Vampire's Pathos

Blood 09

I found myself gasping for air when I woke up in my bed.

Did I..

Have a bad dream..?

Unti unti kong kinalma yung sarili ko as I tried to normalize my breathing. While I did that, I slowly tightened the grip on my sheets as I tried to remember what happened before I got here.

At nung nag isip ako, napahawak ako kaagad sa ulo ko nung naramdaman kong sumakit 'yon.

And when I stopped thinking, the pain to slowly comes to a stop.

I can't..

I can't remember anything..

I'm trying so hard to catch each breath after the sharp pain in my head, at agad kong hinanap yung phone ko.

I need to find out what day it is.

Because last time I remember.. It was Saturday.. ng tanghali. At ngayon, nandito na ako sa dorm ko.

Sa kama ko mismo, clothes changed and everything.

Without even knowing how.

There wasn't any sunlight in the dorm's window, so I'm guessing gabi na. Hindi ko mahanap yung phone sa kama ko, pero nakita ko naman yung bag ko sa baba lang ng kama ko.

Kinuha ko 'yon, and I finally found my phone.

Nung nakita ko yung oras at kung anong araw ngayon.. Hindi ko napigilan yung gulat na naramdaman ko.

It was 11:52..

A few minutes before it was finally Monday.

My memories were cut off during Saturday at noon, when Rion asked me to the ball. Nung papunta ako sa main gate.. Which means I'm missing memories of what happened during the rest of Saturday, and today..

This whole Sunday.

I held my head once again when I felt the pain sink in like something was crushing it or maybe even pulling it apart.

Wala akong ibang nagawa kung hindi kagatin yung labi ko mapigilan ko lang yung sigaw na nagnanais na lumabas sa bibig ko.

I need to go out.

Hindi nakakatulong yung nakakulong ako dito sa kwarto ko.

I feel like I'm suffocating.

Kailangan kong lumabas.

Along with my still bandaged arm, dahan dahan kong inilapag yung paa ko sa sahig. And when I stood up, bigla nalang nawala lahat ng lakas sa binti ko.

Leading me to fall down into a slump.

I stayed in my place, lying on the floor for a good five seconds, and I sighed in relief when Real didn't wake up.

Saka ako sunod na napatingin sa mga binti kong hindi ko na maramdaman.

What happened to my legs?

Nahirapan ako, pero tinanggal ko yung arm sling sa braso ko, and I helped myself to sit up after the fall.

With an exhale, dahan dahan kong hinawakan yung binti ko. I kind of gave it a massage until I could finally feel my legs again. Nung medyo sigurado na ako na kaya ko nang maglakad, I put a hand on my bed and I started to pull myself up.

My legs were a bit shaky, but everything worked out fine.

Dahan dahan akong naglakad, at hindi ko napigilang mainis sa paglakad ko ngayon.

It's like I'm the mermaid from the movie that's just learning how to walk. 

I gently bit my lip in frustration, as I got a jacket from my closet at nagsimula din akong isuot yung sandals ko.

But I wouldn't be able to do any of that kung wala akong makakapitan.

Nung nasuot ko na yung jacket, I steadily leaned my body to the wall para hindi ako matumba.

Just when the knob was in my reach, doon ako nagsimulang kumapit. But then, my legs gave up again. Bigla akong napaluhod sa kinatatayuan ko, at naramdaman kong sumikip yung dibdib ko. 

Just a little bit more, Eara..

Just a bit more at makakaalis ka na.

I encouraged myself, at nagsimula ulit akong tumayo habang nakahawak sa pinto, and I finally opened the door.

A crisp, cold wind greeted me as soon as it opened, and the trees were dancing along with it.

Para naman akong nakahinga ng maluwag nung naramdaman ko yung malamig na hangin na tumama sa mukha ko, and I felt that my worries were slowly fading away..

I actually feel that I can finally breathe just fine, so I took a step forward.

At nakita kong hindi na nanglalamya yung mga binti ko.

I closed the door behind me, and I zipped my jacket habang dahan dahan akong bumaba ng dorm.

Naglakad lang ako ng naglakad hanggang sa dinala ako ng mga paa ko sa isang lugar na pamilyar sa akin.

It was the garden.. where Rion and I exchanged our names.

I took a walk down the path, habang inaalala ko yung mga dinaanan namin noon para hindi ako maligaw.

Then I found myself stopping in the middle of it, and just appreciating the scenery before me. Although the lamp's light could only reach a part of this garden, it still felt magical.

Everything was at peace and it's also beautiful.

Tahimik at walang gulo..

I just wish that it could be like this every single day, but there's no way to make the magic stay forever.

"Miss Eara?"

Natigil ako sa pag iisip nung narinig ko yung pangalan ko, and I just saw Rion coming out of the bushes.

What was he doing?

"I— um.." Napaiwas siya ng tingin sa akin habang naghahanap siya ng sasabihin.

He must be thinking of a reason kung bakit siya nandoon.

Dahan dahan akong lumapit sa kanya, and he was just shifting his eyes everywhere just to avoid looking at me in the eye.

This guy..

