Breathe Again [MEDICAL MYSTERY #1]

CHAPTER 05: History Repeats Itself

AFTER nodding to what he just asked, there he is, speechless in front of me.

"Azriel..."

"Totoo ba 'to? Totoo bang...t-talaga ba?"

I smiled from ear to ear dahil sa naging response niya. Halatang hindi makapaniwala sa narinig.

"Ay...teka lang. Halika muna dito." Hinila ko siya papunta sa locker area, sa tapat ng locker ko. Nang nilingon ko siya ay nakayakap siya sa sarili niya.

"O? What happened to you?" I asked.

"Angel, 'wag kang ganyan. Kakasagot mo pa lang sa'kin may binabalak ka na agad na masama?" Nanlalaki pa ang mga mata niya.

Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya. "Baliw ka talaga, Azriel!" 

"I'm just kidding, Fate."

"Huh? Fate?"

"Fate. Tayo. Fate. Your name is Angel and Azriel is a name of an angel. He's the angel of destruction."

"Azrael is the angel of destruction just so you know," sagot ko. Hilig ko talaga kasi ang mga angels so I know a lot about angels. "Hindi Azriel."

"Magkatunog naman so pareho lang 'yun."

I laughed.

He then held both of my hands and brought them onto his chest. "I am destruction; so once that I destroy myself, you'll be there to fix me."

His words touched my heart as I sigh that ended up with a smile. Then again, tinanggal ko ang pagkakahawak niya sa kamay ko. "Ginawa mo pa kong rehabilitation center."

He laughed. "Bakit mo ba ko dinala dito?"

"Baka kasi may biglang lumabas sa elevator makita tayo."

"So?"

I bite my lower lip and turned my back on him. "Kasi Azriel..."

Hindi ko alam kung anong reaction niya ngayon but I know he's waiting.

"Ayoko sana munang...may makaalam nito."

"Ng alin?"

"Ito. Itong tungkol sa'tin. I want to keep it as a secret. Don't tell anyone, not even your friends...or your parents."

Matagal siyang hindi nagsalita, until pumunta siya sa harap ko. Confusion registered on his face. "Bakit naman? Kinakahiya mo ba ko?"

"No!" I answered eagerly. "It's not like that, Azriel. It's just that..." Hindi ko matuloy ang sasabihin ko. He might get offended.

"Go on. I will listen."

"Gretta don't like you." I looked straight to his eyes. "She doesn't want you for me. Besides, baka magalit ang parents ko."

He remained silent for a while. "Okay. Naiintindihan ko 'yung tungkol sa parents mo. Pero 'yung kay Gretta? C'mon, Angel. You're better than this. I know Gretta is your bestfriend but...this is only between the two us. She's out of the equation."

"Pero kasi, Azriel. Magagalit talaga 'yun sa'kin. Sasabihin ko rin naman, but not right now. Please?"

He sighed. "Okay okay. 'Wag ka lang mag-please. I can't stand seeing you begging. You are too precious."

"Puro ka talaga bola! Thank you ha?" I smiled. "Teka nga, kailangan mo ng umuwi. Hindi ka pwedeng pumasok ng naka-t-shirt lang."

"Oo nga pala. Sige na, pumunta ka na sa classroom mo. Uwi muna ko."