A Night with a Beast

viii

Maaga akong nagising. Wala pang liwanag sa labas nang silipin ko sa bintana. Nang tingnan ang oras ay natanto kong alas-tres palang ng umaga.

Kahit pa ilang oras lang ang tulog ko kagabi, hindi naman ako nakakaramdam ng antok. I just washed my face and went out to cook myself food.

Tahimik ang buong lugar nang lumabas ako. Nilingon ko ang pinto ni Tristram bago nagtungo sa kusina. Hindi na ako nag-abala pang magbukas ng ilaw.

Sinadya ko talagang gumising ng maaga para hindi kami magkaabutang dalawa.

I know we're okay last night but knowing that man? Alam kong hahanap at hahanap siya ng paraan para may masabi sa akin.

I was yawning when I reached the kitchen. Madilim, pero marunong naman akong makiramdam sa paligid. I traced the island counter and was about near the fridge when I felt someone staring at me.

Natigilan ako at kunot ang noong nilingon ang paligid. Dilim lang ang nakita ko noong una, but after adjusting my eyes in the dark, napasigaw ako nang may maaninag na tao sa isang stool.

Hindi ko alam kung kailan ako huling napasigaw ng ganon kalakas. Hindi ko rin masabi kung may narinig ba talaga akong kumalabog.

Tumigil lang ako nang biglang lumiwanag at iniluwa ng dilim si Tristram na laglag ang panga sa akin. He was touching his back with a pained face. He look like terribly stunned and hurt.

I stiffened and muttered curses inside my head. Wala sa sariling tumalikod ako at sinapo ang bibig. I pressed my other hand on my chest and shut my eyes tightly.

Muntik na ako atakihin!

"Why... why would you scream like that, Dematera?!" inis na tanong nito sa likuran ko.

I clicked my tongue and look at him in disbelief. "Gago ka kasi!"

His jaw dropped in confusion and gave me a questioning look. Para siyang hindi makapaniwala sa narinig at gusto pa atang ipa-ulit ang sinabi ko.

"W-What did I do?!" he exclaimed.

I widened my eyes. "Sinong matinong tao ang magtatago sa dilim ng ganitong oras?! Are you trying to kill me?" I fired.

"What? I'm not hiding in the dark! Natutulog ako and then you suddenly scream—"

"Ah, nags-sleep walk ka na ngayon? Hindi mo na ba alam kung alin ang kwarto at kusina? Muntik na akong atakihin sa gulat!" I hollered.

He let out a frustrated sigh as he messed his hair terribly. "I didn't mean to scare you then. And please, you're still lucky hindi ka natuluyan because I think I broke my back because of your fucking scream."

My forehead creased as I pressed my lips together.

He whispered something before touching his back again. Napakurap ako at naaalala ang kumalabog kanina.

Siya ba 'yon?

Nawala ang pagkakakunot ng noo ko at tumikhim na lang.

"Bakit kasi diyan ka natutulog?" matigas na tanong ko at dumiretso sa fridge para uminom ng tubig.

My eyes went to the stove, may nakasalang doon. May bagong luto rin na kanin!

Why the freaking hell would he cook at this hour? Hindi kaya may hangover pa talaga siya at nagsleep walk para magluto?

I turned to him and saw his back. He's still caressing it like it was really in pain.

Was it my fault that he got me scared?  Kung sana sa kwarto siya natutulog e sana hindi ako sumigaw at hindi siya nahulog.