Blood Menace

28- Hellville Academy

Pabagsak na naupo ng couch si Cole nang nakaalis si Kam at ang mga kaibigan nito.

He couldn't believe he was this exhausted dealing with her.

"Blood party! Freaking stupid vampires," sambit niya sabay hilamos ng kanyang mga palad.

Naramdaman niyang umupo sa tabi niya si Gregory at sa kabilang couch naman sina Draven at Ciro.

"Sounds fun actually," ani Ciro.

"Alam mo bang sinimulan ni Kam ang blood parties n'ya seven years ago?" ani Draven kaya nagtatakang tiningnan ito ni Cole.

"So?"

"That was the time she heard that you were in a serious relationship with someone else."

Natahimik si Cole.

Serious relationship? Seven years ago?

"It doesn't ring a bell," aniya. Isang beses lang siya naging seryoso. Kay Kam lang noong nasa academy sila. "Wait..."

Naalala na niya ang tsismis na 'yun. It even reached Deus, his older brother, during his exile in Ribenly.

"That wasn't true though. My great grandfather, Orpheus, kept bugging me to read him books. Sinabi ko lang na busy ako sa girlfriend ko para tantanan n'ya ako. That lie didn't last long. I was back in the library with him in a matter of weeks."

Napailing si Gregory. "And look what that little lie of yours got you and her into."

"So, wait, wait," ani Ciro na nag-buffer. "Ibig sabihin, Kam was hurt when she heard about the rumor of your serious girlfriend kaya niya sinimulan ang blood parties to... what? Numb the pain? Forget? Move on?"

Umiling si Cole. "Wag n'yo nga akong sisihin sa mga kalokohan na nagawa ni Kamdyn. She left me for another man. She started these blood parties five years after she left me. Wala na akong kinalaman d'yan."

"Well, her reasons are not our business," sabi na lang ni Gregory saka tumayo na. "I'm beat. Magpapahinga lang ako."

"Babalik na rin ako sa hotel," ani Cole.

"You can stay here. Pwede ka sa couch," ani Ciro.

"No, thank you," ani Cole. He needed his private space. He would gather evidence. He needed a room for that.

"If you changed your mind..."

"I know, I know, Ciro. By the way, thanks for helping me today. I will be asking you again for sure."

"No problem," ani Draven. "We'll help you as much as we can. But don't dismiss the help Kam Hayes can give. She has influence."

Tumango na lang si Cole. Totoo naman kasi. If Kam Hayes could make his work faster, then he would accept the help. He didn't want to stay here any longer.

Tumayo si Draven at nagpunta sa kusina at nasundan ito ni Cole ng tingin.

"Anyways, I have to visit some family and friends. Have you heard of the Hellville Academy?"

"Oh yeah. Bago lang. Last year lang 'yan nag-open, hindi ba?" ani Draven na nagsisimula nang mag-slice ng mga gulay. Open concept kasi itong condo nila kaya karugtong lang ng sala ang kusina at dining area.

"Bakit Hellville?" tanong naman ni Gregory na papasok na sana sa kwarto nito.

"Galing Hellville ang founders. Auntie ko ang isa, si Tita Rianah. Bunso nina Mom. Nandoon na rin ang isa pa nilang kapatid, si Uncle Max with his family. They're vampire-witch so, they teach there."

"More of my descendants huh," ani Gregory. "At nandito lang pala sila."

"Yeah. You can come with me kung gusto mo silang makilala."