M I L L E R

Sumikat na ang araw nang bumalik kami. Pagod ang lahat at may iba pa na sugatan, higit sa lahat ay may mga nasawi rin. It's to be expected pero iba pa rin talaga kapag dumating at nangyari na.

We took the corpse of the vampirized humans to test and for further research. May mga sumama rin sa amin na mga vampirized na ang sabi ay gustong bumalik sa mga pamilya nila. It seems that they were forced to fight for Ronaldo's side. We took them in and were brought into the dungeon for the investigation. Mahirap na at baka may nasama na masamang damo sa kanila.

I let Leo take Aaron's corpse. Dumiretso na kasi sila sa ibaba nang dumating kami. They were able to apply first aid on their wounds on the way home. While I have to see Axel first, parte kasi ito ng napag-usapan namin for him to stop fussing about me joining the battlefield.

As soon as I entered the Red Mansion, staggering while enduring all the stinging pain that envelops my body, I saw Axel anxiously waiting in the living room area. Sa gitna ng malawak at madilim na sala, napapalibutan ng pula't dilaw na ilaw mula sa apoy ang nag-aalala na itsura ni Axel.

Nagsalubong ang mga mata namin and as if we have been apart for a long time, Axel ran to me and hugged me tightly. He was shaking, at nagsimula na rin na humikbi.

"I thought something worse happened to you. I was anxious seeing them covered in blood, severed limbs, d-deep wounds. I-I-I am so glad you're alright!"

"Of course, I'm alright. Sinabi ko naman sa'yo na wala kang dapat ipag-ala–"

"Miller!" Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Axel.

Ngayon nga lang ata niya napansin ang mga sugat ko sa katawan. I tried to cover them using a towel. I was basically wearing it like a jacket, pero nakita pa rin niya ito as soon as bumitaw ako sa yakap namin.

"Let's get them checked." He was really in a hurry. He didn't even bother to use the stairs. Agad niya akong tineleport sa clinic na nasa loob ng lab.

Abala pa rin ang lahat, sa sobrang abala ay wala man lang nakapansin sa pagdating namin.

"Get yourself naked," Axel sighed,"these must be painful!" he commented as soon as he saw my reddened scratches and wounds.

"These are nothing compared to the wounds I had when I was human."

"Don't say that, of course it still hurts."

Kumuha siya ng mga gamit. He was seriously attending to my wounds. Inisa-isa niya ang paglalagay ng gamot at halos napuno na ako ng band aid. Tahimik lang si Axel habang ginagawa ito. The only time he spoke was when he's applying medicine on the deepest wound I have on my arm.

"This looks really painful." Pinitik niya ang kanyang dila sabay bulong ng, "I wish I could take the pain."

I'm not sure if he knew that I could hear him. Pero hindi ko naman ito pinalampas.

"Hindi ba't magiging useless ang ginawa ko kung ibibigay ko sa'yo ang sakit na nararamdaman ko?"

Tumigil sa paggalaw ang mga kamay ni Axel. As if he just realized that he has been thinking out loud.

I grabbed his hand. Hinigpitan ko ang hawak ko rito. I looked at his eyes as I uttered, "These wounds are worth it. You're finally safe, Axel."

Nakatingala ako sa kanya, so I have to kiss the back of his hand instead of his lips. Yet, regardless of where I kissed him the result is the same. Namula ang mukha ni Axel. Muntik pa nga siyang umiyak kung hindi lang dumating si Mateo.

"Sorry to interrupt your moment but we need the head of this lab." With that, Axel already knows the drill. Sakto rin naman na patapos na ang pagbabalot niya ng sugat ko. He even put on a cast to ensure that it would not be unnecessarily moved.

Nagpalit na muna ako ng damit bago nakibalita. Pero hindi ko inaasahan ang bumungad sa akin pagpasok ko sa silid ng Supreme.

"Patay na ang Supreme," pahayag ni Leo sa akin.

Apparently, he sacrificed his remaining energy to inflict damage to Ronaldo. At sa pagkakaintindi ko ay nagkulang ang lakas niya dahil wala sa kanya ang gem. Akala ko pa naman ay makakaligtas siya.

I wanted to ask kung nasaan ang katawan niya. Kaso mukhang hindi ito tamang itanong sa mga sandaling ito. Pero may nakita akong itim na urna sa dulo at gitna ng guest area.

Mukhang hindi ko na kailangan pa na magtanong.

Sinuyod ko ng tingin ang mga tao sa silid. They all look mournful, yet no one shed a tear. They all looked dignified. Tunay nga, na mga bayani sila ng digmaang ito. Sumali lang naman ako para sa isang tao.

Ilang sandali lang ay nagbigay ng utos si Mateo.

