SEE YOU IN HEAVEN [FANTASERIES #2]

Chapter Forty Eight: Heaven

FINAL CHAPTER 

"Where have you been?" I asked Casper.

My heart s beating fast, and loudly—it felt like it might get out of my chest. The pain, the fear, the frustrations... and the what if's. It bottled up inside and asking where he had been was the only words I can say.

He didn't answer. He kept on hugging me. Wala akong magawa kung hindi ang higpitan ang yakap ko pabalik, at panaka-nakang paaghaplos sa ulo niya.

"Are you okay?" I asked. He used to ask me if I am okay, and how ironic that I'm now the one who's asking him the same question.

He just moved a little pero mas lalo pang humigpit ang yakap niya. I sighed and just let him until he was the one who pulled away from the hug. He stared at me. He smiled, but I smacked his face when I saw how sad his eyes were.

"Stop your pretentious smile." Tinalikuran ko siya at ini-lock ang pintuan ng kwarto ko. Pauline might barge into my room as if may ambag siya sa buhay ko.

"Says the one—"

"I'm not pretending..." at least, I'm slowly being transparent to my emotions again. Unconsciously, his efforts paid off... but it's like at the back of my mind, someone is telling me that I have found a reason why I started to move forward again.

"Napasa sa akin iyong sumpa." There's his humor again.

"Balik mo sa'kin." Humarap ako sa kaniya.

His forehead knotted. "What?

"Wattpad."

"Luh." Napasimangot siya. His attention is starting to be diverted away from his pain. Sumandal ako sa likod ng pinto at pinakatitigan siya.

"Hindi bagay sa'yo." Ani ko. "Hindi bagay sa'yong magdrama."

"Bawal paiyakin ang gwapong ako."

"Real men cry, so you're not a man?" I ask.

Napanganga siya sa sinabi ko. "Anong klaseng sama ng loob 'yan, Nemesis?"

Napailing ako. "It's a psychological thing you wouldn't understand." I answered. "Come here, you dumb fuck."

Like a lost puppy, he obeyed. I looked up when our distance is just few inches apart. He's handsomely towering me using his height.

"Bakit?"

I reached for his hair, and touched it like he was a small kid. "What's the matter, Casper?"

I've been always scared and hesitant to ask... but then an idea and a realization came into my mind. People really wanted to be asked, especially if they are okay but then they don't want to be a burden. They don' want to be a nuisance, a disturbance, and especially, they don't want to get disappointed of what's ahead of that question so they will just dismiss the expectation to hear that question.

Casper didn't answer and just looked at me.

"I'm okay." He smiled.

"I'm here." I reminded him.

"I'm okay because you're here."

"Don't depend on me."

Umiling siya. "I'm okay, Nemesis." He tried to assured me, but then, the redness in his eyes didn't escape from my sight. He's trying to keep his tears at bay so I wouldn't notice.