Nightfall 8: Bloodlust

                                    

                                          
"Know who's on your side..."
                          
EURUS
                          
Sinigurado ni Eclipse na nakasara nang maayos ang pinto ng rooftop. Seryoso ang mukha niya at malalim ang iniisip. Maigting ang mga panga niya na tila naiinis sa hindi ko malamang dahilan. But when he noticed how confused I was, his facial expression loosened. 
                          
Mabigat siyang nagpakawala ng isang malalim na buntong-hininga. "I don't know what's special about you and your blood," naiiling na sabi ni Eclipse. Naglakad siya patungo sa railings ng building. The railings were secured by a chain link fence.
                          
Isinandal niya ang noo sa bakod na ito at napahawak nang maigting dito. He looked like he was trying to figure out everything about me. Tiningnan ko lang ang malapad na likod niya. His muscles were tense. 
                          
"What are you thinking?" maang na tanong ko. I must pretend that I didn't know anything. Hindi ko alam kung hanggang kailan ko itatago ang katotohanan. Magagalit kaya siya kapag nalaman niya ang totoo? I had been deceiving him this whole time.
                          
Hinarap niya ako. "Your blood attracted almost all the werecats in this university. They will surely come for your life. Maaari kong pigilan ang mga Lycans pero hindi ko na hawak ang ibang werecats. Mas malala kung isang stray ang magtangka sa buhay mo. They're uncontrollable," mariing paliwanag niya. Mariin siyang napahilamos sa kanyang mukha. Mas pinoproblema pa niya ang problema ko.
                          
Nagsalubong ang mga kilay ko dahil sa inaasal niya. Ako dapat ang mamroblema at hindi siya pero kabaliktaran ang nangyayari. Wala ba akong pakiramdam? Wala ba akong pakialam sa sasapitin ko? There was something wrong with me. 
                          
I didn't know how to feel.
                          
Maybe my brother was right. I didn't care. Not just about Nightfall or him—but even myself. Something was really wrong with me.
                          
Hindi ko ba pinahahalagahan ang buhay ko? Siguro nga hindi. May mga panahong gusto kong mawala na lang sa mundong ito. Siguro ito ang dahilan kung bakit wala akong maramdamang kahit ano. Maybe I was panicking inside, but it was not enough for me to save myself. I was afraid, but it was not enough for me to fight.
                          
"Bakit ka namomroblema? Hindi ba mas magiging madali kung mawawala ako? You can get rid of me anytime," diretsong sabi ko. "Ano ba talaga ang binabalak mo, Eclipse? Hindi ko alam kung pinoprotektahan mo ako o ginagawa mo lang ito para sa pansariling interes mo." Nagdududang tingin ang ipinukol ko sa kanya.
                          
"Yes. It's easier to kill you right now. Mas magiging malakas ako. But I can't figure out why you're marked," mariing wika niya. "You're marked, Eurus. But you are just a mere human. Naiintindihan mo ba ang ibig kong sabihin? Only those werecats who throw everything away are being marked by the gods. Those werecats are a disgrace," bulalas niya. Pero siya na rin ang natigilan dahil sa sinabi niya. Nagdududang tumingin siya sa 'kin.
                          
"Don't tell me you were a werecat before?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya. Namimilog ang mga mata niya at unti-unting napaawang ang mga labi niya.
                          
Pinilit kong tumingin sa kanya nang diretso kahit pinagpapawisan ang mga kamay ko at unti-unting bumibilis ang tibok ng puso ko. I hoped he didn't notice. Hindi ko hahayaang maghinala siya sa 'kin. Pinilit kong kumilos ng normal. Pagak akong tumawa. "You can't be serious. Do I look like a werecat to you?" I asked, trying to humor him.
                          
Sunud-sunod siyang napailing. "That can't be possible. It's only a myth. This never happened before. And those who unlinked their spirit cats died instantly. They can't even last a day," naguguluhang sabi niya. "Siguro may iba pang dahilan kung bakit nangyayari ito sa 'yo. Maybe I really did infect you? Maybe instead of becoming a stray, you've been marked?"