Chapter 4
Dashiell Edger Arrowood
Nang makapasok sa guest room ang binatang si Dash ay kaba ang nararamdaman nya. Hindi nya alam kung ano ba ang magiging reaksyon ng dalaga sa kanya. Ipinilig nya ang Ulo at nagtagpo ang paningin nya at ng dalaga. "You're awake, I brought you here in my house to make sure you're safe, I'm Dashiell just call me Dash. What's your name?" The lady looked at him before smiling, "I'm Azaria, thank you for saving me earlier." Dash sighed in relief when the lady voluntarily brought up the topic that he wants to talk about.
"Speaking of earlier, why did those vampires attack you? I need to know so that I can keep you safe." Azaria stared at him. Nagkakaroon ng pagdadalawang isip si Azaria kung mapagkakatiwalaan ang binata sa harap nya but the fact that he saved her from those vampires is enough for her to trust him. "Honestly, I really don't know I just came home and while I was eating may tumawag sakin," panimula ni Azaria that event was dreadful and as long as she can she wants to forget it. "The caller didn't speak when I picked it up, the next thing happened there's a text on my phone and the caller sent my picture while eating. I received another text and heard a scream." Azaria started tearing up, napuno naman ng pag-aalala si Dash sa di malamang dahilan nang narinig nya ang hikbi ni Azaria ay di sya mapakali ang tangi nya na lang nagawa ay punasan ang mga luha sa pisngi nito gamit ang kanyang daliri.
"The guy who delivered my food I-I found him dead at may kagat sya sa leeg and when I saw him the two vampires took his body. Then the another five vampires came to get me and the rest is history." Dash was stunned. He's damn clueless of what happened even the lady already told him about it. Hindi yun sapat, ngunit ang alam nya lang ay traumatized si Azaria kaya hahayaan nya na lang ito magpahinga.
He needs to know why Dark Blooded Vampires chased her because why would they waste their time on her? "I'm so sorry for asking, I'm sure you were traumatized. You can stay here for the night then I can drive you back to your home tomorrow. Sleep well Azaria." He stood up before He smiled at her, Dash is not really into smiling pero may mga sitwasyon na ngumingiti sya Hindi gaya ni Wilder na sa kanya lang yata ngumingiti at sa mga taong close nito. Matagal na rin ang huling beses na sumilay Ang ngiti ng kaibigan.
Marahil para sa iba ay ngumingiti si Wilder ngunit nagkakamali sila ang mga 'yon ay pawang mga ngisi at hindi ngiti magaling lang talaga manlinlang ang best friend nya. However, Dash jerked out of his thoughts when he felt someone pulled the hem of his shirt.
He looked down just to see Azaria with her pleading look. "Is it safe on my house? Wala na ba yung mga b-bampira?" Dash shook his head and smiled again. "Nagpadala na kami ng mga tao 'don there are no traces of Dark Blooded Vampires. Sleep Well Azaria." Dash continued walking and when he was about to turn off the lights he heard a loud protest behind him.
"Please don't! I-I-I can't sleep if lights are off. I'm scared of the dark." Dash nodded and left the lights on. When he closed the door he was surprised to saw Wilder when he went outside. "What have you got from her?" Seryoso Ang tonong ani Wilder ang mga kamay ay nasa bulsa at nakatingin ng blangko sa kaibigan.
"Nothing, I'll just let her rest here though." Humugot ng malalim na hininga si Wilder bago muling magsalita. "If that's the case, I will call for an urgent meeting. I need you to gather all the councils at 10 pm the classes for tomorrow will be cancelled." Ayaw mang aminin ni Dash pero takot talaga sya kay Wilder. Pareho silang namumuno pero mas tinuturing nyang nakatataas ang kaibigang si Wilder dahil na rin mas matanda ito kaysa sa kanya. "Bro, may ibibigay ako sa'yo." Batid ni Dash na isa sa dahilan kung bakit seryoso si Wilder ay dahil may nangyari na nagpabago sa mood nito o kaya ay gutom ito. Hinanap ni Dash ang bag na dala nya, pumasok sya sandali sa kwarto nya at saka kinuha ang bag.
Nang makalabas nya ay nakatingin sa malayo ang kaibigan, nag-isip sya sandali at napailing sa sarili nang maalala kung bakit nagkakaganon ang kaibigan. Death Anniversary ng mga magulang nito sa ganitong sitwasyon ay iisa lang ang ginagawa ni Dash taon-taon. Yun ay ang libangin ang kaibigan at pakainin Ito.
