VELVET MUSIC
Prologues
or Inserts
“A
law exchange student from the Philippines is missing”, the news anchor started.
“She was on her fifth month in Geneva, Switzerland when she just disappeared
into thin air. Nobody knew what happened. Currently, the police are still
investigating on the matter. We will keep you updated”.
KRYSTIN
Everybody
walked past him. Nobody seems and even wants to notice him. I was in the
playground that day. I always see him but I’m scared to go and talk to him.
Yes, he looks very ugly. He has something protruding in his back---like a
deformity. I couldn’t clearly see his face because it was cast down.
Then
I mustered my courage and walked towards him. As I neared him, he smiled the
most beautiful smile. I thought, why couldn’t other people walk towards this
wonderful creature?
“Hello!
I’m Krystine. What’s your name?”, I asked, wanting him to be my friend. But I
couldn’t help but notice that ugly thing in his back covered by his shirt.
He
didn’t answer. He only looked at me.
“What
happened to your back?”, I asked, curious. Then, suddenly, the shirt was torn
at the back and there came two wonderful white wings. Those were wings all
along, not a deformity.
“I’m
your angel”, he said. “And you’re the only one who can see me.”
Then
he disappeared.
I
don’t know what to feel but when I went home that day, I felt so happy. I told
my mom about my experience. She just laughed and told my dad, “Krystine has an
imaginary friend.”
Dad
said, “It’s normal, sweetie. She’s just 7 years old”
Aggelos
“This
can’t be happening.”, Omar said. “It’s so much like…like…” He couldn’t even say
the name. “We must put a stop to this, Aggelos before it’s too late. That child
is very dear to us.”
“My
king”, I said sadly, “maybe we couldn’t stop the prophecy from coming true. But
if we must, we will try to do what we have to do. What is it that you have in
mind, dear brother?”
“We
need to erase in his memory what just happened today…the way we erased his
parents’ memory from his heart.”, he said this sorrowfully. It’s against our
will but we promised the boy’s father to do this for his son’s sake.
“I
will do just that, my dear king and brother”. I went to the stream of stars
where the boy was playing and did what I have to do. It pained me too much but
I have to. This will always leave a scar in his heart and he wouldn’t even know
it. He wouldn’t know why it would sometimes hurt. But I have to. We have to.
It’s for the better.
Omar
I
looked at the oracle of truth again. It’s still the same. The fallen one will
cause the end of the world. It wouldn’t be his fault but he would be the vessel
of healing humanity. But this will change things so much that not one immortal
would know what would happen if this time would come.
Farishtas’
powers are limitless. That was what we believed in but now, I realized we were
wrong. It could possibly be that we are losing power. It’s too difficult. I
love the world of people but I love my people, too. When you’re a leader, you
are often haunted with these kinds of dilemmas.
“Lucifer,
I miss you, dear brother.” Tears fell from my eyes. He was with me through all
these. Now, he’s gone. Gone forever. I couldn’t blame him. Love is such a
powerful thing. He just did what his heart asked him to do and to save me
somehow. My pride is too high. I don’t want to let go of immortality. But he
did it whole-heartedly.
Lucifer
Love
is the best thing there is. Our immortality is the gift of faith we give to the
world but nothing is greater than the virtue of love. I’ve learned this from a
human being a very long time ago. His name was Yeshua. He lives with the gods
and goddesses now. I learned so much from him, even selflessness. Because of
him, human beings believed in forever and of heaven and hell. How this man
helped increase the powers of Farishtas.
Time
waxed and waned for the mortals. My 389th qumwl’s life has ended. He was a
_______ who lives 7 lifetimes. After, I was bounded to another one. She was a
human being. Short-lived, I thought. But she was one of those who are
different. Her afterlife said eternal. So I would be with her for eternity. She
could be my last qumwl. But we aren’t to complain. Of course, there’s nothing
to complain about.
I
never met her until the turning point of her life. But even as I was away,
there was this continuous pull towards her. I felt something different. Maybe
that is really love. She is a wonderful woman. Everything about her just makes
her happy. She believed in me so much, too that my powers were great. Ironic
though is that, I could’ve resisted her with all the mightiness I have. I chose
to fall in love with her.
And
then….
“Lucifer,
the oracle”, Omar cried. He is destined to have a son. Half fartishta. The
fallen one. The fallen one will be the vessel of the fallen one. Unless someone
will sacrifice. It can’t be. It will be the downfall of my people. Omar is our
ruler. It can’t be.
“Brother…”
I hugged him, and then an idea came into my mind. “Brother, let me save you.”
“What
do you mean, dear one?”
“I am
in love, brother…With my qumwl. I’m sorry. I didn’t even try to resist it. ”
“We
are not forbidden or commanded to love, Lucifer”, he said, understanding.
