Chapter 2 - NOT DRINKING MENG PO'S SOUP

EVERYTHING was still fresh in his mind. It happened just right after the award ceremony. When he arrived at his luxurious condominium apartment, he was still drunk from the joy of winning. He felt like he was on cloud nine. He couldn’t help but dance and sing around his apartment.

Then he suddenly felt hungry. Because he was in a good mood, he decided to cook himself. While rummaging his refrigerator for ingredients, he saw a bowl of grapes inside. They were big and succulent. He took it out and planned to eat it while prepping. So, as he was prepping the food, he was also eating a piece of grapes from time to time.

That’s when the tragedy happened.

He was cutting meat when he accidentally slashed his finger. He was used to cooking. He almost always never cut his finger. The shock caused him to choke on the whole piece of grape that he just put in his mouth. Yes, he choked.

He wasn’t panicking at first. But when he couldn’t get the grape out and his breath started to become less and less, he then realized that what was happening was really serious. He could die if he didn’t do anything.

He was living alone, so no one could help him. It was no use calling on someone, since before they could arrive at his apartment, he might already be dead. So, his only choice was to go out of his apartment and pray that there would be people who could help him.

He quickly ran towards the door but before he could even reach it, he fell and stumble due to the lack of air. Everything around him seemed to slowly turned dark. He couldn’t think properly. His throat hurt. His lungs felt like they’re burning. He was scratching at his neck, as if he could get that shitty piece of grape out. But it was all for naught.

The last think he remembered before he completely blanked out was his hand trying to reach the doorknob. When he regained consciousness, he was already at the realm of the dead being judged by Yama.

Yes, the cause of his death was indeed choking. How stupid was that, right? He could already imagine the kind of headline it would make the next day. ‘Newly crowned movie emperor died at his apartment! The cause? A big piece of grape stuck in his throat!’. If he wasn’t dead then, he might just die of extreme mortification.

His agent would probably had a heart attack once he discovered him at his apartment, sprawled on the doorway, not breathing. His fans would also be devastated.

He couldn’t understand what kind of bad luck he had. When he thought that things were finally going his way, something would happen that would stop that. It’s like the universe was just preventing him to have his own happiness. Was that it? Because he was too happy winning the award, the universe finally decided to put an end to his life?

He sighed and looked ahead of the bridge again. Well, at least Yama decided that he deserved to be reincarnated without undergoing torture. If remembered correctly, those who had committed great sin were tortured before they could be sent to reincarnation.

He was actually quite surprised that this place actually existed. He thought it was just a part of their country’s myths and legends. But what about other countries? Would they also have their own ‘death department’? Surely, they would. It would be weird for a foreigner, like an American for example, to actually be facing Yama’s judgement.

He shook his head. What the heck was he thinking at a time like this? But then again, he was already dead. So, what’s the use of thinking anything deeper? That wouldn’t bring him back to life.

The line started to move forward. And he finally stepped on the NaiHe bridge. There was a woman standing on the bridge handing soup to the soul passing by. He couldn’t see her features but he was sure that that woman must be Meng Po and the soup he was giving to the soul was the famous Meng Po’s soup.

The soul would drink it and then they would forget the experiences they had in this life. They would then reincarnate as a blank slate without the memory of their past life.

Somehow, he didn’t really want to drink that soup. Wouldn’t it be cool to reincarnate with his current memories? That way, he would have his six-year of experience as an actor. He could utilize that to the fullest and quickly climb back once again to the top. But would Meng Po allow him to do that? He already had an answer. Of course not. Did he really think he was special? If he was, then heaven wouldn’t allow him to die in that stupid manner.

But it seemed like heaven still had a little bit of mercy on him. Because some kind of commotion suddenly happened near the place where Meng Po was handing in soup. One of the souls started to cause havoc.

“No! Impossible! I’m not dead yet! Take me back! Return me to my family!” shouted a soul who looked like he was just a teenager.

The movie emperor shook his head. [You’re already about to drink Meng Po’s soup and you just noticed that you’re dead?]

Well, he shouldn’t really blame the kid. He noticed that most of the soul here looked listless, like they didn’t have all their faculties intact. They’re moving like zombies or something.

The commotion ahead became more and more chaotic. The line was even dispersed. That teenager soul was certainly causing one heck of a mayhem. Then an idea suddenly entered his mind. He didn’t know if it could work. But what could he lose if it didn’t? He’s already dead anyway.

He walked out of the line and walked ahead. He made sure that he looked like a zombie that didn’t have any thought in his mind. Which was very easy for him. After all, he’s an actor. He looked like he was walking very slow, but the truth was the opposite.

Just after a few seconds, he managed to pass by Meng Po. And because of that teenager’s soul wreaking havoc, no one paid any attention. He continued his pace, he didn’t stop until he knew that he was already far from Meng Po’s station.

When he looked back and could no longer see her, a smile finally appeared on his lips. Now, he no longer needed to forget his memories of this life.

He looked straight ahead. He only had one wish right now – to at least be luckier in his next life.