Random Shot: Unnatural

Published: February 21, 2021 (I think this is my first published oneshot in 2021)

• 4,403 words (4K 😭😭😭 sorryyy)
• ⚠️ mentions of blood, killings, violence.
• F L U F F ☁️ (idk 😭 very ironic when we have those warnings but let's see)
• this is so boring, idk i got bored writing this so this literally had to sit in my drafts for a whole month, the concept was challenging for me, very new, something i haven't tried yet until now. I'm so disappointed with myself since taehyun is my txt bias but at least I tried 😭 i won't say the concept here since the surprise is included in the plot 🤭
• hm what else, ah, mistakes are mine!

just in case no one has told you yet, you're cute and valid 💕

- Hannan ♥

+×+

For the umpteenth time, from the screen of my phone where the ugly face of my twin sister was visible, she gave me the most disgusting eye-roll, evidence of how done she was already with my nonstop rants. I meant it wasn’t like I had anyone I could rant to other than her. Isa pa, she always listened— okay, maybe not always, uhm, maybe always, because she always gave time for me whenever I needed to tell her something I wouldn’t ever dare tell anyone.

Aside from being my twin sister, she was also my best friend.

Alam kong kahit na minsan ay sawang-sawa na siya sa mga kuwento ko ay pinipilit pa rin niyang makinig. They said twins aren’t supposed to be separated. Well, if at times I agreed to that, I had to reason how we were both an entirely different people. She was her, I was me. We had different personalities that defined both our interests. She was that type of person where her heart was at where we were raised, while I was the type of person where I sought unfamiliarity, unnatural, I didn’t want to just settle for what I already knew. I just had interests so far from what she loved.

That was why we were miles away from each other. She chose to study in our hometown where she was still homed by our parents while I chose to study in the city where more opportunities were available, alone if might I add.

So really, if I wanted to rant to her, I would just ping her on text and we would be facetiming. Of course, the favour would always be returned though she didn’t really have a lot to rant about. Sol was a very reserved person, well-rounded and always silent. Which was a complete opposite of my adventurous and quirky personality.

“You don’t understand, Mirasol! He barely goes out of his unit! I’ve been living here for three years and I've only met him two times! Two times, Sol! And we’re the only ones here in this floor!” I wasn’t screaming at her, I was just trying to make her see my point. Dinagdagan ko pa iyong ng hand gestures at facial expressions na tila kinukumbinsi siya.

“You know you don’t actually have to meet him, right? He seems like a very private person…” Sol answered nonchalantly, already busy doing whatever business she had at the other side of the screen.

I pouted as I answered. “He looks like a student like me.”

Sol already knew about my weird neighbor. O mas magandang sabihin na kilala na niya ito base sa kung paano ko ito nakilala. The boy next door was the weirdest person I had ever known. It was true that I had only met him twice in three years of us being neighbors. We didn’t actually meet? I just saw him twice by the door of his house, either opening the door to go out or get inside. The recent one was earlier when I saw him tapping his key card to get inside his house. Hindi kami formally magkakilala kaya naintindihan kong hindi man lang niya ako nilingon nang mapansin niya ang presensiya ko. What was weird was I knew it was impossible for him to appear out of nowhere down the hallway when I didn’t even see him at the lobby.

Hindi naman kalakihan ang condominium na tinitirhan namin, may dalawang elevator lang, out-of-service pa iyong isa, plus we were on the top floor, so anong ginamit niya paakyat? If he used the stairs, then I would understand, but who would actually use the stairs when we had twenty-five floors in the building? Unless he was crazy? Kung mas nauna man siya saking sumakay ng elevator, I didn't think I would still see him by the time I got onto the floor since the elevator would have to go through twenty-four other floors down to fetch me and another twenty-four floor up so where did he come from?

“No but seriously, Sol…" Umayos ako ng upo sa ibabaw ng kama ko habang inaayos ang buhaghag kong buhok. My sister seemed to be working on something seeing as she just raised me a brow to say that she was listening so I just shrugged before I continued. “Do you think he has superpowers? Because you know, it makes sense. He could use teleportation or speed power—”

“Oh my god, Miluna! You’re just wasting my time! I have papers to work on that I would rather waste my time on than listen to your fantasy nonsense. How about you take a rest, huh?” She cut me off aggressively, her hands curled on her hair as if I was driving her crazy as she looked at me with those pair of eyes I always saw in the mirror, hers were covered with glasses.

