Fang Factor

14

Flashback

"So now you're back to put the blame on me? Andito ka para patayin ako, diba? Why don't you go ahead and kill me now?" Banat ni Allison. "That's what usually happens right?"

"No..." he sighed. "I'm here to protect you."

"Ano?"

Hindi lubos na nag-sink in kay Allison ang mga salitang binitawan ni Matthew. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang dapat na maging reaksyon niya sa pahayag na ito. Ano ba dapat ang sabihin? Ano ba dapat ang isagot?

Kaya naman sa halip na magsalita ay agad na inilabas ni Allison ang kutsilyong gawa sa pilak at agad na itinutok kay Matthew.

Natawa naman ng mahina si Matthew sa hindi inaasahang reaksyon ni Allison.

"Are you kidding me?" Natatawa siyang sabi.

"'Wag kang lalapit," banta ni Allison. "Hindi pa ako nakakasiguro sa mga pinagsasasabi mo. Words aren't enough to prove your filthy story. Who knows? Maybe you're just setting all these up. Do you think I'm dumb enough to believe you?"

"Well, I think you're dumb enough to use that silver knife against me, Allison," Matthew chuckled. "It's the 21st century, Allison. Nagpapaniwala ka pa talaga sa mga nababasa mo sa internet. Put that down. It's useless."

Tinaasan ni Allison ng kilay si Matthew. Dahan-dahan niyang ibinalik sa dati niyang posture ang katawan niya habang pasimple niyang ibinalik sa side table ang kutsilyo.

"I need an explanation for everything." Sabi ni Allison. "Including you, coming through my window without my permission."

"Umm...about that," napakagat si Matthew sa lower lip niya. "Sasabihin ko talaga dapat sayo to eh."

"Huh?"

"The cold breeze," he began. "It was me. I've always been around you for the past eight years. I never left you ever since that incident happened."

"Ano b'ang pinagsasasabi mo? Hindi kita ma-gets."

"When you turned eleven, nalaman ng mga kauri ko ang tungkol sayo. They told me to kill you because your kind and ours shouldn't be friends. I'm supposed to be your predator...and you're my prey."

"But you didn't. That's why they killed your father, right?" Dagdag ni Allison.

Matthew sighed and nodded his head. "They were supposed to kill Krista, my sister as well but..." he paused. "I promised them something."

This time, medyo may hesitation sa tono ng boses ni Matthew. Hinintay lang ni Allison na magsalita ito at hindi na muna plinanong mag-interrupt pa sa pananalita nito.

"T-they...didn't kill my sister because I promised them that I'd turn you into one of us once you turn eighteen," he lowered his head.

Allison scoffed. "So all this time, that was your motive? In the end, papatayin mo din naman pala ako. Bakit hinintay mo pang mag-eighteen ako, ha? And you're saying that the cold breeze...all this time ikaw lang pala yun?!" Hindi makapaniwalang pahayag ni Allison. "So I was right! You really were a stalker! Walang hiya ka! Wala akong kamalay-malay na binobosohan mo na pala ako? Bastos ka din eh, noh?"

Matthew took a deep sigh and placed a hand on his forehead. "Wait. Mas nag-aalala ka na baka binosohan kita instead of the fact that you're actually talking to a vampire right in front of you?"

"Malamang! Kakasuhan kita dahil dun! Bastos ka! Tatawag na ako ng pulis," kinuha ni Allison ang phone niya. Subalit nang magd-dial na sana siya ay bigla itong hinablot ni Matthew mula sa kamay niya.

"Hindi kita binosohan. I'm not a pervert." Depensa ni Matthew.

"Well I'm not fully convinced. Now give me back my phone."

"I kept you safe for eight years because I'm positive that turning you into one of us with my own venom won't be necessary once you turned eighteen," sagot ni Matthew, ignoring Allison's protest. "You already have that venom running through your veins, Allison."

Napanganga nalang si Allison sa biglaang pahayag ni Matthew.

"Alam mo, habang patagal nang patagal ang conversation nating 'to, mas lalo akong nako-confuse sa mga bagay-bagay," ani ni Allison. "Ginugulo mo lang ang utak ko eh. Nababaliw na ata ako. Hays! Dahil 'to sa obsession ko sa vampires eh!" Ginulo nito ang sarili niyang buhok at hinarap si Matthew. "Ako? Bampira din? How ridiculous!" Natatawa niyang sambit.

Matthew shook his head. "We're not a hundred percent sure about this yet, but we can confirm everything on the day of your eighteenth birthday."

"Woah, woah, woah, wait. Pano ka umabot sa puntong ideklara akong kauri ninyo? I mean, let's just say, hypothetically, naniniwala ako sayo. What are your basis? Do you have any proof to come up with such a ridiculous idea?"

"Victoria Levozky," tiningnan ni Matthew sa mga mata si Allison. "Your mom."

"My mom?" Napakunot-noo si Allison.

"She's one of the three daughters of Reneé Levozky, one of the most powerful leaders of our kind."

Napakunot-noo si Allison. "Sinasabi mo bang bampira din ang nanay ko?"

Tumango si Matthew. "That could be possible."

"I never met my grandfather, " ani ni Allison. "Kailangan kong tanungin si mom tungkol dito."

"You should be careful. We don't want her to get involved as much as possible. Besides, it's only a few days before your birthday. This is why I showed up. I can't afford to lose you from my sight. I must keep you safe at all costs. Kasi kung hindi ko magawa ang pinangako ko, sila mismo ang papatay sayo..."

"Sila?"

"Vampires of powerful positions in our world." Sagot ni Matthew. "But I won't let them touch you."

It's about to go boom!

Lolz

Thank y'all for your patience!

♡cptnleilala