I'm Lucifer's Wife

29

Who is Ezekiel? (Part II)
Third Person

The moment he heard her question, his smile faltered. It kept on repeating on his head and he can't help but smile bitterly. He looked at her and knew she's waiting for his answer. The problem is, it's not yet time to reveal the truth. It's not the time for her to know the reason why.

There's so much I want to say, princess, he thought sadly. Unfortunately, I can't. It will only hurt you more.

Instead, he walked closer and ruffled her hair like what he used to do before. Mentally zipping his lips from spilling the truth.

"Don't worry too much." he said, trying to divert her attention. "Past is past, princess. Leave it there."

The pout he anticipated made him chuckle. She really looks adorable. "You're unfair!"

"Life's unfair, princess." he chided softly. "So stop whining already. I'll tell you everything someday."

"Then why not now?" she frowned and glared at him. "At kailan naman yang someday na 'yan? Kapag matanda na ako? Hell, Zeke! I'm 24 and I can understand that."

Hindi naman niya mapigilan ang pagtawa sa reaksyon nito. It is still the same reaction he expected from her kapag may gusto siyang makuha. "Age doesn't mean anything. I know you're smart but this time intelligence is not needed. It wouldn't matter how smart you are, for it will only hinder you to understand everything. It will also break you apart." he whisper the last sentence and smile as if nothing was wrong.

He reach for her cheeks and pinch it slightly but tenderly. "Why don't you take a rest? I'll tour you around."

"You're changing the topic!" she accuse.

"We're here to relax and unwind, Raph." he remind her, "Huwag mo munang problemahin ang mga bagay na tapos na at nangyari na. There's nothing we can do about it."

He silently pray that she will listen and give that topic up for now. Of course, he knows her well enough para masabi na hindi ito agad susuko. Tigilan man siya nito ngayon, he knows tomorrow will be another story. If there's anything everyone knows about 'The Seraphim' is her stubborn personality. In fact, it's one of the reasons men falls over her feet. Her indominatable spirit is what attracts and keeps them hooked. Kaya hindi na rin siya nagtaka kung bakit kilala siya sa iba't-ibang panig ng mundo.

'The most dangerous kind of woman in the world is the one that doesn't rely on your sword for she has her own.' He smile as he was reminded of the quotation that simply mirrors the woman who's walking ahead of him. The way she stands her ground amongst men and the world in whole. It's already the 20th century and nowadays, men and women are equal. However, it doesn't go well in the kind of world they have. Only a few women are and still knows how to handle it. There are some that already fell while others are struggling to come back up. For a woman to stand tall and proud for a long time despite all the things that pulls them down is really something. Hindi sa minamaliit niya ang kababaihan, namamangha lamang siya sa mga kaya nilang gawin. And he's a liar if he says he's not proud of what she had gotten thus far. From the naive, simple girl who only wants freedom and sees the world in rainbows and unicorns, she became a woman who can butt heads and fight tooth and nail for what she believes is right and for the freedom that she have. It may be a drastic change she had gone into, but it's needed. It may have broken their hearts, but the pain is what made them stronger... what will make her stronger and that is what they want. She's their princess, but sacrifices are needed to be done and not everytime her knights and princes will be able to stand by her side. She needs to be a queen who can stand side by side with her king and still continue to stand even if her king is gone. That's what they want her to be. That's what she's going to be. And he'll be there to watch, guide and protect her.

Seraphim...

------

Her mind is going in circles again and again. The serenity and beauty of the place had gone into the back of her mind as she try to decipher his words. He's cryptic and all, that's what everyone knows but what they don't understand is that there are hidden messages behind his words. What he says are not usually what they mean. And she's been trying to find a way to knows it all.

She take a look at him from the corner of her eyes and memories of the past seem to flash once again. What she sees is a young boy with that smug look on his dace and walks like he doesn't care of the people around him except for her. She can still see the subtle characteristics of that boy on this harsh, grown up man walking behind her.

Her mind went back to the time when they're still kids who only knows how to fool around and play. When she still have them all beside her---with her. It's really amusing how they manage to stick together when their personalities always clash. With him being the older, mysterious and bossy, to Damon who's calmer, intelligent and a prankster, to Lucifer who's arrogant, moody and harsh and to her who's a subtler mixture of the three, yet manage to become the peacemaker of the group. She was their princess, and they're her knights as what they had promised.

A promise, she surmised, that has been broken by them as well.

It's not a secret how it broke and hurt her. How their once upon a time story of friendship took a twist of turns. Look where it lead them now... to being strangers again. She didn't want that, but she doesn't know what to do and how to fix it.

She look back at him again and wait for him to reach her. As he walks, she remembers that this man isn't the same young boy he was once. That boy may still be there, but she knowsthat he changed and grew up of their own bubble. For this man is what authority and power represents. His eyes had gone colder, darker and harsher. His words are at point yet cryptic, not even trying to beat around the bush but still maintains the same mystery they once had. This man knows what he wants and how to get it and those who get in his way, he wouldn't mind crashing them down. However, at this moment, that man was subdued to the young boy she had loved. This is the version of the man that she knows. And once again, she'll try to be the same girl he treated as his princess. She'll listen to his silent request and go back to what they were back then.

"Will you start walking faster?" she pretend being angry. "FYI, Mister, we're not walking under the moonlight. Aba, gusto ko pang malibot 'to before the sun sets."

He let out a chuckle at what she's trying to do. He's not dumb not to realize that. "Arasso. Arasso."

They start to walk side by side, with him silently taking glances at her. The heat was ignored, they made fun and enjoy themselves under the sun. As if, for the day, they're not the infamous harsh playboy and the cold-hearted heartbreaker. He's not an Alvarez, she's not a Martinez. In that island, they're just Angelo Ezekiel and Seraphim Allison. They're just kids who found each other's best friend and playmate once again. They're just kids who know nothing of the reality they left behind. For once, they forget all the things that had occured, the problems they're facing now. Everything. They both throw it all behind. Just for one day.

Just one day, he thought, just to be with you again, princess.