Paint Me Red

Chapter 34: A life for a life

"Only way?"

He nodded. "And the process after that could be very painful but I'll be here with you throughout the way."

I know Ivan is a supernatural being but being able to save someone and can give them eternal life? I thought that only happens in movies. He noticed the confusion in my eyes.

"I'll be giving you my blood after biting you. During this time, you will endure indescribable pain. It is described very close as being burned alive. The after-effects would include extreme thirst and you will be needing to drink blood, you'll be violent and uncontrollable too . . ." he paused, slightly gauging my reaction. 

I tried to control my emotion, trying to conceal the fear in my eyes when I heard the word blood, violent and uncontrollable. He then continued. "After that, your senses will be heightened. You'll be sensitive to sounds and noises. Not only that but also your emotions, what you might be feeling right now will double. When you're happy, you'll feel ecstatic. When you feel sad, you'll feel depressed, and so on. Your physical and mental abilities will also be far normal than a human being . . . It will become too overwhelming but I promise I'll stay by your side and make it less painful."

Nagpro-proseso sa utak ko 'yung sinabi niya. Siguro kung ako pa 'yung Scarlett na hindi naniniwala sa mga bampira, baka tinawanan ko lang siya at sinabihang baliw. 

But this is real . . . Vampires are real. 

Naalala ko bigla si Farah. May mga ilan sa sinabi ni Ivan na napansin ko kay Farah noon. Iniisip ko pa lang na gano'n din ang mangyayari sa akin . . . na kailangan kong uminom ng dugo . . . medyo bumabaliktad agad ang sikmura ko.

Hanggang ngayon 'di ko pa alam kung sinong may kagagawan 'non kay Farah. Malabong si Felix ang may kagagawan 'non dahil kung bampira nga siya, bakit kailangan pa niyang gumamit ng prosthetic fangs? 

I can't believe I almost forgot Farah's assailant. 

"Are you okay?" His voice snapped me out of my trance. "I'm sorry, did I overwhelm you? It's okay, I'm not asking for your answer now. I'll give you time to decide, okay?"

I bit my lip and nodded. Naglalaro sa isipanko 'yung sinabi niya at nagsisinungaling ako kapag sinabi kong hindi ako natatakot.

Pagkaraan ng ilang minuto, hinawakan ko nang mahigpit ang kanyang kamay. "Ivan. May kailangan akong sabihin sa'yo," seryoso kong saad.

His body tensed but still nodded. 

"Promise me you won't get mad . . ." 

"I won't." He lifted both our hands and he kissed mine. 

Nakahinga ako nang maluwag saka sinabi ko sa kanya ang tungkol sa kulto at kung sino ang nasa likuran nito. Sinabi ko rin sa kanya ang tungkol sa misteryosong bampira na kumagat kay Farah at sinabi ko rin ang totoo na siya ang may kagagawan sa sugat ko noon sa condo. Sinabi ko sa kanya lahat ng mga pinaggagawa ko nitong mga nakaraang buwan.

"I'm telling you this because I don't want to keep secrets from you anymore. I'm sorry."

Pinanood ko ang reaksyon niya ngunit parang 'di siya nagulat sa mga sinabi ko. Tila ba alam na niya ang lahat o baka binibigyan ko lang ng kahulgan ang blangko niyang tingin. 

"Thank you for telling me this." He kissed my forehead. "Ako na ang bahala. Magpahinga ka na, amor," he murmured against my temple.

I smiled, this feels nice.

"Ivan?"

"Hmm?"

"Can you promise that you will not also keep secrets from me?" Because I feel like I know him but I really don't. Sometimes, he is still a mystery to me.