DIONE is just silently watching the trees they passed by as music is blasting on her ear through the earphone she’s wearing. She’s with her mother, the one who’s driving the car, and her two younger siblings sitting at the back.
They’re on their way to their new home, well, it’s her mom’s long time boyfriend’s house. The two of them are in talks of marrying each other, and the man can’t wait till then, he decided to let them move in his house. Which is a hassle for Dione. She needs to transfer to a new school, adapt to new environment, socialization, and most of all, it’s far from the city. From what she heard, it’s in the country side where it’s surrounded by forests.
But she didn’t disagree to her mom anyway, since she’s a loner, she doesn’t have friends to bid goodbye in their past home. Well, not a loner like a loser. It’s her classmate’s comments about her because of her resting bitch face, no one dares to make friends to her. But she remembers, there’s one who tried to make friends but later weirded out to her when she starts to talk about supernatural creatures which she’s fascinated at. And that’s where it starts, everyone tagged her as a loner and freak. But she doesn’t care anyway.
Dione was stopped from her stupor when her mother nudges her left leg. She took off her earphones and face her mom.
“What is it, mom?” she asked.
“Say, you like supernatural creatures, right?” her mom said, excited. Dione frowned and nodded at her mom.
“Y-yeah, why?” it’s not a secret that she’s a geek when it comes to them. Well, good thing is, her mom didn’t judge her like her classmates, instead she even buys books for her.
“Baron’s father is a scientist, and he said that his father has a lot of studies about them. And the good part is, he said that he can get some for you to read!” her mom stated, delighted. Dione’s eyes got widened so as her mouth.
“Really?!” Dione replied, pleased. She can’t wait to read those! And to top of it, it’s a studies from a scientist! That means, she can also know if there’s a chance they’re real! Just by thinking of it made Dione smiled like a maniac.
“You look like Pennywise the clown, sis,” a comment from one of Dione’s siblings, Danny. Dione’s eyes immediately darted towards her younger brother and glared at him.
“Shut up, Danny!” Dione snapped. She hissed and just ignore her brother who always annoys her. She doesn’t want to ruin her day with that, she’s looking forward to the studies her mom said. Dione put her earphones back on her ear and lean in the mirror, heaved a sigh and dreamily stares outside.
DIONE woke up with the sound of giggling around her. She opened her eyes and got welcomed by her two younger siblings, Danny and Dia. They’re in front of her, smiling so wide showing their broken teeth. She frowned and look around her, her mom is already gone on her side. And in front of her, she can see a house that features a finished concrete floors, red cedar accents, and plenty of midcentury furnishings. There’s also a small pond beside the path way with small tress with colorful leaves on that side.
She got off the car when her siblings also got off. There’s a truck behind their car which is the one who carries their things from their past house. Three men are carrying the boxes from the truck to the house.
Her eyes diverted to her surroundings, unending tall tress and the sound of birds. It’s summer time, the right time for them to moved out. When it starts snowing, it’ll be a pain to move and she will not appreciate the greeny surroundings.
“Dione!” her sight seeing was disturbed when her mom called her. She face towards the direction of the house, she saw her mom in the balcony.
“Come here!” her mom added.
“Alright, I’ll be there!” Dione replied. She started walking towards the house, made her way to the stairs. And as she was about to open the door, someone from the inside opened it.
A tall man, with broad chest and rugged look, welcomes her. With a simple gray shirt and pants on, it doesn’t changed the fact that he’s good looking.
“Dione! There you are!” behind the handsome man, her mom’s boyfriend, Baron, greeted her.
“Good day, Uncle Baron,” Dione greeted. Baron made his way towards her and gave her a gentle hug.
“So, do you like the house?” Baron asked while putting his left arm on her shoulder. Dione felt a little discomfort but managed to show a smile.
“Y-yes, I like it,” Dione replied. To break the discomfort, she moved away a little and ask, “Who is he, Uncle?” pertaining to the man who welcomes her. Who’s now beside the door.
“Oh, he’s Jax. Working for me,” Baron’s brief answer and pulled her inside the house. Dione just let him, but she took a side glance at the man beside the door. But she caught her breath when she saw him also looking at her while clutching its heart. Dione can’t help but wonder if there’s something wrong. But she can’t ask that anymore, she’s been dragged to the balcony.
“So, Dione, how’s the ambiance? It’s refreshing, right?” her mom asked, smiling. Dione leaned in the balcony railing and feast her eyes to the overview of the pond and trees with colorful leaves beside it.
