Chapter 21: Under The Moonlight

I hugged him and buried my face against his chest, sniffing his lingering, intoxicating and addicting fragrance. His scent never failed to remind me that I am only for this man.

"Ohh..." Brix chortled, teasingly. Sandali niyang inangat ang ulo ko para ihiga ito sa kanyang braso saka niya ako sinandal sa kanya at niyakap nang mahigpit. "This is my kind of peace..."

Underneath the moonlight with nothing but trees as witnesses, I let myself succumb to my sinking feelings. I can fake anything but not this one... not the fact that I've been longing for his hug.

He kissed my head and breathed in it. Paulit-ulit niya 'yong ginawa nang hindi naluluwagan ang pagkakayakap sa akin. I heard him chuckle and muffled the words, "I can do this all night, Milady..."

I smiled. Bahagya kong nilayo ang mukha ko sa kanyang dibdib at saka siya tiningala. Sinabayan niya ang tingin ko. Dahil nakahilig ako sa kanyang bisig at siya naman ay nakaangat ang ulo, kasama ng mga tala sa itaas ang kanyang nakangiting mukha.

"How have you been, Brix?" taimtim kong tanong.

Tumitig ito nang ilang segundo.

"I don't know... I really don't know, Astra." His voice was as soft as the gentle night breeze. Hinawi niya ang ilang hibla ng buhok na tumatakip sa mukha ko. "It feels like..." he paused for a while to swallow. "Nothing matters if you are not there."

I giggled. Pinaragasa ko sa kanyang matigas na braso ang aking kamay at pataas sa kanyang dibdib nang hindi pinuputol ang tingin sa kanya... at gano'n din siya.

"It's just... a year since I turned into a vampire," I told him. "A lot of things had already happened. I couldn't imagine living for centuries like you. How's it?"

"Did I really live?"

That... stunned me.

"Damn." He let out a weighty sigh. Binasa niya ang labi bago nagpatuloy. "I've been living for centuries now... only to be questioned by a once human like you. Did I really live?"

That put me in awe. I feel sorry and at the same time happy for him. At least, he can admit that he's living his life now. This guy never wished for anything but this... genuine acceptance and love.

"Hey. About the lunch earlier," aniya. "Hindi ko kasi maiwan ang mga pinuno. I wanted to join you but..."

"Hush." Tinapat ko ang daliri ko sa kanyang labi. "It's fine. I am proud of you, Brix..."

Natikom ang bibig niya. I could tell that... those words moved him.

"I'm proud of everything you have done and what you have become..." Tipid na ngumiti ako. Pinaragasa ko ang kamay ko pataas-baba sa kanyang braso. "I hope you are proud of yourself too, Brix."

"No." He snickered, shaking his head. "I don't need to be proud of myself. Your words are enough validation. Thank you for saying that, Astra. That feels good."

Tumihaya siya nang hindi inaalis ang braso sa ulunan ko. Magkalapat ang mga braso niya sa magkabilang panig habang nakatitig sa kalangitan. Nakangiti ito.

"You've come too far..." I whispered.

"I can go farther than this..."

"Of course. You are Brixton Wenz Cardinal after all. No one can stop you."

"What a compliment from the only woman who can..."

I furrowed my brows. "Sus. Hindi ka nga nakikinig sa akin. Ilang beses ko na bang sinabi sa 'yo na bawal ang ginagawa natin na 'to? Na hindi ka dapat lumapit sa akin?"

"Seriously?" He directed his attention at me. "You can ask me anything you want but not to leave you alone. Hell no. I can't leave you alone, Astra. I will never leave you..."

"As if kaya ko namang itulak ka palayo. I am tied to you until the end."

"Shit. That sounds so good..." Muli siyang humarap sa akin. Pinatong niya sa hita ko ang kanyang kamay. "That's right. You are mine until the end. From the very start until the end... you are for Brixton Wenz Cardinal only."

"Wait. Kailan anniverysary natin?" tanong ko.

"Oh. Does that matter to you?" Ngumiwi ito. "I am not into remembering dates but..."

"But?"

"Every third of November, I want you to remember the day you met me."

"November 3..." banggit ko. "On the third day of November, I met the legendary vampire, Brixton Wenz Cardinal."

"Let's seal it..."

