M I L L E R

Isang buong araw na naman na puno ng taguan ang natapos. Pauwi na ako nang makaramdam ulit ako ng gutom. I took a detour to the nearest convenience store before the condominium building to grab a cup of noodles and bread.

Once I'm done satisfying my tummy, I did not hesitate to leave and start walking in the quiet alley of the neighborhood. It is a little bit inappropriate to call the area a neighborhood. Because instead of houses, they have condominium and apartment buildings around the area.

Rich people.

Ilang metro na lang ang layo ko mula sa entrance ng building nang may dumaang sasakyan. It is rare to have one in this area at this hour.

Huminto ang sasakyan sa harap ng entrance. At first, I did not pay too much attention. Baka kasi residente lang din ng building ang bababa. But then when the passengers came out, I thought that indeed the person is a resident in the building but the one with him is not. Lumabas sa sasakyan ang isang hindi pamilyar na lalaki habang akay-akay nito sa balikat si Axel. He sure has a lot of friends despite of his exclusive personality.

Nagmadali akong lumapit. Tumakbo ako para maabutan sila bago pa man pumasok sa entrance ang lalaki.

"Is he drunk again?" tanong ko sa sandaling nakalapit ako sa kanila. Sakto lang din dahil hindi pa nakakahakbang patungo sa entrance ang dalawa at kasasara lang ng lalaki sa pinto ng sasakyan.

Mukhang may driver din sa loob. I then instantly confirmed it when the car slowly moved forward and turned to where the underground parking area is located.

Wrinkles appeared on the man's forehead as he asked, "Uh, who are you?"

Tumingin ako saglit kay Axel na maliban sa nakayuko lang ay puno rin ng malalaking butil ng pawis ang gilid ng mukha niya. "Oh, he did not tell you about me?" banggit ko.

Hindi pa man nakakasagot sa akin ang lalaki ay nagsalita na si Axel. Although his voice sounded hoarse and fainting hindi pa rin niya inangat ang mukha niya.

"Mat... Mateo..."

It is as if he is talking in his sleep.

"I am his housemate." Nauna na akong magpakilala sa kanya, and decided to have a guess since Axel already mentioned a name. "I'm Miller, and I supposed you are Mateo?"

"Uh-huh," tipid niyang sagot.

He is also checking me out from head to toe.

"Great. Thank you for bringing him home," bati ko habang ipinapakita ang ngiti ko. I just want to appear friendly and trustworthy to this person. "Should I carry him instead? Pabalik na rin naman ako, I just got home from work."

Hindi pa rin ata siya tapos sa pag-sususpetsa sa akin at tinitigan lang ako sa mukha. After a few seconds he said, "... No, I'll help you in. Instead of being drunk, this guy is having a hard time with his... wound."

"Wound?" Ano na naman kaya ang nangyari? "Hey, you. Don't tell me that vamp—that guy bothered you again?"

"So, you know about us?"

"Ah—a little bit."

Us. He must be Axel's another vampire friend.

"Why is there a mortal in your house?" tanong nito kay Axel. His voice kind of sounds angry yet worried at the same time.

Axel scoffed as a reply. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang ibig sabihin niya doon pero imbes na tugunan ang katanungan ng lalaki ay unti-unti na inangat ni Axel ang kanyang ulo habang iniwika ang mga katagang, "C-Could you just bring me inside?" His request is quiet and tired. He must be really hurt.

Gumawi sa akin ang ulo ng bampirang may hawak kay Axel, sanhi para tumingin din ako sa kanya. He stared straight into my eyes then asked, "Do you know how to tend a vampire wound?"

"I witnessed it once but..." nag-aalinlangan kong tugon.

I have never tried it but I saw Kristoff do it with Axel last time.

"You, witnessing it once is not the same as knowing how to do it." He sighed. "Don't worry, I can help. Just escort me to his unit. I won't ask you more," walang ka-emo-emosyon niyang sabi.

For some reason I can see myself in him.

I mean, I too dislike conversation like him. Pero hindi ko alam kung bakit ako nag-madaling lumapit sa kanila kanina at kinausap si Mateo. And even now I can feel that something is welling up inside me when I see Axel's arm around Mateo.

I shrugged it off and walked inside the building first. Hindi pala alam ni Mateo kung ano ang room number ng unit ni Axel. But when we get inside, the woman in the front desk did not ask any question. Yumuko lang siya sa amin habang nakangiti at pinanood lang kami na pumasok ng elevator.

"I see," rinig kong sambit ni Mateo.

Tahimik lang kaming tatlo hanggang sa pagpasok namin sa unit ni Axel. Halata rin na ito ang unang beses ni Mateo sa bahay dahil panay ang pag-uusisa niya rito. Luminga-linga siya na para bang may hinahanap.

"You also do not intend to stay here permanently," sabi niya sabay lapag kay Axel sa sofa.

Not intending to stay permanently? Is that the reason why this place is lonely? Lonely as if no one lives here.

Kagaya ng sinabi ni Mateo kanina ay hindi na nga niya ako kinausap pa. He just looks after Axel on his own. He removed Axel's clothes, revealing a long scratch-like wound on his side. Kasing haba nito ang kalahati ng braso ni Axel. Although the wound is not bleeding, it sure looks red and painful.

