Knowing HEZEKIEL (Completed)

Chapter 22

"I'm sorry about Amarrah." That is the first time I heard his voice right after he take me to the mall again. Nang makatulog si Amarrah ay umalis na rin kami at dito nga niya ako dinala.

"It's okay. Nahihirapan lang talaga siya." I answered without looking at him. Mas gusto kong tingnan yong mga taong palakad-lakad sa harap namin.

I heard him take a sigh. "Okay." He mouthed. Ako naman ang napabuntong-hininga. We're just strolling like some kind of a kid without talking. Magkasabay lang kaming naglalakad. Minsan nasa unahan ako pero madalas ako ang nakasunod sa kanya. So, I found the chance to look at him closely.

His body was well built, halatang suki sa gym. Mas matangkad lang talaga si Hezekiel sa kanya ng kunti. Ngayon ko lang napansing medyo may pagka color bronze yong buhok niya. And he has a tattoo on his right wrist.

"Ops!" I heard myself gasp. Nabangga ko na siya dahil bigla siyang huminto. Mabilis akong umatras and he is looking at me closely na nakakaasiwa dahil ang lalim niyang makatitig. "I'm sorry." I just said and give him a weak smile. Nangunot naman ang noo niya. Nauna na lang akong maglakad.

Pumasok ako sa isang coffee shop at sumunod naman siya. We take our order separately and drink as if we're just strangers who happen to share the same table. Silence is really our thing. He just drumming his finger tips on the table and I was just trying to be busy by looking around. Para kaming tanga.

"Do you believe in ghost?" I spit out. Bigla siyang natigil sa pag da-drum ng daliri niya. He's forehead creased a bit but I just look at him innocently. Buti na lang talaga tinuon ko ang tanong nang matapos na siyang uminom ng kape kundi naibuga niya yon sa mukha ko.

"Depends." He answered wearily.

"Depends about?"

"Situation I guess."

I nodded. He has a point and he really talks with sense. Yung tipong sa tuwing magsasalita siya siguradong may kabuluhan. Akala ko tapos na kami sa walang kwentang topic ng magsalita siya.

"Do you perhaps believe in ghost?" napaawang ang labi ko sa tanong niya. Do I have to answer that with a yes or just simply shook my head? Hezekiel's a ghost and I believe he exists. Is that a reason enough for me to just nod?

"Y-yeah! I think so." Then I give him a smile na alam kong nagmukhang awkward kasi pilit. Dapat ata NO na lang ang sagot eh.

He chuckle. Napabuntong-hininga naman ako. Sabi ko na nga ba! Sino ba naman kasing tanga ang maniniwala kung sasabihin kong may kaibigan akong multo? And worst, not just an ordinary ghost but a self proclaim demon. We're on 21st century na nakakatawa na lang ang ganitong estorya and I'm one of those stupid people na naniniwala kasi ako mismo nakakakita.

"May 3rd eye ka?"