M I L L E R

The place is boring. It has several equipment and tools but not all of them are used simultaneously. Akala ko ay kung ano lang ang nakikita ko ay 'yun na rin lahat but then there's still three more doors with rooms of another bunch of equipment. With one as a library the other two are for laboratory and data purposes.

Nasa gilid lang ako ng sofa na nasa tabi ng pinto habang hinihintay na tawagin ni Axel. He is inside the cubicle, it's the small room or whatnot that he uses whenever he does something toxic or dangerous liquid. I don't know the full details but every time he gets in with a test tube, cylinder, flask, or any laboratory container with some unidentified liquid in, the room is filled with white gas. Maririnig ko na lang ang ingay ng para bang sumisirit na tubig, kasabay nito ay ang pag-release ng puting usok. He will stay there for an entire hour, mixing and pouring various liquids in various colors.

"Scientist nga talaga siya. How can he not confused those liquids?" As if he is mixing drinks. Mabuti rin sana kung naiinom 'yan.

How stupid of me to think that way. Malay ko ba kung ano ang mga 'yun. Pero matagal na niyang natapos ang paghahalo nito. Hinihintay na lang niya sa ma-ferment ito sa saktong oras bago inumin. And how long is its fermentation stage? I'm not sure, he just said that at least two weeks. But the longer we wait, the deeper the roots of the poison goes into his system. Hindi man niya sabihin ay alam ko. We stay in the same room, me inside the room behind the wall, and him on the main bed.

Noong nakaraan ko lang din nalaman na wala palang silid dito si Axel, and that room was indeed a spare one. No wonder Kristoff had to bring a bag of change of clothes for him.

A few more minutes later ay lumabas na ng cubicle si Axel. With his straight and thick white lab gown the fragments of white smokes leaked out along him leaving the small chamber.

"You said this is not your lab but this place sure has a lot of things," bungad kong sambit sa kanya.

Saglit na huminto si Axel tapos ay tumingin sa paligid. "Hm. Maybe. But someone already used our lab before me, it's not like I was the only one who used this from the very beginning and the things are already here before me as well. So, this place is literally not mine. I am only using this as the Supreme's secretary and researcher... sometimes."

"Sometimes?"

"Yeah. If I didn't have poison in me, I would have been in his office doing the paperworks."

Oh. So, that's why he has his own laboratory at home and does his research there. "Aah~ original role mo talaga dito ay secretary?"

"You could say that. I have my students in my mansion, they are quite competent. They can do researches about the vampire medicine, power. Anything from health to personal care. But they are not as competent as me that they can counter a poison." Habang nagsasalita ay inaayos ni Axel ang mga test tube sa rack ng mga ito. Everything according to their color. He turned of the bunsen burner and covered some beaker. Medyo mahina rin ang tunog ng boses niya dahil sa mask niyang suot. But the volume is just enough for me to understand what he is saying.

"That's... that's great." Ito na lang ang nasabi ko. It is now so real to know this from Axel.

Nakilala ko siya sa college, naging kaklase, at kakilala. But then to fully grasp that the identity he introduced to me was just fake is like a fragment of images at the back of my head. Tapos nangyari pa ang mga pangyayari tungkol sa pagiging bampira niya. This is another thing. It's more complicated. Kalahating taon pa lang ang lumipas, pero para bang tumanda ako ng tatlong beses sa dami ng nangyari. Noong nakaraang linggo lang ay nasa red-light district ako gabi-gabi. Tapos eto ako ngayon, nasa Red Mansion. And instead of entertaining random ladies, I am helping out the vampire who turned me one. What is weirder is that I find this very natural. As if I must stay by his side.

"... ller. Miller. Miller?"

"What?"

"Where is your mind going? I've been calling you."

Ah. Natulala pala ako. "Sorry. Bakit ba?"

"Don't bakit ba me, I told you to clean these," sabi niya sabay turo ng sa lababo ng kanyang laboratoryo.

Tanaw mula rito ang kalahati ng hugasan na nasa dulo ng silid.

Hinubad ni Axel ang suot niyang gloves at iniwan ito sa gilid ng hugasan. "You know what to do, right? I'll go out to grab food, be back soon." Pagmamadali niya. Lumabas siya ng laboratory suot ang lab gown niya.