“I
want to be with her, my king. I want to shed my…my immortality. And I want to
save you…our people.”
He
cried sorrowfully.
“That
would mean…” He couldn’t say it. That would mean I would die and become
nothing. Gone. Forever.
“Yes.
But it wouldn’t matter, my gracious brother. I will be doing this for love.
Your qumwl, Yeshua, I learned this from him.” Yeshua, indeed, is Omar’s last
qumwl. Because of his greatness, Omar rewarded him of living with the gods and
goddesses. Until this very day, Yeshua is still much helpful to us Farishtas.
He
didn’t say anything but hugged me tighter, letting me feel all the love that he
can give. I cried. Ofcourse, I love him. He is my king. But I need to follow my
heart.
“A
king shouldn’t be an obstacle to his beloved people. I will set you free, dear
one. Follow that road where you’ll find your utmost bliss. But dear one, do
this for love and for love alone.”
I
nodded. “I will always remember you and our people, my king. Even when I am
gone and won’t come back, please remember me and keep me in your heart, my
beloved brother.”
“I
will not forget.” He promised.
“Thank
you…and please call me the fallen one. Promise me that. I need to save you and
the people.”
I can
see resistance in his face. But I begged him. He finally gave me his
word. I gave him one last look and I fell down to the earth---a mortal.
Agape
He
came back. He told me everything that very day. He was an angel. The very first
fallen angel. I cried hearing that he sacrificed his immortality to a mere
human. But he said he will never regret it. We promised ourselves to be happy
and we were. We lived every second of our lives with so much love. With
that love came a reward. Our son. He’s the most beautiful thing on this earth.
We know that he is half-human, half-angel. His name is Pierre. But he can’t
stay with us. We need to sacrifice him and let him live with the Farishtas or
else he will die. He needs to be nourished in the Eburnean Vann for him to
survive.
That
was when pain started in our lives. It hurts to be parted with our only son.
But we need to give him up. Lucifer also asked that he should never know us as
his parents or it will affect him so greatly being the only half-angel,
half-human in this universe. In return, Pierre will not be named the fallen one
but his father.
The
oracle was restless when Pierre was sent to the Farishtas. It was said that
this boy will change the course of heaven and earth. It scared us so much but
Omar promised to take care of everything.
Lucifer
died being the fallen angel. He was labeled evil. But he never was. He was the
most selfless being. He died. Gone forever while I stayed living forever. It’s too
painful being away from your two beloved. One, you can’t have back. The other,
you shouldn’t get back.
Krystin
I was
walking to my new school. Everything here is just too different. The breeze is
cool even with the scorching sun. The cobblestone sidewalk. The feel of
cleanliness all around. It makes me miss home so badly.
It’s
actually my third day here, and, yes, everything is just so foreign. I may have
been to Europe before but never to Switzerland. It’s amazing how the people
have been friendly to me despite the communication barrier. I learned a few
words like ________________. But most of the time, I use French-lish. (And I
just made that word up)
I am
here to learn Swiss law for six months. It’s also like a vacation for six
months. I don’t have to work for a living. All I have to do is study. Lucky,
eh? Well, yes, I am. A very generous uncle of mine provided me with all my
needs upon coming here and my school also helped a lot.
I’m
an exchange student, by the way. My name is Krystin, from the Philippines.
I’ve
reached my classroom. 604L. This should be it. The room’s still empty. Maybe,
I’m too early. I waited for an hour, still no one came. What’s worse is I
forgot to bring my mobile phone to contact my dormitory head! Maybe I got too
excited. Oh, but darn!
Then,
someone came.
Ezekiel
Impossible is not
possible in my world. Ironic though is that our feelings and free will limit us
in doing something. I have waited for years for “the one” and I don’t know when
I’d meet that person. Omar just said “soon…” Omar knows everything but he kept
some to himself. There are things better left unsaid, he would always tell us.
That’s the thrill of human life---not knowing what will happen next. Yet, we
often argue that we aren’t humans. We are Farishtas.
Humans call us angels
and describe us in ways which are surreal. Actually, there’s more to us than
helping or guarding people. We aren’t perfect, just magical.
So many myths man
created about us and it’s absurd. It isn’t really true. Wings growing in our
back, that’s possible but it’s not our normal physique. It was Aggelos who
started that white wing mania of angels as perceived by the human beings.
When he showed his
presence to his qumwl or “the one”, the human as astonished and the
qumwl’s faith increased thus making Aggelos
one of the ______________ (god). They are the counselors, justice, leader, and
leader of all Farishtas.
Aggelos’ qumwl was an
artist who lived in the ________ BC and drew him in a canvass which became
known until the recent times. Thus, born the image of Farishtas --- beautiful
people wearing white, with golden halo and white wings. But that’s not really how
we look like.
