Chereads / TALE OF THE SHOOTING STAR / Chapter 4 - Chapter 4

Chapter 4 - Chapter 4

Michael, Jason and Billy having a coffee in the coffee shop, enjoying each of their cup of coffee while having conversation with one another. "What time will we meet them?" Billy asked, "Hours from now, we'll go after we finish our coffee" Jason answered, sip after sip their conversation keep flowing, sometimes they laugh at their funny stories but they'll stop because people around will have their eyes on them, and of these people shake their heads. Their phone sounds like a doorbell, they check it and they receive a message in messenger. The text came from someone named Joel, informing them that they're on the way to their meeting place. Billy drink his coffee without knowing it was already empty and after a short laughter because of him drinking from an empty cup, they left the coffee shop. Joel arrived in the meeting place, with a girl with him, "Expect them to be late, you know? Filipino time" Joel said, "Indeed" the girl replied, "Thankfully my love I have Filipino blood and I lived in Philippines for one year so it was not new to me" A minute have passed, the three arrived and meet Joel and the girl. They have a conversation for awhile then discuss about the concert that will be held in Tokyo, a concert of the idol group that was consist of young ladies, "You know these girlfriend of mind, I'll support her" Joel said, "That makes me so happy to have you mahal" the girl replied, "Anyway, who are these girls Sato?" Michael asked. Sato, the girlfriend of Joel told them about the idol group, it was an idol group that was known to the people in the country, with not too big and not too small fandom, mostly consisted half of the population in the country. Sato get something from her bag and give it to Michael, "what is this?" Michael asked, "It's a ticket to the concert, I brought each one of you, no worry,  it's my treat today" Sato replied, Michael makes an excuse but Joel convince him, "Bro please, just these time" Michael can't bare to see his friend's request being refused, so he agreed just for Joel's sake, he'll support his friend, "Bro salamat tinanggap mo ang pakiusap ko" Joel said, "No problem bro, basta ikaw" "What are we waiting for guys? Let's go!" Sato added.

Michael, Billy, Jason and the couple arrive at the venue, they go inside and wait for the concert to start. After a moment of waiting, the concert starts, the idol group show up on stage, like stars that appears in the night sky, gazed by the people below that was fascinated by them, joy of the audiences explode then wave their hands. The boys are getting wild and crazy, and Sato as well clap her hands for seeing the group. Because of the girl's charisma, Jason and Billy claps as well, Michael remains calm watching them, for his friend's request he come with them with open heart. The show keep going, for the happiness of the fans who gave all their money and time just to see them performing. The theme started to become solemn, the girls announce in front of the people, telling everything about their colleague who passed away recently. The mass' hearts broke into pieces as one of the girls continue to speak and tell the story. Tears started to rain in the venue, as the story of their friend and colleague was shared. They show their colleague's picture in a huge screen as they started to become emotional, "This song, is dedicated for Saaya" trying her best to stop her tears to fall. As the Instrumental music started to play, Sato was hugged by Joel because she can't hold her emotional state. Billy and Jason's facial reaction is like seeing a ghost as they gaze on the huge picture of Saaya, they told Joel and Michael about the girl they try to save, and the girl is the same girl in the huge picture. They sing the song and  change the mood of the environment into requiem. The concert was live in the local television show. Mizuki, in the comfort of their home, break into tears, as she see the picture of the view from the past while watching the live show of the idol group, especially when she's watching Aiko speak and tell them about saaya. Mizuki look back at the past events and review all the events where  Saaya, Aiko, Ai and Mizuki are in the stage performing in front of people who are clapping their hands for them while they are  singing and dancing with full energy and joy, painted on their faces as they show their brightest smile, but in the present, only Aiko and Ai are the original members left in the group and performing in the  concert.

