The Author's Rewritten Drafts

[xxxix]

[xxxix]

"That was..." Boy Buwesit was still speechless after the scene. Ilang minuto nang lumipas hindi pa rin siya naka-recover. Aaminin niyang pinagduduhan niya si Magda. Ang buong akala niya ito nang katapusan ng babae. Of course, there's one percent left... but that's easy. "What would you do with the woman?"

She walked toward Alethea. She was bleeding profusely from the wounds caused by several arrows which pierced her delicate body. Marahan niyang iniangat ang katawan ng babae. Tinanggal niya ang arrows mula sa katawan nito. Magda used her power to heal the woman.

"I didn't know you still have a heart..." Boy Buwesit commented.

"You didn't believe me..." Her voice was cold as her hands started to light on the wounds. "Sinabi ko namang dati akong nasa katayuan mo. I showed you what exactly he did hundred years ago. Loving the hero would cause your death. Most likely, you'd become a sacrificial lamb to attain the greater good. They would sacrifice us for the safety of the people... I couldn't blame you for putting your faith on him... I was the same girl years ago."

As they say, the hero would sacrifice the one he loves to save the world... but villains would do the opposite.

The wounds were already healing. Nanatiling nakapikit ang mga mata nito ngunit alam niyang nakikiramdam lang ang babae. "You may do whatever you want. You're already healed."

Bumukas ang mga mata ng babae. "May I stay with you?"

***

They watched the outside world to burn.

Maraming naglipanang iba't ibang evil forces na gustong sakupin ang mundo ng mga tao. In the realm of the underworld, they were completely safe from any harm. No one could penetrate the protective barrier of Magda's realm. The portal wouldn't be opened unless it was her opening it.

It was a chaos outside.

"I think we should help the people..." Alethea said. "They are the ones suffering most from the war."

"It's not our problem, Alethea. Let's not think of them..." Giit ni Magda. "Saan mo ba nakuha ang balitang mabait ako at matulungin sa kapwa?"

"Well, you helped me..." She looked at her with admiration. "Isn't that enough proof already?"

Lumapit ang babae sa kanya.

"Please..."

Nanatili ang kunot ng kanyang noo. Mas lalong lumapit si Alethea. Inilapit nito ang labi kay Magda. She aimed for a soft kiss. Magda---both the character and the author---was shocked. Wala naman ito sa manuscript. Oh, well, everything changed, really.

Even Boy Buwesit gasped, "I didn't know there was another genre to this story. Mayroon pa lang GL."

"Are you going to puke?" Tumaas ang kilay ni Magda kay Custus.

"Why would I? I think it's cute. It's humans who love to judge their own kind, not us... not me. Even the devil in hell wouldn't care nor the god everyone worships. Walang may pakialam sa taong iibigin n'yo, tanging tao lang din ang maraming satsat. Baka kailangan mo ng sambahin ang ibang diyos kung ang diyos na sinasamba mo'y judgemental. Don't you think?" Boy Buwesit made a point. They were much better than they were portrayed, huh.

"I'm sorry..." Nagyuko ng ulo si Alethea.

"It's fine. I like it." Magda told her.

She looked up and smiled. "Do you want more?" Muli siya nitong hinalikan sa labi. Magda's face became red.

It's a kind of change that she definitely...

Didn't predict herself, but cute.