GDFIL - Chapter 2

Grims Do Fall In Love: Till Death DO US PART

SAYDIE

NAGLAKAD ako sa black marble floor lobby ng Death Collectors Society Building papunta sa receptionist na si Crea para ibigay ang 9999th killer’s soul ko. 

“Welcome to the Death Collectors Society, Grim Saydie. How can I help you?” malamig at tulalang sabi ni Crea. 

Ipinakita ko sa kanya ang soul na nakuha ko: isang itim na bolang apoy na kasinlaki ng mansanas. “I’m here to surrender a killer’s soul.” 

“Put it inside the soul basket for evaluation,” sagot niya at biglang lumitaw ang isang basket na tigkalahating puti at itim ang kulay. Inilagay ko doon ang soul. 

Nakatulala pa rin siya at nanatiling walang emosyon nang batiin ako. “Congratulations on your 9999th killer’s soul. One more to go and the Death Lord will grant your wish. May the power of death be with you.” 

“As it was and ever shall be,” sagot ko. Tumalikod ako at lumakad nang limang hakbang palayo. 

Inisip ko ang ikaisandaan at siyam na palapag ng gusali na ito para mag-warp doon. Kasabay ng mahinang puwersa na nagtulak sa katawan ko, sa isang iglap ay napunta ako sa floor kung saan naroon ang iba pang mga senior Grim Reaper na kagaya ko: the floor of the killer’s soul collectors. 

The wide elegant and sophisticated floor that looked like a human’s museum or an office suite; dim-lit, gray carpet floor, black marble walls, and with floor-to-ceiling windows. 

I walked past the other Grims who were chatting with each other, some were watching the humans from the wide monitors as they lived their lives, and some were reading the Grim Reaper’s guide book. I went straight ahead to see my mentor— Reeve. 

Nakatayo lang si Master Reeve sa harap ng floor-to-ceiling window at pinagmamasdan ang mga patay na bundok na pumapalibot sa buong metal black skyscraper building ng Death Collectors Society. Suot niya ang Grim Reaper uniform na formal black suit. Nilapitan ko siya at humarap din sa bintana.  

“I just delivered my 9999th killer’s soul, Master.” 

“Congratulations,” he said with his always deep and cold voice. “What do you feel? Are you happy?” 

Hindi ko pinansin ang tanong. Palagi niyang itinatanong kung ano’ng pakiramdam ko. Kung masaya ba ako sa mga tagumpay ko. Pero ano nga ba ang pakiramdam ng maging masaya? I knew the words but I do not know what it felt like.

“You know why you are the best Grim Reaper? We were trained to be emotionless. Sa ating lahat, ikaw ang  parang natural born emotionless,” sabi uli niya. “That’s why it was really easy for you to collect one million normal souls as a Grim Reaper, and then manage to become a senior Grim Reaper who has now collected her 9999th killer’s soul. You feel neither remorse nor pity. Hence, why I chose to mentor you.”

Sumulyap ako sa kanya. Diretso pa rin ang tingin niya.

“You are unlike other Grims who spare souls and erase names from the Death Book out of mere sympathy,” he added.

“Maybe because I don’t want to be punished in hell for eternity,” I replied while blankly staring  ahead. “Master Reeve, I will ask again—You were able to get your 10,000 killers souls before as a Senior Grim Reaper.  Why did you choose to be a Death Reaper instead of wishing to be reincarnated?” Pagkatapos ay sumulyap  ako sa kanya. 

He grinned while staring ahead. “Again, you know I can’t disclose the next mission to you but let’s just say I don’t see how being alive is greater than being a Grim Reaper. By the way, what will you choose once you get your last killer’s soul to collect? Will you choose to be reincarnated? Or save someone’s soul and reset back to zero without any punishment? Or will you join me and become a Death Reaper?” 

Hanggang ngayon, hindi ko pa rin alam ang pipiliin ko. Kahit sinasabi nilang perpekto ako bilang Grim Reaper—I was also curious to know what it felt like to have emotions and become human, but at the same time I also wanted to stick with him and face the next mission as a Death Reaper like him. Siya ang nagturo ng lahat sa akin patungkol sa pagiging Grim Reaper noong magsimula ako. Dahil sa kanya, naging mahusay ako. As for saving  someone’s soul, that was not an option. 

Hindi ko sinagot ang mga tanong niya at nanatiling tuwid ang aking tingin sa labas. 

“It seems that you are still unsure. Just be careful, Saydie. The Death Lord becomes playful when a senior Grim Reaper is about to reach their 10,000th killer’s soul. Susubukan niya kung karapat-dapat ka nga bang humiling sa kanya. If you fail, you’ll reset to zero and start over again,” sabi ni Master Reeve. 

“I know, Master,” sagot ko. 

“So... who will be your 10,000th killer’s soul? Lumabas na ba sa Death Book?” 

Iniangat ko sa mukha ko ang aking kanang palad. Gamit ang isip, napalitaw ko mula sa itim na usok ang itim na pocketbook kung saan nakalista ang mga pangalan ng mga kaluluwang sinundo ko at susunduin ko—ang Death Book. Binuklat ko ang huling pahina at binasa ang huling pangalan na nakasaad doon. 

“Van Kyle Chua, twenty five years old. Cause of death: Heart Attack. Sa ngayon letter V pa lang sa pangalan niya ang nagiging dugo ang  tinta. Kapag nakumpleto na iyon, masusundo ko na ang kaluluwa niya.” 

“That seems to be an easy way for a killer to die, don’t you think? Well... good luck to you, Saydie. May the  power of death be with you,” sabi ni Master Reeve. 

“As it was and ever shall be.”

