Life may not be all about
chasing happiness
and getting your desires
For sometimes it's just
a deception
to keep wanting for more.
An endless loop
where you are trapped.

/22/ The Heart's Deception

[...]

THE truth is, there was never been an Alpas.

The enigmatic bird was just one of the many interpretations of human beings using their faculty of imagination.

Throughout history, they are shifting in different forms in different places, in different eras. Alpas is just one of the thousands.

Who exactly are they?

They had many names, depende sa kung saang lokasyon at kung anong kultura. But these are for sure, they've been existing since the beginning of creation and they are very much alive in the modern world.

Unlike in ancient civilizations where humans are keen and united with nature and the supernatural, people today were just naive and clueless about their existence. Mostly, they're hiding away from the crowd, camouflaging in myths and legends. Some are just around, undetected, influencing indirectly daily human affairs.

To the superstitious, they offer something to appease them. To the unconscious pagans, they worship them in order to get what they need, like success and wealth. That sounds like they were gods, isn't it?

Yes, indeed, for them they're the 'little gods' of the world.

Subalit sa anong dahilan? Bakit sila naririto?

Karamihan ay may pagnanais na sila'y sambahin ng mga nilalang ng mundo upang magpatuloy na maghari sa lupa sapagkat wala na silang mababalikan sa kanilang pinanggalingan mula sa kalawakan.

Ang ilan ay nanunubok ng mga tao, nagbibigay ng mga bulong at suhestiyon. At mayroon namang nagbibigay ng mga kakaibang abilidad para patunayan na ang mga taong nilikha ng Maykapal ay hindi karapat-dapat sapagkat sila'y mga mahihina at abusado.

It's a big enigma to talk about who these beings are. They caused a lot of confusion in this world and they continue to spread havoc. They tirelessly put the beloved children of God to test, so that they can prove that humans are not worthy of eternal life after death.

Unexpected, right?

Who would have thought that the mystical bird that Louella wanted to find before was just a big sham?

The appeal of an enchanted and mysterious was just part of the deception to lure humans, just like what happened to Louella in the library. Hindi na siya ang naunang mahulog sa patibong na ito.

Nang gawin nila Lysander, Raven, at Ellon ang ritwal sa bundok kung saan ay nag-alay sila ng kanilang mga dugo ay simbolo ng pakikipagkasunduan sa mga nilalang na iyon. Just like the ancient shamans did ages ago, blood is an offering to them.

These spirits resurrected Ellon and Raven because they were tied to a forbidden agreement. They received new life, not from God but from these spirits who wanted only one thing: to prove that human hearts are rotten and corrupted.

The wings they gave to Ellon and Raven and to the others who entered the pact are just a projection of their loss. Because once upon a time, these little gods used to have wings too, but they started a rebellion and were forced to fall down on Earth from the heavens.

Nang makuha ni Ellon ang kanyang mga pakpak ay siyang hudyat na may kalakip itong kapangyarihan—kapangyarihang maging katulad nilang mga diyos-diyosan.

He felt different, much stronger but stranger. His senses were also heightened and he felt something inside—his heart beating, alive. What he didn't know, the new god of his heart was not entirely his own.

Sa kagulumihanan noong una ay nalimot niya sa kanyang isip ang kalagayan nina Lou, Lysander, at Raven. Hanggang sa unti-unti niyang napagtanto kung ano ang kanyang kayang gawin. Tumakbo siya sa kagubatan hanggang sa tumalon sa bangin at lumipad sa himpapawid.

"Ikaw na ngayon ang Alpas," tila may bumulong sa kanyang isip noong mga sandaling 'yon. "Wala nang makapipigil sa pagnanais ng iyong puso."

When Ellon thought about what was in his heart, he quickly remembered his family and the sacrifices he made for them. His heart began to beat faster and his body trembled because of the painful memories he had.

He was ecstatic then it was replaced by deep shame for himself. Naalala niya ang mga sinabi niya sa ritwal tungkol sa mga ginawa niya noon para lang kumita ng pera, he sold himself in order to make a living, to pay for his college tuition and to send money for his family.

But Ellon knew he wasn't the same as before, he knew that there was a power now in his hands and he would not let his past define him.

Ang pagkahiya'y kaagad ding napalitan ng nag-aalab ng emosyon—isang pagkamuwi hindi sa kanyang sarili kundi sa mundong hindi naging patas sa kanya.

Kaya napagdesisyunan ni Ellon na talikuran ang lahat para sundin kung ano ang nasa puso niya.

And sadly, it didn't matter to anybody.

*****

AS if in a single snap, Ellon got what he wanted in his life, massive wealth for his own and his family.

