Between Heaven and Hell
CHAPTER TWENTY

HE BEGGED his mom to let him see Andie, so she took him to the hospital. Alejandro could not do anything about it because he was already bedridden. In the third year of Andi's confinement, his step-father had a stroke. Now, that explains his mother's current state. She was taking care of two sick people at the same time.

Despite what happened between them in the past, Jonathan could not help but feel empathy for his mom. Perhaps he was not a cold-hearted creature after all.

"Come in," his mom said as she opened the door wider.

The moment Jonathan saw Andie lying on the hospital bed, he felt that heaviness in his chest. It pained him so much, he wished it was him.

"The doctor's said she was only breathing through the life support." His mom caressed Andie's head. "They keep on telling us that we can choose to give up on her at this point. But Alejandro won't give up on his daughter. Not when she moved her fingers after five years of being in coma. They say it was just reflexes. But Alejandro and I have high hopes because we know that she's a fighter. So, we continue to pray that she'll wake up soon..."

"She will..." His voice trailed off. Jonathan was feeling hopeful too that Andie would wake up soon.

It was such a relief that she was not dead yet. However, there was this sadness buried deep in his heart. Once Andie wakes up, they could no longer be together.

He strode to the side of Andie's bed to get a closer look at her. Andie looked like a different person now that her body was thin. Her eyes were deep, her skin was dry, and her hair grew long.

With shaky hands, Jonathan cupped her hand. The tears he was suppressing when he got inside the room started to roll down on his cheeks.

"I-I'm sorry, Andie... I didn't know..." he cried.

If only he could turn back time...

I promise you, Andie... I will do everything for you...

Now, Jonathan has to replace a way how she could return to her body.

A SMILE curved on Jonathan's lips when he saw Andie sitting on the park bench inside the campus. Her arms were folded across her chest as her head slumped. He ran towards the bench and sat beside her. Jonathan carefully rested Andie's head on his shoulder. But as soon as it landed, she woke up and straightened her back.

"Stay still," Jonathan said, pulling her head back to his shoulder.

"What took you so long?" she complained.

"I had to file for readmission since I didn't file a leave of absence when I stopped last semester. And the queue to the cashier was long, as usual. Didn't I tell you not to come with me?"

"I just thought you need some moral support."

Jonathan laughed, and her head slipped when his shoulders moved.

"Kuya..." she groaned.

"I'm not your brother." He cleared his throat.

She straightened her back and scowled at him.

"We may not be blood related, but you're way older than me." Andie playfully punched his forearm.

"Yeah. Yeah." Jonathan mimicked her voice.

Andie checked her wristwatch.

"It's past twelve now. Ah, you should treat me to lunch."

She rose from her seat and walked in the direction of the parking. When he did not follow her, she came back and pulled him up.

"Don't be a baby," she said in a high-pitched tone.

Jonathan thought after showing up to greet him a happy birthday, he would not see Andie again. But he was wrong. It was just the start because, after that day, they met again and again. She would show up to his uncle's house, to the coffee shop where he works, and there were times when they went out together to unwind. Andie would call or text him whenever she has spare time, just to bug him to come home. However, he has no plan of coming back.

He no longer wants to live on the same roof with Andie and be his brother because he started seeing her in a different light now. And Jonathan was well aware of how tough his fight would be.

"So. Where will you take me for lunch?" Andie asked as they walked to the parking lot.

"There's this eatery I used to eat just across the street." He suppressed his laugh when he saw Andie rolled her eyes. "What?"

"How will you get a girlfriend if you're this cheap?" she said with pouted lips.

"Well, if you're my girlfriend of course I'd take you somewhere fancy." Andie's eyes grew wider. And it was too late for Jonathan to take back what he said. "But you're not my girlfriend, so bear with it," he added, hoping that he could still cover it up.

JONATHAN told Andie that he has an important appointment that day and he wished to go alone. It has been half a day since he left, and he still hasn't come. She has no idea what was taking him so long. Soon, he got bored, so she decided to get out of the house. She went to the university and enjoyed herself watching everyone at the campus park. Then suddenly, she thought of something.

Would she be able to feel something once she crossed the afterlife? Would she still know her name or remember everyone she knew? Andie could not explain why she suddenly got scared with the thought that she might forget about Jonathan.

Ah, I must make the most out of my remaining days with him.

Andie was still in the middle of reverie when a man in a black suit and fedora hat caught her attention. He blended so well with a group of students passing by. But she knew better. "Grimmy!" she called.

The grim reaper disappeared and appeared beside her.

Jonathan was not on the campus at that moment, so there was nothing to worry about.

"How long has it been since we last saw each other?" She glanced at him.

"Did you miss me?" Grimmy asked nonchalantly.

"Not really. I'm quite busy these days. Anyway, are you here for work?"

"Nope, just hanging around. And oh, checking what your pet would leave behind once he dies."

