Nocturnal (Ability Series #1)

CHAPTER 18

NOCTURNAL - HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU

"Uh, Brooke? What's with the flowers and scented candles?"

"It's a secret."

"O-Okay. Then where are we going?"

"Just shut up and follow me."

Tito Sebastian is already at the cemetery alone. I texted Mom that I will be going home late today. She hasn't seen my message yet so I presume that she must've been really busy with her work. Mom said that she'll be taking an overtime since her boss is not around. I gotta admit that my Mom had it rough at work.

Camille, Alex, and I spent hours at the coffee shop. It was fun hanging out with them. Earlier, I only realized that they were sincere about having me as their friend. I'm surprised 'cause in my previous school, I didn't even make a single friend but here, it only took me a day to find one or two.

It's still five in the afternoon. In no time, the darkness will enveloped the magnificent sky. Tito Sebastian said that it's okay for me not to come, but I insisted. I've been meaning to visit Felix's grave after all.

"I think I know where we're going." He stated while walking next to me.

I looked at him and smiled. Felix didn't even raise the side of his lips to smile back at me.

"Really?"

He slowly nodded his head and then looked back to where we came from. There's no one here expect us. The silence is surely deafening enough to hurt my ear.

"Brooke, if you're planning to visit my grave, I'm truly grateful. I've never been here for a very long time. I once visited it, but ended up not going anymore since it's kind of lonely seeing my decayed body buried six feet under." He shook his head in disappointment.

I laughed a bit, ignoring his nonsense remarks. "Silly. I'm not visiting your grave alone."

He immediately halted. "What do you mean?"

Lumingon ako sa kaniya na mukhang nagulat yata sa sinabi ko. It seems like he was not aware that his former friend still remembers his birthday up to this day. Poor, Felix. If only ghosts like him can recall the important events in their lives.

"You'll know it when we get there."

I'm glad that we're making a progress. I honestly thought it was impossible for me to find clues about his death, but here we are— visiting his grave together with his former best friend.

"Your friends are coming?" He asked intriguingly.

My brows furrowed in confusion. "No. They don't even know you exist." The truth hurts, I know.

I can now see the entrance of the cemetery. It's a relief that there were a few people around. I'm not scared to go here alone, but for some reason, I'm having goosebumps right now. Maybe because this place is where dead people reside?

"Then who?"

I rolled my eyes.

Tito Sebastian said that Felix's grave is just near the entrance. It's on the right side of the cemetery. He also informed me that I can easily locate him since he'll stay standing until I arrive.

"Tito..."

I stopped walking when I saw him puffing cigarettes again. What's with men and cigarettes? Are they required to smoke when they've had reached a certain age in life? My Dad didn't smoke when he was still alive, though.

I cleared my throat and then stared at Felix who was standing beside me. He looks confused, maybe because there is a middle aged man standing in front of his grave.