Chapter 27: Home
Lilly's bleeding leg had already stopped, but the silence between Kristan and I was still going. Nakasandal siya sa ulunan ng kama habang hinahaplos si Lilly na nagpapahinga sa kanyang kandungan.
"She's so brave," he said after the long silence. He leaned forward to kiss Lilly on the head. "I didn't even realize she was bleeding until we got here."
I had to swallow first before I responded, "That's unusual. She must have experienced worse."
"What could possibly be worse than a wounded cat?"
"A homeless cat."
That's when he looked up at me.
I wasn't prepared for the amount of emotion his eyes transferred to me just the second our sights locked.
There was sadness and confusion. Hindi ko pinutol ang titig para hanapin ang inaasahan ko, ngunit bigo ako. I couldn't see the resentment. The anger for the life our kind deprived him of.
"Yeah." He nodded and swallowed. "When you are homeless, you can easily be wounded. If you are wounded, and someone's willing to help you, it won't be that hard. If you are wounded and alone, it won't be that easy. It won't be easy, but that doesn't mean you won't be fine."
His last sentence hit hard. Hindi ko alam kung may ibang ibig sabihin ba 'yon o wala. Kung pusa pa rin ba ang pinag-uusapan namin o pangkalahatan na.
"It must be nice to have a home," he whispered as he looked back at his cat.
No. His words were familiar to me. Those were the words I held back earlier. Those were the words I chose to swallow down my throat. There was a reason why I decided not to speak out.
I cursed under my breath. It's starting to hit real hard how pathetic it is for someone to be easily read you. It's more shameful for someone who should be inaccessible to anyone.
"Oscar let me watch The Junior Squad," he mumbled as he carefully placed Lilly on the bed. "They look so young, but they are so strong."
"Those are not kids, Kristan. They are surely older than you."
I had no idea why I said that. Siguro ay dahil alam ko na kung saan patungo ang mga salita niya. I know it's frustrating for someone to be one step ahead of you, but we all have our own instances. Hindi tayo parepareho ng pinagdadaanan.
Truth be told, Kristan would be the newborn young man here. He has not been a vampire for a long time. Nag-uumpisa pa lang siya.
"Mukhang mahimbing na ang tulog ni Lilly," batid niya saka na dahan-dahan na umalis sa kama. Saka siya humarap sa akin. "Puwede ba tayong lumabas muna? Medyo hindi pa rin ako familiar sa lugar niyo, eh."
Maagap akong tumayo na mabilis ko ring ikinabahala pagkatapos. Really? It seemed like I was caught by someone slacking and had to immediately get up.
I cleared my throat. "Let's just close the windows and door so she won't escape."
Ako ang ang suhestyon, ako rin ang gumawa. Buti na lang tumulong si Kristan kung hindi ay hindi maganda tingnan.
"Let's go," ani Kristan.
Ako ang naunang lumabas ng kwarto bago si Kristan. Dahan-dahan niyang sinarado ang pinto. Gusto kong matawa sa inaasta ko.
When did I start to fucking care about a damn cat? More so to be worried that I might wake her up while sleeping in my bed? In my fucking bed? Gosh. This is absurd.
"I forgot my jacket," Kristan whispered. "Mauna ka na sa labas. I will be quick."
I just nodded. Bumaba na ako ng hagdan, pero napagdesisyonan ko munang dumaan sa dining hall. Wala na roon si Oscar. Si Mr. Billy na lang at ibang tagapagsilbi na naglilinis ng mga kalat namin.
I waited outside. Gaya ng sinabi ni Kristan ay hindi naman siya natagalan. He was wearing a black leather jacket.
"You do realize that you don't feel cold, right?" natatawa kong sabi dahil balot na balot pa siya. "Plus, you are a vampire."
"This is fashion," he mumbled.
I burst into laughter. When did this man care about fashion? Mas dinaig niya pa ako na ngayo'n ay naka blush red spaghetti strap dress lang.
"You haven't changed your dress since you changed when you got here." He was being playful toward me and my mood. "I don't remember you wearing only one dress for the whole day."
"Well..." Humawak ako sa braso niya saka siya kinindatan. "That's because I want you to undress me later."
Inipit niya ang kamay ko sa kanyang braso bago kami naglakad. Naramdaman kong hinawakan niya ang kamay ko saka 'yon pinasok sa bulsa ng leather jacket niya.
