Strings and Arrows

Chapter 26

"Grey, alam mo namang ayos lang ako diba?" Agad na bungad ko sa kaniya the moment he stepped inside the house.

"And Spirit, alam mo namang I want to check you personally diba?" He retorted. Ayaw talagang patalo 'tong lalaking 'to.

"Ayaw mo talaga akong pakinggan." I said at pinameywangan siya.

I look like a mom scolding her little kid.

He just smiled innocently. Kitams?

At ano namang nginingiti-ngiti nito? Sabing ayos nga lang ako eh.

"I'm fine. Trust me."

We're currently settling ourselves here at the living room. Ilang minutes lang from the call ay agad na siyang nandito sa bahay. Ibang klase.

"Come on. Ano? Is there anything I can do? Can I offer some help? I'd feel better if alam kong may magagawa 'ko for you."

"What? No, there's no need. I'm fine, ano ka ba?"

"Spirit naman. Tell me what you're feeling right now. May iniinda ka ba? May nararamdamang sakit? Ano? Saan? Are you hurting?"

"I am okay, Grey. Don't stress yourself. Masiyado kang paranoid eh." Natatawa kong saad.

I held his hand to assure him nang biglang bumukas ang malaking pintuan sa main door and I saw Cupid there, standing na mukhang kakagaling pa sa away.

Agad naman akong napatayo at ganoon din si Grey.

He walked past us but he eventually stopped and faced us.

"That Goddamn Guardian of Rules. He's back and he's coming."

Medyo naguluhan ako sa sinabi niya pero mas naguluhan ako nang tinanguan siya ni Grey.

After Cupid said those words ay naglakad na siya diretso papuntang Kusina. What happened to him? Is he alright?

"He's fine." Sabi ni Grey na ikana-kunot ng noo ko.

Can he read my mind too?

"What? I'm not reading your mind. You're just too predictable Spirit." He said with a little chuckle.

I slowly nodded my head at naupo na ulit. Palagi na lang ganito. He always read my mind tapos sasabihin niyang Predictable ako.

"May gamot ka bang iinumin? Or something?"

"Wala naman. Aside sa pain relievers na binigay sa 'kin nina Sav na pinabibigay raw ng Doktor ay wala na naman. Bakit?"

"Just askin'. Baka kasi nakalimutan mong inumin. Hindi pwede."

"I am fine. You're being too paranoid."

"I just want to be sure. You better take some rest. You need to recover your strength Spirit."

Napatango naman ako.

"Shall I escort you?"

"Hindi na. Kaya ko na naman ang sarili ko." I said and smiled at him.

Umakyat na 'ko ng hagdanan at dumiretso na ng kwarto ko.

Cupid's Point of View

"Ardent." pagtawag sa 'kin ni Grey.

I looked at him with a bored look.

"Where's Matt? At anong sabi niya?"

"He just warned me."

"He warned you? What did you do?"

"Just something."

"Dammit Cupid."

"Oh shut it Coal. Damn you, masiyado ka nang maraming kasalanan that's why I hate you and your guts." Agad na sagot ko sa kaniya. What's his problem!?

Tumikhim muna siya bago sumagot.

"Come on. Spill."

"I saved Spirit. The accident. It was bad and I really saw how she was in deep pain. I had to do it."

He remained silent.

"I understand you. Kung ako rin naman ang nasa sitwasyong 'yon, I would really choose to save her."

"Oh Come on Coal. Alam nating dalawa na limitado na lang ang kapangyarihan mo. Pinaghahanap ka na ng mga tagapagbantay ng batas sa langit Coal. Bumalik ka na. Your wife is waiting for you."

"She doesn't deserve to be miserable because of me."

"I know."

"Alam mo naman pala eh! Ba't mo pa 'ko sinubukang kumbinsihin?"

"Kasi alam kong 'yon din ang gusto ni Tadhana even though she doesn't really deserve a jerk like you."

"Bakit ba napunta sa 'kin ang usapan? Hindi ba't kayong dalawa ni Spirit ang topic natin dito?"

"What about her?"

"Binantaan ka ni Matt diba? Anong sinabi niya? Darn that dark-winged guy really."

"He mentioned something about the prophecy. About Spirit being out no matter what and there's nothing I can even do about it. I had two chances left. Galit rin sila dahil ito ang ibinigay kong parusa kay Spirit. Good thing I was able to turn my Mother to side with me. At least may naging kakampi ako."

"But the Good Old Zeus?"

"Wala rin siyang magagawa. I had Clotho's side."

"Damn Cupid. Talagang ginamit mo pa ang kapangyarihan ng Asawa ko."

"She's a dear friend of mine. At isa pa, pumayag rin siya. She's the only who can make my wish possible dahil Tadhana ang kapangyarihan niya. It's her thing to pull the strings of the people's fates. Even ours. Gods and Godesses."

"Come on. I'm getting jealous here."

"Pakawalan mo pa kasi."

Sarap ding batukan ng lalaking 'to eh.

"I just want her to be happy."

"She'll be happier when you're with her."

"I just can't."

Loko rin 'to ah. Isang rason din kaya ayaw ko sa kaniya. Aside sa sinasaktan niya ang kaibigan ko emotionally, ay isa rin siyang duwag.

"Repentance comes last."

Hindi siya umimik sa sinabi ko. Clotho or shall I say, Tadhana is such a good person. I know she'll understand him.

"Whenever Matt's around, you tell me."

"Are you gonna run again?"

"Nah. Hindi ba't parusa na nila sa 'kin ang pagkuha ng mga kapangyarihan ko?"

I just shrugged my shoulders. If I'd look at the list of Grey's Violations, it'll take me forever to finally read it entirely.

"You deserve it. Masiyado kang maraming nilabag. Unang-una, hindi ka sumipot sa first summoning. Pangalawa, you wrecked havoc on Elysian Kingdom. At alam mo ang pinakamalala mong kasalanan? You escaped Elysian Kingdom after abandoning your wife Clotho. Man, you two were supposed to be the power couple. She's very attractive, understanding and Kind. She's perfect."

"Dahan-dahan naman sa pag-compliment. Asawa ko pa rin 'yon."

I raised my both hands in the air as a sign of surrender.

"Relax man. Pare-pareho tayo ditong may Asawa. Now you know how I felt kung makalapit ka sa Asawa ko. Pasalamat ka nga at wala akong magawa eh."

"Anong wala? And damn you by the way. She's just a special friend for me."

"And so is Clotho for me. Bumalik ka na kasi do'n."

"I need some time to think."

I nodded at his response.

"Well, you better think fast man. The time is ticking at bawat segundong tumatakbo at lumilipas ay mahalaga. Sana ma-realize mo agad kung gaano ka ka-swerte dahil pwede mo pang makita at makausap ang asawa mo." I said and gave him a re-assuring smile.

Totoo naman. If only I could talk to my wife with her knowledge that I am her husband. It would be nice.