✔Dating the Undead [Books 1&2]

DUODECIM

After dinner, I dashed towards my awesome bedroom and stormed inside. Pero napaatras ako nang bigla kong nakita si Algea na...nakabigti mula sa kisame?!

"ALGEA!"

Natataranta ko siyang nilapitan, pero noong nakita kong ngumiti siya sa'kin mula sa taas, I sighed a breath of relief. Her eyes blinked at me.

Well, atleast she's still alive.

"Hi nerdy."

Annoyed, I ran a hand through my hair and closed the door shut. "Ano ba 'yang trip mo? You're practically dangling from the ceiling like a light bulb!"

Umirap sa'kin si Algea. Medyo nakakailang nang titigan siya. Kailangan ko pang tumingala. Psh.

"I was trying to kill myself. Obviously," hinawakan niya ang lubid na nasa leeg niya at niluwagan ito. She gracefully jumped down from her position, "it didn't work. None of my other attempts did."

I frowned and threw my bag on the bed. Nagising si Newton mula sa mahimbing niyang pagtulog. I'm guessing he didn't even know that Algea was attempting suicide. Poor Newton.

"That's because you're already dead, Miss Castillo." Walang gana kong sabi.

"Well, it was worth a shot."

"You're fucking crazy."

"I know. Just like you." She smiled.

Baliw na nga 'tong zombie na ito. Tsk. Nang maalala kong kailangan ko pa palang i-analyze ang results ng tests niya, nagmamadali akong nagtungo sa study table ko. Hanggang ngayon, sinusubukan ko pa ring alamin kung bakit siya buhay. After all, I promised to help her rest in peace---and, I'll let her rest in peace after I get what I want, of course. Kailangan ko pa siyang ipakilala kay Professor Lopez.

But when I opened my laptop, I noticed multiple news pages were logged. "Algea!"

"Walang tatlong metro ang layo ko sa'yo. You don't need to shout, moron!"

She's unbelievable! "Have you messed with my laptop?!"

"Yup."

I stared at her, frustrated. Nakialam siya sa pinakamamahal kong laptop! My beloved laptop that held the secrets of the world. I took in a deep breath and calmed myself. Kumalma ka, Levi. Anak siya ni Professor Samuel, so no matter how much of a brat she is, suck it up. I sighed.

I clicked my way to close the pages when I noticed something.

"Teka, bakit ba puro balita ng mga nakalipas na taon ang binabasa mo?" Some were dated back to 2016.

Mula sa gilid ng mata ko, nakita kong lumawak ang ngiti ng dalaga. "Duh! Dalawang taon akong nawala, kaya gusto ko lang maging updated. I wanted to know what happened to the world and all that shit.."

I spun on my chair and cocked her an eyebrow. Sounds gay, but I don't give a damn. "And what did you discover?"

"Nothing much. Tinamad akong magbasa. Kwento mo na lang."

Tinalikuran ko siya. "I'm busy." At ibinalik ko na lang ang atensyon ko sa ginagawa kong analysis. Pero mukhang hindi talaga ako titigilan ni Algea Castillo. From the corner of my eye, I saw her making her way towards me. Naupo siya sa desk ko, inches away from my face.

"Tell me about yourself."

Nag-angat ako ng tingin. "Para saan?"

"You're the only person I trust, Levi. The least you could do is introduce yourself..before I go away again."

Her hazel eyes bore into mine. And now, I wonder what kind of mysteries those orbs are hiding from me. What was she like when she was still alive? Marahan kong pinilig ang ulo ko. I shouldn't think about that.

"Fine. My name's Levithian, twenty-one years old. I live in this house." Honestly, I have no idea how to introduce myself in front of other people. I'm a social introvert, sadly.

Kumunot ang noo ni Algea. "Wait up.. Edi kung sakali, isang taon lang ang agwat ng edad natin.. And you're already in fucking college?!"

"Third year college, to be exact."

Sumimangot si Algea. Her hands crossed over her chest and now I noticed she was wearing my sister's old black tank top. "Paano nangyari yun?" She demanded. Nagbikit lang ako ng balikat, "I'm a genius. What can I say? I've been accelerated throughout my years of study."

I then hesitated before popping the question out of my mouth, "How about you? What were you like, before...you know." Dapat pala hindi ko na lang tinanong.

But Algea insisted to answer. Kahit na nakikita ko sa kanyang ayaw niyang sagutin ang tanong ko, "I.. I don't know. I'm just Algea Castillo, the girl who died before she even celebrated her debut. People didn't like me before. Some even hate my guts.." mahina siyang natawa kahit na wala namang nakakatawa sa sinabi niya, "I was--am---a bitch. Ni hindi nga ako nag-aaral nang mabuti noon."

"Algea..." Something about her was bothering me.

Ngumiti siya ng mapait. "So, you could say that I was alive, but I felt dead. Buhay ako noon, pero pakiramdam ko wala akong ipinagkaiba sa naglalakad na bangkay. My life wasn't worth it."

Napapikit siya. At kahit na walang luha ang lumalabas mula sa kanyang mga mata, alam kong umiiyak siya. Crying without tears. She's really one of a kind.

"K-Kaya gusto ko nang mamatay..gusto ko nang mamatay ulit.. Tangina, bakit ba kasi ako bumalik sa mundong 'to?!"

Her voice broke.

Bago ko pa man napigilan ang sarili ko, I found myself kissing her forehead and wrapping my arms around her. Wala akong pakialam kung malamig ang katawan niya. Wala akong pakialam kung namatay siya sa isang aksidente. Heck, I don't even give a damn if she live a life that wasn't happy.

Dahil pareho kami.

And at some point, I knew that there was a fragile girl behind her bitchiness. Like a rose beautifully misunderstood. At alam ko ang pakiramdam nang walang nakakaintindi sa'yo. Believe me, I know.

Algea Castillo.

Mark my words, I will help you rest in peace again.

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