Studying in UCLA, by far, is one of the best things that ever happened to me. I grew up in Pasadena since my father lived there. My mom was born in the Philippines and they met here since she was given a chance to study abroad. Unfortunately, she died while giving birth to me. I may have never met her, but I terrible miss her from all the stories my brothers and my father has been telling me.
My dad allowed me to study in UCLA because he thinks that this is the way he could make me feel free. Weird how he thinks that letting your daughter live alone in a foreign city means freedom.
Living alone has its perks however. One is I can go out and go home anytime I want to. Two, I can do everything and no one would ever care. Well, except for my two older brothers who occasionally visits without even saying in advance. And unfortunately, they would visit in a very bad time.
One time they decided to crash in my place, I was making out with a random guy I met in a bar in the living room. It was ten minutes pass one and I didn't expect that they would come. They threw the guy out and told my dad about. The next time my dad went over, he gave me a lengthy discussion about safe sex and I swear to all the angels and saints, it was the most cringe and most awkward moment of my life.
I smiled at the memory. On the way home, I stopped over Plateia for a large shawarma and a drink for my dinner. Yes, perk number three. I can eat all the junk I want without my family scolding me since most of them are gym junkies.
As I opened the door of my apartment, I smell something weird. A strong musk. Like a perfume of some sort. When I turned on the lights, someone was sitting on my armchair.
"Hello, Lux.", he said.
"What the – ", I yelled. How does he know my name? How did he get inside? How did he even know where I live? Who is he?
"No cussing", he said, cutting me off. "Now, Lux, I'll answer your questions of you answer mine. Where is your string?", he said while crossing his legs.
At this point, I am at a loss for words. I'm scared, angry and very annoyed with his attitude that I clenched my fist. His eyes followed my movements and he snickered.
"There's no need for your anger here, human. I'm merely asking you questions", he stated casually.
"Human? Strings? What the fuck? Who are you? Are you crazy? You just can't go inside someone's house!", I said angrily. A thought came into my mind. Is he a thief? Thieves don't wear Armani. I heard him sigh.
"I am not a thief. Have you ever seen a thief look this good? No, right? So, can you just calm down and take a seat so we could discuss like sane beings?", he said and even had the audacity to smile at me. Wait? Did he just read my mind? With this, I shrieked so loud, I'm sure my neighbors could hear.
He immediately ran to me and covered my mouth with his huge hand.
"Shh. Why do women think everything can be resolved by shouting?", he continued with his hand in my mouth. I was starting to panic that tears were forming in my eyes and my shrieks became sobs. He saw this and his brows began to soften and his hold in my mouth and in the back of my neck was loosening up.
"Okay, okay. I'll let you go if you stop screaming.", he said this slowly.
I was starting to calm down at this point but my tears kept on falling, I didn't know what to do with it. I also didn't notice that my bag and my food was now all over the floor. He saw it too and took a few steps back.
I tried picking up my things from the floor, still sobbing, when a handkerchief was offered to me. I ignored it and continued to pick up my things.
"Oh, come on. I'm sorry for scaring you. Can you speak now?", he said.
The audacity of this guy to order me around. I don't even know him.
"I am Death and I am here to maintain order between the world of the living and the dead.", he said casually.
This guy must really be a psycho.
"Of course, and I am one of the four horsemen. Or that would make me a horsewoman?", I said sarcastically. "And", I looked at the door then back to him, "how did you get inside my apartment? Did the front desk gave it to you?", I sneered at him.
"You're too sarcastic, it's irritating me. I really am Death and I teleported inside.", he sat back to my armchair again and crossed his legs.
"Fine, you're Death, now can you step outside. You're creeping me out. I should ask my brother to file a restraining order against you.", I placed all my things in my coffee table and proceeded to open my door for this Death guy to go outside.
"Just Death. Not Death guy, you midget.", he scoffed.
Now, I'm truly ticked off. I'm pretty insecure with my height. I'm only 5'3 because of my Filipino descent and some people just can't stop pointing the obvious out.
I walked closer to him and kicked his leg. He let out a silent 'ow' as I berated him.
"You're the one who barged into my house, without my permission! I don't even know you! And now you tell me you're Death and that you're here for balance and all that shit! I. Don't. Care. Now, you insult me for being small, well, you're free to go out!", I shouted at him at the top of my lungs while pointing my finger at him.
I was positive he looked scared for a moment.
He stood up and towered over me with a very serious face and heaved a deep sigh.
I fell silent because I felt chills in my spine with his expression.
"I'm sorry.", he slowly uttered. I felt the temperature drop and the room darkened. My heart is beating so fast. What's happening?
"Things happened in the past that should not have happened. This would cause a massacre of lives in the next few months.", he said and then breathed deeply. "You we're born. That's what happened.", he continued.
