Grims Do Fall In Love

Chapter 2

Saydie

NAGLAKAD AKO SA black marble floor lobby ng Death Collectors Society building papunta sa receptionist na si Crea to give my 9999th killer's soul.

"Welcome to the Death Collectors Society, Grim Saydie. How can I help you?" malamig at tulalang sambit ni Crea.

Ipinakita ko sa kanya ang soul na nakuha ko; isang bolang apoy na kulay itim na kasing laki ng mansanas. "I'm here to surrender a killer's soul."

"Put it inside the soul basket for evaluation," sagot niya at biglang lumabas ang isang basket na kalahati ay kulay puti, kalahati ay kulay itim. Iniligay ko doon ang soul at nakatulala niya akong binati nang walang ekspresyon, "Congratulations on your 9999th killer's soul. One more to go and the Death God will grant your wish. May the power of death be with you."

"And to you too," sagot ko. Tumalikod ako at lumakad nang limang hakbang palayo sa kanya.

Inisip ko ang ika-109th na baitang ng gusali na ito para mag-warp, at sa isang iglap kasabay ng mahinang pwersa na umusog sa katawan ko, napunta ako kung saan naroon ang iba pang mga Senior Grim Reaper na kagaya ko; the floor of the killer's soul collectors. The wide elegant and sophisticated floor that looks like a human's museum or an office suite; dim-lit, gray carpet floor, black marble walls, and with floor to ceiling windows.

I walked passed the other Grims whom are chatting to each other, some are watching the humans from the wide monitors as they live their lives, and some are reading the Grim Reaper's guide book. I went straight ahead to see my mentor, Reeve.

In his usual way, nakatayo lang siya sa harap ng floor to ceiling window at tila pinagmamasdan ang mga patay na bundok sa labas na pumapalibot sa buong metal black skyscraper building ng Death Collectors Society. Suot niya ang kanyang Grim Reaper uniform na formal black suit. Nilapitan ko siya at humarap din sa bintana.       

"Just delivered my 9999th killer's soul, Master."

"Congratulations," he said with his always deep and cold voice. "What do you feel? Are you happy?"

Hindi ko pinansin ang kanyang tanong. Palagi niyang tinatanong kung anong pakiramdam ko. Madalas kung masaya ba ako sa mga tagumpay ko. But what does it really feel to be happy? I know the words but I don't know what it feels like.

"You know why you are the best Grim Reaper? We were trained to be emotionless at sa ating lahat ikaw ang tila natural born emotionless," sambit niya ulit. "That's why it was really easy for you to collect one million normal souls as a Grim Reaper, and then manage to become a senior Grim Reaper that now collected her 9999th killer's souls. You feel no remorse nor pity. That's also the reason why I choose to mentor you. Unlike other Grims who erases names on the death book and let souls live sa simpleng dahilan na sila'y naaawa."

"Maybe because I don't want to be punished in hell for eternity by doing so," I replied while blankly staring ahead. "Master Reeve, I will ask again. You were able to get your 10,000 souls before as a Senior Grim Reaper. Bakit mo pinili na maging Death Grim Reaper instead of wishing to be reincarnated?"

Napasulyap ako sa kanya pagkatapos ko magtanong. He grinned while staring ahead. "Again, you know I can't disclose the next mission to you but let's just say I don't see how being alive is greater than being a grim reaper. By the way, what will you choose once you get your last killer's soul to collect? Will you choose to be reincarnated? Or save someone's soul and reset back to zero without any punishment? Or will you join me and become a Death Grim Reaper?"

Hanggang ngayon hindi ko pa rin alam ang pipiliin ko. Kahit sinasabi nilang perpekto ako bilang Grim Reaper, I am also curious to know what it feels like to have emotions and become human, but at the same time I want to stick with him and face the next mission as a Death Grim Reaper like him. Siya ang nagturo ng lahat sa akin patungkol sa pagiging Grim Reaper noong magsimula ako. Dahil sa kanya naging mahusay ako. As for saving someone's soul, that's not an option.

Hindi ko sinagot ang mga tanong niya at nanatiling tuwid ang aking paningin sa labas.

"It seems that you are still unsure. Just be careful, Saydie. The Death God becomes playful when a Senior Grim Reaper is about to reach her 10,000th killer's soul. Susubukan ka niya kung karapat dapat ka nga bang humiling sa kanya. If you fail, you'll reset to zero and start over again," sambit ni Master Reeve.

"I know, Master," sagot ko.

"So... who will be your 10,000th killer's soul? Lumabas na ba sa death book?"

Iniharap ko sa mukha ko ang aking kanang kamay at binuksan ko ang palad ko. Kasabay nu'n ay inisip ko ito kaya't lumabas mula sa itim na usok ang itim na pocket book kung saan ang mga pangalan ng mga kaluluwang sinundo ko at susunduin ko ay nakalista, ang Death Book. Binuklat ko ito sa huling pahina at binasa ang huling pangalan na nakasaad dito, "Van Kyle Chua, 25 years old. Cause of death: dying in sleep. Sa ngayon letter V pa lang sa pangalan niya ang nagiging dugong tinta. Kapag lahat dugong tinta na, masusundo ko na ang kaluluwa niya."

"That's seems to be an easy way for a killer to die. Don't you think? Well... good luck to you, Saydie. May the power of death be with you," sambit ni Master Reeve.

"And to you too."

As the space formed a fast circular motion in his body, Master Reeve vanished in a blink of an eye. He may have warped to his next mission. I'm gonna stay here and think about what I'll ask the Death God once I collected my 10,000th killer's soul while I wait for the day to collect Van Kyle Chua's soul.

