Devil's Desire

Chapter 16

DALAWANG ARAW akong nanatili sa bahay ni Callum dahil hindi pa naghihilom ang saksak na aking natamo. Hindi ako nakakaramdam ng sakit ngunit kailangan na umarte ako upang hindi siya maghinala tungkol sa tunay kong katauhan. My last two days was filled with happiness and contentment, lalo na't alagang-alaga ako ni Callum. He was even working at home just to make sure that I'll be fine.

Batid ko rin na dalawang araw na akong hinahanap ni Christian. Bigla na lang kasi akong nawala sa hospital at wala siyang ideya kung saan ako napadpad. Well, I have to make sure that Celine is out of the picture, I don't want to drag her into this mess. Bata pa siya, marami pa siyang mararating sa buhay.

Napaayos ako nang higa dahil sa biglang pagbukas ng pinto. Pumasok si Callum na may dalang banquet tray na puno ng masasarap na almusal.

"Breakfast is ready, Yza. Wait, aalalayan na kita sa pag-upo at baka bumuka pa ang sugat mo," malumanay na aniya. Nilapag niya muna ang tray sa bedside table saka nilapitan ako. He put his hand on the back of my head and slightly pulled me up while adding another pillow on my back for support. Kinuha niya ang tray saka maingat na nilapag sa tabi ko.

"Kumain ka na. Ito lang ang nakayanan kong lutuin."

Napatingin ako sa mga nakahain at halos lumuwa ang mata ko. It wasn't a simple bacon and egg. He made a Brussels waffles, fruit yogurt, egg pie, and a glass of almond milk.

"Andami mo namang niluto para sa almusal," namamanghang sabi ko. I remembered him again. Bakit ba andaming pagkakatulad ni Nickel at Callum. I feel like everything is repeating.

"Para naman madaling gumaling ang sugat mo. Bakit kasi ayaw mo pa sabihin sa akin kung sino ang gawa niyan. I can find the culprit and put him in jail."

I teasingly rolled my eyes and shake my head vigorously.

"Sabi ko naman sayo, hindi ko iyon kilala kaya wala akong maituturo sa iyo."

Callum was just staring at my face, he slightly opened his mouth but shut it as soon as I narrowed my eyes. Kinuha niyo ang bowl na may lamang yogurt saka nilapit sa akin upang subuan ako. Hindi naman ako umangal, bagkus ay binuka ko ang aking bunganga upang masubuan niya ako. Hinayaan ko siyang pakainin ako dahil mukhang iyon ang kasiyahan niya.

"Yza, I know you will be mad but I can't help myself," bulong ni Callum. Nang ibaling ko ang tingin sa kanya ay napansin kong nakatitig siya sa dingding at namumula ang kanyang tenga at leeg.

"Why? What is it?"

He hurriedly stood up and sprinted outside the room, and when he came back, I saw him carrying a bouquet of red tulips.

Biglang bumagal ang takbo ng aking mundo habang pinagmamasdan si Callum na nakangiti habang papalapit sa akin. Right at that moment, I know that I'm staring to like him, because he is a gentleman and he knows how to take good care of me. Ngunit hanggang doon lang ang nararamdaman ko. Dahil tulad ng sinabi ko, maraming pagkakatulad si Callum at Nickel, at ayaw kong maulit ang nangyari. I don't want to end up grieving because of betrayal.

"Earth to Yza? Bakit nakatulala ka naman sa mukha ko? It was like you saw me for the first time," mag bahid ng pagbibiro na sabi ni Callum bago iabot ang bouquet na agad ko rin namang tinanggap saka inamoy. Hindi ko napigilan ang aking sarili na mapapikit dahil sa halimuyak ng mga bulaklak.

"You liked it. Kitang-kita sa mga mata mo. From now on, I'm going to give you flowers."

Natawa ako nang bahagya at napailing dahil batid kong imposible ang sinasabi niya. Sa una lang 'yan, dahil kapag nalaman na niya ang tunay kong pinagmulan ay iiwasan niya ako.

"Maghihirap ka, kaya huwag mo na akong bigyan ng bulaklak. I won't accept it," masungit kong saad saka siya inirapan. But he cackled instead of getting irritated. Iyon ang isa sa napansib ko kay Callum, bukod sa mahaba ang alaga niya, mahaba ang pasensya niya.

"Do you really like red colors? Napapansin ko kasi na puro pula ang suot mong damit, pati na rin ang ilang pag-aari mong gamit."

He's also likes to observe, maybe because of his job.

"I like your eyes, Callum," mahinang sabi ko, sapat na upang umabot sa kanyang pandinig. Natulala siya at tila nawala sa kanyang katinuan dahil hindi siya makapagsalita.

"Your eyes are mesmerizing and I always want to look at them, because your eyes tells a lot of different and interesting stories that I'd like to hear someday."

I am lowkey confessing but his mind is clearly not working, he was just looking at me, and he is speechless. So I jumped out of the bed and went to the terrace of his house to have a fresh air.

Kinapa ko ang aking bulsa saka kinuha ang pakete ng sigarilyo. Kumuha ako ng isang stick saka nilagay sa aking labi. I'm thinking what is Christian's reaction after knowing that I'm not in the hospital anymore. Tiyak akong hinahanap niya ako. He might be worried that I'd tell anyone about Celine. I removed the cigarette in my mouth and yawned silently.

"Yza? I'm going to leave for a moment. May aasikasuhin lang ako sa presinto. I'll be back before dinner. Huwag kang aalis sa bahay," aniya saka nagmamadaling lumapit sa akin. Hinawakan niya ang aking magkabilang pisngi saka hinalikan ang aking noo.

