Chapter 2

"You... you are a grim reaper?" naniniguaradong tanong ni Ella sa lalaki. She didn't know that a man with a gorgeous face like him would be a grim reaper. Ang akala niya, o ang akala nilang mga tao ay naka-takip ang mukha nito ng isang mask at naka-suot ng mahabang kulay itim na damit habang may dala-dalang scythe. Pero itong lalaki sa kaniyang harap ay naka-suot lang ng hooded jacket at jeans na para bang isang tao at walang dala-dalang kahit na anong armas. Her expectation was very different from the reality. 

"I'm THE grim reaper, not just A grim reaper. Know the difference between the two, Miss. English teacher ka pa man din," said Eric nonchalantly, his hands in his pockets, looking straight at her. His body posture and the way he stood reminded her of those many supermodels she saw in magazines and tv commercials. 

Ella blinked once, then twice, trying to comprehend what the man has just said to her. When it finally sinks into her mind, she felt embarrassed. The grim reaper had just mocked her entire career. If this wasn't supposed to be an ignominious feeling, then what else should she feel at that moment?

"Anyway, we need to get going now. I don't want to waste any time more. A minute with you was enough, Ms. Morales," masungit nitong pahayag sa dalaga bago ipinakita ang relong suot-suot nito sa kaniyang pulso. He was a busy man. As the grim reaper, his job is too consistent and insisting. Bawat segundo ay napakaraming namamatay na tao sa mundo ng mga tao. The minute he spent with her was not worth his time. 

Eric extended his right hand to Ella. Expecting that she will take it quickly, he started to prepare for their leave in the human world. Creating a portal is a must in guiding human souls to heaven or hell. That was the easier way of transportation among all the other options. 

Kumunot ang noo ni Eric matapos ang ilang segundong hindi pa rin tinatanggap ni Ella ang kaniyang kamay. Tiningnan niya muli ito at nakitang nakatanga lang ang babae sa kawalan habang may mga luhang umaagos sa kaniyang mukha. In a second, he was piqued by the attitude of the girl. Wala siyang oras para sa kadramahan nito, sana ay maintindihan niya 'yon.

"Ms. Morales, get up. Stop crying. We need to leave now." His voice was rigid, already at the edge if you would look closely. He had always little to no patience. If the girl in front of him would really test him, he would rather abandon her soul and let her wander on Earth with no purpose at all than spend any more time to her nonsense actions. 

Hindi pa rin tumitigil sa pag-iyak si Ella. Iniisip niya ang kaniyang mga naiwang pamilya, ang kaniyang mga kaibigan, si Anne, ang mga estudyanteng kaniyang tinuturuan, ang kaniyang propesyon at pati na rin ang kaniyang love life. Marami pa siyang gustong maabot, marami pa siyang gustong puntahan, marami pa siyang gustong gawin, marami pa siyang gustong maranasan. Bakit kailangan ito mangyari sa kaniya gayong ang gusto niya lang naman sa buhay ay ang mabuhay? 

"T-teka lang lang po, sir," umiiyak niyang sabi. "B-baka, baka naman po na puwede pang mabago ito. B-baka naman po puwede pa akong mabuhay!" She grasped the man's legs and started to hold onto it dearly. 

Eric was baffled about what the girl did. It was the first time in his entire job that he experienced someone begging him to live again. Most people either accept it, do not care about it, or just go with the flow. But with Ms. Morales, it's a different case. 

"Sir, baka naman po!" dagdag pa nito. Her cries were getting louder and louder, beginning to act unhinged with her continuous screaming and pleading. It almost looked like she would have a heart attack except that she didn't have any body parts left now that she's dead. 

"Ms. Morales, stop what your doing," babala na saway ni Eric sa kaniya. His eyes were looking harder each second that's passed. "Kung hindi mo titigilan 'yan, iiwanan na kita rito. I told you, I have no time to waste." 

