Between Heaven and Hell
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

ANDIE did not know how she would face Jonathan the next day. Last night as she lay down on the bed, she realized that she crossed the line when she kissed his cheek and hugged him. "It wasn't intentional," she told herself as she tied her hair into a messy bun. "My body acted involuntarily."

She shook her head afterwards. Would he believe that kind of alibi? For sure, no.

"But why am I so scared?"

Yes, she kissed Jonathan on the cheek. That was harmless. Siblings do that as a sign of affection. Not because they were step-siblings, it was a crime to kiss him on his cheek.

Andie flinched when she heard a knock on the door. Seconds later, it swung open, and Jonathan's head emerged.

"Breakfast is ready," he said.

"Coming."

She went out of the room and followed him.

"Jonathan..." she called before they even got to the kitchen.

He turned to face her. "What is it?"

She heaved a sigh.

"I'm quite confused with my feelings right now." Andie looked at him straight in the eyes. "I have this strange feeling that there's something more..."

Her eyes caught his fists clenched.

"I don't get it," Jonathan said in a low tone.

"You're hiding something from me, don't you?"

"I will tell you everything when the right time"

"And when is that, Jonathan? Her voice raised a little. "You know what, I hate it when people say when the right time comes. Seriously, when is the right time? Is it when you had no choice or when you've come to regret " "When you're ready."

She raised a brow. "I'm always ready to hear the truth."

"You may think you're ready, but your mind isn't, Andie. Do you really think you could process everything?" He shook his head. "If it was that easy you wouldn't ask for my help after you saw that grim reaper."

Andie felt her body shivered when she was reminded of the grim reaper. The fear embraced her once again.

"I don't want to see someone die in front of me..."

Jonathan held her hand.

"No one can stop death, Andie. You should not be afraid of the grim reaper as long as he's not coming for you." "But-"

The food will get cold. Come on."

Oreo was already enjoying his coffee when they arrived at the kitchen.

"Good morning." He waved a hand at her.

She nodded and took a seat.

Jonathan started serving him food. It looked a bit odd, but she appreciated that he made an effort.

"Please bear with my cousin's cooking skills," Oreo said in between his laugh.

She turned her gaze at Jonathan. He looks at his cousin with eyes wide open. Andie shook her head and started eating. It was okay at first bite, but the more she eats, it gets saltier. She could not help but wince. Perhaps if she stayed with Jonathan longer and let him cook, she would suffer from kidney failure.

"Are you okay?" Oreo asked when he noticed her.

"It's kinda salty." She coughed and spit out a grain of rock salt.

"Kuya, you shouldn't use rock salt when you're cooking fried rice."

"It's your fault because you didn't shop yesterday," Jonathan countered. "The retail stores here only sell rock salt."

He poured water into her glass that she drank immediately.

"This is why I miss your cooking Momo." Oreo turned to her with his thumbs up. "It's so delicious."

"Oreo," Jonathan said in a stern tone.

Momo. That name again. She could still remember how her body reacted when Jonathan called her by that name. And once again, she felt that strange feeling on her chest. "Am I Momo?"

A deafening silence ensued between them. Does it mean yes?

She turned to Oreo. He looked hesitant to answer her question. And when he turned to Jonathan, she saw this grim look on his face.

"Why can't you answer me?" she snapped.

Jonathan pressed his lips together and chose to remain silent.

Andie stood up and left. She locked herself inside the room and curled to the bed with a heavy heart. She could not understand why Jonathan would hide things she was supposed to know. After all, she serves to know everything, especially if it has something to do with her.

She wiped her cheeks when she felt them wet with tears.

"I hate crying..."

And then, someone banged the door.

"Andie..." Jonathan called.

She left the bed and stood in front of the door, but she did not open it. She decided to put a wall between them.

"What?"

"Let's talk, please..."

"Talk and then what, Jonathan?" She sighed." If you'd talk to me and feed me with your "

The door swung opened. Of course, there was nothing to be amazed at. Jonathan has the key.

"There's a way for you to remember," he said as he looked at her intently.

"R-really? How?"

The doctor said her memories may or may not come back. They always tell her that amnesia has no cure. And now, here comes Jonathan with a remedy. Andie chose to believe in him. "Hypnosis..." said Oreo, who was a few feet away from the room.

"How can you be so sure that it will work?"

"The success rate isn't a hundred percent. It always depends on the person. But when we did it to Altea, it worked," Jonathan told her.

"She had amnesia?"

"Nope. She retrieved the memories of her past life."

Her forehead creased.

"I know it's not easy for you to understand everything. But this is our world, Andie." Jonathan held her hand. "And I'm afraid to tell you that... this could be your world too." "What do you mean?"

"We'll tell you everything once we're through with the hypnosis."

TWO hours had passed since Andie fell into a trance state, and she was still calmly lying on the bed.

"She's not done yet?" Oreo asked when he came inside the room.

"It must have been a long journey." He clasped his hands and propped them on his forehead.

"Do you think she'll remember those times when she was a wandering soul?"

That was the time he treasured the most because they were happy together. He wanted those memories back. But then it was up to Andie if she would be able to remember that. Jonathan knew that part was buried. He just wished that it could be possible to recall those memories they shared back then.

"I want her to remember everything..."

"Anyway, shall we end the trance?" his cousin asked.

"I'll take care of it."

"Okay." Oreo left the room.

He sat down on the side of the bed and stared at Andie. His heart ached even more.

Once her memories are back, she would treat him like a brother again. Jonathan had to bury his feelings once again. He cupped her cheeks. That was when she noticed that it was wet with tears. Andie was crying.

"Andie..." He snapped his fingers near her ear to wake her from the trance. But her eyes remained closed. "Andie, wake up now."

