Tall, Dark and Dead

It's Raining Cats And Dogs

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

A l e k

"What in the world? You gave me a heart attack! Like literally!" I was trying to catch my breath after running kilometers away from my home, now standing in front of her house. "Did you know that I have-"

"Have what?"

I was soaking wet; I need a shower or at least some dry clothes. I ran as fast as I could to get to her, pero grabe ang pagod ko. "Forget it. What are you doing here?" Yes, vampires do run faster than a person whose so great in track and field or hurdles, pero napapagod din ang mga bampira, depende kung gaano karami ang in-exert na effort. After a minute or two, okay na 'ko ulit.

"Stop pretending you're not glad to see me, stranger."

"Yeah, right. You look exhausted." Tama, pagod na pagod nga ako. Napakalayo kaya ng bahay nito sa akin. "And please, use the bathroom. Suit yourself, I'm gonna get a towel." The last time I checked, I'm still part human, even if I was born to grow up as a vampire. I became a blood-draining creature, the same age my mother turned into an animated corpse as I am. Everything I am right now is because of that fateful day when a group of greedy gentlemen took her life. They tried to revive her, resuscitate her, but it was no use. She was already dead. That is why they had to come up with something, anything, to bring her back. That's how the vampire story began.

"True that."

"Ano ba kasi'ng ginagawa mo dito?"

"I'm bored, that's all."

"Paano ka nakapasok?!" Tanong niya sa akin, puno ng pagtataka. "Ka-text lang kita kanina, tapos nandito ka na? Are you like supergirl or something?" Oh, I am much more than a fictional superhero. Gosh, I wish I could say that. I wonder if she'll be thrilled or frightened? I can't risk trying. "Ano'ng ginagawa mo dito?"

"I just dropped by to give you something." Inilapag ko ang isang early 1930s wine, na aming ginawa noon ni Calista, ilang taon bago siya namatay. I named it after my mother, whose real name was Hartley Cross. "Someone once told me that if you want to be good in your chosen career, you should at least know what a good wine should taste like," I told her, rephrasing Cali's words. "Let's drink it."

"May okasyon ba?" The girl smiles shyly, maybe figuring out if I heard what she said earlier or not. "Tsaka ano, ah, kararating mo lang?"

"I'm old enough to drink without any occasion," Too bad, I heard everything. She likes me. Or, um, maybe starting to. "...and also big enough to climb to your window. It was opened." Well, it's not like tuwang-tuwa ako or something. Natatawa ako. Nakakatawa kasi talaga ang bagay na 'yon kung iisipin. "Why? Is there a problem?" Kung alam lang niya, baka 'di na 'ko lapitan nyan.

"You did what?!"

"Quiet down, Claveria, or your father'll catch us."

"This is some Romeo and Juliet shit, Alek. You're giving me mixed signals-" Papasok na ako ng banyo nang mapatigil siya sa pananalita. "Hey, I'm talking to you!"

"Yeah, I heard you."

"That's it?"

I had chosen to ignore her at pinagsaraduhan siya ng banyo para maligo. She was reading a book when I stepped out of the bathroom. The little girl tried to look away but she can't. It made me laugh. Nakasuot lang kasi ako ng puting damit, maiksing khaki shorts na pinahiram nito sa akin, and yes, even the undergarments that I'm wearing right now is hers, too. Hiraman ng gamit, ibang level na 'to. 'Di pa daw naisusuot ang mga ito, but still, nakakahiya pa rin. Sheesh, I never really thought about this. I should've just used my car. Bad freaking idea.