Chapter VI

He stared at her in the bascinus who silently sleeping. He was tempted to visit her again in her dream.

But how can he? How can he make her dream another nightmare? He shouldn't be feeling this. The feeling of guilt. He should feel nothing but pleasure for taking her inside of her dream.

"Why are you doing this to me...Araceli?" he whispers as he dismisses his fingers on the bascinus.

"Chief..."

Thamuz entered the hall with his two companions.

"The Eight Order is moving again, Chief. One of our members of lower classes was eradicated by the winged men."

"Does his Lordship knows about this?" he asks while contemplating things.

"No, Chief. I thought I'd tell you first." Thamuz answered.

"The winged men...do you know who he is?"

"He belongs to the third hierarchy, chief." he said that made him abruptly glared at him.

"An Archangel?!"

"Not just an Archangel. He is the chief of all angels."

His hands balled with anger. How many centuries has it been since he met him? How many centuries since their last battle?

"How dare you, Michael!" he hissed.

***

Five men were massacred outside the Cagsawa chapel.

Ara cringe her nose as she reads the headline on the newspaper. Kakababa niya lang at galing kuwarto. She's ready for work.

"Evildoers will rot in hell," she heard her father said.

"Good morning, Papa," bati niya saka umupo sa dining table. Tumabi siya kay Mason na busy sa pag-kain.

"Eat your breakfast," sabi nito sa kaniya.

"Si Mama at Tita Belen po?" tanong niya habang kumukuha ng bread toast.

"They went to market early. Gagamitin mo ba ang sasakyan mo ngayon?"

"Opo, Pa,"

"Mmm, Mason. Ihatid mo nga itong si Ara. Paalagaan mo muna si Euki sa Lola mo,"

"Papa, I can drive on my own. At saka ayaw kong maabala si Kuya,"

"It's okay, sis. Mag-co-commute na lang ako pabalik," nakangiting sabi sa kaniya ni Mason.

"Pero Kuya—"

"Delikado na sa labas, Ara. See this?" ipinakita nito ang diyaryo na binabasa niya. "Five innocent men were killed. I just want you safe."

Tumango na lamang ang dalaga. She doesn't want to argue with her father dahil ayaw niyang masira ang araw niya. Mas lalo lamang itong mangungulit.

"Kuya..." tawag niya sa kapatid habang nagda-drive ito.

"Mmm?"

"May crush ako," sabi niya sabay tawa. Pakiramdam niya ay isa siyang highschooler na nagsasabi sa kapatid.

"Sa edad mong iyan may crush ka pa?" natatawang komento ng kapatid niya at nginusuan niya lamang ito.

"Ang guwapo kasi, eh!" she said dreamy. Naalala na naman niya ang nangyari kagabi. Sana hindi iyon ang huling pagkakataon na makita at makausap niya ang lalaki.

"Sino ba 'yan?" nakasimangot na sabi ng Kuya niya.

"Uyy! Si Kuya interesado," pang-aasar niya.

"Sino nga!"

"Hindi ko alam pangalan niya, eh. Basta ang guwapo niya. Medyo seryoso kasi lagi ang mukha niya pero ang perfect niya talaga."

"Matanda ka na, Ara. You know your limitation. Basta crush lang 'yan, ha?"

"Crush lang nga," pagpupumilit niya pa at ngumiti ito sa kaniya.

"As much as I wanted you to experience love, gusto ko namang mapunta ka sa matinong lalaki."

Napangiti lamang siya sa kapatid. She has the sweetest brother ever.

Pumasok si Ara sa building at kasabay niyang nag time-in si Jecca.

"Good morning," she greeted her bestfriend.

"There's no good in morning, Ara," nakasimangot nitong sabi.

"Oh, bakit?" nagtataka niyang tanong.

"I woke up with a terrible headache. God! I wanted to hammer my head!"

"Hindi ka nakatulog ng maayos?" she asks.

"Nakatulog naman. Siguro sa mata na 'to. Ang sama talaga ng pakiramdam ko," Jecca pouted.

"Dapat hindi ka na pumasok,"

"Kaya nga, eh. Pero ang dami ko kasing trabaho na naiwan, eh."

"Kumusta naman pala iyong date mo no'ng Saturday?" tanong niya at biglang umasin ang mukha ng kaibigan.

