Between Heaven and Hell
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

JONATHAN opened the door to his apartment. "Come in," he said.

Andie's forehead creased the moment she stepped in. There comes that strange feeling of familiarity again. It felt like she stayed in that apartment for a long time. She turned to Jonathan, who was closing the door. "How close are we back then?" she asked out of curiosity.

He arched his brows and looked at her. She could tell that his mind was still processing at the moment.

"Why are you asking?" he asked instead of answering her question.

"It's just that... I have this feeling of familiarity in this house." Adie's eyes roamed around.

"You used to come here to bug me back then." He walked past her and headed to a door that he opened. "You can use this room while you stay here. I'll be staying in the room next to yours, so don't hesitate to knock if you need something." "Thanks."

Andie went inside the room.

The room's interior was made of blue and grey. From the looks of it, she was certain that Jonathan gave up his room for her. She closed her eyes and sniffed. The scent of his cologne was still there. Ah, even the scent was so familiar... Why do I have this feeling?

She plopped down on the edge of the bed.

Andie had no idea what would happen now. Would she see the grim reaper again? What if he was really after her? She just hoped that Jonathan could really help her. She laid her back on the soft cushion. And then, there goes that strange yet familiar feeling again. She sat up and drew a breath. Why do things get weirder and weirder?

She decided to get some fresh air, so she stepped out of the room and went to the balcony.

The sky was already filled with stars, and the moon was shining brightly directly at the balcony. Somehow, the beautiful sight brought her calmness. Andie leaned her back against the wall and closed her eyes.

"What are you doing here?" She heard Jonathan's baritone voice, but she kept her eyes close. "It's cold out here and the mosquitoes will bite you."

"Let me stay here for a while," Andie said without opening her eyes. "This is the only part of your house where I replace peace..."

"What are you talking about?"

She could feel his strong presence near her. Jonathan must have sat beside her.

"The feeling is... strange. Every part, every corner has this familiar vibe. It felt like I've lived here with you." Andie opened her eyes and turned to him. "Be honest with me, have I run away from home in the past and lived here with you?" Jonathan smiled. Andie was beyond surprise that it made her heart jump. She could almost hear her heart's loud beating and the sound of her blood rushing through her veins. Now, her curiosity was growing too fast. Who am I to you, Jonathan?

What was the secret buried deep down her subconscious?

"Why are you doing this to me, Jonathan?" she asked absent-mindedly. Andie palmed her chest when she suddenly found it hard to breathe. "Why are you making me feel this way?"

"Do you really wanna know? Are you ready?" he asked in a low tone.

Her eyes grew wider. So, it means that there is something that she did not know about.

Andie swallowed hard. "If it has something to do with me, then you should tell me."

She flinched when he suddenly cupped her cheeks. Jonathan looked at her straight in the eyes. At that very moment, she could see his sadness, his pain, and his fear. Andie has no idea what that was for. "Andie..." he drawled.

There was something in the way Jonathan utters her name. It warms her heart.

She opened her mouth to say something, but she could not say a single word when he suddenly kissed her. Her mind was telling her that it was wrong, but her heart and body would not cooperate. Her heart seemed to remember what her mind forgets. And she was so willing to let her heart lead her.

Seconds later, her mind was flooded with scenes. It was like a movie in fast forward. Some memories were just fragments, some were vivid, and some were blurry. But there was one thing those flashes of memories have in common. In each one of them, Jonathan was there.

Andie moved away from him when she felt a searing pain in her head. Her hands clenched against her hair, pulling the strands with the hope that it could ease the pain.

"Are you all right?" Jonathan asked anxiously and grasped her arms.

She did not know what to say. She felt dizzy as the memories continued to flow, ramming her like a river.

"Andie!" Jonathan shook her body hard.

"J-Jonathan..." she said breathily.

Her vision became blurry, and soon she passed out.

HE DID not leave Andie's side until she hasn't regained consciousness. Call him someone who was overacting, but he was anxiously listening to her breathing.

"How is she?" Oreo asked upon entering the room.

His cousin just came home from driving the doctor who checked on Andie back to the hospital.

"She's not waking up..." Jonathan heaved a sigh.

The doctor said she was in a state of shock.

"Kuya, what happened to Mo-I mean Andie that she passed out?"

"She... suddenly suffered from a severe headache. I guess, her memories are slowly coming back."

"What did you do, Kuya?" Oreo gave him an accusing look.

"What?" He arched a brow.

