M I L L E R

Sinong mag-aakala na darating ang araw na makakasama ko sa iisang silid si Axel Wesley?

Yes, I brought Axel to my house instead to the hospital. I don't know exactly why I did that but I guess I panicked. Witnessing a man falling from above with wounds and blood renders me a mental block. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ko 'yun ginawa pero instead na tumawag ng ambulansya ay kinapakapa ko ang katawan ni Axel para tingnan kung gaano kalala ang sitwasyon niya. I checked his body temperature by placing my two fingers under his neck. His temperature is warm and I also felt his pulse. Nagulat pa nga ako nang bigla niyang hinawi ang kamay ko at bumalikwas ng posisyon. It is as if he was sleeping deeply in a comfortable bed.

I just knew by instinct that what happened was not normal.
He doesn't seem dead and the bloody part of his body doesn't have any wounds either.

"What's this?" I wondered.
Saan kaya galing ang mga dugo sa katawan niya? Is this even blood?

I was also wondering what will happen if other people see me with this dead-like body. I don't want to be suspected as a murderer. I am not even related to this person.

Huminga ako ng malalim at inalala kung paano ko nagawang dalhin ang katawan ni Axel Wesley sa bahay ko.

Kung mayroon mang matinong dahilan kung bakit ko siya dinala rito, siguro dahil sa malapit lang ang bahay ko. May nahanap akong tela sa ilalim ng kumpol ng karton na ginamit ko pantakip sa kanya.

The kind of scene — a man carrying another man on their back — is no longer new to the people around the red light district. I won't be too suspicious dahil maraming pub at bar sa bandang ito ng distrito at madalas din na may umuwi nang lasing sa madaling araw. They can just think that I am carrying a drunk friend instead of a corpse-like person. At saka, ang mahal din ng hospital. I can't afford to pay for a stranger, even I do not have the money for myself.

My house was as messy as I left it in the morning. Madaling-araw na akong dumating. Wala namang bago. Maliban sa bitbit kong tao sa likuran ko.

Bumuntong-hininga na lang ako sa sitwasyon ko ngayon. A messy room with a stranger on my back. The only thing I am thankful for at this moment is my physical and emotional strength. Kung wala ito, ewan ko na lang kung nakaya kong buhatin ang lalaking 'to patungo sa bahay ko. At baka tumakbo na rin ako kanina kasama si Diane.

Come to think of it, running was the better choice than having to take care of this man. It's too late for me to regret it. Nadala na rin ako ng adrenaline rush lalo na't kilala ko ang siya.

Inilapag ko sa kama si Axel. Medyo maayos at malinis na ang kama ngayon. All I had to do is to set aside the mess. Kumuha na rin ako ng extrang damit para sana ibigay sa kanya paggising. He has few blood stains in his clothes, at saka ayaw ko rin madumihan ang kama ko kaya pinunasan ko na ang nasa braso't binti niya.

"Ngh..." I heard him moan.
He must be having a good sleep.

Honestly, hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin. Hindi ko alam kung anong ginawa ni Axel Wesley para mapadpad siya sa lugar na iyon, it is the red light district, and worse, he even fell down. Was he trying to commit suicide? I mean, why else he would be falling? Did he jump?

"How could a man as perfect as Axel Wesley be so unreasonable? And I don't think he would be having an affair enough to make him get killed..." O 'yun ang inaakala ko. Hindi ko rin naman siya kilala para sabihin na mabuti siyang tao.

Bumuntong-hininga ulit ako. I guess I have to make something for him to eat.

Tsk. I was planning to save some meat for this weekend para ma-enjoy ko ito pero mukhang kailangan ko na itong lutuin ngayon at ihain sa iba.

"Agh... ngh," for the second time, I heard him moan. Pero sa pagkakataon na ito ay naririnig ko na ang pagtitimpi sa boses niya, marahil sa sakit ng katawan.

