Asmodeus: The Pompous Lover

Chapter 12: Asmodeus

QUINN FREYA WESTWOOD 

KUNG normal na tao ang tatanungin, they will say that I made a wrong decision. Tama, mali nga naman. Asmodeus is a Demon, he's evil and God might be erasing my name in the book of life right now. I've been a bad daughter to her, I let my self get used and had a Demon take advantage of my weakness. But even if I know it is mistake, 'di ko magawang magsisi. 

I just don't know why my heart tells me that what I did is the right thing. Those days when he didn't talk to me felt so empty. Mas empty pa kesa noong mga panahon na 'di ako pinapansin ni Kuya Aleister. Akala ko noong una dahil lang ito kay Kuya Aleis, I thought I just missed him and I'm still do it for him... but I was wrong.

I'm doing this s**t because of this demon living inside him. "God, can you tell me if this is right or now? I'm not the religious but... alam kong 'di mo ako ilalapit sa mga bagay na makakasama sa akin. Please, help me to think clearly..." I silently prayed.

 Inangat ko ang kamay ko sa makisig n'yang mukha, after numerous rounds of s*x. He fell asleep, napapagod din pala ang mokong ito. He said he usually don't get tired but since he is using a human body, nakakaramdam siya ng pagod. That's what he said, dati daw no'ng hawak pa niya ang kaniyang katawan. He can do a lot. Mahina akong napangiti at hinawakan ang kaniyang makisig na mukha.

He is my living sin. "Kuya Aleis, I'm sorry but... Can he use your body for more time?" I silently asked him. I felt him scoot closer to me, making me inhale more of his manly scent. 

"Can you stop staring at me while sleeping?" He groaned.

Namula ako at agad na tumalikod mula sa kaniya. I heard him chuckle, "Hindi kita tinitingnan..."

"I already caught you, dear..." he responded at saka niya ako muling pinaharap sa kaniya. "At saka akala ko ba you want Aleister to come back. Why are you asking him to let me use his body?" He asked me again, tuluyan akong humarap sa kaniya.

"I don't know. I just thought that making you stay with is right." I bit my lips while saying those words to him. Hinawakan niya ang mukha ko, 

"Hindi ka ba natulog?" tanong n'ya sa akin.

"I tried but I don't want you to see me dreaming." Giit ko sa kaniya. "So I just stayed awake..."

"Bad dreams e? Are you always having it?" tanong n'ya sa akin. Tumango ako sa kaniya bilang sagot, "Nawala na yung mga panaginip ko years ago, pero bumalik ulit ito over summer. Iba't - ibang panaginip, iba't- ibang istorya pero iisang kahihinatnan." Sagot ko sa kaniya.

"What kind of dream is it?" tanong n'ya sa akin.

 "Si Kuya Aleister, pinatay ko siya." sagot ko sa kaniya at saka ako mahinang ngumiti. I remember the painful part of my dream, sa 'di ko malamang dahilan ay tila ba kinurot no'n ang puso ko.  He looked at his watch at tiningnan ang oras.  

Nag-igting ang kaniyang panga ng madinig n'ya 'yon. "Kailan mo pa napapaganipan 'yon?" he asked placing his hand on my bare back and carresing it softly.

"Ever since I was young. Lalo na nung nakilala ko si Kuya Aleister, dumating pa sa puntong ayokong lumapit sa kaniya kasi baka mapatay ko siya. I was afraid na gagawin ko sa kaniya yung nakikita ko sa panaginip ko. Pero matiyaga si kuya, he helped me. Lagi s'yang lumalapit sa akin, he always played with me. Lagi n'yang sinasabi na 'di siya mamatay dahil sa akin na panaginip lang 'yon. That I shouldn't get hurt because of it, until I eventually believe it. I strived to be better, kahit nasa Bulgaria na siya e tinuloy ko pa rin ang medication ko. Those nightmares are like scars, hindi ako maiwan- iwan."  Pagkwento ko sa kaniya.

'I quit fencing before nang dahil sa mga panaginip ko. Kada hawak ko sa espada pumapasok yung eksena na 'yon. Paulit- ulit parang isang premonisyon, halos mabaliw ako dati, pakiramdam ko kasi totoo 'yon. ' I added.

