My Neighbor Is a Silver-Haired Banshee 22 Final Chapter

The biggest perk about being a paranormal investigator was having government connections. Leslie used that to distribute information about the sequoia leaves. Drug development companies immediately worked on a new drug discovery using the mystical leaves of a sequoia tree, then preclinical testing was conducted. The drug molecules were examined in test tubes then on animal models and in other living cell cultures. An Investigational New Drug application was submitted to FDA preceding human clinical trials. After three phases of clinical studies, New Drug Application was filed, and FDA finally approved what the whole world was waiting for – a cure. In less than six months, some things started to go back to normal. The lockdown was lifted so some business establishments were up and running. Malls have opened but movie theatres and arcades stayed closed. Masks and social distancing still carried on for another year and crowds of more than 10 people were still prohibited. Most corporate companies migrated to online platforms for homebased jobs. The entertainment industry had used online platforms as the main source of entertainment that even concerts and fan meetings were done through live streaming. It wasn't until 2022 that the world completely went back to normal – no masks and no social distancing. Movie theatres, schools, churches, and other crowded places were finally open. All anticipated concerts and other social events that have been postponed in 2020 gradually pushed through.

It was December 31, 2022, New Year's Eve. If it weren't for Mrs. Rodriguez, Apollo would've gone insane. He had tried his best to act normal by carrying on with his life day by day. He tried to be cheerful that the world had gotten rid of the pandemic, but then time was fleeting so fast and there was still no sign of Betha. Nevertheless, he had to welcome and celebrate the new year with a smile on his face.

Apollo, Mrs. Rodriguez, Gab, and Leslie looked like a happy family during dinner. They laughed at throwback stories and filled their bellies with roasted beef tenderloin, buttered shrimp, pork chops with bourbon-molasses glaze, rice, mashed potatoes, spaghetti, cranberry tart, and pomegranate-rum punch. Gab excused himself twice for his burps, still savoring the taste of punch. "I'm not sorry. Burping is fundamental in showing appreciation to a sumptuous meal," said Gab. Everyone chuckled. "What is that expensive looking box over there?" He pointed near the edge of the table. Mrs. Rodriguez just absent-mindedly placed it there after Luke unexpectedly dropped by to hand it over.

"It's a gift from Luke." She answered casually then extended her arms to grab it. "I forgot to put this upstairs."

"What could it be?" Gab clearly wanted her to open the gift in front of them. His voice sounded a little jealous.

Mrs. Rodriguez didn't mind opening it, so she easily unwrapped the box, revealing a perfume. "Oh, okay. Not my kind of perfume, but it's the thought that counts."

"Cool Water?" Gab stated. "Yeah, the scent is too strong for you."

Leslie was about to say something when she suddenly noticed Apollo who was sitting across her. He was seated next to Mrs. Rodriguez and was looking at the perfume like it was the saddest thing he had ever seen in his life. "Apollo, are you okay?"

Mrs. Rodriguez had noticed it, too and so did Gab. "Apollo?" They uttered in unison.

Apollo burst out crying like a baby and all they could do was embrace him. But then no one was able to give him the comfort he wanted. That perfume was his gift to Betha on Valentine's day and remembering that opened a well of emotions. He needed Betha. He wanted to see her so bad.

The next morning, Apollo woke up with puffy eyes. When he looked at the date, he was teary-eyed again. It was January 1, 2023. The last time she saw Betha was April 7, 2020. How many leaves were used to cure the entire world that it's taking too much time to replenish? How long did he have to wait? Is she ever coming back? These were his thoughts as tears streamed down his face. Instead of getting up to get ready for the Sunday mass, he went inside his blanket and slept again. A few minutes later, Mrs. Rodriguez knocked on his door. It was his queue to really get up and take a shower. "I'm up, mom. Be out in 30 minutes."

"Okay, dear. Take your time. We can attend the next mass if we don't make it by 7am."

Apollo and Mrs. Rodriguez made it by 7am. When the mass ended and they squeezed themselves out of the church, Apollo was taken aback by someone with long black hair. "What is it, baby? Is something wrong?"

"Betha." Apollo uttered; his eyes fixed on the young woman. When he realized it wasn't her, he looked down with a crestfallen face.

Mrs. Rodriguez was teary-eyed. "Oh my God, baby. This is déjà vu."

Apollo felt bad for making his mom feel sad again. "No. Please don't cry this time, mom. You'll take hours redoing your make up."

"Oh, don't exaggerate. It won't take hours," answered Mrs. Rodriguez whose tears didn't come out this time.

