'Why do I always have a hard time falling asleep?'

Magmula nang dumating na naman ang panibagong mga problema sa mansyon (at oo, kasama na rin sa maituturing na "problema" ang bagong maid), madalas nang hindi nakakatulog si Snow White. Often times, she'd know why. Pero ngayon, hindi niya alam ang sanhi ng kanyang insomnia. Dahil ba ito sa nangyari kay Wrath? Sa banta ni Llyria sa kanya? Sa pinapagawa ni Morticia?

O baka naman dahil ito kay Sloth?

When Snow White's heart ached at the thought of the sin, agad niyang nalaman ang sagot. 'Bakit ba siya sinumpa ni Death?' Hanggang ngayon ay nahihirapan siyang isipin kung anong ginawa ni Sloth para bigyan siya ng sumpa ng isang horseman.

"Damn it. Mukhang hindi na talaga ako makakatulog nito."

So, just like the other nights, Snow White changed her clothes and crept out of her room. Pero 'di tulad ng nakaraang mga gabi, alam na niya kung saan siya pupunta. She made her way downstairs just as the first rays of sunlight seeped into the horizon---making the sky look like a magnificent canvas of pink and violet.

Nang marating na niya ang training room ng mansyon, agad niyang binuksan ang mga pinto nito (thank Tartarus it was open) and waltz inside. Kinuha niya ang ilang mga sandatang nakatabi sa isang gilid at pinindot ang button ng bagong enemy stimulation system na ipinalagay ni Wrath dito noon.

"That's more like it."

Soon, the room was plunged into darkness. Ilang sandali pa, umulan na ng mga punyal sa direksyon ng dalaga. She jumped over the blades and started deflecting them one by one. Hinihingal na sinaksak ni Snow White ang mga target dummies na sumulpot mula sa mga sahig. She poured all her frustrations and worries in training.

'Kailangan naming manalo sa digmaan.. we need to defeat the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and Lucifer himself.'

That gave her motivation.

"I took the road not taken, and there's no turning back now."

*

Matapos niyang lamugin ang kanyang katawan sa training, hinihingal na lumabas ng silid si Snow at tinahak ang daan patungong kusina. Kailangan na nga pala niyang lutuan ng almusal si Gluttony. 'Unless Llyria woke up early and already did it.' She sighed and started walking down the hallway when she noticed Sloth's Music Chamber's door at the far end of the hall.

Nakabukas ang pinto.

Sa hindi malamang dahilan, pinili ni Snow lagpasan ang kusina at dining hall. Her feet took her towards the Music Chamber.

"Sloth?"

She was expecting him to be here; expecting him to play his music...but it was empty. The grand piano rested at the center. Huminga nang malalim si Snow at inalala ang unang pagkakataong narinig niya ang musika ni Sloth. 'Für Elise..' it was a piano piece he played, dedicated to his first love, Monique. The song enchanted her the moment she first stepped foot in this mansion. Sinundan noon ni Snow ang tunog at natagpuan ang binatang masuyong ibinubuhos ang kanyang kaluluwa sa pagtugtog.

The musician and the piano became one.

When Sloth's eyes landed at her, Snow White thought she was dead.

Napangiti si Snow sa alaalang 'yon. Hindi na niya namalayang naglalakad na pala siya papalapit sa piano. Snow White sat down and stared at the lovely piano keys. She read in a book once that life is like playing the piano---we should never forget that even the black keys are used to make music.

'The negative things also define us.'

And that's balance.

The balance of life is the balance between black and white. Mahalaga silang pareho. Kaya nga't lahat ng bagay sa mundo ng mga mortal na nage-exist ay may kapares. Girl and boy. Up and down. Yes and no. Positive and negative. Left and right.. everything needs something to balance it. Just like the concept of Yin and Yang. Dahil kapag nawala ang isa, tuluyang gugulo ang balanse ng natural na mundo---mapa-Underworld man o Eastwood.

Snow White smiled at this and touched a piano key. Hindi niya alam kung paano tumugtog ng piano, but who cares? It feels relaxing to just be here.

She was about to touch one again when a hand suddenly fell ontop of hers.

"Touching things that aren't yours is a sin, angel."

Napalingon si Snow sa boses. She then found herself staring into Sloth's set of deep eyes--expressive and beautiful. Ngumiti ang binata at hinawi ang buhok sa mukha ni Snow. She immediately stood up and laughed nervously, "Um.. sorry about that. I-I just got carried away. Nagtaka lang ako dahil wala ka rito kanina."

