After My Death Tomorrow (Published Under PSICOM Publishing Inc.)

Episode 15

"Okay?" He laughed, with full of truth on his voice. He playfully knitt his thick eye brows. "What's with the sudden . . . mood?"

Bigla akong napaiwas ng tingin, hindi ko nakayanang tumingin pang muli sa kanyang mga mata. There's something on it. Something intimidating that I can never help but to avoid. What could it be?

To my surprise, he leaned closer to me. Now, his face is nearly close to mine. That's the point where I started to turn my gaze on him again. And there, I saw him. Smiling with his boyish grin. Smiling for me.

"I would love to do that, Margotliit." He mumbled as he messed my hair with his large palms. "Let's be friends . . . until forever."

And I finally smiled back.

***

Matapos ang araw na iyon, my friendship with Marco grew more. I found myself being fond by him.

Nitong mga nagdaang linggo din, Marco's life began to walk the right path. His life became light as feather when little by little, Vaeden came back to his life. Hindi naging madali ang proseso. They were so uncomfortable at first but thankfully, they managed to settle their issue and conclude it with a graceful truce.

At si Magne, okay na siya kay Marco. Na-realize niya ang lahat noong minsang sumama siya sa akin. Hindi ko kasi hinahayaang mawalan ng kasama si Marco kaya everytime na sasama sa akin si Magne, wala siyang magawa kung hindi ang kausapin si Marco. Hanggang ang pag-uusap nila ay nauwi sa pag-aasaran na sinamahan pa ni Vaeden. Kaya sa huli, asar-talo ang best friend ko.

Alongside with Diyes, we are starting to form a group that may halt Marco's destiny and I am freaking loving that.

Samantala, ngayon ay mag-isa akong naglalakad papunta sa labas ng subdivision. Bigla kasi akong nagutom. I don't know pero bigla akong naging patay-gutom lately.

I halted my feet when I saw Marco. He is sitting on one of the benches of the convenience store. Mukhang sarap na sarap siya sa kinakaing cup noodles. Lumakad na ako papalapit sa kanya. For some reasons, doon ako pumwesto sa kanyang likod.

"Hey," I mumbled as I put my hand above his shoulder blade.

"What the fuck?!" Halos mapatalon siya mula sa kinauupuan dahil sa ginawa ko. Natapon ang cup noodles diretso sa damit niya kaya't bigla siyang napatayo. Nagpatalon-talon pa siya dahil marahil sa init.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. And on cue, I tried to help him as I tried wiping the mess out of his white muscled shirt. But to no avail, nothing happens. I just found myself mumbling my endless apalogies instead.

His face softens when he saw me. A lift on the corner of his lips started to occur as soon as our eyes started to meet. Para bang may connection ang mga mata namin. Iyong tipong kapag nagko-connect, parang wala nang paraan para ma-disconnect pa.

"Sorry talaga, Marco. I didn't know na . . . magugulatin ka pala?" I was true to my words. Sa laki kasi ng katawan ng lalaking ito ay walang mag-a-akalang may kinakatakutan siya.

"It's okay." He chuckled as he tried to shake off the soup out of his now damp shirt. "It's just cup noodles."

I pouted.

This is my fault.

I hate myself.

Bakit ba kasi sa likod pa niya talaga ako pumwesto?!