Chapter 18: Serve

I managed to insert myself into the blur of crowds. Chin up, flashing a cheery and poised smile on my face. The first guy who took a shot on my tray smiled at me and bobbed, and the next one asked if I was really Brixton's slave. Some chatted with me, just asking why the infamous slave of Cardinal is serving in this place. I'm still quite amused by how well-known that Cardinal is.

Oddly, I felt comfortable being around them. It's been a while since I felt that I fit in a particular group. Sa ganoong pagtrato nila sa akin ay mabilis akong napalagay. Nagawa kong makailang balik at mag-serve ng alak. They are good, crap those desirous gazes.

"Here," I put a shot of glass on the table. "Enjoy your drink, Sir."

"So, how's like to be near with that Cardinal?" tanong ng lalaking binigyan ko ng alak. Nakaupo ito sa pahabang sofa at nakaakbay sa isang babae. Pansin ko ang mantsa ng dugo sa kulay dilaw na dress ng babae. "Looks like you are relishing the accompany of the devil huh?"

"He's my master," I responded, calmly. "Nothing is enjoyable about being a slave. Don't romanticize it."

Tumaas sa hita ng babae ang kanyang kamay. Nagdulot ito ng kiliti sa babae kaya napakagat ito ng labi. Ang babae ang uminom sa laman ng baso.

"You will get used to it, too, Astra." The woman in yellow uttered, flashing a naughty smile. "Sooner or later, you will love it, too. Especially in bed," she uttered as she bit her bottom lip, hitting her role as whore in this story.

"Maybe? We will see." Hindi ko inalis ang ngiti sa aking labi.

"Anyway, Randolf here. My father is Lord Sever's friend. I am friend of Oscar, too. Nagkasama na rin kami ni Brixton." He offered his hand in front of me, waiting for me to accep it. "And this is my bitch, Wendy. Nothing is special about her but when she blows, she blows your soul, too."

"Babe!" Wendy cackled, pretending embarrassed but I know she liked that compliment.

Damn. I can't see myself being this clingy to Brixton.

"Don't you like handshakes?" Randolf asked.

Nag-atubili pa ako kung tatanggpin ko ang nakaalok na kamay ni Randolf na pinanghawak niya sa hita ng babae. Hindi natinag ang nasa ere niyang kamay kaya tinanggap ko na rin ito nang may malawak na ngiti.

"Pleased to meet you, Randolf. And your bitch who blows damn good, Wendy." After a second of hand shake, inalis ko rin ang kamay ko. Pasimple ko itong pinunas sa skirt ko. "I need to get back to work. I need to impress my boss."

"Sure. Let's hang out sometimes, Astra," said the bitch.

Ubos na ang laman ng tray ko kaya kailangan ko ng bumalik sa bar counter.

"Lady." Napalingon ako sa lalaking nakasandal sa pader. Nakayuko ito pero alam kong ako ang tinutukoy niya. "Right. It's you." Saka niya inangat ang kanyang tingin. His cold dark eyes darted on me.

"Yes, Sir? Drink?" I offered.

"A shot with a mixture of your blood, please?" he demanded.

"I'm sorry?" I arched my brows.

I heard it right but what the hell?

"What?" he chuckled. "Didn't your trainer tell you to grant your customer's requests? Hindi naman bago ito. I do it whenever I go here." Umayos ito ng tayo at humakbang palapit sa akin. "A drink with a mixture of your blood, Miss Martin. That's my request."

No. Laura didn't tell me anything about mixing my blood on a drink of a random stranger.

I don't want to argue so I just noted his order on my notepad. "Is that all?"

"Make it two." He grinned.

"Don't you want three?" I asked.

He laughed, tediously. "Make it a whole bottle filled with your blood then."

"Okay." I noted his order again. "Can you pay?"

Tumawa ito nang malakas, pero pilit. Mukhang nainsulto siya sa tanong ko na 'yon. Wala sa hitsura niya ang kinukulang sa pera pero mukhang hindi kami nagkaintindihan para matawa siya nang ganito.

I just gave him my resting bitch face.

"Are you doubting my wealth?"

I shook my head, flashing a weak smile. "No. I know how wealthy vampires are. But, can your wealth save you from Brixton Cardinal, Sir?"

