Title: DEALING WITH THE DEVILS
Written by: aarjicii

AMBER SISON

The world suddenly stops. Ang ingay at saya ay bigla nalang nawala sa isang iglap. People are all now worried about what is happening at kung ano ang kahahantungan sa problemang ito.

For me, this is now the so-called "The Big One". Buong mundo ang nakakaranas. Hindi lang sa partikular na lugar, but the whole world. Millions of people are now affected and... died.

Pandemic. This is the common term that we usually heard. From the news and from all the people around us.

Habang umuusad ang oras, umuusad rin ang pagdami ng kaso ng virus na tinawatag na COVID-19 Pandemic. Isa sa dahilan kung bakit patuloy na dumarami ang kaso ay dahil sa mga tao na sumusuway sa tinatawag na "Social Distancing" o hindi kaya sa "Quarantine Protocol". The more we socialize, the more the chances that the virus will spread.

But... in the first place, we are human. We usually do things na labag sa patakaran. We are this hard-headed species. Well, I'm not generalizing pero that's the majority. Kaya hindi na nakapagtataka kung bakit nagkaganito't ganyan. In fact, we really want to socialize, but in this crisis, we should set aside that thing first.

"Amber, gising ka na?"

Naputol ang pagmumuni-muni ko nung narinig ko ang pangalan ko mula sa labas ng aking kwarto na sinundan ng tatlong katok. Bumangon ako sa kama.

"Yes." I answered with a sleepy tone at pumunta ako sa harapan ng maliit na salamin upang tingnan ang sarili.

It's already 11 in the morning at kagigising ko lang. And yeah, no breakfast. Lately, parang nawala sa isipan ko ang kasabihang 'Breakfast is the most important meal of the day'. Meh, I slept late at night reading e-books and that's why, I also woke up late. You know, I counted how many hours of my sleeping and yeah, it's exactly 8 hours. See? Ayus pa rin naman 'diba?

"Labas ka na d'yan at humanda ka na naman sa sermon." sabi ng boses na nasa likuran ng pintuan. And that's Math. As in Mathilde Corazon.

I rolled my eyes from her... uhm... threat? or whatever.

"Coming." sabi ko. And that's a big lie. Meh! I will take a bath first.

I know you are wondering about why Math is here. Well as what I've said earlier, Pandemic is such a breaker of joy.

Before the Pandemic overthrow the fun, we are having a birthday party. And you know whose party was that? Sa nag-iisa lang namang smirk King slash devil. None other than Ryu Vander Morisson.

Maraming bisita. And yes, most of them are into Mafia stuffs. May pinakilala pa nga siya sa aming Sa-el at Mimo. At hindi ko na inalam kung sino-sino sila and that Sa-el man is such a flirt — as what I've observed. And you know what happened nung nilapitan n'ya ako?

Well, sinuntok lang naman siya ni Gray. Lately, he's so overprotective. Well protective naman siya palagi noon paman. But... hello? Sa-el just wanted to introduce himself to me at sinuntok n'ya agad bago pa man ako makapagsalita.

I suddenly blushed from what I thought. Napangiti ako bigla. Hmm... Gray is like...

Gray I think is my...

I think...

I think I want Gray to be my...

I think I want Gray to be my... my brother! Yes! He is like a brother that protects his sister. And I want that — minus his boastful attitude. Tsk.

And back to the birthday party of the devil and the reason why we're stuck here in one house, pagkatapos ng party, me, Gray, Math and Jeremy decided to sleep here at 'their' house. Yes, you know Lennon Pi Bellomo? She's his wife. And they lived together in a very huge house!

So ayun, dito kami natulog while all his guest ay umuwi, kasama na nun si Khael. The next day, bigla nalang namin nabalitaan na ang lugar na ito ay under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ). Bawal na kaming lumabas sa lugar na ito and of course bawal kaming umuwi sa kanya-kanya naming bahay. Maraming bantay sa main road baka pagalitan kami ng todo.

So... no choice but to live with a devil.

