Chapter 1: A Better Second Life
"Huff... Huff..."
As he stared at the ceiling, a boy with a bald head, dull black eyes, and sick-looking pale skin was gasping for air as he endured the coldness that slowly crept into his body.
"Gary, can you help me record something?" His voice trembling as he asked, the boy's dull eyes were kept affixed on the ceiling.
"Anything for you," Gary said, wiping his tears that threatened to fall.
"Thanks, bud." With a smile blooming on his face, Adrian's eyes slowly reddened as his face became paler.
"Was it wrong for me to hope for something better?" As his voice shook, a mix of mostly sad memories with a few happy ones flooded Adrian's mind.
Gary's lips trembled as he remembered that Adrian's condition was better than this a few days back.
Remembering the dreams that they had and the promises they made, a smile that was formed from happiness and sadness appeared on Gary's face. "It wasn't wrong for us to dream."
"Hahaha... That sounded quite weird didn't it?" He weakly laughed, a smile was on Adrian's face as a tear streaked down his cheek.
Staring at Adrian with reddened eyes, Gary tried to stop himself from crying his heart out.
Remembering the face of his girlfriend who he'll soon leave behind, Adrian smiled as he muttered. "It would've been nice if we had gone on an actual date but too bad the body of your handsome boyfriend is useless."
As memories of the time he spent with his girlfriend flooded his mind, Adrian was left with only one regret —not being able to take his girl out after she agreed to date him.
Since when Adrian was a child, he has had a weak body but it was during his middle school graduation that his health began to decline. His health was still above average until he was drenched on the day Alexia became his girl, and it became so bad that he was forced to live with an oxygen mask.
The name of his illness or its cause was unknown but what was known was that he was either the first person on Earth to suffer from it or it was an extremely rare disease. Either way, none mattered to Adrian since knowing such information couldn't help him get better.
"After I die, do well to visit me." Adrian gasped using a lot of energy just to look at Gary's face.
"I swear that I'll visit you... No, we all at the orphanage would come to visit you." As his tears poured like rain, Gary felt like something in him was being eaten up.
"My body would probably end up in a morgue but if by chance I'm buried be sure to come with flowers." Adrian ignored the fatigue that threatened to consume him as a weak cough escaped his mouth.
"Sure I'll make sure I come with flowers." With tears streaking down his cheeks, Gary slowly nodded his head.
Having a smile on his face, Adrian's eyes held a deep trace of happiness as he said. "I'm allergic to pollen silly. And take it easy on the rest at the orphanage."
"It doesn't matter. Everyone needs to come in contact with flowers even if it's once in their life... or after it." Gary cleaned his nose with his sleeve before he continued. "You told me roses were your favorite even though you were never able to hold one, remember?"
Having happiness and sadness blend perfectly within him, Adrian looked at the crying Gary with a smile on his face.
Honestly, he didn't want to die. No one would want to die when their life was just getting fun, and he was the same. Yes, he was able to live for a while but with his life being governed by sadness, he would want to give his all to living when he has someone like his best friend to keep him company.
Letting out a weak laugh, Adrian continued. "Be sure to do that haha..."
"Well, it's time I say what I wanted you to record." Gradually getting drained from talking, Adrian decided it was time for him to get to the point.
"The reason why I followed you home was because I felt it'd be my last walk with you." Not wanting his girlfriend to feel guilty, there was a relieved expression on Adrian's face as his few happy memories surfaced.
....
Author's note- I've already mentioned something about his girlfriend (Alexia) a few paragraphs back. MC isn't gay.
....
"Damn." Angry as he saw his friend slowly die before him, Gary remembered that since they were young he had always been getting helped by Adrian.
"Why's fate so cruel?" Muttering to himself, Gary clenched his fists and gritted his teeth.
Some people were blessed with good health and a bonus of everything they could wish for while some had neither of them.
With a weak smile on his face, Adrian looked at the ceiling before muttering. "How wish I could be with her."
Barely seeing the black shadowy figure not too far away from him, Adrian said with a smile. "I guess I'll soon be going into an eternal slumber."
"Don't say things like that!!!" Raising his voice, Gary's face was covered with anger even though he knew that Adrian was either going to die today or tomorrow.
Adrian smiled as he said. "But I'm telling the truth."
Looking at the shadowy figure, Adrian felt complex emotions as he said to himself. 'Just give me a little more time.'
A little shocked after seeing the figure nod, Adrian didn't know how it had heard him but he knew he had to use his last minutes wisely.
As he stared at Gary, Adrian said. "I might not be with you two but I'll watch over you guys. And Gary don't you dare date Alexia but protect her from Pablo and his goons."
"If I thought of dating my friend's girl after his death that would just make me a jerk." Not laughing at Adrian's joke but how hopeless he felt, tears streaked down Gary's cheeks.
"And also name your first son after me. I need to have someone who bears my name." Adrian laughed with a smile on his face as his eyes gradually became duller.
"I'll do that." Nodding his head, Gary wiped his tears with sadness taking over his being.
"And let's meet in the afterlife. Oh and don't follow me immediately." The more he talked, the more sadness filled Adrian's heart as he thought of what he was going to leave behind.
As sadness and happiness bloomed in his heart, Gary's tears that had seemed to dry up streaked down his the more he watched Adrian laugh.
"No matter what, you should be happy Alexia and that goes for you too Gary." Tired of talking, Adrian signaled for Gary to stop recording.
"Take your own words, Adrian, if you get a second chance always be happy." Placing his palm on Adrian's hand after he was done recording, Gary felt bitter-sweet emotions well up within him.
He felt happy because his best friend would finally be released from his suffering and sad since the only friend he had was going to die.
"I'll miss you too bud and I'm sure you know who to give the recording to." Barely resisting the urge to close his eyes, Adrian had the best smile he could muster plastered on his face.
"I guess it's time I go." With the shadowy figure standing beside him, Adrian muttered to himself with closed eyes.
With the figure's face being the last thing he saw before his soul left his body, Adrian had a smile that could melt the coldest hearts on his face.
Looking at Gary, the Grim Reaper's face remained unchanged as he began walking away from the bed. To the Grim Reaper, it was all a job and the emotions of those close to his target didn't matter.
Disappearing from the room, the Grim Reaper was on his way towards his next target.
Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeppppppppppppp...
A few seconds after the Grim Reaper had left, Gary's tears fell like rain when he felt the coldness from Adrian's body. He knew his friend was gone and nothing was bringing him back.
As he controlled his urge to call a nurse, Gary looked at the ceiling and said. "Why?"
"Why do I remember him always being sad." Having tears streak down his cheeks, it felt as if there was a lump in Gary's throat.
"If you do exist and there is anything like reincarnation please let him have a better second life." Drowned by sorrow, Gary ran his hands through his hair as his tears fell.
He deeply wished that Adrian would be able to make happy memories in his next life.
****
"That was all he said."
Standing beside a beautiful girl with black hair and yellow eyes, a short boy with brown hair and slightly reddened black eyes was seen with his hands in his pocket. This boy was none other than Gary.
As Gary saw tears streak down the girl's face, he walked up to her and said. "Adrian wants you to be happy no matter what so enough with the tears."
Gary patted her shoulder while he talked and tried his best not to cry.
"Hopefully, he would have a happy second life... if such exists anyway." Muttering to himself, Gary stared at the setting sun with sadness plaguing his heart.
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