BLOOD SLAVES

CHAPTER 10 – Short Talk

Andi was sitting beside the window. She looked outside. It was already afternoon. The sun was hiding behind the clouds. There was no heat and too much sunlight, but it was still a good weather for her. The temperature was just right. It was not too hot and it was also not too cold. The leaves and branches of the trees at the front yard were dancing and swaying in rhythm with the wind. It must be windy outside. As she carefully watched those trees giving her a serene performance, she was thinking about what happened earlier.

Both of them agreed that they would talk about it sooner or later. They also both agreed that they would do it slowly, like what he said to her, he didn't want to rush her and force her to do anything. She was glad that Alexander did respect her decision. She was also glad that she was making progress. She wasn't like her old self anymore. It was just one night and she drastically changed. Though not too much, still she thought of things differently this time and it was because of Alexander's influence. She still knew she had a long way to go.

"Mas gusto niyo po ba ng kape or tea, Madame?"

Madame? Agad siyang napatingin sa babaeng nagsalita. Nakasuot ito ng simpleng damit na nagsasabing ito ay isa sa mga empleyado sa mansyon. Nakapusod ang itim na buhok nito. She was also wearing a black and white maid uniform. Nakatingin pa rin ito sa kanya, naghihintay na siya'y sumagot sa katanungan nito. Her eyes, for unknown reasons, were shining while looking at her, as if it saw something that interests her. Yumuko ito nang mapansing hindi agad sumagot si Andi at nang makitang nakatitig lamang ito sa kanya.

Hindi pinansin ni Andi ang pagtawag nito sa kanya ng Madame. Mamaya na lamang niya tatanungin si Alexander tungkol dito. Para sa kanya ay hindi siya nararapat na tawaging Madame sapagkat hindi pa sigurado ang katayuan at responsibilidad niya sa pamamahay na 'to. Kadadala lamang sa kanya ni Alexander no'ng isang araw. Masyado pang maaga para mag-isip ng kung ano-ano.

She would not assume and just let the things happen according to their flow.

"Andi. Andi ang pangalan ko." Ngumiti siya sa dalaga. Kahit siya'y hindi pa rin sanay na tawagin ang sarili na Andi. Sa ngayon ay ito lamang muna ang pinanghahawakan niya. Ang pangalan na ibinigay sa kanya ng binata, ng taong nagmamay-ari sa kanya.

"Ituro mo na lang sa 'kin ang daan papunta sa kusina. Ako na mismo ang gagawa at kukuha."

Takot at pagkagulat ang sumalubong sa mukha ng babae. "Madame, trabaho po naming na pagsilbihan ka. Iutos niyo na lamang po sa 'min ang mga hiling niyo. Kami na na po ang bahala."

"Pero—"

Matigas at determinado ang babae sa harapan niya. Napahinto agad siya sa pagsasalita nang makita ang eskpresyon ng mukha nito. Hindi na siya nakipagtalo pa at humingi ng pasensya.

"Pasensya na kung maaabala kita para sa isang tasang kape."

Umiling ang babae at ngumiti. "Ano pong gusto niyong timpla? Matapang o matamis po ba?"

"Kaunting asukal lamang. Kung puwede ay huwag mo rin lagyan gatas." Agad na tumango ang babae at umalis sa sala upang maikuha siya ng isang tasang kape.

Hindi siya sanay na mag-utos sa ibang tao. Sanay siya na gawin ang lahat para sa kanyang Master. Kaya ang ganitong klaseng trato, kung saan may taong handang magsilbi sa kanya, ay nakakapanibago kay Andi. Ngunit base sa eskpresyon na nakita niya sa dalaga, alam niya ang takot nito kay Alexander. At natural lamang na pagsilbihan din siya ng mga ito katulad ng trato nila kay Alexander dahil siya ang babaeng inuwi at dinala sa pamamahay na 'to.

Andi knew how this was a big deal to those employees. She was once a slave. She knew how to survive. She had to find a way not to anger those people who were above them. She also knew how to escape a hole just to make herself safe. She knew that those vampires were entitled to themselves because for them, they were above the humans. She understood their fears and feelings, so she was considerate enough to do all of these even if she was not comfortable with it.

