Lucifer's Heaven: A Dark Mafia Romance (FAS1)

Chapter 3: Paint or Blood

My body felt so heavy. My palm was on fire and my throat was sore. I wanted to sleep but felt like dying. I peeled my heavy eyes open and saw nothing. Everything was a blur. 

“Gising ka na,” isang tinig ng babae ang narinig ko. 

When my vision finally became clear, I was staring at the white ceiling. It's not Christian's room. I was not in his condo. I twitched my eyes from left to right. He's not on the side of the bed. I was alone in a single bed. I frowned. Christian has a king-size bed, not this small one.

My eyes instinctively closed as the unfamiliar throbbing of my head consumed me. Events last night flashed on my mind at a quick pace. I flinched as I heard footsteps. Light footsteps. Hindi iyon mabigat katulad ng yabag ng mga lalaking humahabol sa akin. Not even Lucifer's. 

Lucifer

Panic consumed me. Pilit akong naupo. My body ached from the sudden movement. 

“Mahiga ka muna,” a girl's voice ordered and I felt her gentle hands pushing me back to the bed. 

I glanced around again. Wide room with curtains on what seemed to be a glass-door window. The white walls were bare. On my right side was a side table separating me from another single bed. Beside it was another side table and leaning on the wall was a wooden double-deck. 

“Kumusta ang pakiramdam mo?”

My breathing was shallow as I tried to focus. Ngayon ko lang napansin ang babaeng nakadungaw sa akin. Her damp hair was in a messy bun. Her face was pale as if she has had no blood at all. I opened my mouth and closed it again. My throat was parched and sore. I licked my dried lips and tried making a response but no words would come out.

“Here...” Isang bottled water ang itinapat niya sa aking mukha, "kailangan mo ito."

Gamit ang nanginginig na kanang kamay ay tinanggap ko iyon.  Mabigat ang kaliwang kamay ko nang subukan ko rin iyong igalaw. I winced as my wounded palm made contact with the bottled water. 

Last night was like an odd nightmare now. My heart was still hammering, racing from the fear. I quickly shook the thoughts away and brought my senses back to the water. I wanted water. I wanted it but could barely move to open it. 

The girl reached her hands out. Mahigpit ang hawak ko sa plastic bottle nang hinawakan niya iyon. Nagsalubong ang kilay niya dahil hindi ko iyon binibitawan. I want water. 

Marahan siyang tumango sa tahimik kong pakiusap bago inalis ang takip ng bote. I greedily shoved its top on my mouth, some of the water spilling down on my side, dampening the sheets under my head. But still, I drank enough water I needed.

Nang naubos ang laman ay kinuha ng babae ang bote. She stood beside the bed and looked down at me with a faint smile on her lips.

“L-Lucifer,” I finally managed to say the word. Worse, his name.

Nagsalubong ang kilay niya. Sinubukan kong muli ang umupo. Hinawakan ang braso ko ng babae upang alalayan. Ngumiwi ako nang dumampi ang sugatang palad sa mattress. That's when I noticed the gauze around my left palm. Though, the blood was still visible. It's red and parched. 

Umiwas ako ng tingin at maingay na lumunok nang maramdaman ang pag-ikot ng paligid.

“Lucifer?” takang tanong ng babae.

Marahan akong tumango, ngunit hindi na binanggit pang muli pangalan. That silhouette. His silhouette. Just thinking of him gives me goosebumps.

“W-where am I?” I asked instead. 

“Hindi mo alam?” Mahina siyang tumawa pero sandali lang iyon. Nang napansin na seryoso ako ay ngumiwi siya. 

“So, she's finally awake?” Another pretty girl entered the room.

Unlike this girl, the newcomer was wearing make-up. Just by looking at the window, I could tell it's early in the morning. I didn’t know what's in there to put heavy colors on this early. The girl beside me stepped on her side, allowing the new girl and I to see each other. 

“Maswerte ka na humihinga ka pa hanggang ngayon,” she bluntly commented. 

Hindi ako kumibo, ni hindi ko inalis ang tingin sa kanya. She reminded me of myself when I was in my teen life. I was often rude to people I don’t know, but soon learned to be nice when needed.

“Anong pakiramdam mo?” the first girl asked. Hindi niya ako hinintay na makasagot. Lumapit siya sa double-deck at kinuha ang towel na nasa cushion. 

“H-heavy.” Dinungaw ko ang sugatang palad. It felt numb, but I could still feel the throbbing pain. Gamit ang kanang kamay ay marahan kong hinawakan ang ilalim ng aking baba at ang kaliwang pisngi. There's also a thin bandage on my cheek.

“Siguro naman ay natatandaan mo pa kung ano ang nangyari sa’yo kagabi?” Ang bagong dating na babae ay naupo sa gitnang kama. 

