Taming the Vampire

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

M I L L E R

"Third floor, sir."

"Yes... Thank you."

Sumakay na ako ng elevato.
She did not have to tell me which floor is it dahil nakalagay na rin naman ito sa key card na binigay niya sa akin.

What is he up to this time? Axel Wesley, I mean. Kung may kailangan siya he could have gone to my house. Or just randomly pop out of nowhere like he always does. Hindi ko tuloy maiwasan na isipin na baka may nangyaring masama sa kanya. At sa pagkakataon na 'to ay hindi na niya kaya pa na bumangon.

Bumuntong-hininga ako. Bakit kailangan kong mag-alala sa kanya? Then, I thought that being worried about him is just natural since he is my new primary source of income. Ang unfair naman kung bibitinin niya ako bigla pagkatapos niya akong pangakuan ng ganoong kalaking pera.

"Room 64...65...uh...67," mutawi ko habang binibilang ang pinto na nadadaanan ko.

Ginamit ko na ang key card. Pumitik din naman agad ang pinto, senyales na nabuksan na ito.

"Hello?" I called whoever was inside the place.

Bumungad sa akin ang malinis na sala. Moderno ang disenyo nito na may kulay brown na sofa at kristal na lamesa sa gitna. The walls are painted in beige with a single giant vase in the corner coated with pink and white flowers. This is similar material with the giant vases I saw at Axel's mansion. Walang duda na bahay nga niya ito.

Luminga-linga ako sa paligid para hanapin siya. "Axel... Wesley?" tawag ko ulit at baka sakaling lumabas siya. Pero naghintay ako ng ilang segundo ay walang Axel Wesley na nagpakita sa akin.

Humakbang pa ako sa unahan, kung saan ay kita ko na ang pintuan ng kanyang kusina na mula pa man dito ay alam kong mamahalin din ang kasangkapan. Sa kanan naman ay makikita ang isang pinto. Maliban sa pituan ng kusina ay ito lang ang pinto na nakikita ko dito at sumunod na ang isang corridor. Sumilip ako ng kaunti at nakita ang dalawang magkatapat na pinto.

I was about to twist the doorknob and check if he was inside when a silent tap echoed behind the door, followed by a nonchalant voice saying, "Oh, you're unexpectedly early."

"You told me to be ear...ly." Natigilan ako sa pagsasalita nang makita siyang naka-bathrobe pa. Hindi ko kasi inaasahan na darating ang sandali na madadatnan ko sa ganitong sitwasyon ang isang Axel Wesley. I was expecting to see him with his expensive clothes or a serious suit. Not in this carefree appearance wearing a bathrobe.

Basa rin ang buhok niya, indicating that he has just got out of the bath. Pero ang mas kakaiba rito ay ang pagtetelerport niya sa likod ko.

"I did?" tanong na naman niya na para bang nakalimutan na niya ito.

"Did... Did you just teleport behind me?" ani ko, "Are you using your vampire ability even if you are alone?" I curiously asked.

Kumunot ang noo niya. He looked at me as if the question was weird.
"Why not?"

"Isn't that like..." I sighed, "you know—you know what, never mind. Nasa loob ka pa rin naman ng bahay mo."

"Ah. I got you," biglaan niyang wika saka ay naglakad patungo ng sofa at doon umupo. "These abilities are like tumbling, or singing to humans. They are similar to talents. We can choose to use or not these abilities. Teleportation is like singing to me. I can teleport wherever I want and as much as I want as long as the distance is not too far and I know the place I want to go... aaand, I am not energy deprived. Like how someone can sing as much as they want, whenever they want, the sound will still be beautiful as long as they can reach the note and they have the energy to sing," paliwanag niya.

Base sa reaksyon niya kanina, I kind of know what he meant to say. I also felt like an idiot asking him such an obvious question.

"Oh... kay. Okay. Naiintindihan ko na." Sinundan ko siya sa sala at umupo na rin sa sofa na nasa harap ng inupuan niya. "So, why am I here? What do you want to tell?" tanong ko bilang panimula sa sadya ko rito.

It's already dark, and Sunday does not mean no working day to me. Bago pa man kasi nagsimula ang deal ko kay Axel ay pumayag na ako sa pabor ng manager namin na pumasok ako ngayong Linggo para sa gagawin na founding anniversary celebration ng host club. Kaya kailangan ko pa rin na pumasok mamaya.

"Yes. Of course, we have to talk about that... wait for a sec, you came too suddenly that I forgot to get the contract." Bigla na naman siyang naglaho sa kinauupuan niya. Sunod ko na lang na narinig ang mahihinang kaluskos sa loob ng kanyang kwarto.

"Oh... wow~" bulong ko sa sarili nang muli na naman siyang lumitaw sa harapan ko na may dalang white folder.

Inilapag niya ito sa lamesa saka umupo ng naka-krus ang mga binti. "Here. It's our contract."

"A contract?"

Akala ko ba ay isa lang itong verbal agreement na ginawa niya para maging pantay ang mga pangyayari para sa aming dalawa.

"Yes. A contract. I had to search all around just to have your blood. It's inconvenient to me."

"How is that an inconvenience?"

"Do you know how many places I had to search for before I found you? I had to go to your house, to the Philosophy classroom, and even at the cafeteria and library just to find where you were. I almost exhausted myself by only teleporting everywhere because you were nowhere to be found."

At kasalanan ko pa ngayon? Ano ba kasi ang ginagawa niya to get himself wounded?

Kinuha ko ang white folder. Nang buksan para basahin sana ay natulala ako dahil tatlong pangungusap lang ang nakapaloob dito.

1. Starting Monday (**/**/20**), Mr. Miller De Leon shall live with Mr. Axel Wesley.

2. Mr. Axel Wesley must raise the monetary rate (per blood-sucking) by 10% starting Monday (**/**/20**).

3. The contract will be terminated after Mr. Miller De Leon pays his debts and shows no signs of vampirization symptoms.

"Para... Para saan 'to?"

"To make sure that you will not run away. Oh, I have it sealed by the leader of our alpha vampires. He is one of the strongest and the most trusted so you can't disobey him," sabi pa niya sabay turo sa pangalan na nasa gitnang ibabang bahagi ng papel.

Mateo Lacson

Ito ang pangalan na nasa ibaba ng pangalan naming dalawa.

"But of course, I did not mention about you. I told him lil bit of white lie to get his signature, this is only to make the contract official," dagdag pa niya.

Seriously, this must be the Mateo he was mumbling about the last time he went delirious.

"Teka. Sinasabi mo na titira ako sa mansyon mo?" tanong ko base sa unang kondisyon na nasa kontrata.

"Nah. The place is mine but I don't live there. It is more like a headquarters for my followers, a working establishment." Ngumiti si Axel at tinaas ang isa niyang kamay sabay sabi ng, "Here is where I live."

Sinundan ko naman ng tingin ang nakataas niyang kamay, at saka sinuyod ang sala ng kanyang bahay.

Of course, why else he would have this place if he is not using it?