Chapter 9: The Reality

"I'm sorry..." I said before turning my back on them.

Tears immediately started to fall as I walked away from the people I considered friends, even if it was just for a very short time.

I didn't hear anyone speak. Even Homer remains silent and just let me walk away.

I'm sorry, Danny...

--

I closed my eyes after leaning back in the tub.

I just wanted to clear my mind. I sobbed and opened my eyes again.

I stared at the ceiling and recalled what had happened.

It's been a week since I left Tambungon. Aunt Abby called me many times about school matters, but she never mentioned my friends. Maybe they're still angry at me.

I couldn't blame them. Even now, I still couldn't forgive myself.

I can't accept the fact that I caused the deaths of my friends and Danny, especially Sam.

I quickly wiped away the tears that fell down my cheeks.

I'm here at our vacation house in Tagaytay. I came straight here the night I returned to Aunt Abby's place after leaving the resort. I left that night, leaving them with grudge in their hearts and minds against me.

But I hope the time will come when they can forgive me.

I closed my eyes again and felt the warm water on my naked body.

As I was about to sleep, I heard something move beside me, so I quickly looked, only to be started by what I saw.

"Hey Annie!" he greeted me with a smile, raising one hand to wave at me even though we were only about a foot apart.

Danny...

I was stunned, staring at his smiling face.

I didn't know what to think or do at that moment. I didn't feel any fear, even though I knew he was dead and that I was probably seeing his spirit. I felt a bit awkward because I was naked, with only the water in the tub covering my body.

"Can I join you in the bath?" he asked with a smile, and without waiting for an answer, he undressed and stood up to get into the tub. That's when I snap out of it.

"W-wait! What-! What are you doing here?" I shouted in panic, quickly covering my body.

What was he doing here? Shouldn't he be in heaven?

He smiled broadly and sat back down in his previous spot, but he didn't put his clothes back on.

"I haven't seen you for a week, so I got worried. Turns out you were here," he said with a smile, as if he wasn't aware that he was dead and was just having a normal conversation with me.

I had so many questions and things I wanted to say to him, but now that he was in front of me, my mind went blank, and I couldn't think of anything. I just stared at him.

"Annie, when are you coming home? I miss you so much. Can you please stay?" he asked in a sad voice, his eyes looking forlorn.

Tears immediately welled up in my eyes.

"W-why..?" I asked in a trembling voice, recalling everything that had happened in the past week. His teasing, his pranks, and my encounters with his friends.

"Why me, Danny? Why are you doing this to me? Why do you have to show up and make me feel guilty?" I asked tearfully.

Tears welled up in his eyes, and he seemed taken aback by my question.

"Annie.."

"Why do you have to torment me like this? Why do you have to follow me here? I already left, didn't I? Your friends and sister already know who caused your death, so I'm ready to be arrested and imprisoned anytime soon. But why do you have to follow me? What else do you need me to do?" I covered my face and bent over my knees after saying those words.

I didn't know if he understood me.

I felt terrible, and I didn't know why, because I was the one at fault.

"Annie.."

I looked at him and wasn't surprised to see him crying.

I didn't know if he felt sorry for me or what.

"Don't worry, Danny. I'll turn myself in to the police and confess my crime because I've been restless for a year since the accident. Every day and night, I'm haunted by the sin I committed. I'm tired of hiding and blaming myself. It would have been better if I had been the one who died, not you all. At least if it were me, maybe only a few people would be hurt, or maybe none at all. I wish it had been me. I wish it had been me."

I received a tight hug from him.

"P-please Annie... don't say that. It's not your fault. It's not your fault," he said, sobbing on my shoulder.

I closed my eyes and cried. It feels like the end for me.

We stayed like that for a few moments before I felt him pull away.

Gently, he cupped my face in his hands and rested his forehead against mine.

"Don't think that everything is your fault. No one is to blame for what happened, Annie. Not you. Forgive me for not telling you from the beginning," he said between sobs.

"I've waited a year to see you," he said, which puzzled me, so I looked at him.

"W-what do you mean?" I asked.

He looked at me and held my hands.

"I don't know why I'm still wandering around here on earth. After the accident, I woke up in my room and found out I was already in the province. I tried to talk to my family, but no one noticed or saw me. I tried to leave that place, but I couldn't. I couldn't leave our place, and I didn't know why. Until you came."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing, but I remained silent and just listening to him.

"At first, I thought you wouldn't see me either, but I was surprised when you did, so I decided to pretend I was still a normal person because I was afraid that if I told you I was just a spirit, you would be scared and leave me."