Kung dati'y wala silang sariling bahay ay naibili niya na ang kanyang pamilya nito sa isang exclusive subdivision. Pati sasakyan, negosyo, at mga luho ay naibigay niya rin sa kanila. Mayroon ding bukod na mga ari-arian si Ellon sa siyudad, condo unit, sports car, designer clothes, latest gadgets, at iba pa.

Noong una'y takang-taka ang pamilya niya kung saan at paano siya nakapundar ng maraming pera. Ang pagkakaalam nila'y nagdrop sa eskwelahan si Ellon at pumasok sa isang networking company. Nakumbinsi naman ang mga 'to nang mapagtantong tunay ngang mabilis na kumita ng pera sa gano'ng paraan.

Pero ang hindi nila alam na nababalot ng hiwaga ang pamamaraang ginawa ni Ellon.

It wasn't that hard for him to figure out what he could do with his power. A voice inside his head dictated what he should do and where he should go next to fulfill his desires.

Noong una'y dinala si Ellon sa isang sugalan at walang kahirap-hirap siyang nanalo sapagkat tila may kakayahan siyang malaman kung ano ang dapat pustahan. Gamit ang maliit na halagang naipon niya'y walang kahirap-hirap niya 'yong napalaki. From the cheap gambles in the streets, he slowly climbed up until he reached the high-end casinos in the metro.

Ellon also discovered that not only he can correctly predict the right bets, but he could also somehow manipulate a machine's outcome. He hit the jackpot so many times and to avoid suspicions, he moved to the next game.

Kaagad nakilala si Ellon sa mga casino subalit nang maging kaduda-duda na ang kanyang mga pagkapanalo ay nagpasya siyang lumipad ng ibang bansa. Doon ay mas lalong nagkaroon ng reputasyon si Ellon. He easily won all the games whatever he wanted.

Eventually he was noticed by the underground outlaws, he knew he was being watched but Ellon didn't mind it at all. Hinayaan niya pa nga na makidnap siya ng mga 'to dahil sa laki ng nilugi ng sindikatong grupo sa mga pagkapanalo niya.

He faced death but his demeanor remained calm for he already died once. Doon din napagtanto ni Ellon na bukod sa mga nagawa niya noon ay may mas higit pa pala siyang kayang gawin sa kanyang kapangyarihan.

He easily dodged the bullets and using his bare hands he took all the goons down. Dahil sa insidente ay kumalat ang pangalan ni Ellon sa underworld ng mga organisadong kriminal.

At first, Ellon wasn't really interested but he suddenly got bored with winning every jackpot in games he could find. The desire in his heart was unsatiable, so he went for more games but this time, it was a dangerous one. He came to believe that he was untouchable because of his power.

For the sake of thrill, Ellon joined a fraternity in Europe and became its henchman. He felt alive, like the main character of his own action movie, he was incredibly strong to fight anyone, he could get any woman he wants, and all the riches are already in his hands.

Ano pa nga ba ang mahihiling niya gayong nasa kanya na ang lahat? At anumang naisin niya sa mundo ay kayang-kaya niyang makuha.

As Ellon became stronger and richer, his heart still never felt fulfilled. Like there's a big hole in it that he could never fill despite all the money and all the things he could get.

Why?

He couldn't understand.

His heart kept on wanting for more... and more... and more...

Hanggang sa isang araw nagising na lang siya na hindi na niya makuhang sumaya kahit na nakuha na niya ang gusto niya.

He was disturbed and confused for he knew that life's meaning is about achieving dreams and desires.

But why he's not happy?

What's lacking?

What Ellon didn't know is that the truth that was told by a prophet long ago, that we could never trust the heart for it is the most deceitful above all things. Of course, he wouldn't realize that for he was blinded by his emotions. He's too blinded by his selfishness that he couldn't see it, that despite having wings, he's imprisoned in this world. 

No, he would never see it because of his deceitful heart.

When he got finally bored with the shenanigans of his fraternity, he disappeared from them. He flew around the world, to find something or anything in order to satisfy his heart.

Still, he failed.

In the midst of an internal crisis, suddenly a thought emerged in his mind.

He finally remembered the friends he left.

He remembered Lou.

And again, his heart told him that she was the one who could only fill the void.

Ellon made up his mind, he will get her, the girl of his dreams. He will marry her, settle with her, have kids with her—and then finally he can be happy. That's it.

It wasn't that hard to find Lou if there's an ability at his disposal.

He went to search for her and finally, after so many agonizing months—he was happy to see her again.

But that happiness quickly fades when he quickly saw in her mind that she's happy with someone else.

And Ellon thought he will get her no matter what.