Obsession 23

                                    

                                          
Gresha
                          
Being a king isn't an easy responsibility. He will always consider the welfare of his people in every decision he makes. He has a lot of things to do. That's why a king needs a queen. To support him, to be by his side all the time. To help him in everything.
                          
"Medyo maayos na ang kalagayan ni Maya," pahayag ni Tita Veron nang makapasok siya sa silid. 
                          
Agad niyang tinignan ang aking pisngi at pinahiran ito ng ointment. Naramdaman ko agad ang lamig at presko na dulot nito. Mukhang magaling siya sa kanyang ginagawa.
                          
"Gusto mo bang malaman kung paano nagtagpo ang aming landas ni Haring Caldrix?" tanong niya at umupo sa malapit na sofa.
                          
Kahit nagtataka sa biglaan niyang pagbukas ng tungkol sa kanya, ay napatango ako nang bahagya.
                          
"It was 1934. I was thirthy-five years old that time, a surgeon devoted to my oath." Napangiti siya nang bahagya na tila ba inaalala nang maigi ang pangyayari.
                          
"It was a car accident. I was in my car when several vampires attacked me during my medical mission in an outskirted village. I was about to die--no, I actually died. As a doctor, that's my diagnosis."
                          
"Then I woke up in a cavern, so confused and lost. A young man showed infront of me. He was only 18 that time, I guess. Despite his strong built body, he got some wounds and scratches. I was shocked that he was able to bear it. The simplier wounds naturally healed. But the deeper cuts didn't heal which gave him too much pain. If it happened to me, I would die from that."
                          
"That man was Caldrix. He's not yet the king that time. He saved me from his kinds who attacked me, but he was quite late, so he turned me into a vampire. I never loathed him for doing it. Instead, I was thankful. As a doctor, our main enemy is death, and he helped me conquered it. I helped him heal his wounds. And from that incident, my life changed. I continued to live here."
                          
"Akala ko kaya nilang pagalingin ang kanilang sarili," komento ko.
                          
"Yes. They have their natural healing ability. Ngunit limitado ang kakayahan nito sa mga malalaking pinsala. Kailangan nilang mas paganahin at kontrolin ang kanilang healing ability para ayusin ang kanilang natamo. That time, he didn't know how to do it yet. That's the first time I made myself useful to him. With all the knowledge I got, napagaling ko siya ng maayos."
                          
Biglang bumukas ang pinto at pumasok si Caldrix. 
                          
Deritso lang ang tingin niya sa akin.
                          
"You can leave now," utos niya kaya agad na lumabas si Tita Veron. 
                          
Napatingin ako sa kanya at namangha kung paano sila nagkita ni Caldrix. She is older than I thought. She stopped aging at the age of 35. At yan ang paliwanag kung bakit ate ang tawag sa kanya ni Mang Agustine. Sigurado akong isang mortal si Mang Agustine, ngunit alam niya ang nangyari sa kanyang kapatid. Bakit kaya hindi na rin lang siya ginawang bampira ni Tita Veron?
                          
Napabalik ako sa aking atensiyon ng hawakan ni Caldrix ang aking kamay at marahang hinalikan ito, ng iilang beses.
                          
"I'm sorry," paos niyang sabi.
                          
"It's okay. I'm fine. Malayo ito sa bituka." I made an assuring smile.
                          
"I'm sorry I can't kill that bitch." His jaw clicked.
                          
Hinawakam ko ang kanyang kamay.
                          
"Caldrix. Hindi mo yan gagawin. Naiintindihan mo ba ako? Maayos na ako at si Maya. Siya ang may kasalanan ngunit hindi ibig sabihin ay nararapat na siyang hatulan ng kamatayan."
                          
Pinaningkitan niya ako ng mata.
                          
"Things here don't work like in your world. We're not merciful and forgiving. Remember that."
                          
Tumabi na siya sa akin at inayos ang aking unan. Marahan niyang hinaplos ang aking pisngi.
                          
"I swear. When I saw how she slapped you earlier, I couldn't think anything aside from killing her." Dinampian niya ng halik ang namamanhid kong pisngi kahit may gamot pa ito.
                          
Ilang sandali pa ay naramdaman kong dinampian niya ako ng halik sa labi. Mabagal lamang ito ngunit ilang sandali lang ay naging agresibo. Pakiramdam ko ay may karera sa aking dibdib, ngunit gusto ko ang pakiramdam na ito.
                          
"I love you and all your bits," pahayag niya nang maputol ang halik na halos ikaprotesta ng aking sarili.
                          
A warm sensation travels my spine down to my whole system.
                          
Sa hindi malaman na dahilan ay bigla na lang akong napaluha. Parang sumasabog ang kagalakan na aking nararamdaman. I didn't know that I will meet someone who can treat me with genuine love. I can feel how he wants, cares, and loves me despite how simple, broke, and ordinary I am.
                          
"What's wrong? Did I hurt you?" natataranta niyang tanong.
                          
Umiling ako at napayakap sa kanya.
                          
"I love you too, Caldrix. Even you're a vampire for pete's sake, I love you," sabi ko na puno ng sinsiridad at pagmamahal.
                          
Sa wakas, naisatinig ko na rin ang aking nararamdaman na ilang beses ko ng pinigilang lumabas.
                          
"Ilang taon ka na?" tanong ko pagkatapos ng napakahabang katahimikan. Nakahiga ako sa kanyang dibdib habang patuloy niyang pinaglalaruan ang hibla ng aking buhok.
                          
"I'm old."
                          
Natawa ako sa sagot niya. Mukhang nahihiya siyang sabihin sa akin ang kanyang totoong edad.
                          
"How old specifically?"
                          
"Tsk. 103." Napatawa ako ng bahagya.
                          
"Yeah. You're too old. Ancient." 
                          
"But I'm still the hottest creature to have ever walked on earth. I don't look like a granny. I'm still strong and wild, and I can prove it in many ways even just on this bed right now."
                          
Namula ako sa kanyang sinabi. I'm not slow to not understand what he meant. I will admit it, I'm still not ready for it.
                          
"How long have you been a king?"
                          
"Fifteen years, and for many years to come."
                          
Napatango ako.
                          
"And you never had a queen. And if you need to have one, it can't be me." Bigla ko na naman naalala ang tungkol sa sinabi ni Tita Veron na nagpabigat ng aking pakiramdam.
                          
Bigla siyang napatayo at iniharap ako sa kanya.
                          
"I don't know why bad news travels fucking fast. But listen to me, let me handle this bullshit. Understood?"
                          
Tumango ako ng bahagya kahit may kirot sa aking damdamin.
                          
"Now sleep." Hinalikan niya ako sa noo at marahang pinahiga sa kanyang bisig.
                          
"You are my one and only queen, Gresha Iris Dark."