Intertwined Love and Deception

Chapter 3

Have you been in a situation where you think your heart skipped a beat? That's exactly what happened to me now. I felt a flutter in my chest from both nervousness and excitement. I glanced at the man in front of me. He was tall, well-built, and gorgeously handsome. Jeremy failed to tell me his cousin was an angel.

"Who are you?" His voice was tense. This was the second time he asked me that question.

"Sayonara De Vera?" I did not mean to be unsure of how I say it, but it might ring a bell. Jeremy assured me that Paul was expecting me.

His eyes squinted, furrowed his forehead, and looked at me intently. It was then I realized that my hands were still up in the air. I slowly put my hands down.

Suddenly, I was not hungry anymore. I just couldn't take my eyes off him. He was impossibly handsome. His eyes, nose, and lips...

"Leave."

I blinked my eyes as if I woke up from a dream. I looked at him and tried to confirm if I heard it right.

"I said leave." He repeated his words trying to put emphasis on the last word he said.

I raised my eyebrows. I looked at him angrily. "Are you mad? Have you gone outside?" I asked him. "The weather is crazy." I pointed to the heavy rain and I did not stop talking. "I have been traveling since this morning. The bus stopped in the middle of nowhere. I was wet and hungry looking for you and now, you're telling me to leave?" I did not realize I was crying already.

 He was quiet for a while. He was probably considering the situation. His face confused me because he seemed troubled with his options, but after a while, he shook his head.

 "I want you to leave now."

 I made a face and did not move an inch. No one will force me to leave this place until the sky gets tired of pouring heavy rain. I glanced at him. He seemed determined to kick me out of his house. A while ago, I was admiring its beauty but now I started hating it. I made a quick look at the grilled chicken. I was still hungry. After eating two chicken legs, I felt thirsty, but that was the least of my problem now. I had to remind myself I was just asked to leave.

 With a heavy heart, I started to walk towards the door. I could not believe I was doing what he was saying. As I passed by him, I couldn't help smelling him. His scent was so nice.

I pouted as I reached for my things. I shivered at the thought of spending the night outside. I guess the waiting shed was way better than staying in the middle of nowhere.

 I stopped walking and turned to him. He was still looking at me. Probably he wanted to make sure I will really get out of his house.

 "It's really impossible for me to get home at this hour. Is there a hotel near here?"

 "There's no hotel here." He said in a serious tone.

I frowned. He may be handsome but he was a heartless person. I wondered why Jeremy spoke highly of him. Who would let a visitor stay outside in this kind of situation? I wondered what's going on in his mind. He was kinda weird because seemed to follow my every movement.

"Can you at least give me a lift to the nearest hotel?" I asked. Almost begging. I was too tired to go anywhere amidst that angry weather outside. I bet even monsters wouldn't dare go out.  "Paul, to be honest, if you dislike me, I don't really care about it. But please, can you be humane, just for tonight?"

It was too late for me to change the last words I said.

He was quiet for a while, then he spoke. "Fine."

I sighed in relief. I turned away from him and headed to the door. I started imagining warm water, a comfortable bed, and delicious food.

"I don't have my car right now. I just brought it in the repair shop this morning." He said.

I raised my eyebrows and scowled as I turned around.

"Are you trying to be cute?" I squinted my eyes but took a deep breath. This was not a good time to argue with him. "Are you suggesting we both walk to the hotel together?"

He looked at me and tried to hide a smile.

"No. What I'm trying to tell you is you can stay for tonight. Just for tonight." He sounded unsure of his decision.

"Really?" I wanted to cry with happiness. That was the best thing I heard today. I was really hungry that I couldn't help glancing at the food I left on the table. I guess I gave him the impression that I was starving because he followed my eyes' direction.

He gazed at me and then spoke again. "You have to change first Sayonara. You could get sick."

Calling me by my full name made me come back to reality. Asking him to call me by my preferred name seemed not necessary since I will be leaving tomorrow.

I nodded and headed to the stairs he pointed. I walked past him again and there was something about his scent that made me want to move closer to him. It was inviting.

I was already in the middle of the stairs when there was a sudden power outage. Immediately, silence and darkness spread throughout the house which made me imagine frightening things. I imagined my heart stopped beating for a second and then beating wildly.  I slowly turned to look for Paul.

Then, I saw it. There was a ghost behind me and the light was all over his face. I couldn't help but shudder in fear. I screamed which echoed throughout the house.

"Sayonara!" The ghost spoke and called me.

I started to cry.

"Sayonara!" He called again. I recognized the voice this time. Paul turned on the light of the flashlight on the stairs. I didn't really mean to scream but I was startled by the light facing his face. For once, he looked like a ghost.

"Get a grip, Sayonara. I don't want you falling on me."  He seemed annoyed than entertained.

I nodded and tried to understand what he said. He did not want me to fall on him, not fall for him. The later phrase suddenly excited but confused me at the same time. I went upstairs slowly. I did not want to fall on him either. I did a lot of embarrassing things already.

There were five steps between us. I wonder why he was so careful around me. Then I realized that anyone who experienced catching someone eating his dinner, no... voraciously eating his dinner by an unkempt stranger, I would be careful around this person, too.

He spoke again when we reached upstairs.

"You can use that room." He pointed to the door at the end of the hallway. "Just use that candle over there." He added.

My eyes widened a bit because I did not notice the candle on the top of the sideboard. I had not noticed it until he told me about it.

I walked slowly towards the sideboard, and when I turned hoping to ask Paul for something, he was gone already. He was making me crazy. I picked up the candle and walked into the room he pointed to.

When I opened the door, I saw the large bathroom. I walked inside and realized it was bigger than my apartment. I was thrilled to see the bathtub. I filled it right away with water and used the bath soap as if I was a guest in a hotel. I took off my filthy and muddy clothes, closed the shower curtain, and immersed myself into the warm water of the bathtub.

It felt like heaven!

Out of the blue, I have thought of Paul. Perhaps I was just hungry and tired that was why I had these silly thoughts about him. I remembered the addictive effect he had on me. I really like his scent and even when I was a few steps away from him, his fragrance was compelling.

I just could not help but think. Was it sadness that I saw in his eyes? He seemed to be upset, sad, but I felt there was also a hint of the joy of seeing me. Those thoughts aroused my curiosity. I moaned in annoyance. Seeing Paul made me forget my real purpose of being here.  I closed my eyes and tried to forget him.

Startled, I opened my eyes when I heard the glass window of the bathroom crack and shatter on the floor as the strong wind pushed the glass inside. I wanted to be angry with Jeremy who was fond of asking me in watching horror movies with him even though he knew that I hated it. I just couldn't say no because it was some sort of his bribe in helping me with my projects.

At this moment, I was also hating grandmama for inheriting such a vivid imagination. I couldn't help having creepy visions because of the whooshing sound of heavy rain and wind outside. I was trying to compose myself when it happened.

The door creaked when it was opened slowly. Feeling aghast, I covered my mouth with both hands. I was trembling with fear and I could hear my heart pounding crazily as someone went inside. I gazed at the shadow that got bigger as it slowly walked inside the marble floor of the bathroom. It did not make any sound as if it was careful. It first went to my clothes and sniffed them.

Sniffed? My mind went wild.

I did my very best not to make a sound except that I couldn't stop my heart from its deafening beat. My eyes widened in fear as I realized its form. Its silhouette was a dog-like shape and now moving fluidly, without apparent efforts towards me. It stopped and made an unexpected act. It stretched its front legs out in front, leaned its elbows, and made a low growl.

Then it attacked me.