CHAPTER XIII

ARACELI could not concentrate on her work because of Jecca who has been bothering her for the last ten minutes.

First, because she didn't go to work yesterday and she saw her with a man that made her even more curious. Second, there was a flower waiting for her at her desk with "I had a great time" note and eventually, her bestfriend, reads it.

"Nakakatampo ka sa totoo lang," Jecca said to her with a low voice.

"Jec, I'm telling you, wala lang talaga 'to. Besides, magku-kuwento naman ako sa'yo. Hindi lang sa ngayon," she explained but she saw her pouted.

Napabuntong-hininga naman siya. Hindi niya rin alam kung bakit ayaw niyang mag-kuwento. There was something about Thorn that makes him mysterious and she wanted to keep it that way.

"Ah, basta. Nakakatampo ka pa rin!" she heard her say kaya hindi na lang niya ito pinansin. Pinagpatuloy niya na lang ang trabaho dahil marami rin siyang paper works na naiwan dahil sa hindi niya pagpasok kahapon.

It was lunch time at sabay-sabay silang magkaka-opisina na kumain sa cafeteria. And for the first time in the cafeteria history dahil sobrang puno sa loob nito. Mabuti na lamang at may isa pang table na kakasya silang anim.

"May fiesta ba? Libre ang food?" rinig niyang tanong ni Mae sa isa sa mga empleyado.

"Hindi ko alam pero biglang ang sasarap ng menu tapos libre pa," sagot ng babae kaya biglang silang anim na napangiti.

"Bakit kaya?" nagtatakang sabi ni Joan.

Pumila sila sa food counter kung saan nakahanda na ang mga tray at pipili ka na lang ng ulam. Sobra talagang naninibago si Ara sa cafeteria ng kumpanya.

"Ang sasarap ng menu. Pero diet ako ngayon, eh. Nagpa-pasta kasi ako ng ngipin. Dapat mga soft foods lang. Medyo masakit pa nga 'tong molar teeth ko," sabi ni Krizza habang nakangusong nakatingin sa mga pagkain.

"Mag cup noodles ka na lang," her officemate Jerry suggested at tumango naman si Krizza.

"Ate, cup noodles lang sa akin," anang dalaga sa cafeteria helper pero umiling lamang ang matanda.

"Sorry, ma'am. Pinatapon po ng may-ari nitong kumpanya ang lahat ng cup noodles at instant noodles. May memo po kami tungkol do'n," paliwanag ng matanda.

"Ha?" sabay-sabay nilang sabi.

Nagkasalubong ang tingin ni Ara at ng matandang babae pero agad din naman itong nag-iwas ng tingin at animo'y kilala siya nito.

"Girl, mag-ghetti ka na lang," rinig niyang sabi ni Mae na tinanguan naman nito.

"Sige po, spaghetti na lang."

"Ikaw Ara, ano sa'yo?" Jecca asked her.

"Gusto ko...ah, iyon! Chicken parmesan," she said overwhelmed with the number of menus.

Nilagay ng matandang babae ang order niya sa tray niyang dala at sinamahan ito ng kanin at corn soup. Nakita niyang kumuha ng fruit salad dessert ang mga kasama niya. Kukuha rin sana siya nang biglang iabot sa kaniya ang matandang babae.

"Mansanas para sa iyong panghimagas, Ma'am Ara?"

She stared at the apple. Ang unang pumasok sa isip niya ay huwag itong kunin dahil hindi siya mahilig sa mansanas. Pero nakakahalina ang kulay nito. At kagaya ni Eba, siya ay naaakit rito. Wala sa sariling kinuha niya ang mansanas at ipinatong sa tray niya.

Naupo sila sa kanilang reserved table at nagsimulang kumain. Natural na maiingay ang mga katrabaho niya na pinangungunahan ng kaibigan niyang si Jecca. At sanay na rin naman ang mga ito sa kaniya sa pagiging tahimik niya.

