14: My Name is Dearil and I am a Grim Reaper

FAITH

Orion was following me around like a dog.

Only that he's less adorable than any dog. In fact, he's far from adorable. He's annoying, he's a pain in the neck, he's too much of a hassle! He's drawing too much attention to himself and because he's sticking to me, I am hassled by this overwhelming attention towards him!

Gaya ngayong nasa canteen kami at kumakain. He's drawing attention, probably because of his weird uniform.

It wasn't that weird, sa totoo lamang ay maganda iyong tingnan. He looked like those guys in dramas who looks so dashing in the uniform. It's just that he's dressed differently from the other guys here. Or it could be because he's good-looking, as he claims.

"Hey angel, try making something like this as home," biglang sabi niya habang sinisimot ang lumpiang shanghai.

Annie dropped her fork as she looked at me. "You're living together?"

I said no, the same time Orion said yes. And Annie seemed to believe him more than me!

"Like for real?" paninigurado ni Annie.

Again, Orion said yes, the same time I said no! Bakit ba lage na lamang ganito? Then he would grin at me!

Of course, si Annie naman, mas naniwala pa sa kanya kaysa sa akin. She poke me on the side, sabay bulong, "Ah kaya pala wala na kayo ni Jack."

Hindi pa man ako nakakapagreact ay nauna na siyang tingnan nang masama ni Orion. "Excuse me, are you comparing me to that walking haggardness?"

Here we go again. Napabuntong-hininga na lamang ako at tinampal ang noo. But it really upsets Orion to the point na hindi na niya kinain ang lumpiang shanghai na kanina lamang ay tuwang-tuwa siya.

"Are you blind, fat Annie? Can you even see properly? I mean, look at me, can you even compare me to that walking haggardness?!" maktol niya. Sumandal siya sa kanyang upuan sabay halukipkip na parang batang nag-a-attitude.

Kinakabang nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin ni Annie sa amin. "Sorry, I... I d-don't mean that way. A-alam ko namang mas gwapo ka kaysa kay Jack—-"

It still didn't make him feel better. "Gwapo?! That's it?! It's an understatement. C'mon look at me."

He is really vain! He's so full of himself! I mean, yes, he's beyond good-looking, okay, pero sinong nasa matinong pag-iisip na ipangalandakan iyon? Ah, I forgot l. I can't even say if he's really in his right mind.

"You're not just fat, you're also stupid!" walang pag-aalinlangang sabi niya kay Annie. The latter froze on her seat, hindi makapaniwalang may lalaking nagsabi sa kanya ng ganoon.

"Oh... You're mean..." mahinang sabi ni Annie.

Trust me, he's more than mean!

Bago pa man may masabing iba si Orion ay tumayo na ako, grabbing him by his arm. "Mauna na kami Annie, see you sa next class."

I dragged Orion out of the cafeteria. "Drag" is an overstatement. He wasn't being stubborn at sumunod lang din sa akin nang walang sinabi— he just scowled at Annie after sticking his tongue out like a kid.

Seriously, is he really the devil? Like the real deal?

"That was mean!" panenermon ko sa kanya nang makalabas kami. Nakatayo siya sa harap ko, his arms crossed and still looking pissed.

"That what?" pagmamaang-maangan niya.

"Tinawag mong mataba si Annie!"

Wala man lamang bakas ng pagsisisi sa mukha niya! Instead he looked so proud! "Because she is fat!" Bigla niyang ibinaba ang tingin sa katawan ko. His eyes wandered on my body and surprisingly, he didn't make a disappointed face. "Look at her waist, fat and straight. Unlike yours, flat and curvy, I can see that despite your boring wardrobe."

Pinigilan kong huwag mapasimangot sa sinabi niya. He just insulted my friend, praised my figure and insulted my wardrobe afterwards. Seriously?!

I felt like I have to defend my fashion. "My clothes are not boring!"

"Yeah, jeans and sweatshirt? C'mon angel you can do better than that," he snapped at me and let out a grin. "You have nice long legs, don't allow that to go to waste."

Nice,long legs? Compliments coming from the devil doesn't sound so good, I swear.

Napansin niya ang pananahimik ko kaya bahagya siyang natawa. "Are you blushing because I said your legs are nice? Yes they are and I always see them every time you change—-"

"I changed at the bathroom!" biglang sagot ko nang may pumasok na isipin sa utak ko. How could he see me?! Hindi ako basta-basta nagbibihis sa harap ng kung sinu-sino!

"And I peeked most of the times," tila proud pa niyang sagot.

Napatampal na lamang ako sa noo ko, unsure of what to feel. He's so annoying! How do I get rid of him? "You... Ugh!"

"But do not flatter yourself too much angel," ngiwi niya at naghalukipkip. "You're not my type. I mean, look at me. Do you think I would take interest in you? Not in a million years! You're not that pretty, not hot, not worth paying attention and definitely not good enough for the best me."

