Karmic Hearts

Prologue

The world is a book, and all men and women are characters in one great story. At least, that's how I see it. I see the world as a big book, and life, a never-ending story. It's one of the reasons why I became a writer. I wanted to make my world. I wanted to make my own story where magic, fate, and happy endings exist.

Natupad naman ang isa sa mga pangarap ko sa buhay, ang makagawa ng libro. And I've been holding the first copy since I got it from my editor, fresh from the printer. Nakaka-proud makita ang sarili kong pangalan sa pabalat ng libro...

The Fall Of Icarus by Karmina Joan

I spent two years writing the story, which is about the forbidden love between two angels who became humans because of Cupid's mistake. I travelled to Manila to get it as soon as I got my editor's message that it was already available for pickup. She told me that she'd send me the book instead, but I insisted on personally getting it from her office. I wanted to read the book on my way home. Apat na oras din naman ang byahe ko.

Isinuot ko ang dala kong jacket nang magsimulang umandar ang bus. It's just five in the afternoon, but the sky was so dark already. Makulimlim ang langit, nagbabadya ng malakas na ulan. I hugged the book close against my chest and wondered if I should start reading or just go to sleep. Malamig pa naman sa sasakyan dahil sa aircon. Nakakaantok.

Nang magsimulang umulan ay napagdesisyunan kong matulog na lang. I can just read the book when I get home. Naglagay ako ng earphones sa tigkabilang tainga at nakinig sa mga kanta sa phone ko habang nakatingin sa labas ng bintana. Wala naman akong nabalitaang bagyo pero sadya talagang napakaulan ngayong Pebrero. Paano na lang kinabukasan? Ikakasal pa naman ng pinsan ko.

Gizelle and Sam were set to be married tomorrow, February 14, and I would have to wear that ridiculous satin dress because my cousin asked me to be one of the bridesmaids. Kahit hindi ko type ang kulay at yari, titiisin ko na lang kasi isang araw lang naman. Hopefully, hindi ma-traffic sa daan para hindi ako gabihing masyado. I still need to rest and I'm sure I won't resist the temptation of finishing my book tonight.

I almost jumped out of my seat when I heard a loud thunderclap. Tatlong magkakasunod iyon. I'm not scared of thunder, but I felt my heartbeat doubled at that moment. Nagkatinginan kami ng katabi kong matandang babae. Inilabas niya ang rosary mula sa bulsa at saka nag-antanda.
The baby from a few seats away was woken by the sound and is now crying nonstop. Nag-iingay na rin ang mga pasahero. Natatakot ang ilan na baka abutin kami ng bagyo sa daan.

Pansin kong bumagal ang takbo ng bus. Natakot yata ang driver dahil wala na talaga kaming makita sa labas sa lakas ng ulan. Pinakalma ng kundoktor ang mga pasaherong tayo nang tayo dahil sa takot. I guess since everyone around me is scared, I couldn't help but feel scared too. Ako pa naman iyong tipo ng tao na mahilig mag-isip ng morbid thoughts tuwing nasa umaandar na sasakyan.

Napasigaw ang ilan sa amin nang muling kumulog. It was the loudest one so far as if the sky had had enough. Kasunod noon ang isang kidlat na panandaliang nagpaputi sa paligid. And that's when I noticed something odd. Unti-unting naging kulay rosas ang paligid. The first thought that came to my mind was to take my phone out and take a picture, because...well...it's like it didn't happen if there is no evidence that it did. But all I could capture was the rain.

While I was taking a video, a blinding light suddenly fell from the sky, like a rocket launching, except that it was going down fast. I know it was going down fast, but it feels slow like time itself slowed down. I couldn't quite explain it.

Kahit fantasy ang isinusulat ko, may mga bagay pa rin akong hindi pinaniniwalaan. The beliefs of my characters do not reflect my beliefs entirely. But at that moment, I found myself terrified, thinking that this is what apocalypse looks like.

Is the world coming to an end?

When the mysterious light hit the ground, its impact resonated and waves of smoke rapidly enveloped everything on its way, including the bus that I was in. Parang kaming mga sardinas na inalog-alog. Nakabunggo ko ang mga tao sa loob ng sasakyan. Nauntog ako sa kung saan. Halos mabingi ako sa sabay-sabay naming pagsigaw at pag-iyak. I focused my ears on the baby's cry. Parang kinurot ang puso ko nang hindi ko na iyon marinig. Mamamatay na yata kami...

Glass shattered. The smoke went into my eyes and I was blinded. Nakalanghap din ako ng usok at kaagad kong naramdaman ang paninikip ng dibdib ko. And then, there was a crunch. And another. It didn't instantly register in my petrified brain that those were the sounds of my bones breaking.

I tried to breathe through the pain, but it was too much. Para akong inilagay sa isang washing machine na puno ng buhangin. And when it felt like I was about to die from too much pain and too little air, I heard a deep male voice call my name.

Let go, he told me.

I didn't know what he meant. I wasn't holding on to anything at that moment. But when I heard his voice, parang bigla akong binalot ng mainit na pakiramdam.

Suddenly, I wasn't in pain anymore.