Waiting

                                 Waiting

It was one warm evening that Friday night. Julius said he’ll be back in just ten minutes but it’s already 11:40pm, been waiting here for almost one hour and still no shadow of him around. We’re supposed to be at Janina’s birthday party by now but he said he forgot to lock his house and had to go back. I sigh as I sat down the gutter and scratch my foot that is itching from these mosquito bites. I look around the empty street. It’s so quiet and this place had never been like this for a long time. Usually, when the sun sets you’ll see these teens hanging around here like vampires. Those teens are also our friends and Janina invited all of them to her party. As a matter of fact, when I am not home you will also see me around the street corners with Julius and Dan. They are my closest buddy in the group since freshman year in high school.

   “Trina…”, I heard someone whisper my name. I look beside me and let out a sigh of relief when I saw Julius sitting next to me.

   “You, dummy! What took you so long? These mosquitoes drained my blood out.”, I blurt out in a joking manner and he just smile weakly. All the while Julius looks pale. “You look sick.”, I said when I look close to him and lay a hand on his forehead. My whole body shivers when I felt a different kind of coldness on his skin.

   “I’m fine.”, he said setting aside my hand. “You’re the one who look sick. You’re too thin.”, he added up with a little sarcasm in his voice. Okay, now I’m sure he is fine. I hit his upper left arm as I murmur “dummy” and he just laugh. Julius is a little sarcastic and love joking around and I am used to it.

   “Come on, we are so late.”, I said and I was about to stood up but Julius grab my hand. Again, I felt him cold. “What?”, I asked.

   “I can’t go anymore.”, he answered without looking at me. I worriedly sat down again beside him and try to see his face but I can’t. It’s a little too dark in the corner where we are sitting.

   “Why?”, I asked seriously.

   “I can’t move.”, he said. I laugh hard at his answer but gradually became serious when he added, “Go on without me.”

   “Julius, what’s wrong?”, I asked, shaking his shoulder to make him glance at my side but he didn’t. That time I’m starting to grow goose bumps all over me and at the same time uneasy. “I will call for help if you really can’t move.”, I utter nervously. On timing, I spotted patrol car rounding in the street. I was about to wave at them when I realized that I don’t have to… they’re heading our way.

   “Trina!”, called out Chris when the patrol car stopped. He is a mutual friend of us but what is he doing here? He’s supposed to be at the party.

   “Good thing you came!”, I exclaimed setting aside my thoughts. “Jul—“, I mumbles, glancing beside me and was surprised to see Julius wasn’t there anymore. Where did he go? I asked inside my mind as I look around the street. “Where’s Julius?”, I asked. Chris and the two others with him exchange confused look unto each other.

   “It’s about him that’s why we are here.”, Chris said as he wipes his forehead. I noticed that he looked exhausted and his eyes are flushed like he… cried. Suddenly, the nervous in me grew bigger. “Something happened to him and he’s in the hospital.”, he continued. I felt my whole body get numb when Chris breaks the news. I was shocked and confused at the same time but with no more questions, I ride the patrol car and we go to the hospital.

   Janina and Dan are already there with some common friends and they’re all crying silently. I quickly ran and sat down beside Dan and also end up in tears when he whispers to me that Julius, our buddy, is dead. How could that happen?

   “He was there,”, I said in between confusion and s sorrow. “He was there with me when Chris came. H-he said he can’t move.”, I continue then sob. Janina walk towards me to comfort me.

   “He was there, too.”, mumbles Dan who keeps wiping his eyes. Dan said he saw Julius in the party and the second even talk to him, saying he can’t breathe. That whole night I wasn’t able to get any sleep, thinking over and over about Julius’s fate. The police said his body was found inside the cabinet with his both hands and feet tied, blind fold in his eyes and taped mouth. They said its robbery.

   Until now we haven’t found any justice for him and every time I would remember his death, can’t help but grieve again. But also every time I would remember his last visit, the pain inside gets easier to bear.