Tikom ang aking bibig. I didn’t know what part of last night she wanted me to remember. Kung maaari lang, ayaw kong balikan pa ang lahat ng mga nangyari. Kung mayroon man doon na pinaka-ayaw kong balikan, I know it should be Christian's lost. I never wanted to lose him, but no. If I could only be given a chance to change something, it would be my encounter with Lucifer face to face. 

“My body feels heavy. I can barely move. You drugged me, don't you?”

Christian. He was drugged last night. He said he was drugged. He could barely move when we're about to get out of the bar. Hindi naman ganoong karami ang nainom niya. He hated drinking alcohol actually. Something happened that forced him to drink. Someone called him. He thought going to a bar was a great solution. I went with him. At ako na rin ang nag-drive pauwi dahil hindi niya kinayang makatayo sa sarili.

I knew he's not drunk. We both knew. We were already in the basement of his apartment building when he said he was drugged. Hindi ko siya masyadong pinansin noon. Ang akala ko ay nagbibiro lang. Isa pa ay nakainom din ako. 

“Yes?” The one with make-up laughed at me. 

“Lizzy!” saway ng naunang babae. Umirap lang sa kanya si Lizzy. She looked down on me with a sigh. “Yes, a tetanus shot, and a sedative.”

“T-tetanus?” 

"You don't know what he uses his knife for,” si Lizzy. He.

“O huwag mong sabihing hindi mo alam kung sino ang tinutukoy ko?” mataray niyang tanong. “Imposibleng magka-amnesia ka. Wala kaming itinurok na anesthesia sa’yo. And mind you, he wouldn't appreciate it if you forget what he did. He hates wasted efforts."

“Sinong tinutukoy mo?” I asked like an idiot. Of course, I know who she's referring to. I just wanted to know. I wanted to make sure.

I waited and waited. Parehas silang blangkong nakatingin sa akin ngunit wala sa kanila ang sumagot sa tanong ko.

“Am I still here in the hotel?” Wala pa ring sumagot. Umiling ako at mariing pumikit dahil sa frustration. “Thanks for helping me, but how did I even get in here? I was in..." Nagsalubong ang kilay ko. Muli ay kinilabutan habang pilit na iniisip ang silid na pinasukan ko kagabi. I asked for the safest and secluded room, but not Lucifer's room. And here I am now, sharing a room with these two strangers. 

Lumapit sa akin ang naunang babae dala ang towel. Inabot niya iyon sa akin at iminuwestra ang isa pang pintuan na tingin ko ay CR. “You can take a bath if you want. Naroon na rin ang mga damit na pwede mong suotin. Hihintayin kita para masamahang kumain sa baba.”

Nagtatakang inabot ko ang puting tuwalya. I was about to ask her questions when she turned her back to me. Using the small ladder on the side of the double-deck, she sat on the upper deck. Binalingan ko si Lizzy na nagtaas ng kilay sa akin bago humiga sa kama at pumikit. 

They acted like it was nothing like I was nothing. Like they did not care about my presence here. But I could sense it. They couldn't let their guards down. Hindi nila iyon gagawin. It's as if they were expecting me to do stupid things, yet they were more aware and ready if ever I do so.

Umiling ako sa sarili bago dahan-dahang tumayo. Hindi sila sumulyap sa akin hanggang sa tuluyan na akong nakapasok sa CR.

Is this a safe place for you Christian? Do you think this was the safest place for me? I trust you. So maybe this is. 

But Lucifer... 

I glanced down on my injured palm. Lumapit ako sa malaking salamin at pinagmasdan ang puting bestida na suot. I didn’t remember wearing it last night. I clenched my teeth seeing my wounded face. 

I remember the silent hallway. The dark and almost empty room. A man's silhouette. The gruff and harsh voice. His iron-like grip. The smoke. The knife. The blood. His threat. He said he'd kill me. He was merciless. I would never ever forget that. I would never ever forget the night I first had an encounter with Lucifer himself.  

“Let's go?” The girl said the moment I stepped out of the comfort room.  She looked me up and down. Ganoon din ang ginawa ko. Nagkibi-balikat ako sa pull over at shorts na ipinahiram niya. Ang kulay itim na scarf ay nakapalibot sa aking leeg to cover the bruise on my neck and chin. Ang bandage naman sa palad ay hindi ko napalitan. It's because of the blood and the fresh wound. Ang mukha ko man ay hindi ko nahilamusan ng mabuti. I didn’t want to see both wounds.

Tumango ako sa kanya. Nang sinulyapan ko si Lizzy ay nakatakip na ang buong comforter sa katawan niya maging sa mukha. 

“Suotin mo rin ito,” marahan niyang sinipa ang pares ng tsinelas sa paanan ko. 

She watched me do her order. She was so pretty too, but she didn’t look like Lizzy. They didn’t have any resemblance actually. Tingin ko nga ay magkakasing-edad kaming tatlo. She's wearing a fitted white long sleeve dress. Her hair was in a ponytail and she's wearing dark make-up just like Lizzy's.

“You have work?”

