After She Died | √

Chapter 14: forbidden

Pagtapak na pagtapak niya kanina sa human realm, the familiarity of the place wasn't there.

Nakakalungkot.

Lyca was once living. Inaasahan niyang kahit papaano pamilyar sa kaniya ang Human Realm, but it wasn't. This place seemed foreign to her. Seeing the bright and clear sky of the human realm instead of the foggy and dark ones of the town, the dinning noise compared to the town's defeaning silence. All the liveliness were all aliens to her.

Ilang minuto rin niyang pinagmasdan ang paglubog ng araw hanggang sa maisipan niyang umalis doon. Ilang hakbang na rin ang nagagawa nang may rumihistro sa kaniya. Ang dating lakad ay naging takbo.

She's lost.

Lyca tried contacting her teammates but they weren't picking up. May isang sumagot ngunit binaba naman nito agad. Pinilit niyang tandaan ang mga tinahak nilang daan kanina, ngunit pakiramdam niya mas lalo lamang siyang napalayo.

Lyca stood there in the middle of the big and busy crowd, hopeless. Slowly, she sat down and hugged her knees.

Did the bus leave already?

Did they leave her?

Sa bigat ng nararamdaman, hindi na niya ininda ang pagtama at pagtagos ng mga tao sa katawan at nagpatuloy lang sa pag-upo. Lyca's lost in the vast of unfamiliarity but when she opened her eyes, soft orange sunset, the crowd, the melody, the song, the guitar and... him.

Tumayo siya at dahan-dahang lumapit sa kumpol ng tao.

Lyca's eyes settled on the young lad singing on the tiny stage. In his highschool uniform, his voice under the beautiful sunset, his fingers strumming the guitar with burning passion. That sight was perfect.

Sa paglapat nang berdeng mata nito sa kaniya, naestatuwa si Lyca sa kinatatayuan. It was quick. It barely last a second, but it felt long. Like time slowed down— no it stopped. It had given her an opportunity to stare, to be amazed, to be mesmerized and just... listen.

Until she found herself lost, but this time in his eyes. Lyca never knew that she could feel unfamiliarity and certainty at the same time. Lyca's lost but his eyes comforted her, his voice says solace— he was a peaceful view. Instantly, under the sunset, Lyca knew... she felt something.

"You think you're inlove." Malakas ang tawa ng lalaki. Namutawi ito sa loob ng apat na sulok ng kwarto.

"I didn't say that." Depensa ni Lyca sa sarili. "I just want to help him... That's all."

"Woman, you don't risk yourself just to help someone random. Are you god or something, para maging banal ka?"

Tumikhim siya at sinalubong ang tingin nito. "I followed you on my own. Napahamak ako dahil sa sarili kong kagagawan, walang kinalaman si Judge."

"Besides, ikaw na mismo ang nagsabing blacklisted ako sa town. Why not do something reasonable before they kick me out." Mahabang paliwanag niya.

"Why am I even explaining to you?"

Tumango-tango lang ito sa kaniya. "I understand, mahirap talagang mag-deny ng feelings."

Hindi pinansin ni Lyca iyon at nagpatuloy sa pagsasalita. "Can you grant my wish? Kaya mo bang pigilan ang pagkamatay ng isang tao?"

Isang makahulugang ngiti ang pinakawalan ng binata. "It's complicated, but possible."

"Kaya mo?" Hindi kontento sa sagot nito.

"Yes," he paused. "I've done it before."

Linagpasan siya ng binata at dumeretso sa table nito. They got out from the maze a while ago safely. Ngayon ay dinala siya ng lalaki sa pukad nito. Maliit lamang ang lugar na punong-puno ng mga libro, ngunit agaw pansin ang dalawang scythe na nakalutang sa ere.

"Why are you obsessed with scythes?" Lyca asked nonchalantly.

"Why do human needs to eat?" He said, still his eyes fixed on his book.

Lyca shrugged, "to live?"

"Exactly, scythes are for survival."

"Why are scythes forbidden, then?"

Bahagyang tumigil ang binata at tumingin sa kaniya. "Dahil may mga Reapers na katulad ko na aabusuhin ang scythe. Scythes are really good at killing both Reapers and human, you should know that by now."

"What's his name again?" He asked, now eyes down on his iGrim.

"Judge Arthur Argon."

"He's scheduled to die this month." He paused, squinting his eyes while thinking a bit. "That's soon, I didn't expect that."

"That's why I'm gambling my scythe. Ano? Kaya mo ba?"

Tumitig lang ito sa kaniya bago ito tumayo at naglakad papunta sa malapit na cabinet. Hindi siya nagtagal doon at bumalik sa harapan niya na may dalang papel. Pagkalapag na pagkalapag ng papel sa table ay agad na bumaba ang tingin ni Lyca roon.

It was the contract.

"Sign it and we're set."

Lyca have doubts. Hindi iyon mawawala sa kaniya lalo pa't ramdam niyang hindi mapagkakatiwalaan ang lalaking na sa harapan.

"What's your name?" Lyca asked. May karapatan naman siguro siyang malaman ang pangalan nito kahit meyembro pa ito ng Council.

Malakas itong tumawa. "Wala ka pa ring tiwala sa akin."

Nag-aalinlangan may dahan-dahan siyang tumango.

"I see, it's Shiloh. Now seal our deal with your thumb."

Tinitigan muna ni Lyca si Shiloh bago idikit ang hinlalaki sa papel. Sa paglapat ng daliri niya roon, umikot ang paningin niya. Kalaunan ay kusang pumikit ang kaniyang mga mata.

"Anong ginawa mo sa akin?" Nanghihinang tanong ni Lyca kay Shiloh.

"I did what you tell me to do," he smiled.

"Make me dizzy wasn't part of the plan--"

"Shush... did you hear that?"

"What?" Dahan-dahan siyang bumangon.

"It's you." Lumapit si Shiloh sa kaniya, tumigil lang ito ilang pulgada mula sa mukha niya.

"You're breathing," slowly Shiloh held Lyca's hand and placed it over her chest. "And beating."

Kinapa iyon ni Lyca. Her heart was indeed throbbing badly.

"What's hapenning? What did you do to me?" Kabadong tanong ni Lyca sa lalaki.

"You're alive." Walang pag-aalinlangang sagot nito.

"I resurrected you."

end of part one
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