Have you ever cheated the Angel of Death when he is already smiling at you, pointing at his hourglass and saying that your time is up? Well, I did and I defied him a lot of times. But awhile ago, I confronted him again and won. I guess Dude Above wants me to join his side now, eh? Is he lacking soldiers for the great Apocalypse? Does He need badly that he wanted me to die being squished by a truck? What about my corpse? Of course, I want to look good and young at my wake!

I went out of the train station and went on my usual place to ride jeeps, since I don't want to wait on that terminal devised by the pedicab drivers for their own good. And so the southbound lane was on halt, and I had to take the chance to find a good jeep to ride. So I went beyond the sidewalk, looked for a jeep that says Lealtad (that's the route of the jeep that I must ride), found one, and ran for my survival. And that's when my face-off with the Angel of Death began.

I was just about ten paces away from the jeep when the traffic enforcer gave a go signal to the southbound vehicles. Slowly, it started to accelerate so I ran towards the vehicle and reached for the metallic bars. It sped up, and I was dragged by the sudden change of pace. The final moments almost entered.

I already had the grip on the bars, but the speed had almost pulled me to the ground. So I finally gave it a shot and stepped my foot on the stepping portion of the jeep in order for me to finally be inside. But I almost tripped and slipped my foot on the pad but was backed up by my other foot. That was close, I thought, too close.

After I had my seat, I looked at the back and saw a truck behind the jeep. My heartbeat went faster and cold sweat dripped like hell. My body became numb and I wasn't able to move for seconds. Now that was really close. Just imagine when I lost my grasp on those bars and fell on the road. They might be picking up my eyeballs, guts, liver, etc. piece by piece like a roadkill being prepared as a meal for the vultures. Of course, no one wants to die with the most gruesome way.

Live fast, die young...

It was not the first time that the higher ups wanted me dead. One point in my life, I was crossing the streets when two trucks came from both sides of the road. Since I'm a carefree wanderer, I ignored the trucks and continued crossing. Suddenly, a blaze of wind came from my front and back that told me to stop moving. I saw the truck in front of me, probably a few inches away. And as to the back, I did not even give it a glance because the sound of the monstrous engines were enough to tell me that it was near.

Another event in my life when I met Death face-to-face was during our high school intramurals, and I was a senior then. The event organizer assigned me to drop the confettis on the gymnasium through the catwalk attached on the ceiling. Since it was a very exciting task to do and only a few people were allowed to go to there. So I decisively agreed and gathered the stuff that I need.

When I finally reached the place, my knees were trembling badly that I almost swooned. It was about forty to fifty feet high and a wrong step there could me into my instant demise, or worse, vegetative state. Although I was scared on high places, I was peeking below because I was looking for the signal to throw those bits of paper. Suddenly, I became thirsty and wanted to go down.

Since the main path that would lead me below was blocked by students who were assigned on throwing torches, I had no choice but to use a dangerous route: the one that would lead me on the roof of the school and then, to a secret window.

I went outside the roof through an opening and pussyfooted, because the roof was almost seven years without replacement, and it might collapse anytime. I was already on the set of roofs on the back when I noticed something: it might be impossible for me to pass there. Despite the fact that I might fall from the peak of the school helplessly, I still wagered my life. And then He came again to take me.

I moused on the translucent roof and then out of the blue, I slipped there and lost my balance. I thought, if I'm going to hit that low wall standing, I will fall for sure. So I allowed myself to slide with my back and hit the wall. Of course, my back hit first and it really hurt. However, I was safe. But I had heard that the wall was cracking, so I immediately got up and ran towards the secret window. I was safe, yet blood rushed in my head like hell.

Sometimes, an invitation from Him (whoever your him is) is sent on your front, calling you to join His side at the wrong moment. He might wanted You to join the other realm even if it is not the right time, or maybe because your time is really up, or maybe, because He played on your cards and picked a tarot card with a symbol of death in it, or worse, He lost to a gamble with Death and gave you as a prize. Whatever his reason might be, it is still up to you to give up, leave your friends and family, make the memorial services companies rich, and become worm food.

According to our professor, death is one of the two things that humans will never avoid; the other is tax. But even if it is God's will, we still are given the chance to refuse His offer and say "No Deal."  But in the end, we will all hear the an excerpt from Book of Commons being read on our burial. To ash we are made and to ash we will return. Life is too beautiful to waste away and to ugly to keep on living. So, it is like living on the 38th parallel with those Koreans on both sides fighting for their lost causes.

BTW, don't imitate those stupid bunch of emo craps who hate their lives and thought of it as a worthless and empty shell. They do not know the real essence of living. So, they're not good people at all.

Gotta go now to my bed. Good night!