Between Heaven and Hell
CHAPTER NINETEEN

JONATHAN let Andie possessed his body to cook dinner, taste the food, and have fun with Oreo. But it did not take long. After a few bites and shots, she left his body. The two were at the balcony, chatting about some events in the past that she hasn't heard about, just now.

She learned that Jonathan lived his life independently after running away from home. Though Oreo's father took him in, he did his best to live his life without burdening others. She admired him for that.

After chugging down his beer, Oreo left the balcony and went inside the house. Meanwhile, Jonathan stayed and opened another can of beer. Andie went to his side to give him company. Then, he opened another can of beer and put it down near her.

"For you," he said before taking a gulp of beer.

"For me? I can't even drink this."

"Don't worry. I'm not asking you to drink. It's a food offering."

"I don't get it why the living does this. Dead is dead, you know..." She sighed.

"It's an offering to show the spirits that they have a share of whatever we have," Jonathan explained.

"Ah..."

"It's also a sign of respect," he added.

Andie stared at the canned beer. Does it mean that he has respect for her even though she only harassed him to make him say yes to their deal? That was really... touching. She appreciated his gesture because, if truth be told, she kind of did not expect Jonathan to treat her nicely.

"Jonathan..."

"Hmm?" He suddenly halted from drinking his beer and turned in her direction.

"How did you know me?"

Jonathan stared at her. She has no idea what was on his mind because he managed to keep a straight face. He put his beer down and sighed afterwards. "Through a relative," he said and fixed his gaze on the bright full moon.

It was dark on the balcony. The moonlight made this beautiful effect as it shone on him that very moment. Jonathan's face was glowing, like the billions of stars up in the sky. He was shining... Andie could not explain why she was suddenly captivated by sight. And she must admit that as the days go by, there was this change in her. She did not know that it was possible. But every time they were together, she felt something surreal. And she wanted to cherish ha feeling. "Then I guess it would be easier for us k=now to know what happened," she said after a while.

"I know that I've been a burden to you from the start. But don't worry. I can feel that we're close now to replaceing out the truth. Soon, your life will get back to normal." Andie laughed shortly to make the atmosphere a little lighter. But she did not get any response from Jonathan. He just stared at her.

"Are you worried that I might not keep my promise? You don't have to. I'll make you win the lottery." She chuckled.

Andie thought he would finally react, but he did not even smirk, just like he used to do whenever she would say that. Instead, she saw a glint of sadness in his eyes. She was suddenly taken aback because of that. "How many times do I have to tell you that I don't need money?" He managed to cover up the sadness. "Sending you off to the other side is enough to make me happy."

The happiness she was feeling a while ago vanished. Jonathan's words saddened her. She has this feeling that it will be hard for them to part ways when the time comes. They were already attached to each other. Why do I have to feel this way?

HE COULD not tell Andie what he really felt for her, and that agony made him feel like he was stuck between heaven and hell. He was with her, but he could not even touch her. All he could do was to feel her presence. And despite knowing that she did not have a physical body, Jonathan raised his hand to touch her. Just like he expected, his hand passed through that smokey image.

"Andie..." His voice was hoarse, and his throat was aching. He tried hard to hold back his tears because he knew that it was not good if she ever saw him crying.

Jonathan slowly closed his eyes and felt something cold touched his cheeks afterwards.

"Jonathan..." The sadness in her voice made his heart ache even more.

With eyes still closed, he lay down on the bean bag on the balcony. Andie's presence became stronger as she hovered above him. Then, there was this cold touch on his lips. It went down to his neck and roamed all over his body. He could not explain what was happening between him and Andie. Was it even possible? But what could he do if what his mind conceived was more powerful than the laws of the universe?

JONATHAN could not replace Andie anywhere in the house the next day. It if was not for Andie, he would not be bothered at all. But then, it was her. He feared that she would disappear just like that without knowing the truth. Maybe she was feeling awkward towards me after what happened last night...

He heaved a sigh and start preparing himself for his appointment. But not long after he started fixing himself, Oreo bust inside his room.

"Kuya, is it true?" he asked.

"Hmm?" He put wax on his hair and fixed it the way Andie used to do. She said the Oppa look suits him well.

"Auntie Marissa phoned me a while ago. She told me that you'll gonna meet her today."

"Ah, yeah..." He paused for a moment and turned to his cousin. "By the tone of your voice, it seems that you don't like the idea. May I remind you that you're the one who suggested to meet her yesterday." Oreo heaved a sigh and sat on the edge of the bed. Their eyes met through the mirror.

"I'm not against it. It's just that... I'm worried about you. Are you ready to face your mother again?"

It was his turn to sigh. "I need to do this for Andie."

"Yeah, right. If not for Momo, you won't be doing this..."

"Could you please stop calling her that?" We already know who she is. Call her by her name."

"I can't help it. Sometimes, I forget that she's your one and only Andie." Now Oreo was teasing him.

"Stop it, Oreo. If I were you, I'll focus with my feelings for that girl Altea," Jonathan countered.

IT HAS been ten years since Jonathan ran away from home. He must admit living his life that way was not easy. He still hates his mother, but at least his chest felt lighter now.

He was about to leave for school when the doorbell suddenly rang.

A familiar face greeted him when he opened the door-Andi. Nothing much changed except that her hair was shorter, and she grew taller. She still has that charming aura that would captivate any man. "H-hi..." she greeted with a smile.