A faint chuckle escaped from my lips, at nakita ko na siyang napatingin sa akin.

I was now right in front of him.

"You don't have to tell me anything." Ani ko sa kanya at tumingkayad ako para makuha yung dahon na dumikit sa ulo niya.

I could clearly see his body go stiff from our sudden interaction, but when I got the leaf, I showed it to him and I smiled.

"Saka mo nalang sabihin kapag handa ka na." He turned his head away again, at binitawan ko na yung dahon na nasa kamay ko.

Natahimik siya ng mga ilang segundo, at bigla nalang ulit siyang nagsalita.

"I was.. treating my wounds."

Nanlaki yung mga mata ko sa sinabi niya, and I examined his body.

May mga nakita akong bagong sugat sa bandang leeg niya. He was wearing a long sleeved sweater so I can't see his arm, but I was sure na meron din siyang sugat doon since his hands were bandaged too.

"Do you want me to help?"

Tanong ko sa kanya, and I saw his eyes widen at my statement.

"N-No! I'm fine, Miss Eara.. Baka mahirapan ka lang." Ani niya naman, and I narrowed my eyes at him.

Making him look confused as to why I did.

"I can move it for a bit now, and besides.. May sugat ka rin sa likod, right?"

"You know..?"

Nakita ko yung gulat sa mukha niya, as he tried to reach for his back..

I'm too observant for my own good.

"Parang ganon na nga.." I revealed a small smile as I walked past him, and I slowly went to the bushes where he came from earlier.

Nung makatagos ako doon sa madahon na parte na 'yon. What I saw was something that I didn't expect.

There was a small pavillion in the middle of this garden. 

In the middle of this maze-like garden.

Napalingon ako kaagad sa likod ko when I heard something rustling against the bushes, and soon enough, Rion came out from it.

"So, dito ka pala nagtatago.." I stated as I walked towards the pavillion, at nakita ko na doon sa loob no'n ang isang medical kit, and some other medical supplies.

"Um.. yes." Tinignan ko kaagad siya sa likod ko, and he was just behind me.

Was it just me?

Or pahina ng pahina yung boses niya?

There was a pair of chairs and a table sa gitna ng pavillion, so I took the liberty of getting the medical kit and arranging the chairs so that nakaupo si Rion sa harapan ko.

"Tara na dito." 

Aya ko sa kanya as I sat in one of the chairs, and he followed. Nung nasa harap ko siya, saka ko lang talaga nakita ng maayos yung mukha niya. 

His uneven shoulder length black hair, his very well chiseled face, his pointed nose, and even his eyelashes were long enough to rival any girls. 

"Uh.. can I?" 

Turo ko sa buhok niya, since I was literally asking if I could tie his hair up. Dahan dahan nalang siyang tumango, and I made a makeshift scrunchie from the items available right now. 

After making it, agad akong pumunta sa likod niya at nagsimulang itali yung buhok niya. 

It wasn't hard, pero kinailangan ko talagang ayusin kasi hindi talaga pantay yung gupit sa buhok niya. When I was done tying the top part of his hair, pumunta na ako kaagad sa harap para makita yung itsura niya. 

Unlike the first days that we were together na nakaharang yung buhok niya sa mukha niya, it was kind of refreshing seeing his face bare like this. Even with that single scar on his face, he looked just fine. 

"May mali ba?" Para akong natauhan nung narinig ko yung tanong ni Rion, at napaupo naman kaagad ako sa upuan sa harap niya. 

I was staring too much wasn't I? 

"No, wala naman.. It's just that.." I saw his head perk up when I cut myself off, and he looked at me curiously like a cat. 

Well, that expression was new. 

"It would be nice if I could see your face like this once in a while." I said to him with a smile, at nakita ko siyang magulat dahil sa sinabi ko. 

Kaya kinabahan naman ako. 

Did I just say something wrong?

"I didn't mean it in a bad way.. it's just.. You look beautiful." This time, it was me who was taken by surprise. 

I was surprised when I saw a tear escape from his eyes. 

At this point, I froze in my place. 

I didn't know what to do. 

Masama ba yung nasabi ko sa kanya? 

I was drowning in a distress of my own, at mukhang napansin niya 'yon. That's why he took the lead. 

"S-Sorry.." He apologized as soon as he got ahold of himself, and he immediately wiped off that stray tear. Nanatili lang akong nakatingin sa kanya, and he smiled at me. 

"Masaya lang ako.."

"Masaya ka?"

Ulit ko sa mga sinabi niya, and he nodded slightly. 

Masaya? But there was a tear.. 

So, you could.. cry out of happiness? 

I was starting to get overwhelmed by the unknown feelings that was shown to me, at napatingin nalang ako ulit kay Rion nung nagsalita siya. 

"But I don't think you should call a guy beautiful." Nagpatawa pa siya, kaya napangiti nalang ako sa sinabi niya. 

I should just.. think about that later.  

"Right.." I agreed for the purpose of getting it over with, at kinuha ko na yung cotton and yung disinfectant sa medical kit. 

"Kailangan mong tanggalin yung damit mo." I told him, at sumunod naman siya kaagad. He slowly removed his clothes off of him, and he winced slightly when the clothes rubbed against some of his wounds. 