Pero hindi binitiwan ni Sloth ang kanyang kamay. His half-lidded eyes pinned her in place.

"I want you to be here."

Napalunok ang dalaga. Bumalik na naman sa kanyang alaala ang paghalik sa kanya ni Sloth. The memory of his soft lips sent chills down her spine----'No. Damn it, Snow! Stop.. y-you're cheating on Pride.' saway ng kanyang utak. Agad siyang natigilan. Ibig sabihin ba nito ay may nararamdaman na rin siya para kay Sloth?

Shit.

Bumalik siya sa kasalukuyan. Sloth was still staring at her as if assessing her soul. Nag-iwas ng tingin si Snow White. "Hindi ako makatulog kanina. Any tips?"

Mahinang natawa si Sloth. "Bakit ka sa'kin nagtatanong?"

"Well, you are the sin of laziness. Mas madalas ka pang tulog kaysa nagdu-duty sa Segregation Office ninyo. I figured out that it's best to ask some sleeping advice from the prince who always sleeps."

That made him smirk. Ilang sandali pa, naupo na sa tapat ng piano si Sloth. He patted the space beside him. "Music makes you feel relaxed. It helps." Hindi na nagdalawang-isip pa si Snow at naupo sa tabi niya. She watched as Sloth began playing the piano. Pamilyar ng tugtog sa kanya, ngunit sigurado siyang ngayon lang niya ito narinig. Snow White closed her eyes and tried to remember where she heard it..

"This music is for you, angel. Only for you." Sloth whispered against her ear.

'Hindi ko talaga maalala kung saan at kailan ko ito narinig noon... But I want to remember it so badly.'

The melody calmed her nerves. It relaxed her. Hindi na namalayan ni Snow na dinadala na pala siya nito sa ibang dimensyon. Nang magmulat siya ng mga mata, agad na napansin ni Snow ang pag-iiba ng paligid. When she realized where they were, halos tumalon sa gulat ang dalaga.

"H-Hindi ba tayo mahuhulog dito?!" Kinakabahan niyang tanong at pilit inaaninag ang mundo sa ibaba.

Sloth chuckled and laid on his back. "First time mo bang tumambay sa mga ulap?"

Napasimangot si Snow. "Geez! Wala naman kasing ulap na pwede kong pagtambayan noon sa Eastwood." She rolled her eyes and nervously sat still. Sino ba naman ang hindi kakabahan kung matatagpuan mo na lang ang sarili mong nakaupo sa isang ulap? At ang nakakapagtaka pa ay nasusuportahan nito ang bigat nila!

R.I.P. Physics and all that logical shit in the world.

She glanced down again and gulped. 'Kapag nahulog ako mula rito, siguradong 'the end' na ang istorya ko.'

Sloth was watching her from the side of his eye. Kalaunan, naupo ang binata at ngumiti sa kanya. It was a smile that was meant to be reassuring. "Instead of looking down, why don't you try to look up? Kung lagi kang mag-aalala sa mga negatibong bagay, hindi mo mararanasang maging masaya. You're just scaring yourself, angel." Sloth motioned her to lay down beside him. Nag-aalinlangan man, agad rin itong ginawa ni Snow.

The sin pulled her closer to him, until her head laid on his chest. And from here, she can hear his beating heart. Sinubukan niyang kalimutan na ilang daang talampakan ang agwat nila sa lupa, at huminga nang malalim. 'I won't be happy if I always look down..'

Snow White then stared at the sky beyond them.

It was beautiful.

Damn, even the word "beautiful" can't justify what she's seeing right now!

Manghang pinagmasdan ni Snow ang kalangitan. Bukang-liwayway pa rin. The hues of colors started dancing before her eyes, as a thousand lights twinkled amidst the darkness. The moon stared down at her.

'Bakit ba ngayon ko lang napapansin ang ganda ng buwan?' Huminga nang malalim si Snow at ngumiti. Ngayon lang niya naramdaman ang lambot ng ulap na kinahihigaan nila at ang marahang pagkiliti ng hangin sa kanilang mga balat. It was like Sloth's Observatory, but even better. Ang nakakatuwa pa rito, patuloy pa ring tumutugtog ang musikang likha ng piano ni Sloth.

It all feels natural.

The clouds embraced them as Snow can feel Sloth's fingers tracing her face.

"Whenever I play the piano, it takes me here. Most of the time, I just want to stay.. I just want to escape everything and stay on these clouds... pero hindi ako diyos para diktahan ang mga pangyayari." He sighed.