He smiled, "Do you know that dreams are the mirror of our past?" tanong n'ya sa akin.

I faced him, at saka ako parang batang tumingin sa kaniya. "Mirror of the past?" I asked him. "Paano?"

He chuckled deliciously at saka hinawi ang buhok ko. "As Demon living for thousands of years, I saw souls who have regrets in the purgatory. They are the ones who will reincarnate to pay for their sins or regrets."

"Pero diba kapag namatay kang makasalanan, you'll go straight to Hell?" I asked. "It depends on the level of your sins at kapag 'di ka napatawad ng taong pinagsalaan mo o 'di ka nagsisi. Talagang mapupunta ka sa impyerno." pagkwento n'ya sa akin.

"For example, Adolf Hitler--"

"Adolf Hitler?! Are you serious?" Nanlaki ang aking mga mata ko ng sabihin n'ya 'yon sa akin. 

"Yeah, he is damn sinful. People like him don't reincarnate, they suffer and get tormented to hell. They don't need to wait for the judgement day, 'di na sila kailangang litisin kasi sagad sa buto na ang kasamaan nila. But with people who wanted second chance and is really sorry with their heart but never got the chance to have their desired forgiveness, they get reincarnated. Giving them the chance to live again." Pagkwento n'ya sa akin at saka n'ya hinaplos ang braso ko.

"So, sa tingin mo ba may pinatay ako sa dati kong buhay?" tanong ko sa kaniya. "Maybe yes, maybe no... maybe you are just involved." Sagot n'ya sa akin.

"Pero kasi... parang totoo... ramdam ko 'yung sakit. Baka masama ako noong dati kong buhay." Pakiramdam ko ay may bumara sa lalamunan ko. I suddenly wanted to cry, ako na siguro yung nag-iisang tao na wagas kung maapektuhan ng dahil sa aking mga panaginip.

"My dear Freya, not all dreams are fragments of the past. Maybe that dream was just a demon trying to lure you." he said.

"Kasi 'yung mga dreams ko, it's not luring it's realistic and painful. Alam mo ba iba- iba ang names ko doon. Mayro'n akong isang panaginip na ang pangalan ko daw Cassiel tapos pinatay ko daw 'yung mahal kong lalaki. Tapos mayro'n namang isa ang pangalan ko daw e Katarina, anak daw ako ng isang dutch sa Scotland tapos pinatay ko din daw 'yung lover ko. Tapos 'yung ngayon nga, yung paulit- ulit na panaginip ko, yung madalas, ako daw si Jacquelyn Monreau, at pinatay ko si Sigmund kahit ayoko. Ang lalaking mahal na mahal ko...' The pupil of his eye widened when he heard that.

"I don't understand my dream pero ang sabi do'n, killing him will save my soul. Kaya 'yung mga tao sa paligid ko gusto nilang patayin ko siya." Saad ko sa kaniya. It's true, sa panaginip ko pakiramdam ko sa akin tumusok ang espadang binaon ko sa kaniyang dibdib. Pakiramdam ko ako ang namatay, sana nga ako na lang e. Pero hindi 'yon nangyari, in my dreams... I live because I killed him but the truth is, I died with him.

"Natatakot ako, what if patayin ko rin 'yung lalaking mamahalin ko ngayon. I don't want to kill him, kasi sobrang sakit. Sa panaginip pa nga lang nasasaktan na ako e, sa totohanan pa kaya?" I asked him at saka ko hinigpitan ang pagkakahawak ko sa kaniya. I felt like my life defends on him, pakiramdam ko kailangan ko ang mga salita niya to calm my nervous heart.

"I don't want to feel the pain that I have in my dreams. I don't want to kill anyone." He kissed my forehead, "People make their own fate kahit na paulit- ulit kang managinip. Things will happen according to your will kaya h'wag ka ng matakot. Okay?' He assured me. Tumingin ako sa kaniya, "I know that you're a Devil but will you help me not kill anyone so that my dreams won't happen again?"

He showed me his red eyes, "I am a demon, Freya. I can easily influence you to kill other people. That's what you get for keeping me, I will drive you into sins. Keeping me will lead you into tempations." he said. I pouted when I heard that from him, kusang bumalik ang mga mata niya sa dati nitong kulay. 

