Taste of Poison

Kabanata 6

Plan

I woke up hungry in the middle of the night. Dumiretso ako sa kusina at naghanap ng makakain. I found two refrigerators in the kitchen. Binuksan ko na lang ang isa.

I cooked omelette with tomatoes and onions. Nag-toast na rin ako ng tinapay. Sa lahat ng sangkap, bawang lang ang wala akong makita. His fridge was filled with a lot of healthy food. Para siyang nag-panic buying dahil may nakita pa ako sa cupboard na mga easy to cook food. Hindi ako magugutom kung dito ako titira.

Nasa kalagitnaan ako ng pagkagat ng tinapay nang may bumungad sa pinto ng kusina. Muntikan ko ng maitapon ang pagkain sa gulat.

"Azar!"

He's topless. Black pants lang ang suot niya at pawis na pawis. Pinupunasan niya ang mga braso habang lumalapit sa puwesto ko.

"Bakit ka pawis na pawis?" tanong ko.

"Gym. I can't sleep..." aniya.

Buntong hininga na tumayo ako at kumuha ng tubig. Nagsalin ako sa baso, umupo siya sa harap ko.

"May gym dito?"

"Sa taas..."

Binigay ko sa kaniya ang baso ng tubig. Inisang lagok niya lang iyon. Nagsimula ulit akong kumain. Kinulang yata siya dahil inabot niya ang pitchel at nagsalin ulit ng tubig.

"Ginutom ako kaya pasensiya na at nangialam ako rito sa kusina mo."

"It's okay. The food is yours," sabi niya. "Coffee?"

 "May fresh milk sa ref., iyon na lang. Ayoko ng kape."

Tumayo siya at kinuha ang gatas. Nagsalin siya sa baso at ibinigay sa akin. He sat beside me and wrapped his arms on my waist. 

"Tell me your fantasies," he whispered.

Natigil ako sa pag-inom ng gatas. Binalingan ko siya sabay baba ng baso. He's staring at me, too, with his lips brushing my bare skin. Umiwas lang ako ng tingin nang walang hiya niyang dinilaan ang balat ko roon.

"I want everything to be done without me lifting a finger."

"That's impossible," he paused. "Four days, babe... Don't you miss me? Because I do."

"I was tired."

"You were, how about now? Still tired?"

"I still have work. Ayokong mapagod sa gusto mong mangyari..."

He sighed. "Fine, then, just tell me your fantasies..." umayos siya ng upo.

"Why do you want to know?"

"So I could fulfil those."

Umiling lang ako sa gusto niyang mangyari.

Nang umaga na ay inihatid niya ako pabalik sa condo. We made out inside his car before letting me go. Naligo ako at nag-ayos para pumasok sa trabaho. My body felt relaxed and I'm not feeling tired anymore unlike before.

Dahil siguro napasarap ang tulog ko sa bahay ni Azar. I came back to sleep after I ate.

Tinapos ko ang ibang gawain noong umaga. Nang malapit na mag-lunch ay dumiresto ako kay Mama Astrid. 

"Good afternoon, Ms. Emory..." tumango ako sa sekretarya ni Mama Astrid.

Pumasok ako sa kaniyang opisina. I found her drinking wine while facing the glass wall.

"Hey, Mama..." umupo ako sa sofa.

Bumaling siya sa akin. "What brought you here?"

I stared at her.

Mama Astrid, I really don't know a thing about her. She's my mother, alright. All I knew was she came from a family who was a vampire hunter. My father died the day I was born for I don't know the reason and she never talked about him.

I swallowed the lump in my throat.

"Why did you invent the Vyn? You're calling the vampire's attention."

She walked towards her table and put the wine glass on it. Umupo siya sa kaniyang swivel chair.

"What's with your sudden interrogation, Emory? Why are you bringing that up?"

I took a deep breath. "Gusto kong malaman kung bakit, Mama Astrid. Inventing the Vyn may cause trouble between humans and vampires. Ma, you're putting the public at risk. And what's with that Lia?"

Her eyes became sharp. "Lia is your brother's fiancé. Hindi ko rin naman siya pipilitin kung ayaw niya magpakasal sa babaeng pinili ko."

"Don't give me that excuse, Mama. I know you're up for something," the sides of my lips rose up. "You're ignoring my question."

Tumawa siya, pero alam kong hindi dahil sa tuwa. Kinuha niya ang baso ng wine at ginalaw-galaw ito.

