The gravity of Jo’s role as a medium weighs on me. Forced into this alternate world where she witnesses violent deaths and acts of cruelty, Jo has the worst fate. I hug her tighter. “You’re fucking amazing, you know that, right?”
She sniffles and says nothing. I’m overcome with the need to study her, so I loosen my grip and peel her off me. Brown eyes wide and red-rimmed, she looks at me with a mixture of surprise and confusion. I notice her tear-stained cheeks and pale lips. With her sunken cheeks and under eye circles, she appears gaunt and sleep deprived. I want to ask her what she had seen in her dream, but it feels too cruel to make her relive it now.
I’m overcome by the sight of her. Her battle-worn visage is a medal of honor that illuminates her strength. I slide my palms from her waist to her face, cupping it between my hands. With my body touching hers, I feel every inch of her — from her ragged breathing to the pulsating rhythm of her heart. She rests her forehead on mine, and I sense her exhaustion. I massage her temples, wishing I can invigorate her with this simple touch. Tilting my head, I whisper in her ear. “Jo, let me take care of you.”
My mouth travels to her forehead, and I kiss her there. Then her eyes, kissing away the tears. The tip of her nose and her cheeks. I have one part left to kiss, and I pause. “Just say the word, and I will.”
She understands what I’m asking from her—that sweet consent allowing me to taste her lips that I’ve wanted since we were kids. That peck we shared when we were fourteen was not enough. That pseudo lip lock at Jordan’s party only made me crave it more. And in this intimate space, where Joy and I share this secret world, I need our bodies connected, even if it’s only through our lips.
Jo stirs. “Jules, we can’t. And you know why.”
I sigh, her decision a bittersweet reminder of my relationship status. I lean my forehead on hers and pray for the bravery to end a partnership that no longer functions. What I desire most is the girl in front of me. “Joy, you’re too good for me.”
I give her a quick kiss on the cheek. “Alright, it’s time for bed, woman. We’ll talk tomorrow.” I shift our bodies and lower her to the mattress. I roll off her body and take the space next to her. She yawns while I turn off the TV and lamp. Before I hit the pillow, I cover her with a comforter. She peels the thick blanket away from her chest and peers at me with a raised brow. Jo is checking whether I’m going to join her underneath the blanket for warmth. I shake my head, choosing to stay above the covers. It’s better this way.
“Goodnight, Joy.”
“G’night.”
“You’re gonna be ok?”
“I think so.”
Jo yawns again, and I squeeze her arm. The room becomes quiet, and I know she will sleep soon.
“Jules?” Her voice sounds young and vulnerable in the dark.
“Yeah?”
“You called me ‘baby.’”
So I did. Calling her by that pet name felt right. But we’ve broken many boundaries tonight, and I shouldn’t encourage more. “That’s because you are one, you big baby.”
She slams my face with a pillow, and I laugh. “Go to sleep already.”
She chuckles, and five minutes later, I hear nothing but deep breathing. Not long after that, I follow suit.
***
I wake up to the sound of knocking on my door.
“Honey, open up this instant!”
I groan and bury my nose on the pillow that smells sweet and woody with a hint of coconut. The essence of Jo’s shampoo remains on the case. I’m in heaven, and I nuzzle it more, hoping it gets imprinted in my brain.
Joy.
Holy shit, Joy!
“Sweetie, you’re in big trouble!”
I sit up so fast I get a headache, and I turn to her side of the bed. I’m alone. Duh, of course she’s gone. She always leaves at the crack of dawn.
“Julian Anthony Taylor! If you don’t come out right now, you’re grounded.”
I jump out, my brows furrowing. Why am I in trouble? Did she see Joy sneaking out of the house? I purse my lips. That’s a high possibility.
When I open the door, I raise a brow. She’s standing in the hallway in her pink scrubs with her arms crossed.
“Yes, mom?”
“What did you do to my kitchen?”
“Uh…” I scratch my head because I can’t remember how I left it last night.
“It’s a mess! Popcorn kernels everywhere, and you left the fridge slightly ajar!”
I breathe a sigh of relief. Thank god it’s only that. “Sorry, mom. It won’t happen again.”
She narrows her eyes at me while putting her hands on her hips. “It better not, or you’re paying the electricity bill with your allowance.”
“Scout’s honor,” I said with a smile. “I really am sorry. I’ll clean it up.”
She huffs because she has exhausted everything she wanted to bring up with me. She relaxes her stance and softens her gaze. “You look super tired. Did you sleep late again last night?”
