ONCE A DEMON, ALWAYS A DEMON

Everything happened in just a blink of an eye. It was so sudden that caught me and my mother off guard and wandering in a blank space. None of us were prepared. Well I guess no person will ever be in this kind of situation. 

Right until this very moment, I still wanted to believe that all of these were happening in my subconscious mind. That I am inside a dream world and will eventually awaken any moment soon. Though everything was laid in front of me, I still hope that none of these are real. 

The process of having to take care of everything on my own, because my mother seemed to be in a trance these past days, was tiring. With the physical aspect, all are quite bearable, but with regards to the emotional side, the feeling was unexplainable. 

I need to be strong for the both of us. I need to stand on steady ground, not just for my own sake, but for my mother who seems to have lost everything that she has at my father's passing away. It's tough, really tough, but I have to carry all the loads for both of us to survive. 

"I'll stay with you for the time being, Mom. We need each other's company more than ever." I murmured softly to her ear, after almost everyone left and bid their condolences. 

"Thank you, Angelou, but there's no need. I want to be alone for a while" She answered after wiping her tears away. "I will be fine, don't worry." 

"But Mom…" 

"I just need some time to mourn alone, I hope you understand. I appreciate everything you did for your father, Angelou, but you also need to rest after everything that has happened. Both of us do." 

I sighed deeply. I know she needs all the comfort she can get but here she is, still looking after my welfare. I can't control my tears from falling as I gaze at my mother's sober features. 

"I'll send someone to be with her for the time being. I'll see to it that she will be properly taken care of." Gabriel interrupted after putting an arm to my mother's shoulder. 

I looked at him with gratitude, something that I didn't know I would ever do to him. 

During this earth-shaking incident that happened to my family, Gabriel had been constantly with us. I appreciated his presence and his help. He was the one who financed everything, from the hospital expenses to the burial. Neither mom and I spent any single penny along the process which made me thankful for him. I never thought he would be aiding us, never expected it from the start. With his hectic schedule at work plus his ever demanding mistress to deal with, I never imagined to see even the shadow of him. But he has proven that he still has a heart, and because of that, I am grateful for him. 

After taking mother home and seeing the person Gabriel sent to be with her, I left her place, with her persistence, and traveled home with Gabriel. Although I am against her will, I respected her decision and would give her all the time she needed to cope up with our loss. 

"Well, well, well! Look what we got here! Never thought you'd be coming home together. Isn't this a sweet sight to behold." 

Lucy's sarcastic voice echoed the minute Gabriel and I entered. I didn't dare spare her a glance and continued walking towards the stairs. 

"Not now, Lucy." I heard Gabriel tiredly say. 

"And when will be the right time, huh? Tomorrow? The day after? I've been here almost every day hoping to catch up with you, but what? You were always not around and always with her!" 

"I said not now, Lucy!" His voice erupted so loudly that even if I am already at the second level, I could still clearly hear his words. "So what if you were here? Am I mandated to always see to it that I am around every time you are here? If you have nothing good to say, then leave! I'm too exhausted to argue with you!" 

I shook my head and decided not to entertain what I am hearing. The past days were overly tiring and I need all the rest I could take. After cleaning myself, I wearily head to bed. But even before I could finally close my eyes, someone knocked at the door. I don't intend to stand up and know who it was or what the purpose of the disturbance was, but the constant knocking irritated me and thus made me stand up. 

"What's the matter? I'm tired and…"

"You're the matter, Angelou! You and your pathetic act of being a damsel in distress!" 

Lucy barged in without being welcomed. She stormed in with a thunderbolt speed that made me look at her with utter annoyance. 

"Can you just leave, Lucy? I have no time to listen to you right now. I want to rest, so please… Leave." 

I opened the door wide enough and gestured to her to go out. But she just gazed at it undisturbed and didn't move an inch.

"I don't care what it is that you want or what you need either. I am here to tell you to stop your act! Stop acting as if the whole world only rotates on you! You used this opportunity to get Gabriel's attention and to make me suffer! Well, guess what? You've prevailed alright! Happy now, bitch?" 

I stared at her dumbfoundedly that made her features even more fiercer. Her eyes were scorching with wrathful fire as she tried to control her body from shaking hard. 

"I am not acting. If you thought that I was, then that's your problem not mine. Now if you don't mind, leave my room at this instance." 

"You've used your father's death to get even with me! You really know how to strike when the iron is hot! You've used that pathetic death of his, which serves him right by the way, just to get a hold of Gabriel's time and presence! You're a thief, Angelou! A thief and a slut!"

My blood boils at her false accusations. I could feel my veins throbbing with rage as I looked at her fiercely. I would have let her pass if she didn't dragged dad's name in this. But since she does, God stop me, she will pay for it. As anger clouded my mind, I immediately walked to where she stands and slapped her as hard as I could.

"Don't you dare drag my father simply because your ego got bruised! You are so shameless, Lucy! It was your fault anyway why Gabriel treated you that way he did earlier! You deserve it! Now get out of here!" 

"You bitch! How dare you slap me!" She uttered cruelly, massaging her cheek where my hand landed. 

"What the hell is this! What's the commotion all about?" A mighty and authoritative voice caused both Lucy and I to move inches away from each other. "Lucy? I told you to leave, right? What are you still doing here?" 

He looked at us with displeasure, obviously disturbed and irritated. At the sight of him, Lucy hurriedly ran to his side and cried helplessly. 

"That good for nothing wife of yours slapped me, Gabriel. I… I was just trying to console her for her father's sudden death, then she… All of a sudden attacked me. She slapped me so hard, my cheek stung in pain." 

'You lying piece of shit!'

"That's enough! You! Come with me! And you" He stared back at me icily. His jaws are clenched as he tries hard to control his temper. "I'll deal with you later." 

'So the demon is back after days of showing kindness. Well, what would I expect? Once a demon, always a demon.'