In The Arms Of An Angel (ON HOLD)

Chapter 22

"Richard, hinihintay ka na ng lupon...dumating na ang itinakdang panahon."

Richard looked up at the sky when he heard the words his mentor said.

It is the morning of the sixth month since his life changed. Six months since the day he was recruited to join the guardians.

Today, he needs to make the most important decision of his existence.

"Ito na yun...Ito na ang araw na hinihintay ko...Ito na ang araw na magtatakda ng aking hinaharap...paano kung hindi pala ito ang nakatakdang maganap? Ito na kaya talaga ang tadhana ko?" These thoughts kept flitting through his mind. But he had already made up his mind. He is not about to back out from it. He is sticking by his decision.

He had a serious talk with Jerald, his own guardian, the previous night about his options. He got reminded of their conversation as he gazed through the rays of the sun breaking through the horizon.

"Je, maaari bang maging mali ang puso sa sinasabi nito sa atin?" He asked as they sat across each other inside an empty gondola on a slow moving ferris wheel. The lights coming from the other amusement park rides around them casting silhouettes on their somber faces as the gondola they occupy climbs higher.

"Bakit ano ba ang sinasabi ng puso mo?" His mentor asked him. He was silent for a few seconds thinking about his answer. He felt confused now because logic was saying one thing to him while his heart was telling him another.

"Nagtatalo ang isip at puso ko. Ang isa ay nagsasabing piliin ko kung alin ang higit na makakabuti sa mas nakararami at ang isa ay nagsasabing piliin ko kung saan ako magiging masaya? Hindi ba maaring parehong maging mabuti para sa marami at magdulot sa akin ng kaligayahan ang isang bagay?" He is so torn between going back to his old life and staying with the guardians.

"Richard, kagaya ng lagi kong sinasabi sa iyo, binigyan tayo ng Maykapal ng kalayaang mamili ng ating tatahaking landas sa mundo. Kung ano ang magbibigay sa iyo ng tunay na kaligayahan at kapayapaan iyon ang piliin mo. Kung anuman ang nakaguhit sa iyong tadhana, kusa itong magaganap pero nasa iyo pa rin kung sa paanong paraan ka makakarating doon. Gawin mo ang sa tingin mo ay nararapat at tama para sa iyo at sa mga tao na nakapaligid sa iyo." He remembered Jerald say last night before he told him of what he wanted to do.

Now, he just needs to inform the council of guardians of his decision for it to be official.

Richard looked around him, taking in the peace and quiet this whole place and the glimpse of the rising sun in the horizon offered him before he turned towards Jerald who is standing just a few feet behind him.

They are standing at the exact place where he first met Dei. Where everything changed for both of them.

He has been coming here every single morning since the last time they talked in her dream. He never attempted to see nor speak with her again after that last encounter. He wanted to make sure he is making this final decision based on all the right reasons. But doubts still linger. He will be making a big decision that may lead to either a future full of regrets or a future filled with happiness.

"Jerald, sa tingin mo ba ay ito na talaga ang nakatadhana para sa akin? Alam ko namang magiging masaya ako sa kahit alin sa dalawa ang aking piliin pero bakit tila may ilang agam-agam pa ring gumugulo sa aking isipan ngayon?" He asked his friend and guardian softly.

"Richard, alalahanin mong tao ka pa rin. Ang makaramdam ng ganyang emosyon ay normal sa mga ordinaryong tao. Natural lamang na makaramdam ng kaunting takot o agam-agam para sa mga bagay na hindi sigurado kung ano ang idudulot sa kanila sa hinaharap. Kailangan mo lamang manalig at magtiwalang hindi ka Niya pababayaan sa kung ano man ang landas na iyong tahakin." Jerald told him solemnly then pointed his finger to the heavens.

"Tama ka, tiwala at pananalig. Siya ang nagbigay sa akin ng mapakagandang biyayang masubukan ang buhay mula sa dalawang magkaibang katauhan. Hindi ko dapat sayangin ang binigay Niyang pagkakataon. Gagawin ko ito hindi lamang para sa sarili ko kung hindi para sa lahat ng maari ko pang matulungan at para sa...kanya." He now felt more ready to face the council.

"Richard, maraming paraan at pagkakataong maglingkod, magmahal at tumulong sa kapwa. Nasa iyo ang lahat ng pagkakataon. Maging masaya ka nawa sa napili mong buhay. Halika na. Naghihintay na ang buong lupon..." Jerald nodded at him encouragingly.

He stepped towards Jerald and they walked away together side by side before they both fade from sight.

Moments later.

"Richard, nasa harap ka ngayon ng lupon ng mga tagabantay. Nakita namin ang iyong mga pagsisikap at pagpupunyaging maging mabuting bahagi ng samahan. Batid din namin ang naging buhay mo sa lupa. Nasa iyo ang mga katangiang angkop sa paglilingkod. Subalit nakasalalay pa rin sa iyo ang huling pagpapasya. Ngayon, bibigyan ka namin ng pagkakataong magsabi ng iyong saloobin bago mo ipahayag ang iyong napiling kapalaran." The eldest guardian spoke to him kindly.

He looked around at the now familiar faces of fellow guardians he had worked with for the past six months. They all regarded him with fondness. He sighed before he bowed low in front of the council members.

"Isang napakalaking karangalan po ang mapabilang sa inyong samahan, Punong Tagabantay. Ibig ko pong iparating sa inyo ang aking lubos na pasasalamat sa lahat ng aking natutunan at naranasan sa loob ng anim na buwang naging bahagi ako ng samahan. Batid ko na po ngayon na marami pa akong maaaring tulungan at iligtas kung gagawin ko ito na may kalakip na pagmamahal at pagmamalasakit. Ngayon po ay handa na akong ihayag ang aking pasya. Kasiyahan nawa ako ng Maykapal." He knelt down in front of the council and informed them of his decision.

"Kung ito na ang iyong pasya, tanggapin mo ang pagbabasbas ng buong lupon, Richard." Richard closed his eyes to receive the blessing.

He felt a very comfortable warmth embrace him and a blinding light suddenly shone through the darkness behind his closed eyes. He felt as if he is being pulled from all directions. He is falling. Then his heart gave a sudden lurch and he can breathe normally again.

He slowly opened his eyes only to be greeted by an unfamiliar surrounding.

"N-nasaan ako???"