We are proud people,
that’s why I wouldn’t hold back saying that we look perfect as how men
perceives perfection. Our looks aren’t definite because we only portray how
perfection is for one qumwl.
But within our world,
we see each other ethereal. If you could imagine the most beautiful person
alive, we are exactly or more than that.
We have observed that
humans see vampires as physically attractive. Well, they are but it’s nothing
compared to us. Nothing can surpass our heavenly beauty. Vampires also aren’t
as powerful as humans perceived them to be. Honestly, they don’t have powers at
all. Only in the imaginations of humans, they have. But in their world,
nothing.
We have great strength
and wisdom. We value beauty as much as we value love. We are romantics. We are
not commanded or forbidden to love. Love is such a wondrous feeling! But
love I need to avoid. Love for us is just like a dream that we know we could
never or shouldn’t rech. We feel love but we cannot be with the one we love. We
need to erase the feeling. This is one of the critical limitation of our
impossibility.
Only one Farishta
dared break the rule --- if it’s even a rule.
Men see him as a bad
image, but really he isn’t. He just fell inlove with his qumwl. He thought
about forgetting which is easy to do with our powers, but he didn’t. he
continued. He lived a happy mortal life for quite some time. the sad thing is,
and this he already expected, he grew old and died.
When a Farishta dare
continue loving, his immortality will be lost. But he risked it all. He became
the very first and only fallen angel. His name was Lucifer.
Someone walked towards
the room I’m at. I can’t believe what I am seeing. No one on this earth
could’ve possessed his angelic, godly face. His body is suave-toned and built
with a hint of gentleness in it. He was wearing a white long-sleeved satin polo
and ekru pants. In his feet were slippers just like that of Jesus Christ a long
time ago. He seemed old-fashioned, but nonetheless perfect.
“Bonne
journée! Que faites-vous à l'école un jour férié?”
“Ha? Mmm…,” I
stammered. I understand the “good day” part but the rest, I need my dictionary.
What do you expect? It’s my third day here. “Good day, too! But I don’t
understand the other words.” I smiled.
“Oh…,” he
smiled,perfect pearly whites, shifted to English and spoke as if he’s an
American native speaker. “I am sorry. I was meaning to ask you why you’re in
school today. It’s ________. It’s a holiday.”
“Ohhh…,” I giggled.
“That’s why there’s no one around. Thank you!”
“My pleasure to help,
Mademoiselle!”
I smiled. “Mmm…I think
I need to go! Bye! Thanks again!”
“No problem! Take
care!,” he said, and we parted ways.
I was walking in cloud
nine on my way home. Darn it! Love at first sight is real! How illogical!
Ther’es no such thing! I’m just stressed that’s why I think this way. Or maybe
post jet-lag. Urgh! But…I can’t help thinking about him. I didn’t realize I was
already at my dormitory.
“Belle, why are you
smiling?” my dormitory mistress teased. She’s a sweet lady. Petite, somewhere
between 45-55 years old, married, has two daughters, works as a librarian
in Université de Genève ( University of Geneva) . She has a happy disposition and speaks English, French,
German and Italian quite well.
“Oh! Nothing, Mrs.
Zuelle. Geneva is just a lovely place!”
“It is, my dear! I
just thought you saw a handsome lad”, she said, teasing again.
"Oh, no! Studies first!", I imitated her. That's what she's always tell me, her daughters, and all the other dormitory people.
She laughed. "Oh, by the way, where have you been, bella?"
"Mrs.Zuelle, i went to school only to find out it's a holiday. I didn't know. My schedule here tells me it's my first day today."
"I am terribly sorry, my dear. I forgot to inform you about the holiday and that you should start school on Monday. The exchange student committee would want you to feel at home with Geneva before starting school. So, tomorrow, Friday and Saturday, we will have a tour around Switzerland. Isn't it exciting?"
"Really? That's just fantastic! I can't wait!"
***
Qumwl. Saving our qumwl, that's our duty. Whatever would happen to them, it's our responsibility. The better and the happier the life of our qumwl, the more respected farishta we's be.
Omar is our king and our oracle. Even if we all have the power to see the future, it will not work unless our qumwl believes in us greatly. Lately, our powers have grown weak. Our qumwl's have changed. Only a few continued believing in us Farishtas. I feel humans no longer value magic nor miracle because of the harsh reality they're facing everyday.
My power was then so strong when my qumwl was younger. Now, everything is different. She seldom remembers me. She now values logic over faith.
Aggelos is our hero. He is next in rank to Omar. He is the image of all Farishtas. Because of Aggelos, our entity will always have a place in books, movies, paintings of the humans. What we aim more, though, is to be etched in their hearts.
