My Love, Darkness

Chapter 68

SUNRISE was already peaking on Titus' window when he woke up and decided to get up.

Titus immediately grips the edge of his bed table when he felt like he's going to faint. Pakiramdam niya ay saglit siyang nawalan ng lakas habang nakakaramdam ng pagkahilo. Dahan-dahan siyang umupo sa kaniyang kama kapagkuwan ay napabuntong-hininga.

"This is what I get when I lack sleep," aniya pagkatapos ay muling tumayo matapos ang ilang minutong pag-oobserba sa kaniyang sarili.

Dumiretso siya sa banyo at mabilis na naligo pagkatapos ay nagbihis. He choose to wear a dark double-breasted blazer. Balak niyang hindi muna suotin ang fedora dahil naisipan niya munang dumalaw kay Phoebe.

When he's all done, he teleported his self to a busy street that he is familiar with. As always, no one noticed his teleportation as he quickly blends his self within a group of mortals walking together.

Ilang minuto siyang patuloy na naglakad hanggang sa tumigil ang paa niya sa tapat ng Jollibee. His lips curved upwards as memories came back crashing on his mind. He remembers the time how gross-looking Phoebe was while eating the food she ordered back then.

Phoebe was so childish and cute back then that it made him adore her. He admits, he was drawn to the girl from the first time he saw her at the cemetery on that rainy and gloomy day but he was denial at first. Hindi pa palagay ang loob niya sa bata ngunit matapos ang ilang insidenteng nakasama niya ito, do'n niya niya nakita ang tunay nitong pag-uugali.

Phoebe is a girl who is kind and hopeful. Pinanood niya itong lumaki na masaya tuwing kalaro ang alaga nitong aso at pusa. Madali lang mapasaya ang batang mortal ngunit gaano pa katamis ang pinapakita nitong ngiti, may itinatago naman itong lungkot mula sa mga taong minamahal ng batang mortal.

And it's something that already gave him a reason to hate mortals more though also, for the time he has also found proof that not all mortals are so filthy just like what he thought for a hundred years from the first day where he started reaping.

He can still remember the first time he has reaped a soul. The feeling that lingered throughout his body while he watches a mortal's soul entered his fedora, a portal that goes straight to Charon's boat and delivers a hundred thousand of souls each day.

Naiiling na napameywang siya sa tapat ng Jollibee pagkatapos ay napagdesisyunang pumasok. As usual, maraming mortal ang nakapila ngunit ang mas nakakuha ng kaniyang pansin ay ang hindi niya mabilang na mga batang mortal na nando'n nang mga oras na iyon.

Nanatili siyang nakatayo sa gitna ng mga tao hanggang sa makita niya ang isang tarpaulin.

"Janna's birthday party, hmm..." Napahimas siya sa kaniyang baba habang nanood sa mga nagtatawanang bata. "This is second time that I entered Jollibee again. I thought birthday parties can only happen in houses."

"Okay, kids! Let's start singing for our birthday girl! One, two, three..."

Titus continues to watch as the kids on the birthday's girl sang. "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, happy birthday... Happy birthday to you!"

All of the kids clapped. All of them looks so happy that made Titus silent and dumbfounded.

Parang bumagal ang mga tao sa paligid niya habang siya naman ay nanatiling nakatayo sa gitna ng mga mortal.

He's feeling lost again. The feeling of not belonging, that is what he's feeling for the moment.

Kung noon ay wala siyang pakialam kahit na walang kumakausap sa kaniya, ngayon ay para bang kinakain siya ng pag-iisa habang nanood sa mga mortal na masasayang may mga kasama.

Mag-asawa, magka-anak o magkakaibigan. Iyon ang wala siya. Iyon ang mga salitang kahit kailan ay hindi madidikit sa kaniya.

He's a grim reaper. He's supposed to be not giving a f**k whenever he's in the middle of a crowded place but it's the opposite of what he is feeling.

It's what he keep feeling until he sensed a dark entity in the place. Dahan-dahan siyang lumingon sa kaniyang kaliwa kapagkuwan ay napataas ng kilay.

Nanatiling siyang kalmado kahit na sa kaloob-looban niya ay nanggigigil siya sa galit.

