Devil's Desire

Chapter 3

ALAS KWATRO pa lang ng umaga ay nakadilat na ang aking mga mata. Iyon ay dahil sa kapitbahay kong nagsisigawan at halos magpatayan na dahil lang sa isang simpleng dahilan. Nakatira ako sa isang barong-barong at halos magkakadikit lang ang mga bahay. Kaya konting kaluskos lang ay nagigising na ako.

Pinili kong dito manirahan kesa sa bahay na binigay ni Deyja. Doon kasi ay wala akong marinig na ingay mula sa mga tao kaya hindi ko maiwasan na maisip ang lalaking dahilan kaya nakalimutan ko kung paano ngumiti at maging masaya.

Niyakap ko ang aking sarili nang umihip ang malamig na simoy ng hangin. Dalawang araw pa lang ako rito sa Authi ay naririndi na ako sa ingay, idagdag na rin ang polusyon. Kailan ba uunlad ang bayan na ito? Mukhang wala nang pag-asa dahil bawat tao na makasalubong ko ay lulong sa droga o kaya naman ay nakatutok lang sa paglalaro ng braha. Ang mga bata ay nagkalat sa lansangan.

Yesterday a five year old girl died because of high fever. Hindi agad siya naisugod sa hospital dahil abala ang kanyang magulang sa pagtatalo. Talk about responsibility and priorities.

I yawned softly while covering my mouth as I stood up from my bed and walked outside my small room. Tanging kurtina lang ang nagsisilbing pinto kaya madali lang para sa akin ang lumabas. I walked straight to the mini kitchen and grabbed the sachet of coffee and the thermos at the same time.

Kape lang ang iinumin ko para sa agahan dahil nagtitipid ako. Wala akong sapat na pera upang tustusan ang aking sarili kaya kailangan kong maghanap ng trabaho. What kind of job will suit for an

fallen angel like me?

I don’t have any educational background because all I did was to learn how to survive and to guide souls. Then I remembered the reason why am I here in the Authi. Maybe I should find a club or bar that has a lot of sinners.

So with a wicked smile on my face, I take a bath in the small bathroom. The walls are made of old wood that has holes tampered with a duct tape. Pagkatapos kong maligo ay naglagay ako ng pabango saka sinuklay ang aking buhok. I wore the red tube dress that I own and just mess my short hair using my fingers because I’m too lazy to grab a comb.

Nang lumabas ako sa bahay ay

sumalubong sa akin ang nagtatakbuhang mga bata. Malaki ang ngiti sa kanilang mga labi habaang sila ay nagsasaya. I never experienced that kind of childhood so I’m a little envious. Kasi hindi naging hadlang sa kanila ang kahirapan upang maging masaya.

Nagpasya akong maglakad dahil wala naman akong masasakyan. Dumaan ako sa maliit na eskinita kung saan ay nakakasalubong ko ang mga binatang lumiban sa klase at nagtatago sa kanilang mga magulang hindi mapagalitan.

They all look at me with admiration, some of them didn’t hesitate to stare at my cleavage, and some of them smiled at me.

“Miss, bago ka lang dito sa Authi?” tanong ng isa sa kanila.

I nod my head twice and didn’t bother to speak. I don’t want to waste my energy for having a small talks to the strangers, especially to the minors.

“May shota ka na po?”

“Just leave me alone kids. I’m in a hurry.” Tinalikuran ko silang lima ngunit sadyang may makulit talaga. One of them aggressively grabbed my arm and pulled me closer to him. He wrapped his arms around my waist and sniffed my neck. His friend just laugh and when I look at their eyes, I saw the hunger and lust.

“Bakit ka naman nagmamadali? Hindi mo ba nais na makasama kami? Kahit sandali lang?” he asked while smirking.