"He looks good in white too."

Originally, I don't have any activity to do in this mansion. Hindi kagaya ng mga bampira dito na may pinagkakaabalahan na training, trabaho, o kung ano-ano mang vampire duties na mayroon sila, I am just a humble specimen here. Essentially, I don't have to do anything. My role is to be observed.

Naghanap na rin ako ng pwede kong gawin. Magkaroon man lang ng konting silbi sa abalang lugar na ito. Pero napaka-imposibleng may magawa ako kung may nauna na sa akin. May taga-luto na sila, so I can't make use of my cooking skills. May taga-linis, taga-laba, taga-dilig ng halaman sa malawak nilang hardin. Lahat ay may gumagawa na.

Axel must have noticed my boredom so he told me to come with him in the lab if I want to. Halos siya lang din kasi ang gumagamit nito. At dahil wala akong alam sa mga chemical formulation niya, and I don't want to be on his way, I just sit on the sofa, watch him and be curious.

Nagsimula na rin akong matutong maglinis ng mga laboratory apparatus. And since last week ay naging taga-hugas na nga ako ng mga mababasagin na containers na ito. These are dangerous chemicals so I also have to wear an apron that is made of PVC, gloves and a mask.

Katatapos ko lang nang bumalik na sa loob si Axel na may dala-dalang blood pack. Higop-higop niya ito gamit ang straw na para juice pack. Habang iniinom niya ang isa ay bitbit naman niya sa kabila ang isa pa.

"Extra," he uttered when I eyed on the blood. Inalis niya ang straw sa bibig at itinaas ang isang blood pack. "Do you want to try?" he offered.

Do I want to try? Do I want to try human blood?

I also wonder. Unbelievable it might be but I can smell the blood unlike before. Originally, the blood smells like metal to me, specifically a rusty iron. At isa pa, I can only smell it when I actually get my nose close to the crimson red liquid. Pero ngayon? Now it is totally different. Even a few meters away, as long as it is not too far, I can smell it. No longer rusty iron, more like sweet... I can't even explain how such a thing could smell sweet as if sugar flows in the bloodstream.

Nihindi ko nga alam na dugo na pala ang naamoy ko nung isang beses na dumaan kami sa supply room nila. I thought someone was baking or cooking, or even making juice drink, kahit ano basta akala ko ay may gumagamit ng matamis na sangkap. Sinong may akala na dugo pala 'yun?

"Miller, what now?" tawag ulit sa akin ni Axel. "I realized I'm already full. I'm kind of lazy to return this, you can have a try." He lifted the blood pack once again and waited for my reply.

If blood smells sweet to me, it might also taste sweet, am I right?

"How does it taste?" tanong ko.

Axel shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not sure about you, but mine taste like chocolate."

"Huh? How does yours different to mine? Bakit hindi magiging lasang chocolate 'tong akin?" May flavors ba ang dugo?

"You're wondering, right?" Tumango ako. "If you're that curious, just drink it." Inilapag ni Axel ang blood pack sa lamesa na nasa pagitan naming dalawa.

Tinitigan ko lang ang plastik. As someone who is under the vampirization process, sabi nila, I should be attracted to blood now and dependent to it. Dapat nga ay dugo na lang ang ini-ingest ko. But strangely, my body is different to the other vampirized as they said. Hindi ko rin naman sila ma-kontra dahil hindi pa ako nakakita ng vampirized human maliban sa sarili ko. But sure, I should be addicted by blood now since I am slowly becoming a vampire and the supernatural abilities that they have are gradually resurfacing now.

Is drinking this blood now could trigger my bloodlust?

"You're not drawn to it?" tanong sa akin ni Axel.

Tumingin ako sa kanya at kitang-kita ang kuryosidad sa mga mata niya. Hes might be wondering why am I only staring at the blood pack.

Axel sighed. He must be tired waiting. "Okay, if you're not ready you can just not drink it. Could you return it to th—"

"No! I... I mean, no need. I'll drink. I'll try."

