Today was Saturday so Gemini planned to go out and have a good coffee to start her bad morning. It's been two days since she came to her friends' houses. Hanggang ngayon ay masakit pa rin para sa kanya na malamang umalis ang mga kaibigan niya. 

I felt like I was abandoned by my sisters…

Gemini orders a drink for her then tries to find a comfortable chair to sit on. And luckily, she found one. Gemini sits alone at a table in a cozy coffee shop. She wears a fashionable outfit and has an unmistakable air of confidence, but her eyes betray a sense of sadness. 

Gemini fished her phone inside her Gucci bag. And for the nth time, she tried calling and texting her Cawie and Shanaz's phones but still, they didn't answer. 

Gemini sighed in defeat. She checked her phone's gallery, and there, she saw tons of photos and videos of her friends. Gemini smiled sadly as she played a video of her friends when she was in the hospital. 

"Hi guys, welcome to our vlog!" Natatawang bungad ni Cawie sa video. 

Biglang sumulpot si Shanaz sa video. "And for today's video, ipapakita namin sa inyo kung paano magalit ang isang dragon." She giggled. 

Gemini can see herself throwing a pillow at them. Natamaan si Shanaz ng unan sa ulo kaya nanlilisik na tinignan niya si Gemini. 

"Hoy, dragon! 'Di mo pa time na pumasok sa video! 'Wag kang epal!" Singhal ni Shanaz. 

Maliit na napangiti si Gemini nang makita niya ang sarili na nakikipagbangayan kay Shanaz. 

"Gusto mo kutusan kita?" Saad ni Gemini na nasa video. 

"Aba, aba, hinahamon ako nitong pilay na 'to!" Sigaw ni Shanaz. 

"You bitch, sinong pilay?!" Ganti ni Gemini. 

"Ikaw!" Turo ni Shanaz sa kanya sabay atake. 

"Hoy mga loka-loka! Tama na 'yan! Hoy!" Cawie shouted. After that, the video ends. 

Gemini watches all the videos, hurt and feeling deeply sad. Pinatay niya ang kanyang cellphone at ipinatong sa lamesa. She takes a sip of her coffee, her hand trembling slightly. Just then, Tarius, the gentle and empathetic lost soul, approaches her table.

"Hey, Gemini. Mind if I join you?" He asked permission, sympathetically.

Gemini looks up, her eyes puffy from crying. She fixes Tarius with a cold stare.

"Oh great, just what I need. Another person pretending to care." She uttered  sarcastically as she rolled her eyes. 

Tarius remains undeterred by her harsh attitude. He pulls out a chair and sits down anyway, a warm smile on his face.

"Gemini, I know you're hurting right now, but I genuinely want to help. I've been through similar experiences, and I understand what it feels like to be left behind." Tarius said with a tender voice. 

Gemini rolls her eyes, clearly unconvinced. "Oh really? What could someone like you possibly understand about the pain I'm going through? You're just a lost soul wandering around, probably with nothing better to do." She muttered, mocking at him. 

Tarius maintains his composure, not letting her insults affect him.

Tarius smiled at her gently. "Gemini, I may be lost, but that doesn't mean I don't understand pain or loneliness. Sometimes, it takes someone who's lost to truly see the depth of others' struggles. Please, let me be there for you."

Gemini hesitates, her gaze softening for a moment as she looks into Tarius' sincere eyes. However, her defense mechanism kicks in, and she becomes defensive once again.

Gemini became angry. "You don't get it! I don't need your sympathy or your pity. I can handle things on my own. Just leave me alone!"

Tarius takes a deep breath, remaining calm and patient. "Gemini, I respect your strength, but nobody should have to go through pain alone. I'm not here to pity you, but to offer genuine support and friendship. If you don't want that, I'll respect your wishes, but I hope you'll reconsider."

Gemini's expression softens as Tarius speaks. She looks down at her hands, her bravado momentarily wavering. She didn't utter any words. 

I... I don't know if I can trust anyone anymore. I thought they were my friends, but they left me so easily.

Tarius sighed. "Trust is hard, Gemini. I can't promise you that everything will magically get better, but I can promise to be there for you. We all have our scars, but together, we can find healing." He smiled at her sincerely.

Gemini gazes into Tarius' eyes, tears welling up again. She hesitates to accept his offer so in the end, Gemini gathers her strength and stood up then walked out of the coffee shop, leaving Tarius behind. 

I'm scared to trust anyone again kung sa huli lang din ay sasaktan nila ako. 

***

Gemini's room is dimly lit, with the moon's soft glow gently illuminating the space. Gemini, with a sorrowful expression, sits on her bed, clutching her phone in her hands. 