Ilang araw na kaming nandito sa bahay. Ayos lang naman ni Mommy. She trusts that devil Ryu so much. And as of Jeremy and Math, well they also have no choice but to stay here. Tinawagan na rin nila ang kanilang mga magulang.

Pagkatapos kong maligo ay bumaba na ako. Pagkarating ko sa sala ay nandoon na sila, nakaupo sa couch. Well, ito ang parating setting namin.

Uupo. Tatayo. Punta sa banyo. Manonood ng movie. Pasok sa kwarto. Tulog and such boring things. And guess what? Nakapagpahinga kami ngayon sa mga kaso.

But I realized something...

This situation right now is the big case that needed to be solved immediately. Kung magagawa lang namin — Detective Triumvirate Plus One, Jeremy's term  — na ma-solve ito, then wala na sanang mamamatay. Hindi na sana dadami kaso at probably, hindi kami na stuck dito.

But the problem is that, the culprit is not visible to our naked eye. Mahirap puksain. And in order for it to vanish, we should follow what is for the good of all. And of course... prayer is the primary tool.

"Good morning, Midget!" masiglang bati sa akin ni Pi nung nakita nya ako dahilan upang magawi ang paningin nina Jeremy, Math at Gray sa akin. Galing si Pi sa kusina at kasunod nya si Ryu, with his usual devil smirk.

I smiled at her. "Good morning..." I simply replied.

Well, I'm used to call by her "midget". Minsan nga tinatawag n'ya akong "fellow". Nung tinanong ko siya kung bakit 'fellow' ang tawag n'ya sa akin, she just laughed and then Ryu whispered something like ''titless''. I just don't mind it. Whatever it may be--- yeah... whatever.

"Good morning, Witch." casual na sabi ni Ryu. Then I cringed when she suddenly hugged Pi from the back as if wala ako sa harapan nila. Kung iba siguro, baka kikiligin ako. But imagine a gorgeous woman being hugged by a devil. Uh... that's gross.

I just rolled my eyes to him. That's my ''good morning'' reply to him. He just chuckled at pumunta na ako sa couch kung nasaan sina Math while them heading to the dining table.

"Good morning, bestie! Tagal mong gumising ah? Baka sa sobrang tulog mo, hindi mo mamalayan na mag-isa ka nalang dito kasi umuwi na kami. HAHAHAHAHAHA" Je said, laughing very hard.

Eh? What's funny? Kung tutuusin, ayos nga 'yan kasi kung makakauwi na sila, then so as me.

I ignored his laughter and just sat beside him.

"Too much sleep can drain your body. Alam mo ba yun?" biglang nagsalita si Gray. He's one person away from me. Nasa gitna kasi namin si Jeremy tapos kasunod n'ya si Math. May nahihimigan akong kakaiba sa boses n'ya. At hindi ko inalam kung ano iyon.

"Told yah." singit ni Math but Gray and I just ignored that.

"I'm not sleeping too much. For your information." tugon ko sa kanya. Hindi kami nakatingin sa isa't isa. Diritso lang ang paningin ko sa television with full of COVID-19 reports.

"Alas onse kana gumising. And you're not even eat a breakfast. Now tell me that you're not sleeping too much!" Now, his voice gradually raise kaya inis akong napatingin sa kanya.

"I calculated my hours of sleep and just so you know, I'm sleeping a normal 8 hours!" I responded, raising a voice. What's wrong with him?! Tsk.

"So you're sleeping very late?! That's the reason why you're getting thinner."

"Huy hindi ako pumayat at kahit kailan hindi ako payat!"

"Go check yourself in the mirror."

"I always did and I'm not thin!"

"Oh, your mirror must be lying."

"Ano ba! Nabibingi ako sa inyo!" biglang tumayo si Je at lumipat sa tabi ni Math. "Grabe tumi-'tililing' ang tenga ko sa inyo." dagdag nya sabay kalikot ng tenga n'ya. Nagkatinginan kami saglit ni Gray and he looked so pissed. What? Siya pa ang mapipikon? Tsk. "Now, you can have your LQ." sabi ni Je.

