Forever and Beyond (Tagalog)

Chapter 1: Innana Ishtar Velez

BABALA. WARNING. PAALALA!

This work contains typographical errors. Grammatical errors. At kung ano pang errors. Reader discretion is adviced. ano pala ang discretion? XD

"You kept looking in the dark, Star.." A man in his formal suit emerged from the darkness. She can't make up his face...

"Well.. All we look forward is the dark, Azel." She looked back at the dark corner of her room. "Afterall, we are creatures of the dark."

"It's not what I mean. You've been waiting for the dark," a humorless chuckle escaped from him. "He is the dark."

The woman nodded absentmindedly. Yes. She is waiting for someone. She's waiting for the dark. For her dark person. Her love.

"Don't get me wrong, sister. You've been waiting for the jerk for a millenia, if he loves you, shouldn't he be here already? Well.. Even if you are cursed..."

Umalis sa tabi niya ang lalaki at nagtuloy sa vanity mirror, doon nya ipinatong ang bote ng alak at baso. He poured himself a drink and looked again at her.

"It's worth it. He is worth everything. Because who would've thought the Prince would love me, right Azazel?" Malamig nyang saad. She is just a normal demon. A goddess of some small sect. Yes. Who would've thought a major demon or god will fall for her. It's not normal. Unconventional.

"Let's consider he is just.. Busy. He was punished for loving me, brother. At least give him the benefit of the doubt. I am cursed too. We all are."

"Whatever. It's fine though." Her brother smiled. "You may not be a major goddess, but you made your point on making your own empire, sister."

"I made myself useful while waiting for him, Azazel." Sa madaling sabi ay nakabuo ako ng lugar kung saan ako malaya at namumuno.

"And you made yourself famous among gods, Istar. Many of gods here has their eyes on you to be their consort." He smirked.

"Well.. They can't have me. I made myself clear in every meeting." she smiled while looking at herself in her full length mirror.

"Indeed."

Suddenly cold breeze fanned her face.

"Still a beauty after eons of waiting, my Queen.."

SHE woke up.

Napaupo si Innana ng sapo ang ulo. She dreamt of her look-a-like.. Istar.. Again.. Sigurado syang hindi sya iyon dahil ulila lang sya at mag isa. Her parents died a long time ago. And she doesn't have that grandiose room. And never in her life she tasted expensive looking booze.

Pero tangina. Ang sarap ata sa feeling ng ganun no? Hindi tumatanda at kilala mo kung sino ang true love mo. Gusto nya ng ganung pag ibig. Ganung kapalaran. Lahat ng hirap at inip sa paghihintay ay magiging worth it pagdating ng oras na magbabalik ang mahal ko.

Gwapo kaya yung mahal ni Istar? I guess so. Prinsipe daw eh.

"Lintek naman Nana! Gising na!" sunod sunod na kalabog sa pinto ang nagpabangon sakin ng tuluyan.

"Opo. Andiyan na po!" Sigaw ko.

"Sinisigawan mo ba ako, Innana?!"

Ganting sigaw din nito. Mabilis akong lumapit sa pintuan at binuksan iyon.

"H-Hindi po, Madam Rene." Nakayukong sagot ko.

"Good. Maghanda ka na at alas sais na. Ang shift mo ay alas siete. At kung wala kang make up ay lumapit ka kay Chia." Napaigtad ako ng pumalakpak pa ito hudyat na kumilos na ako.

"Opo." Isinara ko uli ang pinto, lumapit sa kama at naupo. Malalim na buntong hininga ang napakawalan ko.

Pano nga uli ako napunta sa mundong ito?

Ipinilig ko ang ulo ko at pinilit ang sariling kumilos. Oo nga pala. Ako ang bayad ng mga magulang ko kay Madam Rene.

Bago namatay sila mama ay nagkaroon daw ng utang ang magulang ko para sa kanilang negosyo.. Pero duda ako doon. Gustuhin ko mang tumakas sa buhay na ito ay wala akong magawa. High school lang ako. Nanganganib din na hindi ako makabalik bilang third year dahil kapos ako sa pera. Pero desidido akong makapagtapos. Aalis din ako pag nagkaroon ako ng pagkakataon.

