Between Heaven and Hell
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

"HURRY and finish your meal, Jonathan. We're running late..."

Jonathan grimaced after hearing what his grandmother said. On that day, his mother was getting married... again. And he hated her for that. It was not that long since his father died, yet her mother engaged herself in such a joyous occasion. Perhaps, his mother has no interest to grieve since they separated before his father's death. But it was not the case for him.

"Why do I have to bother attending? The wedding will go on with or without me," Jonathan mumbled. Ah, the conversation made him lose his appetite.

His grandmother sighed and sat beside him afterwards.

"I understand what you're feeling right now. Just recently, your dad died, and now your mom's getting married. But what can we do when this is what she wants?" his grandmother said somberly as she caressed his back. "How about me, Inay? I-I'm his son... Am I not part of her life?" he said as tears rolled forth his cheeks.

Was it that hard for his mother to show him affection? She said living with his father was hell. They always quarrel, and his mother always demands to get her freedom. At that age, his mind could not comprehend how adults see life. All he knew was that parents should make their children feel their love. And his father was the only one who did that. Jonathan could not help but hate the world and its twisted fate for taking him away. His father's death took away that little amount of happiness that was left for him.

His grandmother wiped his tears away and hugged him.

JONATHAN was sitting on the front pew when a little girl suddenly approached him on his seat. She was wearing a gown, holding a basket with two hands. He was definitely years older than her.

His forehead creased, and his curiosity grew as the kid stared at him. It looked like she was studying him.

"Do you know me?" he asked calmly. Jonathan's first thought was to scare her so that she will go away, but she looked like someone who would not easily get scared. His effort would just go to waste. "Uh-huh..." the little girl replied with a quick nod.

"Really, huh?" He cocked his head to the side. "Who am I then?"

"You're my elder brother from now on." She beamed widely.

Her answer made his brows furrowed. He was about to say something when he heard his mother called him.

"Jonathan, come here." His mother beckoned him to come forward.

He rose from his seat and strode to the altar. The wedding finally comes to its end, and it was time for picture taking with the family and guests.

"Andie, come here baby girl," Alejandro called his daughter.

He turned in the direction Alejandro was facing at the moment. His eyes grew wide as the little girl who approached him a while ago ran towards the altar. She went behind Alejandro and hid there as if she was too shy to face him. Where was her confidence now?

His mother tugged her gently.

"Jonathan, this is Andrea, your little sister," his mother introduced the little girl.

"You can call her Andie," Alejandro added.

He tugged his daughter to the front for their first family picture.

Jonathan went to his mother's side. He smiled faintly.

DAYS passed by. Everything went well as Jonathan lives with his new family. Alejandro treated him like a real son. The only problem was his mother because she showered all her affection to Andie. So, instead of having a good relationship with his step-sister, all he did was envy her. Hatred was slowly consuming Jonathan.

"Kuya!" Andie called.

He turned in the direction of the voice and saw Andie running towards him.

"Can you swim?" she asked upon reaching him.

It was her father's birthday. Their family went to the lakeside for a picnic.

"No," he said coldly. Ah, he hated how she managed to be cheerful all the time despite his cold treatment.

"So, it means you can't save me if I get drown in the lake?" Andie said with pouted lips.

Jonathan scoffed. "Then, don't swim."

She walked past him and went to the lake without hesitation. Ah, look at that stubbornness.

From where he stood, he just watched her play with the water. Andie occasionally looked at him and beckoned him to join her. But Jonathan will only raise his brow. Soon, he decided to go back to their cottage. "Kuya!

He heard Andie scream not long after he turned around. But he did not pay attention and continued walking away.

"Ku-ya!" she screamed again. This time there was this long post between the syllables.

Jonathan turned in Andie's direction.

He was stunned for a moment upon seeing her drowning in the lake. His feet moved towards the water but stopped mid-way.

He hated her, right? Wouldn't it be better if she disappeared from his life?

N-no... I can't let her die...

He might have hated Andie, but his conscience could not take to watch her die. So, he ran towards the lake to save her. Jonathan may not be a good swimmer, but his determination made it possible. "Help!" he yelled at the top of his lungs as he carried Andie out of the water.

They were a few meters away from the cottage. He just hoped that their parents could hear his scream.

"Help!" he yelled again.

He laid Andie on the sand and tapped her cheeks to wake her up. But her eyes won't open.

"Andie, wake up please..." His eyes were now blurry with tears.

Jonathan started performing CPR on her.

"Andie... open your eyes and smile at me again..." he mumbled. "God, please help her..."

He was about to blow her on the mouth again when she suddenly coughed. Somehow, he felt relieved. "K-kuya..." she whispered and held his hand.

That was when their parents arrived at the lakeshore.

"What happened here? Andie!" his mother said hysterically.

Alejandro carried his daughter and took her to the car. They all got in and rushed her to the nearest hospital.

HE FLINCHED the moment his mother's palm landed on his cheek. It made his cheek numb, as well as his whole body.

"Why, Jonathan?" his mom asked in between her sobs. "Why did you do that?"

His fists clenched. He wanted to cry so bad, but he chose not to. Jonathan did not want her mother to see him crying. He did not want her to see him as a weakling.

