DEAL NINE
Alyssa’s
“hey you okay?” she snap her finger in front of my face.
“I’am. Excuse me lang, babalik na ko sa mga kasama ko” sabi ko. Ayoko ng pakiramdam ko pag malapit ako sa babaeng to. Nilagpasan ko sya para makabalik na sa table namin pero nakuha nya yung atensyon ko sa sinabi nya
“Fallen Angels. Life Outside Heaven. Ang gandang libro. Gusto mong basahin?” nung tiningnan ko sya, nanlaki ko yung mata ko. Hawak nya yung black book!
Ang ingay ng paligid, magulo ang mga tao. Bigla na lang may bubunggo sayo pero parang wala lang sa kanila yun. Kumakalat sa buong lugar ang amoy ng alak. That’s the normal scene sa isang bar. But at this very moment, everything seems to be different. I feel like we are locked in a timeline that only me and her is moving.
Palipat lipat ang tingin ko sa kanya at sa librong hawak nya.
What’s with her and the book? Bakit hindi ko magawang lumayo sa kanila?
“What do you want? Sino ka ba talaga?” Hindi ko alam kung sapat na ba yung lakas ng boses ko para marinig nya ako pero ang alam ko naintindihan nya ako.
She look at me intently, ganun din ang ginawa ko pero hindi ko mabasa kung anong gusto nyang iparating.
Makalipas ng ilang sandal, pinakita na naman nya sakin yung one sided smile nya. Pagkatapos nun ay tumalikod sya.
Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero may pwersang nagsasabi sakin na sundan ko sya. Inikot ko yung tingin ko sa buong bar para hanapin yung mga kasama ko at nung nakita ko na busy sila sa kanya kanyang business ay nagpasya akong sundan sya. Lumabas sya sa fire exit.
Nung tulyan na kaong makalabas ay hinahanap sya ng mga mata ko. At nakita ko syang papaunta sa isang tago at madilim na sulok sa paligid ng bar.
Nung makita ko yung pwesto nya hindi ko maiwasang hindi mapangiti.
Shes seating unconsciously at the cold floor of the parking, her elbows on her knees while her back is leaning in the concrete flower pots.
Madilim pero sapat na yung liwanag ng buwan para maaninag namin ang isat isa.
“Hey aren’t you too unconscious on the wat you slouch on that cold floor?” tanung ko sa kanya nung tinabihan ko sya.
She’s wearing a black cotton short short, white tank top and black leather jacket on top of it.
A typical party girl eh?
“Why? I’m comftable here. Ayaw mo ba dito mag-usap? I can go anywhere” she said nonchalantly. Hay di nya ko nagets. Ako kasi nako-conscious sa itsura nya. Buti na lang sa side nya ako nakaupo at hindi sa harap.
“hindi okay lang. ikaw lang inaalala ko. Di ata bagay sa suot mo” biro ko sa kanya
“Huh? Ano ka ba okay lang. hmm teka bakit bigla atang nag-iba yung trato mo sakin” biglang tanung nya. Bakit ng aba? Diba nga ang gusto ko ay iwasan sya?
“Hmm I don’t know either. Siguro kasi di mo rin naman ako tatantanan saka I have this feeling that this will not be the last time we’ll see each other” hanggat nasa kanya yung black book magkakaroon kami ng chance na magkita. Teka?! Nasa kanya yung black book!
Bigla akong napatingin sa direksyon nya.
“Teka bakit na syo yang black book na yan?! Ninakaw mo sa library?!” gulat na sabi ko sa kanya. Ngayon ko lang narealiza yun. Tss balak pa ata akong idamay sa kalokohan nya.
“Easy there tiger!” natatawang sabi nya
“Easy? You stole a book!” Aish! Parang wala lang sa kanya yun ah. Di kaya may sa magnanakaw talaga to.
“hey stop thinking! Di ako magnanakaw kung yan ang iniisip mo. Hiniram ko lang naman tong libro na to e” hala! Pano nya nalaman iniisip ko? She’s a freak!
“Will you stop concluding things about me in your head. Nandito na nga ako sa harap mo o! pwede ka pong magtanung” Oo nga naman. Pwede naman nga. Kaya nga kami nandito para mag-usap e.