I was going to ignore him. Wala akong panahon para mag-alaga ng iba, sapat na ang pagkain na lulutuin ko para sa kanya. I have to rest and start another hustle tomorrow... or maybe later today. Sa madaling salita ay abala akong tao. Unlike this person in my bed, I have to make money para makabayad sa darating na due date.

"Ack..." Axel groaned again, this time he has his face wincing in sleep.

Napansin ko na inaangat niya ng bahagya ang baywang niya sa tuwing umuungol.

Again, I wanted to ignore that as it is a pain in the *ss but, I'm not heartless enough to ignore an injured person moaning in pain on my bed. Maliit lang ang bahay ko kaya rinig na rinig ko ang mga hinanakit niya hanggang kusina.

"Okay, let's see what you got there."

Nilapitan ko si  Axel. Pero hindi ko na muna siya hinawakan, tinitigan ko na muna siya at inusisa kung ano ang maaaring problema niya. I mean, baka binabangungot lang siya.

... or so I thought, dahil nang muli siyang nag-ingay ay sinabayan na niya ito ng pagbalikwas. Which was a failure dahil hindi niya ata kaya na buhatin ang sarili niyang katawan.

"Okay. Tingnan natin kung anong problema mo." Dahan-dahan akong umupo sa espasyo sa gilid ng kama. I have never been this close with Axel Wesley. Yes, I did carry him to my house but he was in my back. Hindi ko nakita ng maayos ang mukha niya. Besides, seeing another man's face this close while he is sleeping and unguarded is somewhat weird. Especially if the other man has feminine features. "How can someone be good looking and beautiful at the same time?" Isn't it unfair to the people of both genders to give all those advantages to one person?

Tsk. Binalewal ko na lang ang makinis at maputla niyang mukha at kaagad nang inangat ang likod niya.

Kung mag-aaply siya bilang host, sigurado akong magiging number one siya in no time. Girls likes gorgeous men the most.

"Agh!" malakas na daing ni Axel Wesley nang hawakan ko ang likod niya.

I also just realized that I've been staring at his face instead of focusing on his back.

Ahh~ his appearance really shows how pampered he is. He has long and thick eyelashes and brows. His lips despite of its pale color are still pouty and kissable, and his nose that is long and cute at the same time is every man's dream. I mean I have got this bump in the middle of my nose bridge that makes it look like a bird's beak.

Hindi ko tuloy maiwasan na isipin kung ano ang mayroon ako ngayon kung naging maayos lang ang negosyo ni Dad. Syempre, iisang sagot lang ang masasabi ko – if my dad did not give up back then I shouldn't be working my *ss out day and night now.

"Haa." Too much thinking is useless now. What's done has already been done and I am trapped in this miserable life of forever labor.

Sinubukan ko ulit na iangat ang baywang ni Axel Wesley. Pero bago ko pa man ito nagawa ay may nakapa na akong basa mula rito. Noong una ay inakala kong pawis niya ito, pero nung inalis ko ang kamay ko mula sa pagkakadagan ng likod niya, bumungad sa akin ang mainit sa mata na kulay pulang likido.

Napasinghap ako sa gulat. Doon ko pa lang napansin ang malalaking butil ng pawis na tumutulo sa gilid ng kanyang mukha.

"Oh sh*t."

"Agh!" Namilipit pa ng sobra sa sakit si Axel.

Shoot. I hate to see a real dead body inside this house.

Kinuha ko ang first aid kit ko sa ilalim ng kama at tiningnan kung may laman pa ba ito. You see, I am in need of money to pay for my father's debts. Wala akong budget pambili ng mga gamit para magkalaman itong first aid kit ko. Imbes na mga gamot halos mga sinulid at maliliit na abubot ang laman nito.

Should I have called the ambulance earlier? Tapos ano? Nasa hospital ako ngayon at naghihintay ng resulta ng test ng taong hindi ko naman kilala. They would contact me constantly kung walang mag-claim na kamag-anak ng Axel Wesley na ito. But I guess, that won't be the case since mukhang may pamilya naman siya at may mga sabi-sabi na anak siya ng isang mayaman na negosyante.