"Oh. Really? Great!" Masaya niyang sabi. May dinukot siya sa bulsa niya at inilabas ang isang transparent straw. "I got an extra in case you'll be curious. I did a good job, right?" he giggled like a child who wanted to be complimented for bringing his favorite person's favorite stuff along.

"Y-Yeah."

Unconsciously, I raised my hand and patted his head. I only realized that I shouldn't be doing it after two or three taps.

"S-Sorry," I said as I retreated my hand. Hinablot ko na lang ang blood pack sa lamesa at dahan-dahan na kinuha ang straw sa kamay niya.

Itutusok ko na sana ang straw sa pack nang may binanggit siya na nagpahinto sa akin. "You're familiar with the ranking or the categorization that vampires have, aren't you?"

"Yes. Beta ka hindi ba?"

He nodded. "That's right. The flavor of the human blood is the manifestation of the vampires' ranking. Alphas are the strongest, while beta and gamma are only next to them in terms of strength. For betas, any type of blood, be it human or animal or any other creature, it will always taste like chocolate. For the gammas, it's honey. While the mighty alphas have pomegranate."

"Oh. Lahat ng 'yan ay matatamis."

"Yeah, it's something that's been given since the beginning of time. The royalties such as the Supreme, on the other hand, have grapes as the flavor for blood."

Kristoff told me about the alpha's strong physique and beta's smart mind. Ibang usapan naman ang Supreme since he is a special case... "Teka, hindi ako gaanong pamilyar sa mga gamma."

"The gammas? They are the third rank. They are weaker than the alphas and not as intelligent as the betas but they are still capable of living comfortably. Think of them as ordinary citizens, this type of vampire often prefers to live normally. But there are some who don't mind serving for the Supreme or fighting. It's a matter of personality."

Oh great. Then I am about to enter the same lifestyle as them. Hindi ba pwedeng maging bampira na lang without the ranking? The same as how humans live. Mahirap na nga ang pumantay sa matayog na social class tapos dumagdag pa itong ranking nila?

"I think you should also know, vampirized humans are said to be gammas. But I guess this is not all true because if it is, Ronaldo won't pursue such a selfish and cruel act of transforming humans to vampires."

"May nakilala na ba kayong alpha na vampirized human?"

Umiling si Axel. "Not yet. I'm also curious about them. I always wonder if they are as strong as the pure blooded alpha vampires."

Alpha or not. Saang kategorya man ako mapadpad, hindi na rin naman ako tao.

"Drink the blood," paalala niya sa akin.

Muntik ko nang makalimutan ang tungkol dito.

Tinusok ko na ang straw sa pack. I took a sip bago ngumuya-nguya para lasahan ang dugo. I did all that while closing my eyes. Honestly, it is not so hard dahil matamis nga kasi ang amoy ng dugo.

"How's it?"

Minulat ko ang mga mata ko at mas binilisan ang pagnguya ko. I even took another sip. Pero... "It's just sweet."

"It's just sweet?"

Tumango ako. "It's not as sweet as I thought it would be pero matamis pa rin. There's another flavor but I can't identify it well."

Nagkibit-balikat lang si Axel at tumungo sa basurahan para itapon ang wala ng laman niyang blood pack.

"I'm sure you'll get used to it. Take your time finding out its flavor, but do you think you can finish that?" tanong niya.

I raised the blood pack in the same level as my eyes at tinitigan ito. Para bang hindi pa rin nabawasan ang dami ng dugo kahit naka-ilang inom na ako.

"Siguro?"

It's just a 250 ml pack. Para lang talaga juice pack ang dami.

"Okay. I'll be in the Supreme's office," paalam ni Axel bago ako iwan sa loob.

Sinubukan ko ulit na lasahan ang iniinom ko. Surely, it doesn't taste like rusty iron, at matamis siya. But not the sugar sweet that I expect it would be. I am pretty sure that this sweetness can't be find in a pastry kitchen. Pero hindi ko akalain na iinom ako ng dugo na parang umiinom lang din ako ng juice.

"What flavor are those again? Chocolate, pomegranate, and honey." And grapes for those almighty Supreme.

Hm. Now that I drink more of it, I can taste some... fruity flavor in it. Definitely far from chocolate and honey.