Taming the Vampire

SIDE STORY TWO

M I L L E R

We had a blast in the past two years. Yes, it has been two years and two founding anniversaries since the time I returned to the country. Marami na kaming napuntahan ni Axel. We went outside the country. We visited Spain when the Supreme went there. Ilang araw lang naman kami doon at tumungo na rin agad sa ibang pang bansa. Sinulit namin ang bawat pasyal.

It was just last week when we returned back to the country. Hindi naman kasi pwede na iwan ng walang nag-aasikaso ang kumpanya ni Axel. Mapapansin din ng mga tao na ibang Axel ang nakatayo sa harap nila.

Kababalik lang namin yet he already missed the trip we had when we were in Japan a year ago. Nag-hot spring kasi kami roon. It wasn't our first time. But we enjoyed the trip together due to uh... a special reason.

Anyway, Axel insisted on visiting one. Good thing we found a hot spring in Mindanao. Although it's a different type of hot spring, very different from Japan.

"They have private rooms here."

Yup, it's fine, dahil may mga private room. Besides, the place is beautiful in its own way.

Nasa paanan ng isang bundok ang hot spring. It's rich with natural minerals like sulfur. Isang mansyon na gawa sa kawayan ang resort. Tradisyunal na bahay ng mga Pilipino pero hinaluan ito ng semento at yero para tumibay. Gabi na nang nag-check in kami kaya tahimik at mapayapa na sa paligid.

"Sa umaga po sir available po ang pool natin sa labas. We have three pools here; for adults, and kids," paliwanag sa amin ng staff habang patungo kami ng silid namin.

Pero nakita na namin ang dami ng tao nang nasa main corridor na kami. Ito ay para sa mga gustong mag-overnight stay. Magka-pamilya at mga magba-barkada ang madalas na nandito.

"Your room is here, sir," turo ng babae sa room 302.

"Excuse me, let me just make it clear," sabad ni Axel, "There's an indoor hot spring here, am I correct?"

Looks like Axel really wanted to make sure that we got the right room.

"Meron po. All rooms in this area have an indoor hot spring."

Ngumiti lang si Axel tapos ay tumingin sa akin.

Oh, gosh. Wala pa man siyang sinabi ay alam ko na ang ibig sabihin ng mga ngiting iyan.

"T-Thank you. We'll call you if we need something," sambit ko sa staff.

"Sure, sir. The buffet in the dining area is ready. Open po ito from 7 PM until 10 PM."

The staff is accommodating. After nitong magpaliwanag ay umalis na rin siya. Sa kabila ng tradisyunal na anyo sa labas, may moderno naman na disenyo ang silid nila. Kumpleto ito ng gamit, may refrigerator pa nga at TV sa loob.

"The room is surprisingly neat," komento ni Axel na nilibot ang silid.

"Anong gusto mong gawin? Nagugutom ka na ba?" I was just asking a very straight forward question, which he then responded without hesitating.

"I want to try the hot spring."

"Ngayon na?"

"Yup." He nodded.

"Hindi ka nagugutom?"

Axel didn't speak but he shook his head.

Hindi ko na siya kinontra pa. Hindi rin naman ako nagugutom. It's not like human food can make us full.

Nauna nang nagpalit ng damit si Axel. It's a hot spring so a piece of towel is fine to wrap on the waist. Habang ako naman, bago maghanda ay inilagay ko muna isa-isa sa ref ang dala namin na dugo. The blood is disguised into a juice pack, which is quite convenient kasi naiinom namin ito even in public. Wala kasing ganito dati.