"Then go on, lead me into temptations. I believe that you won't let be in danger because you saved me once." His smirk turned into a sweet smile. "That's the reason why you are my sin," he breathed out. Namula ako sa kaniya sinabi, napakagat ako ng labi ko.

"Am I a bad sin or good sin?" 

Imbes na sagutin niya ako ay tumingin siya sa kaniyang wrist watch at saka bumuntong hininga."You need to go home. It's already past 8." Giit niya sa akin at saka siya bumangon sa kama. I watched him as he grabbed my clothes on the floor at inabot 'yon sa akin.

"How do you think I would go home, stinking demon?"

I told you to call me Asmodeus. Isa pang beses na marinig ko ang stinking demon mula sa bunganga mo, I'm going to shove my d**k in there." He said. I pouted because of it, "And you will go home by walking using your feet. H'wag kang magpabebe sa harap ko or else, you won't be able to go home." He retorted. Nagkunot ang aking noo, ang lalaking 'to mabait lang siya kapag tapos na siya sa kama. His mouth are getting nasty again, sabagay demonyo siya.

He is the complete opposite of what Kuya Aleister is.

Mahina akong napangiti ng dahil doon. "But you tore my bottoms, I can't go home wearing nothing but my loose shirt." Giit ko sa kaniya. Kumuha siya ng boxer shorts mula sa kaniyang cabinet at binato sa akin. "Then wear that..." he said. 

"Kung paulit- ulit mong pupunitin ang damit ko mauubos ang boxer shorts ni Kuya Aleister. pagbalik niya sa katawan niya baka wala na s'yang damit." I told him.

"Then if you want to seduce me next time better do it naked." He said, dahilan para mamula ako. Lumapit siya sa akin at hinawi ang buhok ko. "O baka gusto mo talagang iniinis ako, so that I'll do you hard and rough..." giit n'ya sa akin. 

 Ang bunganga niya talaga! if he will keep on talking that way, he will seduce even the frogs that he'll meet on the road. Seriously, ganito ba talaga kalakas ang hatak ng isang Demon of Lust?

He decided to send me home afterwards, tahimik kaming naglakad pauwi sa bahay.

Hindi naman malayo ang bahay nila mula sa amin pero ang bagal naming maglakad, habang naglakad kaming dalawa ay nagtatama ang aming daliri. Napalunok ako, "Stinking Demon stop touching me!" giit ko sa kaniya.

He looked at me, "One more, Freya... one more..." He gritted his teeth.

"What will you do huh, stinking demo--" Hindi ko pa natatapos ang aking sasabihin ay hinalikan niya ako sa aking labi. Pakiramdam ko ay may paru- paro sa aking tiyan, it left me dumbfounded. Tinigil niya ang halik niya sa akin at saka niya tiningnan ang ekspresyon ko. He smirked knowing that he won over me again.

"One more name calling and i'll do you here, okay?" he warned me. Nakagat ko ang labi ko, I want to call him stinking demon again. He grabbed my hand and held it while we are walking, 'di ko mapigilan ang mapangiti. 

"Nandito na tayo," sabi niya sa akin.  Nagdoorbell siya sa bahay ko before smirking at me, "I'll see you again," he said at saka siya tumalikod sa akin.

"Asmodeus." I called him. Lumingon siya sa akin, agad namang akong lumapit sa kaniya. I gave him the same kiss the he gave him. He closed his eyes as he feels the movements of my lips. It's gentle. Napangiti ako sa labi n'ya ng makaramdam ako ng ibang uri ng feeling sa aking puso.

 "Are you going to stay?" I asked him. He closed his eyes gently.

"I don't know, so just keep preparing a show to make me stay." he said while smirking. 

Pumasok ako sa loob ng bahay namin. As I come near the salas I saw my Dad and Mom talking to Dr. Filippa. They are talking seriously to her, I never seen them this seriously. I tiptoed going in.

"We are putting her in danger. She doesn't have any idea that a hunter's blood is running on her veins." Mom said. Hindi ko gaano naintindihan ang sinabi niya. Maybe they are talking about baboy ramo hunting to do in the woods.

"Yon ang gagawin nating bitag. He is thinking that he can get on the chosen one by bringing her into darkness but he's wrong. We will make use of the repeating cycle to finally stop him." Dr. Filippa answered.

