Taste of Poison

Kabanata 12

Trigger warning!

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Blood

The days were like a rotor as it passed by. Hapon nang hinatid niya ako pabalik sa condo. I stayed in bed for the rest of the day to regained my strength and got back to work when morning came. Nang makita ko si Mama Astrid ay lumipad ang isip ko sa nalaman noong isang araw.

Ngayon ay naging klaro sa akin ang lahat. My father was infected... he was dying but managed to lived again all thanks to VBT the virus. That made him a vampire, and a monster in my eyes. My mind wandered. Was he one of the reasons why Mama Astrid decided to stopped hunting? That's absurd if yes.

His kind killed Lolo Gaspare and any other members of our family and yet, Mama Astrid chose to quit because of who? My father who only helped her produced me and Simeon. I think it's not right. It's wrong in so many levels. Kahit saan ko tingnan, mali.

"I have the right to be angry, right? Pero bakit parang may pumipigil sa 'kin..." my voice was low and weak as I told Azar everything.

He fetched me for lunch. We went to a nearest restaurant and now, Azar being a friend, treat me and since my heart was filled with emotions, I chose to vent out.

Hiniwa niya ang kaniyang medium rare stake. Ganoon din ako at sinimulan na mag-lunch.

"Because he's your father, Emory. Dumadaloy ang dugo niya sa 'yo. That no matter how angry you are to him, deep inside you're still longing for a fatherly love," sabi niya.

I swallowed the food. "He's a vampire. Kung hindi siya bampira, siguro mababawasan pa ang hatred na nararamdaman ko sa kaniya."

Tinigil niya ang ginagawa at tiningnan ako.

"Some were forced to become a vampire, experimented, and were born as vampire because their parents were infected," he shrugged and drank his water. "Consider those and think twice wether to hate your father or not."

Nahulog ako sa malalim na pag-iisip.

How would you accept your father, who's a vampire and the caused of your fear? My father's kind who killed my Lolo Gaspare. Vampires who killed humans. Ang hindi nga hanapin si Mama Astrid noong umalis siya ay mahirap na tanggapin. What more?

I shook my head, hindi tinatanggap ang kaniyang suhestiyon.

"I'm not sure. Isa pa, paano ka naman nakakasiguro na they were experimented? There's no evidence na gawa sa tao ang virus."

Pinagpatuloy namin ang pagkain habang nag-uusap pa rin.

"Let's just say that humans created the virus. Pero paano nga kung ganoon ang nangyari? If for example, naniwala ka ng isa ako sa kanila, and if I told you I was forced, would you still run?" Medyo seryoso niyang sinabi.

I nodded without second thoughts. "You're still a vampire, so yes."

Umiling siya. "What would make you change your mind?"

Napaisip ako roon, pilit na humanap ng sagot ngunit wala.

Muli akong umiling. "Wala..." mariin kong sinabi.

His face darkened. "Why are you so cruel to them? Not all vampires are bad like what you think. So I suggest to stop labeling them as monster and such."

Tiningnan niya ako habang nginisihan ko siya.

"No one can change my mind, even you..."

"I won't even try."

Maingat kong nilapag ang kubyertos at mahinhin na uminom. Nakikisabay sa amin ang classical music na pinapatugtog dito sa restaurant.

"So, can you show me something that would make me believe you're a vampire?" I asked smiling.

"Umamin na ako, matagal na. Pero bakit nandito ka pa rin?"

"Those are lies... I mean, words are. I prefer to see you transform into vampire, that would make me believe your words," tipid ko siyang nginitian.

C'mon, do it. Show me your fangs, your eyes, or cut yourself and let me see it heal itself. I won't question his reflection and all, seeing those are more than enough.

"It'll be more satisfying on your part if you'd discover it yourself."

Ngumuso ako. "My plan is to cut you or myself for you to smell my blood," pag-amin ko sa kaniya.

Nagtaas siya ng kilay. "Really? Then do it," hamon niya.

Tumingin ako sa paligid.

The place is too peaceful to ruin it. Ayokong maghatid ng takot sa mga tao rito kaya naman inilingan ko si Azar sa gusto niya. I am not that selfish to do it here, in front of these innocent people who came here just to have a good lunch.