What does a demon doing around here? Naiyukom niya ang kaniyang kamao nang makitang ngumisi ang demonyo na para bang alam nito kung anong iniisip niya.

The demon is wearing a simple shirt and cargo pants. He also has the Elvis hairstyle that makes him look handsomely mortal.

Napangisi na rin si Titus. Demons, acting calmly as if there's no diabolical side in them.

Titus composed his self and crossed his arms in front of his chest before relaxing his self and stopped the time.

Just what always happens, people around the both of them stopped moving. All the cars stopped accelerating and even the sounds of the kids' laughter inside Jollibee stopped echoing.

Titus darted his gaze back to the demon that is still grinning at him.

"So, you have a power that you shouldn't have, grim reaper," the demon said as a matter of fact.

Titus was taken aback but he stayed cool before speaking up. "And you are not supposed to be here, demon? You know angels are gonna come and get you for violating their law."

The demon tsked. "It's their law, not mine."

Titus sighed before making a face. Right. Demons tend to not care over something that is not part of their devious life.

Demons wouldn't even care even if a battalion of angels are after them.

"So..." The demon trails off before giving him a serious look as he pocketed both of his hands. "It's must be you that they're talking about."

Agad siyang napakunot ng noo sa sinabing iyon ng demonyo. What is he talking about?

"What do you mean? The last time I checked, I'm only famous in my own world of reaping souls, demon," he said, confused.

"Well, after killing Lamia. You quite made a history for yourself in our world. Killing a greek demon just to save a mortal girl? Huh, that's the oddest thing I've ever heard after living for a hundred years of walking with mortals," the demon said before giving him a smile. "By the way, I'm Mizerus. Pronounced as mayserus, okay?"

Titus huffs. "As If I care, you are still a demon. Always the burden in our job as a grim reaper."

Mizerus pouted. "So what they said is right. You are also a meanie. I'm on vacation for your information."

Titus smirked. "Really? Vacation? You think I will believe what you just said?"

Mizerus sighs in defeat as if given up on explaining. "Fine. I don't care whether you believe me or not."

Titus rolled his eyes at the demon. "So what are you doing here? There's no one you can get victimized at this place, Mr. Mizerus. This place is crowded and too much for you. Aren't you feeling the lightness of this place?"

Mizerus just chuckled a little before teleporting inside Jollibee, specifically in front of him. Titus took two steps back, giving him and the demon space enough to not make him lost his control and fight the demon.

Titus sighs, making his self calm down for a bit before looking back to the green-eyed demon in front of him. "I could ask you something but like you..." The demon takes over time and makes everyone continues to move. "I'm also starving," nakangisi nitong sabi sa kaniya bago siya nilagpasan pra pumila at maka-order.

Napakunot na lang ng noo si Titus sa inaakto ng demonyo. Nagtataka man ay pumila siya sa katabing pila ni Mizerus. Tahimik siyang tumayo sa likod ng isang matandang babae nang marinig niya ang pagtawa ni Mizerus sa tabi niya.

Nakataas ang kilay na nilingon niya ang demonyo at binigyan ito ng masamang tingin. "I'm warning you. If you ever start picking on me, I'll f*****g slice your head off."

Natawa si Mizerus sa sinabi niya. "I already said I'm on vacation, dude. Gosh, what is your problem? Are you always this hot-headed?" natatawa nitong sabi sa kaniya.

Titus rolled his eyes to the demon before looking back to the menu posted on the boards. Nang makalapit siya sa counter, nag-order siya ng pancake na may kasamang longganisa kapagkuwan ay nagbayad.

Titus rolled his eyes at the demon before turning his back and walked away. Ilang segundo lang siyang naghanap ng table nang may masaktuhan siyang table na pang-dalawahang tao. Mabilis siyang umupo kapagkuwan ay naghintay sa kaniyang order na ilang minuto lang din ang lumipas bago dumating sa kaniyang lamesa.

Titus waited for the woman to put down his food on the table and nodded as if not seeing her ogling at him. He sighs before delving into his food. He was about to eat a fork of longganisa when the demon sat on the chair in front of him and placed the food on his table.

"Can I sit with you?" Mizerus asked, smiling.

Naiikot na lang ni Titus ang kaniyang mata. "You already seated there, idiot."