"That asshole didn't show up! Alam mo bang nakatulog ako sa park kakahintay sa kaniya?! Bwesit! I almost had a nightmare!"

"Sabi ko naman kasi sa'yo, eh,"

"I know. Wala kasi akong kadala-dala. Anyway, you look blooming. Anong bago?" tanong nito.

"Wala naman," nakangiti niyang sagot.

"Ano nga?" pangungulit sa kaniya ni Jecca.

"Mamaya ko iku-kuwento," she said as she pressed her fingers on the biometrics.

"Aba, may pa-ganiyan-ganiyan ka na, ah?" she said chuckling. "Gusto ko 'yan!"

Sabay na umakyat ang dalawa papuntang office nila. Naabutan nila si Miranda na pinapagalitan sina Joan, Jerry, Mae, at Krizza. May hawak itong papeles at halos mapaigtad si Ara nang ibagsak ni Miranda ang papeles sa sahig.

"This is a trash! I told you to do it right! Hindi ba kayo marunong gumamit ng excel? Is my team really an incompetent one?!" bulyaw ni Miranda.

Mabilis na inilagay ni Ara ang bag niya sa cubicle at tumabi kay Mae na parehong nakahelera sa tabi ng dalawang ka-opisina na pinapagalitan.

"And why are you two late?!" Miranda said narrowing her eyes on both of them.

Sasagot sana si Ara pero naunahan siya ni Jecca.

"On time naman po kami sa pag time-in, Ma'am," Jecca answered. Halatang hindi nagustuhan ng babae ang sagot ng kaibigan niya kaya lumapit ito sa kanila. Nanlilisik ang mga mata nito.

"That's your basis of not being late Ms. Hugo?" she asks.

Pakiramdam ni Ara ay nangilabot siya sa paraan ng pagtanong ni Miranda. There was something in her voice that sounds like a warning. And for a moment ay parang gustong pigilan ni Ara ang kaibigan para huwag na itong sumagot pa at magpakumbaba.

"I believe we have that biometrics for a reason, Ma'am. As long as my fingers are read before eight o'clock, it means I am not late." Jecca answers confidently. Hindi niya rin alam kung saan nakukuha ng kaibigan niya ang lakas ng loob para sagutin ang department head nila. Pero hindi niya maiwasan na bumilib dito. Her bestfriend is one tough lady.

"Let's see how far you're going with that attitude, Ms. Hugo," tanging nasabi ni Miranda bago ito pumasok sa opisina nito.

Lahat ng ka-opisina nila ay napatingin kay Jecca at lahat ito ay nakangisi.

"Idol!" mahina ngunit natatawang sabi ni Jerry. Ang nag-iisa lalaki sa department nila.

"Tsk. Bakit ba kasi kayo nagpapatalo sa witch na 'yan?" Jecca said arching her eyebrow. Napapailing na lang si Ara sa inaakto ng kaibigan.

"Kung hindi lang talaga mataas ang sahod dito baka matagal na akong umalis," rinig niyang sabi ni Mae kay Krizza.

***

Halos makahinga si Ara nang makalabas siyang building. Papunta sana siya sa parking lot kung saan ang kotse niya nang salubungin siya ni Clay. Nakangiti ito sa kaniya.

Ang guwapo nito sa suot niyang white t-shirt and black cardigan. She even noticed his new undercut hair.

"Hi!" he greeted her.

"Clay..." she said beaming at him.

"Puwede ba kitang ihatid ngayon?" tanong nito.

"Dala ko sasakyan ko, eh," nahihiyang sabi ni Ara. Ilang beses na niya kasing ni-reject ang lalaki kaya sobra siyang nagi-guilty.

"Maybe I should court a girl who hasn't have a car," natatawang sabi nito kaya napangiti na rin siya.

"Maybe next time, Clay. Promise I'll text you if ever I won't be able to drive,"

"How about a date...on Saturday?" he said grinning that made her chuckle.

"That would be fine," she said.

"Great! So see you on Saturday, Ara," sabi nito at nakangiting tumango lang ang dalaga.

Nang umalis ang binata ay saka lang siya pumuntang parking lot. Kasabay niya sanang uuwi si Jecca pero nauna na ito sa kaniya.

She entered her car and started the engine. Just as she was about to drive when she felt one her tire fluctuate. Agad niyang tiningnan ang side mirror niya at napakunot na makitang flat ang gulong sa likod.

