Vampire's Pathos

Blood 08

"So, ganito yung naisip namin nila Branwen.."

Panimula ni Naval, at nagsimula na yung group meeting namin. Unti unting pinaliwanag nila Naval yung gusto nilang mangyari sa presentation, and ano yung main focus nung buong research namin.

Somehow, we found ourselves sitting in a table with all the paper works that they had were scattered around.

"That's about it I think?" Naval ended the brief discussion, at nagsimula si Peria na ayusin yung mga papel in order.

Para hindi na kami mahirapan ni Aerovan mag-compile.

"Hindi specified yung presentation, so kami na rin ba ni Aerovan bahala doon?" Nakita kong napaisip si Naval sa naitanong ko, bago siya napatango.

At nakita ko na namang sumama yung tingin ni Peria sa akin.

Leave me alone, will you?

"Ngayon ko na rin hahatiin yung parts ng presentation para aaralin nalang until the deadline." Panimula na naman ni Naval, and all of us nodded in agreement.

This time, it was him who took the lead and not Aerovan. Sobrang tahimik niya ngayon. Well, it's not like maingay siya, but he really wasn't in the mood to speak.

And all of us in the room noticed that, pero walang nagbalak na magtanong kung bakit.

That's because he was still the Aerovan who had looks that could kill, kaya tumahimik nalang kami.

Minsan mapapatingin ako sa kanya, and he just looked restless.

Parang may gusto pa siyang gawin kaya gusto na niyang matapos 'tong meeting na 'to kaagad. I bit my lip in conflict, dahil hindi ko pa nalalaman kung may kinalaman ba talaga si Kian sa mga bampira, or not.

"Oh, by the way, Arella?" Napatingin ako kay Miedes na bigla nalang tinawag yung pangalan ko, and I saw him along with Peria and Naval looking at me.

What? Anong meron?

"Anong nangyari sa braso mo?" Napatingin nalang ako sa kaliwang braso ko, and I looked back at them with their faces full of curiosity. I should probably answer, because if I avoid the question, it might raise suspicion. 

"Um, I had an accident." I answered, not putting any spaces for question. At mukhang nakuha naman nilang hindi na ako magsasabi pa ng ibang detalye maliban doon. 

I kind of appreciated that. 

"Then.." I looked at Miedes who purposely cuts himself off, and started to clear his throat before asking another question. 

"What's between you and Monte Ferrer?" Nakunot yung noo ko sa sinabi niya, at nagtaka ako. 

"You mean, Rion?" Nakita kong nanlaki yung mga mata nila nung binanggit ko yung pangalan ni Rion, at saka ko nalang napagtanto yung sinabi ko.

Everyone in the school is not on a first name basis.

That was to respect each families and from what lineage they came from.

Basically, being on a first name basis with someone means that the both of you are close. Just like how I called Kate by her name before, and how me and Rion call each other by our names. And it also shows that you acknowledge each other just like how Naval calls Peria by her name.

"Is he your boyfriend?" And the fearsome question finally escaped from Peria's lips at umiling nalang ako.

"No." I answered briefly, at tinungo ko nalang ulit yung atensyon ko sa paggawa ng outline for the presentation.

"Really?" Peria said, pushing the topic further at napahawak nalang ako sa ulo.

Halatang halata na tatagal pa 'tong usapan na 'to.

"You know, you're the only one close to Monte Ferrer." Napatigil ako sa ginagawa ko nung marinig ko 'yon, and they finally got my attention.

What did Naval mean that I'm the only one?

"He's not a sociable type of person, kaya nagulat kami nung makita naming hinatid ka niya." Ah.. that explains the look that I got from them nung nakita nila akong kasama si Rion.

I don't think what he said is true..

If you get to know him, he's actually friendly.. and a gentleman.

But I'm not about to say that..

There must be a reason kung bakit ako lang yung nilapitan niya, and that'll be a secret between me and Rion.

"And besides—"

"Can we just finish this?"

Putol ko kay Peria at agad naman siyang natahimik, because I really didn't want to continue on with the topic anymore. And as much as possible, gusto ko sanang makausap si Aerovan pagtapos.

Natigil na yung pag uusap, and everyone went on with the tasks that they were assigned on.

Hanggang sa inabot na kami ng hapon.

"Thanks, Aerovan." Naval said his farewell, at sasabay na rin ako sa kanila paalis.

Since there's still the curfew, hindi ako pwedeng magtagal. Baka hindi na ako makabalik sa dorm. So I guess I'll confront him next time.

Maglalakad na rin sana ako paalis gaya nila Miedes, kaso natigil ako nung marinig ko yung sinabi ni Aerovan. 

"Eara will stay here." 

Napalingon ako kaagad sa lalaking nasa likod ko, and he was glaring at everybody. Even if he didn't tell exactly tell us why he wanted me to stay, we already knew that he wants all of them, except me, out of this mansion. 

But wait, did he just call me by my first name? And this isn't the first time it happened, right? 

No, stop, hindi 'yan ang problema dito. The main question here is, why does he want me to stay?

Nararamdaman kong manlamig yung pakiramdam ko, at napatingin kaagad ako kay Peria nung siya yung sunod na nagsalita. 