“okay okay. So panong nasayo yang libro na yan?” humarap na ko sa kanya at patagilid na sumandal sa concrete flower pots.
“First uulitin ko, hindi ko to ninakaw. Hiniram ko lang to” sabi nya
“pwede pa lang mgalabas ng libro sa library?” takang tanung ko. Ang alam ko kasi hindi pwede e.
“Hindi nga pwede so hiniram ko na lang sa shelf!” proud pang sabi nya. I meantally slap myself. So ninakaw nga nya
“Isa pa, nung tinanung ko sa librarian ang tungkol sa libro nito isang bagay lang ang sinabi nya na talagang pinagtataka ko” pagpaptuloy nyang sabi
Kumunot naman yung noo ko.
“Ano yun?’ tanung ko sa kanya
“Oops ayusin mo nga yang noo mo” sabi nya. Nung hahawakan nya yung noo ko para iunat ay iniwas ko ang ulot ko. Si den lang ang pwedeng gumawa sakin nun. Ayokong may maalalang iba sa pag-uunat ng kunot kong noo.
“Can you just continue with the talk?” iritableng sabi ko sa kanya. Napaka-feeling close ng babaeng to.
“Sungit! Pero ang sabi nung librarian, wala daw ganung libro sa library” lalo namang duammi yung kunot ng noo ko sa sinabi nya
“ha? panong wala e ayan nga at hawak mo pa?” turo ko sa librong hawak nya
“Yun na nga. Nung nakita kasi kitang tinatago yung librong yun nacurious ako tapos ayun pumunta ko sa shelf tapos kinuha yung libro. Tiningnan ko yung title pero nakakapagtakang walang pangalan ng author..”
“teka nakita mo kong tinago yung libro?” kaya pala kahit pagkatago tago ko pa sa libro nakuha pa rin nya.
“yeah. In fact di lang yun ang nakita ko” sabi pa nya
“what do you mean?” tanung ko
“I saw you from the very first step you made at that building. Halata kasi na ang lalim ng iniisip mo. Masyado kang focus sa kung ano man yung hanap mo sa library. Kaya ayun, I got curious”
“And I don’t even notice you? Ganun ba ko kaseryoso nun? Pero anyways, going back. Anung ginagawa mo after mong makita yung book?”
“kinabukasan bumalik ako para hiramin yun. Nung sinulat ko sa borrowing slip at binigay sa librarian sinabi nga nyang wala daw ganung libro na hawak ang library. They even checked their database and she repeatedly say na wala nga daw ganun. Nakulitan na nga ata sakin yung librarian e” paliwanag nya
“Strange..” yun lang ang tanging nasabi ko
“Oo kaya eto, hiniram ko muna tutal wala naman to sa record nila so in principle, I don’t stole anything. Pano mo nanakawin ang wala naman?” katwiran pa nya sakin
“Oo na. so can I have that book? Ang dami mong cheche bureche sa buhay” sabi ko na lang sa kanya. Kating kati na ko malaman yung laman nun
“bakit ba kasi gustong gusto mo tong libro na to? Mukang boring naman. Cover pa lang hindi na pinag-effortan”
“Wala kang pake” sabi ko tapos hinablot ko na yung libro. This time hindi na sya nakapalag
Muli kong pinasadahan yung cover nito. Sa wakas!
Kinuha ko yung phone ko. Hindi kasi sapat yung liwanag para mabasa ko yung nakasulat sa libro. In-on ko muna yung flash light app sa phone ko.
Huminga muna ako ng malalim bago ko bunksan yung libro.
“Fallen Angel is an angel that has been cast out and barred from Heaven as punishment for rebellion.” Basa nya sa unang pahina ng libro. I remember how I shiver the first time I read those words.
“can you not real aloud?” sabi ko sakanya. Inirapan lang ako. Aish!
“Oo na. ang sungit talaga. Buklatin mo na nga lang. ako naiinip sayo e. masyado mong pini-feel yung bawat words” masungit ding sabi nya. Napailing na lang ako.
