NANG makatakas ang dalaga sa kanyang magulang, dumiretso siya sa balak sana nilang puntahan ng kaibigang multo. Hindi pa man siya nakaka-kalahati sa hagdang tinatahak nang makaramdam siya ng matinding pagod kaya napagdesisyunan niyang humito at maupo saglit. 

Fuck, sana hindi na ako tumuloy.

Gemini panted hard as she held her chest. She can feel her heart beating fast due to her exhaustion. 

"Damn, talaga nga namang nakakapagod na makipag-rambulan sa isang bruha." Maarte niyang hindi ang iilang hibla ng buhok na humaharang sa kanyang mukha. Napangiwi siya nang hindi sinasadyang masagi niya ang kanyang pisngi kaya nakaramdam siya ng kaunting kirot.

"Shit, nakalmot pa nga." She hissed. "My gosh, that bitch just ruined my gorgeous face! Goddammit!" She stomped her feet as she irritatedly rubbed her hands on her lap.

Gemini heaved a sigh then fixed herself. Inayos niya ang kanyang magulong buhok bago sinubukang tumayo na mayroong alalay na saklay.

Pesteng buhay talaga! Malas na nga sa kapatid, malas pa sa magulang. Mabuti na lang sinuwerte pa rin ako kahit papaano sa magandang mukha. 

Nang marating ni Gemini ang tapat ng pintuan palabas sa rooftop ay kaagad niya itong binuksan. Bumungad sa kanya ang madilim na kalangitan na puno ng bituin, malakas na ihip ng hangin, at mga building na puno ng ilaw. 

Hindi maikakaila ng dalaga na namamangha siya sa kanyang nakikita. Her mouth parted as she gasped. Her eyes glistened with amusement and excitement. But eventually vanished when she heard a familiar voice beside her. 

"Like what you are seeing?" 

Dahan-dahang inilingon ng dalaga ang kanyang ulo sa kanyang katabi. Ang kanyang pagkamangha ay kaagad na napalitan ng masungit na awra.

"Me? Like this view?" Gemini scoffed.

"'Wag mo na ngang ikaila. Halata na kaya masyado sa mukha mo ang pagkamangha." Turan ng binata.

Gemini glared at him. "Nag-deny ba ako, ha?" Singhal niya. "Minsan talaga ang tanga mo! Kita nang hindi pa ako tapos magsalita bigla-bigla kang sumisingit!" She hissed at Tarius.

Tarius raised both of his hands as a sign of surrender. "Woah, woah, easy lang! Masyado kang highblood!" Natatawang aniya. "Kumalma ka kaya muna."

"Paano ako kakalma kung mukha mo pa lang nakaka-highblood na?" Masungit naman na tugon ng dalaga.

"Aray ha, ang sakit mo 'te." Umakto naman ang binata na niyakap ang sarili na animo'y nasasaktan. "Parang wala naman tayong pinagsamahan niyan!" Reklamo pa niya.

"Wala naman talag. Bakit? Sino ka nga ba?" Asar ni Gemini.

"Ay…napakabastos." Bumagsak ang balikat ni Tarius at napalitan ang masaya nitong ngiti ng isang simangot. "Fake friend ka! Traydor!"

"Ang arte mo! Tumigil ka na nga d'yan!" Saway nang dalaga at umamba sanang hahakbang nang ilahad ni tarius ang kanyang kamay.

Tumaas ang kilay nang dalaga. "Ano na naman 'yang kalokohan na 'yan?" 

"Ha?" Takhang tanong ni Tarius. "Tutulungan lang kita maglakad." Aniya na puno ng senseridad.

"Minsan nakakabwisit na rin 'yang katangahan mo, Tarius." Gemini stated, starting to lose her patience with tarius. "How can you help when you can't even touch me?!" Her voice thundered.

Mabilis namang binawi ni Tarius ang kamay at nakangiwing sumagot. "Ay, oo nga pala…sabi ko nga, eh."

Gemini heaved a sigh and rolled her eyes before taking a step forward. Mayroon siyang nakitang isang maliit at lumang upuan, nilapitan niya iyon at napangiwi.

Nagdadalawang isip ang dalaga kung siya ba ay uupo o tatayo na lamang. 

I can't sit here! It looks old, stinky, fragile, and dirty!

"Hoy, ano pang ginagawa mo d'yan?" Narinig niya ang boses ni Tarius sa kanyang likod. Hindi niya ito nilingon o sinagot, nanatili lamang na nakatitig ang kanyang mga mata sa upuang luma.

Should I…sit here?

Mariing napapikit ang dalaga at mahigpit na humawak sa kanyang saklay. 

I had to endure this disgusting chair kesa naman mangalay ako!

"Hoy, babae! Ano pa bang tinatayo-tayo mo d'yan? Ano? Nagtititigan pa ba kayo ng upuan? Aba, hanep 'yan!" Tarius shouted.

"Pwede ba?! Manahi—" napatigil sa pagsasalita ang dalaga nang humarap siya sa pwesto ni Tarius. 

She saw Tarius, sitting on a cold edge of the building. Panic attacked Gemini.

"H-Hey, get down there! It's dangerous!" She stuttered. Mabilis siyang naglakad papalapit sa binata.

Tarius looked at her flatly as he sighed loudly. "It's fine…kahit naman malaglag akod ito hindi na rin naman ako mamamatay." He spoke.

Natigil naman si Gemini nang mapagtanto niya iyon.

Oo mga pala…isa na nga pala siyang multo.

Gemini held her chest when she felt something inside her ache.

Is it my heart?

Gemini bit her lower lip.

Am I…in love?