"Don't leave me, Yza. Dahil kahit saan ka magpunta ay hahanapin pa rin kita." He kissed my forehead again and slightly caressed my cheeks using his thumbs. Naipikit ko ang aking mata habang hinihintay na umalis siya. Few moments later, he left in front of me. I can feel the coldness of air hugging me and I felt lonely. Pumasok sa aking isipan ang mukha ni Nickel at hindi ko namalayan na tumutulo ang luha sa aking mata.

I thought that I already forgot him, but my heart still remember his name.

MALAKAS NA pagsabog ang yumanig sa buong lugar, kasabay nang pagbuga ng bulkan ng kumukulong putik at nagbabagang bato.

Napatayo si Deyja sa kanyang hinihigaan at napatakbo sa labas habang yakap ang kanyang sarili. She saw Heiva outside her home, watching the night sky and the volcano that was erupting.

"She's creating chaos, Deyja," she softly said and slowly turned around to face me.

"Your daughter is making a mess in the human world and it's because of you. Tagala bang hahayaan mo si Dominique na sirain ang buhay niya?"

Natigilan ako dahil sa kanyang sinabi. Kinagat ko ang aking dila saka huminga ng malalim habang palihim na kinukuyom ang aking kamay.

"Don't blame me, Heiva. I'm not doing anything that could harm her!" I exclaimed and glared at her, but she just laugh like she's losing her mind. She slowly lifted her hand and throw something at me.

Nasalo ko ang kanyang binato. It was a glass shaped like a flower. The color is red as a blood and Dominique's name is carved unto it.

"The prophecy is already written in her palms, Deyja. You didn't brought her there, it was her faith and she will end up just like you."

She gave me a mysterious look before vanishing in front of me.

Nabitawan ko ang binigay niya sa akin dahilan upang mabasag ito. I saw Dominique's death in the shattered glass and it made me worry about her. I snapped my hand to change my clothes and went to where she is.

Naabutan ko siyang umiiyak sa isang 'di pamilyar na bahay. She's panicking and I even noticed that her body is shaking, she's trembling and when I touched her shoulder, I felt the coldness of her skin.

"Dominique? Dominique! Look at me!" Niyugyog ko ang kanyang balikat upang kunin ang kanyang atensyon. Bahagya pa akong nagulat nang makitang basa ang damit niya at nang tingnan ko ang aking kamay ay puno na ito ng dugo.

I ripped her clothes and my jaw dropped after seeing her wound. Ang sugat sa likod niya ay mula sa isang espíritu na nabubuhay dahil sa poot. It was a vengeful spirit and her wound keeps on reminding her about her past, making her weak and vulnerable. Naiinis na hinaplos ko ang kanyang likod saka ginamit ang aking kapangyarihan upang alisin ang sugat na kanyang natamo.

After a few moments, she lost her consciousness. Dahil kaming dalawa lang ang nasa bahay na ito ay wala akong ibang pagpipilian kundi ang buhatin siya patungo sa kama, nang sa gayon ay hindi manakit ang kanyang likod sa paghiga sa sahig. I slowly tucked her in the bed and gently wiped away her tears. Gumawa ako ng maliit na bote na siyang pinaglagyan ko ng kanyang luha.

I'm going to make a weapon using her tears and my blood, and I hope that it will be powerful enough to stop the prophecy.

"HANAPIN MO si Dominique at dalhin sa akin! Dalawang araw na ang nakalipas at hindi mo pa rin siya matagpuan, Ken! I didn't know that you're incompetent!" galit na sigaw ni Christian sa kanyang road manager. Nakayuko lang si Ken sa kanyang harapan at kinakagat ang kanyang labi habang nag-iisip ng mga masasayang alaala upang hindi siya mainis sa sinasabi ng kanyang alaga. He know that if Christian is mad, no one can make him calm, not even his girlfriend Celine that was hiding because she's scared.

Batid ni Ken kung ano ang nangyayari sa kanyang alaga kaya nagtitimpi siya. Dahil kapag lumabas ang lahat ng kanyang sekreto ay madadamay siya. Dalawa sila ang mabubulok sa kulungan.

"Ken! Go ahead! Move!" sigaw niyang muli kaya tumalina si Ken. Walang emosyon ang mga mukha niya habang naglalakad palabas sa silid ni Christian.

He already went to different places but he still can't find her. Kahit sa club na pinagtatrabahuhan ng dalaga ay wala ito. Nagtanong na rin siya sa mga nakakakilala kay Dominique ngunit wala rin silang alam. And when he went to the hospital, the doctor told him that someone fetch Dominique, saying that he is the guardian. Nataranta pa siya dahil sinabi ng doctor na pulis ang sumundo sa dalaga.

Christian is livid because of that.

Kinuha ni Ken ang impormasyon tungkol sa lalaking sumundo kay Dominique at hinalughog niya ang buong lugar kung saan nakatira ang binata. At sa awa ng may kapal ay natagpuan niya rin ito.

Dominique was silently walking down the street while playing with the leaf that she picked on the road. She literally has no idea that Ken was about to abduct her.

Ken opened the door in the passenger seat and shouted Dominique's name. Napalingo naman ang dalaga at nang makita si Ken ay nakangiti niya itong nilapitan. But the latter covered her nose with a handkerchief that has some chloroform, which caused her to lose consciousness.

Agad na tinawagan ni Ken si Christian upang ibalita sa kanya na kasama na niya si Dominique. The latter was so happy that he even prepared some delicious and expensive food for the stubborn lady that he met. Ngunit habang naghahanda siya ay naalala niya na balak siyang takasan ng dalaga, kaya nagngingitngit ang kanyang kalooban. He wanted to choke her until he beg for him so stop.

"Lintik lang ang walang ganti," sabi niya.