Muli kong binalik yung atensyon ko sa libro. Tama nga akong parang diary to. Parang totoo kasing hand written yung pagkakasulat. Actually cursive pa nga na maliliit.. Tama nga ako. Isa tong diary type book.
What are Angels?
Yan yung nakasulat sa susunod na page na buksan ko. Ano nga ba ang mga anghel? Ang alam ko lang naman sila yung mga protector ng mga humans. Yung mga guardian angels. Diba?
Angels are powerful spiritual beings who serve God and human beings in a wide variety of ways, say people who believe in them. The faithful from the world's major religions believe that angels are messengers from God who carry out tasks that God assigns them to perform on Earth.
Yan nga yung pagkaka-alam kong duty ng mga angels.
When they appear on Earth, angels may be in either human or heavenly form. So angels may visit in disguise, looking just like human beings. Or angels may appear as they've been popularly depicted in art, as creatures with human faces and powerful wings, often shining with light from within.
Wow! Kaya pala si Den. Hindi ko man lang naisip o hindi ko man lang napag-isipang isa syang anghel.
Despite their portrayals in some cartoons, angels don't just sit around on clouds playing harps for eternity. Neither do they have much time to polish their halos. Angels have lots of work to do!
Just like their name implies, angels may deliver God's messages to humans, such as by comforting, encouraging, or warning people according to what's best in each situation into which God sends them.
Angels may work hard to guard the people they're assigned to from danger.
I harshly close the book. Parang hindi pa kasi ako ready sa ibang laman ng libro.
“What the heck? Di pa nga ako tapos magbasa e. ang bastos naman” sabi nung katabi ko.
“Bakit kasi nakikisabay ka magbasa? Di mo pa to nabasa?” tanung ko sa kanya.
“Nabasa na” sabi nya
“Yun pala e. just let me read alone okay? Saka pwede bang medyo lumayo ka? Masyado kang malapit” sabi ko tapos tinaboy ko sya na para bang nagpapalayas ng aso
“Arte! Masungit na nga maarte pa” sabi nya tapos umusog papalayo sakin
“Di ako maarte. Di lang ako sanay na may masyadongmalapit sakin. Syempre exeption si Den.
“Whatever. Ituloy mo na” sabi lang nya
Nag-aalangan man ay muli kong binuksan yung libro. Kung ano anong bagay pa ang nabasa ko about sa angels. Sumasakit na nga ang ulo ko e. to much information to take.
Pag buklat ko ng sumunod na pahina..
Types of Angels
Huh? May ibat ibang uri pa pa pala ng angels?
We may be able to speak directly to God through prayer, but according to the Bible, he reaches us through a variety of angels, each with distinct duties. There are nine types of angels within three major groups known as choirs. Regardless of where they are on the hierarchy, like us, they are individuals.
Unlike us, because they are able to see far beyond a mortal timeline, they are extremely patient and forgiving. They are aware of our personal life goals and are assigned to assist us, but never interfere with our free will. The first choir, in its celestial form, is represented by wavelengths of light and force fields and frequencies of sound. These entities emanate vibrations, or waves, of devotional love into the universe.
1. Seraphim
These are the angels who are closest to God. They encircle his throne and emit an intense fiery light representing his love. Seraphim are considered "fiery serpents" and not even the other divine beings may look at them. There are only four of them and each has four faces and six wings. When they come to Earth, they leave their serpent appearance behind, preferring tall, thin, clean-cut human embodiments.
2. Cherubim
These angels are the keepers of celestial records and hold the knowledge of God. They are sent to Earth with great tasks, such as expelling humankind from the Garden of Eden. Ancient art depicts cherubim as sphinx-like, winged creatures with human faces, not the fat babies with wings that now grace greeting cards and book covers. Ophaniel, Rikbiel, and Zophiel are cherubim, as was Satan before his fall to evil.
3. Thrones
Thrones' appearance is perhaps the most bizarre of the first grouping. They are said to look like great glowing wheels covered with many eyes. They serve as God's chariot and dispense his judgment in order to carry out his desires for us. The angels in the second choir can exist in a state of transition between the celestial and human worlds. They are considered heavenly governors, attempting to strike a balance between matter and spirit, good and bad.