Nung nakita ko yung kabuuan nung katawan niya, I felt unsettled when I saw all of his wounds. 

The wounds weren't deep, pero sobrang dami nung sugat. 

There were old scars, some wounds that were healing, and some were fresh. Like it just happened, and his whole body was covered in it. 

Just.. what is happening to get him to this state? 

I brushed the questions off of my head, at nagsimula akong maglagay ng disinfectant sa cotton to sterilize the wounds, then I started to carefully dress his arms.

After doing that, I covered both of it in white bandages just like mine. 

And soon enough, I started disinfecting his neck and torso.. There were fewer wounds on his torso, but wounds were a lot deeper around his neck. Well, I wouldn't call it a wound.

But.. it was more like a.. strangulation mark..

Nagsimulang bumigat yung pakiramdam ko, when certain questions and thoughts ran about inside my head.

Gustong gusto kong tanungin kung sino may gawa sa kanya nito. 

But would I even find a solution for him if I did know? 

May magagawa ba ako kapag nalaman ko? 

As I was done bandaging his neck, tumayo na ako kaagad para masimulan ko na yung likod niya. When I got behind him, kitang kita ko kung gaano kalaki yung katawan niya. 

Even with all the wounds.. his body was in good shape. 

Does he.. work out? 

"You're not asking?" 

"Huh?"

Sa sobrang busy ko sa pag iisip at paglilinis ng sugat niya, literal na nagulat ako nung bigla siyang nagsalita. 

"I mean— hindi ka magtatanong kung saan ko nakuha lahat ng 'to?" He asked me while still facing the other way, and I exhaled before answering. 

"Bakit? Sasagutin mo ba ako?" I felt his body flinch a little as if I hit the mark, and I laughed a bit in his reaction. 

Saka naman siya natahimik, giving me my answer. 

"I thought so." I continued, at sinadya kong diniinan yung paglinis ko sa sugat niya. Leading him to move his back away from me. 

"Miss Eara.. it hurts." He complained, and he looked like a child at that moment. 

It removed the heavy atmosphere that was all over me, and it suddenly lightened the mood.

Kaya napangiti nalang ako.

"Oh, did it? I'll be careful next time." I teased, and he puts himself back in place at inayos ko naman na yung paglilinis sa sugat niya. 

"Sinadya mo ba 'yon?" His gentle voice was soothing and somehow it puts me to ease. 

"No, bakit mo naman naisip 'yon?" I said playfully, at nakarinig ako ng mahinang tawa mula sa kanya. 

Nung natapos akong linisan yung likod niya, I covered his whole torso in a bandage, and it was finally done. Napaupo nalang ako sa upuan ko kanina habang sinusuot niya na ulit yung damit niya. 

Napatingin lang ako sa kanya, while thinking that it's supposed to be over..

But there was still something that was bugging me inside.. 

"Rion.. can I ask?" He eyes landed on me as soon as I spoke, and he revealed a small but gentle smile. 

"If I can answer it, bakit hindi?" Pareho kaming napangiti sa sinabi niya, and I pursued my lips into a thin line before finally asking. 

"Why did you ask me to the ball?" 

I saw him look speechless because of my question, at napaiwas siya kaagad ng tingin sa akin. 

"I'd rather have you ask a another question..." 

"Huh?"

Nagtaka ako kaagad nung may binulong siya, at napailing nalang siya. Convincing me that what he whispered earlier was nothing. 

So here I was, just waiting for him to come up with an answer. 

"Gusto ko lang na makasama ka..?" Nagtaka naman ako kaagad sa naging sagot niya, and I eyed him greatly kaya naman napaiwas ulit siya ng tingin. 

"Why did you sound so unsure of that?" I asked him once again, at napatingin sa akin this time around. Before he sighed. 

What? What did I do to get that kind of reaction?

"Maybe because.." He dragged the answer for quite a bit, and he looks at me eye to eye before saying.. 

"I would like to have you all for myself." 

After those words.. A strange vision clouded my mind.

Naririnig kong nagsasalita pa rin si Rion, pero hindi ko na naiintindihan kung anong ibig sabihin niya. Everything was slowly becoming a blur.

Agad akong napahawak sa ulo ko as I tried to make out what it was that I saw.  

What..?

Golden eyes?

Did Rion have golden eyes..?

N-No—

That's not it..

"Miss Eara?" I faintly heard Rion call for my name, pero hindi na ako magkapagsalita pa nung sumakit nalang bigla yung ulo ko. 

A pained scream escaped from my lips for a second, at kinagat ko yung labi ko para hindi na ako makapag ingay pa. Naramdaman kong napaluhod na ako sa sobrang sakit ng ulo ko.

Not only that, but I found it hard to breath. Like something was in my throat or like someone has their hands on my neck!

I feel that my head is breaking apart!

And it hurts so much!

".. all for myself..."

Wha—

"I can.."

Who was that—?

"I can have you all for myself."

I gasped for air as soon as the pain stopped, and I remembered a figure that was in front of me that day.

What did you do to me..?

Kian Pierce Aerovan?