GDFIL - EPILOGUE

​grims do fall in love: till death do us part

PARA SA aking ika-10,000th killer’s soul, kasama ko ang mentor kong si Reeve para sunduin ang target ko sa isang kulungan kung saan siya ay mamamatay dahil sa heart attack. 

“Clyve... how’s the target’s name on the death book?” 

Pinalitaw ko ang Death Book sa palad ko at binasa para kay Reeve. “Robert Van Chua. All the letters of his name are now written in blood. He’ll die in a few moments now.” 

“Good. Did you know this man committed some extremely serious crimes? Twenty years ago, following the discovery of his son’s body at a rest house, he confessed to having concealed a body that his son had accidentally killed years prior. Even more disturbing, he admitted to murdering his own wife in order to claim her wealth. He was really awful, probably one of the worst.” 

“Probably... but I don’t care. He’ll get what he deserves in hell,” sagot ko. 

Ilang saglit pa ay inatake na sa puso si Robert Van Chua. Inilabas ko ang aking espada para kunin ang killer’s soul. Tagumpay ako at bumalik kami ni Reeve sa Death Collector’s Society. 

“Congratulations! So... have you decided kung ano ang hihilingin mo kay Death Lord?” tanong ni Reeve

“Yes. I want to continue serving him. I want to be a Death Reaper,” sagot ko kay Reeve habang naglalakad kami sa lobby ng building. 

“Are you sure? Don’t you want to be reincarnated and become human again? Aren’t you curious what it is like? Or don’t you want to save a soul? Baka hindi ko lang alam na habang nangongolekta ka ng soul ay may babaeng nakapagpaibig sa `yo at namatay siya. Don’t you want to save her soul?” 

“Don’t make me laugh, Reeve, and don’t make a story. I am the best Grim Reaper and falling in love is not in my vocabulary. Besides, we don’t feel anything. It's impossible for a Grim Reaper to fall in love. And another thing... I’ve been watching humans live for a long time. All they ever do is fight, argue, commit crimes, cheat, deceive, and suffer. There’s no way I’d ever want to be reincarnated,” sagot ko. 

“Very well then... good luck. May the power of death be with you.” 

“As it was and ever shall be.”

Pagdating sa receptionist na si Crea, ibinigay ko sa kanya ang ikasampung libong killer’s soul na nakuha ko. Pagkatapos, dinala niya ako sa opisina ng Death Lord. Itim at madilim ang paligid. Ang tanging makikita lang ay si Death Lord na nakaupo sa isang upuan na gawa sa bato. Iba ang itsura niya ngayon dahil parehas kami ng suot na all black suit and tie. Hindi ko rin makita ang mukha niya dahil sa hindi maipaliwanag na kadilimang tumatakip dito.

“Grim Reaper Clyve.” 

The Death Lord’s voice echoed in the room. Lumuhod ako sa harap niya para magbigay-pugay.

“I see you have given me 10,000 killer’s soul as a Senior Grim Reaper. Congratulations! The power of death was with you.” 

“As it was and ever shall be, my lord. It will be my honor to be granted a wish,” sagot ko habang nakayuko. 

“Very well then, here are the three wishes you can choose from. First, save a soul from hell and decide whether it will be sent to paradise or lessen their punishment. Second, reincarnation for you but without a memory of being a Grim Reaper. And lastly, continue serving as a Death Reaper who will maintain order to the land of the living and the dead and someday be sent to paradise.” 

“I would like to continue serving you, my lord, as a Death Grim Reaper.”

“Are you sure?” 

“Yes, my lord.” 

“Wish granted. Rise, Death Reaper Clyve, and serve me well. Someday, when you have proven your service, I will send you to paradise.”

Tumayo ako at nagbigay-pugay kay Death Lord sa pamamagitan ng pag-bow sa kanya. Unti-unti ay naramdaman ko na mas malakas na ako kumpara noon. Inilabas ko ang aking espada na mas matulis na ngayon.

“Gratitude for this power you have bestowed me, my lord. I will see to it that it will serve its purpose.” 

“Before you go... There's a reward for choosing to be a Death Reaper. Would you like to claim it?” sabi ni Death Lord. 

Muli akong lumuhod at yumuko. “As long as it comes from you, my lord. I would gladly accept it.”

Nag-warp ang Death Lord sa harap ko at hinawakan ako sa ulo. “I shall now grant you your old memories and feelings.”

Sa isang iglap, mabilis na napuno ang utak ko ng mga imahe. Mga imaheng hindi ko akalaing nangyari pala. Nang bitawan niya ang ulo ko, naalala ko ang lahat. Ako pala si Van Kyle Chua noong nabubuhay pa at namatay ako dahil nagsakripisyo ako para kay Saydie. 

Si Saydie na minahal ko nang todo. 

Nang malaman ko ang lahat, agad akong nag-warp papunta sa mundo ng mga tao. Ang nasa isip ko ay ang makita si Saydie. 

Nahanap ko siya sa isang airport. Kabababa lang niya ng eroplano. May pagka-chinita na ang kanyang mukha pero ang kutis niya ay hindi nag-iba. Maputi at malaporselana pa rin ang kutis. Kahit ang kanyang buhok ay kasindilim pa rin ng kadiliman. 

Isang babae ang lumapit sa kanya pagdating sa arrival area ng mga pasahero. “Uhm... are you Miss Sayrene Diez?” 

Nginitian at tinanguan niya ang babae. “Yes, that’s me.” 

“Great. I’m here to pick you up,” sagot ng babae. 

So that is your name now... Sayrene Diez. Beautiful... like you were and you are right now. 

Umalis sila sakay ng isang kotse at sumunod ako. 

Now that I know what happened between us. That you have protected me with all your life when I was in danger. It’s time for me to be your watchful protector. Wala akong pakialam kung may lalabagin akong batas, basta masigurado ko lang na mabubuhay ka nang mahaba at ligtas. Kagaya ng ginawa mo para sa akin noon. Gagawin ko rin ang lahat para sa `yo... my gothic girl, my grimmy, my love. Kahit hindi mo na ko maalala.

Akala ko noon ang mga Grims ay walang emosyon at imposibleng may maramdaman. But because of you... or should I say us? There is proof... that there is a thing called love that conquers everything, even death. More importantly... we prove that... Grims do fall in love. 


THE END

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Author's note:
Congratulations on finishing the story of Van and Saydie! Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed it. If you have any comments about the story, feel free to leave some. I appreciate you taking your time. There's more! Hit the NEXT CHAPTER button for a special chapter.

-Joe

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