Taming the Vampire

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

M I L L E R

"Oh gosh! Ang cool ni Axel kagabi!"

"Sinabi mo pa! I guess they were right when they said that he never gets drunk."

"Sino ba ang huli niyang nakasama kagabi? Sumama ba siya sa bahay nila Josh?"

"Oo nga, no. I heard everyone went to Josh's house after the party. Bahay niya 'yung malapit 'di ba? Do you think sumama siya?"

"Hindi raw, eh. Umuwi na rin siya after ng inuman."

I am used to this thing. Yes, I am. Pero iba pa rin pala kung hindi mo lang araw-araw na nakikita ang taong pinag-uusapan nila.

I sighed. Hindi ko na talaga matiis. Axel's weird actions only made me more curious. Ang ayos ng usapan namin kahapon. Yes, he might have lumped all the work to me but it was better, then out of the blur, he agreed to have a part and did it overnight. And now, I am hearing about this rumor? It does not even sound like a rumor anymore dahil sinabi nga niya sa akin na sasama siya sa mga kaklase namin.

Binilisan ko ang paglalakad para maabutan ang tatlong babae na nasa harap ko kanina.

"Ang gentleman din niya, alam niyo ba nung pababa ako—"

"Excuse me," sabi ko.

"Oh..." Natigilan silang tatlo at nag-sitinginan sa isa't isa na para bang kakaiba sa kanila na makausap ako.

Well, it is no longer a surprise. Hindi nga rin naman talaga ako nakikipag-usap sa iba maliban na lang kung kailangan ko sila. And this time, it is the same case.

"May itatanong lang sana ako," ani ko habang inuubserhan ang reaksyon nila.

Isa sa kanila ay hindi makatingin sa akin sa mata habang ang isa naman at panay haw isa kanyang buhok sa tenga. Isa lang ata sa kanila ang may lakas ng loob na harapin ako.

"Sure, what is it?"

"Uh, anong oras kayo natapos sa party niyo kagabi? Oh. Uhm, sorry if I eavesdrop a little but, I heard you guys saying that Axel was with you 'til the end?"

"He was."

"Mga anong oras kayo natapos?"

Saglit na nag-isip ang babae at sumagot ng, "It was about... hmm."

"Ten!" sabad ng isa pang babae, "it... it was around ten in the evening," nahihiya niyang dagdag.

Tumaas ang dalawa kong kilay. Ten in the evening? But he went home yesterday like... eight? Or even earlier.

"Ah. Great. Thanks for that," I kindly said as I shortly smiled before leaving.

See. That thing is so weird. How can the have Axel with them when he was already home by eight in the evening? He was tired but I am sure that it was not because of the alcohol. He did not even smell like he drank.

Pumasok na ako sa klase ko ngayong umaga. Hindi ko nakita si Axel dahil hindi kami magkaklase ngayon. Which is kind of disappointing because I have to confirm something.

As soon as the class dismissed, I immediately went outside the classroom. Natatandaan ko kasi na malapit lang dito ang office ng professor na adviser ng club na pinangungunahan ni Axel. And it was also the same professor who saved me from him when he kept pestering me about the blood bank thing.

I still have at least a few hours before my part time job starts.

"Yes, what can I help you with?" tanong sa akin ng student assistant na nasa waiting area ng opisina ng professor. This is my first time here, hindi ko alam na may waiting area pala sa bawat office ng mga full professors. No wonder Axel stays here.

"Uhm, is Sir..." Ah. Nakalimutan ko nga pala ang pangalan niya. Tumikhim ako at nagsalita ulit ng, "Dumaan na ba dito si Axel Wesley?"

"Oh. Si Axel? Oo, pero umalis na rin siya. Mga three minutes ago rin."

"Okay. Thanks," nagmamadali kong pasasalamat at saka mabilis na nilakad ang hallway.

Kaliwa't kanan ako kung tumingin sa paligid at baka sakaling nasa loob siya sa isa sa mga silid na nasa hallway. But then, I thought I have lost him when I reach the last classroom and there's still no Axel Wesley to be found. When someone said, "Axel! Sasabay ka ba mamaya?"

It was as if I had been given ten shots of coffee. Nagising ako nang marinig ko ang pangalan na 'yun.

"Sure! I would love to. Let's go to the bar my friend recom— uh, excuse me?"

Mabilis akong sumingit sa gitna ng usapan nila at hinablot ang kamay ni Axel.

For some reason, hearing him talking with his classmates made me wonder if he is the same person I am living with. At isa pa, did he just yell sure? I mean, the Axel I know doesn't make such friendly responses.

"Uh... W-W-What's up with you?"

Hindi ako nakinig kay Axel at patuloy lang siyang kinaladkad palayo sa maraming tao. He keeps twisting his wrist to loosen it. Pero sinigurado kong mahigpit ang hawak ko sa kanya and even used both my hands.

Shoot. How did he become so strong? Parang noong isang linggo lang ay halos maibalibag ko siya sa gaan ng katawan at hina niya.

"Seriously. Who are you, man?"

What? Nahinto ako sa paglalakad dahil sa tanong niya?

Did he just wonder who I am?

Mas binilisan ko pa ang paglalakad at sinigurado na maayos kaming nakatago sa likod ng CAS building. I grabbed him with all my strength and pinned him on the wall.

"Dude. W—agh! Hey! Magdahan-dahan ka nga!" bulyaw niya sa akin.

"Who I am?" I asked him with full emphasis, making sure that he can hear the absurd question he just asked.

"Yes! Who are you? Sino ka?"

"Are you thinking straight?" tanong ko sabay diin sa kanya sa pader, "How can you ask such question to me?"

"Oh... do... do-do I know you?" kabado niyang sambit bago umiwas ng tingin sa akin.

It irritates me to see this foolish side of Axel, parang hindi siya ito. "Wait, medyo familiar ka nga pero hindi ako sigurado kung saan kita unang nakita... just... wait," aniya at kabadong tumingin-tingin sa paligid habang nag-iisip.

I knew it! There's something going on.

"Ah-ha!" he exclaimed. Ngumiti siya sa akin na para bang may naaalala na siya. "Ikaw 'yung lalaki doon sa mansyon! So, you are also study...ing here." Natigilan siya at dahan-dahan na tinikom ang kanyang mga bibig.

"So, you know who I am?"

Kabadong tumango si Axel.

"Then, who am I? You don't look convincing at all."

Umiwas ulit siya ng tingin at yumuko.

I sighed. "Okay, stop fooling around. I know what you are and what you are doing. So, stop posing at Axel Wesley because I know you are not him."

Hindi niya ako sinagot. Imbes ay madiin niya lang na ipinikit ang kanyang mga mata.

"Hey! I said who are?" bulyaw ko sabay hila sa kanyang kwelyo at tulak sa kanya sa pader.

"A-Aaah!" nanginginig niyang sigaw, this time I can hear fear on it.

Natigilan ako at tinitigan siya nang unti-unting nagbago ang kanyang anyo sa harap ko. His fair skin turned pale white and his eye color suddenly turned red. Lumiit din ang kanyang ilong at naging mapula ang kanyang mga labi.

"W-Who are you— ah!" I gasped, "Are you that Kristoff man?"

Ngumisi ng naiilang ang lalaki at dahan-dahan na tumango. "Magandang umaga po sa iyo, sir. Uhm, are you perhaps Master Axel's new lover?"

What is this man talking about?