"Anong sinabi niya?!"

Kagigising pa lamang ni Miyuki at nang malaman niyang galing sa silid niya si Gin ay tinadtad na niya ng tanong ang tatlo na nagbabantay sa kaniya ngunit wala siyang nakuhang matinong sagot mula sa kanila.

"Sa loob ng pitong buwan ngayon lang ata ako napuyat ng ganito." Napahikab si Mary matapos uminom ng tubig. Agad siyang inalalayan ni Chiron pag-upo pabalik sa sofa. "Chiron, I'm not limping."

"But your pregnant, Marylithea."

Agad na tumikom ang bibig niya nang tawagin siya nito sa buo niyang pangalan. Para sa kaniya ang weird lang kasi pakinggan.

"Yuki, proceed sa plano?" tanong ni Mary.

Tumango-tango si Miyuki at agad na umalis sa kama. Nais lang naman niyang pagsisihan ng ERI ang lahat ng ginawa nito sa ama nila ni Gin. Noong una, wala siyang alam kung paano namatay ang kanilang ama sa kadahilanang nang makita nila ang mga labi nito ay sa harapan na ng mansyon. Walang kahit ano mang sugat o bakas kung saan nanggaling ang dalawa. Ang tanging mapapansin lang ay ang pag marka ng kanilang mga ugat sa leeg.

Hindi niya ito nakita dahil masyado pa siyang bata noon. Naikwento lang ito sa kaniya ng Ate Alina niya at ayon sa kaniya ang tanging may kakayahan lang para itago ang tunay na krimen na nangyari ay ang Elequence Research Institute. They really stand on their name of pursuing.

Miyuki gritted her teeth. She won't let ERI take another person out of her life.

Nalaman ni Miyuki na pumuslit lang sina Mary at Cessair sa silid niya. Maliban sa mga umuukupa sa palapag nila at mga hotel staff ay wala ng iba ang pwedeng magtungo sa mga silid nila. Kung kaya't nauna sina Erin at Haunley sa 27th floor para mas malapit na makakonekta sa kanila gamit ang earpiece. Si Haunley rin kasi ang komokontrol sa mga CCTV at ilang mga IoT devices.

Ngayong araw ang pagbibigay ng mga suhestyon para sa kapakanan ng parehong bampira at mga tao. Ilan rito ay bagong batas, gamot o mga gamit para sa mga tao at bampira. Unti-unti ng ipinapaliwanag sa mamamayan na maliban sa kanila ay may iba pang mga nilalang na naninirahan sa mundo na kailangan nilang pakisamahan.

Ngunit nang dahil sa insidenteng ilang taon ng nakalipas, ang insidente kung saan nakuhanan sa CCTV si Miyuki ay nagkaroon ng mga grupo ng tao na sumalungat sa desisyon ng gobyerno na makipagsundo sa mga bampira. Ang nais nila ay mawala na sa mundo ang mga ito, in which Miyuki really dislike.

For her, this modern day vampires are just unfortunate to live with people like them. Matagal na nilang tinatago sa mga tao ang kanilang tunay na kakayahan at hindi nabigyan ng pagkakataong maging malaya. They can't use their abilities that well so they'll not be suspected by humans. Kailangan nilang magpanggap na normal which is very unfair to them. These two societies should adjust to each other hindi ang isa lang.

Then there's this one golden rule in the line.

Marrying or falling for a human would mean one's death.

Maaring mapatay nila ang isa't isa. One would be physically, another's emotionally.

Any sensual interaction could lead the vampire to lose control and might accidentally kill the himan. Their bloodlust was extreme.

Ito ang pilit na binabaling paniniwala nina Aslan at Henry, ang mga ama nina Miyuki at Gin.

They died finding and proving that humans and vampires can live with each other. It was considered unfortunate to fall for a human and so they want to prove it was not by breaking that axiom.

"Kailangan na naming pumunta ni Chiron." Napatingin si Miyuki sa orasan niya. Halos mag aalas otse na kaya iniwan na niya sa loob ng silid niya ang tatlo upang maghintay ng hudyat niya. They should be safe in here, si Mary at ang pinagbubuntis nito ang alas nila sa laban na 'to.

Marahan niyang inayos ang earpiece na nasa tainga niya. Nakadusguise ito bilang hikaw. Nauang lumabas si Chiron na siyang naghihintay sa kaniya. May suot rin itong maliit at itim na piercing na isa ring earpiece na nakadisguise.

"Will end it all this congress." Nag inat-inat pa si Miyuki na umaasta na para bang sasabak sa kung anong laban. Chiron just stared at her from the back. She just witness this lady grown as a woman. The same lady who help him build his own dream family with his Marylithea.

