Vampire's Pathos

Blood 18

"Ano na naman ba 'yang pinagsasabi mo, Kean?"

Rinig na rinig ko yung inis sa boses nung babae at napatayo siya sa kinauupuan niya kanina.

It looks like she doesn't agree with me being welcomed to their so called clan "Aequalis". But the truth is, I actually don't care if I am a part of it or not.

I'd rather go with the choice that will keep my head in its place.

"Why not? I mean, makakasama naman natin siya buong magdamag 'di ba? She can also be the mediator between us and humans, you know?"

The smile never disappeared on Kean's face as he explained, and the woman scoffed.

"You mean, those Hunters? Alam mo namang gustong gusto nila tayong putulan ng ulo di ba?" She mimicked Kean's voice with a hint of mockery in hers.

Humans and hunters? They meant vampire hunters?

So, ibig sabihin nito hindi lang ako ang nakakaalam sa kanila?

Matapos si Franchesca, sunod na nagsalita si Ren- I mean, si Kei na nasa tabi ko na ngayon.

"I agree, even though it would be nice to have another girl in the group but-" Pinutol naman kaagad ni Lucifer yung sasabihin niya at dinugtungan.

"Just go straight to the point." Lucifer snapped at Kei, at nagsamaan sila ng tingin.

Bakit parang nag aaway away na sila?

"I was about to, but then you cut me off." Pareho silang naglalakad papalapit sa isa't isa, and the two of them were giving off a menacing aura.

Like two bombs about to blow off any minute.

"Ano lalaban ka ba?" Lucifer provoked Kei, at napaatras nalang ako nung makita ko nalang na may mga nakatutok ng mga espada sa leeg nilang dalawa.

The Aerovan brothers gave them a warning by pointing swords at Lucifer and Kei's neck. Yung isa nakangiti, while the other one looked indifferent.

But the only same thing they had was their eyes..

Just one look, and you can already feel that they were serious. Their eyes were sharp and piercing, and it was only telling me one thing..

One wrong move, and you're dead.

"Not in our household. None of you are even supposed to be here." Nakangiti pa rin si Kean habang sinasabi 'yon, but his eyes were already telling them to drop dead, if that was possible.

Natatakot na ako sa pwedeng mangyari, and I could feel my legs shaking. But then, nakita ko nalang si Kei na unti unting tinataas yung dalawa niyang kamay.

"My bad, muntikan ko nang makalimutan." Ani niya as if he was surrendering, and the brothers removed the swords from their necks, at sumunod naman si Lucifer na bigla nalang yumuko.

"I apologize."

Lucifer sincerely apologized, at parang unti unti nang kumalma yung buong paligid.. like it wasn't full of killing intent earlier.

Are they always at each other's necks like this? I mean, literally?

"Mga bata ba kayo?" Napatingin ako kay Franchesca nung siya yung magsalita, and it was soon followed by Haven who was just standing on the other side of the room with his arms crossed.

"You're not one to talk, Franchesca."

Haven's voice was calm and sure of himself, na parang katotohanan yung sinabi niya. And by the looks of it, mukhang hindi naman nagawang itanggi ni Franchesca yung sinabi niya.

Habang pinapanood ko yung pakikitungo nila sa isa't isa.. It's kind of hard to believe that they have their own clan.

May mali ba sa mga kinabibilangan nila kaya gumawa sila ng sarili nilang grupo?

What was the point of their clan anyway?

Para silang nagsama sama lang at tinitiis yung mga kasama nila, but then, they have some kind of connection with each other..

Like a purpose behind all of it.

"You're scaring her."

Agad na natigil ang alitan nila, at napatingin silang lahat sa akin matapos magsalita ni Haven.

Para akong sinasakal ng mga tingin nila, at hindi ko alam kung ano yung gagawin ko.

"Haven, what do you think?" I looked at Kean, at nakita kong wala na siyang hawak na espada sa kamay niya.

Does their sword come and go as they please?

"No." Isang maikling sagot ang lumabas sa bibig ni Haven, disagreeing in Kean's decision to invite me to their clan.. At napabuntong hininga nalang si Kean.

"Then, I have no choice."