Binalingan ko si Azar na panay titig pa rin sa akin.

"I can't, this place it too good to leave a bad mark."

Hindi na siya nagsalita pa. He called the waiter to serve us the second course, agad naman iyon tumalima. Tahimik ulit kaming kumain at pilit hindi sinisira ang masarap na tanghalian. I could feel his stares as I continue enjoying my meal.

"What do you do for a living?" Tanong ko, pinapawi ang tensiyon sa naging usapan namin.

Segundo bago niya binuka ang bibig. Ang akala ko ay hindi niya iyon sasagutin katulad noong una.

"I owned the Men's Company, ever heard of it?"

My jaw dropped. He owned that?!

Yves, Simeon and Kuya Aamon are his loyal clients kung ganoon. I heard rich men run to Men's Company to treat theirselves a good quality of men's wear. Minsan nga ay nagpabili pa ako kay Simeon doon ng boxer dahil sobrang komportable nitong suotin!

"Of course! Boxers from that company are so comfy to wear!" I exclaimed.

He chuckled. Tuluyan ng kinalimutan ang usapan namin kanina lang.

"That's true, I saw you wearing one of our products."

Namula ang pisngi ko. Iyon ang araw na pinili namin manatili sa kama, naalala kong tee shirt niya ang suot ko noon at boxer na dala ko, na produkto pala nila.

"Tapos may mga babae kang kliyente? That woman?"

Kumunot ang kaniyang noo. "You're also my client," sinabi niya.

I pursed my lips. "Ang kapatid ko naman ang bumibili, hindi ako. That made him your client and not me."

Ngumisi siya, hindi na nakipagtalo.

Pinili ulit naming manahimik at tinapos ng matiwasay ang lunch. He was holding my waist as we went out of the restaurant even until we reached his car. Tumigil kami sa gilid ng kaniyang sasakyan. Inangat ko ang tingin kay Azar.

"Are you free tomorrow?" He asked before opening the passenger door for me.

"I have work, ikaw rin meron. Kaya we're not both free," sinabi ko at pumasok sa loob.

Kinabit ko ang seat belt sa sarili. Si Azar ay hawak pa rin ang pinto na nakadungaw sa akin.

"Wanna see me transform?"

Dahan-dahan kong inalis ang kamay mula sa pagkabit ng seat belt. Seryoso ko siyang binalingan.

"You want to get rid of me?" I asked instead.

Umayos siya ng tayo. His face reflect mine, serious.

"You'll leave eventually. Papaagahin ko lang," balewala niyang sinabi.

Pinagdikit ko ang labi at ako na mismo ang nagsara ng pinto. So much mood for today. Akala ko ay nakalimutan na niya iyon pero sige, seeing him transform would end my confusion. Pumasok na rin siya sa driver seat at sinimulang magmaneho pabalik sa kompanya.

I can't help but glanced at him.

"You'd do that?"

"Yes," he flicked his tongue. "So you can decide early, too."

Tinikom ko ang bibig buong byahe hanggang sa nasa harap na kami ng building. Wala sa sariling tinanggal ko ang seat belt at akma ng lalabas ng kaniyang sasakyan nang ni-lock niya ang pinto. He unfastened his seat belt and face me.

"So, what do you want to see? Fangs, my eyes, nails, or you can cut me if you want."

"Akala ko ba ay mas mabuti kung ako mismo ang makadiskubre?" Mahina ang boses ko.

Bahagya siyang tumawa. "You'll see it yourself, Emory. Bakit parang gusto mong umatras?"

I bit my cheek. "I'm not yet ready..."

Umiling siya at hindi tinanggap ang rason ko. He took something from the small compartment.

A knife.

My mind is in turmoil as I followed his next move. Kahit ng tuluyang niyang sinugatan ang kaniyang palapulsuhan ay hindi ko naiwas ang tingin doon. I expected it but my lips still parted in shocked as I saw it heal itself... in front of me.

But his blood...

"It's not red... Why?" I whispered in the wind as I went out of his car, gasping for air.