The Immortal Blood [Taglish Version]

CHAPTER 24 - ADDISON CAFE

Jade Cardwell

HINDI nakakalimutan ni Ninong George na tawagan ako sa phone every morning and every night. I know that he is worried, but I also know that he wants to make sure that I will not be committing suicide because of this heartbreak.

"Are you planning to move out of Fordbridge?" tanong niya sa akin sa phone.

"Dito lang ako sa Fordbridge. Though every corner of this damn town reminds me of him, hindi ako aalis dito. Kailangan matutunan ko siyang kalimutan. Kailangan matutunan ko tanggapin na wala na siya sa buhay ko."

"Saan mo ba balak mag college? Fordbridge University is a good choice. Pwede ka mag-stay sa dormitory grounds. Marami ka makikilala na bagong kaibigan. Malay mo magkaroon ka ng new boyfriend. Ako na ang bahala sa mga aso mo kapag nasa dormitory ka."

Gusto ni Ninong George na huwag akong magmukmok sa loob ng bahay. He wants me to enjoy my college life, but I can't seem to find any source of entertainment after Raphael ran away and left me.

"Ninong, isang sakay lang naman ng bus papunta sa Fordbridge University. Hindi na ako magdo-dorm. Saka magta-trabaho nga pala ako, part-time job lang."

"Anak, bakit kailangan mo mag part-time job? Malaki ang pera na iniwan ng mga magulang mo sa'yo. Kahit hindi ka magtrabaho, mabubuhay ka."

"Ninong---"

"I understand, anak. if this is your way of forgetting your runaway prince, I will support you on this."

"I will be working in Addison Cafe."

"Seriously? Akala ko ba gusto mo mag-move on? Umaasa ka pa ba na bibisita si Raphael sa coffee shop na pag-aari ng ate niya? Is that the reason why you want to work there?"

"Addison offered me a job, a flexible one wherein I can come in any time I like. Mukhang mabait naman ang ate ni Raphael at gusto niya ko turuan na mag bake ng cakes. Alam mo naman na big fan ako ng cakes."

"Alam ba niya na iniwan ka ng kapatid niya na parang basura?"

"Ang alam lang niya, nag break kami ng maayos ni Raphael. I initially declined the job offer dahil baka magkita kami ng kapatid niya. I don't want to see him anymore. I just want him completely gone in my life."

"Hayun naman pala. Bakit mo pa rin tinanggap?"

"Masyadong persistent si Addie. She even volunteered to teach me on how to prepare coffee. She assured me that I will not see the shadow of her brother and we will not even talk about him, like never."

"Your mind keeps telling you that you no longer want him in your life. And yet, your heart is saying something else. Tama ba?"

"Ilang buwan na ang lumipas nang iniwan niya ako. I already suffered enough, it is time for me to move on. The man probably does not think of me anymore. Kinalimutan na niya agad ang isang tulad ko."

I just can't admit that he is right. My heart is still shouting Raphael's name, but I can't live in the past anymore. The sound of his name can magically slice me in half and I will be left bleeding to death.

"Huwag na natin pag-usapan ang source of pain ko. By the way, I will be taking Computer Science degree focusing on Computer System, Security and Language Engineering. Alam ko naman na computer wizard ka at tutulungan mo ko, 'di ba?" tanong ko kay Ninong George

Tumawa lang si Ninong George sa kabilang linya. Talking to him really helped me in this pathetic despair. Mahirap mag move on kapag umaasa pa ang puso mo.

"Ninong, Fordbridge University has been contacting you for years. Bakit nga pala sa Fordbridge High ka nagtuturo at hindi sa isang kilalang university?" dagdag na tanong ko sa kanya.

"Tinatanong mo pa 'yan? Of course, I want to look after you! Matagal ko na gustong tanggapin ang offer nila, pero hindi hindi kita magawang iwan lalo na nang mamatay ang mga magulang mo. I made a promise to your mother that I will look after you in school. Even after their death, I want to look after you."

"Are you telling me na tatanggapin mo na ang offer sa Fordbridge University dahil doon na ko mag-aaral?"

"Since you will be studying there, it will only be fitting to accept their proposal. They are asking me to be the head of the Computer Science department."

"Department Head agad? Iba ka talaga!"

"Konting class lang naman ang hahawakan ko, mostly the graduating students. Feel free to visit me in my new office. I will introduce you to my handsome students."

"Sounds like fun to me. I hope none of them will run away this time," sagot ko kay Ninong George na nagpatawa sa akin.

Lumipas ang panahon at inubos ko ang oras ko sa pag-aaral. Isa na akong college student ngayon sa Fordbridge University. Hindi ko hinahayaan ang sarili ko na isipin si Raphael dahil mauuwi na naman ako sa pag-iyak ng galon galon na luha.

Kapag wala akong pasok, tinuturuan pa rin ako ni Addie Lancaster ng baking lessons at coffee preparation.

Kapag wala akong ginagawa, pumupunta ko sa iba't ibang universities sa Oregon at Washington para magresearch tungkol sa aking supernatural encounter. I also tried researching online about apparitions and ghosts, pero karamihan ng mga nabasa ko ay mukhang gawa gawa lang ng mga tao.

I can say that I have gained enormous knowledge about witchcraft, ghosts, vampires, but none of them explained what I have experienced...