Sandaling natahimik si Snow. "Escape everything? Is that the reason why you volunteered to die before?"

Agad na pinagsisihan ni Snow ang tanong. But what the heck? She' curious! At hindi siya papayag na mapahamak ang isa sa kanila. Napabuntong-hininga naman si Sloth at seryoso siyang tinitigan. "It's not like that, I just... I just have no choice."

"Dahil sa sumpa ni Death sa'yo?"

Natigilan si Sloth. For a moment, he just stared at her. Kinabahan bigla si Snow. 'Shit! Paano kung maisipan na lang niya akong itulak? I'll be dead for sure!' Ipinikit niya ang kanyang mga mata.

But Sloth only kissed her lips and sighed.

When Snow opened her eyes again, he was just staring at her like she's the prettiest human on this planet. Kalaunan, nagsalita siyang muli. "I knew that witch couldn't keep her mouth shut. Tsk!"

"So, it's true?"

He nodded.

Sumunod ang katahimikan. Hinintay ni Snow ang sasabihin ng binata. Binabagabag na naman siya ng kuryosidad.

"It's true. Nang nalaman ng mga Horsemen ang sitwasyon namin, Death suddenly knocked on our Segregation Office's door while I was on duty. Malaki ang utang ko sa kanya, kaya't naunawaan kong kailangan niya akong singilin. May... atraso ako sa kanya noon, kaya't sinumpa niya ako. He cursed me to die on the peak of Sinner's Moon. He'll collect my soul afterwards." Huminga nang malalim si Sloth at malungkot na ngumiti, "Kaya't nang sinabi sa'min ni Pride ang tungkol sa banta ni Lucifer---na kailangan naming magsakripisyo ng isa sa amin, hindi na ako nagdalawang-isip pa. I went to Pride's room that night and volunteered myself. Mamamatay na rin lang ako, mas maganda nang mamatay na ako para sa maibalik ang balanse ng Underworld."

Hindi makahinga si Snow. Tuluyan na rin yata siyang nabingi sa sinabi ni Sloth. Malinaw ang ibig sabihin nito..

Matagal nang may taning ang buhay ni Sloth.

At ibig sabihin nito, hindi pa niya tuluyang nailigtas si Sloth mula sa kapahamakan.

"P-Pero anong naging atraso mo noon kay Death? Bakit ka niya kailangang singilin?"

Pagak na natawa ang binata at bumalik sa pagkakahiga nito sa malalambot na ulap. "That's a secret I'll carry to my grave, angel." He closed his eyes and smiled peacefully. Snow though he looked like an angel---No. Demons can't be angels, can they? He can't die. He just can't..

"H-Hindi ka pwedeng mamatay. How many months before Sinner's Moon?" Kung anuman 'yon.

"Two weeks."

Shit.

'Kumalma ka lang, Snow..'

"Ibig sabihin nito, kailangan nating atakihin si Lucifer at ang Horsemen bago pa man sumapit ang Sinner's Moon. We need to win this war. Kapag naibalik na natin ang balanse ng Underworld, mawawalan na nang bisa ng sumpa ni Death sa'yo, 'di ba?" She hated how her voice broke at the end. She sounded desprate, but heck, she is desprate!

Nagmulat ng mga mata si Sloth at ngumiti sa kanya. "Hindi ko alam, Snow.. hindi ko alam kung babawiin niya ba ang sumpa kung sakaling maibalik na natin ang balanse."

"Them we have to try! K-Kung hindi pa rin, I-I'll negotiate with him.. o kaya pwede rin namang patayin ko si Death."

Oh, how ironic that sounds!

Nakatitig lang sa kanya si Sloth. Naninikip ang dibdib ni Snow. She's trying so hard to fix these pieces together, pero bakit ba parang pinipigilan siya ng mundo? All she wanted is to make sure all the eight sins live for eternity---with her. Inside that crazy mansion. Araw-araw niyang ipaghahanda ng tsaa si Pride, lilinisin ang torture weapons ni Wrath, papagalitan si Lust tuwing mamanyakin siya nito, tatalunin sina Envy at Greed sa sarili nilang laro ng chess, ipagluluto ng pagkain si Gluttony, pakikinggan ang musika ni Sloth, at magta-travel sa pagitan ng mga salamin kasama ni Adoration. Araw-araw niyang gagawin ang mga 'yon, at hindi siya magsasawa. Inside the mansion with the eight deadly sins---A happy ending.

Pero bakit parang imposible ang "happy ending" na 'yon?