Kahit pa nakakatakot na ang tingin na iginagawad sa kaniya ng grim reaper, mas matimbang ang kagustuhan niyang mabuhay. Kahit na magalit ito sa kaniya, tatanggapin niya basta ay magkakaroon ito ng kapalit, at 'yon ay kung bibigyan siya ng panibagong pagkakataon upang mabuhay. 

For the third time, she pleaded. "Sir Eric, please! Let me live for the second time around! I'll do everything to experience life again!" 

Sa huling sinabi nito ay biglang may naisip si Eric. He wasn't the type of person to take advantage of the souls he's collecting, however, his time is limited. He is in search of a soul, a willing soul that would offer his/her life to him so he can bring back to life his dead lover. Matagal na siyang naghahanap ng kaluluwang maaari siyang tulungan sa kadahilanang dalawang taon lang ang ibinigay sa kaniya upang kompletuhin ang paghahanap ng mga kakailanganin para sa pagbuhay muli ng kaniyang mahal. Ngayon, anim na buwan na lamang ang natitira. Kung magtatagal pa itong paghahanap niya, tiyak na hindi na niya mabubuhay pa ang kaniyang mahal. 

Hinarap ni Eric ang nagmamaka-awang dalaga sa kaniyang paahan. 

"You said you'd do everything?"

"Yes, I will!" said Ella immediately. 

"Then I'll let you live your life for the second time." Her eyes lit up from what he said to her, her tears stopped flowing in an instant, and her mouth parted from shock and happiness.

"Thank you very--" she was about to say gratitude to the grim reaper when she was cut off. "But there's a condition. Don't celebrate yet. I want a consensual contract about this. You need to hear me out first and see what I'll need you to do before I grant your request."

Ella was over the moon. Sunod-sunod siyang tumango kay Eric at naisipan niya pang tumayo para mag-bow nang paulit-ulit. Hindi niya lubos akalain na i-kokonsidera ng grim reaper ang kaniyang hiling. Sino ba naman siya kung hindi ay isang simpleng tao lang naman. Kahit ano pa man ang hiling o ang mapagkakasunduan nilang dalawa, hindi na bale. As long as she will be able to return back to her life as a human being, she will gladly accept the other part of the deal.

"Ms. Raphaella Morales, I'll be straightforward. I want your soul. By 'want' it means that I want to have complete and full control of your soul whether you are alive or dead. Whatever happens to you, it won't matter since I will be the one to manage your soul. Kung anong gawin ko sa iyo bilang isang kaluluwa, wala kang karapatang magreklamo. Halimbawa, sabihin na nating ginamit kita sa pagbuhay ng isang patay at nakalibing nang demonyo, ang opinyon mo ay balewala. Isa pa, kung papayag ka sa kasunduang ito, mabibigyan kita ng pagkakataong mabuhay ngunit hanggang anim na buwan na lamang ang itatagal mo. Hindi na puwedeng lumagpas."

Sa narinig na paliwanag ni Ella, nagkaroon siya ng kakaunting pag-aalinlangan. Kaunti lang dahil lamang na lamang ang kagustuhan niyang mabuhay kaysa sa panganib na gawin ng grim reaper sa kaniyang kaluluwa. Sa tingin niya ay sapat naman na ang anim na buwan upang mabuhay muli at tuparin ang kaniyang mga natitirang pangarap. Dapat nga ay patay na siya. What Eric offered to her was already a blessing, a once in a blue moon chance that should be grabbed immediately. 

"What's your verdict, Ms. Morales? Will you accept the deal or not?" medyo kinakabahang tanong nito na hindi naman niya pinahalata. Kung pumayag si Ella, masasagot na nito ang matagal niya nang pinoproblema na mahigit isang taon na. Kung hindi naman, tatanggapin niya pa rin ito nang maluwag sa kalooban ngunit hindi niya alam kung may patutunguhan pa ang kaniyang paghahanap sa loob ng anim na buwan. Idagdag pa ang kaniyang trabaho bilang isang grim reaper, baka tuluyan na siyang mabigo sa pagbuhay ng kaniyang minamahal.

