Book of Mirrors I: The Celestials

PROLOGUE

Manila, Philippines (November 2007) 

Haneul never had his comrades' fascination with humans. Their predictable and frivolous nature bored him. Yet there he was, observing them. Sometimes, Haneul hated his job.  

A few feet in front of him, some humans were burying two of their kind. In their black garbs, the people over the earth are a stark contrast to the white caskets underneath. They couldn't see Haneul, of course. The closest a living human could get to an angel was to feel his presence. Not that these people would, even if they were particularly perceptive. Every single one of them was entirely focused on the funeral, each taking their turn in flinging white roses to the ground. For a moment, Haneul felt sympathy for the roses. It must be tough to grow from the soil, only to be buried under it again.

Among the mourners, the loudest of the cries came from a little girl standing closest to the graves. It was typical human sentimentality. If you asked Haneul, a loved one's death should be a happy event. It meant a soul has moved into a higher form of life, where it can complete itself. But instead of trusting the universe, they fear death so much it sometimes causes them to request questionable favors. And in cases where the universe deemed itself amenable, angels had to deliver these requests. That was what happened with Haneul. He was tasked to protect this child at the behest of her deceased mother. 

"Tita, C--can--I have water, please?" the little girl said softly. It was the first thing she said since they arrived at the cemetery. She appeared calm now, her tears from earlier already dry on her cheeks.

He might gripe about his task, but Haneul actually didn't mind it. He found human children to be at least tolerable. There was just a growing concern in his intuition. The girl's energy was overwhelming, certainly not one for an ordinary human. Haneul bet that if she tried, she could easily see him in front of her. Haneul expanded his consciousness and reached out to the girl, but the human woman beside the girl started at the unseen assault. Haneul's brows furrowed.

"Tita?" the little girl asked. Wordlessly, the woman handed the girl a bottle of water. She then started murmuring something under her breath, putting a hand on the girl's shoulder. Haneul's confusion deepened. Did the woman sense him? He had seen her around the girl before, and from a conversation he overheard, she was the girl's guardian now. Haneul focused on the woman's mind. There. She was praying.

It took a while more until the last of the blessings were uttered by the priest. The attendees then began to disperse, some offering their condolences yet again to the girl, who just nodded sadly at them. 

"Tita, Lola Lita did not come." the girl spoke again, her voice a bit hoarse from crying. 

"She's busy today, honey. But she's visiting you later, I promise. Now then, what would you like to eat?." the woman answered, giving the girl a gentle smile.

"Sinigang?" the girl replied, and the two left the cemetery hand in hand, unsuspectingly leaving Haneul in their wake. 

THE PRESENT 

Bali, Indonesia (June 2019)

This wedding makes me want to kill someone. Tina thought to herself as the bride, Kyla Saunders (nee Santos), continued to botch singing "Kung Ako Na Lang Sana" by Bituin Escalante. Obviously, all of their advice against Kyla singing at her wedding fell on deaf ears. 

This thing was officially a disaster. If she were to be honest, Tina wasn't even sure why she'd come. The groom creeped her out. He was just the sort that couldn't keep his hands to himself. Instinctively, Tina shivered at the memory of his arms behind her back.  

"She knows the meaning of this song, right?" Melanie Fuentes, a fellow bridesmaid, whispered from beside Tina.

"It doesn't seem like it," Tina replied with a patient smile. As much as she wanted to hurl something, it was still the bride's day. They were all spoiled heiresses at their table, but that didn't mean they were allowed to talk bad about each other's wedding. At least, that's what Tina believed. Most of the girls seemed to have no problem throwing Kyla under the bus.

"I don't think it matters, though. None of the groom's family understands a thing. Look at how all of them are smiling. I'm more concerned about the fact that she's just completely off-key and drunk." Lila Quiñones, the Maid-of-Honor, was quick to pipe in. Tina did not even have to look up to recognize her juvenile voice. It probably was just as well. She wasn't sure if she could control herself to not look disgusted at what Lila was wearing.

As expected, Lila's statement was followed by a series of agreement and gleeful laughter from the others. Tina tried to tune out the noise, but it was impossible to do. She was at her wit's end with this crew.

"I'm going to the restroom," she announced to Melanie. Like Tina, she was also looking on at the chattering in defeat.

"Oh, God. Please let me come with you." Melanie said with convincing fear in her voice. Tina gave her an amused smile as both of them made their way to the restrooms.

"I was surprised you came," Melanie asked Tina once they were inside, out of earshot from the other girls.

"Why? You know I wouldn't miss it for the world." Tina joked mildly, positioning herself in front of the mirror to check her make-up.

"Please. You hate the girl. Plus, I heard you're busy being transitioned as CEO of AR Corp." Melanie said. "Gosh, I still can't believe you're running the company once you turn 18."