He dragged my head and crashed his lips into mine. Inalis niya ang braso sa ulunan ko saka pumatong sa akin. Naramdaman ko ang bigat niya pero hindi natinag no'n ang halik.

I closed my eyes to feel the moment. Rumagasa sa aking puson ang isa niyang kamay at tinaas ang damit ko. Bumaba ang kanyang halik sa aking leeg at pababa sa aking dibdib... diretso sa aking puson.

I gasped when he used his tongue to tickle my chest. He plants small kisses as he goes up and back to my covered breasts. Gumapang ang isa niyang kamay sa likod ko.

I was about to stop him when I realized... we were bounded by think fogs. The surroundings got distorted that I couldn't see even the moon. No one could see us. That's the moment I just let him unclasped the hook of my bra.

He cupped my one breast with his hand and the other with him warm mouth. While busy with those, his free hand traveled down my pants. He easily unzipped it and went inside.

Napaliyad ako sa kiliting dulot ng kanyang galaw. Damn. He gets better everytime we do it. It gets more... intense and the feeling never failed to seize beyond my expectation.

"Easy there..." He groaned when I tried to stop him.

Scratching my fingers on his back, biting my lower lip, feeling the pleasure, he's giving it all. Damn. This man could turn grasses into soft clouds and open places into sacred rooms and with his touch, even your numbest cell could be moved.

I wasn't prepared when I felt his tongue down my most sacred part and that triggered an embarrassingly loud moan out of my lips. He knew how to do it... well. He knew how to touch it. He just knew it damn well.

"You get sweeter as time passes by," he commented with a slight chuckle. Hinalikan niya ang hita ko at mahinang kinagat 'yon. "I want to sleep in between of your thighs."

I stared at him and rolled my eyes. Shit. I wanted to say how expert he is when it comes to this but I think he already knew. Unlike any other make love we had before, I feel more confident tonight.

Tinulak ko ang ulo niya palayo saka ko siya tinahiya at pumatong sa kanya. Bumilog ang kanyang mga mata na parang namamangha sa ginawa ko. It's my turn.

"It's unfair how I am whole naked now and you are still on clothes..." Hinawakan ko ang laylayan ng kanyang puting damit at tinaas. Inangat niya ang ulo para tuluyan ko 'yong mahubad.

I gulped as I put my hands on his hairy chest. I heard him cuss and that pushed me to continue it. Pinaragasa ko sa kanyang matikas at matigas na didbib ang aking mga kamay.

He groaned and threw another cuss.

I leaned closer to him. I gaped at his open eyes where you could see the looming lust. I kissed his earlobes and jawline before I claimed his soft and wet lips.

Rumagasa naman sa bewang ko ang kanyang mga braso at diniin ang sarili sa akin.

"Sexy..." he chuckled when I parted our lips. "But I wish you could do more..."

"Dare me..." I smirked.

"I don't care even if you are lame though..."

"Lame huh?"

Dumausdos ako pababa sa kanyang katawan hanggang sa pagitan ng kanyang mga hita. Pinaragasa ko ang aking mga kamay sa kanyang hita hanggang sa gitna habang nakatingin sa kanyang mukha.

I could tell that I am doing good when he bit his bottom lip.

Just like how he used to open a bottle of wine, I unzipped his slacks using my teeth. Under the whool fabric was a gigantic bulge waiting to be released from its uncomfortable cage.

Binaba ko ang pants niya hanggang sa itim na boxers na lang ang natira. Natulala ako sandali. It's like I just grasped how could this thing fit inside me without tearing me into pieces literally. Not like like it didn't feel like that.

Narinig kong tumawa si Brix kaya umangat ang tingin ko.

"What's your line again, Astra?" he teased.

"What?"

"Your line, suck my blood, Master Brix. I think I need a line for myself too..."

Pumula ang pisngi ko nang maintindihan ang ibig niyang sabihin. God. I feel so embarrassed but I don't want to be called lame when I can do it... I really can.

"Go then..." I said.

Tumigil siya sa pagtawa. The look in his eyes came back to intense as a mischievous grin formed on his lips, he told me, "I am a sucker for nothing but your lips and blood. Pleasure me, Milady..."

Nililis ko pababa ang kanyang boxer shorts. Dazed, I enclosed his peter with my right palm. Just the tip of his thing got inside my mouth and I felt already vomiting.