Our way of life is complicated. We are born in the Eburnean Vann (white like) every______ (full star) which happens every________ (8 months equivalent to the human world). We come to being only when humans (or earthlings) or other rational creatures are born. It is a very complicated process.
When a qumwl is born, one Farishta is tied to it for eternity or for all lifetimes. There are some beings who only lives for 7 lifetimes, some a hundred, some forever. To those with limitations, their Farishta will then transfer to another. To those who live forever will either be joyously happy or gravely sad depending on the qumwl.
My qumwl is a human being. She would only live in one lifetime. No more thereafter. Maybe that's good enough for me. But...a very big BUT. Human beings have evolved and became creatures way more complicated than us. They break so many rules in the cosmos. Supposedly, they are to live in only one lifetime. That's the way it is. But since religion came to them, everything became topsy-turvy. Some were able to live 7 lifetimes like the _________ or forever like a spirit same with the ___________.
Many humans perceived forever as a thing of wonder. It is, but what they don't know is that Forever is an enormous place, encompassing time. __________, (humans call it Heaven) is where the Gods live. (Not Zeus and the Olympians. Those are myths. But the GODS.) There are quite many of them. The Gods are the one who makes creatures' dream, hopes, prayers come true. But they heed our advice before doing so. They are the Farishtas' closest friends and neighbors. We also live in Heaven. Funny, ain't it! Humans have always thought we are only messengers of the gods!
______ (is what they call Hell). It's the worst place you could possibly be. Punished beings go there. All your nightmares, discomfort and fear are there. It's just a place which could trap you for eternity if you don't know your way out. I haven't been there, so I don't know the place really. Even Lucifer hasn't been there.
______(is what is known as the Limbo). beings just float there. Forgetting who they are. Alive but not really alive in the real sense of the word. They'd be like that forever. and that's what NOTHING feels like.
________(known as Fantasy). everything there is pure imagination. Magic. Cartoons. Book and movie characters. Name it! And even if they do exist, the magic or power they possessed is muted. It happens but couldn't really affect anybody so much. Imaginary friends are also in this realm.
My qumwl doesn't believe in any of these parts of Forever anymore. Yes, she was born believing in heaven and hell, but now, things are different.
She's a newborn, by the way. New borns mean that it's their first lifetime, given that she might live extra lives in case she starts believing in reincarnation in the future.
We have the power to look into the future, but we'd rather not. We don't want to lose the thrill of this eternal chase.
***
(Tour..tour...tour)
"I would like a cafe brulot", a man said in English. That caught my attention. I turned to see the owner of that velvety voice. I can only see his manly broad back. His hair is clean and stylish. I couldn't understand whether his hair is black or brown or golden. It's a mix and looked great even in this angle.
"What are you looking at?", Erwan said, in thick French accent.
"Oh..mmmm...I'm jus wondrin' what Cafe Brulot is", I half-lied because I really don't know what that is.
He explained that it's a black coffee flavored with sugar, lemon, orange grinds, cloves, cinnamon and brandy which is ignited and allowed to flame briefly. It's actually fantastic to look at when it's derved flaming.But I don't think I'll like the taste. I'm not much of a coffee person.
Erwan discussed to me about the other legal areas on International Law---"UNHCR..You probably heard about it. It was established at the later part of 1950's by the UN General Assembly. Here in..."---but my attention was focused on the guy who ordered cafe brulot. He is intensely drinking the brew,making an impression as if it's the best thing there is in the world.It probably is for him.
I couldn't really see his face clearly.Yet he definitely looks handsome sideways. He has the perfect nose. His skin looks so healthy---healthy fair peach in hue.It looks like a dermatologist takes care of it day in and day out 24/7, 365 and 1/4 days!
His brows are thick and dark...and then he looked at me. OH.MY.GOSH. I couldn't help but stare and feel shocked. He looked at me straight in the eyes, boring into my soul.
i blinked. I couldn't fight his stare. I have to look down and pretend I'm listening to Erwan.
"There was this nice love story in Kenya, at the Kakuma Refugee Camp..." Erwan continued to blab about the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
But I couldn't forget the guy's face. If there's a far greater word than handsome, that would be his description. His eyes are dark and soulful as if it has so many stories to tell. His lips were pinkish red, full of life and freshness. There's not a single flaw from his visage. It's as if he's photoshopped.
And...mmm..he looks familiar. Where have I seen this guy? As I was about to remember, he's already infront of me.
"Bonjour!", he greeted with a smile. A smile so rarely seen in this world. Damn it! I've become poetic!
Erwan stopped talking for awhile and shook hands with the guy. I was a little speechless and just smiled. They talked a little in French.
"Comment avez-vous connaître les uns les autres? Je veux dire, vous êtes probablement des amis.", Erwan said.
