Call Me Death (Fallen Series #4)

Chapter 15: Vanish

Time flies so fast. But I always look forward for weekends. Just as the way she looks forward to it. Pero habang lumilipas ang araw, mas lalong lumalalim ang ngiti na ipinapakita niya. The kind of smile that you wouldn't trade for anything.

"Saan tayo pupunta ngayong weekend?" bungad na tanong niya sa akin nang magkita kami. Kinuha ko 'yong bag niya at inihagis kay Ariel pagkatapos ay nagsimula na kaming maglakad. Nang mapansin niyang hindi ako nagsasalita ay sumimangot siya at hinawakan ang braso ko. "Hoy, saan nga?"

"Your test will be next week, right? Hindi muna tayo aalis. Mag-review ka." She looked at me as if she's not satisfied with my answer.

"Review, review, bagsak din naman," pamimilosopo niya. Natahimik siya saglit na para bang nag-iisip. "Alam ko na! Let's go somewhere this saturday, tapos the whole sunday, samahan mo ako mag-review! Ayos ba?"

Napabuntong hininga ako. Hindi talaga siya tumatanggap ng hindi. I always knew she's like this, but I still can't say no every time this happens.

"Fine."

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Just like we talked about, when saturday came, we went on a roadtrip without a destination in mind. Dumaan kami sa mga sikat na lugar nang nasa loob lang ng sasakyan. Reverie knew all those places. Na para bang napuntahan na niya ang lahat ng 'yon.

"How did you know all these places?" tanong ko nang huminto kami sa isang cliff. Kitang-kita ang malawak na dagat sa ibaba at sa kabilang dulo naman ay bundok.

"I've read it on a book I used to love reading. Bata pa lang ako, mahilig na akong magbasa. I've read different kinds of books, but books with different places to see are the best." Iwinagayway niya ang kamay niya sa ere at napangiti. Ariel sat on the hood of the car. Nakatanaw lang siya mula sa malayo. Habang kami naman ni Reverie ay nakaupo sa lupa. Wala masyadong dumaraang sasakyan dito kaya puwede kaming magtagal.

"Do you know the story of the Horizon?" she asked that made me furrow. Humarap siya sa akin pagkatapos ay itinuro niya ang araw na papalubog na. Halos magkasalubong na ang araw at ang dagat.

"I'm not into myths. I don't believe in any of them," sagot ko. But somewhere deep within me, I knew I used to like those kinds of stories.

"Of course. There's no definite truth in this world. Walang nakakaalam kung ano talaga ang totoo, at ang dapat paniwalaan. But you know, those kinds of stories are so good that I always cry when I read atleast one of them. Katulad na lang ng istorya ni Luming at Pagania." Nakatingin lang siya nang diretso sa magandang view na nasa harap namin. "Their love for each other was too deep that even gods were envied of how much Pagania and Luming loved each other."

"What happened to them?" tanong ko.

"They were cursed. A curse that separated them. Si Luming ang nagsilibing araw, at si Pagania ang nagsilbing dagat. They have to wait for a lifetime to be able to touch each other. Isang napakahabang araw ang kailangang lakbayin ni Luming, makita lamang niya ang minamahal niyang si Pagania. But at the end of the day, hindi pa rin sila nagkikita. Dahil dumarating ang buwan na naghihiwalay sa kanila." She sounded so devastated about that story. Inihagis ko ang batong nakuha ko sa gilid sa dagat na nasa harap namin.

"Why didn't Luming give up?" Hindi ko alam kung bakit ko 'yon tinanong. I wasn't curious about it at first, but her eyes were full of emotion and I feel the urge of asking because I want to see how she reacts. "Why did he keep on fighting for someone he will never have the chance to hold?"

"Because they promised to each other that even after a lifetime, or even after forever, the only person they would ever love is each other." Her gaze was locked on mine. Why does she have to tell me those stories? Ano ang kinalaman n'on sa akin? Bakit parang alam niya lagi ang lahat? Bakit parang unti-unti niya akong nababasa?

Ang dami kong gustong itanong sa kaniya. But I couldn't utter a single word. "Do you think one day, their paths would cross again?" tanong niya. Honestly, I don't have any idea on what to say.

But all I said was, "Yes, they would. Because that promise is bound for forever." Napangiti siya dahil doon at tumayo na siya. She offered her hand in front of me.

"Umuwi na tayo. Pagabi na." After that, she drove silently. Nang maihatid na namin siya ay umalis na kaagad si Ariel. But I stayed outside her window. Hanggang inabot na ako nang umaga.

It was nine in the morning when Reverie looked out the window and she smiled to me. "Akyat ka!" pabulong niyang sabi. I quickly went up and when I got to her room, may mga libro nang nakalagay sa study table niya at ang notes niya. "Help me review this."

Kinuha niya ako ng upuan. She wore her eye glasses and started reading and taking notes. Nakatingin lang ako sa kaniya habang ginagawa niya 'yon. She keeps on biting the tip of her ballpen when she's confused. Then, she keeps on tapping the table when she's reading and concentrating. She has this weird habits that I find amusing.

"Tinitingin mo riyan?" nakangiti niyang tanong sa akin. "Mas guwapo ka pala nang malapitan, 'no?" I glared at her that made her laugh. Airhead.

"Mag-aral ka na lang diyan." I messed her hair pero kinuha niya ang kamay ko at nagulat ako nang ipinagsiklop niya ang kamay namin. "What do you think you're doing?"

"I feel hot, and your hands feel cold," 'yon lang ang tanging sinabi niya kaya hinila ko na ang kamay ko. "Sungit." She pouted and continued reading.

When she's confused on something, itatanong niya sa akin kahit palagi ko namang sinasabing hindi ko 'yon alam. Natatawa lang siya pagkatapos ay sasabihin sa aking mas malala pa raw ako sa kaniya.

Hindi namin napansing gabi na kung hindi pa kumatok si Leon sa pinto niya. "Anak, bumaba ka na. Kakain na," sabi nito mula sa pinto. Reverie said yes and then startes to close all her academic books.

"Want to eat with us?" pag-aaya niya sa akin.

"No. But thanks. Aalis na ako." Bababa na sana ako mula sa bintana nang tawagin niya ako.

"Thank you. For everything." She smiled again that made me still. Hanggang sa nakababa ako ay nakikita ko pa rin ang ngiti niya.

"I knew I'd find you here." Napalingon ako sa likod ko at doon ko nakita si Ariel. Nakapamulsa siya at diretso lang ang tingin sa bahay nila Reverie. We can see them eating from out here. Reverie's smile was priceless. Nakikipagkuwentuhan at tawanan siya sa pamilya niya.

Nakatitig ako sa kaniya. "She's happy," I said out of nowhere. "She's happy and I'm going to ruin that happiness."

"She has her life, Death. A life we shouldn't interfere. Hindi niya tayo dapat nakikita at nakakasama. You knew that and that's a part of your plan. But why do you sound like you're regretting it?" tanong sa akin ni Ariel.

I looked at the night sky and sighed. "I don't want her smile to fade. I don't want her to lose everything she has now. But I don't want to vanish either."

Bumagsak ang tingin ko kay Reverie. "What am I supposed to do when all I want now is to stay with her?"

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