The One with the Coffin by: Bienvinido Ranario III and Rizza Morales “You sleep in a coffin?” The stranger asked with unparalleled shock in his face. “Uhm, yes?” I answered awkwardly. Knowing other people, a nice couch, neatly made bed, pile of pillows all the “comfort” in the world is what they prefer and deemed other preferences weird and unpleasant just for being “different” than the usual. “Well, that’s unexpected” he said not knowing that the distance between us grew wider the moment he saw me differently. “You know what? Let’s call it a night.” I said sternly as exhaustion from a long workday rush through my body. “Okay!” he said loudly like a guy caught from peeing on a well. “But don’t get me wrong, I was just shocked but it’s not weird” he explained. I am pretty relieved at some point but he was the first guy who apologized after making me feel even weirder just because I sleep on a coffin. “You know what? Walk me home” I said happily “I could use a company tonight, that’s when I accept your apology” “Really? That’s great!” he said with an obvious excitement. This guy must’ve really liked me. My place is just a few blocks away, I made it to the point that we will get dinner near my place for I am going tired, as usual, anyway. The moon peaks as the night deepens. “What’s with the candles?” Paul asked as he stepped inside the bathroom wearing one of my collected robes. He looks even more dashing when the moonlight casting from the window strikes through his body. “To make it more romantic” I said with a smile as I danced around the room. I poured him a glass of wine as he soaked himself into the tub. “Is it nice?” I asked while rubbing his back. “Yes, very…. Nice” he said as his eyes closed and the glass slipped from his hand. ****** The moon peaks as the night deepens. She opened the door from her basement and walk through the room full of coffins. She stopped in front of the one in far corner and opened the lid. She took a deep breath of relief as the long rough day ended. She moved the cold body a little and squeezed herself in, “A wonderful night, is it not Paul?” she asked the cold body laying beside her as she closed the lid and sleep along with paul and other dead bodies she trapped in each coffin.
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