"What?" she said almost audible. Lumabas siyang sasakyan at halos manlumo nang makitang flat ang gulong sa likod.

"Kapag minamalas ka nga naman," tanging nasabi niya.

Bumalik siya sa loob ng kotse at kinuha ang phone niya sa bag. She scanned her brother's number and called him.

"I think it's karmic's payback," she heard someone say.

"Excuse me—" natigilan siya nang makita niya kung sino ang nag-salita. Agad siyang lumabas ng kotse at hinarap ito. "Ikaw pala," she said trying to suppress the eagerness of seeing him again.

"You want my help?" he asked.

"Do you have a spare tire?"

"Sinisingil mo na agad ako?" he said then smirked.

"N-naku...hindi sa gano'n—"

"I think we should stop seeing each other like this," sabi nito kaya bahagyang napakunot-noo ang dalaga.

"What d'you mean—"

"I'm Thorn," he extends his arms on her at agad iyong kinuha ng dalaga.

Halos manghina siya nang mahawakan niya ang kamay nito. It was warm. Para bang binilad nito ang mga palad nito sa init.

"I-I'm Ara..."

"I know," he said.

Gusto niyang isipin na baka inalam nito ang pangalan niya. But she was wearing her ID. So she knew he just read her name from it.

"I don't have a spare tire but I can call a tow truck for you," he said. Napatingin siya sa wrist watch niya. For sure punuan ang jeep sa terminal kung saan siya sumasakay pauwi. Or she could just call her brother to fetch her.

"Huwag na siguro. Bukas ko na lang papapalitan kay Kuya," she said.

"Then let me ferry you home."

"N-naku! Huwag na. Kahit sa terminal na lang," she said.

Thorn stared at her...deeply. As is he was reading her soul. As if he was deciphering something in her.

"You are amiably impeccable, Araceli. Do you know that?" he said that made her cringe her nose as she chuckled.

"Amiable...maybe. Impeccable? Ang OA na no'n," natatawa niyang sabi. She was expecting for him to laugh too. Pero seryoso lamang itong nakatingin sa kaniya.

"Ihatid na kita sa terminal," was all that he said as he turns away from her. Did she offend him again? She is so freaking awkward.

Sumunod naman siya sa lalaki. Naka-park ang sasakyan nito hindi kalayuan sa kotse niya. His car was black. It looks very masculine for her. She's not familiar with the kinds and brand of cars but she knew that his was twice the price as hers.

"Get in," he said as he opens the door. Lumulan naman siya at mabilis itong naglakad papunta sa kabila para makasakay.

When he started driving, that's when Ara realized that she is alone by the only person that make her feel awkward yet thrilled.

Pakiramdam niya ang bilis ng mga pangyayari. Hindi naman sa nag-a-assume siya. It just feels surreal. Kahit kailan ay hindi pa siya napansin ng crush niya. She is, and always be the invisible girl to everybody.

"You shouldn't be too kind, Ara. People will take advantage on you," he said that made her look at him.

"H-hindi naman..."

"Aren't you suspected of me? We're alone and I could always U-turn to bring you to a place where I can do whatever I want,"

"Are you trying to scare me?" she asked and innocence was written all over her face.

"I'm not. My point is that, what if it's not me who offered you a ride? Will you go without hesitations?"

Napangiti lamang ang dalaga.

"You have an unusual name for a man. You are stranger to me though it's not our first time seeing each other. You said it's karmic's way of paying me back. So why would I suspect you? Besides, I know you're not that kind of a guy who will do something bad especially to a girl like me."

He didn't reply to her but instead, he sped up his drive. Mabilis silang nakarating sa terminal. But to Ara's dismay, wala nang jeep papuntang Daraga.

"M-maybe I should really call my brother to pick me up," sabi niya at nagsimulang mag-text.

"Ihahatid na kita," seryosong sabi ng lalaki pero umiling lang ang dalaga.

"Malayo ang Daraga. Nakakahiya sa'yo—"

"I really don't like it if someone says no to me. And believe me when I say, I always get my way."

She felt her spine shiver. Pakiramdam niya nagtaasan ang balahibo sa braso niya. Why does it sounds fearful yet something inside her stir as if she wanted it.

_________________________

 Talasalitaan:

Bascinus - A basin with water that is used by the Chief Incubus to see whatever he desires.

Winged Men - Other name for Archangels.