"A-Andie..." he drawled.

"May I come in?"

"A-ah... sure." He opened the door wider. "Come in."

She came inside the house.

"I thought you wouldn't be able to recognize me."

Jonathan turned to her abruptly.

"That's impossible. You look exactly the same from the last time I saw you." He beckoned her to sit down. "Would you like something to drink?"

"Don't bother."

Minutes passed, and they were just staring at each other. Jonathan was the first to break the silence.

"What brought you here, Andie?"

"I was too young and innocent ten years ago..." Andie started. "But now that I'm older, I finally understand why you left home, Kuya. Forgive me if I took your mother's attention. Believe me, I didn't mean it..." Andie's voice was hoarse. It seemed that she would cry soon.

Jonathan heaved a sigh. He was also too young back then. Now that he had matured, he came to realize that he was wrong when he hated Andie. She lost her mother at a very young age. The fact that she was deprived of a mother's love made her enjoy his mother's attention. If there's someone to apologize, that would be his mother.

"You should have not bothered yourself coming here just to apologize because you did nothing wrong," he told her afterwards.

"Well, then..." Andie rose from her seat and crossed their distance. "Let me thank you for saving my life back then."

"You-"

Jonathan did not get to finish his sentence when Andie suddenly hugged him. He froze for a moment, for he did not know what to do. Then, there was this strange feeling on his chest. Never in his life, he felt that kind of warmth in his heart. Could it be because Andie's body was warm? Ah, he wanted to end it now. He was about to go crazy.

"A-Andie..." He was about to distance himself from her when he saw her shoulders shaking. "Are you crying?"

"Even if you tell me it's not my fault, I still feel sad and guilty. I felt so miserable all those years you're gone. It felt like I've ruined your life..."

He felt a pang of guilt after hearing that. He was busy focusing on his resentment all those years without even realizing that he was not the only one hurting.

Jonathan hugged her back. "Hush now..."

Andie moved away from him and dried her tears. "This is wrong. We should be celebrating."

"Celebrating?" His brows furrowed.

"Your birthday. Happy birthday, Kuya!" She flashed her sweetest smile.

Once again, his heart throbbed.

Now he was full of regret that he chose to hate her back then.

"T-thanks..." Jonathan palmed his chest. Be still, my heart...

"I feel bad that I came here empty-handed. I'm sorry." Andie scratched the side of her neck.

"It's okay."

"Ah!" Andie beamed widely. She took off her necklace, and to his amazement, she put it around his neck. "This is a temporary gift. And also, this will serve as a reminder."

"Reminder?" He touched the crescent moon pendant.

"Each time you'll see that necklace, you'll be reminded that someone is waiting for you to come home."

"I can't promise that I'll come home..."

"I'll just continue bugging you then."

JONATHAN was feeling anxious as he sat inside the coffee shop, waiting for his mom. She was already an hour late. He thought she would no longer show up, but his mother called a while ago and told him that she was near the area. He fixed his gaze on the entrance and looked at every middle-aged woman entering the establishment. Truth be told, Jonathan almost forgot how his mother looks like. The only thing he could remember about her was the pain that carved a scar in his heart.

He straightened his back as he saw a middle-aged woman entered the coffee shop. The woman was wearing a dark-rimmed-shades with large lenses that covered almost half of her face. But she just walked past her table. Jonathan slowly drew his breath. It was a false alarm. And then...

"Jonathan?"

He slowly turned in the direction of the voice. Jonathan seemed to lost his tongue. He could not speak.

"It's me, your mom... You failed to recognize me, don't you?"

He stood up and pulled a chair for her. "Have a seat."

His mother was right that he failed to recognize her. Her appearance now was too far from the last time he saw her. It looked like her age was doubled. Too much stress was evident in her face because of those dark circles that surround her

eyes.

"Mom-" "Jonathan "

Then, there was this awkward silence between them.

"You speak first," said his mom.

"I won't beat around the bush." He paused for a while. "I asked you to meet me because I want to know what happened to Andie." Jonathan could not explain his mother's facial expression the moment he asked about Andie. He heaved a sigh when she started to cry. "Here." He handed her a handkerchief.

"It was almost Christmas eve..." His mom wiped her tears and looked at him. "Andie left home. She didn't tell us where she was heading to. Alejandro couldn't stop her from leaving. Andie told us that she would come back before midnight with her surprise. But midnight passed and there was no Andie with her surprise. Instead, we received a call informing us that she ran into an accident that night... Andie's in coma for five years now. The doctor said she was brain dead but her father won't let her go.

99

Jonathan's eyes widened. Andie was alive but in a coma. That must be the reason why her soul was trapped in the living realm. There's still hope for her! "W-why didn't you tell me?"

His mother shook her head. "Jonathan..."

"We may not "

"Alejandro doesn't want you to have any connection with Andie anymore."

"W-what?"

He thought his step-father adored him somehow.

"That accident... you were there too."

His body felt numb.

"W-what do you mean? If I were there, I wouldn't be asking you what happened to Andie!"

"Andie's car collided with a motorbike. The investigation showed that you were the one driving that motorbike, Jonathan..."

He did not know what to feel now.

The accident five years ago that almost killed him was the same accident that put Andie in her current situation.

He breathed out exasperatedly.

I had enough of this fate's stupid games!