CHAPTER II: Pondering about reality

When I walked out of our classroom, looking around in our corridors. I drifted my attention to the window on my left. I saw Students, Playing dodge ball on our school field. I took a closer look, I notice Amber sitting on a bench by herself smiling while watching the students. I went down using the stairs. Approaching her from where she was seating, Suddenly noticing me and giving me an exciting look and an energetic wave.

Does this girl have spider-sense or something?

"Hey, Steven! Here! Here!" shouting in excitement.

"I know, I know!" I replied. Still using my cold tone as usual.

Looking at her from top to bottom, then eventually taking my seat beside her.

"Hey..."

"Hmmm...what?"

"Doesn't bother you that, some of the blood from the accident still stained on your uniform?"

"Well it does, since I died from a concussion the blood came down from my uniform. It's not like we can use laundry we're dead"

She Giggled then teased me.

"What an idiot..hehe"

"Well, I tried whipping it earlier when you and I met at the bus stop. It keeps coming back though"

"..."

"...about our deal," I asked while scratching my head In embarrassment.

"I'm just messin' with you…" Then looking down, her expression turned upside down.

I sat in silence in my seat, I didn't say a word. I know what she feels though, the feeling of regret and sadness cowering up her mind, I don't know what to say. Gathering all my thoughts, smacking my cheeks. I spoke up.

"You know it's weird right?" Looking at my feet, not facing her.

"What's weird?" Wrinkling her eyebrows, she faced my direction. I took a slight glimpse and saw her big cut on the right side of her forehead.

"Why are we here wandering around in the place we don't belong? We're already dead, so why are we still walking in the same place where living things are still breathing"

"I don't know also, maybe we still have some sort of mission we need to do?" Her response made me re-think what I've said.

"…A funny thing happened to me when I was on my way here"

"I ran because the rain started going down, my mindset was 'I can't be wet before school'. I was also so happy that my class block was doing all kinds of student shenanigans that I never got to enjoy once again. Then our president said our names".

I think telling her that stuff was going to make her cry but it backed fired to me. All though I never did cry, I can feel my heart aching with sadness. If I have a heart at this point.

Then she patted my back.

"Yeah I think they're having fun back there…I didn't come inside because I can't accept for some reason that I left my friends hanging…" she spoke up, still. Looking at the ground.

"If we're still alive what could've happened to us?"

"I think I'm still studying at this point if I'm breathing and, providing my family's needs I think?" I replied. But this time I lift my head and looked in her direction.

"I see…" she also lifted her head, then glanced back giving me a slight smile on her face.

"Well…for me, still going to study hard…just to provide my mom what she needs"

"It's a bit bothering but, can I ask?"

"Oh…yeah it's fine, well my father left us because of some reason. He said he's going to be away for a while for work, overseas. But in the end, he never came back. I was only a kid at that time I never understood the situation way back until I grew older, so my mom worked to the bones just to keep me on track at my studies"

"…"

No words came out of my mouth. I want to comfort her but with what? We already live in guilt and regret I think positive thinking is not the answer here. When I was alive I always help other people with their problems, but now I can't think straight. The feeling of hopelessness and sadness that Amber's feeling, I can sense it too. I know death is inevitable, we're humans we will eventually grow old and die. But why did death came knocking at our doors earlier than we expected?

"Well…Uhm…want to get out of here?"

"Where?"

"I think we can go where ever we want…we're dead after all, it's not like they will notice us" As she answered my question I shifted my gaze in another direction.

"But why?"

"I think we could go somewhere that we can take our minds off from our worldly problems, I thought it was the best way to relieve stress?"

She stood up from the bench, then stretched.

"So, where do you plan to go?"

"Amusement Park?"

Not sure where to go even though I'm the one who suggested it.

"…Alrighty then, sounds okay to me" her cheerful tone came back.

We left the school and walk towards the bus stop. Walking side by side, people are walking through us as if we're just a wind.

"Being a ghost ain't so bad after all huh?" I scratched my left cheek using my finger.

