Strings and Chains (The Frey, #1)

22. Something is wrong

"He's a vampire, dad," pag-aamin ko. I must be going nuts. Nababaliw na talaga ata ako, pero para saan pa na itago ko 'to kung malalaman at malalaman din naman nila?

"Then my guess is correct," sagot ni papa.

"He lived with us for three years," wika ko pa. Now he's surprised.

"He was my dog, Rai," dugtong ko pa. ito ang mas lalong ikinagulat niya. Matatawa na sana ako sa reaksyon ni papa but I am so serious about this.

"Before you could say anything, dad, he can shape shift. And he was protecting me all this time. He didn't hurt me and he also did not even try to drink my blood."

"How can you be so sure of that, Maru?" tanong ni papa.

"If he was going to hurt me or drink my blood, he could have done it from the start. Why bother stay for three years," sagot ko.

"Years are just number for them, Maru. They could wait thousands if they want."

Well, my dad has a point.

"But he still did not do it. I trust him. And I love him." Stubborn, I know.

Hindi sumagot ang papa ko. Sa halip ay tumingin siya muli kay mama.

"And what do you want me to do?" tanong niya.

"Nothing, pa. If you're against it, I can't force you. Just don't take my happiness away. That's all what I want."

Tumahimik ulit si papa at tumingin sa akin.

"I hope you made a right choice, anak."

Napangiti na lang ako.

"I'm also going to him, right now. He needs me."

Nakita ko ang pag-ismid ng mukha ni Papa. "It's dangerous right now, Maru."

"He can protect me. You know, he can."

Ngumiti ako ulit kay Papa. "Call me when mom wakes up. Magpapahatid ako kay Trojan."

Hindi ko na hinintay ang sagot ni Papa at agad na lumabas ng kuwarto. Saktong nakita ko si Jan sa sala kaya agad akong nagrequest na ihatid n'ya ako sa bahay ni Rai. Thank god at natatandaan ko pa kung saang parte ng bayan na 'to ang bahay niya. Tahimik ang naging biyahe namin ni Jan patungo sa bahay ni Rai.

Nang makarating kami doon ay sinabihan niya lang ako na tawagan siya kapag emergency o kailangan ng tulong niya. I agreed.

Bago pa man ako makapag-door bell ay narinig ko na ang pagbukas ng gate. Lumabas si Rai at dire-diretsong lumapit sa akin.

"Maru," tawag niya sa akin at agad na yinakap ako ng mahigpit. At hindi pa rin siya nagsha-shower.

"I told you to take a shower," wika ko sa kanya.

"What the hell are you doing here," bulong niya sa akin.

"I don't think you're okay so I thought it would be better if I'm here?" Medyo hindi ko pa siguradong sagot.

"And your parents? Are they all right?" tanong niya.

Tumango ako. "Dad is fine. Wala pa ring malay si mama. Nagpaalam ako don't worry. I'm just worried about you-"

Hindi pa ako tapos sa pagsasalita nang halikan ako ni Rai. There's something different from the way he kiss right now. He's not that aggressive. He's somehow... gentle and... passionate? It's a deep kiss and he's doing it slow. Hindi siya nagmamadali and he's making sure na he's tasting and feeling every part of my lips. He's using his tongue to make this more intense and make me burn. And I could damn feel it. I could feel his hands reaching to my waist and to the back of my head. Which is weird dahil kapag naghahalikan kami kung saan-saang parte na ng katawan ko nag-eexplore ang kamay niya.

From what I remember dapat ngayon nagfo-foreplay na kami pero he's here kissing me like I am so treasured, like he's afraid that I will go or I will break. The way he kisses is like conveying a message which I don't totally get.

Humiwalay siya sa halik at tiningnan ako sa mata at ang iba't ibang parte ng mukha ko. Ngumiti siya sa akin. I can really see he's happy.

"I'm glad you're here."

Napangiti na rin ako.

"I'll stay," sagot ko.

"Do you want to come with me?" tanong niya.

"Saan?" naguguluhan kong tanong.

"Bathroom. I need shower," sagot niya saka ako hinatak papasok sa loob.

"You need it too," wika pa niya.

Natawa na lang ako. If Rai sees me naked, he'll go insane. He can't resist. So I guess matatagalan kami sa shower.