Between Heaven and Hell
CHAPTER FOURTEEN

JONATHAN'S shift has already ended. Momo took over his body the moment he went out of the café. But instead of going home, she went back to the café to investigate. The attachment she felt towards Jonathan's lady boss made her feel that it could be a lead. Perhaps, they were acquainted when she was still alive.

Momo sauntered towards the corner table his boss was occupying. She was still busy with whatever she was doing on her laptop.

She cleared Jonathan's throat to get the boss's attention.

"What is it?" the boss asked nonchalantly with her fingers still busy typing.

She pulled the chair across his boss and sat there.

"W-would you mind if I ask you a question?"

The boss raised her head and leaned against her seat with her arms crossed over her chest.

"That's already a question, Jonathan," she said. "Why beat around the bush? You can ask it directly.

"By any chance... did you lose someone dear to you?"

The boss stared at Jonathan without blinking. Momo felt the anticipation that made his heart thump like crazy. She did not expect that it would be possible for Jonathan's body to feel what she felt as if she owns it too. "I lost a cat recently."

She gaped at her.

"I... I was not referring to a pet. What I mean is... a family member or a friend."

"I don't." The boss shook her head.

"How about five years ago?"

She shook her head again.

Momo heaved a sigh. It looked like she made a wrong interpretation of her attachment with Jonathan's boss. Perhaps it was just a mere fascination.

"Why are you asking?" the boss asked after a while. "Do you see ghosts lurking around?"

"E-eh? No. No." She must be careful. Momo must stop now for the sake of Jonathan. "I-I'm leaving now," she said and stood up.

"But Rico isn't here yet."

"He said he's on the way here."

She ran towards the door. Rico must not see Jonathan now that she was inside his body.

Momo looked at the parking lot. The boss's car was the only vehicle parked there. Jonathan did not ride his motorbike that day because he knew she could not ride it back home. She hailed a taxi and asked the driver to bring her to the mall. She did not understand why she was going there. She only thought about it when she hopped inside the taxi.

The moment Jonathan's feet set to the mall, she headed to the bookstore. And Momo could not believe what she felt the moment her fingers touch the spines of the books displayed on the shelf.

"What's with me and these books?" Momo pulled a book from the shelf.

Star-crossed was the title of the said book, and it was written by a certain Cassiopeia, a local bestseller author.

She scanned the blurb on the back of the book, and it was quite intriguing. She opened it, and the words written on its author's note made Jonathan's eyes wider.

For Jonathan... You will always be the moon that shines through the darkest nights. May the angels of the Lord be with you always...

Momo felt Jonathan's heart hammered against his chest.

Could it be?

What are the chances that Jonathan was the same person to whom the author dedicated the book? Who is the person behind the pen name Cassiopeia? And why did Momo end up picking that one? Coincidence? Fate?

Then she felt a hand landed on Jonathan's shoulder. Momo flinched and dropped the book. She immediately picked it up and returned it to the shelf. She was greeted by the security guard when she turned around.

"Sir, we have a no private reading policy here," the guard said.

"Oh... I was not reading privately." Momo snorted.

She went out of the bookstore and headed to the restroom. But she was quite confused about where to go. It was one of the issues she could not resolve whenever she was inside Jonathan's body. In the end, Momo decided to go home.  

JONATHAN woke up with Momo casually floating above as he lay on the bed.

"What happened to your quest of replaceing out who you are?" He sat up and scratched his eyes.

Momo sighed. He looked at her with furrowed brows.

"Nothing much," Momo said lazily. "It seems like your boss and I have no connection at all."

Jonathan scratched his head and left the bed. She followed him as she strode to the kitchen. He was surprised when he got there.

"Where did the food come from? Did you order?" He turned to Momo, who was now floating behind him.

"Nope." She hovered above the table. "I cooked before leaving your body. I thought I must prepare a meal for you and Oreo. I heard from your grandmother last time that you and your cousin only eat instant foods." He pulled a chair and plopped down.

"That's how students live when they're far from home," Jonathan said as he filled his plate with food. "Where's Oreo?"

"He's not home yet."

He glanced at the wall clock hanging by the wall in the living room. It was already past seven in the evening.

"I guess he received an assignment from the org."

"Assignment?" Momo asked.

"As for Oreo, it's reading someone else's past and future." He chewed the meat inside his mouth. "Oh, you're a great cook."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"I'm glad to hear that. I didn't know I have the talent."

Jonathan halted from eating.

"Momo..."

"Yes?"

"This is just a theory... What if your memory comes back every time you're inside my body?"

If Momo's cooking skills came back, what if her memories come back too?

"Well... that would be great, isn't it?" Momo sighed. "But we both know that I just couldn't sit and wait..."

"You're right." He nodded.

Jonathan could not explain why his chest suddenly felt heavy after realizing that fact. Was he getting used to Momo's existence? Why did he have that sad feeling just by thinking that she would soon depart the living realm? He shook his head. It was impossible to felt something towards a spirit like her when he had been in love with someone for a long time.

Perhaps he was feeling emphatic again...

"Anyway..." Jonathan raised his head and looked at Momo. "I went to the bookstore before I got home. I saw a book, and I read your name on the author's note. I was thinking if the author was really referring to you or "

"W-what's the author's name?" he asked.

"Cassiopeia," Momo said nonchalantly.

His fists clenched.

One day... I'd tell the story of us...

Those words echoed at the back of his mind.

"She really did that..." Jonathan mumbled.

"Is it really you?" asked Momo.

He did not answer.

"Ah, maybe I should ask that lady boss of yours. She's a writer, too. Most writers know each other. Maybe "

"Your job is to dig about yourself, Momo."

"Oh... yeah."

Jonathan stood up and brought the dishes to the sink.

"You're done already?"

He just washed the dishes silently.