"This is a blessing, Sir Eric! I would happily accept it. Regardless of what will happen to me as a soul, it doesn't matter. I'm giving you the rights and my consent to take care of my soul after the six months extension of my life."

Ngumiti ang dalaga sa kaniya. Ang ngiti na ito ay simple lang. Hindi masyadong labas ang mga mapuputing ngipin, sakto lang upang maibigay ang emosyon na kaniyang nais iparating. Napansin ni Eric ang maliliit na dimples na pilit tinatago ang mga sarili sa kaniyang magkabilang pisngi. Pati ang mga mata nito ay napansin niyang sabay na ngumiti. Ordinaryo ang mga mata ng dalaga, itim at bilog, ngunit sa hindi malamang dahilan, parang na-hipnotismo si Eric at nawala sa sarili. Hindi lang dahil sa ganda ng mga ngiti ng dalaga, ngunit dahil na rin ay parang may nararamdaman siyang pamilyar na emosyon nang tingnan niya ito. 

He was put into a light trance by her radiance. When he realized the effect that she caused him, he was enraged. How dare he think about another woman-- especially one that is a mortal-- when his lover was on her death bed, dried from the water of life, all of which are caused by him. He must be already losing his mind because of his deplorable thoughts.

"I'll prepare the contract for a bit," said Eric as he magically snapped his fingers. Ella was in awe when she saw what he did, and also because of the golden piece of paper that appeared right in front of her eyes. 

It didn't take long before Eric has filled out the contract the both of their names. As a matter of fact, it wouldn't have been really taken more than a second since he had already prepared for this countless times after his beloved's death. 

"Kindly sign this, Ms. Morales. The space on top of your written name." 

Ella quickly accepted the lightweight pen given to her by the impatient man. After she put her signature on the piece of paper, it immediately vanished, leaving tiny pieces of gold dust in the open air. She thought that was magical... and was certainly astonishing. She was a fan of fictitious magic and seeing it now directly with her own eyes, she felt as if she had won a lottery. 

"Now that we're done with it, I'm going to leave you in your own life once again. Ang nangyaring iyong pagkamatay ay hindi nangyari. Naglalakad ka sa highway at walang malaking truck na may lasing na drayber ang sasagasa sa iyo. However, take note that it is still possible that you will die in this 6-months extension. Hindi ko hawak ang buong kaligtasan mo sa loob ng anim na buwan kaya alagaan mo ang sarili mo. It is a promise, however, that I would try my very best to keep you alive."

Tumango si Ella sa kaniyang sinabi. She understood exactly what he meant by those words, that her life was as feeble as it was, and that the grim reaper was not a God that could alter the fate of her life. Eric, the grim reaper, won't be able to do anything if she dies in that duration of her extended life. Huwag lang talaga sanang atakihin siya ng katangahan niya at bigla nalang mamatay nang walang katuturan. Katulad na lang ng kaniyang pagkamatay ngayon na dahil lang sa hindi niya pagtingin nang mabuti sa kalsada ay binawian na siya kaagad ng buhay.

Sa isang iglap, bigla na lang nawala si Eric at bumalik na si Ella sa mundo na kaniyang minsang nilisan. Napansin niya na nakatawid na siya sa highway at walang truck ng driver na lasing ang rumaragasang dumaan. Kasalukuyan siyang nakatayo sa harap ng kaniyang paboritong coffee shop na dapat ay kaniyang pupuntahan noong hindi pa siya namatay. She anxiously and carefully tried to walk past through the people on her way to the inside of the cafe. 

"Good morning, Ma'am! Welcome to Sweeties Cafe!" 

She just smiled at the waitress who greeted her and went quickly to the back of the room to find a vacant seat. Fortunately, there was one. Sighing, she felt relieved that she has come back to life. She leaned on the chair and closed her eyes, thanking God for this second life that she's now able to live. 