WEEKS HAVE PASSED, and the blood tint went up to the half of the last letter of Van Kyle Chua's name. Since he is my 10,000th killer's soul, I took precaution from Master Reeve's advice. I knew that the Death God will give me a challenge so I figure not to give him a chance.

Pinuntahan ko agad si Van Kyle Chua sa mundo ng mga nabubuhay. Tulog na tulog siya sa kanyang higaan. Nararamdaman ko na ito na ang oras niya kaya't hihintayin ko sa harap niya na mag tinta ng dugo ang buong pangalan niya at kukunin ko agad ang kanyang kaluluwa. I made up my mind, I know what I want to wish to the Death God so failure is not an option.

Ilang saglit pa, nakumpleto na ang buong pangalan ng tintang dugo at saktong nagising siya nang mangyari iyon. Bumangon siya sa kama at tila nagulat siya nang makita ako.

"W-Who the hell are you? Anong ginagawa mo dito sa condo ko?"

Tumayo ako at inilabas ang aking death scythe.

"Van Kyle Chua, your time in this world is up," sambit ko at mabilis kong inihataw pahaba sa kanya ang patalim ng aking death scythe. Tumama ito sa kanyang dibdib. Halos lumuwa naman ang mga mata niya at ang bibig niya'y bukas na bukas.

Somehow... I suddenly felt something. A slight weird feeling that made me form a smug smile on my lips.

Dahan dahan kong hinugot ang patalim ng aking Death Scythe mula sa dibdib niya.

Ilang saglit na lang mapapasa-akin na ang ika-10,000th killer's soul.

Ngunit nang tuluyan kung hugutin ang aking sandata...

Wala ang kaluluwa ni Van Kyle Chua at siya'y buhay pa rin.

I stare at the blade of my weapon as I think about why it didn’t work.

Inihataw ko ulit ang aking death scythe sa kanya nang pahalang at tinamaan siya sa kanang bahagi ng ulo. Hinugot ko ang patalim ng sandata ko ngunit hindi pa rin lumalabas ang kaluluwa niya at siya'y buhay pa rin.

Kinapkap at tinignan niya ang kanyang dibdib. Maging ang kanyang ulo ay kinapkap niya rin. "W-What the—"

Stupid human. He may be thinking why he isn't wounded. Pumikit ang mga mata niya at siya'y bumagsak sa kama. Agad kong pinaglaho ang aking sandata. Sinuri ko ang pulso niya sa ilalaim ng kanyang panga at naramdaman kong buhay pa nga talaga siya. Agad kong inilabas ang Death Book at nang makita ko ang pangalan niya... hindi na tintang dugo ang huling letra nito.

Sigurado ako na kumpleto na ito kanina. Nagkamali ba ako?

Sinuri kong mabuti ang death book, at wala na rin ang cause of death niya.

Is this the challenge of the Death God? What do I have to do?

Tinignan ko ang walang malay na katawan ni Van Kyle Chua. Kung hindi pa nakatinta ng dugo ang pangalan niya sa death book, does this mean he was given more time? But it never happened before. I have to ask the one who passed this challenge.

I warped back to the Death Collectors Society building and rushed to the 109th floor. In his usual way, Master Reeve was facing the floor to top window. Tinawag ko siya habang palapit ako, "Master Reeve" at lumingon siya sa akin.

"Saydie."

"Something happened..." Ikinuwento ko kay Master Reeve ang kakaibang nangyari sa pagsundo ko sa nakatakda ko dapat na ika-10,000th killer soul. Ipinakita ko rin sa kanya, ang tinta ng pangalan ni Van Kyle Chua sa death book.

"What do you think of it? Does it mean I failed?"

"Only one way to find out. Let's check your soul count," mungkahi ni Master Reeve. Sumang-ayon ako at nag-warp kami papunta sa receptionist ng building na si Crea.

"Good day, death grim reaper Reeve, and senior grim reaper Saydie. How can I help you today?" pagbati sa amin ni Crea nang walang emosyon.

"Soul count for Grim Saydie," sagot ni Master Reeve.

"Sure." Inilabas ni Crea ang death idol. Isang bungo na nag aapoy ng kulay dilaw ang mga mata. "Grim reaper Saydie, please put your right palm on the death idol."

Inilagay ko sa ibabaw ng bungo ang palad ko, at nagsimula itong humalakhak nang may dalawang mababang boses.

"Grim reaper Saydie. Your killer's soul count is... Nine thousand and nine hundred ninety nine," sambit ng death idol.

Tumalikod kay Crea si Master Reeve at lumakad, "Follow me, Saydie."

Sumunod ako kay Master Reeve at humawak ako sa kanang balikat niya. Sa isang iglap, nag-warp kami sa mundo ng mga nabubuhay. Sa rooftop ng isang building.

"Gano'n pa rin ang soul count mo, Saydie. And your target's name is still written on the death book with blood tint. It only means that you haven't failed and the death God started his challenge to you," sambit ni Master Reeve.

"What do I have to do?"

"I'm not exactly sure. Pero kung ihahalintulad ko sa challenge sa akin dati, you have to wait for more information that will soon come up on the death book. For now you have to be with him so you can rip his soul out once the blood tint is complete and once his cause of death appeared. Also... he can see you now and there's nothing we can do about that. His soul will be seen as someone who escaped death. There will be threats," sagot ni Master Reeve.

"What threats?"

"You'll soon find out..."

That was his last words before warping away. I don't know what exactly he means by threats but it seems I have to look over for Van Kyle Chua's soul until more information appeared and until his right time to die comes.