"Hindi kami nag-e-LQ!" I exclaimed.

Gray suddenly looked stiff. On his side, I saw Je's and Math's lips curved endlessly. Ehh? Ano bang sinabi ko?

"So you admit that you are 'lovers'?" nakangising tanong ni Je na ikinakunot ng noo ko. Ano raw?

Napansin kong biglang namula ang pisngi ni Gray. Uh, what's the matter?

I gave them my confused look.

"Sabi mo, hindi kayo nag-e-LQ. And that term only intended for lovers. Kasi nga Lovers' Quarrel." sabi naman ni Math at doon ko lang naproseso ang sinabi ko.

Err, did I say that? Well totoo naman--- uh, I mean we're not quarrelling! Tsk.

I felt my cheeks turned hot. "Oo nga, h-hindi kami n-nag-e-LQ..." sabi ko. Uh... why am I stuttering? "Hindi kami nag-e-LQ kasi hindi nga kami lover at hindi kami nagkwa-quarrel. That's it! Duhh~" I tried my best to roll my eyes in not an awkward motion.

"Oh?" sabi ni Math. Pero may halong kutya pa rin ang tono. Uh... what's with them?

"Okay, next time wag na kayong mag-LQ. Okay?" pilyong sabi ni Je at bigla silang nagngitian ni Math.

Confused, I nodded my head slowly. "O-okay?" Bakit kakaiba pa rin ang tono nila?

"Sino'ng nag-e-LQ?" biglang tanong ni Pi and at katulad kanina, nakasunod lang si Ryu sa kanya. Meh, he's like a dog na palaging sumusunod sa amo n'ya. Oh, a devil dog!

I want to laugh at my own thought.

I was about to answer her but Jeremy inserted. "Wala naman. Hindi naman raw nag-e-LQ sina Amber at Gray." he said while giving emphasis to the word 'nag-e-LQ'. Uhhh... what's wrong with that word? Tama naman diba? We're not lovers and we're not quarrelling. Tsk.

Pi's mumbling something like "oww'' and then I saw Ryu smirked. Well, he's not smirking at me. He's smirking at his dear cousin, Gray.

Napatingin ako sa gawi ni Gray at napansin ko pa ring namumula siya. Ehh? Does he eat something spicy? Then he needed to drink a cold water or a milk. Common sense!

Pi sat beside me. Nakita ko ang maliit na bahagi ng kanyang tattoo sa katawan. The tattoos on her skin makes her gorgeous even more. Bigla tuloy akong na-insecure.

Ryu just stood still. "Our food is already out of stock. I'll just buy already-cooked food for us." sabi n'ya. At himala! His voice is so kind.

And oh, speaking of which, after we knew that we are under ECQ, binigyan kami ng 'Household Quarantine Pass'. Sabi ng nagbigay, isa lang ang pwedeng lalabas ng bahay para bumili ng makakain o kahit ano pa at kailangan bitbit ang pass. If we violated a rule, there is a consequences. Hindi na namin inalam iyon dahil wala naman kaming balak na sumuway sa patakaran.

"Sige Rocket, ingat!" sabi ni Pi. "Don't forget to wear your mask or else I'll shoot your balls." dagdag n'ya with a warning tone.

Ryu just chuckled. Oh... he really has a partner that suits his personality. They're both uhm... devil, but Pi is... a crazy one.

I guess we are really living with not just one devil but devils and we should also deal with them. It's their house in the first place.

***

"Laro naman tayo!" biglang sabi ni Je. He squatted on the floor.

Nasa sala na naman kami ngayon pagkatapos naming kumain except nina Ryu at Pi na nasa kwarto. Ayokong isipin kung ano ang ginagawa nila roon. They're sleeping. Period.

"Ano na namang naisipan mong laro?" tanong ni Math. She looks a little bit interested.

Lately, palagi lang kaming naglalaro. At mostly, si Je ang nag-iisip kung ano ang lalaruin. This is just our way to kill our boredom. Kahit nga bato-bato-pick nilaro namin.