It was strange how this man could put me in so much confusion and in an instant peace at the same time. It was strange because I'd never felt this way before.
This is all new to me. I don't know how to handle it so I'm trying to go with the flow. Hindi ko alam kung saan ako dadalhin ng daloy na ito.
"Is a vampire pet a thing?" Kristan suddenly asked.
There was nothing funny, but I found myself laughing hysterically. He was serious, but I found it hilarious. Everything was hilarious.
"Hindi mo naman iniisip na gawing bampira si Lilly, right?" tanong ko.
Pinasok niya rin ang kanyang kamay sa bulsa ng jacket kung nasaan ang kamay ko. Naramdaman kong hinaplos niya ako.
"Hindi ba puwede?" tanong niya.
"Of course not. You are the vampire pet. My vampire pet."
That... sounded good in my ear.
"Right?" He halted and turned to me. Hinawakan niya ang mga balikat ko saka bahagyang nilapit ang mukha sa akin. "I am your vampire pet."
That... sounded better when he said it.
"Yeah..." I smiled. "Just all mine."
"And you are my possessive lady."
"Master. Your possessive master," I corrected him.
He chuckled. "My possessive lady sounds better. Let's just call it that."
I agreed.
I felt something moved behind the bush so I moved away from Kristan. Napansin niya rin 'yon kaya dumistansya siya palayo sa akin.
My attention was too focused on Kristan that I didn't noticed we were being spied. Yumuko ako at pumulot ng bato. Pinaglaruan ko muna ito bago binato sa direksyon na 'yon.
"Caught it!" nakangiting sabi ni Resty.
"Fuck you, Mr. Escariaga!" Lumabas din doon si Erikson saka sinapak sa balikat si Resty. "Why did you have to catch it?"
"Gago ka kasi. Bakit ba tayo nagtatago?" singhal ni Resty saka pinagpagan ang mga dumikit sa damo sa ulo niya.
"You may show up now, Hestia," I said.
Hestia showed up just behind them. Nakangiwi ang kanyang labi saka ring sinapak sa balikat si Resty. Sinigawan niya rin ito.
"Where's the cat?" tanong ni Resty.
Kristan moved away when the three of them approached me. Tiningnan ko nang masama sina Erikson at Hestia.
"What was that?" I asked them.
"Gusto rin yata nilang matikman ang dugo ni Kristan," ani Resty kaya sinapak siya uli ni Erikson. "Tangina mo. Bading ka ba, Nadija?"
"We were worried," ani Hestia. "I saw you walk out of the dining hall. You didn't even feel me. Tapos nakita kong wasak ang table."
"Hestia just dragged me here. I swear," ani Erikson. "I was just as innocent as Mr. Escariaga. Hindi namin alam ito!"
"Hestia..." I bit my bottom lip.
"I'm sorry!" she pouted. "You look okay, though."
Napansin kong nilapitan ni Resty si Kristan para tanungin kung nasaan ang pusa.
"Are you okay now?" tanong pa ni Hestia. "Let me guess. Lord Severo?"
"S-she's what?" tanong ni Resty kay Kristan. "Paano siya nagkasugat? Did just Lady Nathalia bite her?"
"No. It was an accident," depensa ni Kristan. "She's good now."
"Anyway... we are going to Nightscape Club!" excited na sambit ni Hestia. "Are you guys going? Oh, gosh. I miss that place!"
"Kayo lang. Kailangan ako ni Lilly—"
"Okay," I cut Resty off.
We all agreed to visit the bar exclusive for vampires only— Nightscape Club. That made me slightly nervous for Kristan. It would be his first time attending a party where only vampires were invited.
Naunang pumasok sila Hestia, Erikson, at Resty. Hinarap ko muna si Kristan. Nakatingala siya sa umiilaw na pangalan ng club na ito.
"Hindi pa ba tayo papasok?" tanong niya.
I swallowed. "This is not just an ordinary bar, Mr. Admiral. All of them inside are vampires."
Naguluhan siya. "Am I not?"
"No! Not like that." I shook my head. "It's your first time. You better stay on my side."
Ngumisi siya. "Well... I thought everyone fears you? Bakit parang takot ka?"
"They don't know you. Don't be stupid!" I exclaimed out of frustration. "You are a newbie here. Not just a newbie... but also a slave."
