I.

700 years ago, a respected and famous shogun was gifted with wisdom and strength making him the most powerful man next to the emperor. He was dubbed as the man from the heavens for his kindness and compassion to the people despite being a shogun. However, a sudden event made him ascend to heaven earlier than expected. He ends up ascending and descending the heavens multiple times for centuries making him the worst gifted ever entered the heavens. His reasons for descending were unknown. What could his life be, before he became the lost gifted of heavens?

As if familiarity strikes his memory when he read the blurb of the book laying on top of the library's table. Hindi niya alam kung bakit at napahawak nalang siya sa ulo niya bago ibinalik ng tuluyan sa mesa ang libro. It doesn't have the barcode that all of the books own by the library has. The owner probably left it there.

"Ayos ka lang?"

Napalingon siya sa kasamahan niyang tinapik siya sa balikat. They were there to research the history of ancient kingdoms around the world. Who could provide better information than a well-respected old library?

"I'm fine. Iinom muna ako ng tubig sa labas."

Umalis na na siya't iniwan ang kasama, at ang libro sa mesa. Napailing siya. He would never be okay. How did he even descend again?

The book's blurb resembles his circumstances very well. Aside from the fact that he doesn't really remember who he was before. All he knew was that he descended and ascended to heaven multiple times that he doesn't even remember most of his mortal lives.

After staying outside the library and drinking some water he immediately went inside. Bumalik siya sa mesang binabaan niya ng libro at nakitang nakaupo na roon ang tatlo niya pang kasama.

"Ashton? Natagalan ka ata."

"Dehydrated." Umupo s iyasa tabi ni Red at tumingin sa ngayong malinis na mesa. "Nasaan ang libro?"

"Ah? Yung fantasy chuchu ba?" Napaangat s niyag tingin kay Alexa na siyang nakaupo sa harapan niya. "Kinuha na nung may-ari."

His brows met. Who could be the owner of that book?

"Do you know that book?"

"It is a self-published book. It wasn't for sale," Arina replied. She was Alexa's twin. "Why? Are you interested in that book Ash?"

Ashton shrugs his head. He was more interested in the writer of that book. 

Red, Alexa, and Arina are his clubmates on one of the small book organizations formed in the city. He met them all online and they were gathered as they all have interests in history-related books. 

They all have specific countries they wanted to discover and Ashton read about ancient Japan a lot more than the other countries.

"I have to go." Ashton stood by his seat. Ayaw maalis sa isip niya ang librong nakita niya kanina. He needs to find the owner.

"Too early eh?" Pagtatakang tanong ni Red. They knew Ashton would rather not leave the library and just focus on reading but this time he was the first one to go.

"May pupuntahan pa ako."

Ashton didn't wait for an answer. He just wanted to find the owner of that book as soon as possible. Who knows when will the Gods ascend him again. Maybe that book could give him answers to why he never settled in the heavens.

It's late in the afternoon pero marami pa ring mga tindahan ang bukas. There are nearby cafes and some of them have seats and tables placed outside. Kung kaya't kapag dumadaan siya ay nakikita niya ang gamit ng ilang napaparoon. 

There he saw a familiar blue book in front of a lady who was busy typing on her phone. 

Walang nakaupo sa harapan ng babae kung kaya't lumapit siya rito upang kausapin ito.

"Excuse me?"

Napaangat ng tingin ang babae. 

Her eyes fixed to the foreign-looking man with eyes so enticing that she can't even comprehend. As if she suddenly saw some colors looking at him.

"Ah. Bakit? Uhm, you may have a seat?" She pointed the seat opposite to hers in which he immediately sat and extended his hands.

"I'm Ashton."

"Mallory. You can call me Mal. I can call you Ash right?"

As if for some reason, Mallory was talking to a man, to a stranger yet she never felt threatened and scared by his presence so she knew she'll be fine alone with him. Besides they're outside the cafe, nothing bad could happen, right?

"I was just curious about that bo." Itinuri ni Ashton ang librong nasa mesa. Agad naman itong kinuha ni Mallory at itanago sa sling bag nito.

