30 Days To Bring Him Back [ON HOLD]

Day One: Places and Promises

Madeline's Point Of View

With a blink of an eye, nasa loob na ulit ako ng kwarto ko.

Saan ko naman kasi makikita si Bryce.

Hindi rin naman sinabi kung saang ospital iyon.

Should I tell mom? She'll probably think I'm crazy.

My thoughts were interrupted once I heard that deep annoying voice once again.

"Madeline, your 30 days will start now, buksan mo ang letter sa mailbox niyo. Nandoon ang list ng mga possible places where you might find him." Sabi niya sa'kin.

"Sino ka ba? Bat kailangang ako ang kumausap sakanya?" I asked him. I'm not close to Bryce, not even friends.

"You can call me Azrail which practically means the angel of death so yeah" Sagot niya saakin.

"Hindi mo sinagot yung una kong tanong. Bakit ako?" Tanong ko ulit sakanya sabay kamot ng ulo.

"That's a story for another day. Goodluck Maddy, you'll need it." Sabi niya.

We're on nickname basis now huh?

Bumaba ako ng hagdan at naglakad palapit sa pinto para kunin ang sulat nang pigilan ako ni mommy.

"Oh Linlin, saan ka pupunta?" Tanong niya sakin habang naglalakad palapit sa kinatatayuan ko.

"May kukunin lang ho ako sa labas, tapos may bibisitahin lang po akong kaibigan sa ospital, baka po gabi na ako makauwi" sagot ko sakanya. Tumingin siya sakin at nakakunot ang kanyang noo.

"Sinong kaibigan? Ayos lang ba sya?" Tanong niya ulit sakin.

"Ayos lang siya, mauna na ko mommy, balik ako mamaya" sabi ko sakanya.

I went out and quickly ran to the mail box. Dali-dali kong binuksan yon at kinuha ang sulat na sinasabi ni Azrail.

My eyes scanned the paper as I read the places where he might be.

The nearest hospital from where you live.

The coffee shop beside your school.

His tree house.

Wow, ang lawak lawak ng mundo pero tatlo lang ang "posibleng" lugar? He can be anywhere for all I know!

Inuna kong pumunta sa ospital gamit ang E-bike namin since it was just nearby. Nang makarating ako don ay agad kong tinanong sa front desk kung anong room number ni Bryce.

"Kaano-ano ka po niya miss?" The lady asked me. "I'm his close friend" I replied while scratching my arm, a habit of mine when I was lying. Welp, I had no choice.

"He's at the fourth floor, in room 122" Sabi nya sakin. I did a little victory dance in my head as she believed me. "Thanks" I smiled at her. 

Naglakad ako papunta sa elevator at pumasok sa loob. I tapped my foot against the floor as I impatiently waited. Once the doors opened, I hurriedly went out. Agad kong humanap ang room ni Bryce.

119 120 121 aha! 122!

I stood on my tippy-toes para sumilip sa maliit na bintana sa pinto. I scanned the room, and there he was. Dalawa sila! Isa ay nakahiga at walang malay sa kama and one was sitting on a chair next to it.

Now how am I going to talk to him? I didn't even prepare for this!

I opened the door without knocking, regretting it the moment he laid his eyes on me.

Say something

Say something

Say something

Pero walang lumabas na salita mula sa bibig niya. He just sat there, his stare was blank. No emotions, just blank.

Napansin ko ang damit na suot ng niya. It seemed familiar. Then it hit me. It was that day!

++++ Flashback ++++

I was texting my friend, Liliana, while walking through the hallway of the school. Masyado akong nakafocus sa phone ko para mapansin na may taong makaka-bangga sakin.

"Oh god!" Mahinang sigaw ko as a wave of relief  went through me nang masambot ko ang phone ko. I locked eyes with the person that I bumped. He looked pale and bags were under his eyes, he still looked good nonetheless.

"Okay ka lang?" Tanong ko sakanya habang nakangiti. He just shook his head at me and walked away, slightly brushing my shoulder with his.

++++ Flashback Over ++++

It was Bryce!

"Uhm, hi?" I squeaked out. Anong kahihiyan to huhu. I mentally face palmed as he raised one eyebrow at me. An awkward silence hit us while I found the floor very interesting.

"You can see me?" He finally spoke up. I looked up at him and slowly nodded. "Feeling ko nga ako si Man Weol, ano, tara na sa Hotel De Luna" I slightly chuckled.

Another awkward silence passed by. Well, guess he doesn't watch Kdrama. "Who the hell are you?" He asked while narrowing his eyes. Naglakad ako palapit sakanya at ngumiti. "I'm Madeline" I said placing my hand in front of me, hoping for him to shake it, which he didn't.

Damn, this guy is literally stepping on my ego.

"You should continue living, you know?" Sabi ko sakanya at tumingin sa katawan nya na walang malay. "Why should I? I don't have any reason to." Sabi niya sakin while crossing his arms.

"I'm sure there are people who's waiting for you to get up from that bed." I said gesturing to the hospital bed beside us. He chuckled and said "oh dear besides you, the principal, Ms. Rodriguez, was the only visitor I got"

Oh.

"Nakita ka rin ba niya?" Tanong ko sakanya, hoping that I wasn't the only one.

"Hindi" I sighed at his answer. "Why did you do it?" I asked, shifting my gaze to his unconscious body. I can feel his eyes burning the side of my head.

"We're all gonna end up buried anyways, why not die sooner?" Sabi niya sakin, using a cold tone.

I exhaled and glanced on my watch. 6:34, I should be heading home. Tumingin ako kay Bryce at nahuli ko siyang nakatingin na sakin, he tilted his head to the other direction, avoiding eye contact.

"Aalis na ko, babalik ako bukas hm?" He didn't say anything so I went out of the room.

I'll fix you again Bryce, I promise.