chapter 3
Hide
I've known him since we were seven. He's my childhood friend and he's my neighbor too.
I was playing at the park at that time when we officially become playmates and friends.
"Ey! Neighbor!" A small Nala loudly called her new neighbor. She's so small yet she's so loud and that's what irritates Hide, she's too loud.
A seven-year-old Hide ignores the irritating and loud Nala but cute though.
"Why do you keep on ignoring me, neighbor?" Nala follows the bored-looking Hide. He sat on the swing and so as the girl, Nala.
"Because you're too loud."
"And you're too quiet." Nala started swinging, from slow phase to fast.
"Then go away." Little Hide stands up and went to the bench and sat down. But, Nala being Nala, she followed him.
"Hey, neighbor, you're new here, you don't have any friends, I'm willing to be your first friend." Nala is smiling ear to ear.
"I have a name and I have friends. Just go away." Hide stand up again and move to the mini slide, he sat down at the end of the slide, his knees are up to his chest. He hates that they moved into a new house, he left his friends where they were before.
"What's your name, neighbor? I'm Nala, by the way." This time, Nala stayed sat on the bench, Hide is not that far from her anyway.
"Fine. My name's Hide. Now, go away."
Instead of leaving Hide and give him peace, Nala went in front of him and sit.
"Hello, Hide. I think I know now why you keep hiding from me, 'cause you are Hide hehe." Nala tried to suppress her laugh but she chuckled anyway.
"It's not funny though." Hide look down on Nala, he's taller than her.
"It is!" Nala once again smiled cheerfully. This girl loves smiling.
"Oh, by the way, we're friends already, okay?" Nala handed out her right hand waiting for Hide to shake hands with her.
"Fine. We're friends, Nala." They shake hands, Nala smiling from ear to ear, and Hide got this small smile that looks like he's amused.
I think it's been almost two years since I'm watching over Hide and my family.
My parents seem fine right now, they always visit me twice a month since I'm their only child they got nothing to take care of, but, a week ago I saw how happy they were when they found out that they're having a baby, mom is pregnant. They are expecting a baby, I'm so excited about it, I always wish for a baby brother.
And on the other hand, Hide, my Hide, he met this girl who happens to be in our neighborhood. He seems happy every time that he's with her. I'm glad about it as well. They've been seeing each other this past few months month.
I'm happy for him, I'm happy for my mom and dad. I'm seeing them happy even without me.
And for almost two years wandering around, I found out about the other people who died too. They are just like me, lurking and watching over the people they left behind.
I also find out that, we only go when we're already forgotten. We will disappear when we were forgotten by the people we loved. When we disappear, they called it our "final breath".
I witnessed that final breath. I saw how she slowly disappearing, she's like burning paper, slowly she turned into ashes and was blown by the wind.
And that's what I'm scared about. What if they forget about me? They got new people to focus on, they got people to pour their love on.
I'm scared that I will be like paper, I'm scared that I will burn and will turn to ashes and be forgotten along with the wind.
What if they forget about me? Will I die again?
