Life is going well, a bit boring, but I'm content with it.
Having left college a year prior, joining a big corporation, and working a 9-5 like everybody else, barely making enough to live, just what you expect from a 24-year-old who still lives with his parents.
Planning on moving out eventually, I don't like to bother them, even though they said they don't mind me living there, but for myself, I think it's best if I leave the mother nest and spread my wings, becoming more independent, I suppose.
That is the reason why I am outside right now. I have a meeting with a real estate agent, a friend of mine. He said he wants to show me some places I might be interested in.
But...
I've been waiting at City Square for half an hour by now. That guy's punctuality was always a mess, but this is getting ridiculous. I don't even know why he has such a successful career with that much of a downside.
"Hey! Dani!" The voice came from behind me. Finally, the waiting has finally come to an end. I turned around, and sure enough, there he was, my longtime friend and the biggest pain in my ass, by his side—a beauty. Damn, playboy.
"Sorry I kept you waiting." He said, "My girl was taking too much time getting ready."
"I told you not to tell him that, Gryan!" She yelled while hitting him on the head; it was quite a cute sight to see, Gryan. I pity you. Well, no, I'm jealous, very much.
For the 24 years of existence, not once did I ever get a girlfriend; it's quite an achievement. Not like I'm an ugly bastard or anything—at the very least, I'm average. I'm not lacking in height, and my face is easy on the eyes, I think so. I passed those face filters; that must have counted for something, right?
Not like I'm not proactive either; I tried confessing multiple times, 9 times to be specific, and got rejected on all attempts. Ever since the last one, I got all my confidence shattered, and I quit on searching for romantic connections, using work as an excuse to get out and escape conversations about my love life.
But I still get jealous whenever I see people I know with their partner being all lovey-dovey; I always silently curse for their relationship to fail. I know that is douchebag behavior, but hey, cut a man some slack; he has been rejected 9 times already.
After their little couple scuffle, she finally stopped hitting him with those puppy paws, she looked at me and bowed slightly.
"Hello, pleased to meet you. I'm Phiona Wallury, Gryan's girlfriend. This is the first time we met, but I heard Gryan talked about you a lot."
Well, just from that alone, I already know she already got a bad impression about me. Gryan, you bastard, what kind of shit talk did you infect her ears with?
"Dani Pham, nice to meet you too," I said before setting my attention back to Gryan. "You didn't mention anything about bringing a girl along."
"Yeah, sorry for not giving you a heads-up earlier; it was a last-minute thing. Hope you don't mind." He rubs his nose. "She insisted on going to the mall together. I just thought the two of us could go together later on, after this meeting."
"Oh, I don't mind." I replied, but to be honest, I'm annoyed by this. I thought I was just going to have a simple conversation about housing and apartments, maybe crack some jokes and roast each other in the process, like we usually do.
But now there is a girl tagging along, and she is hot. I get nervous around the opposite gender easily, and it scales by looks and curves. Gryan knows this. Wait, is this on purpose? Does he want to watch me have a meltdown and embarrass myself in front of a pretty girl? That freaking asshole, I will get back to him; just you wait.
While I was there thinking of a payback plan, Gryan patted my back and interrupted my inner monologue. "Earth calling Dani, are you still with us?"
"Huh?" I replied, How long have I been static?
"Dude, you've been standing still for a full minute." He said, then turned to a sly smile. "Thinking about kittens in there?"
I was embarrassed; I could feel my face shoot a bright red. The girl, Phiona, was trying to hide her small laugh behind her hands, but it was too obvious.
Damn it, his plan is already in motion.
"It's quite a unique aspect of yours, Mr. Pham." Phiona said, just barely coming out of her laughing fit, "No wonder why Gryan is so interested in you."
"I was just trying to think of a place we could sit down and talk this out," I said, trying to cover up my little incident, but then it catches my eye. "How about that café over there?"
"Trying to change the topic, big guy?" Gryan said, still keeping that irritating smile, "But sure, let's go, at least in there you can doze off without getting weird looks."
He ran straight forward while holding his girlfriend by the hand. I walked behind them, didn't bother to keep up, and just let the couple do their thing while I was cursing them behind their back.
