Heaven In Devil's Arms

▪ XVII: Lost Memories

Like my everyday routine, I woke up first. I got out of bed and do my morning rituals. Napadaing ako nang mabasa ng tubig ang kamay ko, napatingin ako doon at napakunot ang noo.

Bakit ako may paso?

Then I remembered that I can't recall anything from yesterday. All I could remember is that we cuddled and after that---

Is this a sign that I have to go back in heaven as soon as possible?! I am forgetting some details, o baka side effect ito dahil wala naman din ako gaanong hawak na alaala bago ako nahulog. Baka malapit na ang deadline ko para sa misyon ko. And yet, I still don't know who is my mission. I don't know what will happen if I don't meet my deadline, but an angel should inform me about this. The Angel of Celestial Bodies, Astra, who lives in the sixth level of heaven alongside Archangel Metatron.

She is responsible for concealing events from both party; heaven and hell. She is also responsible in human's fate and destiny. She may live in sixth level of heaven but Astra is considered as a Grim Reaper though she is being called as 'angel' since she resides in heaven. Grim Reapers are either in good side or bad side. I don't know why did she reside in heaven but it is her choice anyways. Astra has white wing in the right and black wing in the left, her aura is a combination of black and white.

I shookt my head in such a thought, I've  never seen Astra as much as I haven't seen our lost Archangel. This shouldn't be my concern now, it should be about my scalded hand.

Naghilamos na lang ako habang malalim pa din ang iniisip. Pagkalabas ko ng kwarto ay siya namang pagkarinig ko ng katok sa pintuan.

It's 7 o'clock in the morning, who else would visit Elijah? At the end I decided to open the door as Mang Erwin stepped in.

"Mang Erwin." I smiled. "Magandang umaga po. Tuloy po muna kayo." I added, ngumiti naman siya. Napansin kong medyo ika-ika siya kaya napatingin ako sa may paa niya.

May paso siya na katulad sakin. Exactly, what happened?

"Si Elie ba gising na?" Tanong niya. He used to call Elijah, 'Elie'. He smiled at me and I got curious, the way his lips curves is somewhat familiar. It seems to resemble someone else.

I know I am feeling that Mang Erwin is a good man though he maybe playful at times thinking that I and Elijah are up to something naughty.

Looks are deceiving, Mang Erwin is the best example. He looks like a good-hearted man but isn't it doubting that he doesn't know Elijah used to wake up late? He is his neighbor and if Devil used to eat breakfast in his house, he should know. And the familiarity in his smiles and smirks on the first time I met him made me doubt more.

What is he up to?

"Tulog pa po e." Sagot ko na lang. "Magtitimpla lang po ako ng kape." Sabi ko at aalis na sana pero nagsalita siya.

"Hindi na Shaina. Babalik na lang ako." I stopped him from leaving.

"Bakit po may paso kayo sa paa?" Tanong ko kay Mang Erwin. That is unusual, I shouldn't interfere with it but I have the same scald as him given the fact that I don't remember anything from yesterday.

"Napaso ata ako sa impyerno." He said jokingly. I looked at him carefully. It feels like that means more than that.

Pilit akong tumawa. "Kayo talaga Mang Erwin." Sabi ko na lang.

"Ikaw Shaina bakit ka may paso sa kamay?" He smirked. I raised my brows unable to even stop it from showing to him.

He haven't seen my hands, my scald is on my palms and I knew it better he have not seen it. I chose to play innocent.

"Paso?" Tanong ko sa kanya. Tila naman natauhan siya at payak na tumawa.

"Hula ko lang. Aalis na din ako." Hula? Why would he guess things about that? Hindi na ako nagsalita at hinayaan na lamang siyang umalis. I'm bothered, so much bothered.

'Napaso ata ako sa impyerno.'

I remembered Elijah having power to fire. He came from hell. Napailing ako, bakit ko naiisip na nakuha namin ni Mang Erwin ang paso namin mula kay Elijah? Devil is my exact opposite but I believe he wouldn't hurt me or so I thought?

"Ah-eh, deep thoughts Angel?"

Napatingin ako sa likod ko at nakita si Elijah na pupungas-pungas. He is awesome in such a view. His newly just woke up face really satisfies my sight. I keep wondering why he has to be too much adorable for a devil. My doubts and questions vanished in an instant.

I came to him to gave him a tight hug.

"Good morning Elijah." I sweetly smiled. I don't even know why am I not grumpy at him today. It feels like I have longed for him.

"I don't remember hell looks like this." Devil said as my smile turned into frown.

"What?" I asked.

"Oh, I thought I was dead." He said. "Guess I'm alive, you just frowned." He added and I just glared at him.

Hindi ko na siya ulit ngingitian! Ugh. What a devil he really is! It is still early in the morning and he pissing off the whole out of me!

"You are so mean!" I hissed at him and he just laughed as he messed up my hair. Huh, now he is acting like it is fine if he touches my hair like that! I struggled combing my hair because my palm is scalded!

"Obviously, I'm a devil Shaina." He said. "Are you expecting me to be a good guy like most of the time?" He laughed. "You're asking the devil to be a good guy!" He laughed even harder.

I just rolled my eyes as I remembered something.

"I think my deadline for my mission is near." I said in a serious tone. "Pwede ba akong umalis?" I added and his face immediately turned serious.

"You'll not going to leave alone again, Shaina." He said as if it is already final.

I furrowed my brows looking at him. Again? I don't remember going out of this house without him. Hindi ko rin siya tinatakasan.

"Again?" I asked. "I never got out of the house alone, Elijah." I added.

Nagulat din siya sa sinabi niya at naging malikot ang mata niya. He is hiding something from me!

I shouldn't really trust him. He is a devil. Bakit ko naisip na maaari ko siyang pagkatiwalaan? Hindi kaya sinasabi niya lamang na tutulungan niya ako pero hindi talaga? I don't really know what will happen if I don't meet my deadline but I knew better it is not something good.

Yung paso namin ni Mang Erwin, hindi kaya sa kanya talaga iyon galing? I looked at Elijah trying to assess him.

"Just don't leave alone, Shaina. Please." He plead. I would normally appreciate that but I shouldn't trust him.

I will just leave without his permission.

***