As I returned to the Olympian World, nasulyapan ko sina Hades, Persephone, at Melizabeth na kumakain.

The maids turned to me and bowed kaya napatingin na rin si Hades sa'kin. Melizabeth turned to me with an anxious face. I missed her so much! Can I drag her out of there? No. It will be disrespectful for the food.

"Oh, nakabalik ka na pala, boy," mapang-asar na wika ni Hades. Matalim ko naman siyang tiningnan. I'm older than him, he should pay some respect. His mouth formed an 'o' because of my gaze. Nagsimula na naman siyang tumawa, kaya nag-igting panga ako. He must have been over the clouds whenever I call him 'Lord.' However, Thanatos is back, the real Lord.

"Missed me, Hades?" Tanong ko sa kaniya at ngumisi. His laughter again, filled the room. Narinig ko naman ang pagbagsak ng utensils ni Melizabeth, and Persephone widened her eyes as she looked at me.

Lumingon si Hades kay Melizabeth habang natawa. He winked at her, kaya napataas-kilay ako. Come on Thanatos, she's his adopted daughter. You can't be jealous to everyone.

Napalingon naman kaming lahat nang bigla na namang bumukas ang pinto ng hall, at mayroong sumigaw.

"Gago, Melizabeth! Narinig mo 'yong balitang bumalik na raw alaala ni—"

Dionysus stopped when he caught sight of me. Umawang ang bibig niya, at nerbyosong tumingin sa'kin. Tch, nawala lang ako, nilapitan n'ya na nang nilapitan si Melizabeth. This asshole.

"Storm!" Bigla niyang masiglang bati. He chuckled softly, "How's your mission?"

"Thanatos," I corrected him.

Nginisian ko siya at naramdaman kong napatigil siya lalo nang lumapit ako sa kaniya. I bent down, and whispered, "Are you ready to go to Tartarus, Dionysus?"

He scowled at me, "Sus, baka ikaw nga papuntahin ni Melizabeth sa Tartarus. Sa dami mong hinawakang babae—"

"That was Storm," nanggigigil kong sabi.

He chuckled again, "Yeah. Whatever, dude."

I pushed my inside cheek with tongue. He's still so annoying, but he's more annoying this time.

"Go back to Olympus, and cry to your daddy, half-blood," pang-aasar ko sa kaniya. He glared at me and mouthed, 'Gago.' I chuckled. I know he won't take my jokes seriously, but I'd like to see him cry.

Napalingon naman ako nang maramdaman ang paglapit sa'min ni Melizabeth. Dionysus waved goodbye and I heard him say 'good luck.' What for?

Melizabeth looked confused. Her thin lips were pressed together. She dyed her hair red again that matched her eyes very well. I realized that it's my first time meeting her again after I regained all my memories. Lahat para bang bumalik sa'kin. All our memories together, and all that I felt for her.

She's grown, and changed into a fine woman. She's a goddess now. My sacrifice isn't wasted— of course, it will never get wasted. Kahit ano pang gawin niya sa buhay niya basta ba buhay siya. Pero ngayong nakikita ko siya, parang ang sarap pakasalan. Sarap itali sa'kin, walangya.

Pakiramdam ko tutulo luha ko, damn! I just realized that I love her so much. Man, kahit n'ong wala akong alaala. Grabe epekto niya sa'kin. :((

Umawang ang bibig niya nang mapansin ang mata ko. Nag-iwas naman ako ng tingin, "Uh. Alis muna ako. Mamaya nalang, medyo pagod ako sa..." Wala akong maisip na palusot!

I smiled at her, and dashed out of the hall. Pumunta ako sa kwarto ko. I looked around and my room still looked the same after 21? Or almost 22 years.

I laid back on the bed, and let all my tears out. Sobrang saya ko. I didn't expect that I would still return. Sobrang kuntento na ako basta mabuhay si Melizabeth, but I am grateful that the Fates let me come back and be with her again.

This is all so surreal. Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwalang nagbalik ako bilang Storm Letum, and after a few years, back as Thanatos. Tinakpan ko ang mga mata ko, at maliit na humikbi.

Sa sobrang saya ko, para na akong bata! Damn, Thanatos! You're the God of Death!

Sa tagal ko atang hindi nakaiyak, ngayon lang lumabas lahat ng luha.