Nang pindutin na sana ni Chiron ang close button sa elevator ay may babaeng nagtatakbong humahabol at nagsisigaw.

"Hey! Don't close that freaking door!"

Pareho silang natigilan ni Chiron at Miyuki. It was Naamah running to their direction. Sa kamalas-malasan nga naman ay tanging sila lang ang nasa loob ng elevator dahil kung tutuusin ay late naman na sila. Nang makita ni Miyuki na hindi kasama ni Naamah si Gin ay bahagya siyang napangisi.

"Oh? It's you self proclaimed wife. Long time no see."

Halos manlaki naman ang mata ni Chiron at napalingon siya agad kay Miyuki nang marinig ang sarkasmo sa boses nito. That was pretty direct.

"Ang tapang na natin ah?" Bumukas na ulit ang elevator at naunang lumabas si Naamah. "Tignan natin kung hanggang saan ang tapang mo."

Nakasunod lamang sina Chiron at Miyuki sa kaniya na patungo sa conference hall. Maraming tao ang pakalat-kalat sa hallway kung kaya't walang ni isa sa kanila ang gumawa ng kung ano mang ikapapahamak nila.

"Tighten the security in Mary and Cessair's location, Lee." Hinawakan ni Chiron ang piercing niya habang mabilis na naglalakad patungo sa mesa na naka-assign sa kanila ni Miyuki.

Parang reception sa kasal ang ayos ngayon ng conference hall. Ayon sa organiser ay dahil di umano ay magwo-working lunch ang lahat ng researcher at scientist na nandirito. Sa dami ng magrerepresent ay aabutan pa ito kinabukasan. Miyuki and Chiron will represent tomorrow, one of the last presenters. Kung tutuusin ang mga kasama nila sa mesang kinalalagyan ngayon ay ilan sa mga huling magrerepresent.

Tanaw ni Miyuki mula sa kabilang mesa sina Naamah at Gin na magkatabi. Napansin pa niya ang pagsilay sa kaniya ng tingin ni Gin bago ito tumingin ulit sa stage.

Half of their day was consumed by listening to the presenters. Miyuki was bored—again. Sasabihan na sana niya si Chiron na lalabas lang siya saglit pero nang tignan niya ito ay nakahawak na ito sa piercing niya at kunot noong nakikinig sa kung sino man ang nasa kabilang linya.

"Mary's missing."

Iyon lang ang sinabi sa kaniya ni Chiron bago ito nagmamadaling tumayo na agad rin naman niyang sinundan. How did she dissappear?

Hindi nakawala kay Miyuki ang pag-ngisi ni Naamah mula sa kinauupuan nito. She was smiling like there's something happy was going on.

"Paano? Bakit? Saan? Teka sandali!"

Nang makalabas sa conference hall ay agad na nawala sa paningin niya si Chiron.

"Damn! Chiron don't use your ability! I'm still here you know?!"

Wala ng pakialam si Miyuki kung nasa hallway pa siya ngayon. Mabuti na lang at walang tao rito kung kaya't nagmamadali siyang tumakbo sa elevator upang magtungo sa palapag nila. She knew at this moment Chiron's probably on their floor now.

Bago pa man sumara ang pinto ng elevator ay may kamay na pumigil rito at pinasok ang sarili sa loob. She didn't even notice him.

"Gin."

"Anong nangyari? Where's Chiron?" Walang bakas ng pagkahingal ang napansin niya kay Gin kahit ang layo ng itinakbo nito unlike her whose almost gasping for air.

"He's probably on my room right now." Miyuki pressed her floors's number before turning her gaze back at Gin. "So hindi na siya si Chalon? Or that blond guy?"

"I remembered a quarter." Bumukas ang pinto ng elevator at agad na lumabas nito si Gin at diretsong nagtungo sa silid ni Miyuki.

Scattered things, scratches everwhere and blood—that's how Gin was welcomed by Miyuki's room. The blood was not from a human kung kaya't walang epekto ito kay Gin.

Gin saw Chiron on his knees just behind the bed. He walked nearer to Chiron's direction, that's when confusion and shock mixed as his reaction.

Cessair was lying unconcious, his back was bleeding and his claws are not hidden. No one knows what happened on that chaotic room. Chiron was dumbfounded. His mind seems to be wondering at someone else that Miyuki had to slap him real hard just to get him back to his senses.

"Wake up! Cessair's bleeding in front of you and you didn't do anything?!"

Naupo si Chiron sa sofa at unti-unti ng nahimasmasan. Gin carried Cessair on the bed and starts cleaning his wound. The injury was not that fatal, no viral organs was damaged.

"How did they got in here, Lee?"

Napalingon si Miyuki kay Gin na nakatayo na sa kama at nasa tainga na ang earpiece ni Cessair. How did he knew they have earpieces? Naalala na ba talaga ni Gin ang lahat?

