Taming the Vampire

CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

M I L L E R

"Dito ako matutulog. Babantayan kita."

Sinabi ko ito but I myself am not sure on how I should guard him. Pero siguro sapat na nga ang naisip ko kanina na dito lang ako sa tabi niya matutulog para kung sakali na may mangyari man sa kanya ay agad ko itong mapapansin.

Lumingon ako sa kanya to see if he is starting to close his eyes. Yet instead, nahuli ko siyang nakatingin din sa akin bago nagmamadaling bumalikwas sa kabila. Obviously, he is avoiding me. It's no longer a surprised if he does it. Kung ako rin naman siguro magugulat kung bigla na lang ako tatabihan ng tao na kagaya ko – an unsociable person who seem to hate having someone accompanying him. Pero mas nagtaka ako nang saglit kong makita ang mapula niyang mga pisngi.

Yes, his face are already pinkish red with his high fever but what caught my attention was his attitude. Out of his pinkish complexion ay nangibabaw ang pamumula sa mga pisngi niya habang nung nagtagpo ang mga mata namin, tila ba nataranta siya kung saan niya igagawi ang kanyang mga mata. Until he decided to just change his position and went facing the other side.

"D-Do what... ever you want. As long as you shut your mouth... and let me sleep in peace." Hindi pa rin maayos ang paghinga niya. There are still a few times that he has to pause before continuing.

Hindi rin nagtagal ay pinikit ko na rin ang mga mata ko. I am ready to fall asleep and have my eyelids tightly attached when I notice the subtle shaking.

Hindi naman lumilindol. It certainly is not an earthquake as it is not shaking the way I know earthquake shaking should go. If I were to describe it's more like the bouncy bed itself is moving.

Napalingon ako sa tabi ko. Doon ko pa lang nakita kung ano ang sanhi ng mahinang paggalaw. Axel beside me is squirming in small movements. Nakabalot naman siya ng kumot at may kumportable na unan. For some reason I felt that I have to held my breath to see what he's doing.

I watch his back shaking while his feet rub against each other and the bed.

He must be cold.

I sighed. "You're cold," sabi ko.

Wala akong narinig na sagot mula sa kanya. Pero kahit ganun ay tumayo pa rin ako para hinaan ang aircon ng silid. It's in 16 degrees so I went down to turn it to fan. Malamig pa rin naman ang buong silid with the remaining moisture.

Bumalik din ako kaagad sa tabi ni Axel at inobserbahan siya. Bahagyang tumigil na ang paggalaw ng kanyang mga paa but he sure is still shaking. Naririnig ko pa rin nga ang mabigat niyang paghinga.

"Malamig pa rin ba?" tanong ko sa kanya, pero ganun pa rin. Ayaw pa rin niyang sumagot.

Kaya naman pikit-mata at naninigas kong itinuwid ang braso ko. Umusog ako palapit sa kanya at inabot siya para balutin ng hindi rin kumportable na braso ko.

"Wh– What are you... What are y-you up to now?" His voice is still shaking.

"Niyayakap kita."

"Why?" Maikli niyang tanong. He must be really tired to even open his mouth.

"I told you that I will take care of you. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang iniinom niyong gamot maliban sa dugo, I mean it's not like paracetamol works on vampires. And I don't think those wet towels will do its job for a sick vampire's body as well." I'm not even sure if it works with humans.

"Why..." he paused to breathe, "are you hugging me?

"The room is still freezing cold. I'm allowing you to use me to warm yourself."

I felt light jolt of resistance pero wala itong nagawa maski ang galawin man lang ang braso ko sa baywang niya.

"Hn..." I heard him groan.