He sniffed and continued his story.

"When you arrived, I felt alive again. I didn't notice that I was dead, but because of you, I felt alive again because you could see and talk to me, and most importantly, you could touch me. I'm sorry if because of me, everyone thinks you're to blame for my death. But I know you're innocent, Annie. And I know you've suffered a lot because of that accident."

I closed my eyes tightly at his words. I feel a mix of sadness, bitterness, and joy.

I was happy to see him again and to know that he didn't blame me for his death. But I was still sad because it was true that he was dead, and if anyone saw me now, they would think I was crazy.

"Danny..." I whispered as I held his face and met his gaze.

"The night I said goodbye to you, I thought I was leaving because I felt the light taking me. But then I woke up again and found out you had left our place. I looked for you everywhere, but I couldn't find you until I heard your Aunt talking to you, and I found out you were here. I don't know how I got here, maybe because of you. Wherever you are, there I am, Annie."

I didn't know what to say. I couldn't understand why this was happening to us.

Why does he have to follow me around? Why can't he go to heaven when there's nothing left for him here?

And what is my connection to this situation? I already told everyone what happened that night. I already have my punishment.

But why do I still have to suffer this guilt I am feeling right now?

Is it not enough?

And why can't Danny leave this place to have his peace of mind and soul in heaven?

We were silent for a few moments.

"I don't understand! Why is this happening to us?" I said, confused.

"You can't just stay here until we're all gone. I'm not asking you to leave, but it doesn't make any sense!" I said, bewildered, bowing my head and holding my temples.

"I don't understand either. Maybe there's still something I need to settle before I leave this world," he replied.

"Wait, did you have any unresolved issues with anyone when you were still alive?" I asked him. Maybe that's the reason. Perhaps there's something he needs to resolve before he can move on. It can't be that he'll just wander around forever with no one noticing him.

"No, of course not. I was a good person, Annie," he answered with a pout.

He's so cute.

I shook my head at the thought.

We were in the middle of a confusing situation, but I still noticed how cute he was.

Sigh Just think of a positive solution, Anne.

I was started when I heard him laugh, so I looked at him, puzzled.

"What's so funny?" I asked, bewildered.

"You think I'm cute?" he said with a grin.

I was taken back by what he said.

What the... how did he know that??

"What are you talking about?" I asked, pretending not to know.

"I can hear your thoughts," he answered with a smile, making my eyes widen.

Holy cow! Is he serious??

I was even more surprised when he nodded slightly.

I moved away from him and stared to see if he was telling the truth.

"It's true, Annie. I can hear your thoughts," he said.

"Oh, shut up," I retorted.

"Wake up, Annie," he said, causing me to frown.

"What are you talking about?" I asked, confused. He was acting weird.

"Wake up now. I'll wait for you to come and find me. I love you, Annie," he said, smiling broadly.

I was even more confused by what he said.

"What are you talki-!" I didn't finish my sentence because I suddenly felt like I was running out of breath. I tried to reach Danny, but he slowly faded away. When he finally disappeared from my sight, I closed my eyes tightly, and when I opened them, I realized I was submerged in the water in the tub.

I quickly sat up in the tub and gasped for air.

I coughed several times, and my chest felt like it was going to explode from the rapid beating of my heart.

I looked around, but there was no trace of Danny.

It was just a dream.

Now I'm dreaming of him.

I screamed in surprise when my cellphone, which was on the side of the tub, rang.

I sobbed and picked it up to answer.

It was Aunt Abby.

"Auntie..." I greeted her as I answered the call.

"Anne, Daniel's parents are looking for you. They want to talk to you," she said.

I was stunned by her words.

"W-why? A-about what?" I asked nervously.

Maybe they already knew I was the reason for their son's death, and they wanted to talk to me to make me pay for my crime.

I closed my eyes tightly while waiting for Aunt Abby's response.

"I don't know, but they want to talk to you about something private. I'll give the phone to Mrs. Sarmiento."

I held my chest and bit my lip. I was tense.

"O-okay."

My anxiety grew stronger.

"Anne..?" said a woman's voice from the other end of the line.

"I-it's me, ma'am," I staggered in response.

"I heard what happened to you. And Daniel told me everything about that night and even mentioned that you've talked to and seen Danny these past few days," the woman said.

I closed my eyes again, tears streaming down my face.

I knew it.

I had been expecting this. And I was ready to face them and pay for my sins.

But my eyes broadened at the woman's next words.

"Did you know that he is still alive?"

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