"Ah! Sorry—"

"No. No. No. I—I accidentally read the blurb earlier in the library. I just want to know if where could I buy it?"

Mallory can't help but to gape hearing Ashton's words. As if she heard the most beautiful words for today. 

"Seryoso ka?"

"Do I look like not?"

"I mean— you really like the book?"

"I just saw the blurb. I'm interested. You wrote it?"

Mallory shrugged. "It's by my friend. Do you want to meet her? She would be happy knowing someone aside from me likes her work!"

Ashton looked confused about how Mallory acted. He thought it was her story but apparently, it wasn't. He was somehow disappointed to know it for some reason.

"Mukhang nandito na nga siya eh." Mallory waves to the person behind Ashton's back. "Natasha!"

"Sorry, Mal medyo busy lang ako kanina kaya hindi kita nasip—oh? May date ka? Gwapo ah?" Lumapit si Natasha sa harapan nilang dalawa.

Ashton immediately stood up and offered his hand to Natasha. "I'm Ashton, uhm Mal's friend?" Lumingon siya kay Mallory upang makasigurado. "We're now friends right?"

"Ah yes." Tumayo rin si Mallory at humarap kay Natasha. Her smile could probably reach from ear to ear. Goofing as she teases Natasha. "Guess what? You have a new fan!"

"A fan?" Lumingon si Natasha kay Ashton na nakangiti sa kanila. "Siya?"

"I read your blurb. Do you have plans publishing it?" Ashton asked before turning his head to Mallory. "Or could I just borrow the book she has?"

He just wanted to read the book as soon as possible. Pakiramdam niya ang librong iyon ay may kinalaman sa buhay niya.

"We can't be sure about you. Baka ibenta mo pa to' kunwari ikaw ang may gawa. Ayoko."

"Tasha."

"Mal, you've just met this guy today, right? You can't just trust him immediately."

Ashton just realized it too. They've just met today and here he is asking about the book which was very odd in any way. 

"How about I help you so you could publish your book?" Ashton said without hesitation. He might be living a simple life but he has tons of connections one could ever think of.  "Mal, probably wants the same thing to happen."

Tumango-tango si Mallory na para bang batang pinagbigyan. Mal had always wanted Natasha to publish her work. Natasha's works of ancient fictional history that also involve some touch of fantasy always fascinated her. Matagal na niya itong pinilit na ma publish ang gawa niya pero hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin ito pumayag.

She was hoping for it to be published. Natasha's work deserves attention and appreciation. At the back of her head, she was crossing her fingers hoping Natasha would agree, though there's probably just a 10 percent chance of her agreeing to Ashton's agreement.

"Okay deal." 

"Wait what?" Mallory couldn't believe it even though she was hoping Natasha would agree but she's still shocked. "Yey!"

"In one condition," Natasha looked at Ashton. "Give me a month's time to revise and fix the book. Bawal mo akong tawagan o anuman."

"Then how could I even contact you?" Ashton gave Natasha a strange look. What a weird condition Natasha gave him. 

"Mallory."

"Ako?" Itinuro pa ni Mallory ang sarili niya. "Anong ako?"

"You're our means of communication. You both exchange contacts. I'll contact you, you contact him. Easy peasy."

Nagkatinganan sina Ashton at Mallory, pareho silang dalawa na naguguluhan sa desisyon ni Natasha. Couldn't Natasha just call Ashton directly?

"Ang gulo mo, Tasha."

Inilapit ni Natasha ang sarili kay Mallory. "I'm doing you a favor. Wala ka pang kaibigang lalaki at malay mo magkadevelopan din kayo?" She then chuckled. 

"Even if I wanted, we shouldn't. Hindi ko lang trip mga lalaki noh." Humarap si Mallory kay Ashton. "Here's my contact by the way."

"Oh, here's mine."

They both exchanged contacts as they realized that it was the start of their weird setup. Mallory agreeing to her bestfriend's weird conditions, just to have her publish her story, and Ashton doing everything to get a copy of Natasha's book. What could go wrong right?