Pinigilan ni Snow ang mga luhang namuo sa mga mata niya. She can't give up now. She'll save them, no matter what she needs to sacrifice. Napabuntong-hininga si Sloth at inilapit ang kanyang mukha sa dalaga. He held her face and kissed her nose.

That immediately made Snow White feel sleepy. Ilang segundo pa ang lumipas, tuluyang hinila ng antok ang dalaga. Sloth's lips curled into a smile.

'You will always be my angel, Snow. Thank you for existing.'

The music stopped.

There were back in the Music Chamber. Tumayo ang binata at binuhat ang natutulog na dalaga. The sin teleported her back inside her bedroom and tucked her in bed. He gazed longingly at her sleeping figure. Napalitan ng isang malungkot na ngiti ang kanyang ekspresyon.

"Sometimes we need to accept that not all stories have happy endings, Snow White."

*

"I've heard about the chaos you've caused to that mortal festival. Good job, War! Minsan talaga may silbi ka rin. Hahahaha!" Umalingawngaw sa katahimikan ng kanilang hideout ang malakas na pagtawa ni Famine. His black armor reflected the light coming from the lone candle inside the room. Ngunit natigil rin ang kanyang pagtawa nang itinutok sa kanyang leeg ang Sword of Sorrows. War's wild eyes glared at him in irritation.

"Hindi ako katulad mong walang silbi, Famine. You just cause a shitty food shortage. And then what? They'll starve to death? Tsk! Useless."

Napasimangot si Famine at mabilis na itunulak papalayo ang espada. "Aish! I'll show you! Mas magaling akong manakot kaysa sa'yo. The deadly sins will surely fear us once they encounter me!"

Sa kabilang bahagi ng kanilang conference room, napabuntong-hininga si Death na abala sa pagbabasa ng dyaryo mula sa Tartarus. He flipped through the page and spoke, "Tayo ay mga pintura. Iba-iba man ang ating kulay, ang bawat isa sa atin ay mahalaga upang makalikha ng obra maestra."

Nagkatinginan sina War at Famine. Sabay silang nagkibit-balikat at akmang susugurin na sana ang isa't isa nang pumasok sa silid si Pestilence.

Even in the pale candlelight, his golden crown shone brightly on top of his head. Ash gray eyes glanced at the other horsemen before he sat at the head of the able. Inangat niya ang hawak niyang liham at napabuntong-hininga. "Lucifer isn't happy with what's happening inside Hades' castle. Kumalat na ang balitang hinahanda na ni Hades ang kanyang hukbo para sa digmaan laban sa'tin.. Our true King of Hell wants us to give the sins the second warning tomorrow."

Bumaling si Pestilence kay Famine. Agad namang ngumisi ang horseman at sumaludo sa binata. "Aish! This is gonna be fun..." Sa kabila ng masiyahin nitong personalidad, kuminang ang panganib sa mga mata ng black rider.

Just when they were dismissed, Pestilence grabbed Famine by the arm. Seryoso ang kanyang mga mata at halatang may bumabagabag sa kanya. Pag-aalala? Siguro.

"What is it?"

Pestilence sighed. "Don't hurt her."

Kalaunan, natuklasan ni Pestilence na si Snow White ang maid ng deadly sins. As much as he wants to protect her, he can't.. he's on the enemy's side. Isipin pa lang niya ang posibilidad na mapahamak ang dalaga, lalong pinipiga ang puso ni Pestilence. He can't let anyone or anything harm his queen. They'd have to kill him first before even touching her.

Hindi na kailangan pang magtanong ni Famine kung sinong tinutukoy ng kasama. He just smiled and nodded, "I won't even lay a finger on her. You have my word, Pestilence."

"Good. Oh, and one more thing..."

May kinuha si Pestilence mula sa ilalim ng mesa at ibinigay ito kay Famine.

"Pakibigay ito sa kanya.."

Famine blinked and stared at the elegant (and expensive) looking wooden box. Kalaunan, natawa ang horseman at ngumisi kay Pestilence. "She's really your queen, isn't she?"

"Always."

---

Even if you cannot shape your life as you want it,
at least try this
as much as you can; do not debase it
in excessive contact with the world,
in the excessive movements and talk.

Do not debase it by taking it,
dragging it often and exposing it
to the daily folly
of relationships and associations,
until it becomes burdensome as an alien life.

---"As Much As You Can", Constantine P. Cavafy

Note: The song Sloth played is "You Are The Moon" by The Hush Sound, our official soundtrack for SWATSDS.