Gemini's heart raced as she sat into the edge of the building, her gaze darting anxiously across the scenery. 

It's not impossible but…am I really in love? 

She had always heard about love, read about it in novels and watched it unfold in movies, but she had never experienced it herself. Today, however, something was different. A sense of anticipation tingled in the air, as if fate itself had conspired to bring her to this very place.

As Gemini glanced around, her eyes locked with a pair of captivating ash gray orbs. It was as if time stood still for a moment, and she found herself drawn to Tarius. There was an air of mystery surrounding him, an aura of confidence mixed with vulnerability that intrigued her beyond words.

Curiosity got the better of Gemini, and with a nervous smile, she approached him and asked, "Tarius, how…h-how did you…die?"

Tarius looked up, his eyes widening slightly in surprise because of her question. 

Gemini cleared her throat. "I-I mean…you don't have to—" She was cut off by him.

She thought that Tarius wasn't going to answer her question. To her delight, he answered her with a small fake smile.

"To be honest…I don't know." Mahinang saad ni Tarius.

"What do you mean you don't know?" Takhang tanong ng dalaga.

"I don't know means hindi ko alam." Tarius jokes.

Gemini groaned. "Tangina mo, kinakausap ka ng maayos, eh." 

Tarius laughed at her then say, "Ito naman, asar agad. Biro lang." Sumeryoso ulit ang kanyang mukha. "Pero hindi ko rin talaga alam kung paano ako namatay, eh. Basta pagmulat ko lang ng mga mata ko, isa na akong multo. Ni hindi ko rin alam kung anong pangalan ko noon. Kung hindi ko lang narinig sa nurse, siguro wala akong pangalan ngayon."

"What? Is that even possible? Can ghosts lose their memories?" Hindi makapaniwalang komento ng dalaga.

"Malamang! Ito oh, kaharap mo na ang pruweba!" He pointed to himself.

Gemini glared at him but eventually asked. "How about the cause of your death? Nalaman mo ba?"

"Hm, ang narinig ko noon sa nurse ay cancer. Stage 4, I died because of brain cancer, stage 4." Mahinang ani ng binata.

"Sorry," Gemini whispered. "How about your body? Nakita mo ba?" 

"Oo…nang pagdilat ko ng mga mata ko noon, morgue ang sumalubong sa akin tapos…katabi ko ang walang buhay kong katawan." Mahinang tugon niya.

As they sat there, talking and sharing stories, Gemini felt a deep connection forming, an invisible thread weaving itself between their hearts. 

In that moment, she began to understand what love truly meant. It was not just the fluttering of butterflies or the intoxication of infatuation, but something more profound. Love was a force that transcended physical attraction, a bond that connected souls on a level beyond comprehension.

She doesn't exactly know what love is but she read a quote from somewhere.

In the realm of love, a person finds themselves immersed in a transformative journey. They navigate the intricate dance of emotions, exploring the depths of their heart while entwined with another's soul.

As the tendrils of affection begin to entangle their being, their gaze takes on a shimmering quality. Their eyes reflect a newfound radiance, with each glance seemingly filled with an ethereal glow. The world around them becomes a vivid canvas, painted in the hues of love, as they perceive even the simplest of things through a romantic lens.

In the presence of them, their demeanor undergoes a profound metamorphosis. The once confident and composed individual unravels, revealing a vulnerable heart laid bare. Their words are delicately chosen, imbued with a tenderness and sincerity that flows effortlessly from their lips. Each syllable spoken holds weight, for they understand the power of communication in building a bridge between two souls.

Love whispers into their ears, urging them to shed their inhibitions and embrace vulnerability. They find solace in opening up, in trusting their beloved with their deepest fears and desires. A safe haven is forged within the confines of their relationship, a sanctuary where both can expose their true selves without judgment or reservation.

In these moments, they stand at the crossroads of vulnerability and strength, weaving through the labyrinth of compromise and understanding. They learn the art of compromise, seeking common ground amidst the storms that life throws their way.

In the throes of life, they surrender to the beautiful chaos of emotions, embracing both joy and vulnerability with open arms. They find solace in each other's company, for it is within that refuge they discover the true essence of their own being. 

As minutes turned into hours, Gemini discovered the beauty of love through shared laughter and heartfelt conversations. With each passing moment, their connection deepened, as if their souls were entwined in an eternal dance. Comfort became the bedrock of their existence, a sanctuary where they could both find solace and strength.

Because of Tarius, Gemini learned to appreciate the imperfections that made them feel human, to embrace vulnerability, and to understand the profound impact one person could have on another. He taught her patience, compassion, and the power of forgiveness. It pushed her to grow, to confront her fears, and to become the best version of herself.

From this moment, Gemini discovered that life was not just about love, but the journey itself. It was about the shared experiences, the laughter, and the tears. It was about the simple moments of everyday life, the stolen glances, and the comfort of a warm embrace. Life was both a gentle caress and a wild adventure, an ever-changing landscape that constantly surprised and delighted.

As Gemini reflected on her journey of discovering the purpose of life, she realized that it was not something to be found or possessed, but rather a state of being. 

With a newfound appreciation for life and love, Gemini embraced the unknown, knowing that love and life was not always easy, but it was always worth it. Life was the ultimate gift, the most powerful force in the universe. And as she looked into the eyes of the ghost who had become her companion, she knew that she had found something extraordinary—a love that would stand the test of time and ignite her soul for eternity.

After their silly, funny, and heart warming conversation, both fell into an intense silence.

"By the way, you've mentioned earlier that your parents died because of an accident…may I know their names?" Gemini asked, being hopeful that Tarius would answer.

"Their names are…Sandra and Alejandro Romano."