No'ng isang araw siya ang inuutusan. Ngayon siya naman ang nagbibigay ng utos sa ibang tao.

Huminga ng malalim si Andi at akmang iiwas na ng tingin sa pintong nilabasan ng babae kanina nang makita niya ang isang napakagandang babae na nakatayo sa may pintuan. She was wearing a white dress where her curves can be clearly seen. She had long hair and different colour of eyes. She couldn't distinguish it properly because the more she looked at her, it was as if the colour of her eyes were constantly changing. That made her heart stop beating for a while. There was a loud thump in her heart and nervousness was starting to knock on her heart.

The woman was definitely not a human being. She was also like them.

"So you are the lady that he's been hiding. Of course, you're indeed a delicacy in my eyes."

Mas naging alerto si Andi. Sino ang babae? At bakit nandito siya sa pamamahay ni Alexander?

"Hey, don't look at me like that. Days ago, I was a human. As much as I want to bite you and drink your blood, I don't think I can muster any courage to do that. I'm still adjusting."

Naglakad ito papalapit sa kanya at naupo sa kabilang upuan sa kanyang harapan.

"I'm Maru. And you?"

"A-Andi."

Tumango ito at ngumiti sa kanya. "I think you've already seen my boyfriend. He greeted you both this morning."

Boyfriend? Naka-ilang kurap si Andi nang mapagtanto na ang babaeng nasa harapan niya ay kasintahan ng kapatid ni Alexander na nagngangalan na Raiden. Kung ganoon, siya rin ang babaeng tinutukoy nito kanina.

"They're both talking right now. And I got bored, so I went here. I just followed the sweet scent. You're really different among other human beings. Why is that? What's the difference besides your blood?" Sunod-sunod nitong katanungan. Maru was straight forward. Hindi na ito nagpaligoy-ligoy pa at direkta na siyang tinanong. Naiintindihan niya ang pagiging interesado nito tungkol sa kanya dahil nga siya rin ay naiiba sa ibang mga tao.

Mayroon siyang kakaibang dugo na kinaadikan ng mga bampira.

Umiling si Andi, "Hindi ko rin alam kung bakit mayroon akong dugo na ganito."

Natahimik saglit si Maru at tumingin sa kanya. Nakita niya ang pagngisi nito na tila ba nabasa nito ang mga iniisip niya.

"Talaga bang hindi mo alam?" tanong sa kanya nito. Nawala ang ngiti sa labi ni Andi. Hindi basta-basta ang babaeng nasa harap niya. Kakasabi niya lamang, araw pa lamang ang lumipas bago siya naging bampira pero bakit ganito ang babaeng nasa harap niya?

Napalunok si Andi at agad na umiwas ng tingin.

This woman in front of her was intelligent. She underestimated her.

"Raiden said that you were a blood slave." Napa-iling si Maru at tumingin sa labas ng bintana. "To think it was already illegal. There were laws that were supposed to protect us. But it is still evident in other parts of the world and there are people who break the law for their own interest and gains. There are still modern slaves in today's age. You're just one of the examples of it."

Tumingin muli si Maru sa kanya. "How did you survive?"

And that was the question all along. How did she survive?

Napalunok muli si Andi at yumuko. "Surviving means doing anything...." Kanyang bulong ngunit rinig na rinig ito ni Maru.

Maru pitied the woman for everything that happened to her. She must have had those painful and horrible experiences with those other vampires. True, she really hasn't met any other vampires besides Raiden, his brothers, his Master and her daughter. Pero base na rin sa karanasan niya, Andi was really lucky to survive throughout those years.

If those other creatures were vicious enough, what more of those vampires that Raiden and his brother considered enemies?

"I sacrificed myself for my loved ones and yet you endured and sacrificed much more for yourself. You're amazing, Andi. You truly are."

Hindi agad nakasagot si Andi sa sinabi ni Maru. "I don't think I can do what you did. I am purely motivated because there were people who loves me but you did it for yourself."