"Pas vraiment. Nous venons de rencontrer. Je l'ai vu à l'Université de Genève. Elle était toute seule.",the replied. I only understand the University of Geneva part. They're probably talking Erwan's school, the school where I'm at now.
"Oh, je vois. Donc, vous n'êtes pas un amoureux de la sienne?", Erwan laughed quite a bit with the statement.
The guy smiled. "Nous devrions probablement parler en anglais. Il semblait impoli de la jolie fille, qu'elle n'était pas en mesure de nous comprendre."
"Ofcourse. Ofcourse."Erwan said to the guy,switching gears to English and turned to me," So,you've met before."
I stammered a yes.
"I see you looked confused. Yes, I was that guy you saw at the university.", he said as if answering my thoughts.
"Your hair...", I started to say.
He laughed charmingly. "Oh yes! I changed styles. Even my clothes. I believe I look old-fashioned then. I hope this looks better. Anyway, it's nice to see you again! I can see you've gained friends already. That's good. Well, I have to go."
And off he went, leaving me awed. It's as if he knows my whole being. Yes, he changed styles. Eventhough he's still wearing white now, the style is already modern. And he's wearing a sleek A.Testoni Two-Tone Beige Suede Sneaker. He must be some kind of a rich kid!
His then longer mane like that of Legolas (of Lord of the Rings) is now a Brit rock indie-hairstyle. It was slightly tousled, slightly devil-may-care, forward sweeping men’s hairstyle. He wore it nonchalantly.
He may look modern. Different. But nonetheless, still perfect-looking.
"Cafe brulot!", the waiter said infront of us. "Pour vous, belle dame."
I looked at Erwan, confused.
"He said, it's for you"
I looked at Erwan quizzically again, trying to ask if it's from him. He shook his head and shrugged.
"c'est ...pour moi?" This is for me? I said in French, groping with the few words that I know.
"Oui. C'est à partir du gars qui vient de sortir." Yes. It's from the guy who just went out.
***
ZEKE
He called me. He's like my father. Aggelos.
"Yes, older brother?", and i graciously bowed before him like that of kings and queens.
"I'm just concerned, young one", he told me. Like my qumwl, I'm also a newborn in my realm. Though we don't grow, we also undergo childhood until we reach the age of prime.
"It seems like you've shown yourself to your qumwl quite manyy times this ___ (day). Your 13 official appearances will be used up and yet, she's still going a far way ahead."
"I understand..", I said, guiltily. Maybe I just got so excited when I got so excited seeing her, my qumwl. We aren't supposed to meet our qumwl until we reach____. No one knows when that is. It's like a bonding of two destinies. Hers and mine. I've always been her guardian angel since she was still in her mother's womb but I couldn't see her until ____. i guarded her before through my emotions. I just feel my way through her. Though that is a weak way of protecting her, it's still sufficient because my powers before were far greater than what it is now. But I know the turning point is near since I can already feel its tugging. I probably cheated when I tried to see her yet I couldn't help it.
"Nothing is impossible in our world, young one. But you ahve to be careful. Humans may not have powers such as ours but they have this magnet of great emotion which could lead you to lose your way. I don't have to tell you this because I know you can feel it...but it's near."
I understood what he meant. It's near. The turning point of my qumwl's life is near. After that, my mission would be over for that lifetime, if incase she'd live many. If she were to live eternally, turning points happen now and then.
"And.." he continued. "..she will only live one lifetime"
I was surprised to hear that eventhough it was expected since she's human. But well, it should make me happy. After that, I would be free. Just like human beings bounded to work, we also have our rest days when we've finished our missions. Same goes with those qumwl's who lives forever.
"Thank you, older brother. I'll keep that in mind. The goal is to protect her and i'll do just that."
He smiled a knowing smile.
***
KRYSTIN
I'm alone in my International Court of Justice class today. I eman, of course there are other students. But Erwan's absent. He's my only friend here. Others are just acquaintances. I felt so alone but it shouldn't hinder me from studying hard.
Somebody sat down beside me. I can smell perfume which is so light it's like natural. I turned my gaze towrds the beautiful scent. It came from a guy. He smiled at me. I was a bit surprised to smile back.
Tha same guy from the cafe's here. What's he up to this time? I ahve this feeling that he's following me but it seemed crazy---as crazy as how perfect he looks like!
"Hi!", I said, trying to be casual.
"How are you?", his voice full of concern, eyes on mine.I tried looking away because his stares are just too much to bear. I realized the ladies in the class are looking at him with so much awe, while the gentlemen with envy.
"I'm doing great", I said. "How about you?"
"The same. Standing by. Never leaving."
Those were quite mysterious words. I smiled. This guy is capable of making me speechless. How could I ever become a great lawyer if looks like his could immobilize me? Darn it!
