After that death-defying action stunt, John has now safely gotten on board, sitting right next to me – and unwelcomed. Well, I don't have any plans on tagging him along with me in the first place, he gave me no choice.

It's either I let him fall and die, or help him out and spoil my plans. Obviously, I'd love to choose the first one if this is one of those Tom & Jerry episodes. But this is real, if he falls he won't just lay flat on the ground like a paper and stand up like nothing just happened – plus the laughing voices in the background.

The view I had while helping him up, was like a nightmare unfolding itself to reality. It was a déjà vu kind of feeling, from the dream I had where I was dangling aimlessly by the window of Tristan's condo. Though this time the role had been interchanged. Now, I'm playing Will's role, but there's no way I'd do what he did to me. I had no intentions of letting John fall, no matter how hard it is for me to look at the sight below him.

Sadly, that moment had pasted itself in my memory using a superglue, making it impossible to remove.

"You okay Princess?" He asked while looking at me, his face had a tinge of concern. I honestly find it odd why he's not questioning me about my escape stunt, and instead asked on how I was doing. "You're pale."

Duh. Ever heard of vampire's bruh?

"I'll be a zombie soon, and your brain will be my first meal." I said with a straight face, while gripping the seatbelt tightly until my hands grew white.

"You're scared of heights." He said with a small smile on his cute face.

For the second time, duh.

"But you faced it when you helped me. Thank you." He said and his smile grew into a full one. He then held my frozen hands, as he rubbed it gently between his own, putting some heat on it. "You're safe. I'm here." He said while placing my hands close to his mouth, blowing warm breaths to it.

My heart started pounding, and I don't know why. Maybe it's because of his words and those soulful eyes that's filled with sincerity. I'm now weirdly melting under his presence.

"I'm fine." I said and took my hands away from his grasp.

I like Tristan, period. There's no room for one more. Even if I develop a small crush on John, soon it will grow into a bigger one, and that's something I can't control. The heart always does what it wants and follows its own terms. So I had to stop anything that would cause it to bloom.

"Why did you do that?" I asked without looking at him.

"Because you're cold."

I rolled my eyes. "Not that. I mean why did you jump on the helicopter?"

"I had to. I was assigned to be your personal bodyguard. And it's my sworn duty to keep you safe." He said with pride and honor.

"Meaning, you're going to follow me around, at all cost?" I asked with one eyebrow up. He simply nodded, and I sighed.

I probably have no escape with this guy following me around like he's my detached tail. Guess, I'll have to reformat the plans in my head.

Few hours had past and I can finally see the island of Cebu. I then instructed the pilot to land somewhere that's not owned by the hunters association or anywhere related to our race. It was illegal to land on some place without permission, I guess, but I can't afford to be caught first hand without even the slightest progress out of my plans.

The helicopter then landed on an open lot, when I realized that they could easily track us if John has his phone with him. And they probably knew by now where we are.

"Give me your phone." I asked while I put my hand out. He gave it to me without hesitation, and I was planning to throw it out like Dan did to mine, but I simply left it on our seat, under my knitted sweater. "Let's go." I made him walk ahead of me, for he might grab the phone while I'm not looking. I looked at the pilot and said my thanks. I know he's not allowed to land here, so he needs to take off almost immediately.

When the two of us reached the open road, his face scrunched up seeing the hoard of jeepneys on the streets. I laughed. I forgot that he probably hasn't been to this place. I waved my hand and automatically a jeepney stopped in front of us. "Come on." I said and went ahead of him.

The jeepney has this seating arrangement like the one in a train, making us face the other people inside. Unluckily, the one we just hopped into is packed with commuters. And what makes jeepneys different from trains, is the small space inside. Making each of us have a full view on one another. And it's not a surprise that some of the girls who's riding with us, would stare at John. He's a foreigner with a cute face and blue eyes, obviously he'll stand out more than any of us here.

The jeepney stopped into a mall, and a familiar one at that. It's the same one where Kayla and I kidnapped Tristan – and I just used the word kidnapped.

I realized that it was pretty late and I guess we both needed to rest. Especially me, who's been hopping around into different places without much sleep. I need to be in my best condition when I face my friends, and not faint in the middle of saying goodbye.

We checked into a hotel a couple of blocks away from the mall, and decided to stay there till morning. John won't let me be in a different room because of security reasons, he said. But the truth is, he's just scared that I might pull off another escape stunt when he's not looking – and he's right. I was thinking of leaving him if I get the chance. But it's obviously not happening with his watch. He's more vigilant than Kayla to be honest, well, he's training was probably different from hers.

We end up sharing a room, but I obviously don't want to sleep in a bed next to him. So I booked a room with two beds. But even though were not sleeping next to each other, I can't miss out the fact that being in the same room with a boy I barely knew is still awkward – to the highest possible level.

John went to the shower and I grabbed this opportunity to call Daisy, and no I wasn't thinking of escaping. I realized my father would punish me more, if I walk around without a chaperone. Knowing there's a killer roaming around to hunt royal bloods, which includes me.

"Hello?" I heard Daisy's voice on the other line.

"Hey-" Before I could even finish my sentence, she already recognized my voice, and she's now currently shrieking like a pig on high.

"Finally! Omg you're alive! We've missed you! How are you? You do know you're a drop out by now right? You've been gone for almost a month! And you didn't called us even once! Why?!" She ranted like a machine gun on the other side.

"Uhm. The signals' pretty bad in the province." I said, and it's a good thing I didn't forget about the lie I've told her. Because if not, then world war 3 would sprout.

"Excuses. Anyways tomorrow's the Sinulog* you should come with us! And no is not an option. You have to make up for your absences!" She said with so much energy, I can almost feel it pouring from the phone. I sighed. I don't have a choice then.

( Sinulog is an annual festival held in Cebu, celebrating the patron saint of the city. But the younger generations has and always have a different take to it, because on this day as well, the whole town turns into a party ground. I bet Wikipedia won't agree to that.)

"Fine. Where's the meeting place?"

"The usual. Remember wear white!" She said and hanged up.

I laughed a bitter one, I'm gonna miss them a whole lot. Tomorrow will probably be the last time we'll hang-out together as a group.

Then the phone rang, again. I answered and it was Daisy, maybe she forgot to tell me to bring paint. Well, one of our traditions –that's recently been made, like a few years ago, fortified by hardcore party people– during that festival is to wipe paint on any random stranger we get our hands on. That's why most people who attends it wears white, for the sole purpose of getting dirty.

I know, the logic.

But unlike them I wear a raincoat. I hated the idea of people throwing water at me, or alcohol, or even urine for all I know. Which is gross.

"Advance happy birthday by the way! You can finally be legally drunk! Woot-woot!" She said and hanged up, again. And I have no idea if she was drunk or sober.

And shit. I'm turning 18 tomorrow!

And I just forgot my birthday.