Nakuha naman ni Kean lahat ng atensyon namin in just an instant, at parang lahat ng nasa loob ay nakaamba sa pwedeng gawin ni Kean.

What's this? What will happen?

The tension in the room was rising, and Kean finally said his words.

"I welcome you as an unofficial member of Aequalis!"

Para akong nabagsakan ng isang toneladang bato sa ulo ko matapos kong marinig si Kean. Seryoso ba siya?

Was I wrong to think that this man was dangerous?

"Is there no end to your antics, Kean?" There was frustration present in Lucifer's voice as he said that, at napailing nalang siya matapos magsalita.

"Pinapasali mo siya, samantalang hindi niya naman alam kung ano yung rason at binuo natin 'to." Nakita kong napatingin sa akin si Haven, at naibalik ko yung tingin ko kay Kean.

What Haven said was right..

Sasabihin ba ni Kean yung tungkol dito? Or would I still be in the dark even though I'm already a part of it?

At ano ba yung kailangan para masabing parte na ako ng Aequalis?

"Hm, first of all, let's start by our traditions." Nagsimulang magsalita si Kean, and I listened carefully.

Traditions? So, you mean vampires like them have traditions too?

"We are not allowed to see other vampires besides our clan."

Nakunot ko kaagad yung noo ko matapos siyang magsalita.

Besides their clan..?

Napatingin ako sa lahat ng bampira na nasa loob ng kwarto.

All of them have different last names..

"Yes, that's exactly why they can't be seen here."

Kean answered like he read my mind, at nagpatuloy lang siya sa pagsasalita.

"Unless necessary matters between clan leaders and certain circumstances, other members of the clan must never interact with a different one."

Natapos na siya magpaliwanag, at napaisip nalang ako..

Must never interact? Then, paano 'yon?

How do they even..

"You mean.." Napatingin lang ako kay Kean, and he smiled as an answer.

"Talking, meeting, and having a relationship with someone from different clan than ours is forbidden." Isa isang nagtaasan yung balahibo ko nung marinig ko 'yon mismo sa bibig ni Kean. 

"For example, all of our parents.. are siblings."

Hindi ko alam yung mararamdaman ko sa nalaman ko, pero hindi ko talaga inasahan yung salitang lumabas sa bibig ni Kean.

"And we made this clan to break those type of rules."

Isa isa akong napatingin sa kanila, and they weren't saying anything..

Which meant that what Kean said just now was real..

All of them.. were born from parents who are siblings..

"You might think it's unusual since you're a human, pero para sa amin normal lang 'yon." Paliwanag niya pa ulit kaya napaisip nalang ako.

"Kung normal 'yon, why would you even break it?"

Napatanong nalang ako at napatingin ako kay Lucifer na sunod na nagsalita.

"Let me answer that." Ang una niyang sinabi, and he composed himself.

"When a family of a certain clan gives birth to a son or a daughter, their whole lives are already decided for them. Kung anong edad ka pwedeng lumabas ng mansyon, people you should meet, people you can never meet, your partner in marriage, and even your powers are decided for you."

I could kind of understand where they were coming from..

Sino ba naman kasing gusto nang buhay kung saan planado na lahat para sayo hindi ba?

"Being born as a pure blood means you have no right to choose."

Narinig ko yung boses ni Franchesca, at nung nagtama yung mga tingin namin inirapan niya naman kaagad ako.

Ano naman kayang problema nitong babaeng 'to sa akin?

Nabalot ng katahimikan yung buong kwarto dahil sa sinabi ni Francheca, at walang alinlangan naman itong binasag ni Kei.

"So, ano nang plano ngayon?" Tanong niya kaya naiba ang usapan, at isang malapad na ngiti ang nakita ko sa mukha ni Kean.

And as if everyone was already expecting it..

Ako lang yung nagulat sa sunod na sinabi ni Kean.

"We're killing Jillian, of course." 

Dahan dahan akong naglakad papunta sa classroom habang iniisip lahat nang mapag usapan namin nung araw na 'yon.

Our clan discussion ended three days ago.

Everyone was speaking their opinions with me being a new member, but Kean strongly insisted that I would be an unofficial member.

Sumasakit lang ulo ko kapag naririnig ko yung boses ni Kean. Can't he get a hint na ayaw naming lahat sa desisyon niya?