"I'm not stupid! Fine. Sa tabi mo lang ako."
Nung magkaunawaan na kami ay sabay kaming pumasok sa loob. The party noise went abruptly down as soon as they saw me. I made sure Kristan was beside me while walking in the crowd.
"It's nice to see you again, Lady Cardinal."
"Hell no. Is that her slave?"
"I would die for that!"
"What a lucky asshole."
"Why is he walking beside her?"
These were some of the gossip I've heard around. As much as they fear me, they know that Kristan is a slave. He's lower than everyone here, just for pleasure.
Napansin nina Resty at Erikson na nakakaagaw ng atensyon si Kristan kaya tinabihan nila kami sa magkabilang panig.
I don't want to fight anyone.
I don't want to fight anyone around just for him. That would be weird as fuck. But if a finger gets laid on him, I won't hesitate to throw a punch.
"Don't you want a private room?" tanong sa amin ni Hestia.
I shook my head. "No. I want to party."
"Gosh. Nathalia. Kristan is—"
"They know better than to touch him," I cut her off.
Napatunganga siya sa sinabi ko.
We settled on the high stools at bar counter. Si Resty ang nag-serve sa amin dahil sila naman ang may-ari ng bar na ito. Saka isa pa, mukhang hindi makagalaw ang bartender nila.
"Go and serve Nadija, Adrian," ani Resty sa bartender. "Ako na ang bahala sa iba."
"Why don't you serve me, too?' Erikson frowned. "After Cardinals comes Nadija!"
"Ulol. Lagyan kong lason alak mo, eh!" singhal ni Resty.
Bumaling ako kay Kristan. Pansin kong pasulyap-sulyap din siya sa paligid. It's a good thing that he's aware how dangerous this place is for him.
"Hey..." Hinawakan ko ang balikat niya. His body jolted. Mukhang kabado nga. "You are good. Huwag ka lang aalis sa tabi namin."
"Sa tabi ni Nathalia, to be more specific," ani Hestia. "Ayokong mapaaway, 'no."
"I'm good," he smiled.
I should be enjoying my drink, but I found myself watching everyone. Marami ng nagtangkang lumapit kay Kristan pero hinahawi sila ni Erikson.
"His blood smells good." Isang lalaki ang nagsalita sa tabi ko. Sumansal siya sa counter saka uminom ng alak. "It's been a tradition that I get to taste the new slaves who walks in here."
"Braun..." Nilapitan siya ni Erikson saka tinapik ang balikat. "Leave them alone. Lady Nathalia is enjoying her drink."
Inalis ni Braun ang kamay ni Erikson sa kanyang balikat. "Tsk. I remember when Brixton brought his slave here. You both are greedy!"
Wala akong panahon na sagutin siya, pero nung nakita kong nakatayo sa gilid niya si Kristan ay napatayo rin ako sa gulat.
"Lady Nathalia is enjoying her drink," madiin na sambit ni Kristan. "I am her slave, and my duty is to protect her. I'm sorry, but please fuck off."
"W-what?" Braun sniffed.
"Enough, Braun!" Resty butted in. "You have been causing chaos here lately. One more time, and I will tell my mother to ban you here."
"Tsk. Losers." Saka na rin siya naglakad palayo.
"It's okay now, Kristan." Hinatak na ni Erikson si Kristan pabalik sa upuan. "That fucker is addicted to this place. He fears to be banned here more than anything."
Bumalik na rin ako sa upuan ko. That was close.
"I'm sorry..." bulong ni Kristan.
"It's okay," I said.
Lumagok na lang ako ulit ng alak. Tinuon ko ang atensyon sa likido ng baso ko. Naramdaman kong may humawak sa hita ko.
I turned to Kristan. He didn't say anything.
I was calm again.
I want to thank him, but that will be unnecessary. Although it was also unnecessary for him to stand up for me when all I told him was to stay beside me.
"That was brave," I said instead.
He chuckled. "As brave as Lilly?"
"Maybe."
"Wait. Did I just hear Lilly?" usisa ni Resty.
"Delikado ka na, Resty. Baka sa sobrang pag-iisip mo kay Lilly ay gusto mo na siyang katayin!" singhal ni Erikson.
"Kadiri ka!" ani Resty. "I only drink human blood. Hindi katulad mo na baka maging dugo ng asong lobo ay iinumin!"