4. Dominions or Dominations
Think of dominions as middle management. They receive orders from seraphim and cherubim, then dish out duties to the "worker bee" angels of the lower orders. Their main purpose is to make sure that the cosmos remains in order by sending down power to heads of government and other authority figures. Zadkiel (sometimes called Hashmal) is the chief of this order.
5. Virtues
Shaped like sparks of light, virtues are in charge of maintaining the natural world, and they inspire living things in areas such as science. They also take orders from the angels above and convert them into miracles for the deserving. When they make themselves known to us in their earthly form, they are musicians, artists, healers, and scientists who work with the power of love, as well as physics. The two angels at the ascension of Jesus are believed to have been virtues.
6. Powers
In their celestial form, powers appear like brightly colored, hazy fumes. Powers are border patrol agents between heaven and Earth. They are the angels of birth and death. Some believe that they also preside over demons who wish to overthrow the world, while others, namely St. Paul, thought the powers themselves were the evil ones. In any case, powers are a group of experts who serve as advisers in terms of religion, theology, and ideology.
The third choir is best known to us because they are most like us with their vulnerability to the act of sinning.
7. Principalities
These angelic beings are shaped like rays of light. Just like a principal in school, it's the principalities who oversee everything. They guide our entire world -- nations, cities, and towns. What's more, they are in charge of religion and politics. As if their plate isn't full enough, they are also in charge of managing the earthly duties of the angels below them.
8. Archangels
They, along with the angels, are guardians of people and all things physical. But don't call on them to help you personally; archangels respond best when dealing with matters involving all humankind. They are the first order of angels that appear only in human form. As such, they function among us as pioneers for change in the form of explorers, philosophers, and human rights leaders. This order is most commonly known because they are mentioned by name in the Bible -- Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.
9. Angels
Angels are the true intermediaries between God and individual people. Angels don't watch over nations; they safeguard households and individuals who believe in God and keep them safe from demons. They nurture, counsel, and heal. We all have a "personal angel," better known as our guardian angel, with us daily.
Urg! Ayoko na talaga. Ang sakit na ng ulo ko. Bakit parang biglang ang dami pala nilang uri?
“O bakit na naman?” sabi nya nung sinara ko ulit yung libro
“Ayoko na. that’s to much information to take. Isa pa hindi ko naman sigurado kung totoo ba yung mga nakasulat dyan. Baka mamaya fiction lang pala yan” sabi ko sa kanya.
Kung totoo man yan. Sang uri ng anghel nabibilang si Den? Hindi naman nabanggit sa libro yung mga death angels.
“Akina nga ako na magbabasa” sabi nya. Hindi na rin ako tumutol nung kinuha nya yung libro.
Archangels
An archangel is an angel of high rank . All Archangels end with the "el" suffix. "El" meaning "in God" and the first half of the name meaning what each individual Angel specializes in. Archangels are able to be in many places at one time. You never have to feel that your "problem" isn't important enough to bother them with. That is what they're there for, to help you grow. The most popular Archangels are Michael, Raphael, Gabriel and Uriel because they are depicted in the Christian Bible here on earth.
Archangel! Isa yun sa mga keywords na nilista ko para magamit sa paghahanap na gagawin ko. Tama nga ako, malamang yung lalaking tinawag ni Den, yun ang pinuno nila.
Nagpatuloy lang sya sa pagbabasa. Ako naman nakikinig lang.
But aside from the popular Archangels her on Earth , there are also other Archangels who serves god. The archangel of the angel of death.
That caught my attention. Yun! Yun yung kanina ko pa hinahanap. From almost 20 pages na nabasa ko wala pa dun yung information na hinahanap ko.
The much feared Angel of death but misunderstood angels. Their primary role is to help people cross over to Heaven at the time of physical death. He comforts people prior to their physical passing, makes sure they don’t suffer during death and helps them assimilate on the other side. Working as a grief counselor, he surrounds grieving family members with healing energy and helps them cope and thrive, and absorbs their pain.