"No. Mas magandang desisyon pa rin ito."
Mas magandang desisyon dahil hindi ko na kailangan na maghintay sa hospital hanggang umaga.

I'm sure he will wake up soon. At kapag nangyari 'yun I will have him call the hospital for himself. For now, I have to buy some medicine para sa lalaking 'to.

"Babayaran mo 'ko paggising mo, ha," saad ko sa kanya bago ko siya iniwan.

Ilang metro lang naman ang layo ng pharmacy mula sa boarding house ko. Another reason why I chose this building, maliban sa mura ang renta ay malapit din ito sa mga essential stores.

"Betadine nga... 'yung 15 ml lang. At saka... cotton buds at square shaped plaster, 'yung pinakamura niyo," sabi ko sa babaeng pharmacist saka inabot ang pera ko.

150 pesos.
Nang makita ko ang tatlong pulang bill sa kamay ng pharmacist ay muli kong naalala ang pera ko sana na humarurot ng takbo kanina dahil kay Axel Wesley – si Diane.
I was glad to hear about her booking. Extra service ko na lang ang sasagip sana sa akin ngayong linggo pero mukhang kakailanganin ko na nga talagang mangutang kung hindi ay lagot ako sa mga loan sharks.

"Ito po, sir." Inilapag ng pharmacist ang maliit na tray na may lamang sukli at ng mga pinamili ko. Ang kaninang tatlong papel ay naging maliliit na piraso ng metal na lang.

Kumalansing ang mga barya nang inilagay ko ito sa bulsa habang inabot ko naman ang maliit na plastic cellophane. Napatingin ako sa resibo. "Wala na pala silang 15 ml na betadine." Sisiguraduhin ko talaga na masisingil ko ang Axel Wesley na 'yun sa gastos at pagod na ginawa ko magamot lang ang sugat niya.

As soon as I arrived, I quickly went inside my kitchen to get a basin of water and a piece of cloth to clean his wound. However, when I returned back, I saw Axel Wesley sitting in my bed with his back straight and stiff.

"Oh, y-you're up," sabi ko sa kanya saka inilagay sa katabing lamesa ang bitbit kong planggana.

Marami akong gustong sabihin sa kanya. Simula sa pagkakautang niya sa akin hanggang sa kung paano siya napunta sa ganoong sitwasyon na bigla-bigla na lang siyang nahuhulog mula sa taas. Pero hindi ko ito magawa dahil hindi ko alam kung paano siya kakausapin.

How exactly do you start a conversation with Axel Wesley? Or with someone who was on the verge of death minutes ago?

Balak ko sana na magpatuloy na lang sa gagawin ko. I thought he would understand my hospitality and kindness, pero lumingon siya sa gawi ko na wala man lang ka-emo-emosyon.

W-What's wrong with this man?

His cold and emotionless eyes only make him look more dangerous... and unexpectedly gorgeous. Like an ice prince who has high walls around him, guarding him from unwanted visitors. With his unassuming expression he looks at me with his mesmerizing squinty eyes.

Hm? Wait. Ako lang ba o humaba bigla ang buhok niya? Now that I've seen him properly, mukhang humaba ata ang medyo kulot niyang buhok. Korean Perm Haircut. Iyan ang madalas na naririnig ko sa mga kaklase namin. Sa pagkakaalam ko ay naging trend sa university namin ang ganitong haircut dahil kay Axel, and now, I see him having an extremely straight hair that is up to his neck. This must be the reason why he's prettier than usual. Ngayon ko lang napansin.

Maybe he went to a salon and straightened his perm hair? Pero sobra naman ata ang hinaba ng buhok niya.

"Ah... uhm," I carefully took a step closer to him, "can I clean your wound?" tanong ko sa kanya.