Gray's just sitting at the end part of the couch, watching television while eating junkfoods. At kung tatanungin n'yong sumasali ba siya sa laro, hindi. He's very kill joy.

"This time, we will play Battle of Wits!" masiglang sabi n'ya at napa-face palm ako. Uh... akala ko nakakalimutan na n'yang magbitaw ng ganyan.

Katabi ko ngayon si Math na nakaupo sa couch at nakita ko kung paano lumaglag ang kanyang balikat at ang pagsimangot nya.

"Jeremy, there is already a virus. Please don't make another one. Baka tatawagin 'yang JEVID-20." sabi ni Math. She folded her arms and slam her back on the couch.

Ako naman ay kinuha ko ang libro na nasa center table at binuklat ko ang pahina kung saan may bookmark.

"Hep! What's JEVID-20, Maya?" Je asked. Itinuon ko ang mata ko sa libro'ng binasa ko.

"It's Jeremy Virus Infectious Disease, 2020. It's a virus that when a person gets infected, his thinking skill will be narrowed down and all he can think of is throwing puns." Math cited while faking a smile.

Jeremy looks cringed. He twisted his lips and his forehead creased. "Mas nakakatakot ang MAVED-20. It's a virus that whoever gets infected, he/she will carry a chair forever. That's very bad." nalulungkot kunyareng sabi ni Je.

"Whatever, Jeremy Martinez. I don't get your joke." she said casually. Parang bored na bored na talaga siya base sa tono ng pananalita nya. Usually, Saturday is our 'gala time'. Even though lumipat kami ng school ni Gray pagtapak namin sa College, we still have our time to bond with each other.

Iniiling ko nalang ang ulo ko. Alam ko kung ano ang tinutukoy nya. And better if she cannot get it. Baka magbabangayan na naman sila.

"Well, it's not a joke." saad ni Je. "Come on guys, let's test your wits. Baka kasi naapektuhan yan dahil sa nangyari." he added, clapping his hands. "Gray?" he looked at Gray.

Gray shoot a sideward glance at him. "You mean, battle of puns? I'll pass." sabi nito at ibinaling ulit ang paningin nya sa TV. Uh... ano ba ang nasa TV at sobrang tutok nya dyan?

"These are not puns. At kahit kailan hindi ako nagbibitaw ng mga puns. It's just that hindi nyo lang talaga kayang sagutin ang mga tanong ko." he protested. He's still squatting on the floor like a kid. "Bestie?" he glanced at me.

"Pass." ikli kong tugon. Reading books is better than his puns, right?

"Oh come on! This is a battle of wits!" he almost shout in frustration.

"Really? If so, can I join?"

We all averted our sight to Pi na ngayon ay bumaba sa hagdanan. Mag-isa lang sya at mukhang iniwan niya si Ryu sa loob ng kwarto.

"Nababagot ako sa kwarto. Rocket is snoring. I prevented myself to shoot his evil mouth so that he will stop." she boredly said and I my jaw almost dropped. Really? "So, ano nga ulit ang lalaruin nyo, battle of wits?"

I saw Je's face lighten. "Yes! At mukhang ikaw lang talaga ang matapang at totoong witty dito!" masiglang sagot ni Je, clapping his hand again like a kid.

"Oh, really?" saad ni Pi and then she glanced at us. "Bakit hindi kayo sasali? You are highschool detectives, right? This is just a piece of cake to all of you."

I prevent to roll my eyes. Heck, natatakot ako na baka barilin nya ako kapag inikutan ko siya ng eyeballs! She shoot balls, right? And eyeballs are also balls. So no no no no.

We just shrugged our shoulders together as a response. "Nagsasawa na kami sa mga riddles nya." sabi ko sabay diin sa salitang 'riddles'.

"Okay. I'm really bored at saka gusto kong i-try magbasag ng riddles." nakangiting sabi ni Pi at nag-squat rin sa sahig katapat ni Je.