"I—I don't know." Haunley stuttered in confusion. "Ang bilis ng pangyayari. Someone else tampered the live footage and it was late when—"

"Damn! Lee! You only have one job!" Napahawak si Chiron sa piercing niya at naghihinang napayuko na lamang. Miyuki knew that he's about to cry. "You only have one job, Lee. Monitor them, report immediately anything strange happening on this floor but what did you do?!"

"Tama na." Niyakap ni Miyuki si Chiron na tuluyan na ngang umiyak sa balikat niya. "Walang may kasalanan sa'tin dito. Kung may sisisihan man tayo ito ay ang kung sino mang kumuha sa kaniya. We'll find her."

Gin on the other hand had to look away. Chiron needs a shoulder to lean on. It's not time for him to be jealous.

Ngunit nang humigpit ang yakap ni Chiron rito ay hindi na napigilan ni Gin ang sarili na tumikhim.

"That's my girl, Chiron. Stop those creepy hands of yours." Agad niyang inakay sa balikat niya si Cessair. "Lee, we're going in your place. Clear the areas in both our floors. I'll be using the stairs. We need to treat Cessair's wound as well find Mary."

Mabilis nilang nilisan ang lugar at nagtungo sa 27th floor. Mabuti na lamang at malapit sa emergency stairs ang napiling kwarto nina Haunley at Erin kung kaya't madali lang sila nakarating.

"Lee, any possible exits of the abductors?"

"They're still on the building." Abala sa pagtipa sa laptop nito si Haunley. Erin on the other hand was busy attending Cessair's wound.

"How sure are you?" For the first time since they arrive Chiron finally spoken.

"Hello? Hello? Mic test? Wait—this isn't a mic. Haunley?"

Sabay-sabay napahawak sa mga earpiece nila sina Miyuki, Gin at Chiron. They've just heard Alina's voice coming from it.

"Bakit nandito si Ate Alina?" Miyuki raised her brows while looking at Haunley who was still busy pressing keys on his laptop.

"She volunteered to be here. She has her own surveilance team scattered 1km radius from here. She also has her own set of cameras and I guess it's quite helpful. At least we know Mary's still here." Sumulyap si Haunley sa relo nito bago tumingin ulit kay Miyuki. "It's been only an hour so she's surely hadn't gone further."

Seryoso sina Miyuki, Chiron at Gin na nagtungo sa likuran ni Haunley para tignan ang mga CCTV nang mga oras na nangyari ag pagkawala ni Mary. Kapansin-pansin ang biglang pagkaunti ng mga taong bumababa't umaalis sa palapag nila Haunley hanggang 25th floor.

"We need to check each floors 20's and up." Gin gazed at Chiron. "If you wouldn't take a grip of yourself you better stay here."

"But mas—"

"We can't lose another member, Chiron. Umayos ka kung gusto mo siyang mailigtas. You better not lose hope in finding her."

With Alina's connection they easily had an authority to enter rooms. Chiron started on the 20th floor while Gin together with Miyuki started with the 27th. They had to wear some uniform and pretend they were going for a room check up.

They checked every room, every storage and possible hidden places for Mary but as the hours went by they found no clues on 20th to 27th floor.

The crucial rooms are 28th floor which has the conference hall and the 29th to 33rd floor which where the rooms of the researchers and scientists are.

"It's already dawn. Hindi ba magtataka si Naamah na wala ka?" Miyuki asked as they were rummaging one of the rooms in 28th floor. "When will you represent?"

"Just after yours. I heard ERI planned something about our presentation."

Miyuki sighed. Why does it have to be Gin representing ERI? Para mapigilan ito kailangan maging succesful ang presentation nila. To make it possible they need to find Mary—immediately.

"And can you stop mentioning Naamah? I'm with you, okay?"

"Bakit? I'm just asking no need—"

Pareho silang natigilan nang biglang bumukas ang pinto at bumungad sa kanila ang tatlong lalaki na na nagkukulay pula ang mga mata.

"Vampires."

Mabilis na nakatayo sa harapan ni Miyuki si Gin at hinarap ang tatlong lalaking pamilyar sa kaniya. Aside from those three there was someone hiding from the dark behind.

"Sir Gin, if the professor finds out you'll become a traitor to ERI. He won't spare you. Miss Naamah asks us to fetch you so come with us."

Naamah again.

"He'll neve—"

"Kuya." The man in the dark steps out and faced Gin. His hands were handcuffed and confusion is evident on his face. "I didn't mean it to happen. I was intructed to attack that man and abd—Ahh!"

"Zel!"

Miyuki's eyes widened seeing the man looks exactly like Gin and was just a bit younger. To her guess he's probably around her age. Agad ring napalitan ng pangamba at pag-aalala nang agad itong humiyaw sa sakit at napaluhod sa sahig.