Natigilan ito. "What?"

Huminga ako nang malalim. "The payment is the fury of the Cardinal, Sir. I work here to serve drinks, and not to donate blood to those who can't get themselves a slave. And one more thing, Brixton doesn't like it when someone takes the first experience before him."

For a moment, he looked jumbled of my words.

"He hasn't tasted you yet?" An amused looked plastered on his face. "You are kidding me. That keen demon is wasting time to taste a fresh human like you? How's that even possible? Don't fool me."

"Let's just say..." I gulped, trying to form a good sentence to end this conversation. "We are both profiting from this master and slave fictional roles. So... a bottle of my filled blood? Noted. Wait lang, Sir. Maglalaslas muna ako."

Tatalikod na sana ako nang pigilan niya ako. "N-never mind. A shot of ordinary wine will do."

"I thought—"

"You are here to grant my requests and not to question them," he cut me out. Sumandal ito uli sa wall at humalukipkip. "Umalis ka na, Astra at kunin mo na ang order ko bago pa magbago ang isip ko."

I mentally laughed. "Sure, Sir."

Nang makabalik sa bar counter ay hindi ko na napigilang ang matawa. May silbi rin naman pala ang pangalan ni Brix. I can use it to my own advantage. As long as I am his, these weaklings won't dare to harm me.

"What's with that smile?" puna ni Adrian.

Umiling ako bago inabot sa kanya ang tray.

"Nakakatuwa lang ang trabaho," sagot ko.

I'm not gonna lie. I'm kind of enjoying it.

"Shot." Tinulak sa akin ni Adrian ang isang shot glass. "You need to chill, too."

I took the shot and drank it uninterruptedly.

"One shot, please?" Napatingin ako sa bagong dating na si Oscar.

Kumunot ang noo ko dahil mukhang malalim ang iniisip nito. Parang hindi nga rin niya yata alam na nasa tabi niya ako. Hindi ako nagsalita. I just stared at him while he's drinking his shots. Ang isang shot ay nasundan pa ng isa pa hanggang sa nakarami siya.

"Here, Astra." Inabot sa akin ni Adrian ang tray ko.

Napalingon sa akin si Oscar.

"What are you doing here?" Bumaba sa katawan ko ang kanyang tingin. Mas lalong naguluhan ang kanyang tingin. "Astra? Are you working here?"

"Yes, boss. Kakaumpisa lang niya kanina." Si Adrian ang sumagot para sa akin. "Ang kulit. Sabi ko nang hindi niya kailangang magtrabaho rito pero mapilit e. Hays. You are such a hardheaded, Astra."

"Astra?" tawag sa akin ni Oscar, hindi pansin si Adrian.

"I need a job to earn money," I muttered.

Kumislap sa kanyang mga matang nakatingin sa akin ang mga pailaw. I could see the combination of confusion, bother and worry in those piercing gawks. He was there when I needed someone, and I feel so down that I couldn't recognize that cheerful guy now.

Muling bumagsak sa katawan ko ang kanyang tingin. Bumali ang leeg nito bago tumuwid ang tingin sa ibang direksyon.

"What's bothering you?" I asked.

He shook his head before drinking his shot. Bumuga ito ng hangin. Doon ko nakumpirma na mukhang may problema siya. Hindi muna ako nag-serve ng alak para samahan siya. Maya't maya ang pag buntonghininga nito.

"Si Brix ba?" tanong ko.

"She's missing," he mumbled.

Isang pangalan ang agad na pumasok sa isipan ko.

"K-kailan pa?" tanong ko, kinakabahan na.

If my hunch is right, damn it!

"Hindi ko alam. Pero hindi pa niya ginawa ito. Kung aalis siya ay magpapaalam siya sa 'kin at hindi rin naman nagtatagal na wala siya." Humarap siya sa akin nang may malungkot na ngiti. "I'm starting to worry."

Fuck, Brixton. Don't even.

I felt a lump got in my throat. "S-she's fine..."

Yes. Kapatid pa rin ni Brix si Oscar. Alam niyang masasaktan si Oscar kapag ginawan niya ng masama ang babae nito. Right. I want to be positive that Celeste is just somewhere to do some errands and unharmed.

"Yeah. I know." He nodded.