After she ate her meal ay sunod niyang kinain ang apple. She took one bite at nang mag-angat siya ng tingin ay nakita niya ang lalaki na siyang dahilan kung bakit napapabagal at napapabilis ang tibok ng puso niya.

She beamed at him pero seryoso lamang itong nakatingin sa kaniya. Nakapamulsa ito at bigla na lang tumalikod. She has the urge to follow him.

Hindi nagpapaalam sa mga kasama na umalis siya sa table. Sinundan niya ang binata at naabutan niya ito lobby ng building. Nakasandal ito sa square pillar katabi ng isang malaking couch.

"Bakit hindi ka tumuloy sa cafeteria? Kumain ka na ba?" she asked.

"Napadaan lang ako at nakita kita," sagot nito sa kaniya.

"Talaga? So hindi ka pa nga kumakain? Gusto mo ba samahan kita sa loob? May libreng pa-lunch ang may-ari ng kumpanya. Masasarap ang menu," masaya niyang sabi rito ngunit umiling lamang ang binata.

"I'm full. Besides, the cafeteria seems...crowded."

"Oo nga, eh," pagsasang-ayon niya.

"Araceli..."

"Mmm?"

Matagal itong tumingin sa kaniya. He held her hand. Mas lalong lumakas ang kabog ng dibdib niya. She never believed of the tingling feeling everyone talked about whenever you hold someone's hand especially if you like them. But Ara couldn't believe it herself dahil ngayon mismo...nararanasan niya ito. As if every part of her body could understand her feelings.

Hindi namamalayan ni Ara na kanina niya pa nahigit ang kaniyang hininga kaya nang bitawan ng binata ang kamay niya ay parang nakahinga siya ng maluwang.

"I'll see you around," he said.

Tumalikod ito sa kaniya at naglakad palayo. Naiwan siyang nakatulala habang nakatingin sa kanang kamay niya. Nakakapaso ang init ng kamay niya. Or is it just her abnormal feeling.

Nag-angat siya ng tingi para sana sundan ng tingin ang binata pero wala na ito. Muling nagpakawala ng malalim na hininga ang dalaga at wala sa sariling napahawak sa dibdib niya at napangiti. Pakiramdam niya ay isa siyang highschooler na kinikilig sa crush niya.

***

He entered his office and his loyal subjects are already waiting for him. He sat on his swivel chair and without preamble, he released an energy ball killing a lowlife demon. Everyone inside lowered their head as they don't want to meet their Chief's fury.

"Who among you killed Sta. de Leones?!" he growled with rage.

No one answered that made him even angrier.

"I told you to never touch that man! Do you want me to send each and everyone of you at the pit of hell?!"

"Chief, none of us killed Sta. de Leones," said Thamuz who is the only demon who can reason with him.

"Then who?! How about those marks I've seen on his forehead? Are you telling me that a mortal killed him in his slumber and put an invisible archstar on his forehead?!" he asked with disbelief trying to suppress his power to kill another demon.

As if on cue, Zanilla blinked inside the office. And from the looks of her, she has important message to relay to the Chief.

"Everyone, get out...except you." He said pointing at Thamuz.

Everybody blinked away from the office leaving the Chief with Thamuz and Zanilla.

"The demon who killed Sta. de Leones was vanquish, Chief." Zanilla said that made his foreheard creased.

"Who's the demon and who vanquished him?"

"A lowlife demon, Chief. Keira told me that...that the lowlife demon received an order to his Lordship," Zanilla said with hesitations.

"Lucifer?!" he said incredulity.

"Yes, Chief."

He stood up from his seat and pace back and forth. He couldn't believe that Lucifer, for the second time, made a decision that's no loger his concern. And he even used his subjects.

Determined, his face darkened, ready to face him.

"I will talk to him," he said with a low perilous voice.

He blinked away from his office down to the underworld. How long has it been since his last visit? He couldn't say. But one thing is for sure. He hated this hellhole. He's a demon who hated the pit of hell. He hates the smell, he hates the burning sensation as if you were inside a massive oven, and he hates the sight. The place is a pure damnation for sinners.