"I'll keep the Supreme's ashes. Dad will know what to do with it... Speaking of my father, Leo, is there any news about the heiress?"

"Yes, master. Nakatanggap po ako ng tawag mula sa inyong ama. Maayos naman daw po silang nakarating sa destinasyon nila. Ang pananambang ay hindi naman po nakaapekto sa prinsesa at sa kanyang mortal na ina..." Madetalye na tugon ni Leo. Ligtas at pabalik na rin daw sa Red Mansion si Mr. Lacson.

Isa itong mabuting balita. I won't deny that I felt relief of hearing about that little girl's safety kahit na hindi ko siya kaano-ano. Pero nang masagip ng mata ko ang lalagyan ng abo ng ama nito, hindi ko maiwasan na maisip ang maaaring mga pagsubok na haharapin niya dahil sa pagkawala ng kanyang ama. Hindi magiging madali ang buhay ng batang hindi kumpleto ang pamilya.

"Miller," tawag sa akin ni Axel.

I have my mind wandering na hindi ko agad na napansin na kailangan na pala namin na lumabas.

"Let's go."

Bumalik na kami ni Axel sa silid namin. Para bang nanibago ako. Masyadong magulo at maingay ang labanan na pinanggalingan ko. My body was in constant motion, at bawat segundo ay may natatamo akong sugat gawa ng mga pagsugod sa akin ng kalaban. Pero ngayon na nasa loob na ulit ako ng silid namin, para bang panaginip na lang ito.

I can no longer stop myself to voice out what's on my mind.

"Hindi ko maintindihan," panimula ko.

"What is it?" Axel sweetly responded. He sat next to me and put his head on my shoulder.

"Saan ba ang panaginip? Ngayon ba o ang nangyaring labanan kanina? This situation seems too good, and the battle was too chaotic to be true."

Narinig ko siyang tumawa ng mahina. "Aren't you going to ask if being a vampire is also just a dream?"

Tama nga naman. Saan nga ba nag-ugat ang lahat ng mga pangyayari sa buhay ko ngayon?

"Oo nga," I agreed.

Inalis ni Axel ang kanyang ulo. Hinawakan niya ang pisngi ko at inalalayan ito para iharap sa kanya. When I saw his pale skin and his upward brows, I felt warm and comfortable. As if his presence is peace itself.

"Thank you, Miller."

"Para saan?"

"I made you a vampire, yet you came and took revenge for me. You got mad at my enemies for me, and even love me."

"Axel..."

"Thank you so much. Words are not enough to express how grateful I am to you... I-I love you."

To hear the last words after a life and death battle is heaven sent. It's like a magic spell that can relieve all the pain and worries that I am feeling at this very moment.

Niyakap ko si Axel sabay tugon sa kanya ng, "I love you. And you don't have to make yourself sound at fault. You didn't ruin my life, Axel. You just made it better and meaningful."

Axel chuckled, as if he doesn't believe in my words.

"How does turning into a vampire make your life meaningful? There's only long life here. It is even more unfortunate that we have war in this era. We are in complete chaos."

Eto na naman si Axel sa paninisi niya sa sarili niya. He might not tell it directly but the way he puts things and utter things with sadness and regret in his eyes screams the same.

"Masaya ako." Natigilan siya at bumitaw sa yakap namin. "Why do you look surprised?"

"Miller, stop saying that. I k—"

"No, Axel. You should stop saying that... Masaya talaga ako. Totoo. Kahit kailan ay hindi ko iniisip na isang responsibilidad ang ginawa kong paghihiganti para sa'yo. It wasn't easy yet I didn't hate it... I just hate the person... Alam mo na, 'yung Aaron na 'yun. At isa pa, I don't mind living a long life, as long as we are together I'm sure it won't be miserable."

It will never be miserable.

Tinitigan lang ako ng matagal ni Axel. Hindi siya nagsalita. He was just staring at my eyes. And when he was done ay umiwas naman siya ng tingin. He mumbled something to himself that I have no idea what it was because he was simply mouthing it. Walang boses na lumabas. Mukhang natuto na siya kanina sa clinic.

"What is it, huh?" tanong ko sa kanya sabay dukot sa kanyang mga pisngi.

"Why are you happy with that?"

"Dahil may nagawa ako para sa iyo. Axel," sa pagkakataon na ito ay bumitaw ako sa isa niyang pisngi at hinawakan naman ang isa niyang kamay. "I... I normally don't act selfless, because I don't have anyone for me. I have a lot to say but the bottom line is that you changed me, hm okay? Siguro nga nagbago ang buhay ko dahil naging bampira ako, pero mas malaking naidulot ang pagdating mo sa buhay ko."