"If I were the one to drown, would you cry? Would you be like this too?" Jonathan could not contain his feelings any longer. He finally let it burst.

"W-what are you talking about? What's eating you, Jonathan?"

He stepped backwards when his mom tried to reach him.

"Never in my life I have felt that you love me," he said in a hoarse voice. "You care so much for her when she's not even your daughter! Mommy... tell me why... Why can't you love me and care for me just like the way you did to her? Do you resent me because I was a product of your mistake in the past?"

"S-son..."

"Son? I would be delighted to hear you call me that if only I have felt your love..."

"That's enough, Marissa," said his step-father, Alejandro. "You are now catching people's attention."

They were at the hospital at that moment. After that incident where Andie almost got drown, she was rushed to the hospital.

His mother stared at him coldly before coming into Andie's hospital suite. Again, he felt a pain in his chest. Jonathan turned around abruptly and let his tears fell.

He took the fire exit and ran up to the hospital's rooftop.

From there, he had a glimpse of the beautiful city lights that seemed to dance. It was full of life, far from the one that he has. With his eyes getting blurry, he climbed on the ledge. Jonathan closed his eyes as he felt the cold wind that envelope him. But no matter how cold it was, his heart was colder from the start.

Then, he jumped.

But someone hugged Jonathan from behind that prevented him from falling. They both landed on the cemented floor.

"U-uncle?" he whispered as he recognized who his savior was.

It was Uncle Reno.

"Are you nuts? Why would you waste your precious life, Jonathan?" his uncle asked breathily.

Uncle Reno was his mother's elder brother. They were so close, and he looked up to him so much. He treated him like a real son. "Uncle..." Jonathan hugged his uncle's leg and cried.

He felt his hand lightly tapping the top of his head.

"Don't cry. You look ugly when crying."

"Let me live with you, Uncle. Adopt me, please. I can sweep your front yard every morning. I'll help you with everything, promise..."

"You're not even an orphan."

He raised his head and looked at his uncle with teary eyes.

"Mommy doesn't' love me..." Jonathan sniffed. "I know you know where I am coming from..."

Uncle Reno heaved a sigh. "Fine... I'll take you home."

Jonathan went to his uncle's house that day. He stayed there for days until days became weeks, and weeks turned into months. His mother tried to take him back, but he would not come home. No one in their family could make him come home...

"NAME anything you'd like to eat. I'll buy it all for you." Jonathan used a lower tone while talking to Andie, who was casually hovering above him.

They were inside the supermarket to buy dinner. He decided to throw a celebration now that her identity was finally revealed.

"Really?" Oreo grabbed a jar of his favorite chocolate spread and put it on their cart.

Jonathan took the jar out and put it back in its place in the rack.

"I was talking to Andie, not you," he told his cousin.

Oreo rolled his eyes on him and walked out.

"He must be mad at you," Andie said as she hovered above the cart.

"Oreo has money. He can buy whatever he wants." He pushed the cart forward. "Come on, tell me what you want so we can finish shopping and go home early."

"I don't know what I want to eat. It's been a long time since I've last eaten a meal..." she said somberly. "You decide."

Jonathan winced. "You know that I'm not a good cook."

He heard Andie laughed. It would have been great if she was alive.

"Don't worry, Jonathan. I can always possess your body and cook you a meal," she said giddily.

"Right," he agreed.

But always doesn't mean forever...

They turned to the frozen aisle and saw Oreo holding pints of ice cream. But when he noticed him, he immediately changed his way.

They both laugh at that.

"Oreo and his childish attitude," Jonathan remarked.

"It's your fault, though."

He shrugged and finished shopping for their dinner.

"So, what's your plan no?" his cousin asked on their way home. "Now that we know Momo is your "

"Can we not talk about it... for now?" Jonathan cut him off. "Let's be happy even just for today, hmm?"

A moment of silence ensued between them.

"Oreo..." Jonathan said afterwards. "Please don't tell Andie about our relation to each other."

His cousin gave him a side-way glance. "Why? What's wrong about telling her that she's your step-sister?" Jonathan's fists clenched.

"Not now. I don't want her to be confused."

"Then when do you plan to tell her?"

"When the right time comes..."

Oreo heaved a deep and long sigh. "You know what, you're just making things complicated. I don't know now if I should be happy that we finally know her identity. Ah, maybe we should've wished that she's not Andie " "Please... Oreo."

"All these years, I never saw you happy. Stop hurting yourself, will you?" his cousin said sternly.

"I'm happy now, Oreo."

He looked at him briefly. "I don't think so."

"It's just that... I'm not showing it. But I'm happy, really." Jonathan lightly punched his cousin's forearm.

"Well, let me remind you that this happiness you're feeling right now is temporary. You have to send her off soon."

Jonathan knew that. Andie could be dead, and she will depart the living realm soon. But even her days were numbered, he would make the most out of it and deal with the pain later. He still has to help her replace out why her soul was stuck with the living. She might have an unfinished business.

"Why don't you go ask your mom about her?" He turned to Oreo abruptly. "I'm sure she knows everything about Andie."

Oreo has a point. For the past years, she was with Andie. His mother was the only person who can give him answers. But how could he ask her? His mother did not disown him, but it kinda felt like that since they started not talking to each other years ago.