Blood Sucker (GL) [Completed, Unedited]

Blood 1

Elisse 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 think about. May nagawa ba siyang mali para hindi mag-aral sa eskuwelahang kasalukuyang pinapasukan?

Hindi niya maalalang may nalabag siya o offense na nagawa.

"Actually," The Principal cleared his throat. "Your mother already gave the required documents for your transfer and finished getting the necessary signatures."

Hindi siya makaimik. Hindi niya alam ang sasabihin. Nilingon niya ang ina na kanina pang pili ang binibigay na sagot. She doubted she'll get answers that quick. She opted to remain silent for the rest of the time they were in the office.

Pagkatapos ng maikling pag-uusap ay umuwi na rin si Elisse kasama ang Mama niya. Marahan niyang ipinatong ang bag sa sofa. She sat down, leaned her back, and her nerves felt a little bit relaxed. She felt so tired for no apparent reason. Her mother sat down beside her. Elisse took a deep breath and gathered all her courage to ask. "Ma, ano pong meron?"

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

"Bakit, Ma?" Hindi na niya mapigilan ang muling pagkunot ng noo, ang pagtataka na halata sa kislap ng mga mata niya. "Graduating na po ako. Bakit naman po ako biglang lilipat?"

Elisse is in 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 ni Elisse na hanggang dibdib ang haba. Kusa siyang kumalma sa haplos nito. "I just want the best for you. I want you to be safe."

Safe?

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

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

"T-talaga?" Namilog ang mata niya at kusang napangiti. Hindi niya alam ang impormasyon na iyon tungkol sa ina. She suddenly imagined herself going to Knight University, wearing the same uniform as her mother, experiencing the same as her mother did. It must be really nice. "Wow..."

Napangiti si Rain sa naging reaction ni Elisse at tumango. "Wait."

Tumayo ang ina at sinundan lang ito ni Elisse ng tingin nang pumasok ito sa kwarto. Hindi katagalan ay bumalik ito sa kanyang tabi, hawak ang isang sobre.

"This is for you."

Kinuha ni Elisse ang sobre. Napatitig pa siya sa Mama niya na tinanguhan lang siya, hinihikayat na tingnan ang laman no'n. Binuksan niya ang sobra at sinipat ang kabuuan ng laman nito.

Knight University.

The calligraphy of the school name was exquisite and utterly royal-like, it was colored in gold and was glimmering through motion ─ that's what she first noticed.

Binasa niya ang nakasulat, maikli lang iyon ngunit prangka ang laman. At talaga namang tumatak sa isip niya ang mga nabasa lalo na ang nasa huling pangungusap.

"M-Ma?" Parang nanlambot siya sa nabasa. Ibinaba niya sa kandungan ang pormal na liham. Naramdaman ni Elisse ang pamamasa ng mata at bahagyang hapdi no'n. "Ayoko pong mag-dorm. Bakit kailangan pa no'n?"

Nakapaloob sa sulat ang isang maikling pagbati dahil isa na siyang opisyal na estudyante 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 rekisito ─ ang kondisyon ─ ng eskuwelahan na manirahan sa dormitoryo nito.

Kailan pa naging requirement ang paggamit ng dorm?

"Elisse, it's alright. Pwede ka namang lumabas ng university tuwing holidays." 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 was breaking her young heart. Hindi siya sanay na malayo rito kung kaya't ganoon na lang ang pagsukob ng lungkot sa kanya. 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 o kaya ─."

"Masyadong malayo, anak."

"E-edi lumipat po tayo ─"

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

"Ayoko pong hindi kayo kasama," Para bang pinipiga ang puso niya at nalulunod sa kawalan sa kaisipang kailangan pa nilang magkalayo dahil lang sa pag-aaral.

"Magiging ayos lang ang lahat, Elisse." Rain hushed her daughter, giving Elisse a soft kiss on the forehead, smiling as if to offer comfort. "Minsan talaga ay 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?

Rain embraced Elisse with a gentle caress on the back, the warmth spreading to the skin, and to the veins. Elisse closed her eyes and another tear fell as she succumbed to the sunrays of her mother. She could smell its soothing scent that she has loved since she was a child. Relaxing as it was, her mother 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. Elisse hugged her mother, too, burying her face on Rain's shoulder.

Nagsimula nang umiyak ang Mama niya ngunit hindi na niya inabala ang sarili na humiwalay sa pagkakayakap para sipatin ang itsura nito. She knew better than that. Even though Elisse badly wanted to wipe her mother's tears, she couldn't. Ayaw ni Rain ang nakikitang umiiyak.

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

_____