Chapter 5

Amilia was getting tired. Getting out of consciousness and waking up in her room alone. She was growing tired of it. She needs to get used to things that were far from normal. She thought as soon as she opened her eyes.

She got out of bed and stare at the mirror. She was still in yesterday’s clothes and her hair was in disarray. Her stomach growled. Not minding her appearance, she walked out into the kitchen.

“Oh my god!” Amilia jumped out when she saw a man relaxedly sitting on her couch. He raised his brow in question.

“Why are you sitting there?” Amilia throws him an accusing finger.

“Why? Do you want me to stand here?” He said.

“Well, no… I mean. I’m hungry.” She stuttered a little before proceeding to the kitchen.

“Want some cereals?” Amilia offered.

“I don’t eat.” He answered.

Amilia shrugged. It was just her attempt on trying to start a conversation. She poured a lot into her bowl and added two glasses of milk. Amilia was famished. The last meal she had was before the accident at the mall. That reminds her.

“What happened to that guy at the mall?” She spooned some cereal and let them fall again.

“He chooses himself rather than having a new life.” He leaned back slightly to inspect the thing he picked up at the table in front of him.

“You’re a demon, right?” Amilia sat down next to him.

“And?” She faced him, folding her legs, and tucked in under her.

“You are seducing people to make a sin. Why?” Her face was full of curiosity. He stopped for a minute and looked at her.

That question. It sounds so familiar. His mind was drifting to a distant memory as he stares at her. She is just like her. The way she asked him, the way her eyes lit up in curiosity. It was void of judgment just pure curiosity. He wanted to answer her. Something is urging him to answer.

“Hey!” He snapped out of his thoughts as she flicked her fingers at his face.

“Are you daydreaming?” Amilia waved her palm at his face. He immediately straightened his back and dismissed Amilia’s hand.

“So, are you not going to answer?” Amilia urged.

“I don’t see the need to explain anything to a mere human like you.” He answered as he stands up.

Amilia followed suit. She’s not going anywhere unless she gets the answer she needed and so is he. By now, Amilia is determined as she felt like she had nothing to lose anymore.

“Take me with you.” She commanded like a spoiled little girl.

He looked at her for a brief moment before walking past the door. Amilia paused for a moment to calm herself to what she saw before following him out. She raced to the elevator as fast as she could muster.

“Hi!” A familiar little girl greeted her.

She was the only kid on their floor and their apartment was the farthest one. She was living with just her father. And the tenants knew her for being a lovable child.

“Who is he?” The girl asked. Amilia was confused. She looked at the girl’s father with a questioning look.

“Who?” She asked the girl.

“That guy who came with you.” She pointed something at the back and Amilia look over. He was there.

“Lily, what are you doing?” The child’s father scolded her.

Amilia stood straight and smiled. She didn’t want to offend the child and she also didn’t want to answer the question. It was a puzzle to her how can the girl see him. When clearly, nobody had seen him so far except her and those the likes of him.

Wait, the guy yesterday saw him too.

Amilia stared at her reflection at the elevator door. She also eyed the space that he was supposed to occupy. He was a big mystery to her. And she decided then since things have gone this way, she would at least get to know him.

When they reached the first floor, Amilia quickly bid goodbye to the girl and her father. With long strides, she was out of the building. She only stopped when she realized that she didn’t know where they were going.

“Can I ask a question?” She turned to him who was standing near the building entrance watching her.

“Where are you going?” She asked while keeping an eye on her surroundings. Nobody was around but it wouldn’t hurt to be careful.

“Nowhere.” He answered and started to walk.

“What?” Amilia did her best to catch up.

“Do you have classes?” He suddenly asked which made Amilia think.

Yesterday she was with Lizzie at the Mall so it should be Friday. Classes would continue every Sunday and students took their break every Saturday. The schedule was kind of weird but Amilia just got used to it.

“No. Why?” They stopped at the Bus Stop just when the bus came.

“No reasons.” He said as he went up.

Amilia paid for herself. She took the one-seater at the back. Riding a bus was always a peaceful task for her. Just watching the scenery pass by makes her heart feel relieved. That’s why she didn’t notice him staring at the baby on her side.

“She’s dying.” She heard him say. Amilia look at him and then threw a curious glance at their side.

“What do you mean?” She asked in a hushed tone.

The woman beside them looked very healthy and bright. She was holding three months old or so baby in her lap who was sleeping soundly.

“That baby. She is dying.” Amilia looked at the baby again. She doesn’t look like dying at all.

“You can see when will a person die?” Amilia asks which he answered with a shake of his head.

“I can only see their soul. When their soul gets weak their death was just around the corner.” He explained.

Amilia nodded but did not fully understand the situation. He can see the soul of a person. He can see it getting weak. So, it means that he can see when that person will die.

“I can only see their soul gets weaker but I can’t see when they will die.” He further explains.

The conversation was soon cut off when the mother suddenly stands. They will get off at the next stop. Amilia’s eyes didn’t leave the baby. She was confused by everything he had said. If it’s true then when and how will she die? Their stop was getting nearer and still, nothing looks wrong with the baby. Maybe he got it wrong?

The bus stop was now visible to Amilia’s vision. The mother readied herself, when the bus stop and the door opened, she took a step towards the door. When she reached the gravel platform, she was caught on to something in a flash.

The baby flew a meter ahead of her because of the impact. The mother landed on the last step of the bus stairs and bump her head. Everyone was shocked to witness the incident. A woman run to where the baby is and Amilia couldn’t help herself to run at the mother since she was the nearest.

Amilia put her fingers at her neck to check for a pulse and visibly sigh when there was a faint beat. She worriedly looks at where the baby is. She also sees another woman talking to her phone probably calling for an ambulance.

“Please, let her be alright.” She silently prays as she holds the mother’s hand and waits for rescue. She was not a doctor nor did she have any knowledge of this kind of situation. As long as she can feel the mother’s pulse, she thinks that she will be alright.

For now, her greatest concern is on the baby. Is this it? The answer to my question? The foresight of him about the baby? This is it? Amilia feels her chest tighten. Tears are now forming at the side of her eyes and she just wants to let it all go. She looks at him who was now standing beside the man who cause the accident. Something glints in his eyes. Something she can’t fathom.