Variation

Marceline's Point of View

Marahan kong binuksan ang aking mata.

Panaginip lang iyon, tama? Dapat ko na atang itigil ang panonood ng kdramas, kung ano-ano na ang napanaginipan ko.

Iginala ko ang aking mata at napakunot ako nang makita kong unfamiliar place ito, napaupo rin ako mula sa aking pagkakahiga kanina.

The wall is white and there are tons of hospital equipment, I also saw two more beds ang that's when my realization hits, I am at the school infirmary. This is the first time I entered this place.

"Are you alright now?" tanong ng nurse na hindi ko napansin, nagulat ako ngunit hindi ko ipinahalata.

Napaka-puti niya, at nakapulang lipstick, it is Crimson Red Lipstick. I could see how dark eyes is kahit nahaharangan ito ng kaniyang salamin na kulay itim.

I nodded. Bakit nga pala ako nandito? isip ko

"Oo nga pala, I saw you lying in front of this infirmary kaninang madaling araw," inilagay ko ang kamay ko sa leeg ko, I am confused. Nang biglang mapadpad ito sa aking balikat, mayroong benda一 bakit may dressing ang balikat ko?

Sandali, sinabi niya bang kaninang madaling araw?

Tiningnan ko ang wallclock na nandito sa infirmary.

7:23AM, napapikit ako.

Hindi na ako nagtanong pa ng mga gusto kong tanungin, kapag nagtanong pa ako mas lalo akong malilintikan kay Tita, kung nandito ako simula kaninang madaling araw ibig sabihin ay rito ako natulog at hindi ako umuwi, patay ako nito!

Tumayo ako. "Uuna na po ako, salamat nga po pala," I bowed my head, she handed me my coat and before I bid goodbye she said her last words.

"If you have questions in mind, you can ask me," binigyan niya ako ng ngiti bago ko siya iwan ng ngiti rin. It's creepy but that's not my greatest concern right now.

When I left the infirmary, habang tumatakbo pauwi, sumagi sa isip ko na hindi naman ako nagkaroon ng kahit na anong galos, huling memory ko lang ay nasa library ako, after that what happened next?

I am pretty sure I am doomed. Patay ako kay Tita Emma, Tito Gordon at lalong-lalo na kay Seer, kay Krei I don't think so, bata pa naman siya at walang pakialam sa mundo. Paano ba ito? Hndi ako umuwi, hindi ko alam kung ano ang sasabihin kong dahilan! I don't like lying to them. And I never did too.

Walking distance lang ang layo ng bahay na tinitirhan ko from Larrson's. Kailangan lang dumaan sa malaking daanang pinaggigitnaan ng mga puno. Kalilipat lang namin doon, 3 months na ang nakalipas, I guess? Inilipat ng lugar si Tito Gordon as a Senior Superintended. Blessing kaya't walang naging choice si Tita Emma kundi pumayag na lumipat ng titirhan.

I cleared my throat while seeing Forbes residence before my eyes. I sighed. They treated me like a part of their family, lying is not a good idea but I can't even remember what happened so how can I tell the truth that even me couldn't remember? Inalog ko ang sarili ko para kumalma.

Hinubad ko ang sapatos ko, binuksan ko ang pinto at bumungad sa akin si Seer na galit ang mukha habang may tinatawagan.

Bigla naman siyang napatingin sa akin, her eyes widened. "Oh my God, Celine! Saang lupalop of the earth ka napadpad! Tinatawagan kita pero hindi ka sumasagot!" bungad niya sa akin. Ako pala iyong tinatawagan niya, she's really angry right now dahil namumula na ang tenga niya.

Magsasalita pa lang sana ako pero masyadong g na g si Seer.

Tumingin na siya sa living room. "C'mon, ma, stay there. Yung blood pressure mo. Pigilan mo si mama, Krei," aniya na nagpamadali sa aking pumunta sa living room dahil nakita ko roon na nagpupumilit si Tita Emma na bitawan siya ni Krei.

