Taming the Vampire

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

M I L L E R

"Gumising na ba siya?" una kong tanong nang bumalik na kami sa silid kung saan nagpapahinga si Axel.

Umiling-iling si Kristoff. It might not be good news but at least the worries and sadness are gone to his face. Pero hindi ko tuloy alam kung dapat pa rin ba akong masiyahan. Kristoff is not showing negative expression, yet he is showing an ominous one. Pakiramdam ko ay hindi magiging magandang ang darating sa akin na balita.

However, part of me is still glad. Again, Axel is getting well.

"May inutusan na si Papa na maghanap ng ingredients para sa antidote ng lason ni Master," pahayag sa akin ni Kristoff.

"Akala ko ba si Axel lang ang may alam kung paano gawin ang gamot?"

"Oo," tango niya, "did you see the small notebook na binabasa namin? Kay Master 'yun, sinusunod lang namin kung ano ang nakalista na mga sangkap. Kung ano ang kaya naming makuha, hinahanap na namin. Sa ganun na paraan mas mapapadali ang trabaho niya paggising."

Surely, Axel is very lucky to his servants. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang pamamaraan nila sa kanilang mansyon but I can tell that their servants are loyal. I also remember that there was no one other than Axel in that mansion. I did not see any family members. Sa sitwasyon ni Axel noon dapat ay may kapamilya na umintindi sa kanya. I know there was Martin, but how about a sister? Or a brother? Now as well, this is my second time here pero bakit hindi ko naabutan ang pamilya niya? Don't they want to see Axel? Hindi ba sila nag-aalala sa kanya?

I stop settling for wondering about these. I am way too curious to let it be so I started asking, "Kristoff, nasaan na ang pamilya ni Axel?"

Kristoff stood frozen. Hindi na muna siya nagsalita, he just gaped as if the answer was right in his mouth yet he was reluctant to utter it.

I am willing to wait, and he is on the verge of answering me when a loud knock echoed in the room. Kasunod nito ay ang pagbukas ng pinto. It's a single-way door, yet it is at least three-inches larger (on all four sides) than the regular doors.

"Sir Miller," bati sa akin ni Martin sabay yuko. Sa likod naman niya ay nakasunod si Mateo. His eyes are on the floor, almost as if he has his eyes close. At nang iangat niya ang paningin niya his glare directly went on me. It was intense and serious, but it is not intimidating or angry. It's just seeming that he has something in his thoughts na dahilan kung bakit hindi niya maikalma ang kanyang mukha.

Now, I just noticed na pareho sila ng suot na ekspresyon ni Kristoff.

"I'm glad you accepted my invitation," said Mateo, wearing a neutral expression now. Tila ba lumuwag ng bahagya ang intense na ekspresyon sa mukha niya. What's left is his serious face.

"Nothing to mention. I originally planned to come back here."

"Oh, really? I don't think a certain someone has mentioned that to me," sambit niya habang dahan-dahan na inilipat ang tingin sa gawi ni Kristoff. Hindi na ako nagsalita, ganun din si Kristoff na umatras ng bahagya sa likod ko. Mateo just cleared his throat then said, "Anyway, that doesn't matter anymore. I guess my decision still favors your plan." He closed his eyes then a silent breathing came from his nose.

Silent. Yet, strangely, I can hear it well.

"Ano ang kailangan niyo sa akin?" Hindi na ako nag-paligoy-ligoy pa at kaagad nang ibinigkas ang katanungan na ito.

Naglakad paabante si Mateo, habang pareho naman na pumunta sa gilid ng silid ang mag-ama. Bahagya rin akong lumingon kay Axel pero tulog pa rin siya.

"I asked you yesterday; how's your feeling? You said, you're fine," Mateo began as he crossed his arms. "Yet, I can sense that you are lying."