"Ulol. Mas mahaba pa pangil ko sa 'yo!"
"Pangil lang pala mahaba sa 'yo, eh!"
Muntik ko nang mabuga ang iniinom ko dahil sa pinagsasabi nila. Si Hestia ay nabuga talaga ang iniinom sa sobrang pagtawa. Maging si Kristan ay tumatawa.
"Tangina talaga ni Escariaga. Nakita mo na?" ani Erikson na mukhang na-offend.
"Sa akin niyo ipakita at ako ang magpapasya!" sabi naman ni Hestia.
Natulala ako kay Kristan nung humalakhak siya. Would it be so dramatic if everything faded to nothing while I was staring at him laughing? That really happened.
"Your friends are hilarious," bulong ni Kristan sa aking tainga na nagdulot pa ng bahagyang kiliti.
"Corny, you mean?" I rolled my eyes.
Hindi na rin kami nagtagal pa roon. Si Resty lang ang naiwan dahil dumating si Lady Tessa at nagpapatulong sa kanya.
It was a long distance going back to The Mansion, but we didn't mind just walking. Nasa harapan namin sina Hestia at Erikson. Kami ni Kristan sa likod.
"Are we going to leave tomorrow?" Kristan asked.
That just confirmed my thoughts. Narinig niya nga talaga lahat ng detalye sa usapan namin ni Oscar kanina.
"What?" Humarap sa amin si Hestia. "Aalis na tayo bukas?"
I nodded. "Marami pa tayong trabaho, Hestia."
"Hindi niyo na hihintayin si Master Brixton?" tanong ni Erikson.
I sniffed. "That's the reason why we can't stay here longer, Mr. Nadija."
Mukhang naintindihan naman niya ang pinahiwatig ko sa mga salita ko. Kapag bumalik si Brixton ay kasama niya si Astra. Hindi pa puwedeng magkita sina Astra at Kristan. Pareho kaming mahihirapan ni Brixton.
Hestia groaned. "Fine. Nakakabitin naman."
Kristan has been silent the whole conversation. Binagalan ko ang paglalakad para gumawa ng malaking pagitan sa amin nina Hestia at Erikson.
I sniffed and grasped for words. I knew he had been wanting to open up about what he overheard from us. He just couldn't find the perfect time to ask.
"The vampire world is more complicated than the human. As you see, we are not allowed to disclose our identities to them. That's against the rules."
"D-did I?" he asked,
I nodded. "It was an accident, but rules are rules. Just because you don't know about something doesn't make you excused."
"W-what kind of a human was I?"
Tumigil kami sa paglalakad saka humarap sa isa't isa. Umihip ang malakas na hangin na gumalaw sa mga buhok namin. Gano'n pa man ay hindi naputol ang pagtingin namin.
"You were..." Bumigat na naman ang pakiramdam ko. "You were totally fine. I could say that you were better back then than now."
He just nodded.
"I won't ask for an apology on behalf of my brother. He just did what was right. It was selfish but..." I shook my head. "You won't ever hear any apologies from us. That's how unapologetic everything is."
"I understand."
"Do you really? Hindi ka ba galit?" I closed the distance between us. "Let's pretend that you are just like me—that you are not under me. I'm giving you my permission to be yourself now."
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah. I am."
"Okay..." He held my chin and gave me a peck. "I told you, I just wanted to be enlightened. Just because I keep asking about my past life doesn't mean I want it back."
My eyes became watery as I tried hard not to blink.
"Please be mad... at least," I whispered.
His reaction to his tragic past didn't sound right to me. He should be mad at us. Kahit na wala siyang maalala, sapat na dahilan na pinagkait namin sa kanya ang lahat para magalit siya sa amin.
"Let's just say... I'm not thankful for bringing me back to life."
You aren't, but I am.
"But... I am not mad at all," he added.
So am I.
He gently rubbed his thumb against my lips while his other hand snaked around my waist, pulling me closer to him.
"I promise to serve you for as long as I live, milady."
I wanted to promise him something, too.
But... I cannot say it right now.
"I want to make up to you..." I said instead.
He chuckled. "That would be so out of your character. You don't need to make up for your slave, Nathalia. That's fine."
"I can offer you something!"
"Fine. What?" he smirked.
"How about..."
His brows arched.
"Home."