SOULS.DEATHS.andSADNESS

CHAPTER ONE: MEET JOE BLACK

She tossed her duffel bag away at a corner in a club where her own feet had led her. Tonight, she was supposed to be at a corner of a bus, leaning her head on the bus window, alone; being morose on her way back home to her town. But her body and feet must have a mind of its own that it brought her somewhere else. Or as if a strong wind transported her to this place of lonely people. As if her body was made out of magnet, instinctively pulling her to this place. Without taking too much of an effort, here she was camouflaged among these boisterous crowds; a crowd of drinking and screaming people.

She positioned herself at a corner table where she could clearly take sight of the pole dancers, the lustrous men, and dancing women in their very tight and short skirts. The beat of the music bangs in her ears endlessly as if it was going to tear down her eardrums. She gulped and gulped her glass of martini—kept signaling the server to bring in some more. It happened many times until her surroundings began to spin around and the banging in her ears began to faint. She hears her urinary bladder screaming for the toilet. With her wriggly pace, she walked to the restroom. She passed through the crowd of people, some of them she shoved away. She could imagine their angry expressions but she could only imagine it as she cared the least to apologize. Even their complaints were hidden to mutter. Just a few more steps, she would finally arrive at the restroom door, but just when it could almost happen, she was swerved away by a group of girls and almost lost balance. To her surprise, someone grabbed her by the waist and saved her from that unfortunate fall.

“Thank you, Mr…” she said. She said Mr. as she glimpsed over the clothes he was wearing. A black tuxedo, with a white polo underneath and a black necktie. She fought so hard with her very blurry eyes and could only describe him according to where her own sight could fight to see.

“You`re welcome… I`ll be waiting for you at your table” he replied. His voice was deep and rusty.

He let her go and she continued her pace. Just when she finished her business on the toilet, she recalled what the man had told her. “I`ll be waiting for you at your table”

“What could he mean?” “Or was I imagining things?” Anyhow, she dismissed her thoughts away and walked out the restroom. But to her surprise, there he was sitting at her table: broad shoulders; sharp jawline; staring straight at her. His arms folded onto his chest. She cleared her eyes, making the attestation that she was not making things up. However—despite her poor vision, she could still take sight of his very existence. He had that smile planted across his face, as if making fun of her wonderment.

“Y-YOU!” she pointed at him.

“Yes! Me” He pointed at himself.

She rolled her eyes.

“Well, anyway” she said, taking her seat. “Thank you for saving me earlier, Mr. Savior in-a-black-tie looking like Joe Black” she chuckled. “But I am not interested in sleeping with you,” she continued, rolling her eyes once more.

He snorted. She could not really quite comprehend well enough the meaning of it and the magnanimous stares. But all she knew was that she was eager to decline whatever reasons he had by approaching her. However, one thing was sure in her brain; men in bars and pubs with such an approach only have one thing inside their heads that she does not have the aptitude to entertain.

She leaned forward, almost kissing his face. “Why? Do you really think I am someone interested in sex?” “Why do men always think that when a woman goes to a place like this, they want sex?” she told him. Something about his air told her of an egoistic and assertive nature. Nature that would display no interest and affection from her, ever.

“Calm yourself, WOMAN,” he told her.

“Woman?!” she smug, “Why are men such an expert, making the term ‘WOMAN’ sound like an insult?” “You men are bored!” she exclaimed, taking her glass to drink. But just when she was about to carry it to her lips, he took it away from her. “And why do women always think that every man who approaches them means to sleep with them?” said he, drawing a victorious smile.

She laughed. “You’re good! You’re good!” “Then what is your intention with me? Mr. Joe Black?”

“Business,” he answered.

“I can see that” she scanned his clothes. “But why did you not directly speak of your intention? Why do you have to say ‘I`ll-be-waiting-for-you-at-the-table-shit’ with such a mysterious and enticing voice?! Why couldn’t you just say, ’are you open minded to business?’” she mocked.

She expected him to react but he remained calm and leaned on her face, “So you think I was enticing?” Realizing what she had said, she pushed his face with her finger. “Not enticing enough to tempt me” she replied.

He composed “Well then, let us get straight to business”

“Wait?! But why here? Huh?! Why pick some place with sober people? Why me?!”

“Because you’re exactly what I need” he answered.

“Need for what?!”

“For my business”

“N-no-no! Mr. Joe Black, I have NO INTEREST and the MONEY to invest in your business” she declined.

He clicked his tongue. “It is sad, isn’t it?” he spoke. “Why do people always think of money when speaking of business?” “Why do humans let money run this world too much? It is only a piece of paper; degradable. Easy to crumple. Why do they value themselves with money? Why? because their bodies are degradable? Their souls are easy to crumple?” he said, reaching for the table napkin on the table and squeezing it by his hand.

She was bewildered.

He held his gaze at her and smiled. No hint of mischievousness on his face. Her heartbeat began to raise; waking up her droopy eyes and bringing forth the senses to her numbing body. It’s funny, truly, he spoke as though he was no human himself. Yet, she could not bring herself to laugh. Could not bring forth any derision.

“Then why does a man in a business uniform approach me and speak of business with no money involved?” said she, pushing the dryness out her throat.

“Because it’s no corporate business. It’s no money. And as for your interest…” he said but continued no more.

“Interest what?” she tossed.

He suddenly grinned. “I see! So finally, you have become interested in what I’m about to say?”

The loud music faded. Everything froze. Even her breathing. Her blinking. His smile and her stares: were all that were left. Who would have thought? That amidst this crowd of people, she would stumble upon a wise one? She thought to herself as she sighed to surrender.

“Then what business do you have to offer me?” she questioned.

He grinned; a winning one.