Kinain ako ng sarili kong konsensya.

"Okay ka lang ba, Tita?" nag-aalala kong tanong. "Please, remain seated," sambit ko at pinaupo siya sa sofa.

"Marceline Avory H一" Seer cutted off Tita Emma's line.

"Shut it, ma, ako muna. Hey! Yung question ko, Celine. Saan. Ka. Nang-galing. Babae. Ka. Buong magdamag kaming nag-aalala sa 'yo!" it's per word and obviously to notify me that she is very angry. Mas galit pa siya kaysa kay Tita Emma, it's a typical Seer.

"I..." pag-iisip ko ng dahilan. I am sorry. "-slept at the library. Antok na antok na kasi ako, I think it was passed 11PM when I finished my research paper," minsan na akong nakatulog doon sa totoo lang. Mr. Google's resources are not enough for me. I trust book over the internet. Masyadong manipulated ang internet.

Our library is open for 24 hours and you can even sleep there whenever you want. Funny, right? Mayaman talaga siguro ang may-ari ng Larrson Academy, centralized pa ang aircon nito plus the super-ultra-mega-high-speed ang wifi. Wait, shut the siguro, they really are undeniably rich, doubtless. And walang pakialam yung librarian except if it's silence that we're talking about. "Bawal mag-ingay." The one and only rule.

"Really, huh? Where's your research paper then?" tanong niya na nakataas ang kilay.

Napalunok ako. "Alam mo naman 'di ba? Iniiwan ko sa locker ang mga gamit ko. That's why I always leave empty handed. Come back still empty handed," I tried to put a smile even though I am nervouse right now.

I never lied, this is terrifying!

"Oh, patawad. Oo nga pala," bigla naging maliwanag ang mukha niya. "Ma, your turn."

"Natanong mo na lahat ng itatanong ko kay Celine, bruha ka," ani Tita Emma sabay tawa. "Pede na tayong kumain ng umagahan, panigurado gutom na itong si Celine. Tara na. Ikaw bata ka," hinayaan na ni Krei na tumayo ang mama niya.

Tita Emma approached me and I hugged her. "Sorry, Tita," for lying, but lying is my only choice because I don't remember the truth. She nodded her head as a notice of 'it's fine'.

Nakokonsensya talaga ako.

Naghanda si Tita ng aming gagamiting pinggan. I insisted to help her kaya ako na ang kumuha ng mga kubyertos.

"Cel, hubarin mo na 'yang coat mo, hindi naman malamig dito," I stood up and did what Seer told me, I am about to put my coat but suddenly my eyes turned black for at least 3 seconds, muntik na akong matumba buti na lang nakasandal ako sa malapit na cabinet.

Napatayo si Tita sa pagkakaupo niya pati si Seer para alalayan ako.

"Celine, okay ka lang ba?" Tita Emma asked with a pitch of worry. "Nako Seer pakitulungan akong paupuin si Celine."

"Anong masakit sayo? Answer me!"

"Nothing, nagdilim lang paningin ko, this happens all the time, most specifically if I haven't had a breakfast," I explained, that's the pure truth, ayoko na ring magsinungaling dahil sobra na yung isang kasinungalin na nanggaling sa bibig ko.

Seer sighed due as being relieved. "Akala ko kung ano na, sige kumain ka na, bakit kasi mas inuuna mo pa yung research paper mo kesa sa health mo, alam mo Celine mas mahalaga ang kalusugan kesa sa mga proyekto na hindi naman bibigyang halaga ng mga professors natin."

Tumango na lang ako dahil nanghihina pa rin ako at ngumiti na rin kahit hindi ako okay.

Yung pagdidilim ng mata ilang beses nang nangyari sa akin yun kaya sanay na ako pero sa ngayon iba ang nararamdam ko parang pinaghalong trangkaso at lagnat.

When I saw the three of them eating and talking about something I picked up my toasted bread because I am already starving.