Uh, sometimes I wished we never had to be identical, like I wouldn’t ever get used to seeing my face doing expressions like what she just did.

“But I’m not tired and you still don’t see my point! Don’t you find it weird too? Where did he come from?” pangungulit ko pa rin sa kaniya. I just knew this thing wouldn’t let me sleep so I needed resolution and unless my sister agreed to me that it was some superpower shts, then no one would sleep.

“No? I don’t find it weird? Oh, come on, Luna, let me work in peace, please…” Her voice lowered in desperation, her eyes begging me to spare her. Naawa naman ako sa kaniya dahil alam ko kung gaano kahirap ang course na inaaral niya. She was taking up law, following the steps of my parents. It was supposed to be the two of us but laws were not just my cup of tea so I didnt pursue it. Which was what my parents were still being salty about. From time to time, they still tried to talk me into changing course and take law course. They could be really manipulating sometimes (read: always).

I understandingly nodded at her. “Okay…” I said in a big pout. “But don’t blame me if I discover a superhuman alone because it’s your fault.”

When we were kids, we used to talk about supernatural beings and how cool would it be to see one. It was just sad that we had to grow up and get floored by our own issues in life. Her course sort of pulled her away from me, it was her who first ditched me in our nightly movie marathon before because she was already being caught up with other things that were too mature for our age back then. I could say that she grew up fast while I grew up slow.

“Whatever. Just don’t go snooping into other people’s personal spaces and life. Bye for now, talk to me again if you got your senses back! Love you, moons!” With an overly hyped wave and wide smile, she disappeared from the screen, not even letting me say back my sweet reply.

Naiwan akong nakatitig lang sa phone ko habang iniisip kung paano ko mapapaniwala ang kambal ko na may kakaiba talaga sa kapit-bahay ko na iyon. He didn’t seem to have anyone with him. At least, my family had already visited me here, sometimes, my mother would come with her homecooked meals, or sometimes, if my father had to stay here in the city, he wouldn’t have to stay in a hotel, he could just stay with me and from time to time, Sol would visit me here for our mandatory bonding. I never saw a single person visit him in three years, or in the span of time I had known he existed and we were neighbors. I meant, I would know if ever, right?

It was really just weird. Tatlong taon na kaming magkapit-bahay pero mabibilang ko lang sa isang kamay ko kung ilang beses ko lang siyang nakita. And even though it was only two lucky coincedence, it was hard not to notice that he was good-looking. Natawa pa nga sakin si Sol nang unang beses kong sabihin sa kaniya na may hitsura ang lalaki e. She said I might be just harboring some crush that was why I couldn’t stop talking about him. Okay, what if I was crushing on him?

The boy was heavenly. He had sharp face features, something boys his age was having a hard time to acquire, actually, that type of beauty that doesn't seem to be real? He wasn't that tall, but he was tall for me since I was short. Though he kind of looked stiff and reserved. Iyong tipo ng taong walang paki-alam sa paligid? I could have said hi to him the first time I saw him but he had been too aloof, never spared even a single tilt of his head. I remembered standing still in front of his house’s door, staring in complete confusion. And ever since that day, I just believed that he didn’t want to be bothered so even though sometimes I had so much food to feast from my parents, I never tried to knock on his door to offer him some.

Afterward, I had actually become very busy with my course, my life in general but I never forgot to think about him from time to time, resulting me to rant to my twin sister every now and then. It was weird since you would assume that in three years of us being neighbors, we would have built a little friendship but nothing, I didn't even know his name. Or if he had pets.

Pets were not allowed in this apartment. Number one rule so even if I badly wanted to take care of one, I couldn't risk it but one can dream.

The night was still young and I didn't have anything planned for tomorrow as I had finished some of my near-the-deadline homeworks. Siguro manonood na lang muna ako ng kdrama buong gabi since marami-rami ring bago ngayon. Dragging my pair of socked feet down the hallway to the kitchen, I lazily combed my messy hair with an ugly yawn. I checked the fridge if I had some foods I could eat while watching, normally I would go to a tub of ice cream, no, a two actually as I was a sucker for frozen sweets. Bagay na hindi ko yata minana sa mga magulang ko, while Sol was more of a healthy tooth, she wouldn't ever eat ice cream out of just watching a movie.

From the kitchen, I could hear the loud voice of someone who was clearly behind a television screen. I mentally face-palmed as it was a habit of me to turn the television on and then leave it as was, in my defense, nawawala kasi sa isip ko, nakakalimutan kong i-off. Seemed like it was news report time, hindi mo rin ako mapapa-upo para manood ng news, ew. I was too young to be bothered by the current issues in the city. The fridge was cleared of ice cream, medyo sumakit pa ang mga mata ko nang makita ang ilang fresh vegetables na paniguradong si Mommy ang nag-stock.