“Yes, I like it. But, just how far is the houses here to each other?” Dione asked. She just find it creepy, it’s like she’s inside a horror movies or those killing movies on a cabin in the middle of the forest. Yes, she’s an overthinker.
“Oh, don’t worry, Dione. A large part of this forest is my father’s property. So, no one will trespassed here whom I don’t know. I guarantee all of your safety here,” Baron stated.
Dione stared at the sky, which is now turning dark. Night is coming. It took them many hours to get here.
“Oh, is that so. Then alright, thanks,” Dione replied and faced Baron and showed him a smile to show her appreciation.
“No worries, Dione. After all, we’re going to be a family from now on. And as the man in this house, I’m the one who will protect all of you,” Baron added. Dione just nodded and look at the pond again where she can see some koi swimming around in it.
She just hopes the best for her mom. And she can see that she is truly happy on Baron’s arms, so all she can do is support them. Let life flow again like the normal days she always have.
TIP-TOEING, Dione can’t still reach the curtain bar holder. When suddenly, she felt someone’s hard chest on her back and helped her put the curtain in its holder.“Let me put it,” it was Jax. After he put it, Dione just got the strength to look back. She was embarassed earlier because it looks like he is enclosing her to its body.“T-thanks,” Dione sincerely said, can’t look to Jax’s eyes. She doesn’t know why, but his stares to her feels like it burns here. She’s feeling weird just by looking on his eyes.Tumango lang si Jax sa kaniya at iniwan siya nito para muling asikasohin ang ginagawa nitong pagtulong sa kanila sa paglagay ng mga gamit nila sa bago nilang bahay. The home's exterior is a combination of windows, painted board, and mirror-polished stainless steel. It’s spacious even with the four of them, excluding Baron and Jax.Tanging ingay lang ng dalawang kapatid ni
NAGISING si Dione dahil sa pagtatalon ng kaniyang mga kapatid sa kaniyang kama na para bang wala siya doon na natutulog. Tinakip niya ang unan sa kaniyang mukha dahil inaantok pa siya, ngunit sinasagad talaga ng mga kapatid niya ang pasensya niya. Ginawa siya nitong pillow punching bag, inihampas hampas ng mga ito ang mga dala dalang unan sa kaniya. Kaya naman wala na siyang ibang magawa kun’di bumangon na.“Ano ba?! Kita niyong natutulog pa ang tao eh,” inis niyang sambit sa kaniyang mga kapatid.“Ayos lang ‘yan, ate. Eh hindi ka naman tao eh,” sagot naman ng pilyo niyang kapatid na si Danny. Nagsalubong ang dalawang kilay ni Dione sa narinig at agad kumuha ng isang unan at akmang ihahampas ito sa kapatid nang nakababa na ito ng kama.“Pikon! Bleh!” pahabol pang pambibwiset ng kaniyang kapatid sa kaniya bago ito nagtatakbo palabas nang ambaan niya itong hagisan ng unan.“That brat,&rd
NO one initiated to start a conversation between Dione and Jax. Nasa labas lang ng bintana nakatuon ang paningin ni Dione, kunwari ay nakatingin sa mga punong nadadaanan nila. Pero ang totoo ay nasa katabi niya lumilipad ang isip niya.Nakadikit siya sa bintana, medyo dumidistansiya kay Jax. Dahil ito sa naramdaman niyang kakaiba nang mahawakan niya ang braso ng lalaki. It was as if there’s a sudden spark inside her. O ‘di kaya’y parang may unti-unting umapoy sa kalooban niya.“Anong course ang kinukuha mo?” bahagyang napatalon si Dione nang biglang magsalita si Jax. Napatingin siya rito, nakatingin sa daan ang lalaki kaya malaya niyang pinagmasdan ang mukha nito.“Bachelor of Science in Anthrozoology, I’m gonna be 3rd year college this year,” sagot niya rito habang nakatitig sa lalaki. Kumpyansa siyang sa daan lang nito ipipirmi ang paningin nito. Ngunit bahagya siyang napasinghap nang
