M I L L E R

"You know, you should just leave. Pinapalala mo lang ang galit ko sa'yo," sabi ko kay Axel Wesley at saka siya iniwan sa pinto ng mag-isa.

Pumasok ako ng banyo para pakalmahin ang sarili ko. I was so turned on for nothing because of that stupid Axel. Nag-leave ako ng maaga sa trabaho para sa gabing ito, nabawasan pa ang kita ko, naglinis ng bahay at kung anu-ano pa, only to have everything ruined by that guy.

"Bwis*t!" I mumbled, just in time when I c*mmed. "Ngh... haah..."

Yes, I am jerking off.

We were interrupted in the middle of the action. Mainit na rin ang katawan ko... tapos bigla na lang may sisingit na iba at puputulin ito. Sino ba ang hindi magagalit?

"Ang dami nang kasalanan ng lalaking 'yun sa akin."
Tapos na akong buhatin ang sarili ko. Nalabas na ang dapat ilabas. Nakapagpunas at nagbihis na rin ako. Palabas na ako ng banyo at inasahan ko na wala na sa silid ko ang Axel Wesley na 'yon. But when I opened the bathroom's door and saw the same figure of a man sitting on my old sofa, alam ko na kaagad kung gaano kahirap panipisin ang makapal na mukha ng niya.

"Why are you still here?" I said, sounding more like an interrogation than a normal question.

"Oh, you're done?" he asked nonchalantly.
Don't tell me na hinintay niya akong matapos?

"Bakit hindi ka pa umuwi? Tapos ka nang manggulo, hindi ba?"

Axel chuckled. "I told you already that I'm here to talk to you."

Bumuntong-hininga ako. "Ano ba ang gusto mong sabihin?"

"Oh, you're finally having an interest?" Lumiwanag ng konti ang kanyang mukha na kanina ay halos walang kakulay-kulay. "Okay, okay, I'll tell you a secret."

"For clarification," sabad ko, "I don't need to know your secrets, okay? Gusto ko lang na matapos ang kung anuman ang sadya mo." Mag-uusap kami ngayon para layuan na niya ako, tatapusin ko na ang koneksyon na mayroon ako sa kanya. Perhaps he will only stop pestering me if he's done with the thing he wanted to talk about.

Kapag natapos ko na ito, I can just cut our ties. I mean, this all began that night we met and carried him home. Wala naman talaga akong relasyon sa kanya.

"Then I won't be able to tell you what I need... you know the thing that I want to talk about with you."

Naku. Ang tigas din talaga ng ulo ng isang 'to.
"Argh. This better be important," sabi ko.

"It is. Now, give me your hand?"

Inilahad niya ang kamay niya sa akin. "Why should I?" I asked suspiciously.

"Come on, just do what I say."

It has not been an hour since Sara left, and talking with this guy only makes me more exhausted and disappointed.

"What? You want to know why I keep following you, right? So, here now. Give me your hand." Mariin niya akong tinitigan. Dahil mas matangkad ako ng mga ilang pulgada sa kanya ay kailangan pa niyang taasan ang kanyang tingin para lang magtagpo ang mga mata naming dalawa. "It would be easier for me to explain the situation once I return the memories I stole from you."

"Wait, what memories? Wha—"

Bago pa man ako makapag-reklamo ay hinila na ni Axel ang kamay ko. It was just a light touch... and is unexpectedly familiar.

A few seconds later, I felt a slight sting at the back of my head. Then blurry images slowly emerged from my memory.

Glowing red eyes...
Blood...
Axel Wesley...
These three images are prominent in that quick flash of memory. Sumagi rin sa alaala ko ang unti-unti na pagbabalik ng kulay ng balat niya. The pale white skin become warm with red pinkish shade. I also saw him with longer length of hair.

"W-What the he—"

"Shh! You have to see everything," sabad niya at hinawakan ulit ako sa balikat.

Sa sandaling iyon ay lumitaw naman ang mga bagong alaala sa isipan ko.

"Good thing your blood suits my taste," sambit ni Axel habang dinidilaan ang dugo sa kanyang kamay.

Akin ba ang dugong 'yan?
Did he really bite my lips?

"Thank you for letting me drink your blood." Naka-ngiti si Axel, sa pagkakataon na ito ay sumisilip sa kanyang bibig ang dalawang pangil niya. "Don't worry your tongue will be healed in no time..." tinitigan niya ako habang nakangiti pa rin.

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nararamdaman ko sa mga sandaling ito. But I am quite sure that witnessing such a thing caused a shock to me. Nakatayo lang naman kami sa kwarto ko, he is only holding my hand pero bakit parang ang hirap gumalaw at huminga.

