14: Flames of Hell

ZAB

No red hair to bother me for two days. Siguro hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin nawawala ang kanyang hangover dahil sa nainom. Tss, kunwari ang cool niya sa bar tapos knock down naman agad pagdating sa bahay.

And for two days, I have no worries about going around the house in my pretty underwear—which I normally do. I would only wear a shirt and panty pero mula nang dumating si Dearil ay hindi ko na ginawa. Though I'm not ashamed of my body, there's no way I'm giving a dead body some boner.

No way.

For two days, I had my normal exploits. I went out with Yna and accepted future jobs like stag party stripteasing. That's two weeks from now at ngayon pa lamang ay excited na ako. Stripteasing may sound weird and seem like a dirty job to most people but for me it's not.

I just dance in a sexy way...

No touching, no extra moves, no innuendos, no sex offers—iyon ang mga kondisyon ko. Like I don't mind breaking bones while I dance. Kung sakaling hindi nila alam, I took taekwondo classed during high school. I also learned arnis, I play basketball, I swim, and I am athletic in some point. Anyone try to mess up, I won't hesitate to fight back. I'm not as fragile as they thought I would be.

Ngayong araw ay nag-decide akong mag-shopping. Hindi ko pa nabibili ang gusto kong damit at isa pa, wala naman akong gagawin. I decided to spend my day inside the mall and walk around finding dresses and shoes that I like. It took me half the day pero ilan lamang ang nabili ko.

I got bored plus Yna is not around so I have no other choice but to head home immediately. Naghintay ako ng taxi sa daan but then I frowned when I saw a black cat crossing the street.

Oh, shit.

Black cats everywhere...

Put your hands up in the air!

Black cats everywhere,

Put your hands up in the air!

Fuck this cat! Bakit tumawid sa daan?! Maybe Dearil is right, I'm being a racist but uh, I really don't like that look of a black cat. They look dangerous... like they keep a lot of secrets... that they know a lot of things.

I remembered kissing a guy in the back alley of the bar but stopped when a black cat was staring. Bad luck! The guy was stabbed that night by some frat men. Buti na lang hindi na kami magkasama. Kapag nagkataon, baka nadamay pa ako.

When I was in high school, I joined the public speaking contest at school. I was running late tapos nakita ko pang sumampa sa gate ng school ang itim na pusa... and yeah, I ended up second in the contest! Bad luck caused by such cat! I'm Zab and I don't come in second!

Still in high school, I got clawed by a black cat on my thigh! Bad luck! I had to walk with long lines due to the cat's scratch! Kung hindi lang nawala ang peklat ng kalmot na iyon, baka napatay ko na ang pusang itim eh.

Well, do I really have to say why black cats are such bad luck?! And speaking of black cats... I owed red hair one.

Sana lang ay huwag niyang iwan sa bahay ko ang pusa. I swear I will stuff it to a bread and let him eat it! I don't like owing anything to someone so kailangan kong maghanap ng pesteng itim na pusa. Should I catch the one who just crossed the street?

Or nah. Baka ilang kalmot na naman ang abutin ko.

Namataan ko ang isang pet shop sa tapat ng kalsada. I can't help but smirk. It's like I'm really meant to get him a cat. Uh, can he just pick it? Kahit ako na ang magbayad basta siya ang kumuha at iuwi agad kung saan man siya nakatira. There's no way I will let a cat—black or whatever—inside my house. Their shit smells so bad... plus they act high and mighty like most of the time.

So no to cats.

Tumawid ako sa daan at pumasok sa petshop.

"Magandang araw po," bati ng babaeng nasa counter. "Ano po ang hinahanap ninyo?"

"Do you have some ugly black cat with green eyes?" I asked, looking around. The birds on their cages looks so colorful. Some puppies on the side were cute but red hair wants an ugly black cat.

"May itim na pusa po kami, pero hindi po pangit." Mukhang na-offend yata ang babae. Yeah yeah, whatever. Black cats are ugly for me and don't argue. I believe beauty is in the eye of beholder.

"Whatever. Basta itim na pusa."