But in the end no one could convince him.

Akala ko nga magsasalita si Kian.. Since it was his brother after all, pero nanatili lang siyang tahimik. Like he didn't care, or he was done with his brother's attitude.

And.. there's still the problem of how they are planning to kill..

Jillian Cress.

Yes, I know the shaky relationship between their families, and from all the information I got.. Nalaman ko rin na kapatid ni Haven si Jillian, and that their sibling relationship might've meant nothing to him.

Kaya sa huli.. isang tanong lang talaga ang meron ako.

What's the reason that they want to kill her?

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad at pati na rin sa pag iisip nung makita kong may mga babae nang nakaharang sa harap ko.

"Bakit lagi ka nang nakasunod kay Kian?"

Tanong nung babaeng nasa gitna nila, at saka ko lang naalala yung problema na dala ng ginawa ko.

"I'm his maid." Sagot ko nang walang alinlangan, at kanya kanya silang reaksyon dahil sa sinabi ko.

"'Wag ka ngang magpatawa! An Arella like you? Magiging maid?!" Sigaw ng isang mag maikling buhok, at nainis nalang din ako.

Kung gusto niya magpalit kami ng posisyon.

Baka hindi pa siya nakakaabot ng isang linggo, patay na siya.

"After Rion si Kian naman? And then what? Isusunod mo na rin si Kei? Aahasin mo ba lahat ng lalaki dito?!" Hindi ko na alam kung anong pinaglalaban ng mga babaeng 'to.

Ang alam ko lang naman ngayon, ginagawa ko 'to para mabuhay.

Not that I could actually say that though.

"Did I just hear my name?"

Magsasalita pa sana yung babae, kaso may narinig kaming boses sa likod ko, and just by hearing it, parang ayoko nang alamin pa kung sino 'yon.

"Hey, there little princess. Kanina pa kita hinahanap."

Napaakbay si Kei sa balikat ko, at napatingin ulit sa mga babae na nasa harapan namin ngayon.

He was looking for me? What for?

"Kei, did you know? Malandi 'yang babaeng 'yan!" Sambit na naman nung babaeng nasa gitna, at nanggagalaiti na akong sapakin yung mukha niya.

But instead of lashing out, I kept myself calm.

This type of petty quarrels are not worth my energy.

"Malandi? What are you saying?" Kei scoffed, at natawa siya sa mga sinasabi nung babae.

At lahat sila nagtaka sa sinabi niya, pati na rin ako.

"We chose her, so paano mo masasabing malandi siya?" Tinanggal ni Kei yung braso siya sa balikat ko, and he slowly made his way to the girl na napakalaki yung pinaglalaban.

At hindi ko naman mapigilang maisip yung sinabi niya.

They chose me? Ano na namang pinagsasabi ng lalaking 'to?

He closed the distance between him and the girl, and he slowly leaned his face to hers as he puts his hands in his pockets.

"You poor girl.. hindi ka kasi kapili pili e." A snide remark came out of his lips, at hindi na nakapagsalita yung babae. I don't know if he was intimidating them, but there was something different ever since he faced the girl.

He stood up properly, at tinanggal niya yung mga kamay niya sa bulsa niya. And he suddenly held the girl's hand out of nowhere, at hinalikan niya 'yon.

Ginagawa niya ba 'yan sa lahat ng babae?

"But I can always settle for less." Nakita kong ngumiti si Kei, at parang na-overwhelm yung babae sa sinabi niya.

He just insulted her, at ganon yung naging dating sa kanya? Don't tell me it has something to do with a spell? Napabuntong hininga nalang ako dahil sa nangyari.

This is not worth my time.

Bago pa ako madamay ulit sa g**o, I slowly slipped away from them at tumakbo na kaagad para makapunta sa classroom ko.

Habang hinahabol yung hininga ko, napahawak ako sa pinto ng room namin.

Ngayon lang ulit ako napatakbo ng ganito.. Ever since that day at least.

When I finally caught my breath, napatayo ako nang maayos at papasok na sana sa classroom.. but then someone called my name.

"Eara!" Napalingon ako sa likod ko, at nakita ko si Naomi na papalapit sa akin.