"Now, you're curious. Dati naman, hindi ka nagtatanong. What happened?"

"Just answer my question, Ma."

"I invented it to detect vampires, Emory. I knew you know how that perfume works for them. They cough as if they're allergic to it..."

 I remember the day when I first met Azar. The moment he coughed and blamed my perfume, that was when I doubted his being. Then yesterday...

His reaction that day, he's not sick like what that woman said. Iyon ang epekto ng Vervain sa mga bampira. Nasusunog kapag may close contact o 'di kaya ay nauubo. Ang malamig niyang katawan at ang puso niyang hindi tumitibok. Then, the absence of garlic in his kitchen.

I was observing him from the first time we met.

But no, he can freely walk under the sun! May reflection din siya! Azar isn't even wearing any amulets! 

"Why? May kilala ka bang bampira, Emory?"

"I still need to confirm it, Ma. Wala akong sapat na ebedensiya para masabing isa siya sa kanila."

"If that person is one of them, what would you do?"

"I'd surrender him to you..."

I loathed them so much. Once I find the truth, I'll surrender Azar with a heartbeat. He shouldn't have let his guard down from the very beginning. I may buy his excuse about the cough, garlic, his white pale skin and then, his cold body temperature but I wouldn't buy his excuse about his heart, not beating at all.

He's dead and every vampire is dead. They're useless creatures who killed innocent people.

Lumabas na ako sa opisina ni Mama Astrid, sakto naman na tumawag si Simeon para mag-aya ng lunch sa kalapit na restauntant. Akala ko kung ano na, iyon pala ay maglalabas siya ng sama ng loob sa amin. He even reserved a private room so he could vent out his feelings.

"I'm getting married," he announced. "Anak siya ng director sa hospital na pinasukan ko. Ni hindi ko siya gusto tapos malalaman kong isasakal na ako!"

"Poor, Simeon. Wala ka kasing pinapakilala sa amin kaya siguro si Tita Astrid na ang gumawa ng paraan," ani Mallory habang hinihiwa ang kaniyang medium rare steak.

"Puwede naman si Emory! She's twenty-five and still single!"

I stopped drinking water. "Wala bang sinasabi si Mama? I think she's up for something," I told them instead and put the glass on the table.

Natigil silang tatlo.

"Ano naman 'yon? Arrange marriage is common to rich families, Ry."

"Strange," I shrugged. "Perfume ang produkto natin, tapos pipiliin ni Mama na ikasal si Simeon sa taong inclined sa medicine. Wala akong mahanap na rason..."

"Simeon is a resident doctor."

"Arranged marriage happens for business, Kuya Aamon."

They went silent.

"Tell me... Si Mama, may rason siya kung bakit kayo pinabalik dito. Don't try to deny it," ani ko.

"I told you, hindi si Tita ang nagpabalik sa akin dito. It was my mother..."

I shook my head. "No, Tita Maureen doesn't want to live here, Kuya. Alam natin lahat 'yon."

He dropped the utensils on his plate. Seryoso niya kaming binalingan ni Mallory.

"Stay out, Emory. Both of you, just continue living normally."

I laughed once. "So, there is really a plan. May koneksiyon ba iyon sa mga bampira? I thought our job was done three years ago."

"You know nothing. You should have asked first before you decided to join the clan."

"Kuya..." si Mallory.

"What about you, Simeon? May alam ka ba? I'm sure may sinabi sa 'yo si Mama..." baling ko sa kaniya.

He looked away. "I don't know anything..."

Tumango-tango ako. "Okay... I'll just find it myself," with that, I stood up, grabbed my bag, and left the room.

Kinuha ko ang cellphone at tinawagan si Azar. I'm not a curious type of person. I don't ask questions, as long as it involves my family, sasali at gagawa ako ng mga bagay ng hindi tinatanong kung para saan. Katulad noon...

But now, I don't know what happened. Nagising ang galit ko na matagal kong pinatulog. I just want to get even. They killed Lolo Gaspare and honestly, kahit naman normal iyon sa klase ng buhay namin noon, hindi ko pa rin matanggap.

I killed the killer, pero hindi sapat...

 I want answers. Why did we stop? Bakit ngayon ko lang naisip ang bagay na 'yon? What if... hindi lang ang pagkamatay ni Lolo ang dahilan kung bakit namin tinalikuran ang buhay namin noon?

I don't know. Nevertheless, I shouldn't have stayed with Azar.