Umiwas ako ng tingin at patungo na sana sa silid ko nang mapansin ko na umalis si Mateo sa kinatatayuan niya. Lumingon ako at nakita siya na patungo sa kusina. Iniwan ko ang pinto ng kwarto ko at sinundan siya sa entrada ng kusina. At nang makita ko siya na patungo ng ref na tila ba na may hinahanap doon ay alam ko na agad kung ano ang sadya niya.

Meteo looked around until he saw me in the doorway.

"You know about us, right?" Hindi ako sumagot, "Where are the blood packs?"

Umiling-iling ako. "Ubos na. Ilang araw na ring ubos ang mga 'yun."

"Then, how does Axel survive if he doesn't have blood packs?"

I tilted my head.

Am I allowed to say that I am his blood pack?

Pero mukhang hindi ko na kailangan na magsalita pa. The man's expression changed. Lumaki ang kanyang mga mata at umangat ang kanyang mga kilay. He even almost gasped if he did not suppress his emotions more.

"Axel!" He barged past me as he left the kitchen. He stomped his way to the living room where Axel is waiting. "What the hell do you think you're doing taking a human as your blood supply?"

Axel did not dare to deny it. Instead, he just closed his eyes as he pinched the bridge of his nose, na para bang sinasabi niya na, "Oh great, he discovered about it,"

Kagaya ni Axel ay ito rin ang iniisip ko. Pero imbes na mag-react katulad ng kanya, I just wondered what will the guy do after this discovery.

"It's... It's an accident," Axel tried to explain, pero mukhang masakit pa rin ang sugat niya at nahihirapan pa rin siyang magsalita.

"Accident? Ax, if the Supreme discovered what kind of accident you did, he would be mad at you."

"I know. I know. That's why I am trying my best to compensate for it."

"How are you compensating?"

Tinikum ni Axel ang kanyang bibig. He glanced at me then closed his eyes as he said, "Please, let's talk about this when you are done mending my wound. I badly need blood now."

Nakakunot pa rin ang noo ni Mateo nang saglit niyang tiningnan ang sugat ni Axel. He breathed out. I guess he is calming down himself. Then he looked at me.

"You, human. Grab a glass," utos niya.

I already know what to do. Hecactually do not have to tell me to get a glass. Pero dahil naunahan niya ako ay nagmistulan na tuloy akong sumusunod sa utos niya dahil pumasok ako ng kusina.

Kumuha ako ng baso at maliit na kutsilyo.

"... such an accident is a great misfortune."

"But it was their first attack. I did not know that they would come at me that night so I was careless."

Naabutan ko silang nag-uusap. Kaagad din naman na itinikom ni Axel ang bibig niya nang dumating ako. Hindi na rin nagsalita pa si Mateo at pinanood na lang ako na ilapag ang baso sa lamesa.

Sunod ko naman na itinapat ang kutsilyo sa braso ko. Somewhere near the joint and far from the veins, I placed the knife and wounded myself.

"You—" Hindi na natapos ni Mateo ang sasabihin niya dahil tapos ko nang sugatan ang sarili ko. Tumulo na ang napakaraming dugo sa baso. "You're too used to it that hurting yourself is no longer a problem, huh," pahayag niya.

"It's still a problem," banggit ko agad, "Hindi ko naman madalas na sinusugtan ang sarili ko. Axel usually sucked my blood directly." With those words, Mateo has frozen. He slowly faces me. Turning his head dramatically slow like those horror-suspense movies.

Habang ginagawa niya ito ay unti-unti rin na tumatagal ang bawat plop sa kada patak ng dugo ko sa baso.

"He usually what?" he asked slowly.

"He usually bites me," I obediently replied.

Kung gaano man kabagal ang paglingon ni Mateo sa akin kanina ay kabaliktaran naman ang ginagawa niya kay Axel. He turned his head at him so fast, suggesting that what I said is something controversial.

"I-Is there any problem with that?" tanong ko.

Sa dami ng hindi ko alam sa kanilang mga bampira ay hindi ko na alam ang sasabihin. Dapat siguro ay hindi ko na binanggit ang tungkol sa pagkagat ni Axel sa akin?

Nagbuntong-hininga si Mateo. "Let's talk about this as soon as we are over with your wound," aniya na para bang sumusuko na siya. Para bang pinipigilan niya ang sarili na magulat pa.

Hiniwa ni Mateo ang braso niya at kagaya ko ay pinatulo ito sa baso na nasa lamesa. Samantala ay nasa tabi niya lang ako, pinapanood ang bawat pagpatak ng dugo niya. I feel so pathetic standing here, waiting for the blood medicine thing to be done while Axel is in the sofa writhing in pain.

Maraming tumatakbong katanungan sa isipan ko.

Who is this Mateo guy?

What happened to Axel again?

Who did that wound to him?

Who is the Supreme and why does he sound so important?

What are they gonna talk about?

What will happen to me after this?

Will I be able to see Axel?

I am pathetic.

