Street Signs

Chapter 2

BRIELLE

"NEWS REPORT. Zayden Garcia, a twenty-three-year-old Engineering Student who was found dead at Abbey Street the other day, was now released to the funeral home."

Zay's death degenerated into a rout. It was a hot topic in the entire country. It could be seen on every television. It could be heard on every radio. It could be read in every bulletin.

The autopsy was done, but the report was just soon to be declared.

It was ghost-quiet, totally silent but not calm. No one was either crying, but deep inside the hearts was a melancholy smell of flowers at the funeral's wake. A night of despair.

I was right beside Zayden's coffin. I wasn't having enough sleep because I was guarding him all day and all night. I didn't get tired of it because whenever I sat on the chair next to him, I could feel him whispering to me. I could feel him embracing me and telling me, "It's okay, I'm still right here with you— as always."

I looked at him inside of the coffin. Nothing had changed on his face even though it was covered with makeup; he was still handsome, looked like he was just sleeping. I wanted to cry still, but there were no more tears left in me. My eyes were so red and they were aching so hard, I was like a zombie.

I said his name as the memories flashed back into my mind...

FLASHBACK

The table was filled with different kinds of paper and pens. I didn't know where to focus since they were distracting my sight. I didn't even know how to arrange them so I could not be interrupted by them.

"Brielle," Zayden held my back, "one at a time."

I looked at him in despair. "Zay, I don't know if I'm still going to pass the exam. I've read many, but they are not registering in my mind. I'm having a block, I don't know what to do."

"I told you, you have to do it one at a time. You're pressuring yourself too much, that's why your brain isn't functioning well," he said. "Now, take a deep breath."

I did take a deep breath.

"Okay, good," he smiled. "Once again, breath in..."

I breathed in.

"... breath out."

And then, I breathed out.

"Good girl."

He smiled at me once again as he kissed my arms. With that, I was so relieved and even gained strength.

"We are not done yet, okay? Now, close your eyes," he added. So, I closed my eyes. "Don't open them yet without my signal."

"Okay, what's the signal?" I asked while my eyes were still closed.

"It's a kiss on the forehead."

"Oh, okay," I smiled.

I could hear the scratching of the papers and the sound of pens, so I could sense what he was doing. The smile on my face didn't fade until he kissed me on the forehead.

I opened my eyes and looked at my desk; everything on top of it was arranged according to its classification. There was just a reviewer in Literature that was left at the center, and beside it was a cup of coffee.

The smile on my face grew even wider as I looked at my man. He was so satisfied with what he had done.

"You can now have a better review time," he said with a wink.

My eyes went teary, and before the tears could even fall, he handed me a handkerchief. "Why are you like that?" I asked.

"Why? Am I too much sweet or what?"

I chuckled, "You're too caring, you supposed to be pointing that one. You know, I am so blessed to have you."

He hugged me. "I am more blessed to have you," he whispered through my ears. "That's why I'm doing everything for you to see your worth, not mine."

"Thank you, Zay," I said. "I love you."

"I love you even more." His hug became even tighter. After some time, he let go of me and kissed me once again on the forehead. "You can read your notes again."

I nodded.

END OF FLASHBACK

The tears fell down from my cheeks to the mirror of his coffin. I sobbed like a child, then someone just held me at the back. I turned around, and there I saw Aunt Yadora.

"You're crying again, Brielle," she said.

"I'm sorry, Aunt. I know we're all hurting, but I just couldn't hold the pain."

"I understand you, Hija. But always remember that God has a plan for each of us, and to Zayden. My son is resting now at His safe hands," she smiled but it didn't reach her eyes. "So please, be strong. You know that Zay doesn't wanna see you like that."

"Yes, Aunt, I'm trying to be strong for him."

"Also for yourself," she added.

I nodded and forced a smile.

She left me then, so she could assist the other visitors.

I sat down again and looked at my wristwatch— it was turning midnight. The people inside were leaving one by one, which even gave a more deafening silence at the place.

I took the phone in my pocket and opened my gallery to see the picture of the sign I saw at Abbey Street. I was still examining it and the message beside it. I didn't want to believe in magic, but I just saw them with my eyes.

I was still clueless about the sign and its message. I thought I had to seek some help but I wanted to find it out myself, so I would just choose to keep it for some time. And when I finally found the answer, I would tell this to them. Besides, I doubted them for not believing me.

I zoomed in on the picture, hoping I would see any clue from there, but as I was looking at it, Aunt Yadora came. In great shock, I turned off my phone and hid it behind my back.

"What's making you busy, Hija?" she asked as she sat on the chair beside me.

"A-ah... it's nothing, Aunt," I replied. "Just looking at some pictures of me with Zayden."

"Oh, I see," she said while nodding her head. "Aren't you sleepy yet? The guests already left, it's the best time for you to take some rest. I know you're so tired."

"I'm okay, Aunt, I still can manage. Besides, I don't wanna left Zayden. I want to stay here and look for him all day and night. It's the best thing that I can do."

"If you say so. Just please don't let yourself break down, Hija. Zayden won't like that. Always take good care, okay?"

"Yes, Aunt," I smiled. "Everything is noted. You too, please take good care of yourself."

She smiled and nodded at me as she gave her gratitude before she left.

Good thing, I was able to bring out my phone again. I could already breathe smoothly. I got so nervous because I thought she saw the picture, but gladly she didn't. I hoped so she really didn't.

Time was running, and when the morning came, I went back to Abbey. I was lacking sleep since I kept my eye on Zayden, that was why I was so pale and would collapse any time of the day.

Holding my phone while seeing the picture of the sign, I walked through the same spot. The bloodstains had disappeared already, as well as the sign.

Wait... what?

The sign?

I moved in a hurry to look for it. I wandered my eyes all throughout the ground, thinking I might just have a terrible phantasm. Unfortunately, I explored everywhere, I still didn't see it. The sign couldn't be disappeared easily because it was carved on the ground. If it was repetitiously stepped on by random people passing by there, it was still impossible that it would be erased just like that. Something was really wrong. What could be the underlying reason for this?

After giving up searching on the sign, my phone vibrated. I immediately opened the message, and when I was done reading it, I puckered my eyebrows.

The message came from a hidden number stating: "THEMSELVES UPON BACK TURNED INTENT THEIR HAVE ONES LOVED MY AND ME HARM TO SEEK WHO THOSE."