Nang sumagot siya ay pinatay ko rin ang tawag. Pumasok ako sa kotse ko at dinukdok ang ulo sa steering wheel.

Azar is nothing to me. But he became something the moment I heard no beat.

Inangat ko ang ulo nang may kumatok sa salamin sa side ko. I saw Mallory with her worried face. Binaba ko ang salamin.

"What?"

"Wala akong dalang sasakyan, pasabay. Sa opisina mo muna ako tatambay," aniya.

Tumango ako. Umikot siya sa passenger seat at pumasok. She buckled her seatbelt and looked at me.

"What was that?" she asked, almost a whisper.

"I don't know," I simply answered and started the engine. Nagsimula na akong magmaneho.

"Azar messaged me, asking your whereabouts. Sasabihin ko ba? Puwede naman akong magsinungaling, sasabihin ko na hindi ko alam kung gusto mo."

I glanced at her. "Hayaan mo..."

"What's the real score between you two? I saw him yesterday outside the condominium. I'm sure naman na ikaw ang pakay niya."

There's no point in denying. "Well, we fucked."

She gasped. "I knew it! Tapos deny ka pa ng deny noong tinanong kita!"

"I didn't..." sabi ko. "How's you and Alaric? Nag-level up na ba kayo?"

"Yes! Maybe... I don't know! Nakakawala ng katinuan ang utak niya!"

Bahagya akong tumawa. "Maybe he can't see himself being in a relationship with you, Mal. You've been together for two years yet you two are still friends," umiling-iling pa ako.

I don't know if I should be thankful because she forgot what happened minutes ago, or be disappointed because it seems like she wasn't interested at all.

"That hurts, Ry! But anyway... back to what happened, ano ba ang sinasabi mong plano ni Tita Astrid? For sure naman na sasabihin niya kung mayroon, 'di ba?"

Oh, she remembered.

"I was just curious, Mal. That's all!" Lumipat ako sa kabilang lane.

"Oh, talaga ba? Kuya Aamon was scary earlier and really, really serious. Kaya hindi basta-basta ang pinag-usapan kanina."

"Maybe..."

We arrived safely at the company. Tumambay nga siya sa opisina ko habang ako naman ay may tinatapos. She was silent the whole time but then, the tranquillity made her bored she can't help but speak.

"Anyway, tomorrow is Friday. You'll go out with us naman, 'di ba?"

I stopped flipping pages for a second. 

Kapag pumunta ako sa A Club, tiyak na naroon si Azar. Hindi ko alam kung paano siya haharapin pagkatapos ng natuklasan ko kagabi. Wala rin akong natanggap na mensahe sa kaniya kahit tinawagan ko siya kanina na pinatay ko naman agad nang sumagot siya.

Isa pa, iniisip kong bawiin ang pagpayag ko sa ginawa naming arrangement. But that would be absurd. We just started and another thing... it's not yet confirmed that he's a vampire. Kahit may posibilidad na isa siya sa kanila, kailangan ko pa rin iyon makompirma.

"Yes, I'll go. I don't have any reason not to..."

"Dapat lang 'no! Our Audrey seem problematic din! Hindi ko alam sa babaeng 'yon, hindi naman nagsasabi."

I didn't respond. Pinagpatuloy ko ang trabaho.

Hindi na rin natiis ni Mallory ang manatili kaya naman nang may tumawag sa kaniya ay umalis na siya. I was left alone inside my lonely office. I just shrugged my thoughts and continued working. Pero nasa kalagitnaan pa lang ako ng pagbabasa ay tumunog ang cellphone ko.

I dropped the papers on my table and grabbed my phone resting beside me. Tiningnan ko ang mensahe roon.

Azar:

Why did you call?

My forehead knotted. That was hours ago and he just asked now. Really.

Ako:

Napindot lang.

He immediately replied. Hindi ba siya busy?

Azar:

I'll pick you up later after work. Let's have an early dinner.

Wala sa sarili akong umiling. Kinuha na nga niya ang oras ko kahapon, pati ba naman ang oras ng pahinga ko para sa araw na ito ay ipagkakait niya?

Ako:

I'm busy.

Azar:

Do you still work even after your work hours?

Ako:

Yes, kaya stop texting me.

 Akma kong ibababa ang cellphone nang tumunog ito.

Then his name appeared on my screen. I rolled my eyes as I swiped the green button.

"I told you to stop disturbing me," bungad ko.

"You told me to stop texting you, so I called," aniya. "Why did you call again?"