She blinked on my question, but quickly composed herself. She smiled and only nodded once before gesturing to me at the door. But she didn't answer me.

Sa hallway ay nasalubong namin ang isang lalaki, wearing a hotel's uniform while pushing a cart with him. Nagdalawang tingin siya sa akin at hindi na iyon naalis hanggang sa malampasan namin ang isa’t isa.

The hallway was silent, which reminds me of the same hallway last night. But this is a long hallway with doors on both sides and also the red-carpeted floor silencing our steps.

Huminto kami sa tapat ng isang mas malawak na hallway, kung nasaan ang apat na elevator, facing each another. Sandali akong napatitig sa isa sa mga elevator na nasa kanan ko. Ito rin ang sinakyan ko pagkatapos ibigay sa akin ang ving card para sa dapat na room ko. I didn't spare much attention to its red paint last night. My mind was too preoccupied to take notice of the things around me. Just like the others, it is a shiny metal door. But the red paint on its surface, a messy and abstract one, from its top-down its base, I couldn’t help but feel the weird churning of my stomach. 

It's not blood. It's paint. Red paint. I mentally said to myself. 

Tumunog ang elevator sa kaliwa. Sinundan ko ang babaeng kasama na pumasok doon. Ngunit hindi pa tuluyang nakapapasok ay natigilan ako sa nakita sa loob. They didn't spare so much of a glance in our direction. They continued what they were doing. Pinagmasdan ko ang babaeng kasama ko na nasa loob na ng elevator. She's facing me and holding the elevator's button for me, completely ignoring the kissing couple behind her. 

I reluctantly stepped inside. I kept the moaning and sloppy sounds on the back of my mind.  Bago sumara ang pinto ay napatitig ako sa kabilang elevator. It's not blood. It's paint. Not blood. The color red, blood's color yes, but not really blood.

Not blood. 

Unti-unting sumara ang pinto ng elevator nang bigla namang bumukas ang elevator kung saan nakapako ang paningin ko. A familiar frame was standing inside, consuming all the space. His gaze was looking ahead, directed on me. I stared back, wondering why he looked familiar. His eyes were burning and blazing red. I don't remember seeing them before. But something was telling me that I do. It's not that clear but I did see those eyes before, last night specifically. 

Last night... 

My eyes widened in recognition. My knees trembled, my palm started sweating, my system was shaking and I involuntarily stopped from breathing. I heard a groan and a whimper when I stepped back. Hindi ko iyon pinansin. My hand shakenly reached to touch the bandage on my face.

“What the...!” the girl behind me whimpered but she froze because of something; because of someone.

Tulad ko ay tila tumigil din ang mundo nila. Kahit noong tuluyan nang sumarado ang elevator ay tulala pa rin kaming lahat. Walang nangahas na gumalaw. Kita mula sa repleksyon na lahat sila ay nakayuko at nanginginig ang mga tuhod. Even the girl with me. Nang muling bumukas ang elevator ay doon lang kami sabay-sabay na napabuntong hininga. 

The couple stepped on my side. Nagbalik-balik ang tingin sa amin ng lalaki.

“She's new here,” the girl with me answered, stuttering a bit. Probably the aftermath of seeing a devil.

Nagbalik-balik din ang tingin ko sa kanilang tatlo. The girl arched her brow at me. Sabog ang kanyang lipstick dahil sa halikan kanina. Lumabas sila ng elevator muling bumaling sa amin.

“The one who tainted his room,” the girl said in a bitchy tone. She's like Lizzy but she's more of a b***h in action. 

The door closed between us four. Sinulyapan ko ang repleksyon namin ng kasama sa elevator. Katahimikan ang bumalot sa amin ngunit sa huli ay hindi ko naiwasan ang magtanong. “What does she mean?”

She glanced once at me and back on staring at the mirrored elevator doors. "Huwag ka na lang munang masyadong magtanong. Masasagot mo rin ang mga iyan sa isip mo nang hindi nagsasalita. Curiosity kills a cat, iyan ang tandaan mo."

Kahit nalilito ay nagawa ko pang tumango. My thoughts darted back to Lucifer again. I didn't completely make out his image last night. But the familiar fear and frighten I felt seeing that man in the elevator, the feeling I'm still feeling right now, I'm pretty sure he is Lucifer. Even his stares in the morning look so terrifying. Hindi na ako magtataka kung bakit ganoon din ang epekto niya sa mga nakasama ko sa elevator. I wonder if they all knew him. 

I bit back my tongue to stop myself from asking more. Her words were shallow and deep as well, but I'm taking them anyway. Ang sabi niya hindi ko kailangang magtanong, that I can answer my own questions without uttering words. 

I mentally shook my head at that. The truth is, I don't have any plan of staying here for long. Kaya hindi ko na rin sana kailangan pang malaman ang mga bagay dito. But Christian's words. He said I'm safe here. He said everything will be fine. And I trust him, and so I trust his words too.