Strings and Arrows

Chapter 2

"Eh bakit mo ba kasi hinahayaang masaktan ang mga tao kung alam mo naman pala ang ginagawa mo?"

"Ayan na naman tayo. Hindi ka nakikinig eh. My powers are about love and pain. Sa mundo, you can't only have love alone kasi mawawalan ng balance. We can't keep having the things we want without experiencing a little pain or a suffering. 'Yan ang hirap sa inyong mga tao eh. Gusto lagi nasusunod ang mga luho nila. Spoiled."

"What!? So what are you trying to say?"

"Well. Dahil sa ginawa mong pangiinsulto at pangmumura sa 'kin, may matatanggap kang pausa in return."

"Ano!? Bakit kailangang may parusa?!"

"Tingnan mo nga naman 'tong taong 'to. Hindi na nga nag-sorry, sinisigawan mo pa 'ko. Wala na, dodoble na ang parusa mo."

"Anak ng tokwa kang nilalang ka. Fine! Sorry na! 'Wag mo na 'kong parusahan."

"Ayoko. Ano 'yon? Sorry na ba tawag mo do'n? Eh ba't parang napipilitan ka lang? I change my mind."

"Talaga? 'Di mo na 'ko paparusahan?"

"Of course... no way. Ano ka sinuswerte? Mas titriplehin ko pa. Ang saya no?" he said smiling while clapping his hands.

Bullshit.

"Minura mo pa 'ko. Wala na, times 100 na talaga."

Tangina naman.

"Can you stop reading my mind!?"

"Actually, I can. But I won't." he said and stuck his tongue out.

Puchang isip bata.

"Strike 2."

Argh. Nakaka-frustrate!

"Nakaka-frustrate ka rin. Kanina pa tayo nagbabangayan kasi ang hilig mong mag-taray. Ang maldita mo talaga."

"Ang hilig mo ring mang-asar. Gag--" hindi ko na tinuloy ang sasabihin ko, baka mas lalo pang lumala ang magiging parusa ko.

"Good Girl. Mabait ka naman pala."

"Sige na. Tatanggapin ko na ang unfair mong hatol. Ano ba 'yon?"

"Since minamaliit mo ang kakayahan ko, I'll let you take over my job for awhile. You'll be replacing me as Cupid while I'll go get some rest with my wife."

"You have a freaking wife!?"

"Of course. Sa gwapo kong 'to, ano tingin mo sa 'kin?"

"Ang rupok naman, ang hangin pa."

Napatawa na lang siya.

"Hey, how will I do it?"

"Well, I'll give you the power to control my arrows. Hindi ka naman mahihirapan kasi the arrows work as if they have their own mind. They glow if meron kang papanain nearby at makikita mo kung sino ang papanain mo if may papalibot na red glow sa taong 'yon. Then poof, panain mo na siya."

"Eh pa'no kung sumablay ako?"

"Not gonna happen. The arrows never miss its targets. It's like the arrows and the person they're gonna hit share a strong bond kaya hindi ito lilihis. 'Yan ang rason bakit hindi nagkakamali si Cupid. It's The Strings and Arrows, Actually."

"Eh Pa'no kapag naubos 'yong arrows?"

"Not gonna happen also. The arrows recreate themselves. Kapag may bago kang papanain, may bagong arrow na darating. They will just appear right in front of you together with the bow if kakailanganin mo na."

"Hanggang kailan matatapos ang quest ko na ito?"

"On the long run, You will realize something in the middle of your journey. At kapag na-realize mo na 'yon, that's where your journey has reached its end. The Strings and Arrows will decide. There's no specific idea kung ano ang mare-realize mo. You just do your job and wait. And eventually, you will receive a gift. I hope by that time, it will not be too late."

"Wow, that's cool."

"But I tell you, this will not be an easy job."

"Maririnig ko rin ba ang private thoughts ng mga tao?"

"Nah. I won't give you that ability."

"What? Daya."

He chuckled again. Tangina, isa pa masasapak na kita.

"You know I can hear you right?"

"Yep, I am well aware of that. Sinadya ko. At why won't you let me have that kind of ability?"

"Gusto mo bang makuha ang gift mo?"

"Of course!"

"Oh, 'yon naman pala. You can't have both. Hindi naman pwedeng makuha mo lahat ng gusto mo. Learn how to appreciate the things that are yours and stop complaining."

"Naks. Ilang taon ka na ba? You look like my age but you talk like my Mom."

"I'd still take that as a compliment. I am way older than your Mom though."

"What!? Well, sabagay isa ka ngang Divine Being."

"Okay. Looks like we're settled then. Aalis na 'ko."

"Wait. Pa'no kapag may mga tanong ako or may mga magawa ako na mali pala. What will I do?"

"Don't worry, I will still be guiding you naman throughout your journey. Isipin mo na lang na parang nasa OJT ka na and you're training to become a good Businesswoman like me by being my apprentice. Always remember to not break the rules kasi hindi gagana ang arrows. Tandaan, lilitaw lang sila kapag kailangan mo na silang gamitin. Okay na? I'll go ahead."

"Wait, what are those rules?"

"I will tell you rin naman in the middle of your journey kapag nakalabag ka na o lalabag ka pa. Pero kapag aware ka na sa rules yet you still chose to break them, that's where you're not exempted already. Mapaparusahan ka na."

"Okay."

He was about to leave pero napahinto siya sa paglalakad niya.

"And oh by the way, you can't tell anyone about this. Understood?"