He laughed.
I looked at him with the questioning looking, "Is there something funny?"
"Nothing. I think you're going to be great lawyer someday", he said, sincerely.
Hmmm... "Why, thank you! Mmm..I think I failed to ask for your name"
Oh, it's so careless and ungentleman of me to forget to intoduce myself to you. Krystin, I am---"
He was about to blurt out his name when our professor came in.
Attorney Thomas Buergenthal. Yes, they have the same name with Judge Thomas Buergenthal of the ICJ. And he's actually proud of it.
Everybody became quiet because of the professor's presence. The professor was considered a terror.
"How many judges sit on the International Court of Justice (World Court)?", the professor asked. He is so much into trivias especially when it comes to this subject. It does make the class interesting but he becomes a terror if you couldn't answer it correctly or the way he wants you to answer it.
"15.", classmate of ours said.
"Correct. But that's all? Aren't you going to give me more information?"
We became more silent now. We've always known law students to be corageous but in this class, that's a totally different thing.
Then the guy beside me raised his hand. " 15. The seat of the The International Court of Justice, known colloquially as the World Court or ICJ, is in the Peace Palace The Hague, the Netherlands. It is composed of fifteen judges elected by the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council from a list of persons nominated by the national groups in the Permanent Court of Arbitration. Judges serve for nine years and may be re-elected. No two may be nationals of the same country. One-third of the Court is elected every three years. Each of the five permanent members of the Security Council (France, the People's Republic of China, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) have always had a judge on the Court."
The professor was amused. He even hinted a smile on his lips.
"Well..." the professor is very difficult to please, so he continued, "Where is the International Court of Justice located?"
"The International Court of Justice (known colloquially as the World Court or ICJ; French: Cour internationale de Justice) is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. It is based in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands.", the guy beside me said. The hell I don't know his name.
The professor went on questioning. It even came to the point that he asked about United Nations as a whole. "what year was the United Nations established? Who was the first Secretary-General of the United Nations? In the first judgment handed down by the International Court of Justice, what nation won the case?"
The questions were all answered in a breeze. It then made the professor smile and as in complete awe. The class went on differently. The professor seemed to be in a good mood becuase of The GUy. Their Q and A took up all the class' time. It somehow made the students happy.
Whew! He must be genius. I could get a lot of help from him. It's really not easy studying International Law in a foreign land.
***
ZEKE
She's having a hard time because of a bit of the language barrier. The class was in English but the professor couldn't help but say a bit of French or German. I wish I could be with her every human day to help her out. Oh, but I know she's very intellectual. Infact, I've read in her mind she knew the answers to the professor's querries. I believ she can get by. Ofcourse, I shouldn't interfere too much today. I've doen enough. I've mellowed down her professor's strictness. i've changed the time so her professor could come in class faster. I can't give her out my name yet. Atleast, not now.
It's making me weak, all those tricks I've done. I would eventually fade two to three human hours from now. Sometimes, it's frustrating when you have really low power these days.
The class ended. But she remained. I can't leave her now, can I?
"So, what was your name?", she asked, persistent. She's so funny. She can't even look at mne straight in th eye. Her heart's beating too fast, too. I can feel a gush of blood in her system rush inside of her.
I called to Aggelos if it would be rightful to tell her my name before the official binding of our destinies.
He only responded, "Just do bthe right thing."
"Zeke. My name is Zeke."
I asked her so many things that I already know just to seem human.
Her smile. Her innocence. The count of her hair. I memorized all those. Even the scars she had all throughout her life. Humans, are the most interesting beings indeed! They're too simple yet complicated.
I laughed all of a sudden.
"There you go again. Why do you suddenly laugh? Am I really a clown?", she asked, eyes wide.
"I'm sorry. It's not you..: I lied. " I just remembered something." Ofcourse, I can't tell her how amusing I find her thoughts saying, 'Damn it! Why is he so handsome? I could melt any minute now!"
She shrugged. 'Weird...but damn handsome.'
I want to laugh again but took control, so I teased, "Am I?"
"Ha?" she's surprised.
"I mean... Am I disturbing you?"
"Oh,...it's fine. I could use some company". She meant that. 'I feel so alone here. I'm glad you're around. Atleast I have a friend.'
"Great! Coz' I love talking to you!", I smiled.
"Oh! me, too..." she said, a bit shy. Silence. "Oh, I think an angel just passed by.", she joked. In the Philippines people say that after a moment of awkward silence.
I smiled. I'm not just passing by. I'm staying. I'm always here.
"Do you believe in angels, Krystin?"
She looked at me as if I know the answer already. Well, yes, I know but...
