บท 2: The Apparition Manifestation.

"WHAT?? are you saying I'm dead"?

"Yes, I was hoping you will be able to tell me why but that seems unlikely".

"How can you be so sure? I mean, maybe I just ended up here?Maybe it's a mistake, you know! Maybe that bus driver picked up the wrong person".

"No dear, living souls can never perceive us, that bus or this place. If you're here, then you must be dead".

"Didn't you say I'm not supposed to be here? Then what was that about"?

"It means I wasn't expecting you. I'm usually notified of a person's death when they are meant to die. Which suggests you died when you were not supposed to. You are dead, my dear. It's just that you weren't supposed to".

"But that's not fair! Be honest with me. Is this a prank"?!

She smiled "You decided to stay here right. Why don't you find out for yourself"?

She again raised her hand when I flinched back except she didn't withdraw this time. She touched my locket and the grazed over the gem. Then suddenly she smiled "Make sure you never lose this".

She gestured me to look behind. Furious and confused, I followed her direction. I was surprised to see so many people there. Where did they come from? I turned back to ask her only to realize she was gone, and to my surprise, so was the hut. It looked like a town from where I was standing.

What just happened here? I was still onto the hope that it might be a prank of some sort, that I was not indeed dead. But then how can I explain why I was suddenly standing in the middle of the town filled with people? Why was I this devastated though? I mean, I don't even remember my own name! I don't even know what I was missing out.

My head was starting to hurt. I saw a cafe nearby and decided to go there. I decided to test the theory if I was a ghost or not. After I entered the cafeteria, I could not really tell if I was visible to anyone. Everyone was pretty much busy minding their own business. To verify it, I decided to go to counter and try my luck.

"Hey there", I say slowly. The barista however did not budge. She continued pouring coffee into the cups. I was saddened but then again I was not loud enough. So, I tried again

"HEY!! " I shouted.

Startled, she looked at me as some amount of coffee ended up outside the cup. Though I felt a bit sorry, I was mostly delighted that she could hear me.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to shout, I thought maybe you didn't hear me the first time" I apologize and try to look as much sincere as I could.

"No, it's alright. I mean if I was not so distracted, I would have heard you the first time. I'm sorry", she said whilst wiping the spilled coffee.. "What can I get you"? She asked.

Should I order? I mean, will I be able to taste it? Well, why not find out for myself?

"I would like an Americano" I say as I search through my pockets for money. Dang it!! I didn't have any money. Oh no! Why did I order? I had begun to regret my decision and was about to cancel, when she asked.

"What's your name?"

"Do you... really need one?" I ask, trying not to sound suspicious.

"I'll put it on your cup"

"Oh, Um..." I was wondering what to say when I suddenly noticed her bracelet with a name on it.

"....Chloe. My name is Chloe.

"Really? " she was quite amused. "So is mine. Nice to meet you Chloe"

"Yeah same". I smile at her. "Hey listen; can I, perhaps pay later? I just realized I don't have any money on me. Actually, you can cancel my order. I'll have it some other time".

"Don't be silly. I can tell that you need coffee in your system. You know what, this is on the house." she handed me the cup. "This is the first time I met someone who shares my name. Half of my friends say it wrong. I'm pretty sure one teacher used to call me clue"

I laugh at her statement. "Tell me about it. I mean how hard it is to say Chloe? It's just two syllables".

"Yeah" ,she laughs and goes back to her coffee.

I smiled by myself, glad that I'm not invisible to everyone. I sat down by the counter enjoying my coffee. It was bitter, I did not like it. But I was so happy I could taste it. Its weird that I feel human, that I interacted with other humans. Then how am I a ghost? It has to be a mistake right?

I was halfway through my drink when I heard Chloe having a conversation with her friend

"Guess what Jo, I met a girl who was also named Chloe."

"Oh. Who is it"?

She looked around the cafe, " I think she left. But it was awesome. It's like meeting a name twin or something."

"You're cute", Jo laughed along with Chloe

Meanwhile I sat there surprised by their exchange. What happened? She could see me a while ago. Am I suddenly invisible to her? This was driving me crazy. Honestly, at this point, I wanted to kill myself. Wait; I am already dead, aren't I?

Frustrated, I stormed out the cafeteria. I was going really fast when I suddenly bumped into someone.

"I'm sorry I didn't see you there." I apologize to the guy I bumped into.

He stared at me."Are you.... talking to me?"

"Yeah. I did kind of bump into you."

He gave me big innocent, childlike smile. "Wow!! You're one of us aren't you? You're a ghost!"

My eyes widen at his comment and I smile quite amused. "As in, you're one too?"

"Yep, as dead as one can get" he chuckled. "I'm Ken, by the way"

" I'm... Chloe." I responded with the smile. I guess I'll keep that name. After all that's the first human interaction I had since I stopped being a human myself.