Ngumiti sa kanya si Maru. "I really do hope that we can be good friends. I'm looking forward to it."

Hindi agad nakasagot si Andi sa sinabi ni Maru. She slowly realized everything that she had done for herself. Those things she sacrificed and her hardships. She had so many opportunities to kill herself yet she didn't do it. She endured all of it. Andi smiled lightly. She was damn right. There was still hope and she believed in that. Dahil kung wala, why would she endure everything?

And her motivation...

She only realized it until now.

This was the life she'd been hoping.

"Sa tingin mo ba ay malaya na talaga ako?" tanong ni Andi sa dalaga na siyang ikinagulat ni Maru.

Malaya? What was freedom for her? Maru didn't smile. She looked at the door before she proceed to share her thoughts.

"What is your relationship with him?" tanong ni Maru.

"S-siya ang nagligtas sa 'kin."

"So you owe your life to him." Tumango si Andi.

"At anong sinabi niya sa 'yo?"

Napalunok si Andi at hindi nagtangkang sumagot.

"Ginusto mo ba 'to?" tanong muli ni Maru. "Na sumama sa kanya?" dugtong pa nito.

"Pero kung hindi niya ako niligtas ng gabing iyon, babalik lamang ako sa mundo na lagi kong nakagisnan. Isang pinto na ang nagbukas palabas sa mundong iyon at si Alexander ang nagbigay ng pagkakataon na 'yon para sa 'kin. Malaki ang utang na loob ko sa kanya."

"Did he help you without expecting that you'll return the favour to him?"

Napatigil si Andi.

Huminga ng malalim si Maru. "What did he want?"

Maru eyed Andi from head to toe. The woman in front of her had an innocent-looking face, brownish hair, fair white skin, and her curves were extraordinary. He would definitely lust for her body. Tila ba hinubog ang katawan at pagkatao ng dalagang 'to to please people. She was brought as a slave. She was a tool to use for those vampires. She was the ultimate weapon against those vampires. Not only did she have that sexy and seductive body, but she also had incredible blood.

She was perfect.

"Handa kang ibigay 'yon para sa kanya?"

Hindi muli sumagot si Andi.

"You said you owe your life to him, but why can't you give it to him?"

Pumikit ng mariin si Andi. It was all flowing in her mind. Those things she did for those vampires. Everything. She remembered everything.

"It's okay if you can't answer it. Saying no to a thing that you don't want to do means that you're in control of your life. You only had no choice before because you're doing it to survive. That's completely understandable, Andi. All along you're already in control and you know what I'm talking about."

Tumayo si Maru at ngumiti sa kanya. "We'll talk again soon, Andi. I'll be waiting for those stories."

Naglakad palabas si Maru. Saktong pumasok ang babaeng empleyado. Bumati ito kay Maru at tumango lamang ang dalaga. Dumiretso ang empleyado sa kanya at inilagay ang isang tasa ng kape sa lamesa.

Huminga ng malalim si Andi habang nakatitig sa kape.

"Mayroon pa po ba kayong ipaguutos? Gusto niyo rin po ba ng makakain, Madame?"

Umiling lamang si Andi sa empleyado.

"Kung ganoon ay maiiwan ko po muna kayo dito. Kung mayroon po kayong ipaguutos, tawagin niyo lamang po kami."

Tumango lamang din si Andi. Dito na umalis ang empleyado at iniwan mag-isa si Andi sa loob ng kuwarto.

Never ever show your true colours. Just smile and obey. Make yourself look like your weak. Then we'll get everything we want. Do you understand?

I do, Master.

Kinuha ni Andi ang tasa at tinikman ang kape na ginawa sa kanya ng babaeng empleyado. The taste was just right. She didn't like sweet things. She preferred her coffee bitter. Because it was a constant reminder that was the taste of her life too. It was bitter and it would never be sweet.

She really needed to talk to him. She could only sigh because her heart was never at ease the moment she felt his touch.

She couldn't organize her thoughts. It was all messy.

Yet all she could think about was him.

He was always in her mind.

He always was.