Oh? I am curious if magseselos ba si Ryu sa posisyon nila ngayon. They're very close to each other.

Parang nailang si Je kaya umatras sya ng kaunti para maging malayo kaunti ang pagitan nilang dalawa. He even laughed awkwardly.

"Okay. You can still answer guys kahit si Pi lang ang interesado." Je said but looks like none of us will revoke our first decision. "This is my first witty question. Chararaaaan!" he said while creating sound effect. Tsk.

Pi's face looks like she's very interested in Je's so-called witty question. Nako. I wonder what will be Pi's reaction if she'll figure out it is nonsense.

"Here. How can you say 'Horse' in a fastest speed?" he asked.

I bet his life that that is a pun. Uh, I should be focusing on what I read.

"Easy!" Pi response excitingly. "Horse horse horse horse horse horse horse horse horse!" she said in a really fast way.

"Eeenk!" saad ni Je while crossing his arms forming an 'x'. I can't help myself to stare at them. I heard Gray and Math slightly chuckled. "That's too slow." dagdag nya.

"Eh?" Pi raised a brow. And I want to laugh at her reaction but nah, better not to. "Ang bilis kaya nun."

"Nope." saad ni Je sabay iling.

"Horse horse horse!" Pi retried.

"Enk!"

"Horse horse!"

"Mali pa din."

"Ughh." mukhang susurender na si Pi. Lumaglag bigla ang kanyang balikat. "Okay. Shoot." she said in a dismayed tone.

"This is how you said 'Horse' in a fastest way," Je said then he stood up. Napalingon kaming lahat sa kanya, even Gray, nag-aabang kung ano ang susunod nyang gagawin. "In 3, 2, 1... Hiya tigidigtigidig! Hiya tigidigtigidig! Hiya! Hiya! Hiya Tigidigtigidig!" he said sabay akto na parang isa s'yang henete. "HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA!" then as expected, he burst out into laughter. Napahiga pa nga siya sa sahig sabay hawak sa kanyang tiyan.

Sabay kaming napailing. See? It's really a pun.

"Ito ba ang rason kung bakit hindi kayo interesado?" biglang tanong ni Pi sa amin. She looks so disappointed.

Uh-oh...

We both just nodded our head, casually.

Suddenly she stood up. "Hey Jeremy..." sabi nya. Hanggang ngayon ay tumatawa parin si Je.

"Yes?" sagot nito sabay pahid sa mga luha nya sa mata. Eh? He really found his pun so funny to the point na maluluha siya sa kakatawa? Je's really unbelievable.

"Did you already heard a news about a young college student being shoot 99 times?" tanong ni Pi kay Jeremy.

Je thought for a while. "Uh, I read a daily news article but I haven't read that one." he casually said at umayos siya ng upo.

"Really?" she said and he nodded. "Pwes ngayon mababalitaan mo na!" sabi nya sabay labas ng baril at itinuon iyon kay Je!

Where on earth that that gun came from?!

"W-what i-is the m-meaning of t-that?!" Je stuttered while slowly standing up. He looks very pale. Hindi maipinta ang reaksyon sa kanyang mukha.

Bago pa man makasagot si Pi, biglang tumakbo si Jeremy. "Ahhh!!!! Mama! Ahhh!" he shouted while rushing to his room. Halos madapa at mabunggo siya dahil sa takot.

Suddenly,

"HAHAHAAHAHAHAHA!"

Nakarinig kami ng isang malakas na tawa. Pi is laughing very hard. Gaya ni Je kanina, napahawak siya sa kanyang tiyan.

"Look!" she said in between her laughs while looking at us. She pulled the trigger of her gun and instead of bullets, bubbles ang lumabas.

What the heck! I thought it was a real gun!

Nung napagtanto namin ang ginawa ni Pi, we all laugh including Gray. Bubble gun lang pala!

"What happened? What's with the shout? And... why are you all laughing?" biglang tanong ng isang lalaking nakadungaw sa pintuan. His hair looks messy at kinusot-kusot n'ya pa ang kanyang mga mata.

