Call Me Death (Fallen Series #4)

Chapter 2: Searching in Places

"Death, sandali!" She ran by my side and walked beside me. I gazed at her, she's been like this for three days. She keeps on following me. Wala naman akong magawa dahil nakikita niya ako. I rolled my eyes and continued walking as if I didn't see her.

She left her friends to follow me. Now, we're few blocks away from her house yet she doesn't care. What if I'm a serial killer which I am, tapos ay patayin ko siya ngayon na? Wala siyang kalaban-laban pero sunod pa rin siya nang sunod. She's really an airhead, huh?

"Bumalik ka na nga ro'n," inis kong sabi. Actually, I'm walking without a place to go. Hindi ko alam kung bakit hindi niya yo'n napapansin. Siguro, ganoon lang siya katanga to trust a guy like me. How ironic.

"Ihaw!" sigaw niya kaya napatigil ako sa paglalakad at tiningnan ang tinutukoy niya. She's talking about the street food at the side. Nagulat ako nang hawakan niya ang kamay ko at hilahin ako palapit doon. I didn't have the chance to complain dahil paniguradong kauusapin niya ako at magmumukha lang siyang baliw. Nakatayo lang ako sa tabi niya habang kinakausap niya 'yong tindero. She bought eight sticks. Napailing na lang ako. She's hopeless.

Umupo kami sa pinakamalapit na bench sa Park na nakita namin. I kept on glancing at her as she eats. "Gusto mo?" I quickly shook my head. Mukha ngang kulang pa sa kaniya 'yon. "When I'm with my friends, hindi ako nakakakain nito, e. Ayaw nila ng street foods. Marumi raw kasi. Pero para sa akin, mas masarap pa 'to sa mga mamahaling tinda sa cafeteria."

I stared at her. She keeps on blabbering things I couldn't understand. She's aware that I couidn't relate of the things she was saying yet she continued to talk, obliviously. As if she wants me to know her. As if that if I didn't, it's my loss.

"Sabi ko nga sa mga kaibigan ko--" Reverie was cut off when we heard a shout. Walang anu-ano, tumakbo siya mula sa pinagmumulan n'on. There we saw a girl yelling towards a middle aged woman. Then the older woman walked away, leaving the girl crying.

"Pathetic humans." Tatalikod na sana ako nang tumakbo si Reverie palapit sa babae at kinausap 'yon. Does she know her? Lumapit ako at natigilan nang marinig ang sinasabi iya.

"She's your Mom. No matter how annoying she is, you have to bear with her. What you said was unnecessary--"

"Ano ba'ng pakialam mo? You're a stranger to me so why are you saying things as if you know everything?" inis na sigaw ng babae. So, Reverie doesn't know her yet she talked to her just to lecture her? Unbelievable.

I was about to talk when Reverie's hand, tightened. "Because I do. I know what will happen. At 'yong sinabi mo sa kaniyang mamatay na siya, paano kapag nangyari 'yon, huh?" Her voice changed. She's angry and at the same time, irritated. "Your Mother took care of you since you were born, she chose to let you live in a world like this. Oo, may nagawa siya sa 'yo, but it was because she's human, too! Now, go back to her and say sorry..." Huminga nang malalim si Reverie. "... because next time, you wouln't have a chance to say that anymore."

The girl left. Naiwan kaming nakatayo roon at nakatingin na siya sa malayo. "I can see if someone's going to die," she said without hesitation. Does she always trust strangers and say such things like this? "There's this black spirit lurking on a person's body when she's going to die, that only I can see. And earlier, I saw it on the girl's Mother. Ayaw kong lumagpas ang mga bagay nang wala akong nagagawa. As long as I can, I'll go out helping people. Hindi ko man mapigilan ang kamatayang nakatakda sa kanila, atleast I can help them with things that I can reach."

She's too stupid. That's what I thought when she went out and said those words to that girl. But as I stared at her, all I can see was determination. She's determined to help no matter what it takes. She's too kind, too open that makes people think that it's okay to use her. She's used of being taken for granted by the people around her yet she doesn't care.

Nagulat ako nang humarap siya sa akin at ngumiti. Gone the angry and serious Reverie. Her old annoying self is back again. "Tara. I have something to show you." I was shocked when she held my cold, lifeless hand and pulled me while she's running. I hate physical touch, yet I let her hold me.

She took me to a familiar rooftop. Walang katao-tao at kitang-kita ang mga tao at sasakyan sa ibaba. I stared at her when she went to the edge of the rooftop. Parang bata, itinaas niya ang kamay niya at dinama ang malamig na hanging tumatama sa balat niya. "In this exact place, someone saved me." I was frozen in shock. Not because she's staring at me as she uttered those words. But because that someone she was talking about is standing beside her.

"Sabi ng Daddy ko, I wasn't bound to live, kami ni Mommy. But because of that person Dad was talking about, I managed to live and see how beautiful this world is." Pumikit siya. Her hair is being blown away by the wind, and her gray eyes stared at me when she opened her eyes. As if she sees through. As if I'm more amusing than the view in front of her. "That person, I want to see him and thank him for saving me."

I avoided her eyes. That person you're talking about, he wants you dead. What's the purpose of thanking me? I didn't do it for her. I did it for myself.

"Life is a bullshit of a journey, but it gives us people that would make us realize that living is not that bad after all." I walked closer to her and closed my eyes for a second. I felt relaxed and calm. I haven't felt this way my whole life. "I want to wander and go around places that would make my soul feel like it's home..."

She smiled at me. The kind of smile that is real and genuine. "... Death, will you come with me?"

I don't know why I nodded and gave in. I just feel like I might find my answer on why I saved her back then. Maybe. Maybe she's the answer after all those searching in places.

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