"Yes.", power suddenly surged in me when she said that."...I mean, I used to. Oh, it's crazy! Angels are like fairy tales or Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy. Everybody wants to believe they're real but they aren't." The power' suddenly gone. I felt sad and drained with energy.
"why?" was all that I could say.
"You're really asking me that? Zeke, are you joking? We're adults now.", she was serious, then said lightly, "Well, if angels were real, they'd look as handsome as you". She tried to make it sound like a joke.
"I am an angel"
"Yes, you are"she laughed, "Show me your wings!"
I can but I shouldn't. too many bondages to break.
"What do you believe in, Krystin?"
"I believe that you need to do good to survive in this world. You need to be strong and competitive. You need friends, family, money..." 'I belive in love' was what she wanted to say but couldn't. "This world of ours is crazy that's why it takes tons of will to stay sane. Being sane keeps us grounded from the squabbles of religion, politics, war, etcetera."
"Are you happy?"
"Happy?" She paused...'I want to be'..."Yes, I am, I think. hahaha! what's with the many questions?"
"Nothing. You're interesting. I mean, your ideas are interesting"
"I wanna hear your, too, Zeke." Then she suddenly squeezed her eyes, looked at me again, doubting her sight. "I think there's something wrong with my eyes. You look..blurry."
I didn't notice. I'm starting to fade. My powers weaker than what I expected.
"There's probably something wrong with your eyes. It will be okay soon. But Krystin, I need to go. I just remembered I have an errand to do. It's been great! bye!" I hurried.
'Zeke, please don't leave' I heard her heart's sigh.
I don't want to go, Krystin but I just have to. It wouldn't be rightful to scare your wits out because of my disappearing into thin air. I will come back, Krystin. Count on that."
***
ZEKE
"What's your name?" Aggelos teased. "Zeke? That's quite earthly, dear Ezekiel."
I laughed. "Oh dear brother! Do you really have to eavesdrop?"
"Dear one, I wasn't eavesdropping. Remember you called on to me."
"Well..." I smiled humurously. "Zeke seems to be a pretty cool name for my earthly appearances these days."
The smile faded on his lips.
"Appearances? These days? So, you're planning on appearing again soon?"
That was a pretty frank question. The rational thing to say is 'No, not yet.' But...why does my whole being want to go there again and be her earth super hero?
He chuckled with a hint of sadness, "I've seen that look before...that very look"
"What look?"
"That look of love, my young brother."
I was shocked. Love. Love? We aren't commanded or forbidden to love. It happens but this shouldn't be happening. Love is like being obese. It's so good to eat those temptations and and don't care. It's only good for the present. Your future is doomed. But ofcourse, if it makes you happy, it should count.
"Nice analogy, Ezekiel.", he commented, reading my thoughts.
"this can't be happening. How will I end this?"
"How do obese people on earth stop their obesity?"
"They join the Biggest Loser Camp?", I said, without thinking.
He laughed a musical, amused laugh. "And now, you joke like a perfect human being!"
I, too, laughed. "Oh, Aggelos, why!"
"What do you mean why?"
"Why am I feeling this? This thing..this.." I couldn't say it. The word love doesn't justify the real beauty of feeling it.
"Love.", he supplied for me. "Love is the core of this whole universe, my child. Everything happened because of love. It's not something that you should fear. But I do understand that this is a new form of love for you. I also do understand that if you continue, you'll lose our essence...immortality."
Immortality. Why does it sound so foreign. So strange.
I sighed. "How will I end this? Please help me, dear brother."
"i wish I could, young one...but the answer is within you."
"Have you ever felt this before?"
He didn't answer for a few moments.
"I think everybody has, is and will...but I chose to continue my immortality. It's been____. Somehow, I'm still carrying this sorrow of losing her...until now"
I was shocked to hear that from Aggelos. all these time, he's suffering from that kind of love.
"Who? Who's the lucky mortal?"
He smiled, thinking of her. I saw his thoughts. She was beautiful. Really beautiful. Had there been an female angel, she could pass for one. Then I saw the memories in his mind. He shared it with me. Her name is Iaia of Cyzicus. But Aggelos would rather call her Marcia. She lived in the 27th BC. She was doing something awesome. She was playing with the canvass just like how men perceived a God creating the world. She was a famed Roman painter and ivory engraver. I zoomed the masterpiece she's working on. It looks so familiar.
"Yes, my younger brother. She's the one who painted me. She's the one who created the image of angels in the human world."
She was painting Aggelos. It was so beautiful. She crafted into the canvass the very essence of Aggelos' wonder...Aggelos with wings...Aggelos glowing...and it's probably because of love.
I was dumbfounded.
"Humans are powerful.",I muttered.
"They are. Maybe not the same as ours...but they have this kind of love which is impossible to turn down and if you do, you'll suffer for eternity."