Okay that's kind of rude. Alam kong hindi naman ako kagandahan para pag-interesan ninuman but does he really have to slap that fact right in the face? Hindi ko na lamang maiwasang mapasimangot sa sinabi niya. Mapagbiro ang tono niya but I know very well he meant what he said.

"What, no comebacks?" tanong niya. "You won't say you will never like me too?" tanong niya sabay ngisi.

Argh, nakakapagod siyang kausap. Inirapan ko na lamang siya at naglakad palayo.

"Hey angel I'm talking to you!"

Hindi ko pinansin ang pagtawag niya at patuloy lamang sa paglalakad. His strides were long kaya mabilis siyang nakahabol sa akin.

"Don't tell me you get offended by that?" tanong niya. Tumayo siya sa harapan ko para harangan ang daraanan but I chose to  wall straight without answering his question. Narinig ko ang kanyang pag-tsk ngunit hindi ko na lamang iyon pinansin at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad.

Hinabol niya ulit ako at tumayo sa harapan ko. "You're seriously mad?"

Ilang beses akong kumurap at tiningnan lang siya. He waited for my reply but I don't know what to say.

Dahil wala siyang narinig na salita mula sa akin ay nagpatuloy na lamang siya sa pagsasalita. "Okay, here's the thing. Look at me, I am the best so you're definitely not good enough for me okay? You're not that attractive to me, not that pretty, not that worthy but then that's just for me. Me because I am the embodiment of beyond beautiful. Hindi ibig sabihin ay ganoon din sa iba. For a human, you're considered beautiful, not the celestial type like me but hey you're definitely attractive to a human's standard. You're worth human's attention, you're good enough for a human."

Pinaningkitan ko siya ng mata at hindi maintindihan kung bakit nag-abala pa siyang magpaliwanag. Hello, he's someone mean kaya sanay na ako sa kanya so I didn't bother proving my point to him. Kung hindi ako attractive para sa kanya, so what? Ayaw kong makipagtalo pa.

Hindi ako sumagot at iniwasan na lamang siya at nagtuloy-tuloy sa paglalakad. I heard him cussed few times from my back bago niya ulit ako hinabol. "You're so annoying, maybe I should just bring you to hell with me---uh, on the other hand you would also annoy me there so how about no?"

Still, pinili kong manahimik.

"Angel!"

Now he sounded seriously annoyed.

"How many times do I have to tell you I hate being ignored?" malakas na sabi niya kaya napatigil ako at nilingon siya. He crossed his arms and sulked like a kid.

"Ano?!"

He grinned. "I just praised you. Now is your turn to tell me I am charming. I am charming, right?"

I figured out he'll be less anoying if I don't pay attention at all so I continued walking.

Lumabas ako ng university, and he’s still walking behind me asking me the same question over and over again. Bakit ba masyadong big deal sa kanya iyon? So what if he’s not charming at all? How could he be charming when he’s so childish, rude, annoying and mean?

Paglabas ko ng gate ay nakasalubong ko ang isang lalaking may pulang buhok. His skin is white and pale, almost ghost-like but he has some color on his cheek and lips which makes him more alive than dead. He has a snob expression on his face-- on his perfectly sculpted face. He looks so unreal, more like an animation than anything because of that screaming red hair. The black outfit didn’t help much, it makes him looks so... mysterious.

He stopped in front of me without a smile, his cold eyes slipped past me before he looked at behind me. Napatigil din ako at napalingon, only to see Orion grinning like a retard.

“Oh hello there, Hell’s thief!” Orion said to the guy in front of me.

Wait, they’re sort of related to each other?

Muling ibinalik ng lalaki ang tingin sa akin, that’s when Orion grabbed me away from the man, yanking me to his side, an arm around my waist holding me tightly.

That’s... that’s invasion of personal space! Dahil sa mahigpit na pagkakahawak niya sa akin at sa masamang tingin niya sa lalaki, I figured out it’s not out of ordinary so I might end up caught between their conflict.

Napatingin ako sa lalaki pero biglang inilagay ni Orion ang kanyang palad sa mukha ko. “No, don’t look at death’s eyes, Angel.”

What?

“Hey thief. What do you want?” Orion asked, still covering my eyes.

“I’m not here to reap her,” sagot ng lalaki. His voice was monotonous and sounded so cold. Ako lang ba ang hindi nakakaintindi sa pinag-uusapan nila. R-reap, what?

“Oh,” Orion mouthed before removing his palm on my eyes. His other arm is still on my waist and I am not enjoying it, so I broke free from his hold. He scowled as he watched me fix my crumpled shirt kung saan siya mahigpit na nakahawak.

Muli kong tiningnan ang lalaki. He’s tall like Orion, and good-looking. Why are they so impossibly tall?

Nagtagpo ang mga mata namin and I felt a shiver down my spine kaya mabilis akong nag-iwas ng tingin. This guy... is scary! How could someone who looked so good be scary like that?

I mean, yes, Orion is scary but only when he decided to flip or what and most of the times he just looked like some lost puppy and he’s a total nuisance pero ang lalaking ito, that cold gaze is simply scary! He looked like he could bring you death anytime!

