PAINFULLY FALLING [BOOK 1]

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Gabriel

My white robe danced gracefully in the air as the wind blew silently. Kung sa ibang araw ay baka gumuhit na ang matamis kong ngiti dala ng kapayapaang dulot ng malamig na hangin ngunit dahil sa mga nangyari, hindi ko alam kung magagawa ko pang pagmasdan ang mga ulap ng may ngiti sa mga lani gaya ng dati.

Maaliwalas na ang kalangitan hindi tulad nang mga nagdaang araw ngunit ang bigat sa aking dibdib ay hindi pa rin nawawala. Inipit ko sa likod ng aking tainga ang ilang hibla ng aking buhok na napunta sa aking mukha bago ako nakahalukipkip na lumapit sa lalakeng nakatayo sa dulo ng rooftop.

Lumunok ako at sandali siyang sinulyapan nang tuluyan kong narating ang kanyang tabi. This is the tallest building in the City of Bolivia, but the loud horns of vehicles below still irritate my sensitive ears.

Sandali kong binasa ang aking mga labi bago nagsalita. "Azrael has returned. He escorted fifteen souls to the assessment palace where Michael is waiting to welcome them home." I tried to sound excited to lighten up the mood but it didn't seem to work. Raphael's mood looks really bad right now.

His thick, intimidating brows remain furrowed. "You're not supposed to go down here wearing your heavenly body, Gabriel." Seryoso nitong ani na tila walang pakialam sa sinabi kong balita. Mas inalala pa niya ang hindi ko pagpapalit ng anyo.

A sigh escaped my lips. I whispered the angelus spell and as the pentagram slowly appear on the floor, I felt my soul being covered with a mortal flesh.

Now I feel heavy. I faced Raphael again then held his arm. "You've never returned home since the last cycle. In case you're not aware, that's two decades for the humans."

"I know." His eyes remained staring at the clouds. "I just can't leave yet. Not even for a second."

"Pero, Raph..."

"I can't." His dark pools stared at me with despair. "We all know what's at stake."

Isang mapaklang ngiti ang lumandas sa aking mga labi. "When will you get tired of believing in him?"

Umigting ang kanyang panga at muling bumalik ang tingin niya sa kalangitan. "I hope I have the answer for that..." A frustrated sigh left his lips. "Did Uriel already tell Michael what happened?"

"With Desmond?" Sinakyan ko na lamang ang pag-iiba niya ng usapan.

Mahina siyang tumango habang mariing magkalapat ang kanyang mga labi. Bumitaw ako sa kanyang braso saka ko niyakap ang aking sarili. "Tingin ko'y oo. Michael's trying to finish everything that needs to be done in the Celestial Kingdom before he'll come in this world's quarters. Actually, he's expecting you to be at the meeting. Sinabi ba sa iyo ni Jerah?"

Tinango niya ang kanyang ulo bilang tugon. "We met at the 465th seal. Most of my warriors barely survived."

Napalunok ako sa narinig. "They're getting stronger..."

"Cron died protecting the seal," dugtong niya.

Died. Looks like Raphael's really adapting in this world pretty well. Of course angels cannot die. We are immortal beings. Our grace will just keep resurrecting our soul.

"You mean he's been resurrected?" I corrected him.

Raphael shook his head before he turned to me. "No, Gabriel. A real death."

Nagsalubong ang aking mga kilay. "That's impossible!"

Muling kumawala ang isang marahas na buntong hininga mula sa kanyang mga labi. "That's what we thought, too."