"S-sandali lang ah? Punta muna akong Restroom." Tumayo ako at nasagi ang tray na may lamang mga alak. Nahulog ito sa sahig at nagkalat ang mga basag na baso. Hindi ko ito pinansin. Patakbo kong tinungo ang restroom.

Napasandal ako sa lababo habang nakatingin sa reflection ko sa salamin. It's still flickering but I noticed how pale my face is.

"Please, no," fists clasped, I mumbled to myself.

Celeste risked her life by telling me that history of Brix. I promised to protect her. Nadamay na si Kristan sa kapabayaan ko, ayokong mandamay pa ng iba. Lalo na si Oscar. Ayokong magkaroon ito ng tampo sa akin.

"I will find Brixton," I said to myself.

Lumabas ako ng Restroom. Nasalubong ko agad si Arki.

"What's wrong?"

"Pwede ba akong umalis sandali?" tanong ko.

"Pwede naman—"

"Thanks!" Hindi ko na siya pinatapos. Agad kong tinahak ang daan palabas ng Nightscape club. Gustuhin ko mang magpalit muna ng damit pero hindi ko na ginawa. Pakiramdam ko ay bawat segundong hindi ako kumikilos ay nanganganib si Celeste.

"Saan ka pupunta, Astra?" Napalingon ako sa likod ko. Si Oscar.

Lumunok ako. "I need to find Brixton."

"Why?"

"Pwede mo ba akong samahan sa kanya?" pakiusap ko.

"Celeste. Is he—"

"Please?" I pleaded.

Bumali ang leeg nito. "So, it's Brixton. Ano naman ang kailangan niya kay Celeste?"

"Where is he?!"

"Mission," tipid na sagot nito.

"Saan?"

"Kung si Brix ang dahilan kung bakit biglang nawala si Celeste..." Bumagsak ang kanyang mga balikat, tila nawawalan na ng pag-asa. "Damn. I need to drink more." Tumawa siya pero halata ang pait.

"He won't harm her," I believed.

"You don't know him, Astra."

Natutop ako sa kinatatayuan ko. Gusto kong isipin na hindi niya kayang gawin 'yon pero alam kong kaya niya... nang hindi nagdadalawang-isip. I saw it once. While I was pleading for the life of my friend, he still killed him right in front of my weary eyes, viciously.

"You are working here?" Another voice appeared out of nowhere.

Sabay kaming napalingon sa lalaking bagong dati. Si Brix. Nababalutan siya ng dugo habang nakangising nakatingin sa amin. He looked like that villain guy in fiction stories that just slaughtered a huge group of his enemies. I couldn't also help but to notice how he pants severely, like he just got out of a fight.

He observed my outfit. I thought he would scold me but instead, he gave me a smirk. "You are. Cool, then serve me."

"Where is she?" I asked.

Sa halip na sagutin niya ako ay nilagpasan lang niya ako at diretsong pumasok sa loob ng club. Nagkatinginan kami ni Oscar. Tumango siya sa akin kaya sumunod ako sa loob. Naabutan ko siya sa isang sofa, sakop ang kabuuan nito.

Gusto ko punain ang biglang pananahimik ng paligid.

They are really scared of his presence.

Dumiretso na lang ako sa bar counter.

"Damn. The beast is here," Adrian muttered.

"A tray of shots, please?" I requested.

"Sure." Pinaghanda ako ni Adrian ng tray.

Nakakuyom ang mga kamao ko. Habang naghahanda si Adrian ay binalikan ko ng tingin si Brixton. Prenteng nakasandal ito sa sofa, nakapatong ang binti sa isa pa, diretso ang tingin sa akin. Funny how I couldn't deny that he looked even better with those stains of blood on his shirt. His tremendous appearance is suffocating the air here.

"Here, Astra. Goodluck."

I took a shot on the tray and gulped it straightly. Nilagay ko sa likod ng aking tainga ang iilang hibla ng buhok kong kumawala. Kahit na nakatalikod ako ay ramdam ko ang tingin nilang lahat sa akin, tila nanunuod ng isang palabas.

"Kiss the demon and make him crave for more," I mentally said to myself.

Nilagay ko na sa palad ko ang tray ko bago humarap.

I smirked as I marched flirtatiously towards my first real customer, Brixton Wenz Cardinal.