I dragged myself back to my room to fetch my wallet, not bothering to bring my phone before I trudged directly to the living room, stopping instantly upon seeing the news being currently broadcasted by the female announcer. I didn't usually watch news, social media was there for time to time updates about the society added by the people's useless rants so I didn't know what was really happening right now.

Violence was not new, there were lot of killings in a day, but this was… absurd?

There was a picture of a dead person on the left upper corner of the announcer, covered in white sheet but the headline said: ANOTHER MYSTERY KILLING, VICTIM DIED BUT NO WOUNDS FOUND ASIDE FROM TWO PIN-PRICK BRUISES ON THE NECK PULSE, BODY DRAINED OF BLOOD. VAMPIRES EXIST OR A TECHNIQUE TO MISLEAD INVESTIGATION?

"Vampires? Seriously? That's the smartest thing they could come up to? As if vampires exist." I chuckled in complete ridiculousness of the situation. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at saka muling natawa. "Oh my god, I sounded like Mirasol!" Hindi ko na pinansin pa ang TV dahil nagmartsa na ako patungo sa pinto.

Outside, met with the solid closed door of my weird neighbor's house, I shortly wondered what he might be doing right now. He must be grabbing his dinner, or maybe, he was watching a movie in his living or I didn't know really, maybe sleeping already? I slowly walked towards the door, very much curious about him. Maingat kong idinikit ang isang tainga ko sa pinto at pigil-hiningang pinakinggan ang kung anumang nangyayari sa kabilang gilid ng pinto. I felt so stupid in the end as I didn't hear anything before I pushed myself away from the door and continued down the hallway to the elevator.

The lobby was void of lights as most of the tenants might have retired for the night already but there was a single light on so it wouldn't be so dark. The streets were also dark and empty which was something usual in this part of the city as the neighborhood was kind of exclusive, the apartment complex wasn't the sort you could just stumble upon during a hunt. There were only few convenient stores that weren't far apart from each other and one of them was 7-Eleven.

Pagpasok ko ay ngiti kaagad ang ibinungad sa akin ng taong nasa counter, at mas lumapad pa ang ngiti niya nang makilala ako. I just gave her a beaming smile before pointing at the freezer section. Nang tumango siya ay dumiretso na ako sa freezer. I got two tubs of my favourite plain cheese ice cream before I went to the biscuits shelf and took one bag of oreo mini biscuits to go with my ice cream. At the counter, the friendly cashier made a little conversation with me as we were somehow acquainted from all the times she caught me buying things in the store.

"Para sa figure mo, mukhang mabigat ang mga ito…" she jokingly said as she gave me back my card, her hands busy putting my foods in the paper bag.

"Don't flatter me, I take compliments very seriously." I chuckled, basking in the compliment. I loved compliments, most especially when I knew they were true.

"I mean, totoo naman." She shrugged, handing me my purchase.

"Thanks…"

Walking back to the apartment, I took my time. I don't usually go out, my hands full of school, school works and my own personal life so when given a chance like this, I tended to take my time and savour the comforting caresses of the night wind. Hindi ko alam, sometimes I thought buying ice cream was just an excuse to have my night stroll, though I would say, my frozen sweet tooth was real. The walk back to the apartment was longer, from time to time I would skip and hum whatever song I last listened to.

Parehong senaryo ang bumungad sa akin sa lobby ng apartment, maliban sa isang bagay. I almost screamed in frustration when I saw the only working elevator earlier now out of the service. Nagamit ko pa kanina ang elevator na iyon tapos ngayon ay may nakapaskil ng out-of-service sign katulad ng kaharap nitong elevator na buong araw nang sira. In the end, with no other choice left in my hands, I begrudgingly stomped to the staircase, my breath seemed like running out at the thought of the next twenty five series of stairs that I had to climb. God hates me so much, huh?

Baka pagdating ko sa bahay ko, tunaw na itong mga ice creams ko. And I hoped I brought my phone so I could have turned on my music playlist to shuffle listen while climbing up.