"Nana?" May kumatok uli sa pinto ng kwarto ko.

"Pasok." Sagot ko. Bumungad sakin ang isang babaeng kaedad ko. Si Chia.

"Me-make-up na kita. Alam mo na kung pano gumalaw?" She asked me.

I gulped. "Oo."

"Kayanin mo. Usapan natin, tandaan mo." Matigas nyang saad saka pinaupo ako sa kama at pinapikit.

"Alam ko." Nginitian ko sya at saka di na umimik uli.

"Malapit na mag alas siete. Isuot mo na ang damit mo, Nana." Lumabas na sya agad dahil magbibihis din sya.

Mabilis kong isinuot ang maikli at masikip na damit. Ni minsan ay hindi ako naging komportable tignan o isuot ang damit na ito. Malalim ang nahugot kong buntong hininga ngunit nagpatuloy na magbihis.

Paglabas nya mula sa silid ay sinalubong agad sya ng malamyos na musika. Sapat para isipin kung ano ang gagawin nya ngayong gabi.

"Uy, si Nana!" Pabirong siniko ng lalaking nadaanan nya ang katabi. May biglang sumipol.

Take it all in, Innana.. Kaya mo yan.

Pinilit nyang wag pansinin ang mga lalaking nagpapapansin sakanya. Naramdaman nya sa tabi niya ang stage director ni Madam Rene, si Wayne.

"Iyon ang pwesto mo, Inna." He smiled. May halong paghingi ng paumanhin. Sa lugar na ito, wala silang lakas para tumanggi kay Madam Rene. Dahil lahat ng nasa loob ng establisyementong ito, pagaari ng matandang bugaw, hangga't hindi bayad ang utang nila.

Napako ang tingin nya sa maliit na pabilog na stage. May tubo na nakatayo sa gitna nun. Nakakalat ang maliliit na stage na ganon sa buong club ngunit ang pwesto nya ay nasa pinakagitna.

"P-Pasensya na. Ikaw daw ang main ngayon." Nilingon nya at nakita nyang nakayuko si Wayne.

"Ayos lang. Salamat, Wayne."

"Nana! Nana!" Tawag sakanya ni Madam.

"Bakit po? Aakyat na po ako? Si Chia po?" Tanong kong sunod sunod.

"May gusto tumeybol sayo! Mukhang mayaman. Gwapo! Sa vvip ka. Ngayon din!" Excited na turan nito.

"H-Ho? Madam naman.. Akala ko po ay magsasayaw lang ako.. Di po ako te-table.." Malumanay kong tanggi.

"Hindi! Malay mo ay may mga kaibigan si Mr. Castro! Just this time, Innana!" Itinulak nya ako papunta sa may vvip rooms.

"Si Chia po, Madam?"

"Magsasayaw na. Wag ka magalala. Walang hahawak sakanya, kung yun ang iniisip mo."

Wala sa loob akong napatango. Kumatok sya sa isang pulang pinto.

"Mr. Castro? Andito na po ang request ninyo."

Biglang bumukas ang pinto. Pumasok kami, hinayaan ko na nakayuko ang sarili ko. Kung kinakabahan ako kanina ay mas kinakabahan ako ngayon. Iginiya ako ni madam paharap sa lalaking nakaupo. Sya lang naman ang prenteng nakaupo, the rest are all standing guard.

"Bumati ka, Innana." bulong ng matanda sakin.

I tried to smile. "Magandang gabi, Mr. Castro."

"You specifically asked for Innana Star Velez, Mr. Castro, yes?" magalang na saad ni Madam.

"Yes. Ms. Velez, have a seat." he gave me a nice reassuring smile. I know. He is making me feel comfortable.

"Salamat po." umupo ako. Di ko mapigilang haplusin ang mga braso ko.

"Ba'al. Give her something warm to wear." he sighed saka humarap sakin. "I can't believe I'd been sitting idly in my office while you are here." suddenly, a nice warm coat was laid on my back.