Andie did not have a physical body, but he made his blood boil.

"Could you please stop saying that?" she said, feeling annoyed.

"Your wish is my command, Miss Wandering Soul." He smirked.

"Stop calling me that. I have a name now."

"Ah, right. He named you Momo."

"For your information, Mr. Grim Reaper, my name is Andrea Cornejo. Since we've known each other for years, you may call me Andie," she said proudly. "Your memories are back?" There was a hint of surprise in his voice.

"Nope, but Jonathan was able to recognize me."

"You poor little thing..." Grimmy heaved a sigh.

"Don't worry about me. Now that Jonathan knows who I am, everything will go smoothly."

"I hope so."

"But you can still be of help..." He turned to her slowly. "Maybe you can delay Jonathan's death."

"I'm not in the position to decide about it. Tell his loved ones to pray for him, maybe the Boss would reconsider."

"So, that's the key for a long life?"

"I said maybe."

She screamed right in front of his face out of frustration. "You're making fun of me, aren't you?"

"Only God has the power to interfere with life and death. You know... that thing people call a miracle."

"What's His plan for me then? He kinda makes me feel like I'm an outcast..."

It was okay for Andie if she did not have a place in heaven. But she should at least cross over to the afterlife before she turned into something bad. "Do you really think you're dead?"

"What do you mean by that?" she asked, puzzled.

"Oopsie!"

The grim reaper suddenly disappeared, and she was left thinking about what he said. Could it be that he gave her a hint?

Andie did not waste her time and went back home. But still, there was no Jonathan. She decided to check on him at the headquarters but at a safe distance. This time, she was able to replace Jonathan. But she could not approach him yet because he was still inside the headquarters premises. And just when he was about to leave, a woman approached him. Andie knew her, it was Altea, the woman his cousin brought home last time.

The next thing she knew, Jonathan was getting inside the car.

She followed the car and ended up at a police station. The two had a conversation before going in. From what she heard, Oreo's life was in danger.

Andie had to set aside her agenda for now.

JONATHAN felt drained after what happened last night. Oreo and Altea ran into trouble that almost cost their lives. He had to look after them as they were rushed to the hospital after the incident. It was already past in the afternoon of the next day when he was able to go home.

Andie rushed towards him the moment he opened the door. He sighed as he remembered that he did not inform her what happened. He felt bad for her. If only she could use a phone.

"How's Oreo?"

He was surprised that he was asking about his cousin. That only meant that she was aware of last night's incident.

"How did you know?"

"I was looking for you, so I went to the headquarters and saw you talking to Altea. I was with you in the police station, but I was keeping a safe distance."

"Why didn't you show yourself to me?" Jonathan plopped down on the sofa. He must be too stressed out, he was not able to feel her presence.

"It's okay. I understand."

"Thanks for understanding..."

He lay down on the sofa to get some sleep before going back to the hospital. But after a couple of seconds, since he closed his eyes, he had to open them again because he felt Andie staring at him intently. It gave him an eerie feeling. "Why?"

"Eh?"

"Why are you staring at he like that? Do you have something to say?" He sat up.

"I... I saw the grim reaper yesterday..."

"W-what happened?" Jonathan suddenly felt anxious. "Does it have something to do with... escorting you to the afterlife?"

No, not yet!

He was looking for a way to bring her back to her body! Jonathan still hasn't make-up to Andie.

"No. He... gave me a hint."

"H-hint?" His forehead creased.

"There's a possibility that I'm still alive, Jonathan." She sounded excited and hopeful.

He shut his eyes for a while and took a deep breath. Of course, Andie ought to know the truth.

"Yes, Andie... you're not dead yet. Your body's in a coma."

"Y-you know? When? Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

He could tell that she was mad. The room temperature became cooler.

"I just learned about it yesterday, but I couldn't tell you sooner because of what happened to Oreo. I'm sorry..." he explained. But Jonathan did not get any response from her. "Andie..."

"Do you think my body could survive, or our efforts will go to waste?"

The sadness in her voice pained him even more. And it was frustrating that he could not even hug Andie to make her feel okay.

"Don't lose hope. I will do my best to help you return to your body. Everything will be okay, Andie. Just put your trust in me..."

"I believe in you—" Andie was not able to finish her sentence because he suddenly disappeared in front of him.

"Andie!" he screamed.

Worry and fear crept all throughout his system. It was the first time it happened.

He was about to call Oreo when his phone rang. His heart throbbed upon seeing the name on the caller ID his mother.

"Jonathan, please got to Andie. I got a call from the hospital and the nurse said she's having a seizure right now." He heard the ambulance in the background. "Alejandro heard about it and had a heart attack-❞ Shit!

Jonathan did not finish his mother's explanation. He stormed out of the house to go to the hospital.

Hold on, Andie... Hold on...