Nilapitan ni Dash ang kaibigan at saka tinapik ang balikat ng kaibigan, agad namang lumingon si Wilder at nagbigay ng pilit na ngiti kay Dash. "Uuwi muna ako, don't forget to call the councils and please Dash make sure not to disturb the students." Tumango lang si Dash at saka inabot ang dalawang burger. Napuno naman ng tuwa ang puso ni Dash nang makita ang bakas na kaligayahan sa Mata ni Wilder. "Woah, libre to?" Tanong ito sa kanya, tumawa sya at tumango saka niyakap ang kaibigan. "We will hunt Samuel down Kuya I promise." Bilang lamang sa daliri ang mga panahon na tinatawag sya ni Dash na Kuya kaya naman Niyakap ni Wilder ang kaibigan.
"Enough of this drama, this is so gay Dashiell! Uuwi na ko, I'll use Sky Board tinatamad na ko. Aakyat lang ako ah?" Tumango si Dash at humiwalay sa kaibigan. Napailing sya ng umakyat ito sa bintana at sumakay sa Sky Board nakangiti itong kumaway sa kanya habang umaandar ang Sky Board.
Nakangiti si Dash na naglakad patungo sa sariling kwarto nang mapadaan sya sa guest room ay napagdesisyonan nyang silipin si Azaria. Tulog na tulog ito kaya naman napangiti sya, pero di pa rin maalis sa kanya ang kaba na iwan sa sarili nyang bahay ang dalaga.
There's a big chance that Azaria was followed by Dark Blooded Vampires and he's scared that this time they'll succeed to kidnap her. He immediately walked towards his room and called one of his trusted friends. "Jack?" At this point the only one he could trust with Azaria is Jack aside from Wilder of course but because of the meeting he's out of the choices. "Hey man what's up?" His British accent is thick, he's British after all. "I need your help and I'll be texting you the details. May meeting ang council and I need to be there. Please dude." Jack is living near CAU in a subdivision owned by Wilder. He'll be at the University for almost 20 minutes and that'll be fine for him.
"Fine, lilipat na din naman ako dyan sa CAU. Kailan ba ko magsisimula magturo?" Tanong pa nito sa kanya. Walang oras si Dash para rito sa ngayon kaya naman, "Start tomorrow then, live at the Teacher's Building okay? I have to go thank you so much, man." Hindi na niya hinintay na sumagot si Jack at binaba ang tawag. Lumabas si Dash ng kwarto at saka dumiretso sa guest room. Umupo sya sa gilid ng kama bahagyang tinapik ang pisngi ng dalaga. "Azaria?" Muli nyang tinapik ang pisngi nito para gisingin.
"Oh Dash,sorry bakit?" Napakamot sa batok si Dash bago sagutin ang dalaga. "May meeting kasi kami nila Wilder I mean ng kaibigan ko. So I called my friend Jack to watch over you. This is his picture," inabot sa kanya ni Dash ang isang maliit na litrato ng gwapong binata halatang di nalalayo ang edad kay Dash. "Dadating sya 20 minutes from now and here," tumalikod saglit si Dash para may kunin sa drawer sa tabi ng kama ni Azaria. "Use this gun if anything goes wrong. Don't panick, our security is trustworthy but I can't leave you defenseless. Just pull the trigger if someone dared to take you again." Nakatulala si Azaria sa baril na nasa kamay nya mabigat ito at Hindi nya alam kung dapat ba syang mapanatag o Mas dapat syang kabahan dahil sa baril na hawak nya. "I'll be back, don't worry about Jack sa labas lang sya ng kwarto magbabantay. The windows are well closed and if someone unauthorized tried to enter they'll be electrocuted." Azaria smiled at Dash. She appreciates the way Dash makes her comfortable and for a strange reason he succeeded to make here feel comfortable. "Thank you Dash, take care," ngumiti ang binata at tumayo na para umalis. "Hmm, I will." Nang makalabas ng guest room si Dash ay napabuntong hininga si Azaria. Hindi pa rin nya malimutan ang mga pangyayari Sa buhay nya masyadong mabilis at nakakatakot. Pero kahit na ganon ang nangyari ay nagawa nyang magtiwala sa mga taong ngayon pa lamang nya nakilala.
Tiningnan nya ang nakasaradong pinto, ni Hindi nya alam kung nasaan sya pero kampante pa rin sya. Napailing sya sarili matutulog na siguro muna sya.