Chapter 5

A shrill cry escaped from Ella's mouth. She didn't waste a second and immediately ran away from the creepy house. Tumakbo lang siya nang tumakbo hanggang sa narating niya ang kalye malapit sa kanilang tahanan. Hingal na hingal niyang itinukod ang kaniyang mga kamay sa kaniyang mga tuhod. She thought she looked pathetic. Actually, in the first place, she didn't expect herself to scream and run away like a chicken being haunted by a dog. Although in her case, she wasn't haunted. But then there was an eerie feeling. She felt a killing intent that came from the creature with a pair of red eyes. She was suffocated by its gaze that she scampered away like a scared mouse. 

Good God, bakit parang sa tingin ko palala nang palala ang mga nararanasan ko? Is this your way of goodness so I can experience a fantasy life that I have always dreamed of?

Ella thought she was crazy. Well, she might have been already real crazy. If this was to test her sanity then she failed already. Gusto na lang niya mag-give up kung ganoon lang din naman. Who the hell in the world would possess a pair of red eyes? Even the grim reaper she met had black eyes! She surmised it was another creature, an unknown creature in the human world. A demon, perhaps? Or maybe it was a real ghost? Chills ran down her spine as she wondered about it. 

"Stop, Ella. Stop thinking about futile things instead spend time thinking about your own life. Huwag mo nang isipin kung ano man iyon. You are alive. You are safe. You are blessed. You are loved," llitanya nito sa sarili. Pagkatapos, sinapak-sapak niya pa ang kaniyang mga pisngi. Hindi pa siya rito nakuntento at akmang sisikmuraan pa ang sarili nang biglang may pumigil sa kaniya. 

"What the heck are you doing?" It was from a man; a deep, baritone voice came from nowhere shocking the lone girl in the neighborhood. 

As Ella looked up, she met the eyes of the most gorgeous man she had ever seen. It was none other than Eric, her savior/ the grim reaper. 

"Huh?" was all she could respond to in that brief moment. Seeing Eric was the last thing she expected to happen. "Teka, Sir Eric?"

Eric clicked his tongue, somewhat annoyed by the slow response of the girl on the pavement in the street. 

"Yes."

Ella stood up before him. His height towered his petite figure. She was tall compared to most women around her age but when she was around him, she was nowhere near his height. 

"Sir, good morning! Bakit nga po pala kayo naparito?" She tried her best to sound bright and cheerful. It was to avert his attention of him from the recent action she did. Alam niya sa sarili niya na mukha siyang tanga kanina dahil pinagsasapak at pinagsasampal niya ang kaniyang sarili. Hiling niya na sana ay mabura na lamang ang ginawa niyang nakakahiya sa memorya nni Eric. Kung hindi, lamunin na lang sana siya ng lupa. 

"Uh, a certain someone-- no. I need to talk to you about something. In any way, are you perhaps busy? Should we reschedule it for some other time? Also, stop adding 'Sir' every time you say my name. It's annoying." 

Ella was a bit hesitant with what Eric said. She wanted to address formality to him and it was also a form of respect.

"Sige po Sir--- ay Eric. Saka ayos lang po na mag-usap tayo kung may mahalaga kayong sasabihin. Kung kinakailangan ngayon na, ayos lang. Wala rin naman akong gaanong gagawin." 

Dumalo ang dalawa sa isang 24/7 na bukas na restaurant malapit sa bahay ni Ella. Nang makaupo, nagkusa nang um-order si Ella. She asked Eric what kind of food he liked but he kindly rejected the offer.

Mabilis lang dumating ang order ni Ella; isang hot chocolate drink at spam at rice with side egg. Mahilig talaga siya sa kanin at bibihira lang ang kaniyang pagkain ng tinapay sa umaga. 