Gryan can be an obnoxious guy; he likes to get into other people's stuff, doesn't really respect any boundaries, and makes fun of people all the time, especially me and my love life. He is also successful, has a good job, and has a healthy relationship. Everything about him makes me jealous, makes me envious, and makes me feel bad about myself.
But I can't seem to hate him at all; with him in my life, it is a bit more stressful, but without him, life would be a whole lot more boring. I respect him for that, for staying by my gloomy ass all the time, and I'm happy to see him smiling like that with someone he truly cared for.
But as the two of them were passing the road, I heard the sound of a loud engine coming from a distance, screams could be heard all around me. I was confused, what is happening? Why is everybody running?
Before I could comprehend anything, it came nearly straight into my view, a red sports car that appeared seemingly from straight out of nowhere and was now coming straight at the two of them. The light was red, but the car didn't seem to be slowing down. Why was this happening?
There is no time to think. I tried calling for their name, but I knew it would be too late for them to notice and dodge; it was already seconds from hitting them. What should I do? If I stood still any longer, they would get hit. I don't want that to happen; I don't want to lose my best friend.
I can save them; I can make it in time, but I'm scared. I know if I jumped in right now, then I would be the one getting hit straight on. I value my life; I don't want to die. What should I do? Doing the right thing or doing what is right for me?
At that moment, like it was a subconscious thing, I ran, not away, but straight at them, pushing them out of the way, but that also meant I'm now directly in the crossfire. The light from the car was bright, too bright, like a gate of heaven was calling for my very name.
Bang.
It happened fast; I almost didn't feel a thing. In fact, I don't feel a thing; all feels numb. I feel strange, like my body isn't that of myself. I opened my eyes, and there it was, a bloody scene. The first thing I saw was the sports car, now engrossed in flame after hitting a light pole straight. The driver must have died; served him right.
I can hear crying also; it was from Gryan. He was crying, bawling his eyes out, saying stuff like "Dani" and "Don't leave me." Idiot, I'm not dead. If you care, call an ambulance or something. I tried to raise my right arm, but I can't feel it; I can't feel anything.
Why can't I? I want to move my hand, I want to hug you, telling you it's okay and I'm fine. Why can't I do it? Why can't I feel pain? I want to feel it, even though it would be unbearable, but at least then I'd be sure that I'm still here.
My eyes feel heavy; it feels like they can close at any moment now, but I don't want them to. I don't know what will happen next. I'm scared. I'm scared that this might be the last time I get to observe the world, that I might not see my parents again, see my friends again. I don't know what is on the other side, or if there is even one. I'm scared to be left alone, so please let me live. I don't want to die!
I try to reach up; my eyes observed the sky, hoping my hands would come into view, but nothing came, and my eyes started to shut down until there was nothing left, only me and my thoughts and pure emptiness.
Is this the end? Just like that? I always thought my storybook ending was to die of old age in a retirement home as a sick and grumpy old man, of course still a virgin, but at least surrounded by families and friends, not alone.
Damn it, I still have so much to live for, so much I wanted to do. I want to taste lobsters, I want to visit Hawaii, I want to own a place, and I want to have a girlfriend, but now I'm unable to do any of that.
It's so unfair...
Right then a light appeared out of nowhere; I can feel my feet touching something, and I can feel again.
There is nowhere to walk except forward, toward the blinding light. Is it my escape from this endless darkness? Am I allowed to go back?
I started to walk slowly; over time the pace went faster and faster till I was running. It wasn't a hundred percent, but if there is a chance I could come back to see them again, I would take it!
I aimed for the light. but it was too bright, causing me to close my eyes.
The moment very after, I can sensed it.
Warmth.
As soon as I opened my eyes, the scene was almost blurry. I couldn't make out anything, but slowly I regained my vision, and right before me were two people, a man and a woman. It wasn't Gryan and Phiona. Who are they?
I steadied my hands and reached out, but they were tiny, as if they were a baby's hands; the fingers were small and chubby.
Don't tell me...
Curious I try to feel my face, and sure enough, it wasn't mine; it was that of an unknown baby I'm sharing a body with.
My theory was right, I truly have died and was reincarnated.