THE JOURNEY OF SHEIRA HART

3 | Even the Afterlife Isn't Free of Jerks

He extended his hand and I just stared at it. When he realized I wasn't going to take his hand, he stood up and stuffed his hands on the pockets of his shorts. "I'm Mikhael. Mikhael di Angelo."

I didn't respond and stood up. I was still glaring at him and then he sighed. "Look, I'm sorry about the ball...hitting your face."

"That should be the first thing you said," I said and he just stared at me from head to toe.

"I got distracted."

I looked around as I heard some other guys behind him calling him back. I groaned in frustration and went to walk but I felt his hand on my wrist, stopping me. I looked at it and then at him.

"I didn't get your name."

"Have a nice day," I said and gave him a saccharine smile as I pulled my arm and turned my back on him. I just heard his chuckle before I heard him ran in the other direction. I looked back to see him playing back with his friends and I was wise enough to continue walking before he could see me looking at him.

I looked around and all I could see were trees and fallen leaves. I don't know which way back to the café. Why on earth did he leave me here? And then I halted when I remembered how Mr. Grim looked at the girl. He was genuinely sad. With the short time I met him, I see him as someone bright. He was smiling as he told me I died and that really broke my perception against grim reapers that they're...well, grim.

I walked until the end of the bridge and walked further. I could see some other people—souls that were looking around and I got the idea that they might be newcomers. Or Newlanders as what that Mikhael guy had said. I don't know the way to the café so I followed one of the souls. And it gave me the chance to explore a little bit of the city.

There are a lot of people—dead people enjoying their life—well, their afterlife. And I still couldn't believe they're dead. I still couldn't believe that I am dead. Even after what Mr. Grim showed me earlier. What I saw for a moment there, was probably the causes of their deaths. And when I saw my face on the glass wall, I couldn't stop thinking about it.

I tried to think about what happened that I ended up here but found nothing. It was as if it was purposely erased. I couldn't remember anything aside from the fact that I have a family. I couldn't remember how I died or anything related to it at all.

I have to admit it's frustrating but there has to be something. There has to be a way for me to find out. And so I continued walking following the soul of a dead woman. She looked smart enough. She'll know the way to the café. I looked around and saw ladies in their old-fashioned clothes, talking, and giggling at each other. And I could also see several guys in their respective gentlemanly clothes as they smoked pipes and were reading newspapers. I didn't know newspapers got this far. Literally.

There were also some kids playing in the playground and I halted to watch them. To think that they died at such a young age is quite sad. I wonder how they died.

And when I turned to the corner, I could see some babies carried by their mothers. I smiled bitterly. Death really knows no one. He doesn't spare anyone whether they be kids or an old woman. I am certain I wasn't at all expecting this to happen. Perhaps before I died, I was reading my favorite book. Perhaps before I died, I was having fun with my friends. Perhaps I was arguing with my parents or with my sisters. That would totally suck.

If ever that's what happened, they'd feel bad for the rest of their lives thinking 'if I had known she's going to die, I should have said sorry' and I don't want them to feel that way. Even if I clearly remember that we aren't one of those ideal families, I don't want them to be feeling bad about themselves just because of it.

Some of them probably aren't expecting death at all. And some might have been suffering from it even before it actually happened. I sighed. I couldn't help but wonder if they all knew how and why they died. I could only imagine.

But Mr. Grim might not know the exact reason but perhaps he knows how to find out how we died. He has to. And with that in mind, I continued walking only to find out that the old woman I was following earlier disappeared. I looked around hoping to find her but I couldn't.

"Oh, for crying out loud!" I muttered under my breath as I continued to roam my eyes around. I got distracted too much that I lost my only GPS to the café.

All of this wouldn't have happened if Mr. Grim was a responsible Grim Reaper and didn't leave me there alone. I mean, it came from his own mouth that I had no sense of direction and he still left me there just because of an unconscious beautiful girl. And it might have helped if we had walked from the café to the bridge but he used that shadow transport voodoo thing which means I have not the slightest idea of which way to the café.

I shouldn't have agreed to come with him in the first place. I thought about the food I left earlier. Now that I think about it, it made me hungry. I don't remember the last time I have eaten. Thinking about it only made me more stressed so I continued walking.

I realized I am in some sort of a mini-park. There aren't many people. Mostly were old men. Some were quietly fishing and some were playing chess. I sat on one of the benches and stared at them, contemplating whether to join them or not. But then I realized I'm not good at either so I decided not.

But my thoughts were interrupted when somebody sat beside me. When I turned to look who it was, it was the guy who I met earlier on the other side of the bridge. The soccer jock, who had his soccer ball flying straight to my face. The more I think about it, the more I want to wipe his grin.

"This is my favorite spot, too," he said and looked at me.

"I didn't say this is my favorite," I replied and he just chuckled.

"I could see from the look in your eyes that it will be. Soon. You like peace and quiet, I see."

"You say that and yet why are you still talking?"

I know I am such a rude girl but I couldn't help but be mad at him as I kept on recalling what happened earlier. Getting hit with a soccer ball hurts like hell! And he got the nerve to flash his dashing smile as if it would make up for what he did!

"You surely hold grudges." He turned to face me. "Look, I'm sorry, okay? We shouldn't have been playing there since that's kind of sacred ground."

I stared at him. He looked like someone who's been here for a while. "Do you remember how you died?" I asked before I could even stop myself.

And I could clearly see he was surprised by my question too. But he just looked at the old men enjoying their quiet time. "I don't," he answered.

"You don't want to find out?"

He gave me a sideward glance. "Earlier you wouldn't even as much as look straight at me and now you're suddenly curious, eh?"

I clicked my tongue. "Fine. You don't have to answer that."

Silence covered us but then he said, "I wasn't inclined to find out."

I didn't ask further questions and was about to stand when I heard him speak again. "Knowing how you died is the worst."

"You don't know that," I mumbled and he just gave me a small smile.

"Why? Do you want to find out how you died?" he asked and I stared at the old man who just caught a huge fish in the distance. The others were cheering for him.

I shrugged and looked him straight in the eye. "If finding out how I died means I'd have to go back to the living world and see my family, then yes. I want to see my sister or brother's ugly crying face at my funeral. I guess it will be worth it."

He looked at me for a few seconds before he roared with laughter. It took him a few minutes more to calm down. I don't really see myself as someone funny but I wonder why he's laughing. I was quite serious when I said what I said.

He wiped the tears from his eyes before he said, "You're hilarious."

"I beg to differ."

I heard him sigh before he stood in front of me. "I know we didn't have a good start but we can always try again." He smiled and I gave him a doubtful look as I stared into his extended hand. "Hi, I'm Mikhael di Angelo."

I looked at him for a few moments then to the group of guys in the distance. I'm guessing they were his friends. And I know what's going on.

So I gave him a sweet smile as I stood up.

"If I tell you my name, you'd have to promise me one thing."

His brow rose and a smile curved his lips.

"What is it?"

"That you'll split the winning money with me." I gave him a smirk as I saw the confusion on his face.

I jerked my head to the group of guys a few distances behind them.

"You were betting, right? If you get my name, you win. If you don't, they win. But since I figured it all out, then I guess I win."

He looked behind and I saw how he closed his eyes firmly.

"So much for a new start." I fleck an invisible dust on his shoulder as I went on, "Let's not meet each other again, Mikhael di Angelo."

Then I turned to walk away. I didn't know the Afterlife have jerks too.

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