Hindi ako gumalaw o nagsalita upang makaramdam sila na hindi ko gusto ang kanilang ginagawa ngunit manhid sila. Doon ko napansin ang isa sa kanila na tahimik lang sa isang tabi at halatang ayaw makisama dahil nakayuko siya at pinaglalaruan ang kanyang daliri na tila kinkabahan.

“Tol, mukhang si Pablo ang gusto ni Miss Beautiful at hindi ikaw.” Tumawa silang lima at tinukso ang lalaking tinawag nila na Pablo.

“Yes, I want him,” I said in a cold voice. They all look at me like I said something wrong. While Pablo’s eyes widened in fear when I mentioned his name. He nervously looked at his friends while slowly lifting his finger to point at himself. Subali’t imbes na bitiwan ako ay mas lalong hinigpitan ng lalaki ang pagkakayakap sa aking bewang. I can even feel his fingernails dug on my flesh.

“No, choose me instead of him. I can bring to you heaven.”

Natawa ako na tanging kami lang ang nakakarinig. Pinaglandas ko ang aking kamay mula sa kanyang dibdib hanggang sa mahawakan ko ang kanyang galit na p*********i.

“Sorry, I’ve been there and it isn’t fun, besides you’re a little tiny. How can you satisfy me?” I seductively asked and pushed his chest using my middle finger. His face is as red as tomato while glaring at me. Mukhang napahiya ko siya, ngunit bago pa siya makapagsalita ay hinila ko na si Pablo paalis. He was trying to remove my hands that was gripping his wrist but when I looked back at him he behave like a child that scared to be scolded by his mother.

“Pasensya na po,” bulong niya, sapat na upang marinig ko.

Naiinis na binalingan ko siya nang tingin saka hinigpitan ang pagkakahawak sa kanyang palapuluhan kaya napangiwi siya. But he didn’t complain, he just let me drag him by force. He’s so submissive, naïve, and timid, like he is not used to being around any other female specie.

“Chill, you are so tensed. I don’t bite… breathe, Pablo.”

DOMINIQUE WAS talking to a man nicely but I saw how scared he is. Dominique has no idea that the guy can see her halo, which is the reason why he is uptight and doesn’t want to look straight into her eyes because her olive green eyes are hypnotizing. It feels like you are looking into a whole new world while just staring at it. Dominique suddenly wrapped her hands around Pablo’s arms then she smiled sweetly. Pablo was taken aback but he managed to hide his reaction.

“Are they hurting you? I’m talking about those disrespectful guys.” Dominique rolled her eyes then her smile turned into an evil smirk while remembering what happened.

“Hindi naman nila ako sinasaktan, talagang ayaw ko lang ng ginagawa nila kaya hindi ako nakikisali.”

Kunwa’y tumango si Dominique saka binitawan ang braso ni Pablo. Dali-dali siyang naglakad palayo kaya nagtaka ang binate. Agad na hinabol niya si Dominique upang itanong kung may problema.

“Can you help me? I need a job, kahit ano basta ‘yong magkakapera ako.”

She look so desperate so Pablo couldn’t help but to feel sorry for her. He didn’t think twice to help her.

“Maaari kitang tulungan. Anong klaseng trabaho ba ang hinahanap mo?” he calmly asked Dominique. Tumigil silang dalawa sa isang tabi nang sa gayon ay makapagusap sila ng maayos. Dominique sat on the elevated seat while staring at Pablo who was twiddling his thumbs.

“Sa club, magsasayaw ako.” Biglang humagalpak ng tawa si Pablo dahil akala niya ay nagbibiro lang ang dalaga. Subali’t nang makita na seryoso ang kanyang mukha ay natigilan siya at agad na natahimik.

“May kilala akong nagtatrabaho sa club. Iyong ate ko, ipapakilala na lang kita para naman matulungan ka niya. Bago ang lahat, maaari ko bang malaman ang pangalan mo?” Pablo’s face turned red after asking for her name. Dominique stretched her arms to offer her hand to me.

“I’m Dominique, you can also call me Yza.”