Lalapitan na sana niya ito pero pinigilan siya ni Gin.

"What did you do?!" Agad nilapitan ni Gin ang lalaking siyang humawak kay Azazel at mabilis na tinusok ito sa dibdib. His eyes flickered red and his moves are too swift that the other two vampires didn't even have time to move and react.

His fangs started to grow as he scratch his claws to the other two easily and even have time to twist one's neck.

Miyuki who was watching just too close to them felt chills to her bones.

She was watching Gin kill someone in front of him.

"Stand up, Zel!"

Miyuki snapped back to her senses and starts searching the keys to open Zel's handcuff.

She didn't know what, who and how Azazel existed in Gin's life but seeing how Gin cared for him she knows she need to keep those questions aside for now.

Akay-akay ni Gin si Azazel habang nagmamadaling bumaba pabalik sa silid nina Haunley. That's when Miyuki noticed the time. It's almost 6 AM half an hour to go before the start of the conference. As far as she remembered they were given half an hour to discuss their presentations and today she and Chiron are the second presentor. Which means around 7 am she need to be there.

"What the—wow." Bungad ni Erin nang makita si Azazel na akay ni Gin papasok sa kanilang silid. Bumaling ang tingin niya kay Miyuki. "Kambal niya?"

Umiling-iling si Miyuki. She didn't even know who that guy is.

Chiron was frustrated. Nakapagpalit na ito ng damit at suot na ang kaniyang lab coat. Malapit na mag seven at kanina pa nagsimula ang congress. They needed to be there before the current presenters finish.

However, they need to have Mary. Mary's the ace of their presentation. Mary and her unborn baby.

Bumalik si Miyuki sa kaniyang silid. Mabuti na lamang at walang nangyari sa mga gamit na nasa loob ng maleta niya kaya nakapagbihis pa rin siya ng matiwasay sa banyo. Agad rin siyang bumalik sa silid nina Haunley kung nasaan ang lahat. Bumungad sa kaniya si Chiron na padabog na tinapon sa mesa ang mga pointers ng kanilang presentation.

"Fuck! I'm not going to that congress without finding Mary!"

Wala siyang pakialam kung marami sila na nasa silid pero kailangan niyang gisingin si Chiron at ibalik sa wisyo nito. Kaniya itong sinigawan at dinuro duro.

"Calm down! We need to be there! Kapag nalaman nilang nawawala tayo ERI would surely made their move earlier than expected! Kailangan pumanig ang ibang kalahok ng congress sa atin, Chiron!" Agad na pinulot ni Miyuki ang mga papel at binigay ito sa kaniya. "Hindi lang ikaw ang nagaalala sa kaniya."

"Kailangan niyo ng pumunta." Cessair interefered. Ngayon pa lang nila napansin na gising na pala ito at nakaupo sa gilid ng kama. Nasa tabi naman nito si Erin na tahimik lang na nagpapalit ng kaniyang benda. Kakatapos lang nito gamutin ang ilang sugat ni Azazel na nakahiga sa kabilang gilid ng kama. "Someone's already jealous."

Sabay napatingin sina Chiron at Miyuki kay Gin na nakatayo malayo sa kanila. Agad naman itong nag iwas ng tingin. Guilty.

"Kas, I guess it's not only him." Miyuki pointed Haunley with her eyes whose sitting on the sofa just in front of Erin.

"Really? Master? You know it's my wife I'm talking about right?"

"Whatever." Lumapit si Gin kay Miyuki at hinawakan ang ulo nito. "Good luck."

"Ikaw? Kailan ka pupunta sa conference hall?"

"Kailangan ko munang makausap si Zel. He knows something."

Tumango-tango si Miyuki at agad na sanang umalis ng hilahin siyang muli ni Gin at agad na niyakap.

The hug feels warm and securing. Miyuki really missed Gin so much that she just wanted to hug him all day.

"Thank you, Miyuki for waiting for me." Tumingala siya at agad rin siyang hinalikan sa noo ni Gin. She can't help but to feel some butterflies in the stomach even in this chaotic situation. "I'll find Mary before your presentation ends. End all this shits and we'll talk about us."

If there's something really about them, she'll surely look forward to it. At least, before this day ends something better will happen on her unfortunate birthday.

~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~

Author's keme keme na note:

So Good Afternoon and Merry Christmas everyone! 🥰🤶

So akala ko nakapagupdate ako kagabi HAHA nakatulog pala ako tas hindi ko pa pala natapos oh dba ang saya self🤣.

Happy 488 reads and 135 votes! Yey! Hopefully matapos ko siya next week? Basta before 2020 ends! Love ya'll.