Call Me Death (Fallen Series #4)

Chapter 9: Hopeless

Nakatayo kami sa gilid ng kalsada. "Where are we heading now?" tanong ko pero panay lang ang paglingon niya sa paligid. Like she's waiting for someone or something. "Hey, Reverie--"

"Sa art exhibit." Natigilan ako nang sabihin niya 'yon. Her eyes were glistering with joy again like a child. Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin hanggang sa ikinaway niya ang kamay niya at nang tingnan ko 'yon, nalaglag ang panga ko nang makita si Ariel. Just when I thought I finally got rid of him. Damn it.

"When did the two of you get close?" I asked and glared at Ariel. Tinaasan niya lang ako ng kilay. Pinagmasdan ko siya. He's wearing a casual attire like a human. A gray oversized shirt, a black jeans, and a pair of sneakers. Come to think of it, Seraphina told me Ariel used to be a human. He was about to die when Seraphina gave up her old serpent and made Ariel as her new serpent. Just like me and Reverie. The only difference is, Ariel is now immortal. Reverie needs to die.

It's good Ariel can be seen by humans. Unlike me. "Tara na." Naglakad na kami paalis. Reverie keeps on talking, while Ariel was just looking at her. Nagpapahuli ako kaya nakikita ko kung paano sila tingnan ng mga taong nakakasalubong namin. Ariel has looks, and Reverie isn't that ugly. Everyone would think they're in a relationship or something.

I didn't realize I walked between them and pushed Ariel aside that made him frown. Nangunot din ang noo ni Reverie at lilingunin pa sana si Ariel nang pinitik ko ang noo niya. "Bilisan mo maglakad. The exhibit is waiting."

They didn't talk again. Sumakay kami ng train hanggang sa makapunta na kami sa exhibit na sinasabi ni Reverie. It's an art gallery near Crosswood Town. Pumila kami dahil kabubukas lang at marami ring tao. Other girls keep on looking at Ariel's direction. I rolled my eyes in annoyance.

Nagulat ako nang bumulong sa akin si Reverie sa tabi ko. "Buti na lang hindi ikaw 'yong tinitingnan nila." Kumunot ang noo ko. Tatanungin ko pa sana siya kung bakit pero umusad na ang pila.

We entered the art gallery. There are paintings hanging in the wall. They are in auction and they are quite stunning, deep, and masterpieces. Pero isa lang ang umagaw sa pansin ko. The one with a faint figure of an open book and ripped pages. I was about to touch it when my hand and Reverie's touched. We were both about to touch the same painting. Natawa siya at ibinaba ang kamay niya.

"A book of life," she read the name of the painting. As if she understands what it meant, what the painter was trying to say when they made it. "Do you know why the artist named this 'a book of life'?"

I shrugged. "Because the artist's life is an open book?"

She smiled. "Maybe, maybe not. But do you know what I think about this painting when I see this?" Nilingon niya ako. Suddenly, her eyes were too expressive. "The artist's mind and heart were battling between rereading the old pages of her life or rip it to pieces and not to look back when she was painting this."

Tinitigan ko siya, habang ang mata niya ay titig na titig pa rin sa painting. "Why do you act like you know everything, like you feel what other people feels, it's as if you've been through everything."

"No, it's not like that, really." Lumamlam ang mata niya. "I've been in this exhibit almost every time it opens. Pero hanggang ngayon, wala pa ring bumibili sa painting na 'to. Maybe because it's not that catchy, or maybe they don't understand what this painting is trying to say."

Habang sinasabi niya 'yon, titig na titig lang siya sa painting. Hanggang sa makarinig kami ng nagsasalita sa likod namin. "Monique, kailangan na nating bumalik. It's time for your medication."

"Sandali lang po, promise!" the girl said. She has a nasal cannula on her nose and she's wearing a bonnet. By the looks of it, she's a patient. But what is she doing here? Dumaan siya sa pagitan namin ni Reverie at tinitigan niya nang maigi ang painting. "Nandito pa rin."

The nurse that she's with her, walked closer to her and pat her shoulder. "Huwag kang mag-alala, Monique. May bibili rin ng painting mo."

My eyes looked intently at Reverie. She's staring at Monique, and it was as if she knew that she was the owner of that painting. Gaano na ba niya katagal tinitingnan at binabalikan ang painting na 'to for her to be able to know who's the painter who made it?

"I knew my painting is not beautiful--"

"You're wrong," Reverie cut her off. Napatingin sa kaniya si Monique. More like the three of us stared at her. "Your painting is the most beautiful painting I've seen here."

"Sinasabi mo lang 'yan dahil naaawa ka sa akin," Monique said, trying to contradict what Reverie said.

"A book of life, you named it that way because you have a battle inside you whether to live or to just give up, right? It's like you want to live, but also you don't want to. Kaya hindi malinaw ang pagkagawa mo dahil hindi mo alam kung ano 'yong gusto mo. But the truth is..." Yumuko si Reverie para magkapantay sila. "... You want a life without pain."

A tear slid down Monique's eye. I was stunned. How? How can a mere human, make someone cry just by her words? Bakit? Bakit alam niya ang lahat?

"Thank you," Monique said with a smile and they left. Lumapit ako kay Reverie kaya napalingon siya sa akin.

"Why did you do that? Why did you say those words to her as if you want her to believe even though you knew she's dying?" This is one of the things I hate about her. She's too positive. To the point that she gives hope to people who's hopeless.

"Because I want her to leave this world without regrets." Reverie once again looked at the painting. "Habang nakatingin ako sa kaniya kanina, I can see the black spirits lurking around her. I feel like my heart is breaking because I can't do anything about it. I want her to live long, Death."

That's what she said. And after that, she went home.

But what am I doing here? What am I trying to do again? Another stupidity? "Death, anong ginagawa natin dito?" Ariel asked. It was night time and Monique's room was dim. We went in and I stared at her sleeping face. She's about to die tonight. "Oh, great. We're going to kill her--"

"No." I cut him off. It's the opposite. "I'm gonna make her live more days." Iheld her hand and sipped every pain she's feeling in her body. I closed my eyes and I can feel that it's taking toll on my body. I felt like I'm losing my strength again. Ariel held my arm and pulled me away.

"Are you trying to end yourself?" His aura changed. He looks pissed. "Is this still part of your plan, Death? You know the consequence of this!"

"I'm well aware of that." At hindi ko rin alam kung bakit ko 'to ginagawa. If this is really part of my plan then I'm really stupid. Napakapit ako sa higaan at napapikit. Why am I preventing something that is bound to happen? I don't know.

All I know is that I don't want Reverie to look so hopeless again. Damn it.

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