In between every three floors, I had to stop to catch my breath, internally cursing whoever invented stairs and my landlord. It doesn't cost a fortune to call a group of experts to fix the elevator! Sa ika-anim kong stop-over, exactly (and fortunately, thanks for my endurance, I had to constantly remind myself that all those morning exercise I had been doing that became my routine helped a lot) on the nineteenth floor, I had to stop because of a very unexpected run-in. Or I wouldn't call it a run-in, seeing as the figure was lying (I didn't know if dead) unconscious on the ground.

And by his appearance, I should be screaming already, not used to seeing blood on skin or clothes, but I was shortly taken aback because the guy was familiar. I didn't need a closer look because I knew that guy. Oh wow, hello neighbor, fancy seeing you at such an ungodly hour and in such a state. I had a lot of questions but I actually had a brain to think first of his current state. Saka na ang mga tanong ko, by the looks of him, he needed help so I carefully crouched down by his side, my eyes following the shallow movements of his stomach. He's still breathing, he's still alive…

I tried to poke his side, checking if he was going to response and it didn't surprise me when he didn't, my brain supplying me suggestions that I smartly abided to. I cursed mentally when I remembered I didn't have my phone with me, I left it at home so I couldn't call 911 for help, it wasn't also smart to just scream for help as it was obvious everyone was sleeping already. The only smart thing my brain could provide me now was to help the guy back to his home. I carefully pulled his arm around my neck and used my strength to lift him to his feet.

I couldn't find a single bruise or wounds on his body so I thought it was safe to touch him, or even lift him. Weird though… where did the blood come from?

It wasn't easy as the guy was heavy since he was taller than me and I had to climb up six more floors with him. Kapag kinuwento ko kay Sol ang lahat ito, paniguradong hindi siya maniniwala. My twin sister kind of had very little trust in me and that was understandable because I had always been the troublemaker in between us. The only thing that consoled me through the difficult flights upstair was the fact that I was creepily comforted by how the guy smelled… he smelled so good. He smelled a bit of blood, but his clothes (I didn't know) or himself, smelled so good. Like the mixture of flowery fabric softener and natural scent like freshly baked dough— it was weird but addicting.

I was out of breath when we reached our floor. Muntik ko pa siyang maibagsak dahil sa panghihina ng mga tuhod at braso ko. I didn't know what I was actually doing. I didn't why I was even trying to help. I didn't how my simple wish of wanting ice cream turned out like this. Sighing deeply, I crossed the remaining distance from our doors, shortly lowered him on the ground as I stared at both our doors. I thought if it would be smart to help him into my apartment or wake him up to ask him for his door's passcode. In the end, I knew I couldn't really trust him into my home, most especially if he looked like this. With blood all over him.

Napatitig ako sa suot niya. He was wearing a pair of white tracksuit— the top was stained with blood— and a running shoes, looks like he was out for a run. My eyes fell on his bottom tracksuit, on the pockets. Bago ko pa tuluyang masaway ang sarili ko ay may dinudukot na ako sa bulsa ng tracksuit niya. And I almost cheered in joy when my palmed fell in contact with his phone. Right, Luna, you're so stupid, you could've checked for his phone earlier… I could see Sol's disappointed leer at me.

Instantly, I dialed 911, my hands were shaking, something I didn't realize until now. I was actually surprised at how I was  calmly handling this right now. I knew something wasn't right, something was wrong, there wasn't really great about a guy with blood. This could only mean violence, if not crime. And I was actually threading a very dangerous lane, stupidly involving myself into something I knew my parents wouldn't take so nicely. But what could I do? It wasn't like I could just leave him here? He needed help!

"No…"

Mabilis kong nilingon ang lalaki, my thumb hovering over the call button, saka nanlalaki ang mga mata nang makitang bukas ang mga mata niya. If only I could tell when trouble was in my way, if only I could just recognise chaos when it was on my way, then I could have just turned away, avoided the dangerous lane to spare myself from the trouble but no, I had to be so stupid. My mind went back to the news earlier, and then back to the guy's current condition.

"No… hospital…" he croaked out, his throat sounded so dry and low.

I blinked stupidly, my shaking hands dropping his phone, my eyes couldn't afford to turn away from those pair of beautiful crimson, and I knew, despite him speaking so low that his lips barely parted to make way for words, I knew a pair of sharp clean fangs sparkled to make their presence known. They were myths, no, more like mind invention, I was told that they were just book material, book worthy, that vampires were not real. They were just creations to spook a human's thrill side, news weren't justified enough for me to believe, but here I was, stupidly helping one.

One who was probably just came from sucking a human's blood. That answered why he was stained with blood but he had no bruises or wounds.