"Ahh..." His moan was all I need.

I coulnd't swallow it whole so I focused more on its body. It's the same pleasure or maybe more when you use your tongue perfectly. I didn't know this would ignite another pleasure. His soft groan... how he moaned... it felt damn good as a feedback.

"Fuck!" Inangat ni Brix ang aking mukha at hinila ako sa pataas. Sobrang pula ng kanyang mga mata at lumabas din ang mga ugat sa kanyang leeg at mga braso. Sobrang bilis ng paghinga niya nang siilin niya ako sa leeg.

His fangs penetrated deep on my neck. That also ignited my body. Parang nasusunog ang buong katawan ko habang kumukuha ng dugo sa leeg ko. It's more than just pleasure. It's the feeling that I am serving my master with my blood.

I felt his peter pocking on my entrance.

Kumawala ako sa kanyang labi.

"Have mercy...." I mumbled, tensed.

"You should have thought of that before awakening my full desire..." he smirked, dangerously.

It was smooth, almost painless just when I realized it was just the tip. I cried when he entered it whole. I cried in pain which later turned into desire and wanting for more.

We exchanged positions many times and lifted me up on his arms while my legs were wrapped around his waist. He made it look so easy... like I was just a pillow he could carry anywhere.

When the time fog had dispersed, we were done putting our clothes back. Pinanuod kong itaas ni Brix ang zipper ng kanyang slacks. Nag-stretch pa ito ng katawan.

"That's our dinner?" he asked.

Doon ko lang naramdaman ang gutom. Tinangka kong tumayo pero mabilis na umatake ang sakit sa ibaba ng puson ko. Agad 'yon napansin ni Brix na napangiti.

"Sumobra ba?" pang-aasar niya. "Wait me here. Ako na lang kukuha ng pagkain..."

Tumango na lang ako. Kailangan ko pang magpahinga. Ayoko namang bumalik nang iika-ika ako o 'di kaya'y parang lumpong nakasampa sa likod ni Brix.

"Hey. Baliktad damit mo," puna ko. "Saka pagpagan mo nga. May mga naiwang damo."

"Oh." Hinubad niya 'yon at pinagpagan. "Magpapalit na lang ako roon. Babalik din ako agad. Stay here..."

"Aalis ka nang walang damit pang itaas?"

"What's wrong with that?" patay-malisyang tanong nila. "Huwag mong sabihin na nagseselos ka? Come on. They can only stare. Alam mo namang sa 'yo lang ito."

"Dami mong alam. Magdamit ka na lang!"

"Damn. Fine." He put his shirt back. "I will be back..."

Tumalikod na ito at nagsimulang maglakad palayo. Hindi niya pa gaanong naayos ang damit dahil nakaangat ang isang parte sa likod. Hindi ko na lang pinansin pa.

Humiga ako sa damuhan at tiningala ang kalangitan.

Malamang na nag-aalala na naman niyan si Erikson. Ano na naman kaya ang sasabihin niya bukas? Pero ang pinakainaalala ko... ayos na kaya siya? Sobrang lungkot niya kanina. I hope he feels better now.

Fine. Okay na sermonan niya ako bukas. That just means... he's feeling good.

Bumangon ako at sinubukang bumangon pero hindi ko pa rin kaya. I can still feel him inside me. Mas madiin at masakit ang ngayon kumpara sa mga nagdaan. Malamang na dahil dinama ko rin talaga.

Bumalik din agad si Brix na may bitbit na basket. He was wearing a brown jacket. Basa ang harapan ng buhok niya kaya alam kong naghilamos muna rin ito.

Seryoso lang si Brix habang inaayos niya ang mga pagkain at alak sa maliit na telang nilatag. Hindi namin kailangan ng kandila o lampara dahil maliwanag naman naman ang buwan.

"Oh. Right." Tumayo ito at hinubad ang jacket. Lumapit siya sa akin at pinasuot ang jacket. Akala ko ay aalis na ito pagkatapos mabigay sa akin 'yon pero umupo siya sa likod ko at sinandal ako sa kanya.

I didn't complain. I mean... nothing to complain about.

Ako ang nagsalin ng alak sa baso at inabot sa kanya ang isa. Nakasandal ako sa kanyang dibdib habang kumakain. Ang isang kamay ni Brix ay nakahawak sa baso ng alak habang ang isa ay nakapulupot sa puson ko.