“You must be the one he’s referring as bitch,” the red hair guy said nonchalantly.

I rose a brow. “Excuse me?!” That's insulting!

“My name is Dearil and I m a grim reaper,” he said again.

Dearil... it sounded nice and cold, it so suits him.

“Uhm, hi? I’m Faith,” sagot ko sa kanya, offering my hand for a handshake.

Tiningnan lamang niya iyon bago hinigit ang kamay mula sa kanyang bulsa. He stared at his palm, then to my waiting hand. If he and Orion is not out of their minds referring to themselves as grim reaper and the devil, I think it’s safe to touch his hand.

“Is it like in the movies?” tanong ko. “Am I able to see your past kapag hinawakan or hinalikan kita?”

There was a screeching sound behind me. “Why the fuck would you kiss death, Angel?!” may halong inis sa boses na tanong ni Orion. “You little slut!”

Mabilis na tinanggap ni Dearil ang palad ko, shaking it a bit before resuming to keep his hand on his pocket. “No, that’s myth and please no kissing.”

I felt the need to explain. “I am not planning to kiss you, I was just asking.”

He nodded without any emotion at ibinalik ang tingin kay Orion. “I came to see you, Lucifer.”

I stepped back a bit. What did I put myself into? How could I live with the devil Lucifer and see him hangout with someone not human!

“Hey thief, I go by the name Orion now,” tila batang nag-a-attiude na sagot ni Orion. He even pouted and crossed his arms.

Well Dearil doesn’t need to be told twice. “I came to see you, Orion.”

Hinablot ni Orion ang braso ko at nilagpasan si Dearil. “If you want more hell flames, go ahead. I’m kind of busy here so take all you want, I won’t punish you.”

“It’s something about my human...”

“Nah, I’m busy--”

Parehas kaming natigilan ni Orion nang hinablot ni Dearil ang isang braso ko. Napalingon si Orion at  tiningnan nang masama ang pagkakahawak ni Dearil sa akin. Sinubukan kong makawala mula sa pagkakahawak nilang dalawa but it’s like trying to break free from iron grips.

Ano bang problema nilang dalawa? Can they leave me out of it?

“Do not try me grim reaper,” banta ni Orion.

Dearil didn’t even budge. “I am not afraid of your threats.”

Nagsukatan sila ng masasamang tingin and before I’ll be sandwiched between whatever issues they have against each other ay nagsalita na ako.

“Uhm, excuse me? Kung anuman ang problema ninyo, can you two settle it and exclude me from that narrative? Seriously I am still so confused about what’s going on around me. One time some annoying man just appeared and claimed to be the devil--”

Orion cut me off. “Am I that annoying man?”

Tiningnan ko siya nang masama at nagpatuloy. “And now some goth and emotionless guy just introduced himself as a grim reaper.”

Dearil pointed to himself. “I am not goth.”

If any of my hands is free, malamang natampal ko na ang noo ko. “That’s not my point!”

But Dearil ignored me at muling hinarap si Orion. “I have something to ask you.”

“I am not interested, let’s go Angel,” sagot naman ni Orion. He tugged me but Dearil is still holding me firm like he has no plans of letting go.

Now that I noticed, it seemed like everything around us has stopped. Nasa gilid kami ng gate ng university, there’s supposed to be so many people walking around pero wala at may nakakabingi pang katahimikan.

It’s probably the doing of any of these two.

Napabuga ng hangin si Orion. “Fine! But what’s in it for me?!”

Dearil’s cold eyes turned to me. “I won’t reap her.”

Napasimangot si Orion. “That’s it? I don’t mind if she’ll die.”

Argh! Why are they talking about my death?!

“I can knock thrice so her death will be sooner,” sabi ulit ni Dearil.

“And you’ll be surprise when it’s me who will open the door.”

I used more force to free myself from their grip and finally did. “Pwede ba, if you two are planning to kill me, can you just postpone that!? I’m too young to be dead and how could you talk about my death in front of me!”

Hindi ko na napigilan ang pag-iyak. That somewhat stopped them and paid attention at me.

“You two are making me questioning my sanity!” sigaw ko sa kanila. “If you two have issues, can you just brawl or what, huwag ninyo akong isali sa problema ninyo! I have my own life too, kaya kung may problema kayo, huwag ninyo akong isali dahil may sariling problema rin ako!”

Lumayo ako sa kanila. They’re still looking at me silently, surprised by my sudden outburst. Naglakad ako palayo ngunit biglang napatigil nang may naalala.

“Don’t you dare follow me!” I told them as I wiped away my tears.

Orin blinked as he pointed to himself. “Me?”

“Kayong dalawa!” I said and resumed walking out.

I could still hear them blaming each other as I walked away.

#

ShinichiLaaaabs

A/N:

Yes, Dearil the grim reaper has a story of his own.
Just search KNOCK! KNOCK! or visit my profile and find it on my WORKS. THANKS. LABYUUU♥️