Taste of Poison

Kabanata 29

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"His body temperature increased to thirty-seven degrees which is very shocking. His cold body became hot and now he has an extreme high fever. I don't know if it's a good thing or not," bakas ang pagkabahala sa boses ni Tito.

I was just staring at his face. Gusto ko siyang hawakan pero ayaw naman nila akong hayaan. They don't want to open the glass that hinders me from holding him.

"Thirty-seven? That's the normal human body temperature," komento ni Mallory.

"For vampires who has a cold body temperature, it's not normal," ani Kuya Aamon na siyang mahigit na kalmado sa amin maliban kay Mama Astrid.

"Why did this happen?"

"We injected him a virus. A malignant viruses..."

"And this is the result?"

"Yes," ani Mama. "He won't die from a virus, Ry. Any kind of viruses or no matter how high his body temperature become won't kill him."

"That's the power of his blood..." singit ni Tito na ngayon ay nasa harap na ng monitor.

He fixed his glasses then stood straight, still eyeing the computer.

"You found something?" I asked curiously.

Does it mean they found something about his blood? Why is it green? And how is it possible that his blood is what's keeping him alive despite his non-existent heartbeat.

Is it that really powerful? That special.

"His blood is everything to him," he started and typed something on the computer. "When his heart was still alive, its his blood that made it beat. That's how powerful his blood is..."

"That's insane!" pabulong na singhal ni Mallory.

"His blood was generating so fast that even if—" napatigil siya at bahagyang nanlaki ang mga mata sa kung anuman ang nakita niya sa monitor.

He immediately got up from his seat and ran towards us. Pinagmasdan niya ang katawan ni Azar na hubad ang pantaas. Then, he pointed something on Azar's chest where his heart is located.

"Sharp object," he whispered under his breath.

Napatingin kami roon pero wala naman akong nakitang kakaiba.

"It's either he was stabbed or something."

"What? Stabbed?" naguguluhan kong saad.

"Wala ba siyang nabanggit tungkol sa sugat? Like was he stabbed before? Or underwent a heart surgery or what?"

Dahan-dahan akong umiling. "No... I mean, he hasn't told me anything about his heart."

"He was stabbed, or a sharp object hits his heart hard that caused it to lost its beat."

Nakagat ko ang ibabang labi.

He was stabbed...

Who would stabbed him? Bakit kailangan pa iyon gawin sa kaniya?

Because of that person, he lose his chance to feel again. To love...

I wonder what happened. Why was he stabbed if that's the case?

"There's no scar so, I guess he had it done. But I'm really sure that he was stabbed," diin niya.

I bit my lower lip hard when I felt like I'm going to cry. I don't want to cry in front of them anymore.

I don't want them to see how weak I am for Azar. 

Ako ang nasasaktan. He can't feel anything and I felt like all his pain was meant for me.

Iyong ako ang nasasaktan hindi lang para sa aming dalawa kung hindi para sa kaniya rin.

Like we were meant to meet for me to carry his pain he's unable to feel and I'm willing to catch it all. That's all I can do for him at least.

"Back to what I was saying, his cell makes him stronger more than the average vampire because of his blood. It's impossible for him to die unless he's beheaded."

"He's that strong..." I heard Kuya Aamon whispered.

"He is strongest. That's why they're looking for him."

"What? Who's looking for who?"

Sinundan ko ng tingin si Tito na bumalik ulit sa harap ng monitor. He was whistling and looking around the corner as if he wasn't in panicked just minutes ago.

"Leo Madrigal."

"Who is he?" I asked again. "What does he want from us?"

"I told you, he doesn't want us to find the cure."

Umiling ako. "No! Hindi lang 'yan ang gusto niyang mangyari. Tell me, what does he really want?" I glanced at my mother.

"Ask her," tukoy niya kay Mama. "Ask her, Emory. Kung hindi pa rin niya nasasagot ang katanungan mo, I'm willing to spill the tea."

Bumaling ako kay Tito. "Can you just tell me? I thought we're family here! Then why can't you all trust me?" I bursted out.

"We trust you," Mallory murmured behind me.

Muli akong umiling sa kaniyang tinuran.

"Your action says otherwise," mapakla akong tumawa.

Umikot ako para tingnan sila isa-isa. They can't even looked at me! They were just staring on the ground like it was the most interesting part their eyes ever laid on!

Am I not that really trusted? Ano ba ang hindi nila kayang ipagkatiwala sa akin?

Are they afraid that I might make a reckless decision like I did before? The way I response to a situation like this, do they think I would get angry and decide things on my own?

Can't they see that I've changed?

I might get angry but, I'll try to understand every thing!

