Hello! I have a new facebook account since my old account has been disabled by Facebook. And because my account was disabled, wala na akong access sa SR Family na group. Long story short, PLEASE JOIN THE NEW GROUP :)

Facebook Account: Facebook.com/theserialsleeper

Facebook Group: https://web.facebook.com/groups/theserialreaders/

Also, I will be in Davao this Sunday, march 18, for the Psicom Rising in Gmall Toril. It's my first time to attend a booksigning event and it's my first public appearance as Serialsleeper haha. 

I hope you guys will buy Stay Awake Agatha once it hits bookstores nationwide :)

      "Thanks Tita! It's been awhile since Braylee and I had a sleepover. Don't worry po, my apartment is on a secured subdivision naman po. Si Braylee po?" Piper looked back at me as she talked to my mom on the phone. Mom wants to talk to me but I know i'll just end up sobbing uncontrollably so I shook my head, signalling Piper to lie for me.

      "Naku, Tita! Nakatulog na pala si Braylee, mukhang napagod ata sa work. Yes po Tita, she already ate. Thank you po ulit," Piper continued to talk to my Mom.

        I laid on the edge of Piper's bed, wiping my tears with my cold trembling hands. No matter how much I try to convince myself not to cry, I still end up sobbing as I remember the look on everyone's faces, as I remember the fact that I still haven't told Piper about my condition.  

        I've broken a lot of hearts tonight. I'm not sure if I could break Piper's too.

       As Piper hung up the phone, she went towards me and knelt on the floor, looking up at my face while wiping my tears. "Tahan na, Bray. Sige na, sabihin mo na sakin anong problema."

       But Piper's phone suddenly rang. I saw Lucho's name flash on the screen so I grabbed it from her hands and rejected the call myself.  Everyone's been trying to call Piper but I kept on begging her not to answer again.

        "Don't talk to anyone! Please, don't talk to anyone yet!" with trembling lips and voice, I begged over and over and over again. Scared that they would break the news and break her heart in the process. 

       "I won't! I won't! But just tell me what's wrong okay?! What happened?! Did Denver do anything to upset you?" Piper asked for the nth time. Kahit nung nagd-drive siya papunta rito sa apartment niya, panay ang tanong niya pero ni isang sagot ay wala akong maibigay. Kasi alam kong katumbas ng sagot ko ang mga luha niya.

      All of a sudden, the doorbell rang fast over and over and over again, coupled with really loud pounding on the gate. 

      "Braylee! Braylee I know you're there! Braylee just talk to me please!" I heard Denver's voice from outside, desperately screaming as the loud  pounding on the gate continued.

      "What the hell?" Angered, Piper stood up and ran towards the gate.

      All I could do was cry.

       I clutched my chest with my trembling hands. I let myself cry everything out. I already accepted my fate. I already made peace with the fact that I'm about to suffer the same fate as my brother. For so long, I already conditioned my heart for this. But why does it still hurt like hell?

        "Ano ba! Sabing wala siya rito!"

       "Braylee! Braylee mag-usap tayo! Alam kong nandiyan ka! Braylee parang awa mo na!"

       "Denver ano ba!"

       I stood up when I heard Piper scream in anger. I was about to run out of the room when the door right in front of me suddenly opened. 

       And there he was, standing right in front of me, eyes red and desperate. His unkempt hair making him look tired and lost than ever. The worst part is knowing that he's hurting all because of me.

       Without saying a word, Denver suddenly pulled me into an embrace. His hands around me, holding me tight. His face bowed down and buried on my shoulder. He hugged me like he never did before. Like he never wants to let go. 

      And just like before, I felt nothing but comfort in his arms. The same type of comfort i've longed for three years ever since he left. But that heart-fluttering feeling isn't there anymore. I don't feel the same way anymore. 

        "You're not going to die. I'm not going to let you die," he whispered, nothing but desperation in his voice. 