Kilala na ba nya ako dati pa? I looked at his physical appearance. Palagay ko ay 19 na sya o nasa early 20's. But to gain this much respect and authority is not normal. He must be filthy rich. Duda akong may kilalang ganiti kayaman ang mga magulang ko.

"If I paid back her parents debt, how much would it be?" he then looked at Madam Rene.

"Po?" namimilog ang matang tanong ng matanda.

"You heard me."

"T-Teka po. Di ako pwede umalis dito!" tanggi ko.

Nagtatanong ang mga matang natuon ang atensyon nilang lahat sakin. Si Mr. Castro, Madam Rene at ang apat na guards na kasama ng nauna.

"Pray, tell, why couldn't you?" kunot ang noong tanong nya.

"Kung aalis ako dito ay dapat kasama si Chia de la Vega." Buo ang boses na saad ko.

"de la Vega? Madam, please leave. I wanna talk to her alone." walang nagawa ang matanda, kaya lumabas nalang. Napabuntong hininga ako. I need to clear things out. Di ako pwede sumugal sa mga ganitong offer kahit nakakatakam na tanggapin.

The door closed. I looked at him straight to his eyes.

"Do you know me?" tanong ko.

"No." mabilis nyang sagot. Too fast though.

I nodded. "like I said. I can't go if Chia isn't with me."

"Bakit?" takang tanong nito. First time he spoke tagalog.

"Because I care for her."

"Alright, I am paying for you, for free. You don't need to pay me back. But that Chia you're talking about, I will pay for her but it will be your debt."

Natigilan ako. Pwede. Pwede iyon. Pero, ano ang kondisyon nya? Di pwedeng wala dahil di maliit na halaga ang pagkakautang ni Chia.

Willing akong magbayad para kay Chiara.

"Anong catch, Mr. Castro?" I heard one of the guards faked a cough. Pinagtatawanan ba nila ako?

"You will be mi-- my slave." he faked a cough.

The guard Ba'al snickered.

"Yun lang ba?" kung magiging katulong man nya ako ay walang problema.

"Other conditions will follow. Let's just get you out of this wretched place." he cleared his throat. "Lucifer, call that old hag and tell her I'll take Chiara de la Vega too.

Nagulat ako ng magsiupuan ang iba pang akala ko ay guard at nagsalin ng alak sa mga baso. Are they friends?

"I am not your slave, Beelzebub." sumimsim ng alak ang inutusan ni Mr. Castro.

"Damn it. I should've taken Azazel instead of you."

"Azazel huh? Azazel can't be with that woman. He'll go crazy." the man named Lucifer stated. Ako naman ang napakunot ang noo.

"I am your older brother so call that f*****g old hag or i'll burn you!" sigaw ni Mr. Castro.

Ba'al made a silly face at Lucifer.

"Insane." komento ng huli bago lumabas.

"Akala ko guards mo sila." Saad ko.

"Bagay ba?" lumapit si Ba'al sakin at inakbayan ako. "Minsan mangingisda ako. Minsan haciendero. Minsan businessman." he playfully added.

"Beelzebub is a full time businessman and ruler. Minsan tagatubos din sa love life niya." he smirked at me.

A glass went flying to Ba'al's direction.

"Stop fooling around, Ba'al." sita ng lalaking nakacleancut ang buhok at matangkad. Medyo tan din ang kulay nya at mukhang sundalo na.. Ewan. Nakakatakot. Apart from the scary aura he gives off, they all share the green blue eyes, high nose and sharp jaw and tan skin. But Mr. Castro, or Beelzebub as they called him have golden eyes, olive skin, I think he is taller than the four men he is with. His thin pinkish lips attracts me the most. Parang ang sarap halikan. At palagay ko di ako magsasawang halikan sya. Oo nga. Ang hitsura nila ay di nalalayo sa mga Egyptian Gods na nababasa ko noon. But that's impossible. Egyptian gods huh? You're starting to get crazy, Innana.

"Asmoday, you f*****g killjoy." Ba'al acknowledged the man. "Our Asmoday here is a casino owner. Brothel's. Clubs. Bars. Kahit anong illegal hawak nya. He's our dirtyman!"