I only snoozed for two hours, but she keeps staring at me, making me uncomfortable.
“You have something to tell me, honey?”
I shake my head. “No worries. I’m fine.”
“I don’t know. It’s my job to worry over my son.”
I kiss her on the cheek. “Thanks for your concern, but I’m alright. I promise. Now, let me get ready.”
I close the door before she asks any more questions. She can be relentless, and if I give her the chance, she’ll have me confessing my sleepovers with Jo in no time. Goodbye, freedom. Hello, grounded.
Two hours later, I’m in the school grounds. I’m running late, so I dodge a Bianca encounter. I’m not in the mood for her nonsense right now. Jo and I have to discuss Alexa. I rush to her locker where I know she’ll be talking to Dee or just shoving books in her backpack. But when I reach her hallway, she’s not there.
Me: Dude, where are you?
I stare at my phone, waiting for a response, but it never came. The bell rings, telling me I’ve run out of time. Shrugging my impatience, I resort to continuing my search during lunchtime.
When lunch period rolls around, I check my cell. Still no text. I race to the library, then to Mr. Cunningham’s classroom, but she’s neither at both locations. I go to the cafeteria next as she, sometimes, will sit with Dee and her buddies. She’s not there, either.
Where the hell is she?
I walk over to Dee’s table, earning me a few surprised stares from her friends. The hushed, excited giggles become audible as I draw near, but I don’t pay them attention. I even hear Bianca from our side of the cafeteria calling me, and I ignore her, too. I’m on a mission to find my friend. Dee doesn’t notice me and continues to chat until I cast a shadow on her seated form. She glances up and her eyes widen when she sees me standing over her.
“Ian? What’s up?”
“Hey, Dee,” I reply as I shove my hands in my pockets. I’m getting nervous about these girls watching me. “Have you seen Joy—I mean, Josephine—anywhere?”
They whisper among her group. No doubt my inquiry is going to be fodder for this week’s gossip. I’m sure Bianca will give me an earful when this reaches her ears.
Dee smiles. “I’m aware of your little nickname for her, Ian.” But her amused demeanor changes to a look of concern. “Jo is absent, though. She’s sick. Did she not tell you?”
Now, it’s my turn to look surprised, because she didn’t mention it to me. Had I known, I would have stayed home, too. But my slight irritation turns to concern, and I hope she’s alright. Her dream affected her even greater today, and it pains me that she’s handling this alone. Fishing my keys out of my pocket, I decide to skip my classes for the rest of the afternoon. I give Dee’s shoulder an affectionate squeeze and thank her. Then, I walk away, leaving her to answer her friends’ barrage of questions.
“Ian!”
I wince. It’s Bianca, and she sounds pissed. I turn around, and she’s standing at our table wi
th her hands across her chest. Her friends are gawking at us.
I sigh. “Yes, Bianca.”
“Have you gone deaf? I’ve been calling you. Why are you not sitting next to me?”
“Because I was granted the god given right to free will, so I can, technically, do whatever I want.” This sass earned me a gasp from her cheer buddies. “And I got stuff to do, so I gotta go.”
Bianca’s face reddens as she fumes, resembling a boiled lobster. If my concern for Joy hadn’t been significant, I might’ve laughed. Then, Bianca regains her composure because she always does, running her well - manicured fingers through her smooth blonde hair. She softens her gaze, and gives me her signature smile—not too wide, not too small—just right, with perfect pearly whites aglow. She showcases the grin that drives the whole student body crazy. There was a time when I would cave to her requests just by flashing that to me. But today, it’s not happening. I prefer a tentative gap-toothed smirk.
“Baby, can we talk?” She asks in a sweet tone. “In private?”
I don’t prefer to, to be honest, but I’m not a dick. I don’t want to embarrass her too much in front of her friends. “Fine. Let’s go.”
She leaves her seat, smoothing her dress as she sashays out of the table. Her high heels are gavels in court as she pounds the floor to reach me. This is what her father must sound when he makes that judgment call in the courtroom. When she reaches me, she grabs my palm and leads me to the exit. Desperate for the crown, this demonstration is for prom and nabbing that title.
When we make it to the empty hallway, she releases her grip and drops my hand. I laugh as she confirms how much she loves putting on a good show. I lean my body on one locker and cross my arms. “What do you want, Bianca? I got stuff to do.”
She huffs at me but stays calm. “Don’t you mean, ‘babe?’” She crosses her arms over her chest, mirroring me. “Whatever happened to the pet names? Don’t tell me you’ve found someone to replace me.” She laughs, her cackle echoing off the walls to the end of the hallway.
