Heaven In Devil's Arms

▪ V: Grace from devil

Pupungas-pungas akong nagising dahil sa malakas na katok mula sa labas ng bahay. I opened my eyes and the sun is already shining bright.

Wala na si Elijah sa tabi ko. So that's how it feels like to sleep. We don't sleep in heaven but we are dreaming, that is somehow contradicting but that is really like that. Gone the pain in my hips, bumangon ako upang pumunta sa may pinto sa entrada ng bahay. Naabutan ko si Elijah na binubuksan ang pinto, a man in his mid-age entered the house and smile at Elijah.

"Elie may almusal sa amin, gusto mo bang sa amin na mag-almusal?" He invited devil, his neighbor is a good man. I hope Elijah didn't think of doing something bad with this awesome neighbor of him.

"Ah, eh pasensya na po Mang Erwin. Nagluto na din po kasi ako." Alangang wika ni Elijah na para bang nahihiya siyang tumanggi. Looks like devil had a good sleep while he messed me with my dream! I mean I trespassed in his dreams and he really pissed me.

Pagkatapos naming pag-usapan ang tungkol sa pagkahulog ko ay nagsimula na naman siyang magpalit ng mood at mang-asar. Ugh, this devil is really something!

Para namang nagulat si Mang Erwin sa sinabi ni Elijah. What's the matter if devil cooked for his food? Is it a miracle?

Maybe he always got his breakfast on Mang Erwin's house! So greedy for a devil, he could have just eat in hell! Sabagay, he can't stay in hell in his human form, he can only be human in human realm. In his devil form, they only feed in people's fear. Pero huwag niyang sabihin na panay lang siyang nakikikain! Abusado.

E ano naman kayang masamang espiritu ang bumulong sa kanya at nagluto siya ngayon?

Tumingin naman sa paligid si Mang Erwin at nahagip ako nang paningin niya. He silly grinned at Elijah, ugh, a playful man coated in a good-looking face. Looks are really deceiving.

"May kasama ka pala ijo." Puna ni Mang Erwin. "Nobya mo ba siya?" Tanong nito.

Nilingon naman ako ni Elijah at ngumiti. "Gising ka na pala, Shaina." Puna niya kaya napairap na lang ako.

"Opo Mang Erwin." Sagot ni Elijah. Ha? Nobya?! Bumaling naman sa akin si Elijah. "Tara na kumain na tayo." Tiningnan niya ulit si Mang Erwin at inayang kumain ngunit tumanggi na ito at umalis.

Lumapit naman sa akin si Elijah at marahan ko siyang hinampas nang makarating siya sa harapan ko.

"Nobya?! As in girlfriend?!" I shrieked and he just nod and smile. "We're not lovers devil!" I hissed.

He pouted and he is really cute! What an adorable devil, it's unfair.

"Anong gusto mong sabihin ko angel? Na nahulog ka sa langit at nakikituloy ka rito? At umalis muna ako sa impyerno para alagaan ang mareklamong anghel na nasa harapan ko ngayon?" Pamimilosopo niya.

He is really unbelievable!

"Pero mukha tayong nagli-live in dahil sa sinabi mo!" Reklamo ko. "Sana sinabi mong magkapatid tayo o kahit ano pa mang ugnayan na pang-pamilya!" Dagdag  ko.

"Live-in couples are normal in human realm angel. People won't care--- ugh, maybe an angel that transformed to a human form that grew a little of her tits cares."

What now? Our topic will be my tits that didn't really change?! It didn't grew a little! He is just pissing the whole out of me.

"You're so gross devil." Irap ko at sumunod na lang sa kanya. Fighting with him wouldn't make sense and it will only make me do sins I wasn't supposed to. Tumuloy kami nang paglalakad hanggang sa makarating sa kusina.

He just laughed and pull out a chair for me. "Good morning angel." He greeted at umupo naman siya sa katapat na upuan.

Nakahain na ang pagkain sa lamesa. Why are they all black?!

"Is this a dish from hell?" I asked. Napasimangot naman siya, really, when this devil stop from being cute and devilishly handsome?

"No, that's a human dish." He answered. Nilagyan niya ako ng kanin, medyo brownish din iyon. I thought it's white, ah maybe brown rice? Naglagay siya ng hotdog na kulay itim din. Did he transport food from hell to here?

How thoughtful of this devil.

Magdadasal na sana ako kaso naalala kong magrereklamo lang siya. 'Gusto mo talaga akong malusaw angel?', 'You're asking the devil to pray!' Tapos tatawa siya ng nakakaasar. Ugh. Ginaya ko ang paraan ng pagkakasabi niya ng mga linyang iyon sa utak ko kaya napairap na lang ako.

"Eatwell." Sabi niya at sinimulang kainin ang pagkain niya. Napangiwi siya pero agad niya iyong itinago.

Sinimulan ko na ding kumain---

"Devil!" Napahiyaw ako ng malasahan ang pagkain. "I thought this foods are from your realm because it is black! Hindi mo naman sinabing sunog pala!" Reklamo ko sa kanya.

Napakamot naman siya sa ulo at pilyong ngumiti sa akin. "Look angel, just appreciate my effort." He pouted and ugh, this devil is cute but he doesn't cook well! "I really tried my best, but it is not really our talent to cook foods." He added.

Pilit na lang akong napangiti sa kanya. On the other side, devil is thoughtful enough to prepare breakfast for me. Even though it doesn't taste so good, it is still a grace from the Lord even if it came from a devil. A grace from a devil. It's still a blessing. I just sighed and close my eyes to calm my self. Foods and all other form of graces shouldn't be wasted.

Kaya siguro mukhang madalas siyang makikain kila Mang Erwin ay dahil hindi siya marunong magluto. That also explains the reaction of the good-hearted man.

"Thank you, Elijah." I look straight to his eyes. Nawala ang pagkahiya niya at napalitan iyon ng tuwa. I shouldn't really trust him, but I really appreciate his gestures. He's a good devil, the word itself is very contradicting but it really shows.

"Sorry." He countered. Inabot ko ang kamay niya.

"Good morning Elijah." Tumawa ako ng konti, ugh, late. "Don't say sorry. Actually, I really appreciate all of this." I added.

Sinimulan ko nang kainin ang inihain niya habang tinitiis ang lasa ng sunog na pagkain. This is my first time eating foods like this. Hindi kami nagugutom sa langit, if ever there's a food, it always tastes great.

Bumaling ako kay Elijah ng may maalala ako.

"Don't lie again devil." I said. He said I am his girlfriend even if it's not!

"I can't, I'm a devil. We do that, always" He answered. That were just words entitled to his name but his actions says no to that. "But I can turn that to reality angel." He playfully smile and I just roll my eyes.

Did he just say he will make me his girlfriend for real?!

***