The transition of power between a death god and a human takes place every full moon. It takes five full moons to fully transfer the following abilities in this particular order: Awareness of death, Healing, Prophecy, Telepathy, and Vanishment.
***
"You can now go inside, Atty. Mirales," sabi ko sa naghihintay na pasyente ni Doktora.
The lawyer stood up silently and went inside Doktora's office. He was a fifty-something man without a balding head. Matikas siya para sa edad niya. Magaan ang bukas ng mukha. But his body was full of shadows from alcohol and overworking. He's going to die sixteen months from now.
Hindi kailangang kumpirmahin sa'kin ni Prof. Henry kung bakit nakikita ko na ang malayong kamatayan ng mga tao kapag hinahawakan ko sila. Seeing him sick and weak almost everyday told me the truth: I'm absorbing his powers. I'm taking everything from him.
Pero ang sinabi niya sa'kin, okay lang siya.
Kahit kanina nang paalis na 'ko ng bahay, ngumiti lang siya sa'kin habang nakaupo sa sofa. He was wearing a thicker jacket. He was paler than usual.
Wala uli sa bahay si Lolo Dimos pero bago umalis ay nag-iwan ng isang matangkad na bote ng tonic. It contained greenish liquid. Kapag daw parang may lagnat si Prof., 'yun ang ipaiinom ko.
Prof. was suffering something unbearably painful but he wasn't talking about it. He was sticking to his routine of cooking, reading books, and stargazing.
I was sticking to my routine, too. Kahit na nauubos na ang araw sa kalendaryo. Maaga akong pumapasok sa clinic, umuuwi bago ang hapunan, at natutulog sa oras. I was thinking Prof. would want it that way. He wanted me to live my life. I wanted to live my life. His greatest gift to me was this life. I shouldn't and couldn't waste it.
"Thinking about something again?" untag ni Jeremy sa'kin na nasa kabilang mesa.
Napatingin ako sa kanya. "Yes."
"Tomorrow's Saturday..." He let his voice trail.
Oo nga pala. Sabado uli. It's actually the second Saturday since Sister Millie died. Jeremy let me off last time because I was grieving.
I sighed. "I'm sorry, I can't go with you tomorrow."
"Why? May sakit ka? May sakit si Prof.?" tanong niya, halata ang concern sa mukha.
He's right. May sakit si Prof kaya hindi ako makakasama sa kanya.
"Yes. May sakit kasi si Prof."
"Wala uli si Lolo sa bahay?" he asked again.
"Wala. I want to take care of Prof.," sabi ko kay Jeremy.
He looked at me long enough that I was embarrassed not going. Napabuntonghininga uli ako. I should tell him.
"Ang totoo, hindi lang 'yun ang rason," sabi ko. Nag-check muna ako sa paligid. Sarado ang pinto ng opisina ni Doktora para sa session at nasa labas ng clinic si Miss Van. I continued, "I don't like it that what I said sounded like an excuse."
"Okay. What is it, Natalie?"
Tumitig ako sa mata ni Jeremy. I liked him a lot as a person and as a friend. Pero hanggang do'n lang. Walang ibang makita ang mga mata ko kundi 'yung supladong death god na nasa bahay at namumutla.
"The person I love hurts when I'm with you," sabi ko. "I don't want him hurt every Saturday. I'm sorry."
Hindi nakakibo agad si Jeremy. Tumitig siya sa'kin nang ilang sandali bago bumuntonghininga.
BINABASA MO ANG
After Death (Hello, Death 3) (Completed)
Fantasy[This story will become free again on AUGUST 30, 2021] After Natalie escapes death, she finds a silver feather, phone messages from an unknown sender and gets the ability to foresee death. All of which lead her to unlikely love. ...