Jonathan tapped her cheeks and shook her body. He had to wake her up no matter what.

Soon, Andie gasped for air and sat up.

"Are you okay?" She turned to him. Tears continued to roll down her cheeks. "Don't cry. Everything will be fine."

His thumbs brushed her tears away.

Andie buried her face on his chest and hugged him.

"H-hey..."

Jonathan was having second thoughts if he would hug her back. In the end, he did what his heart desires.

"I remember everything now," she said in between her sobs.

He caressed her back to calm her.

"I'm glad to hear that..."

Andie distanced herself from him. They stared at each other for a while before she spoke again.

"I-I need to check on something..." she said without breaking eye contact.

"Check on what?"

He did not get any response from her. Instead, she crossed their little distance and kissed him on the lips.

Jonathan was stunned for a moment. His mind failed to process what was happening. Then, his lips moved as if they have a life of their own. He kissed her back as his arms snaked around her waist.

He was feeling elated, and there is no way he would deny it. Andie was definitely his piece of heaven on Earth...

"Kuya-oh, shit! I'm sorry!"

Jonathan groaned as he moved away from Andie.

"Goddamn it, Oreo..." he mumbled.

His cousin shut the door. He swore he will make him pay for interrupting their moment.

Andie stared at him and laughed.

"Why did you do that?"

"I replace it cute when you blush." She cupped his cheeks and kissed him again. This time it was quick.

He held her hands. "Why did you kiss me, Andie?"

"You don't know why?"

He saw a glint of sadness crossed her eyes.

“I—"

"I love you, Jonathan..." Andie confessed.

His eyes grew wider in shock. "A-Andie..."

"I can't remember well when it started. Perhaps when you saved my life back then. I know it may sound ridiculous because we were both young then. But let's just say that, the feeling grew when we get old. It's just sad that I had to keep it because well... we're step-siblings."

"Y-your memories are back..."

"Yes. And now that they're back, I will no longer hold back for what I feel for you."

Jonathan cried. He did not expect that it would turn out that way. All those times, he thought it was just him.

He buried his face on her chest and cried his heart out. Jonathan did not care if crying would make him less of a man. He needed that. Then, he felt Andie's arms embraced him.

"I love you with all my heart and soul, Jonathan. Let's stop holding back now. Let's make the most out of it, hmm?" She planted a kiss on his temple.

He hugged her tight

"Tell me this isn't a dream..."

Andie patted his back and laughed. "This is real."

OREO cleared his throat as he shifted his gaze to her. They were now in the kitchen enjoying a warm cup of coffee when he arrived.

"So, you successfully retrieved your memories," he said and sat on the chair across her.

Jonathan, who was sitting on her right, put his arms around her shoulders and smiled proudly. "Yes. She remembers everything. Even those memories when she was Momo."

"You two looks happy." Oreo pulled his cousin's cup and drank the remaining coffee.

"Yeah." She turned to Jonathan with a wide smile.

"Good for you." Oreo returned Jonathan's cup that was now empty.

Andie tapped her fingers on the table.

"Now, tell me why I'm seeing the grim reaper? Does it mean that I'm about to die or it's something else?"

"You almost crossed over to the afterlife, Andie. When Kuya Jonathan almost died back then, he acquired the ability to see ghosts. I think, in your case you're able to see the grim reaper," Oreo explained. "That's creepy. I'm going to witness someone's death for the rest of my life."

"Not really. It would only happen if someone close to you dies," said Jonathan.

"I-I saw the grim reaper at our place last time. D-does it mean that someone will die?" Andie has a hunch that the grim reaper was after her dad. "I-is there a way to stop him?"

"We can't interfere with someone's life and death," Oreo said firmly.

"Dad..." she started crying.

HE FOUND Andie on the balcony that night. She was sitting on the ledge quietly as she stared at the sky filled with stars. Jonathan sauntered towards her and hugged her from behind. "It's already past eleven in the evening and you're still here." He buried his nose in her hair and inhaled its fruity scent.

"I couldn't sleep," Andie said as she turned to face him. "Why don't you join me in bed?"

His mouth dropped open. Andie's boldness never failed to bring havoc to his senses. Jonathan swallowed hard when his arms wrapped around his nape.

"Let's go to bed then," he drawled.

Jonathan carried her to his room and carefully lay her down on the bed. And Andie was so swift, she pulled his head for a kiss.

It was gentle at first until it became deep and passionate.

"A-Andie..." Jonathan said breathily when he moved away from her.

He did not get any response from her. Instead, she sat up and started undressing him. Jonathan suppressed his laugh because he did not want to embarrass her. He caught her hands. "Relax. Let's take this slow."

Andie heaved a sigh and nodded afterwards.

AFTER receiving a call from her stepmom, informing her that her dad was in bad condition, Andie rushed to the hospital. She knew that time will come, but she was not ready yet. Things were starting to fall into place. She was hoping that she could spend more time with her father.

She was on her way to the ICU when she saw a familiar man dressed in a black suit in the corridor, walking a little ahead of her.

"Hey!" She called.

He turned around to face her.

"It seems that you're a little brave to see me now," said the grim reaper.

"You're here for my father, right?"

He cocked his head to the side. "Yes."

"Then, can you do me a favor, Grimmy?"

The grim reaper looked surprised.

"I guess your memories is back." Andie nodded slowly. "I don't usually do favors, but because it's you and you remembered me, then maybe I can grant you one."

"Please don't make it hard for my dad," she begged. "I don't want to see him suffer even more."

"You're such a caring person," the grim reaper remarked. "Then, you should hurry now so you can still bid your goodbye."

"Thank you," she mouthed.

Andie ran to see her father for the last time.