Exiled: Angels and Devils

I

Silhouette

Crissaia

"Oh, maaga ka ata ngayon?" tanong ni Astrid na tumambad sa'kin pagkarating ko sa bahay namin dito sa mundo ng mga tao.

Astrid is an angel too, though, she's not here on earth for a punishment. She's already been living here long before i get to have my punishment. Ang sabi'y may naka tokang misyon para sakanya rito sa mundo ng mga tao, ngalang kung ano man iyon, labas na ito sa aking kaalaman. Hindi niya pupuwedeng sabihin kaya't hindi na rin ako nangealam pa.

"Yeah. You're leaving again?" bihis na bihis na si Astrid at mukhang aalis nanaman ito.

"Yup! I'll be back after a few days. Keep your mobile with you always. Contact me when something is up."

Madalas na wala si Astrid dahil na rin siguro sa misyong isinasagawa. She's always away for atleast days or a week. Ang alam ko'y overseas ang kaniyang pinupuntahan at wala na akong panahon upang alamin pa kung saan saan ang mga iyon.

Astrid just fetch some few things to bring with her and then left. I'm alone now, I don't mind though. Sanay na akong mag-isang naiiwan rito. May mga makakain naman ako at perang pupuwede kong gastahin sa mga nais kong bilhin kaya ayos lang.

Pinasadahan ko ng tingin ang kabuoan ng aming pamamahay. I closed my eyes and breathed calmly. I know, I can feel it, I'm not totally alone. I open my eyes at pumanhik na lamang sa aking silid at deretsang ibinagsak ang aking katawan sa malambot na higaan.

Oh god! This day is so tiring. I've done nothing so extravagant and yet my body feels like I've been to a marathon. I'm so drained. Physically, emotionally and mentally.

Sa loob ng dalawang buwan wala akong ibang ginawa kundi ang gumala at pumunta kung saan maaari nakaparoon si Rico. I don't go to school or have any job. I asked my father for it, but then he refused. He said it's too risky to be that close to humans. I doubt it.

Memories came crushing in my mind again. Dalawang buwan na ngunit sariwa parin sa utak ko kung papaanong sobrang nagalit ang aking Ama sa aking kamalian. I can still hear his loud voice. Hard but wary. I missed my Father.

I do understand why Father is like that. He did what he can to save me. He never fails to remind me what's good for me and what's not. And yet, I still had the audacity to defy him. He's a great King, he knows well what to do to those who defy a king. Ngunit sa kabila ng lahat ng iyon, ramdam ko parin ang pagiging ama niya.

Even though he had to punish me here on Earth, I can still feel he's extended care. Wala mang nakapagsabi, alam kong pinoprotektahan niya parin ako. That's even may be the reason why Astrid is living with me despite her missions. Kaya nga minsanang nakakalimutan ko kung bakit nga ba ako nandito sa mundo ng mga tao.

Now the memories of what I've witnessed earlier has now came gushing in me.

This is so cruel. Do i really deserve this pain? I know this is so selfish of me. Masaya na si Rico ngunit heto parin ako't nalulugmok ng sobra. Hindi matanggap tanggap na wala na siya at iba na ang mahal. Why does loving really hurt this bad?

My days always end like this, perishing from all of what happened. Crying. Helpless.

Nakatulog ako ng hapong iyon na umiiyak. I woke up when I felt the night's cold breeze from my window. Nakalimutan ko palang isara ito kanina.

I slowly walk towards my veranda. Most of my nights here on earth was in perish, I think this scenery in front of me is the only soothing one.

Our house is located in a hill at the side of a city. Tanaw mula rito sa aking veranda ang kabuoan ng syudad. The city lights at night is soothing the darkness in me and somewhat gives a little hope in me. That one day, someday, everything will just be fine.

I feel like I'm about to break down again so I decided to just take a stroll outside. Tutal naman ay may sasakyang pupuwede kong gamitin para di na mahirapan pa. I then grab my jacket and the car key. Our house is modern type. Automated na kaya di na mahirap ang seguredad pagka iiwanan ng walang tao.

Down the hill, to the city streets, i just drove and drove and drove until I realize where my car took me. Or where my stubborn mind took my driving.

After I parked my car, I breathed heavily and slightly pinched my hand for what it just did. Lumabas ako ng aking sasakyan at pinakatitigan ang isang may kalakihang bahay sa aking tapat. It is so quiet, probably because the people are already sleeping. Pasado alas dose na din naman kasi ng gabi kaya wala na talagang katao tao.

This is where Rico lives. I've known it since I've been following him since then. I slightly laugh at my self when I realized, I'm nothing but a crazy ex girlfriend, creepily stalking Rico everywhere he goes.

Bahagya akong napahinto nang may napansin sa mataas na bakuran sa gilid ng bahay nina Rico. Standing on top of a tall barricade is a silhouette of a man. He moved a bit. My heart races when I realized he's now looking at me.

Help! Ghad why am I screaming in my mind? I can't find my voice! Just when I'm about to jump inside my car, a big smoke came out from the back of Rico's house. Sunog!

I look again at the man, but he's already gone! Oh gosh what am I gonna do?! I stressfully walk back and forth. Lumalaki na yung sunog! Oh gosh! Oh gosh! Gigisingin ko ba sila? But then, makikita ako ni Rico!

Oh for Pete's sake Crissaia, seriously?! Yan talaga naiisip mo?!

When I realized my stupidity, I immediately picked the biggest rock I saw then throw it in one of Rico's glass window.

"Sunog!! Sunog!!" I then scream with all my heart before running as fast as I could towards my car.

Oh gosh oh gosh! Rico gumising ka! Rico! Lalabas na sana ako para makasigaw ulit dahil di pa lumalabas si Rico, nang nakita kong umilaw ang iilang kwarto sa bahay nila. There!

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag dahil naagapan naman ang sunog. May mga autoridad na ring rumespunde at kasalukuyan nang iniimbistigahan ang nangyari. I'm already a little bit far from the crime scene, just enough so I can take a peek.

I can see Rico from where I am. Kausap niya ang mga pulis samantalang ang ina niya naman ay inaalo ang kaniyang kapatid na mukhang nagulat sa mga nangyayari. Mukha itong takot na takot samantalang si Rico ay kalmado lamang. Seryosong sumasagot sa bawat tanong ng pulisya.

Tinitigan kong mabuti si Tita Rose, ang ina ni Rico. She's a sweet and loving mother to Rico and her little sister, Rianne. Rico and Rianne's daddy died a year ago. I was there with him when that happened. I miss them so much.

Tita Rose has always been good to me. With her, I felt the motherly love i have longed for. Hindi ko mapapatawad ang sarili ko kung sakaling wala akong ginawa kanina at may nangyaring masama sakanila.

That made me think tho. Can they remember me? I've only approached Rico, but not his family. How about Rianne? We were so close before, she likes me so much that she sometimes request for me to come over.

Nang napanatag na ang aking kalooban at bago ko pa maisipang lumapit, I immediately drove my way back home. Pagkarating ay dumeretso na ako sa banyo upang makaligo na.

That man. Who was that? I'm sure that's a person! Kahit madilim sa parteng kinaroroonan niya, nasisiguro kong naaninag ko ng kaunti ang kanyang mukha. Kung di ako nagkakamali, bahagya pa siyang ngumisi noong binalingan niya ako. I shivered on that thought.

What does he want? Magnanakaw? Mukhang wala naman siyang dala kanina. And to think of that tall, concrete fence, paano niya naakyat iyon? Is he really human? Anong kailangan niya kina Rico?

Gosh! This is too much for me. I just hope Rico and his family are doing fine right now.