"Are you sure that this will work?" Dad asked Dr. Filippa, it made me stop on my tracks. " Those hunters who lived with the same mission, lived a terrible life after." Mom butted in.

"Our target came to us. We just need to use the proper weapon and this cycle will stop. It will--" Dr. Filippa stopped when she heard me. She smiled, the nervous look is written on her face. Ganoon din ang gulat sa mga mukha ni Mom and Dad. "Dear, ginabi ka ata ngayon." Dad told me.

"Where have you been?" He asked in a strict tone. Napakagat ako ng aking labi, "I... I went to Kuya Aleister and we... hmmm... We played somewhere."... in his bed.  I responded. Dad gritted his teeth, 'di ko alam pero may nararamdaman akong ibang awra sa ere.

"Hi, Freya! How are you dear?' Dr. Filippa asked me. She is a girl on her 30's, maganda siya, she have a brown her with a strict features. akala mo tigasin siya but she always talks softly. She has been my doctor for years, at ngayon, she's also helping Kuya Aleister.

"I'm okay, Dr. Filippa." I responded.

***

"FREYA, anong oras matatapos ang classes mo for this sem?' Mom asked me as she pour juice on Dad's glass. Kinuha ko ang schedule ko sa aking bag at tiningnan 'yon. I just got home from school para kunin ang schedule ko.

"9PM mom." Giit ko. I sighed masyadong gabi matatapos ang classes ko. Tho it will start at 2PM mas prefer ko pa rin ang maagang pasok kasi maaga din nadidismiss 'yon. I hate going home alone, lalo't na maaga natutulog ang mga tao sa barrio.

Nagmumukhang ghostown ang barrio sa t'wing gabi.

"That's too late, is there any way that you can ask for an earlier schedule?" She asked me.

"Masyadong matrabaho, Ma. I'll line up again at mauubusan na ako ng slots. Madaming irregulars this sem." Giit ko sa kaniya. I can't imagine how summer pass  by so fast. Hindi ko na halos namalayan na simula na muli ng klase. I never thought that I would meet a Demon in my life, at 'di ko akalain na mula sa kagustuhan na mapalayas siya, I have this desire to make him stay.

"Then, we will just have you picked up by Aleister during dismissal." Dad suggested. Napatingin ako sa kaniya, he smiled sweetly at saka tumingin sa kaniya si Mom. Who glanced at him in a meaningful way.

"Nakakahiya naman kay Aleister, sweetheart. And the kid needs to undergo medications and stuffs. Baka mamaya magiging pasakit sa kaniya ang pagsundo sa ating anak." Giit ni Mom sa kaniya. I am excited and nervous at the same time, kasi susunduin niya ako at siguro akong 'di sa pag-uwi ang kakahantungan ng pagsundo n'ya sa akin.

"Dr. Filippa told Almira that Freya is a big contribution on his health advancement. Kaya sa tingin ko papayag si Almira sa isa-suggest ko. Saka you want Aleister to get healed too, right?" Dad asked Mom. Wala na akong nagawa kung 'di ang pumayag sa gusto ni Dad and Mom. I also want to see him everyday. I wonder how it is to walk in the ghost town version of our barrio with him, holding hands.

Napakagat ako ng aking labi dahil bumalik sa akin ang aming mga halik. Does he also think of our kiss too? Does it have the same effect on him?

Oh no, Freya. He's a lustful demon, siyempre halik lang ang tingin niya sa aming halik. It's not he'll fall for me because he doesn't know how to love. Para akong nabuhusan ng tubig sa aking naisip, my chest constricted with the fact that he's a demon that I can't love or can't love me back.

***

THIRD PERSON'S POINT OF VIEW

WALANG gana na binaba ni Asmodeus ang iniinom n'yang ng vodka. He bit his lips as he remembered what happened between him and Freya. He found himself smiling over the sweet kiss that they shared. Para syang bata na vulnerable, the kiss sent him into heaven. Their kiss made him alive again. "Ito na ba ang sinasabi ko. Ano, mahal mo ulit?" Nawala ang ngiti n'ya ng madinig niya ang boses ni Azazel. Napamura at saka sinapo ang ulo niya.

