"Bakit mo nga ulit gustong maging tao?"
The guy sitting in front of Ayla avoided eye contact as if meeting her eyes alone can condemn him for all eternity. Given their current situation, that might just be the case. Huminga nang malalim ang dalaga at sumulyap ulit sa file. Sa kabilang bahagi ng kanyang desk, naroon ang isang tumpok ng mga folder na naglalaman ng application papers ng iba pang human candidates.
The worst part? Kailangan niya pang i-assess ang lahat ng ito bago matapos ang shift niya.
'They don't even pay me enough for this job,' she mentally complained before clearing her throat. "A cricket ten past lives ago, a butterfly in one... then you became a cockroach just recently..."
Napangiwi ang binata na tila ba hindi na niya gustong maalala ang nakakasuklam na karanasang 'yon.
"Ba't ayaw mo bang pinagkakaguluhan ka tuwing nakikita ka ng mga babae? I call that 'ipis'-pecial privileges."
"...."
With that, Ayla smiled in amusement and rested her chin on her folded hands. "Shitty reincarnations, I know. Just last week, I had a guy who had been reincarnated as a black cat for nine times. Tough luck when you're considered an omen for bad luck in the mortal realm. Naawa na rin ako kaya pinayagan ko nang maging tao sa susunod niyang buhay... well, at least he has a reason to be human. Eh, ikaw? Medyo bad record ka rin dito, heads up lang."
Sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon mula noong pumasok siya sa opisina ni Ayla, the guy spoke. The desperation in his voice made her pause for a moment.
"G-Gusto kong maranasang maging tao. In all other lives, I've only experienced the world through the lens of insignificant creatures--"
"And what makes you think humans are any significant?"
Natigilan ang kaluluwa sa sinabi ni Ayla. Well, to be fair she shouldn't feel guilty for cutting him off like that. Kung tutuusin, wala nga rin dapat itong gender, but centuries-worth of experience taught Ayla to see a soul for who they are rather than what they're going to be. She can feel masculine energy radiating off this soul despite having a uniform appearance with the others.
At kung curious kayo kung anong hitsura ng mga kaluluwang pumapasok sa kanyang opisina, well, the simplest way to describe is to picture gray smoke taking the form of a faceless entity. Creepy? Yes.
Ayla eyed him suspiciously, "you don't remember anything from your older past lives, do you? Not even the first one? Doon ka may bad record. Hindi ko lang pwedeng i-disclose dahil baka matanggal ako sa trabaho."
Makalipas ang ilang sandali at ilang kumpas ng kamay ng orasan, muling nagsalita ang binata.
"I can't remember, and I honestly don't know if there is something worth remembering, anyway. But how would I know if humans are truly insignificant if I haven't been a human yet in a long time... Malalaman ko lang ang kasagutan sa tanong na ito through personal experience. That's what you do, right? You give souls another chance."
Ayla listened to him carefully, amazed at how sincere he sounded. Siguro nga nakakapagod ring ma-reincarnate bilang insekto nang paulit-ulit. But then again, his past records can't grant him the approval she would usually issue to others. As if he was never meant to be human to begin with. So what made him curious about them? What drives this soul to be human?
"Another chance, huh?"
Ayla closed the folder and sighed. Paniguradong dadaldalan na naman siyang ng operations manager nila, but what else can she do in this situation?
It might be fun to see him live as a human.
"I'm warning you, being human is overrated."
"I'm... I'm eager to find that out for myself."
Ngumiti si Ayla at kinuha ang stamp sa kanyang tabi. "Good. Sa susunod na magkita tayo, may utang kang kwento sa'kin. Aasahan kong mahahanap mo ang sagot sa mundo ng mga mortal. Congratulations..."
APPROVED.
"...or condolences?" Ayla smiled. "Whichever happens first. Now, off you go!"
The guy nodded, thanking her once more before a beam of light took him away and dropped him somewhere down in a place called Eastwood.
Ayla leaned against her leather chair and bit her nail in anticipation, opening his folder again. She's also eager to find out how he will live again, despite not remembering his first one.
"May you never fly too close to the sun again in your new human life, Icarus."
THE END.
Note: This is actually just a random one-shot idea. I'd love to know your thoughts on this. Stay awesome!
-Kuya Nox
