A night with a vampire

ix

"And then? What happened? She died there? Paanong ikaw ang pumatay sa kanya?" After a couple of minute silence ay nagtanong na ulit siya. My emotion subsided. So i am calm na.

"No. Not yet. She just collapsed. The men who attacked her turned their heads towards me. That time, i really thought they would attack me. But then, they backed down. Then just like how they appeared, ganun din sila kabilis nawala. I was frozen sa kinatatayuan ko. Hindi pa nga sana ako gagalaw. Pero tumayo si mommy tsaka pumasok sa kotse. She started the car, kaya akala ko uuwi na kami, so i run towards her, but just when i was about to open the door ay pinaandar na niya ito, leaving me there."

"So as a scared little child, i did what my mind told me to to, run after the car. Pero di ko naabutan. That was when a middle-aged woman found me panting and scared to death sa kalsada. She helped me Red. Luckily, i memorized our address. Kaya hinatid niya ako. Pagkababa ko palang ng sasakyan ng tumulong sa akin ay narinig ko na ang ingay sa loob ng bahay. So tumakbo ako papasok."

"Umakyat ako sa kwarto nina papa kasi nandoon nagmumula ang ingay ng mga nababasag na salamin. When i opened the door i saw mommy lifting and choking daddy with one hand. She was so strong red. My father's face was getting pale. Parang tinatakasan na siya ng oxygen, so i helped him. Tumakbo ako papalapit sa kanila. And i pushed her as hard as i could. Pero di man lang siya natinag. But what i did was enough to catch her attention. Tinapon niya si papa sa gilid like he was just a light toy. Then in a split second, ako na ang sakal-sakal niya. i cried for help. I called my daddy. I even pleaded her to stop. But she didnt."

"I was dying that time, Red. But thankfully, dad pushed mom so hard na nagsanhi sa pagkakabitiw ni mommy sakin. Then she faced dad again, he pushed him, tumalsik si daddy sa labas ng kwarto, Red. Yung mga napapanood natin sa action movies, ganun yung nangyari Red. Only it was real. Nasasaktan si Daddy. Nilapitan niya ulit si daddy, then she choked him again. As i watched daddy losing his breathe, i ought to do something Red. Ang nakita ko that time, is yung guitar ni daddy. Kinuha ko yun at inihampas sa ulo ni mommy. Hindi siya nasaktan, she was just startled. So i pushed her hard."

"And that was the biggest mistake i will forever regret. Nasa gilid kami ng hagdan that time. She fell. And as she landed, i saw blood. A lot of blood sa steps ng hagdan. Sa floor na pinagbagsakan niya. Nilapitan namin siya, but she wasnt breathing, Red."

"I killed her!" Nilapitan ko si Red and i grasped his shoulder. Trying to get some strength and warmth from him.

"I killed her Red. My dad blamed me for it. I tried explaining to him. Pero sabi niya, lasing lang si mommy. He blamed me Red. I didnt want that to happen. Kung sana di na lang ako nacurious sa picture nacyun, kung sana di ko na lang inasam ang attention ni mama, kung sana di ko na lang inincourage si mama na hanapin yung place, kung sana.... kung sana..... Ako na lang namatay."

"And that night, my father's love, affection, and care died with my mom." Red pulled me into his arm. He hug me tightly while i cry.

"Shhhhh. It's okay. It's okay. Im here. Hush now, Zania. Everything's alright now."

"Then i realized, the men who attacked my mom are not the monsters. It is me, Red, I am the real monster." I whispered as i close my eyes. The comforting warmth Red is giving me put me into a deep dreamless slumber.