DIONE was left standing at the entrance of the university building. Pumasok si Jax sa loob at may kukunin daw sa locker, inaya pa siya nitong sumama pero tumanggi siya at sinabing antayin nalang niya ito. Naisip niyang baka mas matagalan pa si Jax kung sasama siya.Habang nakatayo siya roon ay may pa-ilan ilang pa labas masok sa university building. Ang ilan ay tinititigan pa siya, siguro’y nagtataka kung sino ang bagong mukha sa university. Ngunit wala namang nagtangkang lumapit sa kaniya at magtanong.Pero ilang saglit lang, may isang grupo ng kalalakihan ang papalabas sa building, sa tingin ni Dione ay mga varsity players ito dahil sa mga suot nitong jersey at pawisan ang mga ito.Mas gumilid si Dione para makadaan ng maayos ang grupo. Ngunit napalingon siya ng makarinig siya ng pag sipol mula sa kaniyan gilid. At nakita niyang nasa kaniya pala ang atensiyon ng mga lalaki. Nakangiti ang mga ito sa kaniya, ngunit hindi nagugustohan ni Di
PABALIK na sila Dione sa kanilang bahay. Walang nagsalita sa kanila simula nang umalis sila sa university. Pinadakip ni Jax ang mga nang-harass kay Dione na agad namang dinaluhan ng dalawang pulis. Ininterview lang si Dione saglit tungkol sa kung anong nangyari tsaka sila nakaalis. Panaka-nakang tumitingin si Dione kay Jax na seryoso lang na nagmamaneho. Nakita niya kung paano ito nagalit kanina. Kung hindi niya ito inawat kanina, baka ano na ang nagawa nito doon kay Dylan. She can’t forget on how Jax looked like when he went inside and saw her with her torn shirts. Nakita niya kung paano nagdilim ang paningin nito. He’s like a beast that can’t be taken down even with the 5 of those men attack him all at once. Dione cleared her throat before she decided to speak, “A-ah, thank you again, Jax.” She can’t thank him enough for what he has done for her. She doesn’t know what to do to return the favor so she’s been thanking the ma
NAKATINGIN lang si Dione sa kaniyang kisame habang nakahiga siya sa kaniyang kama. It was a rough day for her and Jax. Nasabi na niya kanina sa kaniyang ina ang nangyari kanina sa university. Her mother was enraged to what she said. Ganoon na rin sa Baron na agad tumawag sa university at walang pagdadalawang isip na ipa-block list na si Dylan at ang apat pa nitong kasama sa university.Ayaw na sana ni Dione na palakihin ang gulo, but Baron insisted on doing it. Baka raw balikan siya ng mga ‘yon kung makakabalik pa ang mga ‘yon sa university. Kaya hindi nalang nag-apila si Dione at hinayaan si Baron na sinuportahan ng kaniyang ina.At ngayon, nasa loob na siya ng kwarto. Kakatapos lang niya maligo, dinaanan pa niya ang kwarto ni Jax bago siya pumasok sa kaniyang kwarto. Ngunit nang makita niyang natutulog pa rin si Jax, hindi nalang siyang nag-abalang disturbuhin ito. Bukas nalang niya ito kakamustahin.Kinuha ni Dione ang isang unan
SUMAPIT ang umaga, napagpasyahan ni Dione na pumasok sa loob ng gubat. At naisip niyang magpasama kay Jax para naman hindi mag-alala ang ina niya.After taking a bath, she went to the living room and look for her mom. Pero wala ito doon, nasa likuran daw ng bahay sabi ng mga kapatid ni Dione. Kaya naman napagpasyahan niyang puntahan ito.Sa may koi pond dumaan si Dione patungo sa likuran ng bahay. Agad niyang namataan ang isang katamtamang istraktura. Sa unang tingin, inakala niyang isa itong guest house, but that would be weird having one in the backyard.Namataan niyang may dalawang solar panel sa bubong. She was curious as to what structure is that for. Kaya agad na siyang lumapit doon, saktong naka bukas ang pinto kaya agad niyang nakita ang kaniyang ina sa loob na kasama si Baron. Inaasikaso nito ang mga tanim sa loob, napagtanto ni Dione na isang greenhouse ang istraktura.“Mom!” Dione called her mom. Parehong napa
HOURS EARLIER…Jax found himself on a familiar room. It’s his room in Conrad Hemmings’ cabin deep in the foress; the scientist who adopted him. Bumangon si Jax at lumabas ng kaniyang silid. Katapat ng kaniyang silid ay ang silid ng scientist at sa tabi niya ay kay Peter. May isa pang kwarto sa dulo na isang spare room kung dadalaw si Baron doon.Jax knocked on Conrad’s room but no one answered. Dumiretso nalang siya sa balcony, madadaanan din naman niya pababa sa 1st floor. He slides the glass sliding door and go to the balcony.In front of him is large and tall trees, there’s a path way for cars going back to the main road. Kung ang bahay nila Baron ay nasa huling area ng private property ni Conrad, ganoon din ang cabin na ito. Nasa kabilang banda naman ito, sa hulihan.Napatingin si Jax sa kalangitan nang bigla niyang maalala si Dione. Dali dali siyang lumabas sa glass sli