COUNTDOWN

TEN

Vegas's POV 

It is a cold night in winter. I drink up the bottle of whisky in a gulp as I watch the scenery from my balcony. I am tired. Tired of Pretending. 

I take another gulp as I notice that the bottle I am holding is empty now. Just like my Empty Life. As the realization dawns on me, I seem to understand, I can't do this anymore. I walk out of my room, Looking at our portrait hanging on the wall that he painted with so much love, his eyes in the portrait filled with sadness as if he knows what I am about to do. As if he doesn't approve of what I am about to do.

I close the door behind me as I walk towards the staircase leading to the uppermost floor of the building. The staircase looks almost abandoned, perhaps as a result of everyone using the elevator. Abandoned like it should be.

Each step I take, my legs are feeling more and more heavy. After climbing a few stories, I reach the terrace. I take a long breath before twisting the door knob and walk towards the edge.  The view from here is quite beautiful. The countless stars adoring the sky, and the numerous lights illuminating from the buildings across. Truly serene. Something that he would like. Weird isn't it? Last time we both were here but now it is Only Me.

I sigh as I remove my shoes and get up to stand on the railing. I look at the cars on the street beneath. They look so tiny. Would they be the same when I am looking at them from beneath, I wonder. 

"Just one more step and we will get to meet again." I say as I am ready to leave this world behind when suddenly "And I thought I was the only one here."

I turn around sharply only to find a guy in a black hoodie staring back at me. "Are you here to die as well?" He asks me.

But without hearing my answer he continues to babble "Well guess you are lucky then that I am here too" and then he comes closer and removes his shoes beside mine and stands on the railing a few feet away from me.

"What are you doing?" I finally ask as I look into his eyes.

"The same as you." he replies as a deafening silence surrounds us. He looks down as well.

"Although a bit scary, the scenery is quite beautiful up here isn't it?"

"Are you hungry?" He asks as he look at me.

"What?"

"If you are then you can accompany me to eat dinner."

He says as he comes closer to me and grabs my hand tightly. 

"Why would I? You can if you want to. Leave me alone." I reply angrily as I shake his hand off. I feel like I choose the wrong time for this. Each passing second that I spend in contact with this annoying person, I find my resolve weakening bit by bit. 

He looks at his wristwatch and then back at me. "10 PM. It is 10PM. If you jump now many people would be gathered and then what if someone calls the ambulance and you are saved. Do you want that?" 

'You speak as if you have jumped from here before.' I want to say but instead keep it to myself. 

"Or so I thought. Let's eat something and then come back here at midnight." He further continues.

"Why would I accompany you for?" I ask him instead.

"Aren't you curious?"

I look at him questioningly. "As to why I am here" 

"Don't you think it's fate for us to meet here?" he further asks as he smiles towards me.

"Not really."

"How about being friends?"

"Why? Aren't we both going to die in a couple hours anyway?" I ask him instead, finding both this conversation and this person futile.

"You never know. You might find a reason to keep surviving."

"In a couple hours. I doubt."

He then smiles at me as he steps back on the terrace and starts putting back his shoes. "Want to join? My treat."

I look down towards the street beneath and then back at him as I reluctantly step backwards. "Fine" I say as I step away from the edge. It wasn't that he had convinced me otherwise regarding my choices, but something about the stranger had made me step back. If I was going to die anyways, It wouldn't hurt going with the whims of this stranger and then perhaps jumping off together with him.

I hurriedly put on my shoes as he keeps staring at me.

"What?" I ask irritated. 

"What would you like to eat?"

"Anything is Fine." I reply. I don't really care what my last supper would be.

"Then let's have Ramen. I know this good place where they serve really good ramen." He says as he holds my arm and drags me towards the staircase. 

I look back at the railing. I hope I don't regret this.

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