Inalok nitong muli ang lalaking kaharap niya ngunit umiling ito bilang pagtanggi. Hinihintay niyang magsalita si Eric ngunit para bang nawalan ito ng boses magmula nang dumating sila sa kainan. She wondered if it was really a serious question gayong hindi naman nagsasalita si Eric ukol dito. Dagdag pa, hindi siya makakain nang maayos dahil pinagmamasdan siya nito. Because of this, she felt conscious and took little bites of the food. Baka mamaya isipin na baliw na nga siya, patay gutom pa. 

By the time Ella finished her food, the sun has already and a clear, yellow sky was seen on the outside. It was a pretty scenery to her that she couldn't help but sigh at its beauty. 

"Ehem," Eric cleared his throat as a sign of the start of their conversation. "How are you, Miss?"

"Ha?" 

Napatanga na naman si Ella sa kaniyang sinagot. Hindi naman niya masisi ang sarili dahil hindi nito inaasahan ang unang lalabas sa bibig ni Eric. It looked like he wasn't the type of person to start a conversation like that. 

"I mean, ayos lang po ako. Kayo po ba?" 

"I'm okay too," mabilis na sagot ni Eric. 

After that, the conversation went silent. Dead air filled the gap between the two and the only noise that was present was the background music from the restaurant. 

Ella thought he was acting weird. He always seemed a very serious creature to her. He wasn't the type to beat around the bush or make segues. What did happen for him to act this way in front of her? 

After a bit of 5-minute silence, Ella gave up. Hindi niya na kinaya pa ang tahimik na paligid at ang awkward situation sa pagitan nilang dalawa. Hindi niya nga alam kung siya lang ba ang nakakaramdam nito. Nagdesisyon siyang unang magsalita lalo pa at mukhang walang balak ang kaharap na sabihin ang nais nitong sabihin. 

"Eric? Do you need anything from me? Are there any problems with the contract?"

Surprisingly, he answered. "No."

"What is it that you want from me then? I thought we had something to talk about?" 

"Forget what I said. I'm going out now. I appreciate the time you spent with me. Until next time then."

Before Eric could snap his hands and do some magic stuff, Ella was quick to stop him. Eric raised an eyebrow at her, questioning her action.

"Eric! Teka lang, ang bilis mo namang umalis. Gusto ko lang sana magpasalamat sa iyo sa nakaraang interaksyon natin sa coffee shop noong muntikan na along mamatay sa pangalawang pagkakataon." 

"No worries. That was my job and---" Ella immediately cut him off. She clasped her hands around his and tightly grasped them. 

"No, no, no. You don't understand. I know that was your job. As part of the contract, you are my contractor, however, I'd still want to express genuine thanks and appreciation. Especially because you've given me the opportunity to have an extension of my life. Yesterday, when I went home, I had the chance to rethink and recalibrate my life. That's when I realized, I wouldn't have been able to die peacefully knowing that I left the people I loved unexpectedly in sudden and sullen death. Without you, this miracle would be non-existent. That's why Eric, my grim reaper, thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much." 

Eric was taken aback not only by what she said but also because of how she looked at that time. 

She was beautiful.

He was in awe when he watched her smile after the long speech she delivered. It was, without a doubt, very warm, like the sun that was shining brightly outside the window. He thought that her long black hair cascaded perfectly as it swayed from side to side due to the fan inside. And her eyes. He thought her eyes were perfectly the same just like a certain someone. They were ordinary, yet magical. Her eyes were glowing in the daytime as if she was the Goddess of light. She was radiating with positivity, and that was exactly the same feeling he has towards the only woman she has always loved. 

Hindi namalayan ni Eric na matagal na pala siyang nakatitig sa dalaga. Nagising lang siya sa reyalidad nang itapat ni Ella ang kaniyang mga kamay sa harap ng mukha nito. 

