Tall, Dark and Dead (Rewritten)

Six Feet Under

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

A l e k

"So, what happens now?"

"You'll be free once I'm six feet under."

"There is no such thing as freedom in one's death, only pain." I pocketed both of my hands, tapping my boots on the floorboards. "What you did, didn't just put yourself in peril, but all of us in imminent danger." Shouting and crying won't change anything. I will not waste my energy doing so. I will just sit here and wallow. "How could you, Cali? I can't even-"

"I did it for you."

"You lied to me, not just once. You came back just to lie to me all your life." With the shallow breathing and irregular heartbeat, she's getting weaker and weaker at the moment. "So, I'm just gonna sit here and wait for you to succumb into oblivion?"

"Practically, yeah..."

"Bull! There's gotta be something."

"We can drink wine if you want." I can't believe she can still smile. Hidden beneath that beautiful curve drawn in her face is pain, nothing but pain. "Any news from Teddy?" Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "I'm asking this for your own sake, not mine." I grabbed the phone and began typing. "You are such a grump. You can call Natalia as well. I know she's worried about you. You're worried about her, too."

Shit. Natalia.

"She'll be fine. Everyone who wants to hurt her because of me is dead." I told Cali. I hope she's okay. This is stupid. Thinking about Natalia made me freeze, unable to think straight. I even forgot what to tell Teddy. "Ah, why is this thing not working?! It turned black and shit!"

"You have to unlock it, sweetheart."

"Oh." Slowly, I searched for Natalia's name. There was a photo of her in Cali's phone book. I wiped her face with my thumb, smiling. I looked at Cali right after. Selfish as it may seem, I want them both. Alive. I can't have them at the same time, but at least, I want everyone to survive.

"See? Hindi 'yan parang lumang TV na pwedeng kalampagin sa likuran." Cali and I giggled. She's always the funny one. Walang binatbat ang mga jokes ni Guzman sa kanya. "So, no news from our friends?"

"Oh, yeah, I forgot."

To Teddy:
Ano na? Did you find her?

Teddy replied:
Yes. I'll send you our exact location.

You replied to Teddy:
An old cemetery? Are you sure?

Teddy replied:
Just get your ass down here and I'll explain it to you later. You can bring your girls if you want.

You replied to Teddy:
We'll be there.

"They found her," I said, breaking the news to Cali. Her eyes widened, not believing what was happening. I swear, I saw hope in her eyes. "Can you get up? I mean, I can't touch you."

"Y-yes, I can."

"Or we can just stay here. Bree and Teddy can handle things on their own."

"I want to go. I can do this."

🎶 Ruth B., Dandelions

"No, you can't." Tinakbo ni Natalia si Maddie upang tulungan. "She shouldn't touch you but I can." This is the first time that I have had both of them in the same room together. Nangyari na 'to no'n, but now that we all know Madison's true identity, it will never be the same. "Don't worry. I got you."

"My favorite student."

"Hello, professor Cordova." I feel like suffocating. "Kapit po kayo sa akin." Having both Cali and Talia in close proximity is scaring the life out of me. "You look like you're about to die. Get out," Natalia says abruptly. Why is she suddenly being so cold? Oh, okay. I know now. So insensitive of me.