Just like last time that Betha suddenly disappeared, Mrs. Rodriguez didn't have any idea why. But this time, she knew she would come back. It was just a feeling. Apollo was not the type to open up about sad things; he never liked dramatic moments. She was glad he burst out crying last night on New Year's Eve because he was human after all. She wanted him to let out his feelings; if not through words, then through emotions. Mrs. Rodriguez knew how hard it was to be tough during the weakest point in one's life. She missed Betha, too. And she wanted her for Apollo. She wanted her for herself as a daughter-in-law, too. In church, she had prayed for Betha to return. She was 100% sure that prayers worked. Maybe not as soon as expected, but prayers always get granted when the time is right.

As usual, they ate at Samgyeopsal. It was their Sunday routine to attend church and eat a sumptuous Korean meal. As soon as they got home, Apollo got a call from Gab while he was walking upstairs to his bedroom. "Happy New Year, bro! There's an exclusive New Year celebration at Dulcimer tonight. I'll pick you up at 8:30pm. I have a session at 9." Gab said with much excitement.

"You don't have to pick me up. I'll bring my mom's car and we can just meet there." Apollo responded with an unenthusiastic tone.

"No. I don't trust that you'll come if I don't pick you up. So, put on some nice clothes. I'll pick you up. Bye."

Apollo rolled his eyes. Gab didn't even give him a chance to respond. He didn't feel like partying or celebrating but he did feel like he needed a drink, or maybe lots of it.

In the evening, Gab arrived five minutes late. Apollo greeted Leslie with a hand gesture and sat with Gab at the backseat. He had his guitar with him. When they arrived and got inside Dulcimer, the table was ready with jerk chicken sticks, key west shrimp cakes, enchiladas, and the perfect drink for the night – margarita. Leslie's eyes devoured the delightful sight in front of her while Apollo just tried to sit comfortably across her. Gab rushed to the backstage the minute they arrived and was now being announced by Luke to start the session. All the ladies screamed their lungs out when he started to sing, and Apollo couldn't help but let out a little smile. He was proud of him. He learned from Leslie that a record producer had contacted him before Christmas but couldn't tell Apollo because he wanted to announce it when Betha was around. That made Apollo's heart get crushed a little, but he didn't want to ruin the night. And he didn't want Leslie to regret what she said. So, he just smiled like everything was okay, when it really wasn't.

Gab had finished his second acoustic song and was now singing Lay Me Down by Sam Smith:

~Yes, I do. I believe that one day I will be where I was. Right there, right next to you. And it's hard, the days just seem so dark. The moon, and the stars, are nothing without you. Your touch, your skin, where do I begin? No words can explain, the way I'm missing you. Deny this emptiness, this hole that I'm inside. These tears, they tell their own story.~

For a moment, Apollo wanted to kill Gab for singing a song that would very much make him remember Betha. But then again, when did he ever not think about Betha? He thought about her all the time and it was slowly killing him not to be able to do anything but wait. Then, as if the gods felt his enormous desperation to see Betha that very moment, he saw a glimpse of someone who looked just like her. She was squeezing herself through the crowd of people. But he wasn't sure. He didn't want to get his hopes up because if he sees her up close and it's not Betha, he would be crushed for the hundredth time. But then despite the dim lighting of the club, he could perfectly recognize who was coming towards him. His eyes were dreamy and hopeful as he looked into a beautiful face, perfect set of eyes, pouty red lips, and long black hair dangling over a silver sequin disc shift dress. He blinked. He looked like his jaw got locked when he realized it was her. It was really, really her.

She slowly approached without taking her eyes off him. Then the most unexpected thing happened aside from the fact that Betha was really in front him. She kissed him. On the lips. And Apollo didn't care if he died. But after that romantic kiss, he didn't die at all. If anything, he became alive.

"I'm here now and I'm all yours, Apollo. Satoori removed my ugly banshee form so I can no longer consume your life for kissing you on the lips. Isn't that perfect?" Apollo nodded like he was hypnotized. Betha gave him the sweetest most alluring smile. Apollo was speechless.

Leslie's jaw dropped when Betha suddenly appeared and kissed Apollo. Then after a while, Gab's presence destroyed the shock in both Leslie and Apollo's eyes. "Welcome back, Betha!" Gab said.

Apollo's smile was so wide, he felt like it would be stuck there for a long time. Leslie initiated a group hug and they all embraced each other as if they were never letting go.

THE END.

Chapter end