Bigla ko na namang naalala yung sinabi ni Den bago sya makuha nung mga ibang anghel
“Ly listen to me. Wala na akong oras na natitira. Ly isa akong anghel, isang death angel to be exact. Pinadala ako dito sa lupa dahil may misyon ako. Yun ay ang sunduin ang kaluluwa ng mga mamamatay na. Alam kong mahirap itong paniwalaan pero what you see right now is all the truth. I’m sorry if i have to keep this from you. Pero please believe me. I truly love you with all my heart. Ly ikaw –“
Dahil sa isang bahagi ng nakasulat dun, nabura lahat ng agama gam ko sa libro. Naniniwala na ko. Kung sino man ang sumulat nito. Tanging unknown kasi ang nakalagay na pangalan ng author. Napakuyom ang aking kamao. Shit lang! talaga palang may ganun. Pero bakit? Bakit naging death angel pa sya?
Many people struggle with fear when they approach death, or even when they simply think about dying. People are afraid of the suffering they may have to endure when they die, and they fear what will happen to them after death, wondering if they may go to hell or even not exist at all anymore.
But there’s nothing to fear about death after all? Because there is one or even a group of angels who comfort people when they’re dying and escort their souls into an afterlife, the death angels.
Muli ko na namang naramdaman yung kirot sa isiping lahat ng pinakita nya sakin ay parte ng misyon nya. Pero may tiwala ako sa pagmamahal nya. Minsan na akong nagduda pero hindi ko na ulit gagawin yun. Kami ni Dennise ang biktima ng magkaibang mundong ginagalawan namin.
Kung ano ano pang information about sa mga duty ng ibat ibang angels ang nakasulat sa libro.
Halos mapangalahati na namin ang libro.
Bigla namang tumunog ang phone ko.
Moks calling..
<<Hello moks? Nasan ka. Uuwi na tayo. Ayokong matulog sa labas pag hindi tayo naka-abot sa curfew!>> tahimik na sa background. Mukang nasa parking na sila. Napatingin ako sa relo ko. 10:20 pm.
Saktong oras lang para makabalik kami sa dorm.
“Okay. Sige. Nasa parking na ba kayo? Pupunta na ko dyan.
<<Oo pero magtataxi na lang tayo. Wala pang balak umuwi sila There e. sasabay na lang sana tayo>> sabi pa nya
In-end ko na yung tawag.
“going home?” tanung nung katabi ko
“Yeah. May curfew e” sabi ko habang binubulsa yung phone. Tumayo ako at pinagpag yung pwetan ko.
“Ano ka bata?” natatawang sabi nya. Inalalayan ko syang tumayo. Nilahad ko yung kamay ko at hinila sya patayo.
“Can I take that book home?” tanung ko sa kanya.
“hindi pwede. Kung gusto mo tong mabasa kailangan mong makipagkita sakin” sabi nya tapos tinago na nya yung book sa leather sling bag nya na di ko manlang napansin kanina.
“Eh? Sige naman na. nahirapan na nga akong tumakas nung pinuntahan ko yan sa library e.” eto na naman po kami sap ag-aagawan sa libro.
“Eto, number ko. Tawagan mo lang ako kung gusto mo ng mabasa yung libro ulit” magpoprotesta pa sana ako nung makarinig ako ng pagtawag sakin
“Moks nandyan ka lang pala!” lumingon ako tapos nakita ko si Marge na papalapit sakin
“Papunta na rin naman ako. Kinakausap ko lang –“ naputol yung sasabihin ko nung lumingon ako sa kinatatayuan ni Tricia kanina pero di ko na sya nakita.
Lumingon lingon pa ko sa paligid pero ni anino nya hindi ko na nakita tanging isang tissue ang nakita kong hawak ko. Nung tningnan ko ito ay may nakasulat na number dito.
“Ha? Sinong kausap mo?” sabi nito na lumilingon lingon din para hanapin yung sinasabi kong kausap ko.
“Ha? Hindi ako sabi ko lumayo lang ako kasi may kausap ako sa phone” pagpapalusot ko na lang. agad kong binulsa yung tissue.
“Ah ganun ba? Tara na. tumatakbong oras. Tyak naka-abang na naman yung madam natin sa dorm” sabi nito sabay tawa.
Tumawa na lang din ako para ikubli yung iniisip ko.
Bakit bigla na lang syang nawala?
Ano pa kaya ang malalaman ko tungkol sa mga angel?
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