Hindi ko alam kung kailan, but after meeting Axel my world went upside down. It is like I am having a great personality change that even I cannot predict.

"Miller..." a voice broke my thoughts. Inangat ko ang ulo ko at nakita si Axel na namumutlang nakangiti sa akin. "Come here... y-you're still bleeding."

Napatingin ako sa braso ko na nababalot ng dugo.

Oh, yes. I am still bleeding. Sa lalim ng iniisip ko ay nakalimutan ko na ang tungkol dito.

Sumunod ako kay Axel at lumapit sa kanya. He grabbed my hands and feebly pushed himself up to reached my wound. Hindi ko na siya pinahirapan pa at ibinaba na lang ito para maabot niya agad. As soon as the wound is right in front him, Axel licked it to heal.

"Ugh," Mateo grunted, "he even knows that our saliva can heal," litanya niya habang iniikot-ikot ang baso. He must be thoroughly mixing our blood.

"Miller, could you please leave us alone?" Axel requested when he is done with my wound.

Hindi na ako nagprotesta at sumunod na sa kanya. Tumango ako saka naglakad patungo sa kwarto ko when I paused as I remember a thing.

"Uhm... make sure to have the blood first." Lumingon ako at tinitigan ang baso ng dugo sa kamay ni Mateo.

He then looked at me as if he is wondering what's taking me too long to get in. And as soon as he realized that I am waiting for Axel to drink the blood, he nonchalantly gave it to him. Kinuha naman ito ni Axel, and when I saw him returning the glass empty to Mateo, I obediently entered my room.

How weird.

Why did I wait for him to drink the blood?

Am I making sure that he is fine? If it's it then, why?

Umupo na ako sa kama at handa na sana na magbihis nang bigla kong marinig ang mga katagang, "You've been lying to me." Boses 'yun ni Mateo.

Woah. Isa na namang how weird.

How am I able to hear their voices when the walls here are so thick? Not to mention, the rooms are soundproof. Isa na naman ba 'to sa mga magic trick nilang mga bampira?

"Trust me, I am not trying to lie to you," sagot naman ni Axel.

His voice doesn't sound hurt anymore. I guess his wound is healed now.

"Then, why did I just now find out that you were hiding a human?"

"I am not hiding him and... I told you that I – drinking his blood – happened accidentally."

"How much of an accident was it that you, of all vampires, forgot about the rules?"

Tanging ang boses lang nila ang naririnig ko. They both sound angry, with Axel's voice sounding a little bit worried, they continued to speak loudly. Sa sobrang lakas ng boses nila ay para bang nasa harapan ko lang sila nag-uusap.

"You are not yourself these days, Axel. Are you still worried about your father? You even did what you've done... I did not tell you this back then but Axel, don't you think you're being too reckless for a necklace?"

"It is not just a necklace, Mateo. It is my parent's necklace. And I can't forgive myself for getting deceived that day and bringing our soldiers in such a dangerous situation... I even had half of them killed."

Hindi na muna sumagot si Mateo. But after a few seconds he asked, "It was definitely not your fault. You keep thinking about it and now you keep making mistakes. This is not you, Axel. You are not the usual sharp minded person you are."

Oo nga naman. I wonder what the real Axel Wesley is.

Now that I heard those words from Mateo, hindi ko maiwasan na itanong sa sarili ko na si Axel nga ba ang taong akala kong siya? When I think about it, I do know nothing about him. Nasa iisang bubong lang kami but what we have is a business relationship, with him paying me for my blood.

"That, human," Mateo suddenly brought me up, "what are you planning to do to him? Don't tell me you are planning to make him your blood supply until the end of his life? What if something happened to him?" the voice stopped, then continued in much lower volume, "What if he vampirized?"

"I'm not sure," nag-aalinlangan na tugon ni Axel. "I told you about my specimens, right? Miller is the specimen #2. Since I already bit him, and he already got the vampire essence inside his body, I better make use of it and continue to observe him."

"Are you saying that you're letting him stay here for that?" Wala akong narinig na sagot pero narinig ko ang mahabang buntong-hininga ni Mateo. "I was going to tell you this after I heal your wound, but after knowing about that human I got everything mixed up. My thoughts went here and there."

"What is it?"

"We found a vampirized human in Thailand."

"What? Why in Thailand?"

Nagsimulang tumaas ang boses ng dalawa. Kasabay nito ang pagbilis ng kanilang pag-uusap. The information must be important to turn their conversation this heated.

"Apparently, one of Ronaldo's henchmen went there to strengthen his forces. Trying to coerce another clan. And on the way, they found a few humans to vampirize. They got a ton, but one of those escaped and was found by our men based in Thailand."

"Then, where is that human now?"

"As of this moment, she is on the way in the country. I will have her examined by your men in your lab as soon as she arrives."

"That's great. I am pleased to hear about another lead..."

Nasa loob lang ako ng kwarto. Nakikinig sa boses ng dalawang bampira but I sure learned a lot. I gained a lot of pieces of information about Axel and the vampire society. And the more I discover, the more worried I become... not for myself but for Axel.

And I don't even know why.