Napatango si Pablo saka natahimik dahil hindi niya alam kung ano ang sunod na sasabihin. Dominique noticed it but she didn’t bother to talk, so the silence conquered them.

HEIVA HURRIEDLY entered Deyja’s place to tell her the news that she heard. Hinalughog niya ang buong paligid ngunit hindi niya matagpuan ang dyosa.

She was scared that Deyja might leave her place and went to Authi to check Dominique. She's very fond of her and she didn't want to stay away from her. Parang anak na rin kasi ang turing niya kay Dominique kaya kahit ano ay ginagawa niya para sa dalaga.

She sat on the golden throne that Deyja owned and she yawned. Heiva felt a little sleepy so she pinched herself to keep herself awake.

Ilang sandali pa ang lumipas bago dumating si Deyja.

The latter frowned upon seeing Heiva who's half asleep on her seat. She decided not to bother her so she could rest, she knows how tired she is after doing a lot of work for human and to the other deities.

"Why did you visit me, Heiva?" she asked in a calm voice, trying to wake her up. Heiva stood up confidently then greeted her.

"Your kid," Heiva said referring to Dominique.

Deyja's forehead creased upon looking at Heiva's serious face. She patiently waited to what she was going to say. Galing siya sa Authi at nagtataka siya kung bakit hindi niya matagpuan si Dominique sa bahay na kanyang inihanda na siyang matitirahan niya. She tried to look for her but she's nowhere to be found, so Deyja was worried that something bad might happen to her.

"Did you see her? Where is she?" sunud-sunod niyang tanong sa dyosang kaharap.

"Your kid is in Authi, Deyja. She was hiding from you. Do you want me to do something so she can go back to that house?"

Agad na umiling si Deyja. Alam niya kung paano tumakbo ang utak ni Heiva at iyon ang kanyang ikinababahala sapagkat kaya niyang gumawa ng paraan makuha lang ang kanyang nais.

"Is that all you wanted say that's why you are here in my place?"

Natawa si Heiva saka marahang umiling. Tumayo siya nang tuwid saka pinagsalikop ang kanyang mga palad habang nakatitig sa mga mata ni Deyja.

"She's about to make a mess, Deyja. This might put her in danger. Kailangan mo siyang bantayan ng maigi. You know him, hindi siya papayag na mabunyag ang lihim tungkol sa mga anghel at dyosa. Maaari tayong mapahamak sa kanyang gagawin." Heiva looked so serious and Deyja knows that there's a high possibility that Dominique can cause something terrible, but she trust her.

Deyja remained quiet while just staring at Heiva's face. The latter knows that Deyja is already planning what her next move will be. Kilala ang dyosa sa pagiging wais at matalino, kaya hindi siya basta-basta gagawa ng hakbang na magiging dahilan ng kanyang pagkatalo. Deyja was obsessed on winning.

"Let Dominique do her thing, Heiva. I'll be the one to suffer if things don't go well."

Basta na lang umalis si Heiva dahil wala naman silang pag-uusapan pa. As soon as she arrived at her place, she was greeted by his royal guards. Kaya gano'n na lang ang pagbakas ng gulat sa kanyang mukha. Hindi kaagad siya nakagalaw.

"Your highness. My lord wants to see you." Nakayukong sabi ng kawal, hindi siya maaaring tumayo hangga't hindi niya naririnig ang tugon ng dyosang kaharap.

"I'll be there in a minute. I just need to get something in my room," Heiva calmly said but with authority. The royal guards stood up straight and left after hearing her response. Dali-daling naglakad si Heiva patungo sa kanyang silid at kinuha ang kahon na naglalaman ng espesyal na regalo mula sa mga diwata. She vanished and appeared right in front of the king. She bowed her head and handed her gift.

"It is a sword," maligayang sabi ng hari. Napangiti ng palihim si Heiva at hinanda ang sarili sa magiging reaksyon niya kapag siniwalat niya ang mga nangyayari kay Deyja.