"Please..." I begged. "If I have to bend on my knees here, I will. Just tell me everything..."

Nag-init ang sulok ng mga mata ko. If I have to beg for my peace of mind, I will.

"I couldn't sleep at night thinking about it. My heart and mind is fighting whenever they had a chance to. My heart feels heavy with the idea of I'm not that enough, or trusted enough by my own family."

"Emory," tawag ni Mama.

"Why can't you tell me? I, at least, deserve to know the truth, right? I am part of this family!"

Napahilamos ako sa mukha gamit ang palad. I then, looked up and put my hand above my chest, feeling it pounding so hard.

I've never vent out before but this time, I just can't take it. It's peace of mind over anything.

Huminga ako nang malalim. "If you can't tell me—"

"No, no, baby..." Lumapit si Mama Astrid sa akin at hinawakan ang pisngi ko. "I'm sorry..." she cried.

"I'm sorry, Emory. I was just scared. Hindi ko alam kung saan ako magsisimula. Gusto kong sabihin ang lahat pero hindi ko alam kung paano."

She caressed my cheeks with her thumbs.

"Mama..." I called wearily.

"I will tell you everything," she smiled. "But not now, okay? Sasabihin ko ang lahat at wala akong ititira. Just give me more time, huh? Would you give it to mommy?"

Hinawakan ko ang kaniyang palapulsuhan. I gripped on it tight like my sanity depends on it. Paulit-ulit akong tumango sa kaniya. Hindi ko na nagawa pang magsalita.

I just nodded. Giving all my trust to her.

"I'm sorry," she whispered softly.

She wrapped her arms around me while I stood there, crying on her shoulder. Hindi na ako nakaimik pa. Pakiramdam ko lahat ng nakapagpabigat sa akin ay nawala.

My heart feels light. Those heavy feelings were now gone. It vanished in a second. Venting out helps me, for sure. But maybe, all I really need is my mother's hug.

The assurance that everything's gonna be okay. That this will end soon.

The thoughts that keeps me awake all night. My overthinking... Everything is just gone.

It helps me. Her hug helped a lot.

"Stop crying now," natatawang sabi ni Mama habang masuyong hinahaplos ang buhok ko.

"I can't..." I sniffed.

"Oh, dear God! Stop the drama, Astrid!" singhal ni Tito.

I chuckled and moved away from her. Hindi sila pinansin ni Mama. She just stared at me gently as he wiped my tears away.

"I will tell you everything, okay?" she assured me.

Muli akong tumango. "I trust you, Mama..."

Narinig kong pumalakpak ng dalawang beses si Tita Maureen. The other two were just silent behind us, eyes on the ceiling.

"I have received a news from one of our trusted ally," simula niya.

Lahat kami napatingin kay Tita.

"Good or bad?" tanong ni Mama.

"Bad..." Napangiwi si Tita.

"What is it?"

She looked at us. "Leo Madrigal is in New York..."

That day, the rest of us became busy preparing for his possible attack.

"He will not be affected by Vervain. Kung maaapektuhan man siya ay hindi iyon magiging malala. I heard he even injected himself with it to be immune."

Napangiwi ako. "What kind of devil he is?"

Nagkibit-balikat lang si Mallory habang patuloy kami sa pagpapibot mg Vervain sa buong paligid.

"Kung hindi siya maaapektuhan nito, then why do we even bother doing this? Throwing this lovely Vervains..." Napasimangot ako.

"Well, for additional protection in case. Baka magdala ng galamay si Leo. Who knows?"

I chuckled at her remarks. Nagpatuloy kami sa gawain. Lahat ng sulok ng bahay ay may proteksiyon. When we're done, we got back inside the house and saw Kuya Aamon getting something from a huge metal box.

"We need to clean this," tukoy niya sa mga palaso roon.

Mallory and I exchange glances. Naalala ko na naman ang mga bampirang napatay namin noong gabing iyon.

Good thing my skill to aim the target properly was still intact. Kung hindi ay baka wala akong natamaan ni isa sa kanila.

"This is awesome," she was amazed.

We walked towards him and checked the items. 

"These longbows are really my favorite..." komento ni Mallory.

I picked up the other one and studied its feature. I usually use the recurve bow as it shoots faster and more powerful than others, and the broadhead arrows. It was the model I used to haunt vampires that night.

"This is so exciting," muli niyang saad.

"Clean this and I will just ready the silvers."

Sabay kaming tumango.

Umalis na rin si Kuya Aamon habang patuloy pa rin kami ni Mallory sa pagtse-tsek ng pana. It feels good seeing those archers, felt like we're back to the life we had before.