I removed the cover of my eyes when I heard the door creak. Mabilis akong napaupo, at pinalis ko ang luha ko. Melizabeth, she followed me here, my angel :((

Binuksan niya ang ilaw, at ngumiti nang malapad. The first time I see her smile after I regained my memories! 'Yong kakapunas ko lang ng luha ko, tapos tumulo na naman, tangina! I'm just so overwhelmed.

Nagulat siya nang makita akong umiiyak. Her mouth gaped open, so I moved away and tried not showing my face. Patuloy kong pinunasan ang luha ko kahit na hindi siya tumigil sa pag-agos.

"S-storm," tawag niya sa'kin at bahagyang yumuko para makita ang mukha ko.

"Why are you crying?" Nag-aalinlangang tanong niya. I looked at her eyes with so much longing and amusement. Paano ako hindi iiyak kung nakita ko ulit ang babaeng mahal na mahal ko pagkatapos kong ibigay ang buhay ko sa kaniya at akala ko hindi na ako makakabalik, ha? Sinong hindi iiyak n'on?!

"W-wala," maliit kong sambit, at nagulat ako nang mapa-sinok ako. Potek. Iniwas ko muli ang tingin ko sa kaniya, nanginig ang labi ko sa hindi malamang dahilan.

I want to say so many things, but my tears are stopping me.

She cupped my face, and forced me to look at her direction. Para naman akong bigo na tumingin sa kaniyang mga mata. She looked happy and at the same time, hurting.

I wonder if I still... deserve to love her. I wonder if I am still worthy after all that I have done as Storm.

"Do you remember everything?" Tanong niya sa'kin, at para naman akong tutang tumango.

She frowned, at nag-panic ako bigla. Haluh.

"You're crying because you remember everything?" Tanong niya, at tumango ako. Mas lalo namang lumungkot ang mata niya.

Now, her tears are starting to form. Teka lang, bakit siya umiiyak? Akala ko ako lang? Wait. Hindi na siya humawak sa'kin, at umupo sa tabi ko.

"Ayaw mo bang makakaalala? Do you hate me now?" Tanong niya habang humihikbi.

Napapikit ako. Anong sinasabi niya? How could I even hate her? Anong karapatan ko para gawin 'yon? At sino ba namang may sabing ayaw kong makaalala?

"Of course, I do—" n't.

"Bakit? Did I change, Thanatos? Why are you sad that your memories are back? I'm happy, but you're sad!"

Fuck, she must have mistaken my tears. Hindi siya tumitingin sa'kin, at bahagyang tumugil ang luha ko dahil sa kaniya. I can't believe it. She really thinks I can unlove her.

"These are tears of—" joy.

"I know! Alam ko namang luha 'yan. Nagsisisi kang bumalik ang mga alaala mo. Ayaw mo na sa'kin! I thought you wanted to be with me! Sabi mo pa sa'kin, hihintayin mo ako!" She's now hysterical. Sinusuntok niya na ang dibdib ko.

I shut my eyes. She won't let me finish my sentence.

"Alam mo bang bumalik ako agad! Isang araw palang 'yon, pero shit, Thanatos! I believed you so much, and I did not want to waste time, so I came back. Tapos pagbalik ko, wala ka! Nasa mortal world ka, and I do not know what you were doing there. Sabi sa'kin ni Dionysus sa'kin may babae ka raw d'on! But I didn't believe it—"

"Tears of joy," putol ko sa sinasabi niya.

Umawang ang bibig niya at mas lalo siyang umiyak. She frowned like a baby, my baby, and she looked hurt. What did I say to hurt her again?

"Joy? Is that her name?" Ay putangina.

I chuckled. She misheard me. Nagulat naman ako nang sampalin niya ako.

"How dare you laugh at me! Si Joy naman pala ang dahil kung bakit ayaw mo na. I was so happy that your memories came back tapos may Joy. I hate you!" Oh no, you don't.

I pulled her to my arms, and she tried to get away. I chuckled softly and hugged her more. Sumisigaw na siya ngayon at naghi-hysterical. She just won't stop thinking about who Joy is. Natatawa nalang ako. Tangina, sino ba 'yang Joy na 'yan? Hahahahahaha.

I looked at her at kitang-kita ko ang iritasyon sa mukha niya. Mas malakas siyang nagpumiglas, so I locked her with an arm while the other captured her chin.