Mga ilang minuto ang nagtagal na nakaupo si Ella sa ganoong posisyon. Wala pa siyang lakas upang magkaroon ng pakielam sa mga taong nasa paligid niya. Sa isip-isip niya, tila ba nakakabighani pa ring isipin kung ano ang nangyari sa kaniya. Ang mabuhay muli at makasama ang mga tao sa paligid ay iba pa rin sa pakiramdam. Nalungkot siya sa isipin na nakakatakot at nakakalungkot pala na mamatay. Iyong tipong hindi niya makakasama ang kaniyang mga mahal sa buhay at kahit na sinuman ay wala nang makakakita sa kaniya. 

Lumipas ang sampung minuto at noon lang siya kumalma. At that moment, she decided to buy her usual order in the cafe, her favorite cappuccino frappe, and an extra meal of a pesto egg sandwich. She fished out her wallet from her bag and was about to pay for the food when suddenly, a loud noise erupted in the place.

Mabilis na tiningnan ni Ella ang direksyon na pinagmulan ng ingay at nakitang may limang lalaking nakaitim at may suot-suot na itim na mask ang ngayo'y nasa may pintuan. Lahat sila ay may hawak-hawak na baril, ang ibang mga customer ay kanila nang nahostage. 

"Huwag kayong kikilos kung ayaw niyong barilin namin ang mga bungo niyo!" malakas na sabi ng isa, ang kaniyang isang kamay na may hawak ng baril ay nakatuktok sa isang matandang babae na suot-suot ay isang magara at eleganteng bestida. 

"A-ano po ang gusto niyo?" takot na sabi ng matanda. Ang panginginig ng kaniyang katawan ay kitang-kita ng lahat. Gustuhin man na tumulong ng iba ngunit wala silang lakas ng loob upang kalabanin ang mga kawatan. 

That's the same thing Ella has been thinking about. She wanted to help her but she's not a superwoman nor she is someone who has the ability to save the old woman without dying from the hands of the men with pistols in their hands. She must avoid dying at all costs or else her six-month extension will be put to waste.

"Ibigay mo sa akin lahat ng pera at kayaman mo, ngayon din!" Sinunod siya ng matanda nang walang alinlangan. Tinanggal niya ang kaniyang mga mamahaling perlas, ang mga necklace, bracelet at earrings nito. Bukod pa ron ay kinuha niya rin ang kaniyang kumikinang na wallet mula sa bag. 

Isa sa mga kawatan ay dumiretso sa kinalalagyan ni Ella, partikular sa may kahero. Walang anu-ano ay mabilis nitong tinutukan ang babaeng nagbabantay at pinuwersa itong ibigay ang pera ng coffee shop.

"A-ano ba! Kahit anong gawin niyo, hindi ko ibibigay ang pera sa inyo! Mga magnanakaw kayo!" buong tapang na sinagot ng kahera ang lalaki. Dahil nainis ito sa kaniya, malakas siyang itinulak sa pader na nagdulot ng sakit sa katawan ng babae. 

Napansin ni Ella na kinuha ng lalaki ang panaksak na mukhang gagamitin sa kaawa-awang kahera. This time, she was torn between actually helping the girl or just letting the guy with the knife stab her. Gusto man niyang magpikit-mata, hindi kaya ng kaniyang konsensiya na hayaang may mamatay sa harap niya na wala man lang ginagawang kahit na anong tulong.

Based on the expressions of the girl, she didn't really want to die. Sa tingin ni Ella, ginagawa lang nito ang kaniyang trabaho bilang isang kahera ngunit hindi niya talaga gustong masaktan ng mga kawatan. Sino ba naman ang gustong mabalibag nang malakas sa pader? Also, Ella knew how much it hurts to die without actually wanting to die, that's why she did what she thought she had to do.

Mabilis niyang itinulak ang lalaki na akmang sasaksakin na ang kahera saka nagsalita, "Huwag mo siyang saktan!"