I wanted to tell him more. How he made me want to take care of him. How it naturally occurred during the time he was forcing me to be his blood bank. I was confused because it is completely new to me. Lalo na at lalaki rin siya. It was extremely perplexing to know that I can swing both ways.

I can also choose to live away from the Red Mansion. I always have that choice since living with the vampires is not mandatory. Basta lang alam ko kung paano balansehin ang buhay ko kasama ang mga mortal. Pero hindi ko 'yon pinili. I stayed because Axel is here. At kung aalis man siya, I will also follow him.

My love for him was gradual. Nothing abrupt. Well, I admit that staying close to him at first was only a compliance since he is the only vampire I know, yet when I followed him here and took care of him during his downfalls – lahat ng iyon ay ako na, sariling kagustuhan ko na.

"Axel...?" Umiling-iling si Axel nang hawakan ko ang ilalim ng kanyang mga mata. Akala ko kasi ay umiiyak na naman siya.

"I'm not crying... If—If that's how you feel that makes me happy too. Thank you—Uh, this is for a different reason don't worry. I just want to thank you for always communicating to me and being patient, and of course for loving me for who I am."

Napangiti ako sa narinig ko. I pat his head habang pinagdikit ang mga noo namin.

"Salamat din dahil nahanap mo ako. I would have been stuck in a rot if it's not because of you."

Tumawa si Axel. Sa pagkakataon na ito ay siya naman ang humawak sa magkabilang pisngi ko, at saka lumayo ng bahagya.

"We'll be both stuck in a rot if we didn't find each other," bulong niya sa mga labi ko na agad niya naman na hinalikan.

Kissing has become so natural for us na alam na agad namin kung ano ang dapat na isunod dito.

"Saang parte sa mga sinabi ko ang nagpa-h*rny sa'yo?"

Axel giggled. "Your sincerity, maybe? Why? Do you hate it?"

I touched the back of his head, as I uttered, "Nope. I definitely wanna do it." Kasabay nito ay ang maingat na pagdampi ng labi ko sa labi niya.

Para bang may naalala siya nang bigla siyang huminto bago pa man lumalim ng husto ang mga halik namin.

"Haah... are your wounds alright?"

Oh. Nag-aalala lang pala siya sa braso ko.

Paano niya ginagawa ang pagiging erotic at sweet at the same time?

Ngumiti ako. Hinawakan ko ang likod niya at ang likod ng kanyang leeg para alalayan siya bago siya dahan-dahan na pinahiga sa kama.

"Hindi ba't parang huli na masyado para itanong mo 'yan?" Sininghot ko ang amoy alcohol niyang balat. Perhaps it was because he's mostly inside the lab kaya pati ang amoy ng mga disinfectant ay dumidikit na sa kanya.

It seems that what I did sent shivers into his spine, the reason why he moaned as if my warm breaths were enough to make him release.

"Miller..."

"Hm?"

"Bite me," utos ni Axel. Hinubad niya ang suot niyang lab gown, ganun din ang kanyang damit. He was a little bit reluctant pero inilapit niya pa rin ang leeg niya sa akin.

Noong una ay inaakala ko na may na-develop siyang certain fetish. I mean, vampires can also have those desires in bed like humans, right? Pero hindi rin nagtagal ay naintindihan ko rin ang ibig niyang gawin.

"Ayos lang ako."

"No."

"Axel—"

"Think of this as medicine. You'll receive vampire blood later for faster recovery anyway. Just have mine, instead."

May punto siya kaso kagagaling niya lang din.

I wanted to resist more, yet the look in his eyes – sparkling as he begs for my attention – I can no longer resist that. Lalo pa na nakahubad siya ngayon sa harap ko.

Like the opposite sides of a magnet, I was attracted to his porcelain skin and pierced my teeth into Axel's flesh. Matagal-tagal na rin noong huli akong nakainom ng dugo ni Axel. At kahit gaano pa man katagal, his blood tastes as sweet as ever. The same ticklish feeling envelopes my body. Pero tila ba may pagkakaiba ito, siguro dahil na rin sa may sugat ako. My wounds are itching and throbbing.

"A-Are you feeling go—ah!"

Bahagyang akong tinulak ni Axel kaya diniinan ko pa ang mga pangil ko sa kanya at binaon pa siya ng husto sa kama. Not long enough, I felt a hard thing near his groin.

Oh, no. Oh, no. This is not good. He's hard and he's making mine hard as well. Nakakahawa ang reaksyon ng katawan ni Axel. When my wounds stopped throbbing, I also stopped drinking his blood. I let go of my fangs then licked the pair of dots it made on his skin.

Tapos na akong uminom. I feel way better than seconds ago. Strange enough, the vampire blood acted like an aphrodisiac. Now, I am also in heat.