Shattered Souls

Chapter 24

Chapter 24: Go Downhill

Nakahilig ako ang ulo ko sa hita ni Brix habang pinagmamasdan ang ilaw sa munting gazebo na tinuluyan namin. Umambon kanina kaya sumilong kami rito pero ngayon ay tumila na.

Mula sa ilaw ay tumuwid ang tingin ko kay Brix na tahimik lang habang hinahawi ang buhok ko. Nakatitig lang din siya sa mukha ko pero alam kong malalim ang iniisip niya.

I decided to break the silence. "Brix?"

"Uhmm?" His voice was low.

"Bakit ako ang pinili mo?"

I really had no idea what happened that night. Ang alam ko lang ay nasaksak ako sa dibdib at nagising kinabukasan nang parang walang nangyari. That's all.

"I didn't choose you," he paused for a moment. "Wala lang talaga akong ibang pagpipilian nung gabing 'yon."

Tumawa ako at hinampas ang kanyang dibdib. "Seryoso kasi! Bakit nga?"

"Uhm..."

"Uhmm?"

"You were courageous I guess?"

"Oh..." I giggled. "So, napamangha na pala kita sa unang pagtatagpo pa lang natin?"

"Maybe..." He chuckled, too. "Courageous in a dumb way. How irresponsible of you to go after an armed man just to help someone you barely know?"

That put a vivid image in my head. I kind of knew what happened but not all the details. So... he saw that incident. I wonder if he had been watching me the whole time?

"Nakita ko kasing kinuha nung lalaki 'yung bag nung babae. It was my initial reaction to help her. It was my instinct that pushed me to run after that man..."

I didn't need to know her to help.

"Didn't your instinct tell you to mind your own business?"

"Oh, you should have also told that to your instinct when you revived me, Mr. Cardinal."

"Oh damn." Napatawa ko siya nang malakas.

Nakatitig lang ako sa kanya habang tumatawa siya. Aside from that incident, I could also vibrantly remember how dominant and stern this man was. Sinong mag-aakala na ang lalaking 'yon at ang lalaking ito ay iisa lang? He looked... so natural now.

"Damn. You got me there." He bit his lower lip, halting the laugh.

"Pinainom mo ako ng dugo mo para mabuhay uli?" paglilinaw ko. "That's how you turned me into a vampire?"

Tumango ito. "Not just that. I dressed you, too..."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko.

"Oh. Just the clothes. Hindi ko pinakialaman ang mga underwear mo," pag-alalay niya agad sa kanyang mapusok na sagot. "Wala talaga..." Saka siya ngumiti.

"Bastos. Hindi mo man lang tinanggal ang price tag!" Umirap ako.

"Really? Si Oscar ang nagdala nung damit mo."

"Oh. You were with Oscar that time..."

He bobbed his head. "You also woke up that time. Sigaw ka nang sigaw ng tulong, hindi ka naman namin ginagalaw. Binato mo pa nga ako ng sapatos."

I felt embarrassed just by hearing that.

"Masyadong maliit ang pasensya ko sa 'yo no'n. I just showed you my fangs and you passed out... again. Doon ka na namin hinatid sa bahay mo..."

"Wait. Paano mo nalaman ang bahay ko?"

"Nabasa ko sa isipan mo..." Tipid itong ngumiti.

I gasped. "How?"