"How could they do this? Why would they just abandon me?" Gemini whispered.

Suddenly, a shimmering figure appears next to Gemini. It's Tarius, with a gentle smile on his face. He came to see and comfort her again despite leaving him in the coffee shop a while ago. 

Tarius sighed. "I'm here for you, Gemini. You're not alone. I will always stay with you." 

Gemini looks up, her eyes red and swollen from crying, but she can see the genuine concern in Tarius' eyes.

"Oh, and for how long will you be here, Tarius? Until you decide to disappear like everyone else? And I already told you to leave me the fuck alone!" She exclaimed bitterly. 

Tarius looks taken aback by her harsh words, but he understands her pain.

"Gemini, I'm not like them. I won't leave you. I'll stay by your side no matter what." Tarius gave her a sincere concern smile. 

"You don't understand, Tarius! You don't know what it's like to be betrayed by your closest friends! I thought they cared about me, but they just left without a single word!" Gemini exclaimed, mad and hurt. 

Tarius walks closer, trying to console her, but Gemini throws a pillow on him, making Tarius stop. 

"I don't need your fake comfort! You're just a ghost! You can't feel anything, so stop pretending to care!" Patuloy na pinagbabato ni Gemini ang mga unan habang patuloy siyang umiiyak. 

Tarius' face shows deep sadness, hurt by her words. He begins to fade away, his ghostly form wavering.

"I may be a ghost, but I've always cared about you, Gemini. I'm sorry I can't make you feel better. But remember, you're not alone in this world, even if it seems that way now."

As Tarius disappears completely, Gemini is left alone in her room, the weight of her words sinking in. Regret fills her heart as she realizes the pain she just caused to her only companion.

"I didn't mean to push him away... I'm just so hurt and broken…"

Gemini formed her hand a fist, tears streaming down her cheeks. She wishes she could take back her words and apologize to Tarius for her outburst.

Gemini rushes outside, hoping to find Tarius and make amends. Their backyard is bathed in moonlight, casting a serene ambiance. But Tarius is nowhere to be seen.

Gemini started shouting his name but he didn't appear. "Tarius! I'm sorry... please come back."

Gemini waits, her heart filled with regret and longing for her ghost friend. She understands now that Tarius was the one who truly cared for her. But it may be too late.

Napaluhod ang dalaga kasabay ng kanyang paghagulgol. 

'What have I done?' she asked herself. 

In the distance, a faint glow emerges, and Tarius' figure appears again. He looks at her with a mix of sadness and hope.

"I can't stay where I'm not wanted, Gemini." He whispered softly. 

As soon as Gemini heard his voice, she instantly stood up and faced him. "Please, Tarius, I didn't mean it. I was just hurt, and I lashed out. I need you, my only friend."

Tarius hesitates, then glides closer to her. He sees the sincerity in her eyes.

"I care about you, Gemini. But you need to learn to cope with your pain without hurting others, including me." Tarius looked down. 

Gemini nods, realizing the depth of her mistake. She reaches out to Tarius, and this time he doesn't take a step back. 

Gemini closed her eyes, feeling the familiar cold yet warm breeze of the wind that only Tarius can give. 

"Thank you, Tarius, for not giving up on me." Gemini smiled a little, a true smile this time. "Just...stay with me, Tarius."

"I could never give up on you. Just remember, even if your human friends may disappoint you, I'll always be here for you." Tarius also smiled back. 

Gemini smiles through her tears, cherishing the bond she shares with her ghostly companion.

"But..." Tarius looked down.

"W-Why?" Unti-unting nawala ang ngiti ni Gemini.

"Kahit na hindi ko gustong umalis, kailangan ko." Tarius uttered. "I'm sorry..."

Kinabahan si Gemini. "Ha? P-Pero...bakit? I-I swear, m-magiging mabait n-na ako! Please, 'wag mo akong iwan! M-Magiging mabait ako. Please...stay with me, T-Tarius. " Gemini begged. Lumuhod siya sa harap ng binata.
"I-I can't...I'm sorry, Gem." Tarius whispered. "I just realized that you we're to dependent on everyone around you. And it's time for you to grow up and be independent." And after that, Tarius vanished.

"No!" Gemini shouted. "Come back! Please! I beg you! Tarius!" Humahagulgol na sigaw niya.

Kasabay ng kanyang pag-iyak ay ang pagbuhos ng malakas na ulan. Gemini hugged herself, still crying because of what happened.

"I-Ikaw na lang ang m-meron ako...b-bakit iniwan mo pa rin ako?" Gemimi whispered.