C5 CHAPTER 05: Mr. Popular

EREVELL’s P.O.V.

High school. Who would have thought that Gabriel and I are finally on our second year of high school? Who knows that this is what our future holds for us? And who would have thought that I’m still alive right now?

Ever since the day that I got hospitalized, Gabriel and I became inseparable. We never leave and always got each other’s back. Though things are a bit different right now, he still finds some time to hangout with me... His bestfriend.

“Oh, my, God! Did you saw him passed by?! I saw him! It really is Gabriel Elizar!” one of the girls inside of the campus shouted.

“He’s so handsome! I can’t believe it!”

I just shook my head as I heard those words. It feels like it was only yesterday when Gab and I met each other... But now, everything had change. He’s still the guy I used to know... Just a bit popular now.

I don’t know how it happens, but when we started high school, flirty girls started to discover the capabilities of my bestfriend. He instantly became an apple of the eye... And when we entered our sophomore year, he officially became our campus heartthrob.

Some girls thought how lucky I am, having the privilege to talk to him any time that I want. But it wasn’t that easy... Being a friend to a man who’s too popular like a celebrity. I also thought of what will happen to me if Gab decided to dump me like a garbage since he doesn’t need me anymore. Bullies stopped when they saw how people love my bestfriend so much.

“Hey, what are you thinking?” he asked.

I looked up at him. Yeah, everything change. His voice. It was too deep now having a mesmerizing sound that flirty girls in our school would die to hear for.

He’s obviously taller than me now. And his body became more manly than before. His jawline... Everything change, but it was more on his physical appearance. He’s still the awkward kid I met before. Shy sometimes, but definitely a joker around me.

After he became more popular, he learned how to socialize very well in front of other people. He have so many friends right now, regardless of their gender and age. And also, those people doesn’t mind me being his bestfriend as long as they can savour his popularity.

“Are you drooling over me?”

“What? No way,” I denied while doing a fake-puking act in front of him.

“Whoah, you’re that disgusted to me?” he asked, pouting.

“Slightly. But, you know. I’m just thinking about something...”

We continue to walk on our school hallways while talking to each other.

“And what exactly is that?” he asked curiously.

“Uhm... Just... You know, it was all about some stupid and silly things.”

“Oh. You know you can tell me about it any time, right?”

“Yeah, but maybe it would probably waste your precious time, Mr. Popular.” I said sarcastically.

“Whoah, whoah.”

I didn’t mind him. I just continue to walk but stopped when he grabbed my backpack to make me face him again.

“Hey!” I complained.

“What? I couldn’t talk properly to my bestfriend now?”

“You still can. But you should do the talking, not me.”

“Oh, come on! Tell me about it...”

He grabbed my arms and make me looked at his direction. He looked straight into my eyes, and I felt like I was melting at his intense stare.

“W-what?” I asked.

“Tell me, Erevell. Tell me or else...”

“Or else what?” I fired back, challenging him.

His eyes widen as he realized how close our faces are to each other now... Take note, in a public face. He shook his head before moving away from me. I was merely disappointed when he did that, but it’s fine, really.

“Nothing. Just tell me.”

“Okay, fine.” I sighed. “I was just wondering if... You know, if you found someone who’s willing to be your bestfriend too... I mean, someone even better than me. Like a guy, a guy that could share same interest and stuffs to you.”

“What? That really is insane,” he stated before laughing. “I would never replace you, Erevell. You know that ever since we are twelve years old.”

“Yeah, I know, I’m stupid. Just... There’s so many possibilities out there, Gab. And losing you is one of them, specially now that you’re already a popular guy. I’m sure that you can dump me any time that you want... You’re just... Maybe, looking at me with pity in your eyes.” I looked down, feeling heavy hearted at that idea.

“You’re really sweet.” He put his arms around my shoulder. “Look, you’ll never lose me because I’ll never leave. Second, as I’ve said earlier, I would never replace you. You, Erevell Serrendes, is my one and only bestfriend I could ever have and asked for. I love you so much.”

My heart started palpitating as soon as I heard those last words coming from his mouth. I don’t know if it was just my imagination, but I think I heard him say the words, “I love you” like it was just a normal phrase to say to those people whom you’re friends with.

“Uhm... That’s nice to know,” was my unsure reply.

He chuckled, before staring at me. I looked back up to him, and I could see that he is merely disappointed by my response. Was he hoping for me to tell him that I love him too or what? Do I really willing to risk our friendship just to feel the butterflies in my stomach again?

“Hey... You’re thinking again. Come on, we are going to be late in class.”

“Fine, Mr. Popular.”

“I told you not to call me that.” He pinched my nose and I wrinkled it.

He laughed. His arms are still resting around my shoulder. I could feel its weight but I didn’t mind it. As long as I’m with him, I feel safe. He pulled me closer towards his body and I just smiled to myself. Maybe they’re right. I’m so lucky to be his bestfriend.

Talk about lucky. We are still on the same classes together. From our freshmen days until now. Maybe, just maybe, the reason behind that is our teachers. They know about me having a cancer and they could see how happy I am whenever Gab is around. So maybe they decided not to let us get separated.

And one more thing, people think that if a cancer patient is happy, he or she will live longer. But that’s not true. Being happy doesn’t have any relationship to your life span. Maybe people are just saying that so you will savour your last and remaining days on Earth with a smile plastered upon your face. People who truly suffer should know about that better.

We are currently in our GMRC’s class. Our teacher is discussing some stuffs about suicide and anything related to that. She said that it was immoral, and we should gave justice to our precious lives. What a perfect timing for me to hear about that.

“Euthanasia...” our teacher muttered under her breath before looking at my direction. “It’s called mercy killing or letting the patient die by stopping his or her needed medication.”

“Why is she looking at you like that?” Gab simply whispered into my ears.

“I don’t know. Maybe someone already replaced me as the weirdest person in this campus,” I joked, making him laugh lightly.

“As if you would ever do that...”

“Do what?” I asked.

“Euthanasia, you know,” he stated, looking at me straight in the eyes.

My heart thumped so bad. Is that mean... H-he knows my secret? Who told him? And why didn’t he tell me about it?

“Y-you know? Since w-when?”

“Since when what?” he asked confusedly.

“I mean.... How? And when? Who told you that?”

“Okay, calm down. No one told me about it. I’m just asking you... You’ll never do that right? You know, mercy killing or whatsoever. If you’re sick, you should tell me and we are going to face it together...” he explained.

I exhaled. Now I could finally breathe properly again. I thought he already knew. That was the stupidest thing I have ever done in front of him. I should’ve listen to what he was saying first.

“Are you alright? You look really bothered...” Worried is visible on his handsome face.

“Uhm... Y-yeah. Just, you know. I-I... I can’t b-breathe...”

My chest instantly felt tight. I couldn’t breathe properly and I started gasping for air.

“Hey! Help!” Gabriel shouted that stopped everyone including our teacher’s discussion. “Vell... Look at me... Breathe, okay?” He cupped my face and I nodded.

While practicing my breathing exercises, our teacher ran outside to get some help, maybe. When Gabriel couldn’t wait for it anymore, he lifted me up from my chair like a newly wedded husband and wife do right after their wedding.

“I’ll bring you to the infirmary... Just try not to faint, okay?” he asked and I just nodded.

I wanted to do what he told me to, but I couldn’t hold it anymore. I completely run out of air and I started to slowly drift into unconsciousness.

“Hey!” I heard Gabriel cried before I finally lost it and everything went black.