“Why? Are you getting nervous, my love?” I ask with the same iciness she gave me.
“Why should I?” she replies, plastering that bored affect that she has mastered with style and precision. She places a hand on her hip, directing my gaze to a body that is the envy of her peers. And yet she’s stewing over an unknown threat. Bianca’s weakness is the same trait that led her to the top. Her need for control. The Queen doesn’t take chances, and she must squash threats to her sovereignty. But it drives her crazy that people are revolting, including me, and although the mirror still says she’s “the fairest of them all,” she knows how the fairy tale ends. One thing Bianca doesn’t want is the death of her reign.
Then I’m thinking, why am I taking part in this? I’m tired of being a piece in this chess game because I prefer a relationship, not a contractual agreement.
I sigh and walk over to her. She doesn’t love me and I don’t love her. Why waste time pretending when we are happier apart?
I lean closer and take her hand. “Bianca, I think we both know our relationship has run its course.”
She furrows her brows and scowls. “Are you breaking up with me?”
“We’re mature enough to end this mutually. You can tell people you broke up with me for reputation’s sake.”
Bianca takes her palm from me and backs up, shaking her head. “No, I don’t think so.”
“Bianca, don’t do this,” I say with exasperation. “You don’t even love me. We barely spend quality time together, and if we do, it’s for show.”
She stays quiet for a minute, and I know the wheels in her head are turning. Then she speaks, “Let’s not make any rash decisions. We’ve been together for three years. That deserves a lengthy discussion, somewhere private and not at a school hallway.”
I sigh. She wants to drag this nonexistent relationship when what we need is to move on with our lives. The bell rings, marking the end of lunch period. She leans towards me and gives me a lingering kiss. “We’ll talk later, babe. I’ll see you tonight.”
I watch her sway her hips as she walks away from me. She will not make this easy. As she turns the corner to her next class, I can imagine her saying, “checkmate.”
Chapter 38
Josephine
Mama Nilda stands at the foot of my bed, staring at me with her unwavering brown eyes. She knows I’m playing hooky, so I cower underneath my mass of curls, letting it fall over my face as I lay on my side. Aunt Helen believed me when I told her I felt sick and called the attendance office. Mama Nilda’s too smart for that.
I wasn’t entirely lying. That dream, with its darkness and violence, left me disturbed and depressed. It’s not everyday you get to watch someone die in front of you. After I snuck out Julian’s house this morning, I decided I had no patience for high school nonsense today.
“Ok, out with it,” she said in Tagalog. “You’re not sick.”
I fidget, because she’s right. She sits next to me and peels back the hair from my face and leans towards me. “I’m aware of what you are, mahal.”
My eyes widen. “What do you mean?”
She takes my hand and clasps it inside her warm, calloused one. “You are not crazy like your mother says.”
I say nothing and continue to stare.
“You see things, my dear,” she said. “Spirits… ghosts… whatever you want to call them and they can communicate with you in the present and in your dreams.”
My mouth drops as she unveils a secret I’ve been hiding. “How did you learn—”
“That you’re a medium?” She finishes my sentence. “Easy. Because I am one, too.”
Now my jaw falls to the floor as she shocks me again. “How long have you known?”
She squeezes my arm as she smiles. “Since I first met you. When you were eight.”
“That’s like, 10 years ago!”
She nods.”I noticed then that your eyes darted and your head moved similar to mine when apparitions appeared to me. After a few months of observation, you convinced me that you have the gift.”
I study my maternal figure, our beloved housekeeper. Now, I understand why she keeps a special place in my heart. She always understood me, but I thought it was because God took pity and blessed me with an angel. I never expected that she was born with the same curse.
“Mahal, the Ocampo girl has chosen you. She has attached herself to you.”
My stomach churns and my temples throb as I remember my nightmare last night. I tell her my dream, Alexa’s death and the shadow. “But I couldn’t see the other person. Would’ve been helpful if the killer was visible.”
“You were journeying the spirit world. Her murderer is still with us.”
A chill runs through my spine as she confirms again that Alexa’s killer remains on the loose.
Mama takes my hand and looks at me with her eyes wide. “Be careful, my dear. Alexa is telling you something else besides locating her body. I hope you’re not in grave danger.”
I remember the car chase, and my throat dries up as the probability that I am being targeted becomes a possibility. But I force myself to relax because I don’t want to worry my beloved mama. “I’ll be fine.”
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