My Love, Darkness

Chapter 27

IT was midnight when Titus visited Phoebe again. It was always like this for seven years.

For the past seven years, he was always consistent. Visiting Phoebe every night and reading her diary.

"So, any revenge for Phoebe?"

Napabuntong-hininga si Titus nang marinig ang boses na iyon ni Kellan bago niya ito nilingon.

"Nah, she's good. She just said that her day went fine. Nakipaglaro kay Aliyah at natuwa siya na hindi pumasok iyong English teacher nila."

Kellan stared at him like he was waiting for him to say something. "And?"

Titus shrugs. Alam niya ang gusto nitong iparating pero ayaw niya makipagtalo.

"Don't you think you are spoiling Phoebe too much?" tanong muli sa kaniya ni Kellan na ikina-kibit balikat niya lang.

"Really? Wala kang nakikitang mali?" pangungumbinsi ni Kellan na sinagot niya lang ng pag-iling.

Pareho silang napatingin kay Phoebe nang kumilos ito sa pagtulog. Natanggal ang kumot na nakatakip hanggang sa braso nito kung kaya't kumilos si Titus.

He moved Phoebe's comforter with his mind. Ginamitan niya ito ng telekinesis para mabalot ulit ito sa kumot.

A satisfied smile curved on Titus' lips. "These abilities are really useful."

Kellan rolled his eyes at him. "Yeah! Useful enough to spoil Phoebe too much. Hindi ka ba napapaisip na ang babaw ng galit niya sa guro niya?"

Titus' face became serious instantly. "She said that it was her last pencil in her diary."

"Well, she can buy tons of it if she wants to, right? Whatever she wants, right?"

"You do know that she was not on good terms with anyone in this mansion. No one gives her the comfort and guidance she needed," pagtatanggol niya kay Phoebe na ikinabuntong-hininga na lang ni Kellan.

"But really? Hindi ba dapat mas prinoprotektahan mo siya sa paraan na nasa panganib talaga ang buhay niya. Hindi iyong pinoprotektahan mo siya sa mga bagay na tungkol sa mga problema niya."

Napatango siya. He agrees with what Kellan has said but he doesn't know. Guess that when it comes to Phoebe, he really can't just stop his self from doing things he will realize he just did the wrong decision after.

"But I admit, I was satisfied doing revenge for Phoebe. Especially about her Stepmother. She deserves it," he said, grinning.

Naalala niya kung paano niya tinakot ang Stepmother ni Phoebe. It was priceless, actually.

Thanks to Larid, the Nephilim. Tinuruan sila nito at tinulungang mapalabas at mahasa ang ilan pa nilang abilidad. Isa na do'n ang illusion or perception altering kung saan puwede niyang manipulahin kung anong gusto niyang maging tingin sa kaniya ng isang tao.

Kagaya sa nangyari sa Stepmother ni Phoebe. Pinasok niyang panaginip nito. It happens that Phoebe's Stepmother, Francheska has entomophobia so he used it as his appearance in her dream. Tinakot niya ito ng ilang oras hanggang sa makuntento siya na makita itong may trauma.

At kagaya nga ng hiling ni Phoebe, nagtagumpay siyang mapatahimik ang Stepmother ni Phoebe. Hindi niya kayang ikumpara sa kahit mortal ang saya na mayro'n si Phoebe nang sa wakas ay napatahimik niya si Francheska na laging nagbibigay ng masasakit na salita sa batang mortal na pinoprotektahan niya.

"Well, bud. Walang-wala naman iyon sa batang bully na pinarusahan. I mean, you went too far. You scared the kid and making his self fall," Kellan said that made him sighed.

"That kid became the reason for Phoebe's never-ending cries. Nakita mo naman, hindi ba? That bully hurt Milaska. And Milaska happens to be Phoebe's precious cat. Ilang linggo din na nagpabalik-balik si Phoebe sa veterinary clinic, thinking that she will lose Milaska, it pained me too."

Napahilamos si Kellan sa mukha nito. Tila hindi alam kung magagalit sa kaniya or mananahimik na lang dahil sa may katwiran siya.

"Pero minsan, Titus. Isipin mo naman si Phoebe bilang mortal. She can't be spoiled. Hindi puwedeng mag-rely siya sa fake magic diary niya kagaya ng pinaniwala mo sa kaniya. You see, Phoebe needs to learn as a mortal," Kellan said that made his brows furrowed.

"What do you mean? Am I not helping Phoebe?" may pagtataka niyang tanong.

It's been years since he keeps protecting Phoebe and guiding her on some decisions she can't make. But of course, after what happened seven years ago. Nanatili pa rin siyang hindi nagpapakita kay Phoebe. He's just contented with seeing Phoebe sleeping soundly.

Masaya at kuntento siya sa paraang ginagawa niya para matulungan ito. Kahit na sumusobra na nga siya kagaya ng sinasabi ni Kellan. He doesn't care as long as he keep seeing Phoebe happy.

"Bud, we are grim reapers. Good thing, you're back as one of the ace grim reaper in our division. Nawala ang pagdududa sa iyo ng Chief natin. But still, the way you help Phoebe as a grim reaper who has found his other abilities..." umiling si Kellan na ikinabahala niya. "It's not helping Phoebe grow."

Napatulala si Titus dahil sa sinabi ni Kellan. Thinking about all the things he has done just for Phoebe's happiness.