"Um, it's already past four.. By five nagsasara na ang school, so I don't think that's a good idea." Dahan dahan akong napatango sa sinabi ni Peria, at muli kong nabaling yung tingin ko kay Aerovan. 

But it was already obvious in his expression that he has no intentions of changing his mind. 

Kahit si Peria ay hindi na nagawang magsalita pa nung siya na yung binalingan ng tingin ni Aerovan, and I had no other choice. I was to stay here, by Aerovan's request. 

I stood there by the front door, habang tinitignan sina Naval na pasakay ng sasakyan, to return them safely back to school. Hindi ko naiwasang hindi makita yung pabalik balik na tingin ni Peria sa pwesto ko, and how I wish na nararamdaman niya hindi ko ginustong malagay sa posisyon na 'to. 

When they were finally gone, I turned myself around and I faced Aerovan. 

Since nandito na rin naman ako, I figured that I should be able to confront him now.

"What did you--" Bago pa ako matapos magsalita, I was immediately cut off when he suddenly caught my arm. 

The wounded one. 

A sudden rush of shock overwhelmed my body, along with distraught and panic. 

Agad kong tinanggal yung kamay niya sa braso ko, and I took a step away from him. But then I gradually froze in my place when I saw the look in his eyes. 

There was no emotions in his eyes, there was just this desire to kill. 

"Ang lakas din ng loob mong magsinungaling sa akin." He scowled, and I could feel the anger in his voice. There was no other emotion I could feel other than anger, his killing intent, and..

Blood l**t. 

Nanlaki yung mga mata ko nung nagsimula siyang maglakad papalapit sa akin, and I found myself taking a step back. This is almost the exact same feeling that I felt from.. 

Kate. 

"Your arm is fully healed isn't it?" He revealed a wry smile, but then he quickly frowns. Saka ko siya nakitang lumapit ulit, at napaatras na naman ako. 

He knows..

Siya yung nakakita sa akin nung araw na 'yon. 

He's.. 

"I see.. you must be one of them too." I was confused when he started making conclusions on his own, but I was sure that any reason wouldn't go through him right now. 

He's swimming in too much anger, kaya sigurado akong wala siyang ganang makinig. 

"Tell me, who created your background?" Tanong niya, and he took another step forward. Kahit na alam kong walang pader na haharang sa likod ko..

His mere presence was enough to make me feel cornered. 

I couldn't even think right.

What did he even mean by my background?

I mean— did he do his research on me?

"Was it Jillian?" He took another step. 

"Was it Peter?" And another one. 

"Or was it Polio?" This step was the last one.. 

Finally, he was in front of me. Like he was purposely looming his presence all over me.

After telling me names of people that I obviously didn't know, with all of the resolve I've got, I glared at him. 

"Did you do this to me?" This time, ako yung nagtanong at ako yung nainis. 

What right does he have to question me like that? 

Di ba tamang lang din na tanungin ko siya? 

I'm not one that you could push around whenever you want. 

I learned the hard way, and I am not about to look back. 

"Are you a vampire?" I observed his expression after I asked the question, but there was not even one that could tell me what he thought about that question. 

His expression was blank. 

Blank as a slate. 

But his actions told me otherwise.

"You know too much."

Wala akong ibang nagawa kung hindi mapahawak sa kamay niyang sinasakal na ako, while trying so hard to just get a breathe of air.

He held me by neck like it was nothing, at nakita ko kung gaano kadali niyang naalis yung mga paa ko sa lupang kinatatayuan ko lang na kanina.

"Let—"

I struggled so hard just to get the words out of my mouth.

"LET ME GO!"

Sigaw ko sa kanya, and with all the strength that I had left, I punched him right in the face.

I was so sure that it didn't affect him in anyway at all, pero nagtaka nalang rin ako nung naramdaman kong nawala na yung kamay niya sa leeg ko.

And I found myself sitting on the ground.

I know too much huh?

That settles it.. there's my answer.

Napahawak nalang ako sa leeg ko, at saka ako tumingin muli sa kanya.

Surprise is not even an enough word when I saw his eyes.

Everything about him changed in that instant.

Yes.. he was a vampire.

But I could also tell na ibang iba siya kay Kate.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit ko nararamdaman 'to, but I felt that his golden eyes were speaking to me.

Unlike Kate's b****y eyes that almost represented those who she had killed..

It made me feel that his eyes were special.

Like those gold like eyes represented something.

But I don't know what.. and why exactly did I feel that way.

"Kean and Risa aren't here.." I gradually crawled away from him when he started to speak.

Nung marinig ko yung mga pangalan na 'yon, it didn't even ring a bell or something. Those are people that only he knows.

But I've already got a bad feeling na masama para sa akin na wala yung mga tao na 'yon dito.

"I can have you all for myself." I felt my body shiver when he looks down on me, and he's not even batting an eye after what he said.

I was nothing more but an insect to him.

An insect that he could crush in seconds.

That was what I had felt this moment.

"Don't worry, I won't eat you." Kahit na sinabi niya 'yon, I don't think the ending will be any different.

There is only one thing that he wants right now.

He wants me dead.

"So, Eara.. die."

There was blue fire hovering in his palms, na parang pag mamaya ari niya yung mga apoy na 'yon. It only took seconds for me to be engulfed in those blue flames.

"NO!"