Benjamin

Note: The following story you're about to read is not anything unique or interesting-ish. It's cliche, simple and could be predictable. I don't know. It all depends on your standards in reading. Anyway, I just wanted to post this because it was something I wrote for my recitation in Humanities and I was planning to recite it out loud to the whole class (given as a task to each of us), but decided against it because I figured it was too long and my professor might get pissed off or bored or whatever. So yeah, I still recited the same story but I summarized them. I don't want to put my effort to waste so therefore, I decided to just post it here. At least it wouldn't at all be wasted, right? Even if it's good or bad or whatnot. And reminder, it's only a short story.

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The last man on earth sat alone in a room. Then suddenly, there was a knock on the door. His back was hunched, since he lost any sort of hope that there was still someone living in this world. But after hearing that one single knock on the door, he was abruptly alarmed and felt as if his body was starting to function properly again. Could it be that he was mistaken with what he thought? That mayhap he was really not the only person left on earth? Without another beat of hesitation, the man started and reached for the door with a broad grin plastered on his face.

He was greeted by the most beautiful or handsome -- he could not tell which exactly -- person he had ever seen in his entire life. The person was obviously a male though, because he had facial hair, broad shoulders, and a flat chest. No female could possibly have those type of features. Nevertheless, he still looked beautiful. He had angelic blue eyes, dark brown wavy hair that reached his shoulders, sharp cheekbones, and there was something about him that the man could not help but find alluring. Maybe it was simply the fact that he was glowing, literally. At least that was how the other man looked like to him. He tried to utter something, and even his mind was telling him to do so. But his mouth would not cooperate. Instead, he just stood there staring at the man for what felt like a century and speechless. Fortunately, the other man spoke for him. "Hi, Benjamin."

Benjamin was bewildered and almost tripped on his own foot. How did this stranger know his name, when he was certainly sure that he had never met this man before? "How did you know my name?" he wanted to ask. But ended up saying, "Jack. Everyone calls me that."

"Jack. It's nice to finally meet you." the man replied, and put his hands up for a handshake. For a moment, all that Jack could do was to gawk at the man's hand, that beheld a young boy's. There were no lines, wrinkles or nerves that would show signs of physical hard work. Should he touch those hands that looked perfect, and yet peculiar?

Gathering up all his courage, Jack stood up straight and chose to be frank with the man in front of him. But soon enough decided against it. Being mean might just drive the man away and it would be foolish to let him go when he was the only other being present. Jack, ergo, shook hands with him. "I'd say nice to meet you, but I don't know your name."

"Come with me. I have something I want to show you." the man answered. He turned his back on Jack, leaving him open-mouthed, and walked straight ahead. Without glancing back to see if the other man followed. Jack regained his posture and caught up with the man's pace.

They walked together to their destination -- that Jack was still not aware of -- in silence. Though it did not, in any way, feel awkward. Jack was lost in his own thoughts, thinking about how tremendous he was feeling and still could not get over the actuality that he was no longer in solitude. Also, the man beside him somewhat had a sort of peacefulness in him. Like even if the whole world was already in chaos, he would still remain calm and that his tranquility was a disease that was highly and inevitably contagious. How could someone like him exist? Jack thought.

"Here we are." the man said a moment later, with a sense of gratification in his voice.

Jack could not believe his eyes. He was seeing all kinds of things that no one ever thought possible. It was like he traveled through space and landed on a planet that looked so.. magical and pleasing to the eyes. He was standing on an area that looked like a forest, except better, filled with things he could not exactly define. The trees, at least he thought so, was white and had leaves that were neon yellow, pink and green. There were butterflies around, however not the usual ones; they had glowing wings, and when Jack tried to take a closer glimpse, the butterflies had actual faces. They looked more like fairies. It was far-fetching. Jack did not know if he was supposed to be amazed or horrified. Had he finally lost it? Did being companionless for a number of weeks turn him into a psychopath? Was all these just a dream and the man beside him was just a figment of his imagination? Perhaps that was why the man and everything around him suddenly looked paradisiacal.

"Wh-who are you?" Jack took a step back and almost stumbled, not that  he was afraid or anything like that. When he tried to examine the other man's face more closely, he actually looked like.... Jesus. I really am losing my mind, he thought.

"What you're thinking is right, Benjamin. But you're not crazy because you're only dreaming and all these are not real. You're not the last man on earth." the other man said, not answering his question. Jack was alleged to feel crept up by that, but he felt rather grateful that everything was alright, after all. "Wake up now."

"Wait!" Jack nearly yelped. "What's your name?"

The man gave him a geniune smile before saying, "My name is Jesus."

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THE END.