Tall, Dark and Dead

The War Museum

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

A l e k

I won. She showed up. A trip down memory lane when I saw her standing under that tree. Para siyang si Cali nung nakatalikod. Tinext ko na lang na umuwi na siya dahil malapit nang bumuhos ang ulan. I don't want her to get sick dahil lang sa pag-iinarte at galit ko. Ewan ko kung ano 'yun, pero ang pabebe ko daw sabi ni Maddie. Ano ba 'yun?

"No show?"

"Seven in the morning. Nagbaon na nga ng pananghalian yung bata," Kwento ko. Binantayan ko siya kaya alam ko. "Umalis lang nung pumasok sa eskwela pero bumalik din. Bilis nga, eh."

"Nag-usap kayo?"

"Wala naman kaming dapat pag-usapan." Ipinaliwanag sa akin ni Maddie kung ano'ng mga nagawa kong mali. Mga limang beses dahil wala akong imik. "It's not my fault she can't handle the pressure."

"She's going to be outed, Alek. I think, she already is." Pumalatak ako sabay pamewang at tagilid ng ulo. "What do you expect? Of course, gay panic and shit."

"She's not brave enough."

"She's just choosing her battles carefully. Natalia is new to this."

"Wait, who's side are you on again?"

"Alam na niyang bampira ka?" According to those books that I've read, the qualities of a vampire are what make them attractive. The metaphorical sense of being forbidden and the desire make the vampire more interesting, and humans are bewildered by their appearance. And with the same sense there is, vampires, learn to appreciate the beauty of an ordinary human.

"Well, of course, not! What do you want me to say?" I look at my best friend sarcastically, pop my gum's bubble, and said, "Hey, Natalia, I'm a part-time professor and a full-time vampire. I drink blood, by the way, and I can hear your heart pounding right now. Can I take a sip? It'll make you feel better, slow your heart and shit. Is that it? She'll be fucking scared of me, Madison!"

"Look at what we have here. You've grown care for the girl, don't you?" Maddie rubbed my back in circles. Nandito kami sa basement ngayon, kung saan nakatago ang aking mga lumang gamit. This is where I spent most of my days hiding from people, hiding from her. Iniwasan ko kasi siya nang malaman niyang isa akong bampira. "You're starting to like her and you know it."

"Shut up, Maddie. I hate her."

"Hindi naman 'yan ang nakikita ko. Sa mga nakalipas na araw, wala ka namang gustong makasama kundi siya lang," Sabi nito sa akin, may pasundut-sundot pa sa tagiliran. "The girl's starting to tame you and I like what's happening."

"I'm not an animal to be tamed."

"Sure you are." Ibinato niya sa akin ang aking telepono. "You're stalking her." Shit, why did I forget to put a passcode on my phone? "At isa pa, pinag-awayan na natin yang research na 'yan, sabi mo nga 'di ko dapat ginawa 'yun, pero patuloy ka pa rin sa pagtulong sa kanya."

"I just want to hear what she has to say about those people involved."

"I found Cali's journal. I gave it to the family that should own it."

"You did what?!" Agad kong pinaandar ang aking sasakyan pagdating ko sa garahe, nagtatakbo kasi ako palabas ng basement. "Maddie naman, eh!" Ayoko nang makipag-away kay Maddie dahil alam ko namang maganda ang intensyon niya, kahit ano pa ang binabalak niyang gawin. "Maddie, mahalaga 'yun sa akin. Alam mo naman kung bakit, 'di ba? Sulat-kamay 'yun ni Cali." Aalis na sana ako pero inalok ko siyang sumama sa akin para naman 'di niya isiping galit ako sa kanya.