After Death (Hello, Death 3) (Completed)

Chapter 07: Beside you

There are three ways a death god can recover an unbequethed celestial item and prevent unwanted repercussions in the mortal world; one, to appear as is and take the item by force; two, to assume a material form and take the item in secrecy; and three, to borrow the human-in-question's body to burn the item. It must be observed, however, that each method is dangerous both to the death god and the mortal.

***

Hahawakan ko sana uli si Prof. Henry pero nagmulat siya ng mata. His caramel eyes shot at me so intently that I was taken aback.

May ginawa na naman ba akong mali? Naramdaman niyang hinawakan ko siya kahit tulog siya?

"What are you doing?" he asked in a coarse voice. Pumikit muna siya nang mariin bago mabigat ang katawang naupo. "Why are you touching me? I told you not to touch me."

Iniwan ko sa hangin ang paninita niya.

"Chini-check ko lang po kung may lagnat pa kayo," maingat na sagot ko. Kinuyom ko ang palad ko kung saan ramdam ko pa ang init ng balat niya. Even though the vision I saw registered right away when I touched him, I also felt his fever. Para akong humawak sa kalderong nakasalang sa apoy. Ngayong gising na siya, mas halata na ang pamumula ng balat niya. Pati mata niya, mapula. But he was not sweating at all.

Inilapat niya ang palad niya sa dibdib niya at huminga nang malalim.

"This is becoming a problem," bulong niya at akmang tatayo. "I'll go to my room."

Didikit pa lang ako sa kanya para sana alalayan siya pero ang sama na agad ng tingin niya sa'kin.

"Don't go near me," sabi niya.

"Samahan lang kita sa kuwarto—"

"No. Baka mahawa ka sa'kin," una niyang sabi.

"Pero kasi, Prof.—"

He shot me a shut up look. I stayed still from where I stood.

Oh my God. I'm used to his silence that now I even understand what he means with just a look.

"I'll be okay. Don't follow me," sabi niya at lumakad.

Hirap na hirap akong manood sa mabagal na hakbang ni Prof. He looked like he was hurting somewhere in his body but I couldn't tell where exactly. Lagnat lang naman dahil sa ulan ang meron siya, 'di ba? It's not like he was terminally ill with something, right? Nakaka-worry. Ibang klase pa naman 'yung kaputian ni Prof. Parang sa mga death gods na nakikita ko. He was ethereally white na kung hindi lang masungit lagi ang mukha niya, magmumukha siyang soft.

Nakasunod ako ng tingin hanggang sa nasa pinto na siya ng kuwarto niya. At nang akala ko ay kaya na nga niya ang sarili niya, natumba siya.

I rushed towards him.

***

My heart was beating like crazy when I reached Prof. Nakapikit siya at mabigat ang paghinga.

Nakahinga ako kahit na papa'no. He was breathing. At least, he was breathing. Mas malala kung nahimatay siya at hindi humihinga. Mukhang malakas ang pagkakabagsak niya.

"Prof.? Naririnig mo ba 'ko?" tanong ko sa kanya.

He wasn't responding.

Sinapo ko ang ulo niya para mag-check ng injuries. Wala siyang sugat doon. I also checked his body. Mukhang okay naman.

"Henry?" I called out again. Marahan ko siyang tinapik sa pisngi pero wala pa ring sagot.

God, what am I to do if he didn't regain consciousness?