Hindi niya ako sinagot, imbes ay huminga lang siya ng malalim na para bang may sumaging mabigat na problema sa isipan niya.

"A-Ayaw mo? Ayos lang na—"

Nabitawan ko ang hawak kong basang tela when Axel Wesley suddenly grabbed my neck and ... kiss me?

I know it's weird and unexpected. I wanted to get off from the kiss but his grip on my neck is way too strong and firm. This is not my first kiss, my job made it impossible. Yet, this is definitely my first kiss with a man, and what's more unlikely is that it is from the campus' prince.

Magkadikit man ang labi namin ay sinigurado ko naman na nakasara ang bibig ko. I can't have him kiss me with his tongue or anything close to it.

"Ughm... hmm." I struggled more when I felt his tongue colliding on my lips.

Oh man, don't tell me you wanted to make this kiss more intimate as it is already? Come on, we're both guys here. Your fans will surely cry if they know about this.

Konti na lang at makakatakas na sana ako sa kanya when he moved his hand and grabbed me closer to him. Nabalewala ang ginawa kong pagtulak sa kanya.

How is an injured man this strong?

Itutulak ko na sana siya ng pagkalakas-lakas nang maramdaman ko ang pagpasok ng dila ni Axel sa bibig ko. Napasinghap ako at sa parehong sandaling iyon ay nagdikit din ang dila namin. His tongue continued to explore my mouth. Sana lang ay hindi ko ito napansin but I can't deny that his tongue is searching for mine. While he is licking every inch of my mouth to look for my tongue my breathing is starting to become heavy. Inaamin ko, nag-aalala ako na baka ano... nag-react ang katawan ko. I touched my buddy to check but it's good news that it remains down and steady. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag, that just mean that I am still fine. Pero nakalimutan ko ang tungkol kay Axel and the next thing I know is that he is about to bit my tongue.

"Nnn! Nnnm!" I screamed with his mouth still zero inch closer to mine,
Pero wala akong nagawa dahil bago ko pa man siya natulak ulit ng malakas ay kinagat na niya ang dila ko.

I felt a painful sting on my tongue. It felt like a huge needle had pierced it and continued to bleed.

Bigla akong nanghina sa ginawa ni Axel. Nawala ang lakas ko at nahinto ako sa pagpupumiglas. Meanwhile, I can feel his kisses going deeper and he started to hug me instead of grabbing the back of my head. My tongue got numb as he sucked it with joy. Axel is moaning in between, as if he is having his favorite drink.

Oh man. His voice only makes the situation even weirder.

"Haa... Haah... haaa..." the sound of our heavy breath echoed in my ears as he licked my tongue.

Did he just take my tongue inside his mouth?
"Pwaah!" His lips smacked at he freed my numb tongue.
His tight hug loosened. I felt his cold hand on my chest as he pushed me away.

"Haah... haa... ngh nn..." he continued to suppress his voice.

Napaatras ako ng bahagya dahil sa pagtulak niya sa akin. I slide an inch or two away from him and looked at him. Pinunasan ko ang bibig ko na lasang dugo.

"Anong nangyari?" tanong ko sa sarili ko na may halong inis.

Not too long ago he was just lying on my bed. Groaning nonstop in pain and now, here he is, kissing his savior out of nowhere.

Kissing? Halos higupin na niya ng buo ang duguan kong dila.

"Is this how you're going to thank me?" tanong ko sa kanya sa medyo mataas nang boses.

Axel did not reply. But he is slowly raising his head.

"Hmmn..." I heard him uttering quietly, "isn't it too delicious?"

"What?"

Bigla siyang tumingala habang nakangiti. Nang binuksan niya ang kanyang mga mata ay dahan-dahan naman niyang dinilaan ang labi niya na may bakas pa ng dugo ko.

Axel looked down then stared straight into my eyes. "Your blood, I mean," he said as his eyes glowed in bright red. "Your blood taste too delicious."