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.
