My Love, Darkness

Chapter 54

TITUS woke up feeling groggy for the first time. Dahan-dahan siyang bumangon at itinukod ang kaniyang mga siko.

When he looked at his surrounding, he realized that he is in Larid's room.

How did I get here?

Titus groans. He can only focus on one thing when everything came back crashing to him.

The super typhoon that made the cruise ship sank. The rough seas, drowning, and last thing, Phoebe.

Titus instant felt his eyes watering while biting his lip to prevent him from groaning. He never felt so sad until he realizes that he really can't save Phoebe.

He remembered everything. From the first fight that he fought with Lamia to what just happened right now. Sa pangalawang pagkakataon, muli na naman siyang nabigo.

Phoebe died. And what's worst is that, he never manages to find Phoebe's body. Any time right, Phoebe could be marked as a missing soul.

Agad siyang nakaramdam ng lungkot. Nagdadalamhati sa pagkamatay ng isang mortal na pinaka-iningatan at prinotektahan niya.

He should have found Phoebe earlier. Dapat hindi na niya inuna pa ang mga namatay sa barko. Although, he can't just leave those poor souls, it's still Phoebe that he should have prioritized.

Now that Phoebe's gone, he doesn't know how to start again. Phoebe is the main reason why he sometimes decided recklessly but nonetheless, he will not still give a damn about anything that will come to him.

His life has been boring since then as a grim reaper but when Phoebe steps on in his life, everything seems to become much more ecstatic every passing day and night that he would just visit Phoebe while sleeping.

But now, she's gone.

The mortal girl who taught him that life is priceless. Kung dati ay masama ang tingin niya sa lahat ng mortal, nagbago ang pananaw niya dahil sa dalaga.

He's just being an asshole for denying and generalizing but he noticed that some mortals are not really worthy of his hate at all.

"You're awake?"

Napalingon si Titus sa direksyon ng pinto kung saan nakita niya si Larid.

"Just about time," Larid said.

Nakangiti ito sa kaniya habang may dala-dalang pagkain na nakalagay sa bed table kapagkuwan ay inilapag nito ang pagkain sa harap niya.

Hindi magawang ngumiti ni Titus kay Larid. Not even because he's still alive. Phoebe just died.

And I did not even manage to save her. Titus abruptly cupped his face as he continues to cry silently.

"What with the sudden drama here?"

Napatingin si Titus kay Kellan kapagkuwan ay tinignan niya ito ng masama nang ma-realize niya na nakangisi ito para sa kaniya.

"Are you here to f**k with me? Phoebe just died!" sigaw niya kay Kellan.

Both Larid and Kellan exchange confused looks before turning their gaze on Titus and laughs hard.

Naiyukom ni Titus ang kaniyang kamao. "Motherfuckers! Anong nakakatawa, huh? Wala na si Phoebe! I lost her!" Titus said as his eyes became more glassy.

Now his friends are f*****g him. Hindi niya alam kung anong gagawin. Ni hindi man lang siya kayang seryosohin ng mga kaibigan niya.

Tumigil sa pagtawa si Larid nang makitang nasasaktan si Titus pagkatapos ay umiling.

"Dude, Phoebe is fine," Larid said but Titus just shook his head.

"What do you mean? What the f**k do you mean?!" Titus said as his chest became heavier.

Phoebe is not fine. Phoebe is dead. He saw her falling from the ship. He also jumped off the ship even though there's a slight chance that he could save Phoebe in the middle of the storm.

Hinanap niya ang dalaga. Hell! He did everything to save the mortal he cares for. Kahit nararapan na siya. Kahit nararamdaman na niyang nilalamig na din siya dahil sa dagat, hindi siya tumigil upang hanapin si Phoebe.

Though in the end, just like what Kellan said. He can't always protect and save Phoebe. Phoebe is a mortal. A mortal that always lives with danger in their lives.

"Phoebe is dead," he said as his eyes continue to water cascading down to his cheek.

Kellan and Larid looked at each other before sighing. Lumapit si Kellan sa tabi ni Titus kapagkuwan ay tinapik ito sa balikat.

"Bud, I know you have been doing really hard to protect Phoebe but this time, don't blame yourself. Stop blaming yourself, Phoebe is fine," Kellan said.

"No." Umiling si Titus. "She's not. She's..." Titus sobbed as he felt his heart clenched inside his chest. "She's dead. She died falling from the ship. She died."

Larid just sighed before walking towards Kellan. Nang makalapit siya kay Kellan, binatukan niya ito.