The concert of the idol group comes to end, and the people who attend the event went to their own individual ways. Michael, Billy and Jason return to their apartment. They enjoy meal together, and as they used to be, each of them becomes a storyteller of the tale of different events and genres. The theme of their discussion started to become solemn, as the topic about the girl "Saaya" was opened. They feel sad for the girl, especially Jason, the scene was flashed in his mind and he see the girl's mouth keep opening as she grasp for air, struggling for life and death, but in the end, "Death" won over "Life" in the one on one gamble having Saaya's life as price for the only winner. So death gain Saaya's last breath and she finally left everything behind and go with death. Jason's tears run down to his cheeks while taking deep breath, as he remember the scene while telling it to Billy and Michael. Michael inhales deeply, then slowly releases an exhale while he look to a far distance, he breathe like having fire coming out of his nostrils. Michael resume his attention to Jason and Billy, listening and not saying any word. As he picture out the wounds in the abdomen of the girl made by sharp object being thrust and penetrate to the girl's flesh, Michael's sight directed into the ground as he flash a vision inside his mind. He travel back in time through his mind, refreshing the event that  happened in his life, in their house, as Michael return home from school, their home is in the burning fire of tension, he saw his father holding his chest, having difficulty of breathing, and his older brother holding a knife with blood stain in the ground, "What's happening here?" Michael exclaimed, as he see her sister shaking in fear and his brother hugging each other while crying, his eyes started to burn with fire of fury, "Lucio why? What happens to you?" their mother said while crying, he confronted his brother and facing him, "Never hurt them big brother! Come and face me!" Michael's bother brother turn his attention to him, "I know you're being asked by them to kill me!" He said, "I know all of you wanted to kill me" Michael saw a container near him that was full of knives and he quickly draw one and he armed himself to engage with his brother. Screams break the silence in the area as they engage in a clash with each other. Michael overcome his brother, but when he return to his senses, he's gazing in the sight of his brother lying on the ground soaked in his own blood, Michael's tears fall from his eyes as he lose grip of the bloody knife with his hand filled with blood. The police comes and pick up Michael, take him in the custody of DSWD, "Are you alright man?" Billy put his hand on Michael's shoulder, that makes him return in the present. "I'm fine" Michael responded, "Seems like you're in a deep thinking, just tell us if there's something" Jason added, "Thank you men, but I'm fine"

Hours has passed, Michael, Billy and Jason went to bed. Jason and Billy are already in their deep sleep, except Michael who still have his eyes open, gazing on the ceiling with his forearm on his forehead. He still remembering the past, he then again look at the scene of the past where he was granted by the DSWD a chance to be with his family for his brother and father's funeral. He arrive in the wake and embraced his mother and two little siblings, "Your father never made it son.. his heart condition and high blood pressure become worst after what happened" Michael's mother said, "If not only because of that damn illegal drugs all of this will not happen to our family!" Michael exclaimed. He go straight to his father's casket that was laid in front of them. He touched it and then he break into tears. He then go to his brother's casket where his cry becomes more louder, "big brother forgive me!" he's like a pumping heart that beat as he keep crying before his brother's casket. His mother draw close to him and put her hands on his back, "I believe your Kuya has forgiven you already son.." they look at the face of Lucio through the glass of the casket, small amount of fluid goes out form the decease's side of the eye and it flow down until to his ear.  In the bed, he sigh and then close his eyes, he maybe awake, but still the nightmare of his past keep haunting him.

Meanwhile on the other side, a girl is in her deep sleep, she keep moving, with her heart beat so fast, "Please no..no!" she open her eyes immediately and she inhale so hard, her tears fall from her eyes while she's shaking like a feeling of winter season. One day, Michael walk around the city and he unexpectedly met a friend around. They walk together and talk while walking around, then his friend told him about something, "What?" Micheal reacted, "She witnessed the crime itself how it happens? why not tell the police so that the justice for the girl will be served?" His friend refuse and begged Michael that what he told him will be kept between them, "Please Michael, I know we are good friends that's why I trust you, for Azumi's safety" he said, "Ok, you can count on me" Michael replied, "Thank you Michael, you're really is my  trusted friend"

Michael and his friend meet Azumi and she told Michael everything she saw. In the night when she's walking around the street after watching the concert of Saaya, she come across with a confrontation  between a girl and a guy in the black hoodie. Azumi immediately hide in the corner, the girl turn around and run but the guy outrun her and grab her, the girl do all her best to escape, the guy scream as she bite him in the hand and run but in the second time she was captured, the guy struck her in the abdomen, "Die! Die you bastard!" the guy found her in the corner, he slowly come closer to her and she steps backward slowly. "Please, don't hurt me, I'll never tell the police" she look at his hand and she notice a bloody knife he's holding, her heart's beating becomes more strong and fast, but then the guy looked around because of some guys walking around and talking with one another and lost sight of Azumi. As he resume his sight on Azumi, she already got away, and so on he put on his hoodie to cover his head and walk away. As Michael is listening, he remember the time when he send money to Philippines, he come across with the same guy that was wearing a black hoodie, the guy and Michael looked at each other's eyes, and he waste no time and go, he move faster and walk faster that he got away so quick. "You come across with the guy that time?" Azumi asked, Michael nodded, and the description of the guy he come across is the exact description Azumi explained.