"I have been in the transition process since my parents died, Lane. I'm about as capable as a senior manager at this point when it comes to running the company." Tina said matter-of-factly. To someone who didn't know her, she might've sounded overconfident. But she trusted Melanie to know her better than that.

"I know. I know. I guess I am just jelly because I wanted to run our company myself too. Daddy is making such a mess of everything." Melanie replied.

"I heard the controversies, yes. I also heard he's leaving the company to your younger brother."

"Yes, that dolt is even worse at business than him. Can you believe it? Why can't he just leave it to me? I'm the eldest. He just has to be such an old-fashioned prick about it." Melanie answered in frustration, then deepened her voice in a terrible attempt to mock her father, "Only men can inherit this company."

Tina smirked, "Well, if worse comes to worst and your company does crash, AR Corp can always buy it. I might even let you run it. You'll be under my supervision, of course."

Melanie paused in shock, "You're evil." she said in an unsure voice, and Tina cackled. It's one of the things she liked about Melanie. She was easy to mess with.

"Hey, you guys. What's taking you so long? You're missing the party." both girls scrambled in surprise as Kyla came crashing into the restroom. She was carrying a glass of champagne with her right hand and her bridal bouquet in the other. She was also dangerously swinging around both of her arms, absolutely trashed. What the hell? 

"Kyla. Hey—are you..?" Melanie stuttered as she tried to steady the bride. Kyla's arms were getting more aggressive by the minute. Tina attempted to secure the bouquet before it could hit Melanie, but Kyla pulled her hand back forcefully.

"Hey! This...mine!" Kyla's voice raised. "Like my husband is mine."

Uh-oh, here we go. Tina thought, letting out a defeated sigh. She had been getting this drama from Kyla ever since Hank, Kyla's now-husband, flirted with her at a party. Frankly, it was insulting. Tina might have been an endless flirt, but she would never dare mess with another girl's man. Tina had repeatedly explained that to Kyla. To no avail, of course.

"Did you hear him messing around with another girl again? Maybe you should check your sources before assuming it was me." Tina said, barely keeping in her annoyance.

Without warning, Kyla started advancing towards Tina, but Melanie stepped in between them. It was probably just as well since Tina wasn't finished yet. "Also, he's doing it again at your wedding? Really? I'm guessing that's why the reception has just started, and you're already piss-ass drunk."

"Tina—" Melanie looked at Tina reproachfully. In that exact second, she lost her grip on Kyla, and the bride took the opportunity to throw her champagne into Tina's face. Tina took it like a pro, barely flinching at the cold assault.

"Okay. That's it. Kyla, we are out of here." Melanie gasped. She struggled as Kyla tried to get past her grip, hurling expletives at Tina.

"Diyos ko!

Theo had been like a good big sister to her since her parents died. She used to be her Dad's secretary, but now works as the Internals VP to AR Corp. Tina would be lying if she said that Aunt Theo's eccentricities didn't freak her out, though. The woman is Professor McGonagall in Harry Potter magnified. Tina would not be surprised if her aunt turned into a cat one of these days.

"Nothing. Kyla just decided to give me a bath." Tina sighed as she proceeded to inspect the damage on her dress. Damn it. This is Chanel, she thought to herself. Theo rolled her eyes heavenward and took Kyla from Melanie. Putting her head against the bride, she began hushing her in quiet tones.

"I need a drink," Melanie announced as she straightened herself out. Clearly done with the mess between her two friends, she did not even bother to say goodbye before bouncing out of the scene.

Unaffected, Tina produced a bottle of alcohol from her purse and carefully repositioned the necklace she was wearing to rub at her soiled collar. She looked at the accessory. She's had that necklace since she was a child and rarely took it off. It was a cylindrical violet crystal that was almost transparent, roughly the size of a thumb. Her parents had given it to her as a baby, apparently after consultation from a witch. 

According to them, the necklace was supposed to protect her from bad elements. Tina wasn't sure if the woman they saw was truly a witch, but considering all the shit that she had survived as a child, she was starting to get convinced. It does not work against raging psychos, though, she bitterly thought as she glanced at Kyla. 

She paused. There's a change in the bride's countenance. Kyla had gone eerily silent."Whoa. Tita, what did you say to her?" Tina asked wonderingly.

"Nothing you need to worry about," Theo replied, wiping her hands on her skirt. She still had one hand on Kyla, who looked like she was in a trance. "I'm taking her back to the reception now. Will you be all right here?"

"Yeah?" Tina replied slowly, still looking freaked out. 

Theo gave her a reassuring smile. "Everything's going to be all right, kid," she said.

"Okay," Tina responded somewhat weakly after a while. Aunt Theo had only been saying that her whole life. It was starting to lose its magic. She returned her aunt's smile though; she wouldn't want Theo to worry. Her aunt turned towards the door, and Tina could swear she saw Theo's hands spark lilac as she opened it.