He won't really stop.

"Napindot ko nga! Kaya nga pinatay ko kaagad kanina, 'di ba?"

"I thought you missed me," he paused. "Well, are you busy? I'll pick you up later, Emory."

Kinagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi. Why is he so stubborn?

"Stick to our schedule, Azar. Tomorrow night, I'll be there in A Club. You can have me..." I licked my lower lip.

I can't resist him, that's what I noticed. But once I find out his real identity, I wouldn't think twice but cut whatever we have right now. The fact that he can freely walk under the sun and his reflection are the things that are holding me back from believing my assumptions.

Hangga't walang ebedensiya, mananatili ako.

"Weekend follows. Does that mean you'll spend your time with me from Friday night to Sunday?"

Napatuwid ako ng upo.

That would be a great opportunity to get concrete evidence, right? I'll just have to stick to the plan and never let him find out what I was. Baka kapag nalaman niya kung ano ang buhay ko rati ay mapahamak pa ako kung sakaling isa nga siyang bampira.

My strength is nothing compared to him.

I cleared my throat. "Yes."

Narinig ko ang malalim niyang paghinga sa kabilang linya.

"That's great, you'll live with me at my house for two days."

"Yup," I said softly. 

I heard him laugh. "It's settled then. I want to seal it with a kiss but you're not here."

Umangat ang tingin ko sa pinto ng opisina ko nang may kumatok. Iniluwa roon ang sekretarya ni Mama Astrid. She looked at my phone then uttered a sorry. Akala yata ay disturbo siya.

I just raised my hand.

"I have a meeting to attend to, Azar. I'll hang up now," hindi ko siya hinintay na magsalita, binabaan ko agad siya.

"Sorry po, Ms. Emory, pinapatawag ka po ni Ma'am Astrid sa opisina niya. Punta ka raw po ngayon din."

Tumango ako. Umalis naman agad siya. Inayos ko muna ang sarili bago lumabas sa opisina ko at pumunta kay Mama Astrid. Ano naman kaya ang sasabihin niya? I fake a coughed and open her office door. Natagpuan ko siya na nakaupo sa sofa habang nakaharap sa laptop.

She looked at my direction.

"Come here..."

Lumapit ako at umupo sa sofa na kaharap niya.

I crossed my legs. "You should've called me..." tukoy ko sa pagpapunta niya sa sekretarya niya.

"Your phone was busy."

Right... Azar called.

"Anyway, I'm planning to advertise the Vyn on national tv. The board agreed to have you as the company's model."

I immediately looked at her. "Why not Mallory? She's a model."

She arcs her brow. "You were a model."

"Ayoko..."

"Announcing the existence of the Vyn is a good idea, Emory. I think the government is planning to reveal the truth behind the killings, too. That's an advantage on our side, there would be a rapid increase in demand sa products natin."

"Ma!"

"I'm helping the public. For sure ay mababawasan ang biktima ng mga bampira. Our perfume is a big help, Emory! That was why I made it aside from finding out who is who!"

Umiling ako. "I don't like the idea."

"I am helping them. I made protection for them to be safe. Alin ang hindi mo gusto?"

Tumayo ako. "Matutulungan mo nga sila, pero paano kung ikaw naman ang mapahamak? Tinatawag mo ang atensiyon ng mga bampira papunta sa 'yo..."

"That's the plan, Emory."

Natigilan ako. "Ma..."

Pagod niya akong tiningnan. "Hindi ko tuluyang kinalimutan ang buhay ko noon, Emory. I grew up hunting devils kahit alam ko kung bakit sila naging ganoon, but the fact still remains, devils are still devils," she paused. "I'm not giving up my previous life..."

"Pero, Ma. Ikaw na ang nagsabi na mamuhay tayo ng normal."

Umiling siya. "I can't... vampires killed my family. My grandparents, Emory."

Umawang ang labi ko. "Does that mean..."

"I'm sorry but, your father is still alive. He's hiding with my father."

Umiwas ako ng tingin. My heart is beating fast knowing I still have a father. Alive but hiding.

"Why?"

She smiled faintly. "I don't think you would take the reason, Emory. It's better for you to stay out of this mess. Live normally, stay out. Hahanap na lang ako ng ibang model."

"I want to see him..."

"Don't..." tumayo siya at lumapit sa akin. She held my hands and gently squeezed it. "Leave everything to me, okay? I'll do everything to protect all of you."