He was walking in a tunnel that smells like a sewer with skulls and bones engraved on it. He could hear damned souls crying for salvation. He could hear unblessed children weeping with innocence.

A large gate greeted him with soldiers guarding it. Everyone recognized him as they lowered their head for respect. Two of them opened the gate.

"Welcome back, Chief Raguel." The demon said.

He mentally cringed when he saw the pit of hell at both sides of the bridge he was about to walk by. Souls who are in chains being drowned by the fire.

There's a cliff at the right side if the pit. One woman was thrown while the demon was evilly lauging. A line-up of corrupted souls ready to be thrown in hell.

Those who will face the final judgement wore nothing but a cloak and a chain on their hand.

Black cloak for murderers, rapist, and abusers. They are the favorites of demons who is punishing them. Their heads are being drown on fire pit. Demons do what they did to the person they murder and they've much enjoyed it if the soul asks for repentance because they knew it was too late.

Gray cloak for abortionist and those who have undergo abortion. They are being thrown at the fire pit and has been given with the illusion of their wrong doings.

White cloak for those souls who take their own life. They were never thrown at the fire pit, but they are the slaves of demon. They are the subject lust for fun, and embarassment for entertainment of the demons.

And red cloak for those corrupts officials, and those who use money for evil doings. They are with the worst punishment. They are being gagged, chained from head to toe while being dipped from fire pit.

If only he could tell to those humans what sins coul brought them.

He entered a palace covered with molten lava. Vicous demon greeted him. Different types, in different domain. He went to the ground hall where he could see eight pillars each with guards surrounding it. At the middle uppermost was a throne made of skulls and bones.

The one sitting on it wears red cloak with a hood enough to hide his face.

"To whom do I owe the honor of your visit, Raguel Asmodeus?"

"Lucifer..." he said trying to hide the hostility on his voice.

"It's been what...eighteen years since your last visit?" his Lordship said with eagerness.

"Why did you ask my subject to kill Sta. de Leones?" he asks without hesitations.

"Is that why you're here?" he said rather amused.

"Answer the question!" he snapped.

Lucifer stood from his throne. He removed his hood and his left rotting eyes showed. Everything about him shouts evil, ugliness, and darkness. It was his punishment after the fall. He's no longer the light bearer. He's now the symbol of demonic power and darkness.

"I think you owe me for that, Raguel. I just saved your ass up there," he said with a mischievous grin.

"I did not ask you to save my ass this time, Lucifer!" he deadpanned.

"Sta. de Leones is about to reveal the Abbys. Your downfall is my downfall, Raguel. Remember that."

"And because of that, I'm on Sariel's watchlist! You know I'm on my lielow!" he reasoned with annoyance.

"Hear, hear, Raguel. Sariel is just a guardian angel. You can take care of her. Or do you want me to take care of it for you?" he said grinning.

"Stop. Meddling! You might be the king of hell. But remember that I'm the leader of triad and the Chief Incubus. You don't want to see me angry, your Lordship!"

Lucifer narrowed his eyes on him. Of all the demon leaders under him, Raguel Asmodeus is the one he can't control.

"Meddling, huh?" Lucifer said with infuriating smirk. "I really don't care with whatever you do up there as long as you deliver souls in time." He added. "But...there is one soul you're trying to spare. What was her name? Is it...Ara...Araceli?"

He could feel his jaw tightened as he mentioned her name. He wanted to explode in anger. If only he could vanquish him.

"Don't...ever...mention...her...name!" he warned with vindiction.

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A.N: Guys, if you're not comfortable with the story lalo na sa topic about hell pwede niyo namang lagpasan at huwag na lang basahin. Gusto ko lang malaman niyo na although nag-research ako tungkol dito ay halos 90% sa binibigay kong facts sa story ay imbento ko lang. Hindi ako anti-Christ at lalong hindi Illuminati. This is just a product of my wild imagination. As long as na wala naman akong na-o-offend sa inyo, I will continue this story. :)