"May nakakita ba sa 'yo?" tanong ko.

"Do I look like ghost to you?"

Pabirong hinampas ko ang kanyang hita na ikinatawa nito.

"Wala. I know you want to keep this as secret as possible..." sagot naman nito. "Ayoko namang sirain ang mood mo. Baka itulak mo na naman ako. Ang hirap mo pa namang ligawan."

"Hindi naman kita tinutulak nang walang dahilan. You know the reason why."

"I understand..." he told me.

He understands but he keeps doing it. The same with my situation. What I do is the opposite of what I want. There are so many obstacles that forbidding me to be with him.

Pero habang tumatagal ako sa lugar na ito ay mas nalilinawan ako.

"I will start tomorrow..." Hinawi niya ang ilang hibla ng buhok sa leeg ko at marahan na hinalikan ako roon. "Isa-isa... mapapayag ko ang mga clan na narito sa gusto kong mangyari."

"You will really use their weaknesses huh?"

"This is Unus after all." Tumawa siya. "Hindi mo ba ako ilalaglag, Astra? I mean... you know my plans. You can ruin it."

"Is that a trap?" I rolled my eyes. "Ako naman ang malalagot sa 'yo..."

"You really think I care if you ruin my plans..." He chuckled. Nagsalin ito uli ng alak sa mga baso namin. "But... it will be harder for me if you do so. Makakabawi ako pero mahihirapan..."

"Wait." Umatras ako at umupo paharap sa kanya. "You told me about Magda. Sino'ng Magda?"

Uminom ito sa alak bago nagsalita. "The daughter of Lord Hezuera?"

Nalaglag ang panga ko sa sinabi niya. Parang nahirapan akong intindihin ang sinabi niya. Magda is Lord Hezuera's daughter? Ibig sabihin ay magkapatid sila ni Nigel.

"The rebellious daughter of Lord Hezuera," he added. "Anak siya sa ibang babae ni Lord Hezuera. It's the top secret and only a few Hezueras knew about it."

"H-how's it an ace to attack them?" I asked.

"Reputation. What will happen if the Hezueras find out that their respective leader had abandoned his own daughter?" Umiling-iling si Brix. "It's not enough I know but what if... Hezueras find out that he even tried to get rid of her?"

Sa sobrang gulat ko ay hindi ako nakapagsalita.

"Magda is now an insurgent because she got pregnant. That's how he get rid of her..."

"Wait. You mean..."

"It's his plan. The only way to get rid of her is to break the most important rule of vampire world... not to get pregnant. Right. The guy had an agreement with Lord Hezuera."

Wala sa sariling napainom ako sa alak. That's so selfish and low of him.

Then I realized... every one of us has a dirty secret. A secret that can be used against us. It's not just these respectable leaders... even a normal human or vampire has one.

Napatingin ako kay Brix. What's his?

"Prince Nigel Hezuera doesn't know about this yet..." saad pa ni Brix. "Alam niyang kapatid niya si Magda pero ang hindi niya alam ay kasabwat ng ama niya ang lalaking nakabuntis sa kanyang kapatid."

Fuck. This is so messed up.

"Damn. Nasasabi ko na sa 'yo lahat ng alam ko..."

"That's enough. I don't want to hear another one."

Right. Baka hindi ko na makayanan pa. Wala rin naman akong mapapala sa kwento nila. Madadagdagan lang ang mga bumabagabag sa akin. Pero ngayong alam ko na ang kwento ni Magda... si Nigel ang inaalala ko. Mataas ang tingin niya sa ama. Alam kong siya ang mas maaapektuhan dito.

We've stayed there for a couple of minutes or maybe an hour before Brix decided to go somewhere else.

"May malapit na bukal dito," aniya.

Inubos ko ang huling patak ng alak.

"I know..."

Dumiretso sa akin ang tingin niya. "What do you mean you know? Alam mo na lahat ng lugar dito?" bakas ang sarkastiko sa kanyang tinig.

"Nope. Erikson brought me there."

Bumali ang leeg nito. "You took a bath together?"

I licked the remain on my lips, "Not at all. Siya lang ang naligo."

"Naghubad siya?" sunod na tanong nito.

I know where this one is heading to.