Napanganga ako.

"And I can kill you, you bastard." bulong ni Asmoday.

Ba'al shrugged Asmoday's threat. "But you, Innana. Your name is beautiful. Who named you?" sa halip na tanong nito.

Patuloy lang sa paginom si Beelzebub at halatang pakikinig.

"Hindi ko alam. Baka si mama.. I can't even remember her or my father." i honestly answered his question.

"Innana is a goddess. Sumerian goddess of love and part war. A beautiful woman I tell you. Been gone for a few centuries though."

"Gone for a few millenia. Not centuries. You dipshit." sabat ng lalaking tahimik sa tabi.

"Oh. Millenia." tumingin si Ba'al ng nakakaloko kay Beelzebub. "Millenia. I am the one so sad for Innana and her love." he said. Smile still plastered on his face.

"But really. I'd have that beautiful woman anytime anywhere."

"Because you are not her love. That is why you're reckless. And you don't care about the consequences. Moron." si Asmoday na nakatingin kay Beelzebub.

"Mahilig pala kayo sa fiction stories?" Ako.

"Fiction?" natawa si Ba'al. "Oo naman! Kahit sino naman diba?" he laughed.

Biglang bumukas ang pinto at iniluwa nun si Chia, Madam Rene at Lucifer.

"Beelzebub. Ako na ang magbabayad para kay Ms. De la Vega." seryosong saad ni Lucifer.

"Cupid's working too f*****g hard today." tinitigan ako ni Asmoday.

Bakit?! Bakit ka sakin nakatingin?!

"Nana, anong nangyayari?" gulong gulo na tanong ni Chia.

"Uh. Magusap po tayo sa opisina ko. Chia, Nana. Stay with the other guests.

Maguusap lang kami ni Mr. Castro at Mr. Craig." bilin ng bugaw at umalis na kasama si Beelzebub at Lucifer.

"Your debt will be paid. In exchange, Beelzebub and Lucifer will.. I don't know what the hell they're thinking. Just be thankful you'll be leaving this place." si Asmoday.

"Ganun ba? Okay." umupo si Chiara.

Bigla na namang bumukas ang pinto at pumasok ang isang babae. Waitress nila.

"Io, bakit ka nandito? May trabaho ka pa!" sigaw ni Chiara. "Baka malaman ni Madam!

"Wag nyoko iwan dito ate Nana, ate Chia!" umiiyak na saad nito.

"you just have to endure a few days here.." natitigilang saad ni Asmoday. Saka umupo.

"Babalikan nyo ako ate???" inosenteng tanong nito.

"O-Oo. Kaya bumalik ka na. Baka hanapin ka bigla ni Madam."

Sumipol si Ba'al. "This place is filled with goddesses. It's amazing."

"Stop whatever you're doing, Eros!" asik ni Asmoday.

"I am not doing anything, Asmoday. Ask the Fates. I am merely a spectator, and I don't need my bow, you guys were already inlove. Eons ago." the man chuckled. Ayokong magassume pero parang.. I must be crazy.

But whatever they're saying isn't normal. Ni hindi nila itinatago ang mga iyon. A normal person would think they are crazy too but.. What the heck? Are they gods.. Demons..? Nalilito na ako. If they know.. Gods. Millenia. Eons. Those are old words for old world and old entities.

"Nana. Sino sila?"

"Let us wait for Lucifer and Beelzebub and be on our way. I've got lots of works pending to be done." wala sa loob na saad ni Asmoday habang nakatingin kay Io. Si Ba'al naman ay natahimik. Mukhang may gumulo sa isip nya.

"Let's go." natigilan si Beelzebub pagtingin kay Io. "Asmoday. Do what you see fit. We're all free." masuyong hinawakan ni Beelzebub ang kamay ko at iginiya palabas.

Masuyo?

Nakasunod sakin si Chia na tinabihan ni Lucifer at sa likod namin di Ba'al at Eros. Si Asmoday ay kinausap madali si Io at sumunod narin samin.

This night seemed a bit crazy.. Who are these men?