Pi raised the gun and pointed to Ryu. "Do you want me to shoot your handsome face?" she asked, laughing slightly.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Ryu. "Shit!" he said and slightly hid at the door.

Pi pulled the trigger endlessly while laughing like a kid. Now, the house is full of bubbles.

Napuno rin ng tawanan ang bahay. Well, living with devils is not bad at all.

***

Sumapit ang gabi at isa-isa na kaming pumasok sa aming kwarto. So far, this Quarantine thought me to appreciate small things. 'Yung mga bagay na binalewala ko noon, ay naa-appreciate ko na ngayon. Mga simpleng bagay ay natutuwa na ako.

I really hope that people will learn a lot to this pandemic.

I am now at the veranda of my room. I am very amaze sa ganda ng moon ngayon. Sobrang bilog at may shades of pink at red. Sobrang sarap tingnan. I heard it sa news kanina pero nakalimutan ko kung ano ang pangalan ng phenomena.

"Strawberry Moon is undeniably wonderful."

Napatingin ako sa gawing kanan ko kung saan nanggaling ang boses. He's also looking at the fully shaped and beautiful moon at his veranda.

And yeah, his room is just next to mine. At dahil magkadikit lang ang bawat kwarto, halos dalawang metro lang ang layo namin ngayon ni Gray.

Right. The moon really looks like strawberry. I never thought na may ganito palang phenomena. Ang alam ko lang ay full moon, lunar eclipse, solar eclipse and such. Hindi ko alam na may prutas rin pala.

"Yeah. Mukhang binigyan tayo ng pagkakataong makatanaw ng maganda in times of this problem." seryosong saad ko.

The world is so gloomy right now. And maybe this is what God wants to show us na in times of this pandemic, may lilitaw at lilitaw paring kagandahan.

And then, awkward silence fill the space between us.

"Amber,"

Biglang kumabog ng malakas ang aking dibdib nung narinig ko iyon. Eh? Why is that?

Tiningnan ko siya and when our eyes met, awtomatiko kong itinuon ang paningin ko sa buwan.

"Hmm?" I responded.

"What will you do after this Quarantine?" he asked right away.

Napatingin ulit ako sa kanya. "Uuwi sa bahay?" hindi siguradong sagot ko. Para kasing mali ang sagot ko kahit 'yun naman talaga ang gagawin ko kung makakaalis na kami dito.

"I mean, after this Pandemic?" tanong nya ulit sabay kamot sa batok. He's cute in such gesture--- uh, what? Totoo naman kasi.

"Uhm, I will go to Church. That's the best thing to do first, right? Give thanks to God that our prayers have been granted." sagot ko.

That's really I want to do when this pandemic ends. And I think this is all we need to do. For me, set aside first the 'gala' thing. We should thank God first na ligtas tayo sa banta ng virus before other stuffs.

He nodded his head and then he rested his arms on the railings at tumingin sa itaas. The moon looks beautiful and beautiful as time passes.

"Ikaw, anong gagawin mo?" I asked him back. Ginaya ko ang posisyon nya.

"After I go to Church, I will..." he suddenly pause kaya napatingin ako ulit sa kanya. Doon ko napagtanto na nakatingin pala siya sa akin.

"You will?" tanong ko. I mentally rolled my eyes. Duh, bakit kailangan pa nyang putulin ang sasabihin nya?

He looked at me in the eye which makes me uneasy. "I will go on a date with you... again." matapos nyang sabihin iyon ay binalik nya ang paningin nya sa buwan. Bigla siyang naglabas ng panyo at ipinahid n'ya sa kanyang noo.

Biglang kumabog ng malakas ang dibdib ko. Hindi ko alam kung ilang segundo na akong napatitig sa kanya. Is he serious?

I want to ask him about that pero bigla na naman siyang nagsalita. "Pasok na ako sa loob." he said without looking at me.

He then headed towards his room. But before he disappeared from my sight, he spoke again.

"Sleep early, Amber. Para wala tayong LQ bukas."

-END-