Chapter 1

"Keira, don't worry you're father will be okay."

"Be okay?! Mom, he's on the verge dying and you're here saying he'd be okay? Seriously?"

Mom burst into tears. "You think I'm not in pain here? Of course he's my husband. I'm too scared to admit to that fact honey. So please, let's hope your dad will be okay."

"But mom! Dad is-"

"Honey hope for the best to happen to your dad"

"Yes..." I was silent for a while.

Dad had a heart attack, he just suddenly fell on our kitchen floor when mom was cooking. We hurried him to the hospital. And now he's here lying in the hospital bed unconscious, being attended by different doctors and nurses.

Mom was not showing it but I know she's been going to the restroom crying her heart out just like she got dumped.

I'm Keira Nakamura, a 14 yr old kid. Though my name sounds feminine, I am a male.

"Mrs. Nakamura?"

"Yes? Is there something wrong Doc? Doc, Is there something wrong?!?"

"I'm sorry we did everything we could. Time of death...8:30 pm"

Mom broke down to tears on the floor.

"Actually he gained consciousness a while ago, he said something."

"What is it Doc?"

"Other Side is what he said"

"Other side? Mom do you know something?"

"Hmm...it's awfully familiar, I just don't know where to place it..."

"Thank you Doc, we'll find this out ourselves."

"Well, please excuse me."

It was never a habit of mine to cry in front of others, It just makes me feel weak. I always thought to myself, If I wanna be strong I shouldn't cry in public. With dad saying that in his last breathe, mom and I felt like we've lost everything. Especially when we have no idea what the OTHER SIDE meant...

I headed to the restroom crying myself out just like mom did. Fortunately, no one came in.

"Keira, we'll be holding your dad's funeral in a few days." Mom said frowning her face.

"Sure. I'll be there"

"I know you're sad now your dad's gone, you don't have to hide it. We keep depending on him not knowing we'd be like this. If I'd known, I should've gone to work instead of him."

"It wasn't your fault anyway..."

"We're living with your grandparents from now on, we'll be leaving after your dad's funeral."

"Why? We can just stay here."

"Yes we can but we don't have enough money and I'm not confident I could work without having to worry about you every single minute. Mom and dad will take care of you while I work. I hope you understand honey..."

"I understand, I'll head over to Akio's place first. I'll see you later mom."

"Sure, take care. Get home safely okay?"

"I will."

*Akio's place*

"I'm sorry for you're loss"

"Yeah..."

"You don't show this face to others but you show this to me?"

"Well I'm more comfortable with you."

"Aren't you supposed to be more comfortable around your mom?"

"Nah...I'm more closer to dad than mom."

" *sighs* What do I do with you."

"Mom said we'll be leaving this place for good after dad's funeral."

"What?! Seriously?"

"If it wasn't something serious, I wouldn't have told you right now."

"Damn...Where you guys headin'?"

"To my grandparents"

"Well...can't deny, there're a lot of job opportunities there."

"Yeah, wanna come? Since you live alone..."

"Are you crazy? I won't leave you all by yourself. I'm the best friend in the world you know."

"You're overly confident but yeah you are. You comin' right? Don't go back on your words."

"Of course, my Kei will be sad without me"

"Who will?? Imma beat ya up if you say that again."

"Woah chill chill, I was just kidding HAHAHA."

"You always joke around, when can I see you all serious about stuff?"

"Meh...you'll see it soon."

"Alright sure, I'll wait."

"Ask your mom about it."

"About what?"

"About me coming with you."

"Oh yeah sure."

"Why did you live alone anyways? You're too young"

"That's my decision Kei. 'Sides it's better to live alone when you're still young, that way you won't have to depend on your parents all the time."

"Wow you actually use your head?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothin' big. Well...want me to cook for you?"

"Sure! My Kei's cooking skills are the best."

"What are you? A child? Dude you're 15."

"So what? It's true anyway."

"Whatever."

"Eat up, don't mess up this time, I won't clean for you."

"Aww Kei, you're food's so good for me not to mess up. You know that."

"Ugh you idiot, fine do what you want. This'll be the last time I'll clean for you."

"Sure sure"

"Ahh~ that sure hit the stop"

"You done now? I'm leaving."

"Already? let's drink first."

"We're too young for that"

"No no I didn't mean the adult drinks, soda?"

"I won't be staying for too long though..."

"Yeah that's fine."

"So what was your dad's last words on his death bed?"

"Other side"

"Huh? Is that something you should worry about?"

"It is, after all it was dad's last words. Problem is we don't know what that meant. Although mom said it was familiar, she don't exactly know what it means."

"So...are you investigating this?"

"Should I?"

"Of course dude!"

"But where do I start?"

"Your dad's old stuff?"

"You are actually smart too huh?"

"What? You didn't know?"

"Nah, I never cared"

"My feelings were hurt art thou."

"You sound stupid, are you even sure that's how you say it?"

"Of course!"

"You're hopeless."

"Oh come on, I'll help you investigate okay?"

"That's thoughtful of you, sure"

"You're smile's creeping me out Kei."

"Talk about yourself!"

"Seeya tomorrow!"

"Yeah, bye."

Akio was one year older than me, we met on the School's Sports Day. Ever since then, we became friends. I address him casually because he's more stupid than I am, not brag about it. He helped me in a lot of things since then. I was grateful to him but how I talk to him doesn't sound grateful at all. He's the clingy type, I even mistake his gender sometimes. A part of me wants to stay away from him but a part of me also wants to take care of him, he's living by himself. Who wouldn't want to take care of him when he's like this? He was the only one who can keep up with my temper and the only one who understands me pretty well aside from dad. Though I know sometimes I hurt his feelings, he doesn't hesitate to get close to me. I guess mom, my grandparents and Akio are the most important people left in my life. You could say they're the people that keep me sane in this world, you don't wanna know what I'd do when something happens to them. For dad, I don't why I didn't loose my mind. Well mom was about to loose her mind, good thing I was there. Perhaps I didn't wanna make his last day here on earth a mess. Even all the expressions mom and I had when we're with dad was all gone. Almost like he's the source of all of it.

If Other Side meant something, I hope it's something that'll help me see dad one last time...

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