She called a name and a young guy guided me towards the inner part of the pet shop. Dinala niya ako sa harap ng kulungan ng isang pusang itim na nakaupo at nakatitig sa akin. Nag-iisang itim lamang iyon doon.

Oh, please. I hate looking at this cat. It looks like it's judging me! The cat's eyes were green like jade at bahagya pa iyong naningkit nang makita ako. Its fur were sleek and black. It's tail was long and slightly curled on the tip.

Still, the cat's ugly.

Hanggang sa mabili ko ang pusa ay masama pa rin ang tingin nito sa akin. Hello, pussycat? The feeling is mutual. Hindi rin kita gusto.

It was silent the whole time at ni minsan ay hindi man lamang inalis ang mapanuring tingin sa akin. The darn cat has the courage to do that—until we reached home!

I put the cage on the table and still, it sat with poise. Huh, now I hate it more.

"What's your deal, cat? Stop looking at me like that," I scowled at the cat but it remained seated, still unbothered.

Meow.

"If you keep that ugly eyes on me, I swear, tutusukin ko 'yan."

Meow.

But still it kept on looking.

And it starts to rile me up. "Hindi kita pakakainin."

Meow.

"Alam mo ba kung bakit kita binili? Ibibigay kita kay Dearil! Dearil is a a grim reaper. Do you realize that, pussycat?"

Meow.

The cat started a staring contest with me. Now, I hate her more. She has guts!

"He'll skin you with his scythe!" Ako na ang pikon! Nakapipikon ang pusang 'to! May attitude. The scythe things is a bluff. Dearil has no scythe but an umbrella. A hook umbrella. But still, this cat! Hindi man lamang natakot. Should I say it in a meow meow form?

I closed my eyes, trying to control my temper. Fine! I'm just alone anyway plus this cat is seriously annoying me. Fine, I'll do it! "Meow meow meow meow meow meow meow!"

The cat smirked at tila ba pinagtawanan ang katangahan ko. The ugly cat has the nerve to smirk at me! That's it! I'm stuffing her into a big siopao!

"Whoah whoah, Zab. Did I just hear you meow?"

Fucker Ajal heard me. Shit, I'm dead. Tumayo ako at tiningnan siyang natatawa sa likuran ko. My eyes formed into thin slits. Mukhang hindi lamang ang pusa ang malalagay ko sa siopao ah. "Why are you here? Where's red hair?"

He frowned and pulled a chair at umupo sa tapat ng pangit na pusa. "Pwede bang mag-hi ka muna sa akin?"

I rolled my eyes. "Hi, Ajal. Where's red hair?"

It just made him frown more. "Is this the cat? The red hair asked me to fetch it."

"Alalay ka ba niya?" Wow. I didn't know grim reapers are spoiled brats. May utusan. May taga-punas ng suka, may taga-luto. Wow.

"That's rude, Zab. Mukha ba akong alalay sa lagay na 'to?" He caressed his chin to show me his face. It's bright and always smiling. Ajal looks like someone so positive at sa madaling salita, gwapo si Ajal. So, grim reapers are good looking huh?

"Not really, and yeah you're handsome Ajal," I truthfully replied.

Looks like it satisfied him. He grinned at me and winked. "Good. I really like you Zab. You can see very well."

Vain prick.

"Yeah, so sasagutin mo na ba ang tanong ko? Where's red hair?"

He smiled at the ugly cat and it smiled back at nagpa-cute! Huh, malanding pusa! Parang kanina lang, jina-judge ako ng pusang 'to ah! "Zab do you like Dearil?"

"What the fuck, Ajal? Don't answer my question with a question. Where's red hair?"

"Writing his report," sagot niya. "So, now's your turn to answer my question. Do you like him?"

"Hindi." Duh. He's handsome, okay, pero ang babaw ko naman para iyon lamang ang batayan para magustuhan ko ang isang tao. And hello, Dearil is not human.

"Hindi ka man lamang nag-alangan 'no?"

