Saved By His Demons (BxB) ✔

Prologue

The sky is starting to get eaten by dark, a deep red and mellow-orange hue being swallowed on the far west, warning of an oncoming storm. I looked up as if it was the first ever art I have seen in my life. Ilang sandali nga'y tuluyan kong naramdaman ang patak ng tubig na bumagsak sa aking mukha. I felt comfort in the tiny beads of rain, but felt longing at the same time.

Buong lakas kong hinila ang bitbit na maleta na kasing-bigat na rin yata ng nararamdaman ko na sinabayan ng panahon. At least, something is feeling the same way I was feeling.

Umihip ang marahas na hanging naging dahilan nang pagkagulo ng aking buhok. Gustuhin ko mang ayusin iyon ay wala na akong ibang choice kung hindi ang magpatuloy.

My feet have been tired from the long walk. Maging ang balikat ko ay ngawit na dahil sa pasan kong backpack sa aking likod. Pumatak ang tubig sa aking braso ngunit napatigil ako nang mapagtantong hindi iyon galing sa kalangitan, kundi galing sa aking mga mata.

I was too hurt that I didn't notice my eyes were leaking tears, like an acid rain.

Pinunasan ko ang mga luhang dumaplis sa aking mata. I'm so tired of all the mess I'm going through, thinking if I deserve all of these? Ano ang mga ginawa kong masama upang piliin nila ang hindi nila kaanu-ano kaysa sa sariling kadugo nila? I thought blood is thicker than water?

I stopped from walking, hindi na alam ang gagawin. I badly want to end my life but there is still something that's keeping me alive. I closed my eyes and feel the beat of my heart. I loved someone and gave my all, but that's not enough. I was always not enough.

Love alone is never enough.

Tinignan ko ang maleta kong nasira na ang isang gulong. Mahigit tatlong oras na akong naglalakad sa kawalan, I guess it's just its nature to fail and give up. Out of frustration, sinipa ko ang isang hydrant na nananahimik sa isang gilid. Agad kong naramdaman ang kirot sa aking binti.

"Shit!"

I want to curse life. Life isn't supposed to be like this. Hindi ko alam pero siguro nga'y maituturing na akong baliw kung pati ang tadhana ay sisisihin ko. This is not fate, this is reality. And to deal with this kind of reality is crap.

Lumingon ako sa paligid. Malapit nang manaig ang kadiliman sa kalangitan at heto ako't hindi alam kung saang lugar na ako nakarating. Dito ako pinadpad ng aking mga paa. Namumula na ang kulay gatas kong balat dahil sa pagod.

I noticed I was in a sidewalk, lines of shops and bars are on my left side. I looked up at the familiar sign on top of an old bar and decided to pay a visit to a friend.

It was dim when I entered the bar, not enough lighting but enough to see the few people around. Hindi pa ma-tao ang lugar dahil maaga pa, iilan lang ang natanaw kong customers sa mga tables at sa counter. All kinds of people go here, teenagers pretending like adults, workers who work 9-5, drunk and lost people, even retired and veterans go here to eat and drink.

I occupied a stool on the counter and quickly the bartender noticed me.

"What happened to you?" Eric asked, isa sa mga matagal ko nang kakilala.

Hindi ako sumagot at umiling na lamang sa kawalan. I thought he understood what was going on and he served me a glass of lemonade. I probably looked so dreary.

"It's on the house." aniya, nginitian ko siya at nagpasalamat.

I drank the cold liquid like it was my only salvation left. Abala ako sa inumin nang marinig ang boses sa aking paligid. Napansin ko ang isang lalaking nakaupo sa counter, roughly two meters away from me, may kausap ito sa telepono at mukhang stressed habang hinihilot ang kanyang sintido.