"What the underworlds, Storm— Thanatos! Dami mong pangalan, dami mong babae! Ayaw ko na sa'yo. Final na!"

Sigurado ba siya?

I laughed and bent down my face to kiss her softly. Halik lang pala makakapagpatahimik sa anghel ko.

I smiled as I broke the kiss. She blushed. Hindi ko alam kung dahil sa kilig o sa galit. Akmang magsasalita siya nang unahan ko na siya.

"Sige, magsalita ka ulit, at hahalikan talaga kita," banta ko. I don't mind kissing her, though. But I also want her to hear me out.

"Eh gago ka pala—"

I took that moment to capture her lips once again. With a growl, my lips was upon her. I swept my tongue onto hers, and I heard her soft moan. Mabilis akong humiwalay, takot na baka hindi ko makontrol ang sarili ko.

Tiningnan niya ako gamit ang mapupungay niyang mata. She was shaking, and she curled her fingers on my chest. I smirked, "Can I speak now, baby?"

She nodded fastly. Bahagya siyang lumayo sa'kin pero hinila ko siya pabalik. I rested my forehead on hers, and sighed deeply. My tears started falling again because of the bliss.

"These are tears of joy, my angel," seryoso kong sabi sa kaniya. I caressed her face, and her mouth dropped a bit. Hindi siya makatingin sa'kin.

"I am overwhelmed by the fact that I returned. I cried because for the first time since my memories returned, I saw you. I'm so proud of the woman you've become, and it overwhelms my heart so much," I told her and wiped the little tears that went out from her eyes.

"Pumunta ako sa mortal world because I wanted to be a God to prove myself to you, and Hades told me to look for Mnemosyne. She gave me back a part of my soul, and along came my memories."

Humiwalay ako nang bahagya para tingalain niya ako. Lumunok siya, hindi alam ang sasabihin.

I smiled softly, "Mahal na mahal kita, that I could even die again for you—"

"N-no! Don't die," Bigla niyang sabi. I chuckled upon her reaction.

"Okay, angel. We won't let anything happen again, right?" Sabi ko, and she nodded. She pouted, probably guilty of what she said earlier.

I buried my face on her neck. I hugged her and my tears fell again when she hugged me back. Finally.

"I missed you so much. I love you," wika ko habang kayakap siya. I sniffed her scent.

Sa lahat ng mga memorya ko, the one with hers were the most vivid and colorful. I thought I hated colors and only loved the color of blood, death and darkness. I never thought I'd fall in love with all her colors, the color of her eyes and soul. I love it so much. I love her so much.

"I missed you too... I... I love you too, Thanatos," sagot niya kaya't niyakap ko siya lalo.

Habang kayakap ko siya, bumuo ako ng isang singsing gamit ang kapangyarihan ko. 'Di bale, papagandahin ko nalang. Pero sa ngayon, heto na lang muna. It was a plain silver ring with a shadow of death around it, and a red color of her soul.

Humiwalay ako sa yakap niya, at kaagad siyang napatingin sa hawak kong singsing. She shrieked and her tears fell. She noticed the shadow of death around it. Her expression is so beautiful. :(

"I've been alive for countless of centuries, longer than all Olympian Gods and Titans. I have witnessed everything. I have witnessed the wars, countless deaths, and all beautiful things that happened. However, the most beautiful thing that I have ever witnessed and has happened to me is you," I said wholeheartedly.

I tried to speak straight, but my tears slightly made it hard. I sighed deeply, and sighed.

"At first, I was born because of all the duties that I needed to do. Then, I died happily for you. This time, I reincarnated and was born again because of the most beautiful reason ever— our love. I was reborn for you, so Melizabeth de Vera, I would like to spend the rest of eternity with you."

"I love you most. Please, marry me," I finally said.

My smile stretched more with her answer.

"I love you too, Thanatos. Sobra. Pakasal na tayo," sabi niya habang naiyak.

Once again, I leaned to kiss her. The woman that gave me, the death, life is finally marrying me. For real.

Death has never felt this good.

Death and Storm
By lostmortals
Plagiarism is a crime.

Naiiyak ako huhu. Mahal na mahal ko si Thanatos. Invited kayo sa kasal namin, guys. Chz.

Thank you for reading!