ELLE
“Elle, drink your vitamins before you leave.” Grandma handed me a red capsule and a glass of water.
I quickly took it because it was already 7:30 p.m., and I was still at home. I had woken up so late earlier. I had slept so soundly because I had gotten home almost at dawn from Dixy’s place.
“I’m leaving now, grandma. Please be careful here, okay?” I kissed her on the cheek.
“Don’t rush too much, Elle. Watch where you’re going. You might get hit by a car because you’re in such a hurry.”
“Yes, grandma.” I walked out of the house.
Thankfully, I only needed one ride to get to the company. At this time on other days, I would already be in the office, waiting for Sir Blade to arrive or for the clock to strike eight so I could start working.
The jeepney I took was already packed, but I still forced myself to get on because it was already late. It was cramped, but I had to endure it. I didn’t want to be late because Sir Blade might reprimand me.
I didn’t know if I should still go through with my plan to talk to him. Every time I thought about having another conversation with him, my nerves took over.
It had only been a short while since we stopped talking because of what happened, but my heart seemed to complain every time I avoided looking at him.
I admit that I like him, and I already miss talking to him. But my mind kept stopping me, telling me that I would only end up getting hurt if I stayed by his side.
When I arrived in front of the company, I immediately handed my fare to the driver before getting off. A few passengers had already gotten off, so I had no trouble getting out.
I entered the company, and as usual, Raul greeted me.
It was already 7:55 p.m., which meant I only had five minutes to get upstairs to Sir Blade’s office.
I saw the elevator doors closing, so I quickly ran toward them. I almost got caught between the doors, but thankfully, I managed to stop them from closing and got inside.
There was a man wearing formal attire inside the elevator. I didn’t notice his face because I was too busy rushing to get inside.
Sweat began trickling down my face because of all the running, and I was wearing black high heels on top of that.
I reached into my bag for my handkerchief, but apparently, I had forgotten to bring it because of how rushed I was.
Talk about bad luck.
I was surprised when a hand suddenly appeared in front of me, holding out a handkerchief.
I slowly looked at the man beside me and almost lost my balance from shock.
“B-Blade.”
I couldn’t believe that, out of everyone working in this company, he was the one I would end up sharing the elevator with.
“Use this handkerchief and wipe all that sweat from your face,” he said emotionless.
I didn’t immediately take the handkerchief from his hand because I was still staring at him, unsure whether I should accept it or not.
“What are you looking at? Get this.”
He took my hand and placed the handkerchief in it.
Something about that simple touch made me feel different.
My heart was beating strangely, as if it were happy to be talking to him again.
Where was his car?
Usually, he went straight to the parking lot so he wouldn’t have to use the elevator.
When I finally snapped out of it, I immediately wiped the sweat from my face. I caught the scent of his handkerchief.
It smelled so good.
It smelled like him.
I felt like I could keep smelling it all day.
I put the handkerchief inside my bag. There was no way I could return it after using it.
“I-I’ll wash it first before I return it to you. Thank you, by the way.”
I didn’t look at him. I simply stared at our reflections on the elevator doors.
“No need to bring it back. That’s yours now.”
“But—”
“No buts, Elle. It’s just a simple handkerchief. I have a lot of them at home.”
I saw the irritation on his face through his reflection, so I didn’t argue anymore.
It was the first time in a while that I had heard him say my name.
It sounded so beautiful coming from him.
Why was I acting like this around him?
Was this what they called love?
No!
I couldn’t.
Elle, control your feelings.
Silence filled the elevator again.
We were only on the 30th floor, and his office was on the 49th.
Was this the right time to tell him about my plan?
I suddenly became nervous. I didn’t know how to start.
I looked at him, and he looked back at me.
I immediately looked away.
A few seconds later, I looked at him again, but every time he looked at me, I couldn’t hold his gaze and quickly looked away.
“What is it?”
He was looking at me now, as if waiting for my answer.
“Huh?”
“It seems like you have something to tell me. What is it?”
“Ah—uh, nothing. Don’t mind it.”
“Come on, Elle. Spit it out.”
“I-I just have something to ask.”
I was embarrassed, but I was still able to withstand his gaze.
“About what?”
“You’ve probably heard about the recent killing in our neighborhood, right?”
He simply nodded.
“I thought it would stop because you already killed Sebastian, but apparently, it didn’t.”
“There are a lot of vampires out there, Elle. So it’s not unlikely that the killings will happen again many times.”
“That’s why I wanted to ask you for a favor, Blade.”
My nervousness slowly faded.
“What favor?”
“I heard from your conversation with Sebastian that your father is the one who rules over the other vampires.”
“And?”
“Can you ask him to stop those vampires from killing innocent people?”
Blade laughed at what I said.
“That’s impossible, Elle. We’re vampires, and we need blood to survive.”
“But what about you? How are you able to survive without drinking human blood?”
As far as I knew, Blade drank animal blood.
“We’re different, Elle. Not every vampire can do that. Besides, we’re just like humans. We have our own choices in life, and we’ll do whatever we want.”
My hope of stopping the killings in our neighborhood faded because of what Blade said.
He had a point, but that still wasn’t an excuse for them to kill people.
“Don’t worry, Elle. I’m here to—”
“What did you say?” I asked because I didn’t quite understand what he said.
“Nothing. Don’t mind it.”
Maybe Dixy was right. For now, we would just have to rely on the potion she made for our protection against the vampires.
I’d help her think of a way to sell the potions she made.
The elevator chimed, signaling that we had reached the 49th floor.
Blade stepped out first, and I followed behind him.
The only sound echoing through the quiet hallway was the sound of our footsteps.
Blade opened the office door, and I suddenly heard someone squeal.
“Bladyyyy!”
I recognized her.
She was the woman who had been with Blade in the car last night.
She was even more beautiful up close.
Was she the special person Ms. Jane had been talking about?
Was this Blade’s girlfriend?
She was wearing a fitted white dress.
The woman immediately hugged Blade when she reached him, and Blade hugged her back.
Why did it feel like my heart was being torn apart by what I was seeing?
Was this really how easily Blade could deceive me?
Why had he told me that he liked me?
“I miss you,” I heard the woman say to Blade.
“I miss you too, Ellise.”
So her name was Ellise.
Blade’s girlfriend.
“Who is she?”
I looked at the two of them.
Blade had his hand around Ellise’s waist.
It hurt.
Why did I have to fall for him?
“She’s Elle, my secretary.”
“Hi, Elle. I’m Ellise.”
She held out her hand, and I quickly accepted it and shook her hand.
“And I’m Blade’s girlfriend.”
She kissed Blade right in front of me, as if she were telling me that Blade belonged to her.
My heart felt like a piece of paper being torn apart.
I didn’t even know if I could endure watching this.
I shouldn’t have allowed myself to develop feelings for Blade in the first place.
Then I wouldn’t be hurting like this now.
I turned away because I could already feel tears forming in my eyes.
I ran because I didn’t want Blade to see me crying.
It hurt.
It hurt so much to see the person you love kissing someone else.
“Elle, wait!”
I ignored Blade calling my name and just kept running.
I didn’t know where I was going.
I just wanted to get away from there.
The tears continued falling.
Maybe this was the sign that Blade and I were never meant to be.
I think we’re not really meant for each other.