24 I only deal with death (2/2)
”We call you half lives. People like you are neither dead nor alive. Half-lives like you are temporary guests of our world.” Go Jae Hee looks at her with a dull expression. ”If your soul stays away from your body for a long time, the bond between your body and your soul is weakened. Then, one day, the bond snaps and you come to our side as a permanent member. But...there are lucky ones who manage to wake up.”
”It's better if I die.” Nam Ji Won sighs. ”At least, my family don't have to pay the hospital fees.”
”Is that the only reason?” Go Jae Hee smiles. ”Don't you have lingering feelings? Love or hate? Maybe regrets? In any case, I can see that you won't follow the death reapers either.”
She ignores her questions. ”What's there in the afterlife?”
”Who knows?” Go Jae Hee looks up at the ceiling. ”The reapers never tell.”
”Lousy service.” Nam Ji Won chuckles.
”Lousy indeed.” The reaper woman suddenly pops up. Nam Ji Won and Go Jae Hee scream in horror. They fall off their seats and crawl away from the reaper woman.
”What's up, cowards?” The reaper woman squats in front of them. ”Go Jae Hee, how long are you going to linger here?”
”Don't scare me like this.” Go Jae Hee punches her chest lightly. ”You nearly killed me.”
”You are already dead.” The reaper cocks her head with an amused smile. She looks at Nam Ji Won. ”I didn't see you before.”
”She's a half-life.” Go Jae Hee speaks before Nam Ji Won could introduce herself.
”It's better if you never show up in front of other reapers.” The death reaper stands up. ”We don't like people like you. We don't like ghosts either. We basically don't like anyone who makes us work overtime.”
Nam Ji Won gives her an awkward smile. ”Can you kill me and take me to the afterlife?”
”We hate you when your kind asks questions like that.” The woman's voice is stern, but her eyes are kind. ”Your time has not come yet. When it comes, you will see one of us. But for now, you have to stay like this until your body dies.”
Nam Ji Won thanks her anyway. ”Can you tell me how to wake up?”
The woman laughs. ”I only deal with death. Life is too troublesome.”
”It was worth a try.” Nam Ji Won slumps her shoulders.
”Don't worry.” Go Jae Hee pats her back. ”Your family is likely to give up soon. They will decide to take away the life support when they run out of the money or will to carry on with your half-dead body. Then, you can become one of us.”
”Or she can come with me to the afterlife.” The reaper woman chuckles. ”Don't you want to see your father?”
”Can I?” Nam Ji Won asks, hopefully.
”Who knows?” The reaper disappears.