Chapter 20: Burn
Nathalia Cardinal doesn't approach. She doesn't initiate. Everything comes at her willingly and without lifting a finger.
"How to become friendly?" I typed on the keyboard of my laptop, and it redirected me to a webpage showing random websites about friendships.
I literally forgot how Google works and almost googled how it works. But the first result usually means a lot of people or curious techy vampires already clicked on it. It's the most popular one. Therefore, I clicked it and skimmed through the content.
I devoted almost half an hour just rereading the content of the page over and over because I tend to forget everything after I look away from the screen of my laptop. The single friendly cell in me was fighting for her life.
After successfully getting into the content, I conclude that I think I can do this. I mean this is not as hard as I thought it will be.
I shut my laptop and took a glance at the wall clock. It was almost midnight, and I could already feel my hunger knocking on my stomach. My throat felt parched. This is bad for the single-friendly cell in me. I need to nourish it.
Nag-inat ako ng katawan bago lumabas ng kwarto. Tahimik na ang sala. Wala na rin ang dustpan na hinagis ko kanina kay Kristan. Maayos na rin ang amoy.
Oh, my feels. That was so embarrassing!
Ang buong akala ko ay nasa kwarto na si Kristan, pero naabutan ko siya sa kusina. Taimtim itong nagbabasa ng libro. Umangat sa akin ang tingin niya nung maramdaman ang presensya ko.
"Finally. Iinitin ko lang ang ulam," aniya.
He closed the book and placed it on the countertop as he started to heat the food. Binuksan niya ang oven at pinasok doon ang pagkain. Saka siya kumuha ng alak at nagsalin sa baso.
"Hey. Good evening. What are you reading?" I asked.
Greet people— or vampires and try to open a light topic. It doesn't need to be about how vampire exists or how the world is created. The simplest question, the better.
Lumapit ako sa countertop saka sinilip ang binabasa niya. Base sa book cover nito ay mukhang inspirational book. The author isn't familiar to me. Maybe I will suggest to him some vampire authors, too. Their novels about our kinds are more realistic.
Kristan promptly turned to me. His lips were slightly parted. Napailing pa siya saka lumapit sa akin. Pinatong niya sa harapan ko ang baso ng alak.
I smiled at him. "Where's Lilly?"
Always wear your smile. This is the easiest part of being friendly. I have been faking my smile since then.
"S-she's in the room now." He pulled me a chair. "Please, have a seat first. Give me five to ten minutes before I prepare the food. Enjoy your wine for now."
I nodded. Before I took the seat, I had patted his shoulder and said with my sweetest voice possible, "Thanks. Nag-dinner ka na ba?"
Break the wall between us. Not the world that separates our reality, but just the thin wall for a better and genuine conversation. Just to relate, I guess.
I felt him jump when I suddenly patted his shoulder. I think I even heard him mutter a curse in his head as he slightly moved away from me.
Oh, no. I don't think there's a script on my research that says startle him. He looked so frightened of me. I didn't mind it and still played it cool.
"I haven't. I waited for you," he said, looking at me suspiciously. "Initially, I thought you were tired. Maybe you are just hungry."
His voice sounded like he was mocking me and on the edge of bursting into laughter at the same time. I don't think it will be good for both of us he started laughing out of nowhere.