"Damit," kaswal kong sagot.

"Oh. Why do you sound disappointed?"

"And why are you making it seem like we did what we just done?" Tumayo na ako. Nawala na rin naman ang sakit sa puson ko. "Let's go there. Come on, Brix."

Sa halip na tumayo at tinitigan niya lang ako.

Bumuntonghininga ako. "It's nothing. Naligo lang siya. That's it. Also, your first kiss had appeared there too."

"I am jealous of Mr. Nadija. Bakit parang hindi ka nagseselos na alam mong si Albina ang first kiss ko?"

"Kasi... hindi naman siya ang huli?" Nagkibit-balikat ako. "Nothing to be jealous about. We did worse. Get up now."

Doon na siya napangiti at tumayo. Nagpagpag ito ng damit.

"'Yong mga pinagkainan pala natin..." banggit ko. "Hindi pa naubos."

"Hayaan mo na." Umakbay siya sa akin. "May kakainin pa rin naman ako mamaya."

Kinurot ko ang tagiliran niya na ikinaigtad nito. Habang papunta kami sa bukal ay nagtanong-tanong pa ito kung ano ang ginawa namin ni Erikson at kung ano pa ang nakita ko.

"Gwapo naman si Erikson. Kahit hindi matikas ang katawan niya ay magugustuhan mo siya..."

"Please don't say that. I know it's nothing to you but... just don't say it."

"Whoa. Nagseselos din pala ang isang Brixton Wenz Cardinal..." pang-aasar ko pa. "He should feel honored."

Mas hinigpitan niya ang pagkakaakbay sa akin. "Hindi ako nagseselos, Astra. I am thankful to him for always being there for you. It's just... it doesn't feel right to say it in front of me."

"Selos 'yon baliw."

"Fine."

Nakarating kami agad sa bukal. Nag-alis ng damit at slacks si Brix. Naka-boxer shorts na lang siya nung bumaling sa akin, "Why are you waiting for? Mr. Nadija?"

Umiling ako.

Lumapit siya sa akin.

"What's bothering you?" he asked.

Tumitig lang ako sa tubig. Ilang oras na lang ang natitira bago sumikat ang araw. Ibig sabihin ay kailangan ko na namang bumalik sa hindi pagpansin sa kanya.

"Hey." Tinaas niya ang mukha ko at hinarap sa kanya. "What's bothering my lady?"

"I am just thinking of Magda..."

"Why? Oh. She's here. She's safe."

"How is she safe here?"

"Ayaw mo bang maligo?"

Humiwalay siya sa akin at sumisid sa bukal. Ilang minuto rin ang tumagal bago ito umahon. Nakangiting pinatong niya ang mga braso sa bato habang nakatingin sa akin.

"You look like the goddess of this forest," he said.

"You haven't said if yet..."

"Say what?"

I pouted my lips. "Those three words..."

"My last piece? Yeah. That's you."

"Never mind."

Nag-alis na rin ako ng saplot hanggang sa underwear na lang ang natira. Lumapit ako kay Brix. Napasigaw ako nang hilahin niya ako at bumagsak sa tubig.

"Got you..." Niyakap niya ako.

I pushed him away. Sumisid ako palayo sa kanya. Nang makalayo ay humarap ako pabalik. Nanatili itong nakatayo, nakahalukipkip at nakatitig sa akin.

"Hindi mo talaga alam ang tinutukoy ko?" tanong ko.

"Maybe?"

Pinanuod ko siyang sumisid palapit sa akin. Umahon ito sa harapan ko. Ako ang nagsarado sa distansya sa pagitan namin. Pinasadahan ko ng kamay ang kanyang basang dibdib.

"Kailangan ko nang bumalik bago sumikat ang araw," saad ko.

"I will make sure of that..."

Suminghap ako nang ipulupot niya ang mga braso sa bewang ko.

"Pwede bang..." Inangat ko ang tingin sa kanya. "Huwag mo na akong kausapin kapag may kasama tayong iba. I am fine with this. Alam kong alam nila ang namamagitan sa atin pero... huwag naman sobrang obvious."

"Oh. I can't promise that. But sure... as much as possible, I will interact with you less in front of them."

Napangiti ako. "Thank you..."

"But remember this Astra. I am always watching you..."

"I know."

He hugged me and whispered, "And I would die for you..."