24

Three: Kiara

THREE: Kiara

Date and Time: November 24, 5:20 p.m.

Time remaining: 11 hours and 40 minutes and counting

“Now look at yourself!” Archie spun the chair in front of my full-length mirror.

After an hour of primping, washing my hair, ironing, and applying make up, he finally let go of me and let me examine his work. My eyelids were smoky black, bringing out the brown in my irises. He put nude lipstick and contoured my face professionally. Archie should consider a career in beauty salons. He’d be a total hit.

I stood up and examined his sister’s dress on me. The dress was long-sleeved and beaded, and it was a tight turtle-neck. There would be no way that people would notice the mark on my chest. The length of the dress was two inches above the knee, exposing my legs a bit.

“Wear these pumps of yours.” He handed out the shoes I’ve been saving to wear for my graduation. “You should wear this to school, this would totally rock with skinny jeans.”

I smiled sadly. I realized that there was more to life that I was hoping for, and because life is very unfair, I only had a few hours to live. I would not experience graduating. I would not experience the fulfilment of finishing my degree.

“Hey, you know you’ve been acting strange for most of the day today. Something’s up. Spill it.” Archie crossed his arms.

On that second, I was really tempted to tell him everything…my impending death, my frustrations, my dreams…but I did not want to burden him with it. I wanted him to enjoy my company without feeling guilty or sad.

“Nothing, it’s just that…I love you.” I embraced him.

“You’re not getting away from me with that.” He patted my back. “I’d hear about it tomorrow okay?”

“Okay.”

He did not know there’d be no tomorrow to look forward to.

*

Date and Time: November 25, 6:37 p.m.

Time remaining: 10 hours and 23 minutes and counting

Kenneth was exasperated. Almost all of the parking space near the entrance was full, and some others were reserved, so we needed to park a little bit farther away.

“Damn, I should’ve reserved us a parking spot!” He made a left turn and finally, we found one. He slowly angled the car and turned off the engine. He repositioned his tie, looking at the front mirror. I knew he was nervous. Kenneth never fussed about what he wears, except when he’s nervous.

“I know you’d do great tonight.” I said it even though I did not even know what he’d do. Or did he have anything to do at all except for socializing?

“It’s just—um…this professor, she’s our neighbor. Do you remember that red-haired girl who lived right in front of our house?”

Good old times. That was when we were complete and there was no family drama. I remembered that time when Kenneth was really fixated about a red-haired girl who was three years older than him. He was a lovesick fool who kept watching her without even having the guts to talk to her.

“Ah, Anita Ford? She became a professor? At Harvard?”

“I cannot even believe it myself too.” Kenneth continued fussing over his tie. “After how many years…”

“Don’t tell me you still like her?” My eyes bulged. At that remark, Kenneth reddened. Wow, Kenneth was such a romantic. Still clinging on his first love.