"Because I don't. I just want him to collect that ugly cat. Napupuno ng bad vibes ang bahay ko!" I glared at the cat but it glared back at me after making a hissing sound.

"Hey hey pussy, chill," he told the cat and the fucker cat changed in an instant.

"Don't call it such. It sounded weird... and wrong," sabi ko sa kanya.

Natawa si Ajal at tinakpan ang bibig. "Oh, sorry. Chill, kitty, chill."

Mukhang gusto siya ng pusa ah. "The cat's a whore. She knows one when she sees one," sabi ko.

Tumawa si Ajal. "You referring to yourself?"

Napataas ang isang kilay ko. "Excuse me. Did you just call me a whore? I'm talking about you, asshole!"

Itinaas niya ang kanyang dalawang kamay na tila ba sumusuko. "Just kidding, Zab. Ito naman, hindi mabiro."

"Get lost, Ajal, and bring that cat."

Hinawakan niya ang kulungan ng pusa at tumayo. "If Dearil didn't threaten me to burn my bed, I won't fetch this cat. Ugh, that red hair! Minsan talaga, iniisip kong sana ako na lang ang nasumpa para may kakayahan din ako at siya ang gaganituhin ko."

It piqued my curiosity. "Nasumpa?"

"Sssssh!" He brought a finger to his lips before he slowly nodded. "His red hair is a curse."

Curse? But it's beautiful... How could someone cursed be so beautiful?

"His red hair is beautiful."

"Ah no, beautiful is not something you can describe to something cursed."

Mas lalo akong naging curious. "Tell me more about it."

"And what? Be burned? No Zab, I love my life." He shoved his hand away, dismissing the topic. But once I'm curious, I won't stop.

"Hmm, whatever. I'll tell Dearil you told me something about his curse—"

"Don't be such bad girl Zab and just shut up, okay?" he sweetly said. Pero kung ganoong tono ang gagamitin niya, mas lalo lamang akong nagiging eager sabihin iyon kay Dearil. I let out a grin and Ajal understood that. He brushed his palm to his face. "Fine, I'll give you a little detail about it. Just a little basta wag na wag mong sasabihin sa kanya. Or else, dalawa tayong magiging abo. Got it?"

I smiled and nodded my head kasabay ng pagtaas ng isang kamay. "Promise."

He let out a heavy sigh. "We're once angels."

"Angels?"

"Yes, Zab, angels. You read holy scripture right?"

I rolled my eyes. Of course, I do. Mala-demonyo man ako, I was in a Christian school before.

"So we're angels, banished from the heaven for great sins. And Dearil..." He lowered his head to whisper his next words. "Dearil didn't just sin in heaven... but as well as in hell. He stole flames of hell but was caught then cursed, thus his hair is red."

Biglang nanayo ang mga balahibo ko. Is that why he can burn things in an instant?

"Okay, Zab. Information overload for you. That's all for now and never ever mention that to him. Dearil has a bad temper. His morals degenerate day by day so hindi siya mag-aatubiling patayin ka kung mainis siya sa'yo. Better keep that mouth shut, okay?" Ajal asked and I nodded.

"O-okay."

"Good, now let me—" He tried to touch my forehead with two fingers. Alam ko kung ano iyon. Gusto niyang tingnan ang alaala ko, and probably erase it. No way.

"I know what it means, Ajal. Ilang beses na 'yang sinubukan ni Dearil so don't."

Binawi niya ang kamay at ngumiti nang matamis. "Smart. Okay, Zabby. So for now, just let me do this."

He cupped my cheek and looked straight into my eyes. Hindi ko alam kung anong kapangyarihan meron ang kanyang mga mata at hindi ko magawang magbawi ng tingin. He looked confused when he let go of my cheek.

Then he sighed before walking towards the wall with the ugly cat on his hand. "Keep in mind what I told you Zab."

"Ajal?"

He stopped and looked back. "Yes?"

"Tell red hair that the ugly cat's name is Mameng."

The cat angrily meowed and Ajal burst out into laughter. "Okay, Zab. Makararating. Let's go, Mameng."

Then they disappeared through the wall.