If I'm not helping Phoebe, then what the f**k am I doing all along?

"You see. Mortals are made vulnerable because it is necessary, Titus. Gods made them weak so they can also learn. Build themselves. Learn with everything they had experienced," Kellan said, like he knows what he's talking about.

"But I can't see Phoebe hurting. I can't lose Phoebe again."

Remembering Phoebe on his arms. Pale, cold body. Hindi niya matanggal sa isip niya ang alaala niyang iyon. Ang mahawakan si Phoebe. Sobrang lapit ngunit patay na.

Napatingin siya kay Phoebe. Flashes He can't endure seeing Phoebe die again. He can't afford to see Phoebe's souls apart from her body. It means the end for him.

"Bud, here you are. Protecting Phoebe at all cost, no matter what. Hindi mo naman hahayaang mangyari muli sa kaniya, hindi ba?"

Tumango siya bilang sagot. "I will not make the same mistake again."

Napangiti sa kaniya kay Kellan. "Then you'll know what to do to keep Phoebe alive. It's just you gotta need to stop blocking Phoebe from experiencing things that can make her learn. Those emotional pains, she needs it."

Titus nodded. Totally understand what Kellan wanted to say. He realized, Kellan is really right about Phoebe.

He can't keep saving Phoebe from heartbreaks. He must only stand for Phoebe if it's Phoebe's life they're talking about.

He also wants Phoebe to grow. He wants Phoebe in her best version. Because if he keep granting Phoebe's request in her diary, Phoebe will definitely not grow.

DAYS passed. Phoebe has grown to have friends. But as of now, her friends are only three. Brittany, Letisha, and Kendra.

"So what are we doing tonight?" Letisha asked, looks excited while fixing her things.

Napataas siya ng kilay habang nagtatakang tumitig sa tatlo niyang kaibigan. "What are we doing? Am I missing something here?"

Parehong tumawa si Kentra at Letisha. Umiling lang sa kaniya si Brittany.

"That's what you get for not having a f*******:," may pang-aasar na sabi sa kaniya ni Kendra.

Napakibit-balikat na lang si Phoebe. "Well, Dad is not allowing me to have a cellphone yet so..."

Good thing, their Mathematic teacher is absent. May oras silang lumabas ng classroom at para na rin kumain. Kaya naman silang apat ay kasalukuyang nasa quadrangle.

Nagulat si Phoebe nang makitang naglabas si Kendra ng lipstick.

"Kendra!" tawag niya dito, kinakabahan habang tumitingin sa paligid. "We are not allowed to wear makeups in school," she said, warning Kendra.

Kendra just rolled her eyes at her while Letisha and Brittany also showed her their makeup kits.

"Oh my god," kinakabahan siyang napatingin sa tatlo niyang kaibigan. "Don't tell me you guys are gonna apply those things inside the university."

Sabay na tumawa ang tatlo niyang kaibigan. Amused about Phoebe being innocent.

"Chill, Phoebe. Wala ka bang napapansin?" tanong ni Brittany at itinuro ang isang direksyon.

Napatingin naman do'n si Phoebe. Her eyes widen when she saw a couple. Both of them are wearing a college uniform. Mas lalo siyang nagulat nang makitang biglang naghalikan ang dalawa.

Mabilis na bumalik ang tingin niya sa tatlo niyang kaibigan na ngayon ay pare-parehong kinikilig.

"Bakit kinikilig kayo?"

"Duh. It was Ken, one of the hottest here in the university. We can't believe silang dalawa talaga ni Dennise ang nagkatuluyan," pagpapaliwanag ni Kendra.

"But public display of affection is not allowed here. Ang babata pa natin, hindi ba?" tanong ni Phoebe na agad naman sinagot ni Letisha.

"Ano ka ba? Those rules don't really apply here. No one cares. Mga binabayaran ang mga tao dito so..." Letisha shrugs. "Even me, I once got myself with a b***h, hindi na sila nakapagsalita or they will lose a sponsor."

Napatanga si Phoebe sa sinabi ni Letisha. She actually doesn't like what Letisha has said. Kapag usapang pera at ginagamit ito sa masamang bagay, she can't take it.

Pero kahit gano'n, hindi siya nagsalita pabalik sa mga kaibigan niya at nanatiling tahimik.

Hanggang sa umabot ang uwian ay kasama niya pa rin ang tatlo niyang sosyalerang kaibigan.

"Phoebe, do you want to come with us?" biglang tanong ni Kendra na ikinataka niya.

Gabi na at kahit kailan ay hindi pa siya ginagabi sa pag-uwi. "Saan naman tayo pupunta? Gabi na at may mga assignments pa tayo."

"Ano ka ba? Minsan-minsan ay dapat gumala din tayo. Our grades doesn't matter anyway. It's not like hindi binabayaran ang mga teachers natin para taasan ang grades natin so chill," Brittany said while Kendra and Letisha nodded, approved of what Brittany has said.

Napatingin siya sa kotse kung nasaan ang driver niya na naghahantay sa kaniya. Napaisip siya kung may pakialam din sa oras ng pag-uwi niya ang mga nasa mansion.

Sa huli ay napatango siya habang may pakiramdam na hindi pa rin maganda ang gagawin niya.

One time thing wouldn't hurt, right?