Blood Sucker

Blood 1

"Ms. Ayaka, Elisse."

"S-sir?" Mabilis siyang napatayo mula sa kinauupuan nang marinig ang sariling pangalan. Pinagmasdan ni Elisse ang gurong nakatayo sa gilid ng pintuan. Dumako rin ang tingin niya sa mga kaklaseng nakatitig sa kanya. She suddenly felt shy.

"Pinapapunta ka sa Principal's Office," the teacher said.

She felt nervous and confused. Iniisip niya kung may ginawa ba siyang hindi maganda o nasabi. Bakit niya kailangang pumunta ro'n?

The teacher called her name again and she blushed with embarrassment for spacing out. She should learn how to be responsive even at the middle of her thoughts.

"S-sorry po," She apologized with a nod.

Binilinan siya ng guro na dalhin na rin ang mga gamit kaya mas nabalot siya ng kaba.

Napahinto si Elisse nang makarating sa tapat ng Principal's Office. She's still trying to figure out the reason why she's being called. But she wouldn't know the answer kung hindi siya papasok sa loob.

She took an audible gulp. She knocked on the door thrice. Patingin-tingin pa siya sa paligid habang naglalakad papasok sa loob.

Isang sala set ang sumalubong sa kanya-a two-seater sofa, two single couch on each side, and a mini table. Mayroon ding flat screen TV na naka-install sa pader. May ganoong set up talaga para sa mga bisita. Nilagpasan niya iyon at dumiretso sa bandang kaliwa kung nasaan ang opisina ng Principal.

She knocked again. Someone opened the door for her.

"Good morning-" She furrowed her eyebrows when she quickly recognized the person in front of her-a wavy, chestnut-colored hair that falls just below its shoulder, charcoaled eyes, and a noticeable pale skin. "- M-ma?"

Her mother smiled at her ngunit hindi ito sumagot. Mas lalo siyang nagtaka. Bakit siya nandito?

"Ms. Elisse," He, the Principal, called. The man looked younger compare to its original age. "I know you're confused why you're here."

Elisse nodded. She wanted to speak but she thought she needed to listen first. The Principal looked at her mother, napatingin din tuloy siya.

"Hindi ka na rito mag-aaral, anak," her mother casually said.

Elisse frowned. She tried to open her mouth but no words came out. What's with the sudden decision? She asked in silence. What? Why? That's all she could do. May nagawa ba siyang mali para hindi mag-aral sa eskuwelahang kasalukuyang pinapasukan?

Hindi niya matandaang may nilabag siyang rule.

"Actually," The Principal cleared his throat. "Pinaayos na sa amin ni Mrs. Ayaka ang mga documents mo para mabilis kang makalipat ng ibang school."

Hindi siya makaimik. Hindi niya alam ang sasabihin. Nilingon niya ang ina. "Ma, why?" she asked but got no answer.

Pagkatapos ng maikling pag-uusap ay umuwi na rin si Elisse kasama ang Mama niya. Hindi siya halos nakapagsalita sa buong oras na nasa Principal's Office siya. Wala siyang nagawa kung hindi ang makinig dahil tikom ang bibig ng ina niya sa tuwing may tanong siya rito.

Marahan niyang ipinatong ang bag sa sofa. She sat down and leaned back. She felt so tired. Her mother sat down beside her. She took a deep breath and gathered all her courage to ask. "Ma, ano pong meron?"

Her mother held her hand. "Magta-transfer ka, Elisse. Mas magandang school 'yon."

"Bakit, Ma?" She couldn't help but frown. "Graduating na po ako. Bakit naman po ako biglang lilipat?"

She's on her last year of highschool. Bigla siyang nakaramdam ng lungkot at panghihinayang sa ideyang iiwan niya ang eskuwelahang naging pangalawang tahanan niya rin sa loob ng ilang taon.

She didn't have any close friends but that didn't mean that it would be easy for her to just turn her back like casually clicking the stop button then play a new movie.