"What the f**k?! What the hell is your problem, dude?" Kellan said as his brows furrowed with irritation written on his face.

"Let's stop here," Larid said before turning his gaze on Titus who's still having a hard time.

Larid just sighed. "Eat, bud. Kailangan mong lumakas. You've been out for twenty-four hours. You must regain your energy, dude."

Muling umiling si Titus. Tila mas pinipiling magmukmok.

Napabuntong-hininga si Kellan kapagkuwan ay tumayo mula sa pagkakaupo sa tabi ni Titus.

"Titus, Phoebe is fine. She's in the master's bedroom just right across this room," Kellan said that made Titus instantly stop sulking.

He looked at his friends who looks serious as they also stared at him.

"Wha-what? Say it again," Titus asked as his eyes became wide with hope written on his face.

"Phoebe is sleeping in the master's bedroom, bud. That's why you need to eat now. You must bring her back. Her Dad has been sending rescuers everywhere," Larid said that made Titus' eyes widen.

Pareho silang nagtaka nang biglang kumilos si Titus. Natabig nito ang pagkain nang sinubukan nitong tumayo kaya naman napamura si Larid.

"What the f**k, Titus?!" sigaw ni Larid ngunit hindi siya binigyang pansin ni Titus.

Gusto niyang makita si Phoebe. Gusto niyang makasiguradong ligtas ito. He wants to see that Phoebe is still alive because hell, he has been through too much already.

He thought he lost Phoebe again. He thought all of the things he sacrifices became wasted. Inakala niyang magiging maayos ang buhay ni Phoebe sa oras na pabayaan niya itong mabuhay mag-isa ngunit mas naging problemado pa rin ang buhay ni Phoebe lalo na't may mga kaibigan itong na-impluwensiyahan ang dalaga.

Now, all he wants to do is to see Phoebe again. Kahit hinang-hina at nakakaramdam pa rin siya ng hilo, pinilit niyang makapunta sa master's bedroom.

Pinihit niya ang door knob ng pinto kapagkuwan ay binuksan ang pinto ng master's bedroom.

His breathing became ragged and his eyes started to water again as he felt his knees wobble after seeing Phoebe.

She's sleeping. He is f*****g happy. He can't contain the joy he's feeling as he kneels beside Phoebe's bed. Tinitigan niya ang dalaga na para bang mawawala ito sa harapan niya.

Namumutla ang dalaga habang nakahiga ang katawan nito sa malaking kama na nasa master's bedroom ni Larid.

"I thought I lost you again, Phoebe," he murmurs as he continues to watch Phoebe breathing while tears continue to cascade down on his cheeks.

"I save her, save both of you."

Titus stopped crying after hearing what Larid said. Lumingon siya kay Larid kapagkuwan ay nagtatakang tinitigan ang kaniyang kaibigan.

"You what?"

Napakibit-balikat si Larid habang si Kellan ay nanatiling tahimik tila nag-oobserba sa magiging reaksyon ni Titus.

"I save the both of you, from drowning. From death," seryosong sagot ni Larid kay Titus.

Titus stood up and faced Larid as questions started to run in his mind. He never mentioned to Larid where he is going to save Phoebe. Maging kahit ang pangalan ng barko ay hindi nito alam para malaman kung nasaan ang lokasyon ni Phoebe.

Hindi niya maiwasang magtaka sa kaibigan niyang si Larid. Larid has been a great pal since then. Matulungin ito at iniintindi pareho ang kalagayan nilang dalawa ni Kellan.

Kahit kailan ay hindi naging maangas sa kanila si Larid bagkus ay naiintindihan pa ng Nephilim ang dahilan kung bakit sinasaway nila ang kanilang batas bilang grim reaper.

But this time, he felt different towards Larid. He has this feeling in his gut that Larid seems someone deserved to be suspicious.

"How come you know where to find us? You never followed me. And even if you followed me, I will sense you coming," Larid said, trying not to leery towards his nephilim friend.

"One word, bud. Powerful," sagot sa kaniya ni Larid na ikina-kunot ng noo niya.

Larid sounded a bit thrasonical and it is actually the first time that Larid said something arrogant.

There's really something about Larid. He can't figure out what it is but whatever he is feeling towards his friend, it got to be something related to him.

Titus pocketed both of his hands as his lips curved a smirk. "Well then, thanks for saving us. That's so thoughtful of you."

Larid smiles at him. "You are welcome."