Taming the Vampire

CHAPTER TEN

M I L L E R

"Dude, can you even hear yourself, right now?" ani ko bilang tugon sa kababalaghan na sinasabi ni Axel. "If you want some blood, why don't you go to a hospital or something? Hindi pwedeng sa akin ka humingi."

I may have a strong physique and healthy body, but that's all I have right now. I am able to work from sunrise to sundown, thanks for my strength and health. I won't risk my blood to some random person... or vampire in this case.

"Hm? I am quite sure that I am hearing myself just right," tugon niya na para bang walang mali sa mga pinagsasabi niya.

"You're asking for my blood. Akala ko ba hindi ka umiinom ng dugo mula sa buhay na tao?" Is he serious?

I am obviously a living human being.

"Oh, that, I can explain," aniya sabay pisil ng kanyang labi. Nag-krus ang kanyang mga braso at bahagya siyang tumingin sa sahig bago ulit tumingala sa akin. "It's complicated to explain, tho."

"What?" Napakamot ako ng ulo. "You're wasting my time." Tutal maaga na rin naman akong umalis sa trabaho at nandito na ako sa bahay, mas mabuti pa na itulog ko na lang ito at magpahinga. "Could you just leave?"

"No, I can't," he stubbornly replied.

Bumuntong-hininga ako. "Hey... I promise I won't tell anyone about your secret. I get it that you are an old vampire, you have powers, and need blood. Pero wala rin naman akong pagsasabihan so I can keep your secret... it's just please! Please. Please. I beg you to stop following me."

Napagod na ako. Nakakapagod itong laging may nakabuntot na tao... o bampira.

"Why won't you help me?"

Argh! Can't this person understand?

"Because you need my blood? And blood is precious! It's blood, man."

Bakit dugo ko ang kailangan mo?

"Didn't I tell you that I–"

"That's it. Gusto ko nang matulog." I grabbed him by his arm to bring him outside. "You should j– hm?" Hindi ko na natapos ang sasabihin ko kasi nung hinila ko na siya, he felt so light than I expected him to be.

"Ngh!" He groaned while trying to get rid of my grip on his arms.

Napansin ko rin na nakangiwi siya at halos mawalan na ng balanse sa kinatatayuan niya.

Akala ko ba bampira siya? Isn't he supposed to be strong?

"Get out now," bulyaw ko sa kanya sabay bitaw sa kanya.

I was afraid to hurt him, he was so light. Baka magkaroon pa siya ng pasa dahil sa akin. Napakaputla pa naman ng balat niya. Isa pa, may mga paa siya. He can leave on his own.

Axel Wesley sighed. Then he glanced at me with sleepy eyes. "I guess I have to try again next time."

"Hey. Stop trying again!" saway ko sa kanya. He should just give up and look for another human.

"I wish I can just do that," sambit niya at nagtungo ng pintuan. Aabutin na niya sana ang doorknob when he paused then said, "Ah, to make it clear, I am not an old vampire. A four-century old vampire is considerably young for us. Our age is comparable to humans in their adulthood stage." He then opened the door, and disappeared again.

* * *

After what happened the other day, I now have a new agenda in school – that is to avoid Axel Wesley... strictly and stubbornly.

It's Monday again, maswerte akong hindi dumating sa bahay ang mga tauhan ng pinag-utangan ng ama ko. Tinagalan ko ang pag-uwi kahapon mula sa trabaho dahil baka nasa labas na sila ng bahay ko at naghihintay. Obviously, I still do not have the money for the week's quota. Pero buti na lang ay wala sila. I thought they must have gone there tapos ay hindi na nakapag-hintay sa akin at umuwi na lang agad. Kaso nung nagtanong-tanong ako sa mga nagtitinda sa harap ng boarding house namin ay wala raw silang nakitang mga lalaki na umaaligid sa pinto ko.