Michaels in Love (BoyXBoy) English

Chapter 22 - Season 1: Fate and Premonitions

"I don't know..." I said, hesitating as I tried to piece together my thoughts. "I'm an only child from my mother's side. But I've never met my father. For all I know, I might have a sibling on his side. Who knows? Maybe we even share the same birthday."

"I see," Emil murmured thoughtfully, his expression momentarily unreadable.

As the train continued its steady rhythm, something outside the window caught my eye. "Wow, look at that new billboard," I said, pointing toward a towering advertisement that stretched across the side of a building.

"Yeah," Emil said, following my gaze. "That thing's massive—almost as big as the building itself. It's an ad for Manila Doctors. Looks like they've got a pretty young model for it."

"He's good-looking, isn't he?" I mused, studying the model's face. There was something familiar about him, a déjà vu that tugged at the edges of my memory.

"Michael, you're way more handsome than he is," Emil quipped, his smirk lighting up his face.

"Stop it, friend. You're just flattering me," I replied with a laugh.

"I'm not joking," Emil said with a wink. "I'm just stating facts."

"Okay, okay, fine. We're officially friends now," I teased. Then, narrowing my eyes at the billboard, I added, "But seriously, doesn't he look like someone? Maybe... Mikhail? The nurse who changed Mike's dressing earlier?"

Emil squinted at the billboard and then nodded. "Hmmm... I see what you mean. So, do you want another reading from me? Hahaha!"

I chuckled, amused by his enthusiasm. "Well, if you have more signs for me, go ahead. Hold my hands again, Emil," I said, extending them toward him.

Emil clasped my hands, closing his eyes as if summoning the vision. When he spoke, his voice carried a serious edge. "9-1-10-2-5-2," he recited. "September 1—that's your mom's death date?"

I felt a pang in my chest. "Yes," I confirmed, my throat tightening. "September 1 is the day she passed. But... how did you know she's no longer with us?"

"The color of the sign was black," Emil explained, his tone low. "But... something about it shifted."

"Shifted?" I repeated, leaning closer as my brows knit in confusion.

Emil hesitated, his expression clouded with uncertainty. "Michael... I don't think she's actually gone. I'm not sure, but... something feels off."

"What are you talking about?" I asked sharply, my voice rising despite myself. "Friend, my mom is dead."

"I see... I'm sorry, Michael," Emil said softly, lowering his gaze. After a moment, he continued, "Here's the next number: 10-2. February 10. Today, you will meet your fake brother. The color of this sign is green."

"Wait, what?" I asked, my confusion deepening. "A fake brother? Today? What does that even mean?"

"Yes," Emil said with conviction.

"What makes him fake?" I pressed, my frustration beginning to seep into my voice.

"I don't know," Emil admitted, shaking his head as if trying to dispel the uncertainty. "But I don't have a good feeling about him."

"So, he's not really my brother?" I asked, my mind racing with possibilities. "Is that what you're saying?"

"I'm not sure," Emil repeated, his tone laced with frustration. "But according to what I'm seeing, you've already crossed paths with him today."

"Already?" I asked, the revelation sending a chill down my spine. "Where?"

"I don't know," Emil said with a shrug. "It could've been here on the LRT, on the street, at the hospital, on the overpass... But I'm certain you've already seen him today."