Chapter 1 – Kiss

3 years ago...

I traveled all the way to Zambales to visit my grandparents. I heard that she had a severe illness and I had to convince her to undertake surgery to prolong her life.

I hurriedly jumped off the boat upon reaching the riverside. I carried my luggage and went inside the Hodreal Beach Resort.

"Axel! Finally, you arrive!" I heard Auntie Amelia shouted. She is the one taking care of my grandparents. She ran through me, hugging me tighter.

"You have become taller and handsome," she said as she unclasped her arms. I responded to her with a nod. "Antonio! Help Axel carry his luggage."

"No need, Auntie. I can carry it on my own. May I know how my grandmother is?"

"Let’s talk about that later. Take a rest first. I know you are tired after a long journey. Antonio will guide you on the way to your room," she informed me.

"Is it the same place as before?" I inquired.

"No. You will stay in an exclusive room while you are here because one of our customers is currently using the room you used before. Our resort is full and I asked someone to renovate a room especially for you," she nicely replied. I nodded at her as Antonio guided me on my way to the room.

While we were walking, a lady bumped into me. I can’t tell what she looks like because of my condition since then. I have prosopagnosia, which is a condition wherein I can’t recognize people’s faces, despite having this kind of condition, I can say that I am still lucky to have a photographic memory. With this, I can recognize everybody without seeing their faces by the smell and sound of their voices.

"I’m sorry," she apologized and held her camera tightly as she continued to take photographs of the place.

"Here’s the key to your room, Senorito Axel," I accepted it and thanked him before opening the room. I went inside to check out the whole place. It has a king-size bed with a thick blanket and pillows. This room has a kitchen, a bathroom, and a living room.

I hang my clothes inside the wardrobe and keep my luggage in it. I drew the curtains on the opposite side and opened the balcony door. I moved closer to feel the chilly air that was surrounding the area.

I went inside and changed my clothes before lying down on the bed. I was listening to music on my phone when I realized I had fallen asleep.

I opened my eyes to discover that it was already 7:00 a.m. in the morning. I quickly washed my hands and changed into a collared shirt and shorts. How did I manage to sleep for so long?

I dashed out of my room, running down the stairs to meet my auntie, Amelia. "Axel, you’re finally awake!" I instructed Antonio last night to invite you to eat dinner, but he told me that you were not opening the door," she chattered.

I smiled and replied, "I fell asleep early."

"Let's eat now," she says, leading me to the hotel's patio, where there's a large table with food on it, and my cousins are seated in their own chairs. "Hello, brother Axel!" they exclaimed. I gave them a kind grin.

I sat on the chair, my aunt put some food on my plate. I studied the folks at the table, and I saw that they did not appear to be pleased. I bit a chunk of meat as I look at auntie Amelia.

"Auntie, could you please tell me how grandmother is?" Everyone had stopped eating, and some had dropped their spoons on the plate, according to what I heard. I had the impression that all of their attention was focused on me.

"We shouldn’t talk about that right now. Let’s eat," Auntie Amelia sounds strict.

"Mom! We should let him know the truth," I heard Lauren rebutted. 

I glance in her direction and ask, "what truth is she talking about?"

I can feel that everyone in the dining tense and was afraid when I interrogated her. "She... she... passed away..." she quavered.

I dropped the utensil on the ground and stood in shock. It felt like everything paused when she uttered those words, the news she breathed out keeps on playing in my ears, and a bomb on my chest detonated in rage as soon as I comprehend what she really meant. "Why didn't you inform me sooner?! What happened to her wake? Where is she now? And... How's my grandfather doing?"

"She died last week, and... we already bu—ried her body two days before you returned, and my father passed away as soon as she died," she grumbled. 

"Whaaaaaaaaaaaat?!! And you didn't bother to tell me about this?!! You should have told me sooner so that I could see them one final time, but what have you done? You refuse to give me the chance to see them for the last time..." I pointed the finger at her. My eyes were welling up with tears, but I hurried out from them before it could escape. My feet led me to the beach. I yelled my rage and screamed about why he had taken away my grandma. 

My grandma, Esmeralda, and grandfather, Gregorio took care of me when my parents broke up and left me to them. I was distress at an early age but they assured me that they are here for me and promised to assist me in overcoming it. They taught me to fly like an eagle, to walk in fear of God, and to be grateful. They are always here to cheer me up in every difficult circumstance in my life, correcting me when I’m doing wrong, and guiding me to take the right path that I must take. But now they are gone... I can't figure out where my feet lead me.

I bought the gift she’d wanted for too long and my grandfather's favorite watch but now that they are gone, it’s useless and my life has become worthless. I couldn't finish giving back to them for all the love they had given to me and I couldn't know how I would thank them.

I went through the water till it gradually became deeper, deeper than what I was experiencing right now, yet I kept going. I decided to end my life and accompany them to another life and with that, I know I can serve them well.

"I'll finally get to see my grandparents in another life."

I let the water waves drag me to the deeper part of it as the current of water pulled me down. I started struggling to breathe beneath the water until I drank a lot of water. My body began to sink more. I breathed for the last time, I knew that it was the last day of my life and I would be able to see my grandma sooner. 

I can see their happy faces in my vision as I slowly losing oxygen in my body under the water.

But I was shocked when I saw a girl diving under the water, grabbing me and pulling me out of the water. I wanted to free myself from her clutches and die but my body was too weak to move. She swims back to the side, allowing her to drag me along with her. Before we reached the seaside, I lost my senses.

I felt her hand shaking my body though I'm awake, I didn't plan to open my eyes and waited for the creator to take back my life now. "Hey, get up! Get up! Are you okay?" I could hear her voice trembling. 

"Oh no! Is he dead? Oh God, help me. I just want to save him. I don’t want him to die. Hey, wake up now. People might blame me if you die since I am with you." I felt her palm tap my shoulder again then she paused. "Now I understand! I'd heard he needs CPR! CPR, right... But I'm not sure how to execute it! Never mind, I'll do my best to save him." I could hear her mumble. She cupped my face and I suddenly feel the warmth of her lips landed on my lips.

It feels like my world stopped turning around, the clock stopped moving, the waves of water froze and the noises around us suddenly became silent as her lips conquered mine. My heart was throbbing fast as if I had gone to a race while her lips were aggressively kissing mine.

I opened my eyes to catch this brave girl who had the audacity to kiss me. She quickly moved away and stood up upon seeing me alive. I heard her chortle nervously and said, "finally! You are alive."

I furrowed my brows and glared at her, "Why??!"

"What do you mean why?" The girl’s voice sounds nervous.

"Why did you save me?" I sat down on the sand.

"Many people want to be alive but they can’t do that because of their condition. You are lucky to be normal! Why did you choose to end your life like this? For what? Isn't it good to be alive and live longer? Don't you know why God let you live at this moment? It's because you have are important and loved, so you shouldn't waste it like that."

I agree that those words are like cold water that pours on my face to wake me up from the reality of life. I shouldn’t have done a rash act. I noticed her jewelry had fallen on the ground. I took it up to return it to her.

I stood up to thank her properly for enlightening my mind and saving me but as soon as I stepped closer to her, she ran away from me. "Hey! Wait! You dropped your necklace, "I shouted at her. I tried to chase after her, but my auntie and cousins came to look for me.

My plans have totally changed... Because of her. I decided to stay alive after meeting her. She gave me a reason to be grateful for the life I have.

I stared at the necklace with a jade pendant which she left and whispered, "I wish I had another chance to see you again."

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