Vampire's Pathos

Blood 11

Eara Laire Arella

"Rion?" 

Nagulat ako nung pagbukas ko ng pinto, siya kaagad yung bumungad sa akin. 

What is he doing here? 

"I.. I was worried." Oh.. 

Dahan dahan kong sinarado yung pinto ko, at hinarap ko siya ulit. 

After the whole panic attack fiasco at midnight, Rion took it upon himself to take me back to the dorms. Habang paulit ulit na pinipilit na magpacheck up ako kay Nurse Fleece para maging sigurado. 

He became a bit frantic after the event, pero nagawa ko naman siyang mapakalma. 

But here he was again. 

"Didn't I tell you that I was fine?" I smiled at him, and I tiptoed in order to ruffle his already messy hair. 

Seriously, para siyang bata. 

After doing that, he had this lost look on his face. Na parang iniisip niya kung ano yung susunod niyang gagawin, that's why I poked a part in his chest where there was a wound on it. 

Kaya naman napaaray siya, and he finally came back to his senses. 

"Trust me, okay lang ako." I assured him once more, at dumiretso para naman makababa na ako sa dorm at makapunta na sa classroom. 

I glanced behind me from time to time, and everytime I did I would see him behind me looking all worried. Pero kapag napapansin niyang nakatingin ako, he'll just smile as he held my bag like nothing was happening. 

I was shaking my head for a bit, seeing him like that. Hanggang sa nakarating na nga kami sa classroom, and everyone was staring at us. 

Just like the first time that I came here with Aerovan opening the door. 

Saka ako napatigil mismo sa pinto. 

He's here. 

I felt my body tremble for a moment when my eyes immediately landed on Aerovan, at nakatingin din siya sa akin. At para hindi ako halatang umiwas ako ng tingin sa kanya, agad kong hinarap si Rion na nasa likod ko lang. 

"Thanks." 

Ang tangi kong sinabi sa kanya as I got my bag from him, at dumiretso na ako kaagad sa upuan ko. 

I kind of felt bad leaving Rion like that, but I still felt the lingering sensations of a hand strangling my neck every time I remember that day. 

Aerovan..

He's a vampire.

Ayan ang pumasok sa utak ko habang papunta sa upuan ko.

And if this ends with me being a vampire too, then I'd rather leave Rion out of it.

I tried to look oblivious as much as possible, para hindi malaman na natatandaan ko lahat ng nangyari nung araw na 'yon.

They did something to me that's why I lost my memories, but then why didn't they just kill me when I found out?

And I'm kind of skeptical about the part that Aerovan and Kate are working together. Kung ganon, then Kate would still be here. And if Aerovan found me, then I should be dead after fainting that night.

Do they need me?

Or something?

O baka naman may gusto silang makuha sa akin?

I gently shook my head, at napabuntong hininga nalang.

It wasn't long before that na pumasok na si Ms. Teves sa classroom namin.

"I have an announcement for today." Is what she said when she was right in front of her table, at natahimik na lahat ng studyante.

Buti naman tumatahimik na sila.

"For unknown reasons, Kate Xera Arsen is to transfer schools. That's why she wasn't present for two days."

Nanlaki yung mga mata ko nung marinig ko 'yon.

What? Transferring schools?

Nabalot nalang rin ng gulat yung katawan ko nung biglang napatingin sa akin si Ms. Teves, before smiling at me.

I tried to acknowledge her smile, bago ko tinungo yung atensyon ko sa bag ko. Nagkunwari lang akong naghanap ng bagay sa bag ko, bago ko hinayaang mag isip yung utak ko.

I should've known..

I really should've known!

Ms. Teves is also one of them! Of course! Who would elaborately explain na magta-transfer si Kate ng school?

Unknown reasons?

You have got to be kidding me.

May ginawa na sila kay Kate, so my guess was right. They aren't partners or in good terms with her. If they killed her, then what were they planning to do to me?

It was just a theory when I said that Aerovan was the killer, pero hindi ko naman inasahan na mas malala pa yung malalaman ko.

Really now, ano na ba 'tong pinasok ko?

After the announcement, nagbalik na si Ms. Teves sa pagtuturo.

Classes were as normal as possible.

At least, with Aerovan staring at me once in a while. I felt uncomfortable, kasi parang pinapahalata niya talagang tinititigan niya ako.

And it was hard to stop myself from looking back at him.

Nung natapos yung klase since it was finally break, napatayo ako kaagad sa upuan ko and I walked out of the room.

I couldn't stand it any longer, gaano katagal niya ba akong tititigan!?

Naglakad lang ako ng naglakad until my feet led me behind the building. Napatigil nalang ako nung naramdaman kong wala nang tao sa paligid.

Which was totally wrong.

I wasn't alone at all.

"I found you."

Napalingon ako kaagad sa likod ko, and I saw him.

I saw Kian Pierce Aerovan staring right at me.

"Um.. May kailangan ka ba?" I tried not to look surprised and startled, and I spoke as normal as possible.

I even smiled just to get it over with.

The silence that was enveloping the area was nerve-wrecking. Hindi ko na alam kung ano yung iniisip ko o kung ano ba dapat yung iisipin ko. What I want to know is will I be able to get out of this one alive, or is it finally my time?

"I know you remember everything."

Hindi ko alam kung dapat ba akong magulat, but I kind of expected it..

Since they are a whole different being.

"I see."

Nawala yung ngiti sa mga labi ko, and I faced him. Well, I might as well ask since I'm here. Kung mamamatay man ako ngayon, at least I'll know why.

"Bakit hindi niyo ako pinatay?"

I asked straight to the point, and he looked amused. Hindi siya ngumiti, but his expression was clear.

He was enjoying it, as if I was a show.

He took a step forward, closing the distance between him and me, but I didn't move.

Hindi na ako umalis sa pwesto ko kasi alam kong wala ring mangyayari kung tatakas ako. I might lose my life if I even slightly turn my back on him.

That's how dangerous I felt he was.

And when he was finally in front of me, he leaned in and got a stray hair out of my face and tucks it behind my ear.

At parang naubos yung buong lakas ko, just to stand here in front of him.

"I have my reasons."

He finally stood up, and he was just looking down on me, just like the way he did before. Kahit na kitang kita yung liwanag ng araw sa paligid, it was like the laws of nature didn't even matter.

Ang tanging naramdaman ko nalang, ay ang unti unting paglamig ng katawan ko.

So he has.. reasons to keep me alive?

"What do you want from me?"

I had difficulties in getting my words straight, pero buti nalang lumabas ng maayos yung mga sinabi ko.

Kinuyom ko yung kamay ko, to at least get a hold of myself while he was intimidating me.

"I want your blood."