As space twisted into a rapid whirl around his body, Master Reeve vanished in the blink of an eye. Maybe he had warped to his next mission. I planned to stay here, reflecting on what I’d ask the Death Lord once I claimed my 10,000th killer’s soul—while waiting for the day I’d finally collect Van Kyle Chua’s.





WEEKS had passed and the blood tint went up to the half of the last letter of Van Kyle Chua’s name. Since he was my 10,000th killer’s soul, I took precaution from Master Reeve’s advice. I knew the Death Lord would give me a challenge — I figured not to give him a chance. 

Pinuntahan ko agad si Van Kyle Chua sa mundo ng mga buhay. Tulog na tulog siya sa higaan. Nararamdaman kong ito na ang oras niya kaya dito ko na hihintaying magkaroon ng tinta ng dugo ang buong pangalan niya, saka ko kukunin agad ang kanyang kaluluwa. I made up my mind, I knew what I wanted to wish to the Death Lord — failure was not an option. 

Ilang saglit pa, may tintang dugo na ang buong pangalan niya. Eksaktong nagising din siya nang mangyari  iyon. Bumangon siya sa kama at nagulat nang makita ako.
 
“W-who the hell are you? Ano’ng ginagawa mo dito sa condo ko?” 

Tumayo ako at inilabas ang aking Death Scythe. 

“Van Kyle Chua, your time in this world is over,” sabi ko at mabilis na inihataw sa dibdib niya ang talim ng Death Scythe. Halos lumuwa naman ang mga  mata niya habang awang na awang ang bibig. 

Somehow... I suddenly felt something. A slight weird feeling that made me form a smug smile on my lips.  Dahan-dahan kong hinugot ang patalim mula sa kanyang dibdib. 

Ilang saglit na lang mapapasaakin na ang ikasampung libong killer’s soul. 

Pero nang tuluyan kong hugutin ang sandata, walang lumabas na kaluluwa ni Van Kyle Chua at buhay pa rin siya. I stared at the blade of my weapon as I thought about why it didn’t work. 

Inihataw ko uli ang aking Death Scythe sa dibdib niya. Hinugot ko ang patalim pero hindi pa rin lumalabas ang kaluluwa niya. Buhay pa rin siya. 

Kinapa at tiningnan niya ang kanyang dibdib. “W-what the—” 

Stupid human. He may be thinking why he wasn’t wounded. Napapikit siya at napahiga sa kama. Agad kong pinaglaho ang aking sandata. Sinuri ko ang pulso niya sa ilalim ng panga at natiyak na buhay pa talaga siya. 

Agad kong inilabas ang Death Book at nang makita ko ang pangalan niya... hindi na tintang dugo ang huling letra.  Sigurado ako na kumpleto na ito kanina. Nagkamali ba ako? Sinuri kong mabuti ang Death Book. Wala na rin ang  cause of death niya. 

Is this the challenge of the Death Lord? What do I have to do? 

Tiningnan ko ang walang malay na katawan ni Van Kyle Chua. Kung hindi na nakatinta ng dugo ang pangalan niya sa Death Book. Ibig bang sabihin nito ay binigyan siya ng mas mahabang oras? But it had never happened before. I had to ask the one who passed this challenge. 

I warped back to the Death Collectors Society Building and rushed to the 109th floor. In his usual way, Master Reeve was facing the floor-to-ceiling window. 

Tinawag ko siya habang palapit ako. “Master Reeve.”  

Lumingon siya sa akin. “Saydie.” 

“Something happened...” 

Ikinuwento ko kay Master Reeve ang kakaibang nangyari sa pagsundo ko sa nakatakdang ikasampung libong killer soul ko. Ipinakita ko rin ang tinta ng pangalan ni Van Kyle Chua sa Death Book. 

“What do you think of it? Does it mean I failed?” tanong ko.

“Only one way to find out, let’s check your soul count,” mungkahi ni Master Reeve. 

Sumang-ayon ako at nag warp kami papunta sa receptionist ng building. 

“Good day, Death Reaper Reeve, and Senior Grim Reaper Saydie. How can I help you today?” walang emosyon na pagbati sa amin ni Crea. 

“Soul count for Grim Saydie,” sagot ni Master Reeve. 

“Sure.” Inilabas ni Crea ang death idol. Isang bungo na nag-aapoy ang kulay-dilaw na mga mata. “Grim Reaper Saydie, please put your right palm on the death idol.” 

Inilagay ko ang palad ko sa ibabaw ng bungo. Dalawang mababang boses na humalakhak ang lumabas doon.

 “Grim Reaper Saydie, your killer’s soul count is... nine thousand and nine hundred ninety-nine,” sabi ng death idol. 

Tumalikod kay Crea si Master Reeve at nag-umpisang maglakad. “Follow me, Saydie.” 

Sumunod ako kay Master Reeve at humawak sa kanang balikat niya. Sa isang iglap, nag-warp kami sa mundo ng mga buhay—sa rooftop ng isang building. 

“Gano’n pa rin ang soul count mo, Saydie. And your target’s name is still written on the Death Book with blood tint. It only means that you haven’t failed and the Death Lord started his challenge to you,” sabi ni Master Reeve. 

“What do I have to do?”

“I’m not exactly sure. But if I compare it to the challenge I faced before, it’s similar—you just have to wait for more details to show up in the Death Book. For now, you need to stay close to him so you can reap his soul the moment the blood tint completes and his cause of death is revealed. Also... he can see you now and there’s nothing we can do about that. His soul will be seen as someone who escaped death. There will be threats,” sagot  ni Master Reeve. 

“What threats?”

“You’ll soon find out...” 

Those were his final words before warping away. I wasn’t exactly sure what he meant by “threats,” but it seemed I had to watch over Van Kyle Chua’s soul until more information appeared, and until the time of his death finally arrived.

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