"Deja Vu na ba ito?" Another familiar voice asked. He rolled his eyes, shaking his head as he realized that they are partly right. Lumingon siya at nakita niya si Azazel kasama nito ang isang lalaki. He's also handsome, matangos ang ilong at medyo singkit ang mga mata. Mukha itong anghel, he's either a angel or a Devil. He is someone that is working between heaven and hell. Wearing black polo and black pants kasama ang librong nakasukbit sa kaniyang kamay. He is Lucas, the grim ripper.

Ngumiti ito, "Hindi ko siya pwedeng mahalin ulit." He responded earning a playful chuckle from Azazel. Tumabi silang dalawa kay Asmodeus, pinaggitnaan nila ito. "Sabi ko na ba, 'di mo mapapanindigan ang paghihiganti mo. Look at you falling for her again in just a span of summer. Ano 'to a beautiful summer lovestory?" He playfully asked.

"Oo na, mahina na ako." he surrendered.

"Hindi matutuwa si amo sa baba. Madumi na ang reputasyon mo bilang isang demonyo, Asmodeus. Paulit- ulit mo na daw pinapatunayan ang power of love ni God." saad ni Lucas sa kaniya at saka ito bumuntong hininga. "Pero may magandang balita naman, nakaipon ka na ng magandang puntos sa langit. Malay mo mapalitan mo na ang pwestong iniwan ni Azazel sa langit!" Pambawi nito. Inikot ni Asmodeus ang kaniyang mga mata at nakatanggap siya ng batok kay Azazel.

"What the actual hell! Bakit mo ako binatukan?!" Lucas asked Azazel.

"Maybe it's bringing back the memories where he chose to have black wings just to be with his first love. What's her name again? Racquel. Oh Aze, I remember those sweet moments when we can't even talk to you in hell. Ayaw mo pa ngang maniwala na pinagkalulo ka niya noon diba?" Asmodeus playfully asked him. 

He smirked, "mine is different than your situation. Atleast ako natuto na ako, I'm having my revenge on her reincarnation and it's f*****g succesful pero ikaw... anong ginagawa mo? You are falling for that human again. Para kang tumalon sa kumukulong asido, alam mo na ngang ikakamatay mo. Tumalon ka pa rin."

"I just can't hurt her. Kahit na anong gawin ko, s'ya pa rin ang babaeng paulit- ulit kong minahal sa kabila ng aming tadhana." Giit niya dito. "Asmodeus, I understand you pero h'wag mong isipin ang puso mong kasing itim ng sungay ni Satanas. Siya ang isipin mo, you will put her into danger if you will continue to love her." Aze seriously told him.

He smiled sweetly, "Hindi ako tanga, Aze. Alam ko ang ginagawa ko."

"Then prove it. You are acting like a man who fell in love for the first time. Don't be selfish. Leave that body and forget that blooming s**t before you put her soul into the realms of hell." Aze warned him. Hindi siya naka-imik sa sinabi nito.

"Hindi ko kayang iwanan ang katawang 'to. I can't." Asmodeus breathed out. Ayaw n'yang malayo kay Freya, being with her is being alive again. handa siya na maulit muli ang nakaraan, handa siyang tanggapin ang katotohanan na ang pagmamahalan nila ay mauuwi sa isang pagtataksil.

Handa siya...

Dahil wala ng mas mahalaga sa kaniya kung 'di ang makasama ito. Dahil pagbalik- baliktarin man ang mundo, she will always be the same girl that he loved in different lifetimes. As hunter Cassiel, as  Katarina, as Miyaki, as Rosalind,  as Geromina, and as Jacquelyn. Every lifetimes that he risk didn't made his heart weak, in fact it made his love stronger.

Funny as it may seem. He is a demon who got struck by God's powerful love.

Totoo nga ang sabi nila, God will use the evil to prove his existence. And that's what he was doing it Asmodeus. He used a demon who's lust for flesh and wantonness was at it's peak. He used that to make him a creature who will do anything for love.

Napapikit si Asmodeus at muling uminom, he forced a smile on his face. "I already told her my name." Napatingin ang dalawa sa kaniya, they both shook their heads. They realized that Asmodeus was look for his own death.

Mahinang napangiti si Azazel sa kaniya, "Then you're not selfish bro. Just call me when I need to arrange your funeral." He said at saka niya nilagyan ng vodka ang dalawang baso. Giving the other one to Lucas at saka nila ito nilagok.