"Well, it seems to me that something triggered her."

Jonathan looked away. "I... kissed her."

His cousin scoffed and shook his head.

"I can't believe you," he said before going out of the room.

Jonathan sat on the side of the bed. He held Andie's hand and gently squeezed it. It hurts knowing that once again, she could not remember him. But it would hurt him even more, to see her suffer.

"If we're not really destined to be together in this lifetime, I will accept that. I will just imagine that somewhere, in a parallel universe, there was you and me with a happy ending..." Tears welled his eyes as he stared at Andie. "I guess I had to let you go... for good." He slowly freed her hand.

Jonathan was about to leave her side when he saw Andie opened her eyes.

"Jonathan..."

He cupped her cheek. "I'm glad you're awake now, Andie..."

"What happened?"

He helped her to sit up.

"You passed out after suffering from a severe headache. D-did you remember something?" Jonathan's heart was beating like crazy out of nervousness. He could not help but ask. She shook her head. "Nothing."

He let out a long sigh.

"Don't force yourself to remember, Andie." Jonathan was the one who triggered her, yet he has the audacity to tell her that.

Andie stared at him.

"I had a dream..." she said afterwards. "I know it's just a dream, but it felt so real. As if it really happened."

"It happens sometimes." He fixed the blanket. "Don't stress yourself. Dreams are mostly manifestations of our fears and desires."

Jonathan was about to stand up when Andie tugged the hem of his shirt.

"Don't go... Stay with me..."

"A-Andie..."

"I don't know why, but when you're with me I feel so fine." She moved to the other side of the bed.

"Are you sure?" He swallowed hard.

"Hm..."

"You're asking me to sleep with you."

"Well, I'm asking you to literally sleep with me."

Jonathan could not help but smile when he saw her blushed.

"I know." Instead of lying down beside her, he sat on the couch. "So, tell me about this dream of yours."

"Too many to tell."

"Come on... you can choose one."

"We're inside this room. it looked like motel room. You were lying on the bed and I was hovering above you." Andie laughed. "Weird, isn't it? It seemed that I have this superpower." Jonathan remained silent while she continued.

"But then, as you said a while ago... it's just a dream."

The door swung open, and Oreo came in with a wide smile plastered on his face.

"What?" It annoyed him that he bust in just like that, ruining his moment with Andie.

"Your guesting will be aired after the commercial," his cousin informed him.

"Guesting?" asked Andie.

"The show asked Kuya Jonathan to appear on their episode where he had to investigate if there's a paranormal activity in this particular house."

Andie jumped out of bed and followed his cousin to the living room. Of course, Jonathan had nothing to do but to follow them.

The show was already airing when he arrived. He sat beside Andie, who was enthralled with the show.

"What the" his cousin snapped after the end of the episode.

Jonathan just laughed at his reaction. Of course, Oreo would react like that because the show's host clearly opposed his statement and made him look like he was a fraudster.

"Wait. What?" Andie turned to her with a look of disbelief. "Are you a fraud?"

"This isn't right, Kuya! It looked like they made fun of you. So, are they saying that we're fraudsters? Look, because of that show Mo-Andie's doubting you too!" Oreo snapped once again.

"What can we do?" He shrugged. "It's not even Halloween season. Maybe that's why the host was like that. You know, they need something that could attract viewers. After all, TV shows are all about ratings." "Let's sue them!"

Jonathan waved his hand dismissively. "It's just a waste of time, Oreo. Come on!"

"But this incident would give our org negative-are you even listening to me?"

"No."

Jonathan was just staring at Andie. He did not care what other people would think of him because all the matter is Andie.

"Do you believe them?" he asked her after a while.

She did not answer. Her gaze kept shifting between him and Oreo.

"You may leave this house if you don't believe in me. I'm not forcing you, though." Jonathan rose from his seat.

"I believe in you..." Andie said as she looked at him intently.

"Why?"

"Because you're the only person I could trust. Please let me stay..."

There goes her honesty again... Ah, it always made him soft.

Jonathan cupped her cheek.

"You can stay as long as you want."

"Thank you." Andi stood up.

He gasped when she suddenly kissed his cheek and hugged him. It created havoc on his system, and he did not know how to calm down.

"Ah, I think we should prepare dinner," said Oreo.

Andie moved away from him and turned to his cousin.

"Should I cook?"

"That sounds great!"

Jonathan plopped down on the sofa when the two went to the kitchen.