CAN YOU SEE ME?

"No, Rubin, don't talk to her– she's a ghost. Don't make her find out you can see her", he faintly whispered to himself, looking down at Alixes.

Laura glared at him with quite a disappointed and confused look, slowly dropping her hand from the wave. The previous smile slowly faded away.

"Is it really true he can't see me?", she wondered in her thoughts. "But why did I feel he did? He even looked at my direction in shock. No, I got to find out myself– I'm so sure he saw me". A mischievous smile suddenly dazzled on her face as she stared at him thoughtfully.

He stared down at Alixes with a faint smile and dropped her bag on the table beside the bed, ignoring Laura's gaze. "Hey, Alixes, I know you don't know me but don't worry, I'm your new friend. We are in the same class and also sit next to each other in class now. I just came to drop your bag". He sighed, wearing a faint smile as he gently brushed his hands through her hair and caressed her face. "Wish you speedy recovery. Got to go now, see you later in class", he added as if she could actually hear him.

Rubin slowly lifted his head towards the direction where Laura previously sat when he got in as he got ready to leave but couldn't find her. "Where did she go?", he muttered to himself with his eyes searching around but saw no sign of her anywhere. "Why am I even bothering myself over that ghost girl. It's not like I care about her– time to go now, Rubin ".

He took a quick glance at Alixes once again and turned to leave. Just at a turn, he came face to face with Laura. "Oh, my God!!", he shouted, placing a hand on his chest, startled.

" What happened? ", she scoffed, folding her hands on her chest, relaxed with a satisfactory smile. "I thought you didn't see me".

"Yes, I didn't so kindly let me be!", he exclaimed, pissed off.

"What's going on, Rubin?", Miss Betty's voice called from behind. He nervously turned towards the voice and found her standing at the entrance of her office. "I heard you shout– Is everything okay?"

With a furtive gaze and a faint chuckle, he answered sheepishly, "Yes, Miss Betty, I was just excited to meet my new friend, Alixes, over here. Sorry about that ".

Laura chuckled at his words. He angrily glared at her, making her pause, "Sorry, go ahead", she whispered with a giggle. Betty stared at him, thoughtfully, not so convinced but brushed it off. "Okay, I'll be in my office then".

He nodded with a fake smile. Betty glanced at him for the last and trod back into her office.

"I hope everything is really fine with him. He's behaving kind of wired and creepy, ish", she mumbled, fading into the office.

He angrily turned back at Laura who quickly looked away, giggling. " I can't see you and I don't even want to, so leave me alone", he exclaimed.

"But I don't think so because you can't talk to someone you can't see. And since we're talking, this definitely means you can– actually, I saw you searching around for me earlier on", she mumbled, slightly raising an eye brow with a smile.

Alixes drowsily opened her eyes only to find a handsome figure of her age, standing a meter away from her bed. She exhaled faintly as she adjusted herself well on the bed, staring at the wired behavior of the person in front of her. She became a bit frightened, scanning around for the person he was talking to.

"Just leave me, alone! I don't want to talk to you anymore ", Rubin exuded.

"Hey, you there, who are you and who are you talking to?". Alixes' voice echoed. He deftly turned towards her, motionless. Laura stared at both her friend and Rubin, shocked. Rubin swiftly glanced at Laura and back at Alixes, speechless.

"I said who were you talking to?", Alixes shouted, nervously with teary eyes.

" Go, on, tell her, it's me, Laura. You were talking to her friend, Laura Roberts. That's my name". Laura pleaded with tears in her eyes. Rubin stared at her perplexed. "Laura?", he mumbled softly and she nodded. Tears suddenly dropped down his eyes as well, "Oh. my God, what's happening? Can't believe I met you too over here".

"Who are you talking about?", Alixes queried impatiently.

"Go on, tell her, please "

"Just stop! do you think she'll believe me even if I say it?", he scoffed. "No, one will ever believe it, Laura Roberts."

He bursted and dashed off. "Hey, please, help me", Laura called and sped after him.

Alixes stared to him in shock as he trod out. "What? Laura? What does he mean by that", she mumbled.

James cheerfully approached from the entrance with a bunch flower and an ice cream in his hands. Rubin accidentally bumped into him, causing the flowers to fall to the floor.

"Hey, watch it....", James angrily retorted as he crouched to the floor for the flowers.

"Sorry, sorry ", he mumbled and sped past him without helping or looking back at him. "Wait for me, please", Laura's spirit called as she followed him out.

James looked back at him and shook his head abruptly, " I guess I'm not the only person having a bad day", he scoffed and strolled towards Alixes.

******************

Amy sat in the couch, gazing at the clock on the wall. It's already 5pm but neither Mya nor his husband had yet gotten home. She picked up her phone and dialed Mya's line. It was going through but no answer. She sighed, down casted as she slowly drew the phone away from her ears. Just then, she saw Kelvin approaching from the library. She swiftly masked her agony with a radiant look.

"Kelvin?", she called and he turned to her direction. "Do you need anything mum?".

"No, dear, just wanted to know if you've heard of your sister. She's still not home".

"Um, no mum, but dad called", he mumbled with a blank and brood look. "He said he got a lot to do at the office so he won't be home to...."

"It's alright,honey. You can go to your room now", Amy cuts in. She felt a piercing pain in her heart– her heart sorrowfully drenched in agony and tears. Kelvin nodded and strolled off, knowing fully well how hard his mother was trying to stay strong by hiding her tears and sorrow away from him–tears rolled down his cheeks, at the thought of this. Amy suddenly faint to the floor thorn in uncontrollable tears. "God!! , when will all this end?", she screamed in tears. Kelvin heard her painful, heartbreaking cry. He locked the door behind and broke down in tears as well.