"Here. You love mom's spam&egg, eat well," ani Seer sa akin sabay lagay ng natirang spam sa aking pinggan.

"I love that, too!" extra ni Krei sabay pout.

Dumila si Seer. "Our Cel loves it more. 'Yang egg na lang kainin mo kahit walang spam," pang-aasar nito sa kapatid.

Umiling si Krei. Ang cute nilang magkapatid, I smiled.

"Thanks!" maligaya kong sabi, dalawang piraso ng spam ang binigay sa akin ni Seer kaya ibinigay ko kay Krei ang isa. Krei gave me a thumbs up while he gave his older sister a 'belat'.

"Thank you ate Celine, you're the best! But why do look so pale though?" he said and then started putting the whole spam in his mouth.

Nakatingin na ngayon si Tita Emma at Seer sa akin.

"Maputla ako?" I asked.

"Don't believe that kid, you are naturally pale, Cel. Napaka puti mo kasi."

I laughed, that's a fact, I am naturally pale.

Kinain ko ang pinalaman kong spam&egg na tinapay. Spam na may kasamang itlog pero spam na kasabay na niluto sa itlog ay mas better but it's still both the best! And plus tomatoes and ketchup.

When I ate the sandwhich I almost puke it.

I frowned. Bakit ang sama ng lasa? Iluluwa ko sana ito dahil sa napakapangit na lasa. I love this so much pero bakit iba sa panlasa ko ngayon? Nilunok ko pa rin ito kahit kakaiba ang lasa, it's unethical to vomit in front of others whom eating kaya't pinilit ko itong lunukin, pero tila ba ayaw itong tanggapin ng tiyan ko.

Hindi ko na makayanan kaya tumayo ako at dali-daling tumakbo papunta sa banyo.

"Celine, anong problema?" rinig kong tanong ni Tita Emma.

I gesture I have to go to the bathroom.

Isinuka ko ito.

I looked at myself in front of the mirror. "Something is... wrong."

I can't remember anything that happened last night. Tiningnan ko ang repleksyon ko, I look at myself focusl, Krei was right I really look so pale and this is not my normal pale skin, it's much worse. I feel like I am almost out of blood due to my skin color, as I look at myself more I am getting more paler.

What on earth is happening to me?

Isinandal ko ang dalawang kamay ko sa lababo ibinaba ko rin ang tingin ko dito. Natulala ako.

Something's really off.

I couldn't think of anything. This variation is something I don't understand.

I looked at myself at the mirror again and it landed on my shoulder, the bandage.

I removed my t-shirt and closely looked at my bandage, I removed it on my shoulder. I frowned. There's nothing一 except two circles, the wound is still fresh. Hindi pa ito gaanong tuyo. Ano ito?

A vampire's bite? Natawa ako sa inisip ko. Napatigil ako bigla.

Bigla-biglang nagdidilim ang paningin ko at mas lalong sumasakit ang aking ulo. "Aray!" inda ko nang mas lalo pa ito sumakit.

As I go nearer it becames darker and darker but when I arrived and saw the person, it is a guy. Nang ituon ko ang mata ko sa kaniya napaupo ako sa sahig.

He is full of blood, he is wearing a white t-shirt and I can tell he was stabbed to death.

"O-Okay ka lang ba?" I asked.

"No," he responded. Bakit pa ba ako nagtanong? Halata naman hindi okay yung tao.

"I will call for help, stay here."

"No, I need you," he grabbed me to stop me from leaving, I was shocked because I did not expect him doing it.

"Mamamatay ka kapag nagstay lang ako rito, sorry but I have to ask for help."

"I said you are all I need!" his yell scared me, nanginginig na ako sa takot parang mali ata itong pinasok ko. "I am sorry but I need you... I need your blood."

Hinawakan ko ang magkabilang balikat ng lalaki.

"What gibberish are talking about, are you dr一" natigilan ako dahil sa sunod na ginawa ng lalaki.

I felt something. I felt a painful bite on my shoulder. Then, everything went black.

"What... What was that?!"