UNKNOWN

VII

A voice snapped Dale out of his trail of thoughts. Dale shook his head at searched for the source of it.
"They are coming."
Dale looked at Caleb. "I beg your pardon?"
"It's them."
"Who?" Dale was getting impatient. "Who on earth are you talking about?"
"No, no."
"What? Come on Caleb."
"No. Not here. Not on-"
Caleb's words were cut off by the sudden entrance of Pablo. "So you're awake, son!" Pablo ambled across the room and gave Dale a tight hug. "You and your alcohol again."
"Sorry, tio," Dale said. "And thanks."
"Ah, no mention it, boy. Scared the ell out of me, know? Your tia wants an explanation, too."
Dale heaved a sigh and got up. He paced towards the door and exited the room, pausing along the way to look at Caleb.
"Problem, son?" Pablo asked, raising a curious brow.
"Uhh, no," Dale dismissed. "Let's get out of here."

***

"Hey tia Juan," Dale greeted.
"Ah, Dale!" Juan called out. "What happened to you? All the beer and vomit."
"Eh, let's not talk about it, tia. Plus, I can't really remember. My head still hurts from the hangover."
"You made us worry sick! You better change this routine of yours, Dale, before you get one of those colon cancer."
"Will do, tia," Dale promised half-heartedly. "Say, tio, could you walk me home?"
Pablo chuckled and patted Dale on the back. "Still a kid, eh Dale?"
"Heh, guess so.."
"You wait here, let me go get my coat. Sky looks dark."
Dale reached for a wooden crate and sat on it. He lifted his gaze to the skies and squinted at the overcast weather. A mild wind blew across the street and brushed against his flushed cheeks. Dale shifted his gaze to the telephone wires across the street and stared at the row of birds sojourning on the rubber wires. A nearby car honked loudly and the birds took flight all at once. A few curses followed.

What WAS all that, anyway? Dale thought to himself. It was no hallucinations, that he was sure. During the solemn months after Olivia's demise, Dale fell into a deep depression and had several hallucinations of his own. He would often see figures loitering in the corners of his house and would occasionally hear noises within his own house, as though it is trying to talk to him. Every single time he would be reminded by his own conscious that what he was experiencing were indeed illusions. But not this time. Not Caleb. This was real.

Minutes later, Pablo came out with two beige-coloured raincoats. "Here, take this. Seems like the angels are about to take a shower." Dale chuckled at the thought and grabbed the coat. "Gracias, tio."

Dale and Pablo walked down the street and took a left turn at the T-junction, passing by Albert's Fish Market and also Henrietta's Chocolate Haven. They remained silent throughout most of the journey, until Dale broke the silence two blocks away from his own apartment.
"Hey tio, could we talk?"
"What's the matter, Dale? You don't seem like yourself. Even though at times you can be quite confusing."
Dale tightened his jaw and gulped forcefully. It was tougher than he thought.
"It...It's about Caleb."
Uncle Pablo's expression changed immediately. It was like those street performers who wore masks and impressed the public by changing their facial expressions in a matter of seconds. With just a little more practice and Uncle Pablo could be one of them, Dale thought. In what seemed to be a fraction of a second, his normal, cheerful look morphed into a grim, solemn frown.
"What about Caleb?" Uncle Pablo's voice was somehow deeper, sadder.
"Let's do this in my place, shall we?"
Uncle Pablo looked Dale in his eyes, pondered for a second-as though hesitated-but nodded in the end.

With that, both of them walked the remaining half of the journey yet again with the inevitable cloud of silence hovering just above their heads.