Hindi ko alam kung babatiin ko ba siya o hindi, that's why I ended up just staring at her until she was finally in front of me.

"This might sound weird pero.." Nagtaka na ako sa mga una niyang sinabi, at nag alinlangan pa siyang magsalita ulit.

"May narinig ka ba kay Kate na lilipat siya?"

A strange feeling washed over me, na parang may nakatingin sa akin.

What was that?

Napatingin ako sa paligid ko, because I was sure that someone was looking at me just now..

And there was also a familiar feeling that I felt along with that stare..

That familiar killing intent.

"Uh, Eara?" As I was about to run for my life again, I was brought back into my right mind nung narinig ko si Naomi.

"I-" My voiced cracked when vivid memories of what happened that day flashed in my mind.

I cleared my throat and I exhaled slowly to calm myself, at sinagot ko na si Naomi.

"No, wala siyang nasabi." Medyo nagpasalamat ako kasi hindi na naputol yung sasabihin ko, and a look of disappointment was painted in Naomi's face.

"Gusto ko lang kasi sana malaman.. kung bakit siya umalis ng hindi sinasabi sa akin." She voiced out her inner thoughts with a sad smile on her face..

"I'm sorry. I'm sure you'll see each other again." I ended our conversation at that, and she thanked me before she left.

Even though I said that..

There was no way she's ever going to see her friend again.

"That was quite a lie." I immediately looked over at my right side, at nakita ko si Kei na papalapit na sa akin.

"Akala ko pa naman ikaw yung tipong hindi nagsisinungaling." He noted, at napatingin nalang ako sa kanya.

"Sorry to disappoint you then."

"That's not what I meant though."

Nagtaka na naman ako sa sinabi niya, at mas lalo ko lang na naiisip na sobrang pareho sila ni Kean.

Pareho silang mahirap intindihin.

"Why are you here?" Tanong ko sa kanya, at tinignan niya lang ako.

"Akala ko ba bawal kayo magkita?" Paglilinaw ko sa naintindihan ko kahapon, and he casually answers.

"I'm under those certain circumstances, kaya pwede ako dito." Nakangiti niyang sagot, at nagtanong nalang ako ulit.

Since he looked willing enough to answer any questions right now.

"Anong ginawa mo doon sa mga babae?" Iniba ko kaagad yung usapan, and he looks at me delightfully.

"Ah, di ka na nila guguluhin. They're under my spell now." He proudly stated with a smug smile on his face as if it was another achievement on his part. Kaya hindi ko na naman napigilang magtanong.

"What spell?" His smile widens, at sumagot naman siya ng walang alinlangan.

"It's a kind of love spell." He chuckles lightly after what he said, and he slowly loosens the tie on his neck.

Love spell? And here I thought it wasn't real.

"They made you learn that too?" I was referring to their traditions.. kung saan pati kapangyarihan nila ay pinipili para sa kanila, at napailing naman siya.

"No. I learned this on my own, and I got thrown into the t*****e chamber for a year because of it." Nagulat ako sa naging sagot niya.

Tortured for a year? Just for one spell?

"Bakit mo naman inaral 'yon, if it means getting tortured?" Tanong ko sa kanya, and he thought about it for a moment before he answered.

"Let's just say.. I wanted to charm someone." Nakangiti niyang sagot sa akin, at napaatras ako nung inilapit niya yung mukha niya sa akin.

"You've been asking one too many questions. So now, would you mind answering mine?" His tone instantaneously turned serious, at naging seryoso na rin yung mga tingin niya sa akin.

I knew it, no wonder asking him questions seemed too easy.

Dapat inasahan ko na 'to sa mga katulad niya, pero mas hindi ko inasahan yung tanong niya.

"Did you feel someone staring at you?"

Nagulat ako sa naging tanong niya dahil parang alam niyang may tumingin sa akin kani kanina lang, kaya dahan dahan nalang akong napatango bilang sagot sa mga sinabi niya.

"Then remember that feeling." He stands up properly and gently touches my forehead with his finger.

"Don't even think about running away." I couldn't help but feel that he was warning me about something..

At buhay ko ang nakasalalay dito.

"Sa oras na maramdaman mong nanganganib buhay mo, you have to at least find one of us. Because that's the only way for you to stay alive."