        I closed my crying eyes as I slowly hugged him back. "It's okay, It's okay," I whispered back, scared that Piper could hear us.  "In the morning... We'll talk in the morning," I added.

       I felt him shake his head as his face was buried on my shoulder. "Hindi na ako lalayo sa'yo ulit. Hindi na kita iiwan ulit," aniya kaya napangiti na lamang ako sa kabila ng mga luha ko.

        "Huli na, Denver," muli, hindi ko napigilang maiyak. 

        "Hindi, hindi yan totoo," Denver faced me and held both of my cheeks at the palm of his hands. Looking at me in the eyes, he continued, "Hindi yan totoo."

         "In the morning," I tried to smile. "Let's talk in the morning okay? I have to talk to Piper first," I said as I held his cheeks, trying my best to convince him.

****

        After paying, I went outside the store and found Piper sitting on a bench and staring at the tall trees surrounding her. We're inside Filimon Heights' eco park and it's quite relaxing to be here.

        It was almost 10 in the evening, there's not much people around. The cold summer wind is at it again and the darkness consumes much of the park. It's a good thing I could see stars in the sky. 

       I sat beside Piper. She looked at me with a smile but the smile on her face faded when she saw me holding two cones of ice cream on my hands. "Braylee?" she asked me with a concerned tone.

     "I love you P," I tried to smile even if my voice is starting to break and my eyes are starting to leak. It's been such a long night for me.  I never thought tonight would be the night that I would break my friends' heart. But I know it's better than lying to them.

     With fear in her eyes, Piper accepted the ice cream and made me sat beside her. 

     I heard Piper sigh as she started eating her ice cream. Piper already knows i'm about to say a bad news.

     We both sat there, eating our ice creams, for what felt like forever. I wanted to break the silence between us but I keep on hesitating, knowing my words will only break Piper's heart. 

      "Just say it," Piper said as she continued to lick her ice cream. She sounded prepared and it was enough to give me the courage to speak the truth.

      I took a deep breath. Both of us, looking straight ahead, holding our ice creams. 

      "I have ALS," I smiled as I looked at Piper's direction.

       And when I said those three words, Piper stopped moving. She didn't move for a few seconds, she just sat there looking straight ahead. And all of a sudden, she threw her ice cream away. "Wala na akong gana, I guess mango is always a better flavor," Piper said with a smug look on her face.

        "I love you P," I smiled as I held her hand.

        "Shut up you dumb--" Piper didn't get to finish her sentence when her voice suddenly cracked as if she lost the strength to speak. She abruptly sighed and closed her eyes. She held her chin up, sitting straight, with eyes still closed. And that's when I noticed the tears streaming down from her closed eyes. 

         I noticed how her hands suddenly felt cold and it felt like it was shaking so I held it tighter.

        "Y-you're a dumb baby," Piper was gasping as she spoke but she was still sitting straight with head held high. She's trying to look strong despite of everything.

        "Your dumb baby?" It was my voice's turn to crack as my tears fell again.

        Piper didn't say anything. I looked at her face and I saw how she struggled with her tears. She tried hard to fight it off. She was biting her lips, eyebrows furrowed and nose crinkling. 

       "S-sure ka ba? S-sure na ba yan?" Piper seemed breathless.

       "Yes po," pabiro kong sambit.

       "Bwisit," biglang humagulgol si Piper, "Tanginang buhay 'to! Pati ba naman ikaw mawawala rin?" I've heard Piper cuss, but it is the first time I get to hear her say the T-word. 

        All I could do was hug Piper. I hugged her tight as she continued to sob loudly. Suddenly, I felt an arm wrapped around us. I looked up and I cried louder when I realized that Riley was also hugging us.  I looked back and found Lucho and Warren crying helplessly.

        Next thing I know, the five of us were all crying and holding each other.

        My heart is torn at the realization that instead of making my friends happy, here am I breaking their hearts. 

THANKS FOR READING!

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