Before I Die

1

Stranger

Nick POV

I already took a cab now. I gaze at the sky and it was beautiful as it was like I saw in the aesthetics. It was a mixture of reddish, white and blue sky and was covered with clouds. Wonderful.

It almost facade my problems. Normally, people would have thought that I had a depression but the correct term was existential crisis. I felt like I have no sense in this world but somehow receiving that letter made me relieve na sa wakas, mawawala rin ako.

After three minutes, the cab stops because of the heavy traffic. I heaved a sighed and still looking at the sky.

"Okay ka lang ba eha?" tanong ni manong driver.

I gasped and looked at him. His stare makes me uncomfortable because I never experience being ask by a stranger not even by my own mother.

"Okay lang po ako" I replied back.

It took an hour to reached my destination and when I was about to get off the cab. I heard the driver asked me this question which made me stopped and wonder.

"Eha, kung ako sayo hindi ko sasayangin ang panahon na ginugol ko sa mundo. Habang buhay ka pa, sulitin mo."

For a bit, I was scared by his words. I acted like I didn't hear his advice and went off to his cab without a word. I was afraid to gave a glance so I went inside the mall as I run and mixed with others.

Pagpasok ko sa mall sinupresa na ako agad ng ingay dahil may show pala. Pero hindi ako ganun ka interesado so I skipped and went to a restaurant.

I ordered a pasta and a mango shake. It was the best. Until, someone interrupted my past time.

"Nick!" a male voice.

He was already sitting next to me as if we're close and even drank my mango shake. I was shocked that I raised my eyebrow and take off my eye glasses because of stress from this guy gave me.

Sino ba siya sa inaakala niya? Ha!

"Excuse me? Where is your manners?" I asked with a pissed off tone.

"Bakit? Hindi mo ba nabasa ang letter nai-sent sayo?" he asked while still sipping my mango shake.

He is getting in my nerve. I wish I was an assassin to end his life but it is only in my imagination I could conquer that.

"What letter?" I asked again.

For a second, I was dumbfounded.

"Uy...amnesia." he said as he end with a chuckle.

"Wait." I remarked as I put my fork beside the plate.

If you want to have a past time. Try going to a mall, you will meet someone who knows about this letter. Be careful by the way, pabida yan.

"I remember now" I told him.

And then, he smiled as he showed his thumb.

"Pagkatapos mong kumain, let's roam around and don't worry it's my treat" he confidently said as he lean his back and crossed his arm.

"A treat huh?" I insulted him, "But let me finish this pasta and by the way ubusin mo na rin yang mango shake besides you are going to treat me right?" I told him and he seems unbothered.

After a few minutes of eating my favorite pasta while he was sipping my mango shake, I decided to take some time in the rest room.

Luckily, I was alone inside the rest room so I locked myself up and screamed like a total lunatic. I was hiding this anger since he came and I couldn't blown my cover since I'll be judge by many.

"The fuck? Akala mo kong sino? FYI jerk even that letter spelled my name correctly. I wouldn't trust you dahil as far as I concern, walang tangang maniniwala may time travel! GAGU! " I ranted in front of the mirror and end with a stomp on the floor.

As I released too much energy, I decided to shut my mouth and remain calm. I didn't finish reading the letter yet because I was in a hurry for class but somehow, I wanted to believe even just a little.

My moment destroyed again when my phone rang. I pulled it inside my pocket and recieve a text from a stranger. I rarely receive a text so it must be emergency.

~~~~

+639×××××××××

Ranting inside of there while cursing my existence wouldn't fix my problem. Come inside and let's begin, I am not here to harm you, I'm here to help.
~~~~

How did this guy knew my contact number? I never gave it to anyone except for my mom. Whenever someone asked for my number in class, store and for inquiries, I gave them my mom's number instead. Although it might be a dumb idea but mom insist me to do it.

"Fuck this guy. Does he know my every move?" I nagged.

So, I opened the rest room and I wasn't surprise when he was already waiting outside. He seems unpleased but there's bo way I would apologize since he did it in the first place.

This douchebag!

I followed him and I notice he was holding my bagpack. At this situation, will I'll be happy when he's showing me this attitude? But, he stopped when he was about to stepped on the excalator.

"Just so you know-" I heard him gulped, "I was really hurt but..." he slowly turned around and shed a tears, "But I won't let go of you." he ended as he turned around with a flustered face.

It was embarassing but somehow, I could hear a loud noise inside this idiot body.
At that moment, the way he shed tears and pulled a smile somehow made me regret. If I was going to die in August 19, 2019 then...

"Arcade tayo?" he invited me.

He showed me his hand and it feels strange, as if it was a deja vu.

"Sige na nga" I agreed and sighed.

Few notice his tears and they thought we had a fight. I became a target suspect for a crying man but seriously, a man like him would never pulled those tears without a reason.

"How was I related to you?" I asked.

"I'm your boyfriend" he answered directly.

Wait, I was able to have a boyfriend even in a short time? Now, this is unbelievable.