The other tanders were busy in the basement and they just leave all the work to us. Sabi ay kailangan nilang matapos ang kanilang pagsasaliksik bago pa man kami matunton ni Leo Madrigal. If he ever finds us with nothing, I don't know what would happen.

"This is what we do before whenever we go for hunting," nakangiting sabi ni Mal.

"Yup," I agreed.

We cleaned all the items and gathered them in the long table we put in the living room. Hinawi ko ang buhok sa likod at tuwid na tumayo matapos malinisan ang huling palaso.

"It was tiring," ani ko.

"Yup! It's been years since we last clean a bunch of archers."

Lumabas si Kuya Aamon mula sa kusina. His shirt and hands were dirty as he passed by us.

"Done?" Nakataas ang kilay niyang tanong.

"Yes! Ilang taon yata iyon hindi nalinisan sa sobrang dumi," napangiwi si Mal.

Right. Sobrang alikabok nga ng mga palaso sanhi ng sunod-sunod kong pagbahing kanina habang naglilinis.

It seems like it was just stock for ages. Unused and dirty.

"You just cleaned those archers which were untouched for four years," sabi niya at tuluyan ng lumabas.

I pursed my lips. Guess we'll use it from now on.

The days passed like a whirlwind. I didn't notice the date or even what day it is today. All I know was yesterday, today, and tomorrow and I really don't care about it for now.

Sa lumipas na araw ay wala pa ring ganap. There's no Leo Madrigal, and no response from Azar but we have an unexpected visitors.

"Tita Anna..." nanlaki ang mata ko nang pagbuksan ang panauhing kanina pa nagd-doorbell.

It's his mother, and Tito...

"Darling!" masaya akong nakipag-beso kay Tita Anna.

"Tita..." nahihiya akong ngumiti.

Honestly, I don't know what to say. Should I greet her or ask how's life? Pilit akong ngumiti kay Tito na nakatingin lang din sa amin.

"Good morning," he greeted warmly.

"Good morning, Tito."

Iginaya ko sila sa sala at pinaupo roon. Well, should I ask what beverage they want?

"Uh..." I scratch my brow which made her chuckled.

"Don't bother, darling. I'm just here to see my son," I could feel the sadness on her voice.

"I'm sorry," I said sincerely.

"No one's fault. It's his choice. We've been asking him to cooperate but, he was just too pabebe. Gusto pang pilitin."

Ngumiti ako kay Tita. "You want to see him now?"

"Yes, please..." Nag-iwas siya ng tingin.

I smiled again. "Nasa basement po si Azar. He was put in to sleep for a month now."

I was about to accompany them to the basement when Mama Astrid showed up. Suot pa rin niya ang kaniyang puting roba't naka-gloves pa.

She wasn't shocked when she saw them. Seems like she has been expecting their visit.

"Anna, glad you arrived here safely."

Tumayo si Tita para harapin si Mama gayon din si Tito na binigyan pa siya ng halik sa pisngi.

I arc my brows but didn't bother to say anything.

"Get them a drink," utos ni Mama.

I was about to exit when Tita Anna stopped me.

"It's okay, Astrid. Narito lang ako upang makita si Azar at may dala rin akong balita."

Ako? Are they really not in good terms?

"Well, let's go..." my mother glanced at Tito's direction before turning around to bring them to the basement.

I stared at his back. I'm now wondering what kind of friendship he shared with my mother.

Hindi naman sa nagdududa ako pero parang gano'n na rin. It's just that...

I witnessed how he stared at her. Ni hindi nga niya tinapunan ng tingin si Tita Anna pero nang dumating si Mama, para bang lahat ng atensiyon niya napunta sa kaniya.

It was like a magnet. A two opposite poles attracting each other.

Napatingin ako sa portrait. What's the secret behind those quick glances?

"Emory," napalingon ako sa pinanggalingan ng boses.

"Tita," my brows furrowed.

She smiled. "Please take care of my son. I trust your whole family to not hurt him that much. We all want the cure but, I don't want to lose him."

"I will not fail you and Azar, Tita. You have my word," I assured her.

"Thank you," she said and went again to the basement.

I took a deep breath as I sat on the couch. Sumandal ako at tumingala't natulala na lang sa kisame.

What could have gone wrong?

Buong araw nanatili sila Tita sa bahay. I thought they will leave together when afternoon came but, I was wrong.

Nagulat na lang ako nang pagising ko sa hapon ay naroon pa rin si Tito. They were all silently sitting on the sofa in the living room. I was feeling conscious when I went down the stairs with all their eyes following my steps.

"Uh..." I uttered but no words come out.

I stopped on the last step when Mama Astrid talked.

I heard her deep sighs. "Let's have a talk."