Phoebe was born.

Ang akala ni Francheska ay tunay niyang anak si Phoebe ngunit hindi lahat ng sikreto ay nanatiling sikreto dahil matapos na pumasok si Ava bilang Nanny ni Phoebe.

Kahit na malinaw na ang gusto lang makasama ni Ava ay si Phoebe, her Dad was still persistent to be with Ava.

Kaya naman ng malaman ni Francheska ang pagtataksil ng kaniyang asawa. Nagsimula maging mapanakit si Francheska at nag-igting pa ang galit na nararamdaman nito ng malaman na hindi niya anak si Phoebe.

And so, everything started to be f****d up.

Ava died and her Dad was badly affected. Mas sinubsob nito ang sarili sa trabaho habang si Francheska ay nagsimulang maging sosyalera na walang ibang ginawa kung hindi gumastos ng perang pinaghirapan ng Dad niya.

When Phoebe reached her room, her body went still as all of her classmates look at her like she's an alien. Napabuntong-hininga siya.

God, this too much attention.

Naglakad siya papunta sa seat niya na hindi pinapansin ang tingin ng mga kaklase niya. Guess that she's back to zero, wala na ulit siyang mga kaibigan. And she can't just trust anyone again.

Mabilis siyang tumayo nang biglang pumasok ang kanilang Advisory Teacher. "Good afternoon, Mam Veah."

Tumango ang kanilang guro. "Be seated."

Muli siyang umupo at tahimik na tumingin sa Teacher nila. May tinitignan ito sa mga kaklase niya hanggang sa dumapo ang mata nito sa kaniya at nagtaas ng kilay.

Oh god, I think I know what she's going to say.

"Okay. I think every one of you knows this already, as news spread faster here in university. Four students of our university got themselves into a fight." Bumuntong-hininga ang kanilang guro bago nagsalita. "Please refrain going out instead of going home. Gabi na ang oras ng uwi niyo kung kaya't mas safe na huwag na kayo lumabas at pumunta kung saan-saan pa, okay?"

Napabuntong-hininga si Phoebe bago sumagot kasabay ng mga kaklase niya. "Yes, Mam."

"Okay , good. And of course, I want to say na may bago kayong kaklase. He's a transferee from another school in this town so yeah, be friends with him. Okay?"

Kumunot ang noo ni Phoebe habang nakatingin sa pinto kung saan pumasok ang sinasabing transferee ng Teacher niya.