"Kailangan kasi, Elisse." Hinagod ng ina ang maalong buhok niya na hanggang dibdib ang haba. Kusa siyang na-relax sa haplos nito. "I just want the best for you. I want you to be safe."

Safe?

Gusto niyang magtanong. Pakiramdam niya may alam siya sa dahilan ng ina pero hindi naman niya kayang kumpirmahin ito. She's scared at some point. "Saan po ba ako mag-aaral?"

"Sa Knight University." her mother answered, "Alam ko hindi familiar yung school but I can guarantee you na maganda ang quality ng pagtuturo do'n at may kumpletong facilities. Sa Knight din ako nag-aral kaya sigurado ako."

"T-talaga?" Namilog ang mata niya as a smile crept on her lips. "Wow..."

Napangiti ang Mama niya sa naging reaction niya at tumango. "Wait."

Tumayo ito. Elisse followed her mother's movement. Papunta ito sa sariling kwarto. Maya-maya lang din ay bumalik sa tabi niya ang ina na may dalang envelope.

"This is for you."

Inabot niya ang sobre. Napatitig pa siya sa Mama niya na tinanguhan lang siya. Itinuon niya ang atensiyon sa hawak. Binuksan niya ito.

Knight University.

Color gold at maganda ang calligraphy, iyon kaagad ang napansin niya. Mas mukha itong invitation letter. Binasa niya ang nakasulat. Short but precise. At talaga namang tumatak sa isip niya ang mga nabasa lalo na ang nasa hulihang pangungusap.

"M-Ma?" Parang nanlambot siya sa nabasa. Ibinaba niya sa kandungan ang sulat. Her eyes started to get moist. "Ayoko pong mag-dorm. Bakit kailangan pa no'n?"

Nakapaloob sa sulat ang isang maikling pagbati dahil isa na siyang official student ng Knight University. Hindi na niya nagawang pagtuunan ng pansin kung paano naging mabilis ang proseso ng paglipat niya. Ang nasa isip niya lang ay ang requirement ng school na manirahan sa dormitory nito.

Kailan pa naging requirement ang paggamit ng dorm?

"Elisse, it's alright. Pwede ka namang lumabas ng university tuwing holidays, eh." Pampalubag loob na sagot ng ina, "Besides, I'm pretty sure na magugustuhan mo rin doon."

"But..." Umiling siya. Unti-unting napaiyak. The thought of leaving her mother just to study broke her heart. Hindi siya sanay na malayo rito kung kaya't ganoon na lang ang lungkot niya. She didn't want to go to that school if that means living all alone. "Pwede bang kahit huwag nang mag-dorm? Ayos lang naman sa akin ang bumiyahe, eh."

"Masyadong malayo, anak."

"E-edi lumipat po tayo-"

"Elisse." Hinawakan siya nito sa magkabilang balikat pagkatapos ay ito mismo ang nagpunas ng sarili niyang luha. "It's alright. Don't be afraid."

"Ayoko pong hindi kayo kasama," malungkot na saad niya.

She hushed her and gave her a kiss on the forehead. "Magiging ayos lang ang lahat, Elisse." Her mother smiled to comfort her. "Minsan talaga kailangan nating malayo sa mga taong mahal natin para mas maging malakas."

But how was she going to be strong if the source of her strength was her mother?

Her mother embraced her and caressed her back. Elisse closed her eyes, another tear fell as she succumbed to the warmth of her mother. She can smell its soothing scent that she loved since she was a child. Relaxing as it was, her mother's scent made her feel at ease. But never will she forget the pain of the upcoming reality.

But for now, all she just wanted was to savor the moment. She hugged her mother, too, burying her face on its shoulder.

Nagsimula nang umiyak ang Mama niya but she never tried to look. She knew better than that. Even though she badly wanted to wipe her mother's tears, she couldn't. Ayaw nitong nakikitang umiiyak.

My Mama is definitely tougher than me, she smiled at that thought.

_____