"I might ask you more details about me being in your home, but I am currently full with my duties so I will have to leave." At dito na naputol ang alaala ko. Bigla na lang naglaho ng parang bula si Axel at nakita ko na lang ang sarili ko na natumba sa kama.

Binitawan na ni Axel ang kamay ko. Hindi rin siya nagsalita, tila ba hinihintay niya ako na mauna.

"What... What was that?" hindi sigurado kong tanong sa kanya, "Are you really a vampire?" wika ko.

Oh. I remember now. I was supposed to ask him this question... It was so obvious to me back then. "Paanong ngayon ko lang 'to naaalala?" Alam ko ang sagot. Pero nais ko lang talaga na marinig ito mula mismo kay Axel Wesley.

"It's a trick only high-level beta vampires can practice."

"High-level... what? What are you saying?"

He sighed. "It's complicated. Let's just say, it's a magic trick I did for you to not panic or spread to people what I've done to you and what I am," paliwanag niya, pero para bang wala siyang gana na ipaliwanag ito sa akin. He seems in a rush all of a sudden. "Anyway, now you know what I am... I want to ask you a favor."

A favor?
"Teka... teka, teka," I panicked. "Ang bilis mo naman ata. Do you think your explanation was enough? Or showing me what I missed is enough for me to give you a favor?" angal ko.

Basta-basta na lang kasi siyang bumabangga at humihingi ng pabor ng hindi man lang nagpapaliwanag ng maayos.

"Oh. It wasn't? I thought you would catch up easily since you're smart."

This situation is beyond the understanding and knowledge of human society. What I meant is that not until now, him (a vampire), is nothing but a fantasy and a Halloween icon for me.

"It wasn't! Of course, it wasn't! Ah—" Natigilan ako.
Naisip ko lang. Hindi ba dapat maging mabait ako sa kanya? He is a vampire, and I bet he can attack me anytime if he wanted.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" he asked me, while acting oblivious of the danger he can possibly do to me.

Umiwas ako ng tingin kay Axel at sinabi na, "Kung bampira ka..." nandito ka ba para sa dugo ko? I wanted to ask him that question. Subalit, bago ko pa man ito nagawa ay narinig ko na ang nagpipigil niyang tawa.

"Pfft!"

"Anong nakakatawa?"

It's my first time to see Axel Wesley having a genuine smile carved on his face. He is usually emotionless and cool around his fans.

"Nothing. Nothing. Do not worry, I will not attack you or harm you. I am only here to negotiate. Also, I am not a bad vampire. I don't suck blood from a living person," litanya niya.

Ang hirap naman atang paniwalaan ng sinabi niya matapos niyang kagatin ang dila ko para lang makainom ng dugo.

"You're making it hard to believe. Didn't you just drink my blood and erase my memories of that night?"

"Ah... yeah... about that."

Ano na naman kaya ito?
Kumunot ang noo ko at nagtanong ng, "What is it this time?"

"Nothing. But you're right, those things are not enough." Hinimas ni Axel ang ilalim ng kanyang baba. "Well, this leaves me no choice but to introduce myself in a brief manner." He cleared his throat then suddenly reached his hand to me. "Hello, I am Axel Wesley. Some call me West, as that's how I was called during my early years and some call me Axel. I am more than century old of a vampire... that, I cannot tell exactly how old I am. And yes, vampires exist and we live among humans... in peace. We do not wish to harm anyone..." He paused, then finished his introduction with a brief, "That's all, I hope that satisfied you."

One.
Two.
Three.
I don't know how long but it took me a while to process what he said. Pero kahit ganun ay inabot ko muna ang kamay niya. He then shakes it, with all the serious face, but then when I felt his cold hands... bumalik agad ako sa realidad.

"What did you just say?" I said, snapping back after processing his words.

"Hm? I was introducing who I am, like what you wanted me to do."

"You're a vampire?"

Axel nodded.

"You drank my blood because you are a vampire?"

He nodded.

"You can do all sorts of magic tricks because you are a vampire?"

He nodded again. "Sort of."

"You are here be—"

"Okay! Stop. Stop now. We are only going in circles here. I can see that we cannot progress at this rate and I will not be able to tell you what I wanted to tell," he said, a little bit rushed and impatient.

Hindi na ako nakasagot pa. May punto naman din talaga siya. Paikot-ikot lang ang usapan namin na ito. Pansin ko rin. Pero ginagawa ko lang naman ito para makasigurado.

"Woah. This is insane," I uttered as I sat on my bed. "So, what do you want now?"

"Oh goodness! Great thing you finally ask," he sighed. "Let me suck your blood, human," direkta niyang sabi.

"What?"

"Let me suck your blood," pag-uulit ni Axel Wesley habang suot ang seryosong mukha.