He sighed deeply, his chest harshly moving up and down as if breathing was difficult, his pair of crimson appearing and disappearing from the way he was blinking slowly, his lips now parted with puffs of breath. Though one thing that the books didn't lie about… vampires are deadly beautiful.

"B-blood… n-need to heal…" he said, his voice almost staccato. He tried to lift his arm to reach me, maybe tried to touch me to back up his words but his hand just fell weakly back beside him, useless. Blood, need to heal? Didn't he drink blood already? That was why he looked like this? Also, I understood why he didn't want to be brought to the hospital…

"I don't know why should I help you… you are a…" I lowly answered, mind was still lagging, still processing that here I was, dealing with a vampire.

"Protection…" he said, firmly closing his eyes before speaking again. "This n-neighboorhood is in… in danger, under my p-protection… need to heal…" His lips quivered in having difficulty in speaking, I didn't know if he was hurt anywhere because at least I knew, vampire injuries heal on their own, or because he was in so much need of blood.

"I'll help you, in one condition." I pursed my lips, inhaling deep because I couldn't believe I was doing this. "You're going to tell me who you are, and what protection you're talking about—"

"Blood… doesn't need to be hum—"

Mabilis kong tinakpan ang bibig niya nang marinig ko ang pagbukas ng elevator bago ko makita ang nakakasilaw na liwanag mula sa flashlight, as if on instinct, I threw myself on the guy, covering him with myself to keep him hidden from the new comer. I heard him gasp in both surprise and pain but I paid him no mind as I made sure my body was covering his clothes. Saglit pa akong na-distract nang makitang halos hihibla na lang ang distansya ng mukha ko sa mukha niya. My long hair fell on the sides of his face, his eyes were shut close, his eyes lashes matting the smooth skin under his eyes, his parted lips almost matched the color of his crimson eyes earlier.

Really, vampires were beautiful. Books are not wrong in description…

"Anong mayroon diyan?" It was probably the on-duty security guard.

"N-nothing! My… my b-boyfriend just collapsed in drunkenness! I'm sorry, but we're fine! We don't need help!" I shouted, afraid that he would come near us.

"Sigurado ka?"

"Yes, yes! Thank you!" I hoped I didn't sound so dismissive, or I didn't sound like I really wanted to dismiss him but the position I was currently in wasn't really comfortable…

"O sige… chineck ko lang itong elevator kung gumagana na. Magandang gabi…"

No sherlock, it was almost morning.

Nagpakawala ako nang malalim na buntong hininga nang umalis na siya saka mabilis na lumayo sa lalaki. I should be frowning because my clean clothes were already stained with blood from the way I covered him but that was already in the least of my concern as I thought fast, I needed to get him into a close space. Hindi ko na hinintay pang makapag-react siya.

"Also, you're going by my terms…" I firmly said as I carefully helped him to his feet, hooking his arm around my shoulder and my arm around his waist before I punched onto my door's passcode. When inside, I deposited him on my couch before I lent my wrist to him, not entirely sure how do vampires drink blood aside from drinking straight from the neck, as if I would let him touch my neck. "Please don't drain me…" Gusto kong maawa sa sarili ko nang manginig ang boses ko sa huling mga salita saka nag-iwas ng tingin.

I didn't know what I was doing. Am I normal? Why am I letting a vampire drink from me? Really, Miluna?

Ilang sandali akong naghintay at nang wala pa ring nangyayari, binalingan ko siya. His eyes were already open, his captivating crimsons once again appearing beautifully as if my blood wasn't enough, they were reaching something deep in me… I didn't even know what. It just how I felt. I felt a shiver ran down my spine, I knew the realization was starting to kick in, but I refused to entertain it, I just wanted to believe that this vampire right here would never betray the trust I gave him, I hoped so…

Of all the things I could be vulnerable with, of all creatures, did it really have to be a vampire?

"I can't really drink blood straight from humans, when it is my mission to protect them…" His face showed no emotion, but it didn't lessen how good-looking he was. "Though you smell so sweet, so rich, you've always smelled so sweet, it's always been hard… your scent always leaves me drunk in ecstasy… I still can't. I don't drink human blood."

It wasn't because he was snob, it wasn't because he never bothered to befriend me, he actually knew I existed all along, it was because he was a vampire, and he had a mission— whatever that was.

"Who are you…"

"Taehyun Kang, a hundred and eighteen years old vampire, under the Human Protection Operation runs by the government's Unnatural Department. Please cooperate…"

Unnatural, huh? Indeed.