Wish Catcher (Completed)

Chapter 28.5: Half-Celestials

Chapter 28.5: Half-Celestials

"Sshh. It's just me."

Castel's hushed voice came out as a whisper. I stopped struggling and started to relax when he removed his hand from my mouth, his arm loosened from my waist.

I turned to him with questioning eyes as another gun shot thundered inside the store. I cringed, my heart was hammering inside my chest. "W-What the heck was that?"

He didn't answer but instead he pushed me back inside the restroom. We went in in haste and despite the chaos outside, I found it a little awkward being inside the pink-tiled women's restroom with a guy as a companion.

Castel closed the door behind him and locked it as soon as we were inside.

"Anong nangyayari?" I asked nervously.

My body was trembling with fear so I reached for the sink to support me. The noise outside gave me the idea that something bad just happened.

Castel pressed his back against the wall before spilling the news. "The guy you bumped into earlier declared robbery."

"What?!" I exclaimed, startled of what he said.

Suddenly, the image of the guy who I bumped into and the way he moved in haste as he picked those can goods on the floor came back to me. In a blink, the image of the black mark on his neck popped in my head next. My eyes widened as the realization kicked in.

"That guy." I gave Castel a frightened look. "He's--"

"A fallen star who caught a human wish driven by greed." he purred. "He's a Black Star, Sassy." he added as he started to walk around the rest-room.

"Is he one of Bullet's men?" I asked in a shaky, panic-stricken voice as I followed him just when he started to open the bathroom stalls.

Castel opened the first stall, found it empty and proceeded to the next. "I'm afraid, no. If he is one of Bullet's men, he would've attacked you earlier when you were busy picking his can goods." he said as he calmly yet continously opened the doors.

"W-what are you doing?" I asked which sounded like the dumbest question in the world.

"Looking for a way out." he answered, slicing me a glance.

Opening the second to the last bathroom stall, Castel successfully found a screened window above the white toilet bowl, reaching it by his long arms as if to check if he could open it.

"B-But aren't we going to stop him? What about the people out there? If the guy earlier was a Black Star who caught a wish of greed, aren't you supposed to chase him and break the wish?" I asked which made him turned to me with a firm expression on his face.

"Thanks for reminding me. I'll surely do that once you made it out safe. You can't go back in there. It's too dangerous." he said with a tone of complete disapproval.

"Pero Castel--" I started to say but he just cut me.

"No buts." he interrupted flatly.

Hindi na niya hinintay ang reaksyon ko at ibinalik niya ang tuon sa pagbubukas ng bintana. I breathe in to maintain my composure because anger was starting to flare up inside me. Mula ng magkanda'gulo-gulo ang buhay ko dahil sa mga problemang 'to, wala na akong ibang ginawa kung hindi ang sumunod sa mga utos. Now what? I still can't decide for myself? Jeez. Nakakainis!

Malakas niyang itinulak ang screen ng bintana gamit ang kanyang mga kamay. Paulit-ulit. Hanggang sa tuluyang bumigay ang screen at matagumpay na nabuksan niya ito.