A Promise to Live Again

Chapter 7: Into The Gate of Heaven

Eugene's Point of View

“Are you happy? Are you done? Shall we go?” I slowly turned back to the voice who asked me those questions.

“Oh, come on. It's just me. Don't make me speak the obvious. I'm handsome, right?” Wow. Just wow! Is he cool with that? I guess, he is.

He's too confident for a person, I think. But, I was intrigued by his sudden appearance. Then, a thought shocked my nerves. I looked back to my dead body and saw it lying on the ground full of bloods. I was supposed to be happy because I did it, but it was way different.

“Hmm... you just realized how painful it was for you to die suddenly or you did not even thoroughly think that letting your body die when it's not yet time is a heinous crime in the eyes up there?”

He was talking while I was still staring at my body. I did not even know what he was talking about. I am about to say something when all of a sudden, a cirrus cloud appeared. The person I was talking earlier jumped in and grabbed the collar of my shirts without even asking me.

Amazed by the flying clouds slowly going up and up above, I didn't utter any more words. But the fastest thing to happen, and I was out for words when I did not expect to find myself looking at a big place above the clouds.

“Welcome to the gate of Kaluwalhatian, Mr. Eugene Laurent. You are about to enter the gate in between heaven and Gehenna.”

I did not hear him speak. I am still looking at the tall gate in front of me. Two huge statues of a winged angel holding their hands on the opening of the gates, smiling at me. They are unmovable, but their smiles caught my attention. There is also a sign engraved at the top just like what the person who lurk me up here said awhile ago.

“Would you like to enter now, Eugene? The ruler is waiting for you.” Now, I know why he brought me here. But I need to throw some questions at him first.

“First, I don't know you. You are not a person, right? Are you an angel or something? I'm sorry, but I don't think I can enter that gate without hearing any valid words from you,” he silently laughed, leaving my mind without any clue.

“I'm sorry if I laugh. But, I did laugh at the words you asked. Do you even think I am not a person? Well, I guess, you're right. Let me introduce myself first to you,” he walked towards me and saw his expressive hazel brown eyes. “My name is Gavreel, and I am an angel guarding this gate.”

Without even blinking, I saw his wings flapping in his back that made me surprise. He is actually an angel, and I am already dead.

“So, I'm dead already, right?”

“Yes, you are correct. I am also a grim reaper who was assigned to pick you up from earth. A handsome grim reaper and an angel to be exact.”

I saw him grinning, too confident again with his looks. And I will not agree to that. Like I said, he has expressive hazel brown eyes, with curly hair, and jaw-dropping smile, standing two to three inches taller than me.

“And why am I seeing my reflection here? I mean, if I am dead, why am I here? Killing myself is a sin, right? I heard it earlier on earth when you said it.” I bombarded him with a lot of questions in mind. He remained calm and poised. Then, he answered me.

“Alright, I guess you didn't like the way I was acting earlier and the way I acted right now in front of you. As you can see, this is my other self. You know, angel's can be naughty sometimes or humorous.” I just nodded then he continued. “I was only assigned to pick you up and lead you to enter inside the gate, so that the ruler can judge your life before you killed yourself. Yes, you are right that it is a sin, a heinous crime to be exact in His eyes to kill yourself, but I guess He understood. That is why, you need to enter the gate now, Gavreel.”

After hearing all those words, I finally realized that being dead is not that easy. I thought, I don't need to go through this kind of checkpoint.

“Exactly!”

I was dumbfounded when I heard Gavreel said the word exactly when I did not even utter any response from him. Scratching my head and think that he can read my mind, I distance myself from him. He just smiled at me and turned around, leaving another puzzle to ponder.

“You need to enter the gate, Eugene. Remember, you're dead already and there is no need for you to think it over.”

I'd rather live again and wait for my very own death than making it hard for me to decide what to do here. My time is not yet and I have unfinished business on earth. Killing myself is not basically my intention in the first place. God knows that and now, I have no choice. I have to tell Gavreel that I am not ready yet. After carefully weighing the pros and cons of being dead, I turned around to look for him, but I can't find him.

“Gavreel, where are you? Are you playing hide-and-seek here? Gavreel?”

My eyes were circling around the gate left and right, up and down, then out of nowhere he popped out riding in a cloud.

“By any chance, did I scare you? This is Cirrus, my best friend cloud. Goodbye, Cirrus. Let's play some other time. I need Eugene's answer now. Bye.”

He's like a playful kid. And really? The name of the cirrus clouds I rode into earlier is also Cirrus? I remember one of my favorite cartoon Dragon Ball Z from him. Son Goku has Kinton clouds and Gavreel has Cirrus. What a coincidence!

“So? Can I hear your answer now, Mr. Eugene Laurent? Are you ready to enter the gate?” he straightened out and asked again.

“I'm sorry, Gavreel. But, I don't think I can be with Him. I don't want to enter the gate. There are unfinished business on earth that I must finish. I have to see my biological mother. Please, help me fulfill my lifelong wish. I have to go back to earth. Give me more time, Gavreel. Please.”

I begged him to help me. He was silently thinking about the words I said. I know he can read my thoughts. And I hope he can help me.

“One last question, Eugene. For the last time, I need your answer. Will you enter the gate or not?”

“NO.”

I shook my head several times telling him I am not going. His serious look then changed into a teacher-student relationship. Looking at me earnestly, he gave me a response that made me happy.

“Then I have no other choice, but to tell you a way.”