Madame Selene

CHAPTER 1

After sipping from a pretty glass of champagne, I put it on the side table beside the red sofa chair facing the balcony in the 3rd floor. I stood up and walked toward the balcony where you can see the dark sky filled with hundreds of tiny pieces of diamonds.

"Is everything ready?" I asked the woman standing at my back, wearing a black kimono with cherry blossom design.

"Ang hudyat mo na lamang ang hinihintay, Madame," she answered politely.

I turned down my eyes, looking at the long street filled with thousands of lanterns, at the middle has a long path of water flows from my blessing to the endless, with different restaurants and other establishments side by side that inspired from ancient japanese architecture, and the my most favorite part is the people waiting there wearing kimono. What's makes them special is they are all

my spectral guests.

I slowly put a little smile on my lips kahit na alam kong hindi rin naman nila ako makikita ng malinaw. "My beloved guests, on this beautiful night I want you all to forget the life you had on earth. Because this district is better than heaven itself."

Pagkatapos ng mga salita ko ay ang pagsimula ng musika na bumalot sa buong district. Waltz no.2, the music that I chose myself every time I announce the start of night. My 200 people started to spin, twirl and waltz. Some started to serve the guests and the guests began their businesses.

"Mas marami ngayon kumpara kagabi," sabi ng babaeng kausap ko kanina. She is Marga, my personal assistant. This girl is different from the other but that is what makes her special. "Looks like the mother earth decided na unti-unting ubusin ang lahi ng tao sa mundo."

"That's better, right?" I turned my eyes on her. "Mas maraming patay, mas maraming mapupunta sa En attente. Means marami tayong kita!"

Right! This is not the ordinary place where normal can easily have an access. One condition must meet...

...you have to be a lifeless person.

Dahil kilala ang En Attente District bilang ang lugar kung saan hinihintay ng mga kaluluwa ang hatol sa kanila ng langit. Kung mapupunta ba sila sa impyerno, sa langit or isisilang ulit.

"Kung mas maraming tao naman ang mamamatay, darating ang araw na wala na tayong guests," panira ng moment na sagot niya which made me lose my little smile.

"Then I'll be glad to send you to hell dahil useless ka na sa'kin sa araw na 'yun." I decided to walk back inside my tower with ancient japanese architecture. "Let's be honest, Marga. Kahit mas marami ngayon kumpara kahapon, kakaunti pa rin ang guests natin ngayon."

"Siguro dahil ang pangit na ng lugar na 'to." Napatingin nanaman ako sa kaniya dahil sa sinabi niya. "Did I say what's on my mind again?" she is acting innocent.

"Yes." This is what I meant when I said she's special than the other. Siya lang ang may lakas ng loob na sagutin ako ng pabalang. "Then know what's wrong. Send some people to investigate."

"Yes, madame." she bowed before leaving me alone in my office.

Even if there's a party outside, this is still a normal night for me. Kailangan ko pa rin lang naman ayusin ang mga documents na pinapadala sa'kin ng Afterlife Goverment. Mostly, puro tasks na nagpapahirap ng buhay ko.

The Afterlife Goverment is what make this place stay in peace. Sila ang nagpapasiya kung sino ang makakapunta sa kabanalan at kung sino naman sa kaparusahan. They are also incharge of assigning task to every department. Even though I have an entertainment district business in afterlife, I'm still the head of Inochi department. The department that preventing people to commit suicide.

My routine doesn't end at night unlike an owl. Dahil why sleep at day when it's too bright to take advantage?

"Pupunta ka nanaman sa mundo ng mga buhay?" tanong ng pinakamatanda kong staff, si Milda. She's wearing white plain kimono white her hair is tied up. Kulubot man ang balat niya, dumederetsyo 'yun pag galit siya. She's still once a deity of falls before.

Just like a waterfall, nahulog siya sa taong walang gawa ang mga salita. Naliligaw ang mga dila, at hindi mahanap ang sariling nadarama. Isn't funny? She choosed to broke the law to save that man from death pero mas pinili ng lalaking 'yun ang ibang babae. In exchange, the moonlike beauty that cannot be compare from any other creature took away from her.

"I still have other businesses to do." I smiled at her. "Maraming kailangan singilin ngayong araw."

"P'wede mo naman ipagawa 'yan kay Marga, o kay Dorian. Mas makakabuti kung sila at hindi ikaw." She keeps persuading me. "It's safer here."

"Sa akin sila may utang kaya ako ang dapat maningil sa kanila. Isa pa, I'm kinda sick, nakakasawa 'yung puro ito na lang ang view ko. I should also spread my wings."

"Staying safe is better than spreading your wings,"

I rolled my eyes. Her 3 thousand year old age suits her. "Whatever you say won't work, Milda. Let's just meet before the night. I'll make sure to bring your favorite cake para gumaan ang pakiramdam mo."

"Selene, sinasabi ko say--"

Hindi ko na siya pinatapos dahil sa isang pitik ko lang, nakita ko na ang sarili ko na nakatayo sa hallway ng isang building where people are busy doing their office job.

I slowly walk toward the C.E.O office and tumagos sa wall dahil there's no reason to use the door. I saw a man sitting on the chair talking on his phone, looking like enjoying the wealth.

"I hope you still remember our deal, my beloved business partner." I smiled that caught his attenttion.

"Uhm, wait..." He ended the phone call and looked at me confused. "I'm sorry, hindi kita kilala? Paano ka nakapasok dito?" He looked at the door. "Does my secretary let you in? I don't remember that I have meeting with an unknown person."

This man really act like he can't remember me even her hands right now is trembling. This is the reason why I hate making deal but I have no choice. They love to pretend that they forget who bestoved blessing to them when their world is hopeless.

"Oh my... I know you don't want me to remind you who am I? If you really don't remember me then let me give you a hint. I am not a grim reaper but I'm here to take you."

I forgot to mention that apart from saving people from committing suicide, I have this other business that other shouldn't know.