***
KRYSTIN
This Zeke guy is really confusing. All of a sudden, he comes. Then all of a sudden, he goes! And what had just happened to my eyes! It went blurry for awhile. My vision's 20/20. Oh, but well. Why am I even thinking of Zeke? I don't know anything about him...except that he's...he's..inhumanly handsome. And he comes when I most needed someone. And goes when I want him to stay. And makes me shiver inside. Darn it! This crazy feeling!
I don't know but there's something odd...awesomely odd in him. It seems like he can read my mind. Well, that's pretty ridiculous! Where are my senses? And why am I thinking of him again? Grrr!!!
I let my exhausted body fall into my queen-sized bed. Whew! I'm getting crazy. I tried to get the pillow, not caring if my bag's content will be spilled over if I do that. It did. But I don't care. I got my pillow. My angel pillow. The last present my father gave me. I still cling on to it. A solitary tear fell. I wiped it off. I brushed the thought of pain, too. In the glimmer of water in my eyes, I saw something white in my bed.
"What's that?" I said, talking to no one at all.
I reached for it. It was like 24 inches away from me. It was...
Kring! Kring!
I dropped the white thing off and picked up my phone. It registered UNKNOWN NUMBER, literally. I got confused whether to answer or not. But curiosity won over the fear of having a stalker. haha!
"Hello?" I said meekly.
"Hi, Krystin"it was said in a sing-song voice. I could've known that voice anywhere. But girls can't be too assuming, can we?
"Hi! Who's this, please?" I tried to be casual and yet my heart is running.
"Oh..", he seemed disappointed. "mmm...this is Ez..Zeke..."
I know, I wanted to tell him. My heart stopped for awhile and then it started beating too fast again. Damn this guy!
"Oh, hey Zeke! Mmmm.." I don't know what to say."How did you get my number?? I don't remember giving it to you."
He laughed. "No, you didn't. I'm just resourceful."
"Oh..son now I have a stalker..." and I whispered very softly that even my ears can't hear, "..handsome stalker."
"Really?", he laughed again. "I'm handsome? Oh, just kidding! Well, yeah, maybe you could consider me a stalker. your stalker. But I could stop being one if..."
Damn! This is embarrassing! He heard me calling him handsome. Maybe my voice got magnified because of the phone. Lesson learned.
"You'd stop if...?"
"Do you like having a stalker?", he teased.
"Oh, come on! Who would want having a stalker? I mean, according to Meriam Webster, a stalker is someone who keeps following or contacting someone else, especially a famous person or person they used to have a relationship with, in ann annoying and frightening way! Now, let me refute this for you. You can't be classified stalking me 'coz first, I'm not famous. Second, we never have a relationship before. Third, you're not...too annoying...and..frightening."
He laughed really hard. His voice is like the melody of blue and violet and indigo. It's hard to explain.
"So bottomline is...I'm not annoying and not frightening?"
"Mmm..sortah..yeah!" my smile is so big.
"So, i'm not your stalker?"
"Mmm..no."
"And... you also don't want me to be your stalker, right?"
I suddenly felt the surge of bittery-sour taste in my tongue having heard the word stalker a couple of times.
"Well, no. I hate annoying and frightening stuffs!"
"Then good. I won't be your stalker. May I be your---"
Beep-beep and then I couldn't hear anything. Really! My phone's battery became empty. oh, Stupid! Why now of all times?
I frantically searched for my charger and charged my phone. Even if it would affect my phone's performance---I'm such an OC when it comes to my things----I turned it on while charging. I checked on the received call to retrieve any numbers but there's none. All I can see are flashes of indigo, blue and violet. My mind's playing tricks in me again! Urgh! How can I call him? Or even send him a BBM?
Wait...wait, wait, wait! This is right. And why should I be calling him? I SHOULDN'T BE. So, I din't because I can't, not because I don't want to. This is crazy!
So, I just turned on my phone, waiting, praying, and hoping that he'd call back. In between studying _______ law, I kept on checking my phone for a message or a call even if I know it isn't or silent mode. And even if it is, it would vibrate. It continued that way for hours. I even bought my phone to the dining table which is a no-no to Mrs.Zuelle. I just lied that I'm waiting for my mom to call.
***
ZEKE
"You are the craziest angel in this entire universe, Pierre!" I told him.
Pierre is my best comrade of all Farishtas---though everybody's close enough like a family. We were born together in the Eburnean Vann according to Aggelos. Ofcourse, we couldn't remember those days.
Pierre is the wackiest of all Farishtas. I mean, if humans habe comedians, we also have one here. He's even labeled, "The Jester" in the real sense of the word. He's pretty famous up here in Forever. Sometimes, the gods and goddesses would invite him in some of their ABRAMIG NIDALI cóisir tráthnóna(which is actually a soiree).
