B L O O D L U S T

Ikatatlumpung Kabanata

"Mic test... Mic test, rinig mo 'ko, anak?" tila excited nitong tanong. "Oh! Ba't naman nakakunot ang noo mo? Hindi ka ba masayang makita ako?" kunwaring nasaktan pa ito't inilagay ang kamay sa gawing dibdib niya.

"Mabuti at buhay ka pa, Ella—I mean, Emery; my dear." Nakangisi pa si Mama nang sabihin niya iyon. "Makukuha mo ang reward mo katulad nang napag-usapan. Hindi ko nga lang sigurado kung ibibigay sa'yo ng anak ko 'yong reward mo," naaaliw niyang sabi.

"Bakit ba pilit niyong sinasali si Ella sa gulo natin?! Hindi niyo na 'ko maloloko ni Papa!" galit kong sabi kay Mama na tinawanan lang ako.

"Oh, my poor daughter. You're too evil and innocent at the same time, how do you even do that? But sadly, she knew everything all along," natatawang sabi ni Mama as if she's mocking me. "She's your butler, disguised as your so-called best friend. She doesn't like you, and will never feel the same way you do," para bang proud pa niyang sabi.

Nag-iwas naman ng tingin si Ella nang tignan ko ito. Nilapitan ko siya matapos kong bitawan ang baril na hawak ko saka hinawakan siya sa dalawang balikat niya. "Look at me, babe. She's lying, right? You love me, I felt it. You love me, right? Ella?" desperadang tanong ko. Nanginginig pa ang mga kamay ko habang niyuyugyog ang balikat niya para makuha ang atensiyon niya.

Nang hindi na siguro siya makatiis ay tinabig nito ang mga kamay ko at tumingin sa akin ng diretso. Para bang ibang tao ang nasa harapan ko.

Wala akong maaninag na pagmamahal sa mga mata niya o kahit anong emosyong lagi kong nababanaag sa mga iyon noon. It's almost like looking at an empty vessel of my lovely Ella. There's nothing but boredom in her mesmerizing eyes.

Even after losing its brightness, I couldn't help but feel fluttered under her stare. I hate that even though she's breaking me into pieces, I still adore her.

"She wasn't lying," maging ang boses nito'y hindi nagpapahuli sa kawalan ng emosyon. "Ella Sandoval isn't my real name. I'm Emery Santillan. I don't know who's my real parents are and I'm your butler. Nothing more, nothing less. Alam ko ang plano ni Patricia at sumang-ayon ako. On the other hand, Ali's oblivious about everything. Such a shame she had to die because of you. If you want to take my life, go ahead. That's something I expected you to do."

Mas gugustuhin ko pang sigawan at awayin niya ako ngayon kaysa ganito. Okay lang sa akin kahit magpalibre siya nang magpalibre, o kaya'y pagalitan ako dahil late ako sa klase. She's always been the warmth in my cold world. I can't take this.

"Y-You knew about—" ni hindi man lang nito pinatapos ang sasabihin ko at nagsalitang muli.

"I knew how obsessed you are with taking lives whether they're innocent people or not. I knew what's that hunting game you and your father doing about. I knew how disgusting and heartless you are. You're nothing but a beautiful face," wala akong ibang makita sa mga mata niya kung hindi pang-uuyam habang sinasabi ang mga katagang iyon. "Just kill me, too. That's what you're good at, right? You're going to kill me sooner or later anyway."

Every word coming from her mouth is like a knife cutting me into pieces. Why do I have to experience all of this? Why do I have such pretentious humans in my life?

"You really thought I could do that to you? That I could kill you?" puno ng hinanakit na tanong ko. Wala na rin namang dahilan para itanggi pa ang mga bagay na ginawa ko noon. What was I even expecting? That she'd understand and accept me?