"Do you realize what you have done?!" His huge voice roared in anger and the ground trembled upon it – and every inch of my body was shaking with it.

"The heavens gave you their trust! They believed in your kindness, but you betrayed us!" I flinched at his words, that to me, were as sharp as lightning that draws in the sky.

I was kneeling in front of him, drowning in grief and regret. After everything that happened, I didn't have any strength left to even look at him.

"Lift your head." The sound of his voice changed. It's as though it has weakened.

I felt his presence in front of me. I felt smaller by the pressure of his gaze on me.

I looked up to him with traces of the tears I was unable to stop from falling.

Upon seeing his face I immediately held onto him like a child wishing for affection. However, I wished to be punished for what I did.

Guilt ate its way into my stomach, and memories of what happened flashed before my eyes. The horrible feelings it brought was harrowing.

"I beg for your forgiveness, your grace. Punish me! I shall accept your wrath!" I cried as I held onto the fabric of his clothing. My voice was small and hoarse from crying.

"I beg of you! I shall atone for my sins. Then maybe... maybe then, he shall forgive me." I begged, my lips trembling as I spoke every word.

I breathed shakily and I closed my eyes against his stomach and continued to mumble my pleas and grievances to him even though I was losing breath.

"Oh, you poor child." He held my face and his cold hands met my shaking skin.

"You do not know what you have done. You were poisoned," he said, his voice was measured and calm. But he looked at me with such cold eyes, it felt like they were staring straight into my soul..

I cried in his arms. Admitting my sins, giving him my pain and my regrets.

"Your world as it is is such a cruel place," he softly said and added words full of meanings, "But it will continue to change. Time will come and loving might not be as hard as it is today." Meanings I couldn't understand.

He held my chin and guided me to look at him but I could barely see anything through my tears.

I don't even have the least bit of concern if one might think I did not have the right to cry. I am crying because it hurts. It is too painful for me to restrain.

"I'm sorry. Please, forgive me," I sobbed and begged once more as if I was lost in trance.

I cried out words I wasn't able to tell him. The words I wouldn't have the chance to tell him anymore.

His hands brushed against my cheek one last time as he moved slowly away from me.

"Child..." His voice became thunderous again. He must've returned to his form.

"Your heart is as pure as the skies. But you have been tainted with red by the blood in your hands. For that, we shan't let this pass."

His voice pinched something in my heart until it turned into a caress. I felt like I was being serenaded to sleep.

"You, with the memories of your past and of your fallen loved one, and your love that had died shall be reborn."

A blinding light emerged from behind him. I instinctively blocked my eyes with my arm.

"But... we owe you as much as the kindness you have shown us... You will see him again."

My eyes widened at his words and anticipation formed at bottom of my heart just by the thought of it happening.

"However, it is up to you if you decide to look at him."

I didn't know what he meant. I didn't even know if it actually even meant something.

"Child."

I gasped when his voice became distant. His voice was fading along with every feeling in my body. As if I was floating – falling from an endless height.

"My only advice for you, my dear, is to not let your guilt be a hindrance. Look him in the eyes. He is the man you have always loved..."

I felt the strong throb of my heartbeat as if it shook my whole body and senses.

"Do not give up on him."

His voice was echoing in my mind like it was my own thoughts. I tried to reach for something, but there was nothing I could hold onto. That moment I knew something about me was changing. I didn't know what was happening, but I knew something was bound to change.

And through the light, just like the time I first fell for him. The man I love was in front of me with his arms held out.

I was ready to fall into his arms once again but... Why couldn't I see his face?

Please let me see him one more time!

"Your beauty is as enchanting as the Amaranth, my love."

And everything after that was all dark and pitch black.

The darkness reminded me that my life will no longer go back to how it used to. Seasons changed, centuries went by — I remained here.

At first, it felt like all the time in the world was on my side.

But as it turns out, it was all against me.

"Sorry."

"Save your apologies, manong." Kanina ko pa inuungulan ang driver.

"Ma'am, traffic lang po kasi talaga," he reasoned and looked at me with worried eyes through the compartment mirror.

I couldn't stop myself from rolling my eyes.

"Right. We're in the 21st century Philippines," I said with obvious distaste.

"Bakit ba sa dami ng lugar sa mundo, dito pa talaga siya nabuhay?" I complained while playing with my Chanel sunglasses.

I don't like this country at all. But most of all, I hate this generation.

Look to your left and you'll see a bunch of shameless horny kids. Look to your right, oh there's more! But add a bit of trauma in there. The atmosphere, nature, everything is in chaos.

I was frowning hard with my hand under my chin as I looked outside the window, waiting for the car to move.

We're currently stuck in traffic while I'm about to go on a very important meeting. Mainit na nga ang ulo ko sa dapat ka-meeting ko dahil ilang beses na itong nagkansela nang walang pasabi, mainit pa ang ulo ko dahil sa traffic.

I clicked my tongue in annoyance.

From my view from the car window, I could see the street stalls crowded with people busy with their things.

Naagaw ang atensyon ko ng mga studyanteng nagsisigawan. Parang may pinagkakaguluhan.

Umirap at napa-iling nalang ako. Talk about public disturbance.

I swear to God, this generation is so problematic. I just hope he doesn't adopt disgusting traits from this kind of environment. That would be troublesome for me.

I-ignorahin ko na sana sila't bungangaan ulit ang driver ko dahil halos 'di na talaga gumagalaw ang sasakyan. Pero parang may magnet na humigit sa ulo ko nang mahagip ng paningin ko ang isang pamilyar lalaki sa gitna ng kaguluhan ng mga kabataan.

Halos dumikit na ang mata ko sa salamin habang pilit na kinikilatis ang muka niya.

I assumed it was someone I knew, and I wasn't wrong!

"That bastard," I couldn't help but curse nang makumpirma ko nga kung sino ito.

Sakto namang biglang lumuwag ang trapiko at umusad ang sasakyan namin.

My mouth gaped open. My glaring eyes shifted from my driver to him as my thoughts still weren't processing. I was too frustrated to even know how to properly react!

In the end, I just groaned. At dahil na rin siguro sa pagkataranta at inis, I rashly opened the door of the car and hurriedly ran through the busy street despite having a hard time with my five inches heels holding me back.

Gumagalaw na ang sasakyan namin nang bumaba ako kaya muntik pa 'kong masub-sob.

"Ma'am!" Gulat naman ang driver at hindi maintindihan kung susundan ba ako o dederetso sa taranta sa mga bumubusina sa likod namin.

Pero parang bingi kong inignora ang lahat ng tawag niya. Hindi rin ako nagpapigil sa mga sasakyang bumubusina tuwing sisingit ako't bigla nalang susulpot sa harap ng sasakyan nila.

May isang kotse ang hindi agad nakatigil nang tumawid ako sa tapat nito kaya muntik pa akong masagasaan.

I dramatically gasped at malakas na hinampas ang harap nito bago nag patuloy sa pagtawid.

My black dress was dancing with the wind as I ran, and the sound of my heels matched my heartbeat.

My blood boiled as I was finally inching away from them and I could even hear his laughter.

Then our eyes met.

He had no idea that was about to hit him. I didn't even bother to take a second to breathe.

****

The next chapter will be in full English language. To avoid confusion I am telling you in advance that this story is Taglish and the setting of the next chapter will be in the past before the main story of this book takes place.

Happy reading <33

©Scarlettear_ 2021