"Yeah, I think so, people don't even see us. We have an upper-hand cuz avoiding people will not be a problem"

After walking for about five minutes we arrived at the bus stop near our school entrance. We waited for at least, fifteen minutes or so. A big rectangular vehicle is nowhere in sight. Tapping my foot on the ground I was already having a hard time dealing with my patience, suggesting that walking would be the best way to save time. Before I could even suggest my opinion to Amber a honking sound of a big horn covered our afternoon stroll.

"Ugh…Finally" I exasperated.

"Looks like your patience wore off huh?"

"…Wait isn't this the same bus you rode just this morning?"

"Whatever let's go"

The bus entrance slid open, we entered. Then a greeting from a familiar person stumbled upon me.

"Yo… Steven long time no see" he greeted me politely.

Then out of sheer curiosity, Amber tapped my shoulder and whispered in my ear.

"Hey isn't that-" Before she could finish her question, I interrupted.

"Yeah it was the same bus driver at the accident last week" I answered.

"Is something wrong Steven, you good?"

"No nothin' just driver safely this time again, alright?"

He laughed while pressing the button to close the sliding door.

"I don't have a choice here"

"So…this is your eternal punishment?"

"Yeah…after the accident, I'm the first at the line to be judged so, here I am 'The driver of the lost souls' pretty unique name right?"

"I see…well good luck and driver slowly"

The bus moved forward. Amber and I sat together, I was seating beside the bus window. Looking at the sunset slowly going down. Reflecting its orange color to the river. The shadows of the tall buildings appeared.

The driver asked me where we are headed. So I told him.

"Oh….Amusement park huh?" He shook his head in agreement.

"Yeah just for fun I guess?"

"…Friend of yours I assume?"

"Yeah… she's my classmate also"

"I see…I thought she's your lover or something' in my head I assumed wrong" He let out a slight laugh.

"…Hey Amber" As I was about to ask her about something, a not so heavy feeling slowly fell on my shoulder. She fell asleep fast huh? Maybe she's been tired of thinking a lot about our judgment day. I was worried about that also, I've been pondering about that question when a hooded angel appeared to me last week.

It was after walking away from the horrible scenario. I was sitting alone at the bus stop, then suddenly a man appeared to me. I think he was the creature in every culture told us about, for the past thousands of years. From Anubis to Grim-reaper, I think that's what I need to call him? He's just wearing a black hooded coat, and surprisingly no weapon called scythe. He just handed me a wristwatch.

"I'm your assigned angel for your departure here on earth" he explained further.

"Wear this watch at all-time. Don't worry once this watch touched your wrist, even if you throw it away, it will magically appear again like nothing ever happened"

I tested it I threw it as far as I could, then it went back on my wrist.

"Amazing right" He then blurted out with amazement.

"Ehem…anyway, when the time comes. It will automatically ring and I will eventually guide you upstairs got me mate?"

I just nodded.

Then he patted me on my left shoulder.

"Look I know it's so sudden I've been your angel since the day you were born. I always watch you from your early infant days until your untimely death…" worried he tried comforting me.

"Heh? Watching huh? What are you a creep or something?" smirking I teased him.

"Hey!"

He then smacks me on the head.

"Hey, it's just a joke! I didn't know angels have no sense of humor."

"Don't joke around like that in times like this, it's serious kid!" he crossed his arms then giving me a smile back showing his bright teeth.

"Don't worry about a thing I gotcha" He then balled his fist indicating a fist-bump.

I just ignored him and avoid eye contact. Patted my head, he said.

"You're a good kid Steven…I'll see you around"

Then he vanished. Well, I never knew the afterlife can be this techy.

The bus took a huge screech that made me stopped my reminiscing session. Looks like we arrived at our destination. I look at my shoulder, then poke Amber's cheek to wake her up.

"Hey…We're here wake up"

Simultaneously blinking her eyes. She woke up, stretched, and stood up. She turned around quickly then slapped her face while faced back away from me. I didn't know why she did that, but it doesn't matter anyway since we're here.

"Hey come on we need to go" While tugging her uniform at the back.

"O-okay…"