"Oh. I apologize for spacing out. I mistook you for someone else. Nevertheless, don't worry about it. Parehas naman tayong may makukuha ritong benepisyo kaya hindi mo na kailangang magpasalamat. Tandaan mo lang lagi na unahin mo ang sarili mo. Mahirap kung hindi ako makasipot agad kung sakaling nasa kalagitnaan ka ng panganib at ako naman ay may iba ring inaasikaso." Tumayo ito at inayos nang onti ang kaniyang suot-suot na jacket at t-shirt. Napansin ni Ella na ito pa rin ang suot niya simula noong una silang magkita. Naisip ni Ella na siguro ay hindi siya mahilig magpalit ng mga damit sa dami ng kaniyang ginagawa. Sa susunod na magkita sila nito, ipinangako niyang bibilhan niya ito ng damit para may ibang magamit sa labas. 

"Maraming salamat ulit, Eric. Ingat ka!" magiliw na pamamaalam ni Ella sa lalaki. Tumayo pa ito nang tumayo rin si Eric. Bago tuluyang lumabas ng restaurant ang binata, lumapit ito kay Ella at idinantay ang kaniyang mga labi malapit sa kaliwang tainga ni Ella. Matapos, dire-diretso itong lumabas ng gusali. Hindi niya namalayang may ngiti siya sa labi dahil sa isang babae. Dahil doon, mariin siyang pumikit saka mahinahong pinagalitan ang sarili. 

Sa kabilang banda, tila ba naestatwa si Ella sa kaniyang kinatatayuan. Paulit-ulit nag-eechho sa kaniyang utak ang mga salitang binitawan ni Eric bago tuluyan siyang iniwan. 

Also Miss, hindi ko alam na may pagka-possessive ka pala. "My grim reaper" pala ha?

Also Miss, hindi ko alam na may pagka-possessive ka pala. "My grim reaper" pala ha?

Also Miss, hindi ko alam na may pagka-possessive ka pala. "My grim reaper" pala ha?

Also Miss, hindi ko alam na may pagka-possessive ka pala. "My grim reaper" pala ha?

Also Miss, hindi ko alam na may pagka-possessive ka pala. "My grim reaper" pala ha?

It was in a continuous repeat inside her head. Alam niyang pulang-pula na siya ngayon. Mukha na siguro siyang kamatis sa sobrang pula ngunit hindi niya pa rin magawang kumilos. Parang mas gugustuhin na lang niyang lamunin siya ng lupa na kinatatayuan niya sa pagkakataon na iyon. Iniisip niya kung paano na lang niya muling haharapin si Eric, o baka puwedeng huwag na lang muna. Hintayin na lang sana niyang humupa muna ang kahihiyan niya sa pagsabi ng kung anu-ano. 

"Miss, ayos lang po kayo?" tanong ng isang staff sa kaniya. Dahil nabigla siya sa pagdating nito, she immediately tried to keep her red beet face away from the staff. Tinakpan niya ang kaniyang mukha gamit ang mga kamay saka nagmadaling tumakbo palabas ng restaurant. 

"Ayos lang po. Maraming salamat!"

When she ran outside, she unknowingly stumbled into some stranger caused both of them to fall on the floor. Dahil doon, sandamakmak na papeles ang nagkalat sa sahig. 

"Pasensya na po sa abala, hindi ko sinasadya," aniya Ella habang tumulong sa pagpulot ng mga nahulog ng gamit noong estranghero. Pulot lang siya nang pulot nang hindi tinitingnan ang nasa paligid. She only looked up when she gathered all of the papers lying on the floor. 

She noticed it was a male teenager whom she stumbled upon. He looked like he was too young to go to college yet was too young to be a high school student. She frowned because of her confusing thoughts. Ano rin ba naman kung nasa hayskul o kolehiyo na ang bata? Wala naman ito sa kaniya. Siguro dahil sa kakaiba lang ang itsura noong bata kaya hindi niya mapigilang nag-isip ng ganoon. She found the kid attractive. Not romantically, but more like she was platonically attracted to him. Para kasing bata siya ngunit matanda na. 

When she snapped out of reverie, she bid goodbye to the kid and he said thanks to her. She didn't notice that her cap fell down because of the whole commotion. Without any kind of worries, she walked back to her home, elated.