Chapter 42

Malate, Manila

In a high-rise condominium building.

A persistent clicking sound reverberated throughout the room as Jasmine was fully engrossed in her work on the laptop.

The speed at which her fingers moved across the keyboard went unnoticed, a testament to her complete absorption in the task at hand.

The clock on the wall kept its steady beat, accompanying the sound of keys being pressed and clicks as she typed, copied, pasted, and revised... After a few moments, a sigh of relief escaped her lips as she saved the document titled 'Types of Microorganisms.'

It was the research she had diligently typed over the past two days.

Being a biology major in the third year of college, the workload was significantly heavier compared to the first and second years. It had only been a month since classes started, yet her schedule was already packed with a plethora of tasks—assignments, projects, and more—leaving her feeling overwhelmed.

Glancing at the clock on the wall, which showed it was only 10:00—two hours before she was set to pick up her girlfriend—Jasmine wasn't in a hurry to get up and dress just yet.

Instead, she logged into Facebook and browsed some news feeds to pass the time. Suddenly, a post from a person she recently followed caught her eye.

"Is it skits?"

Jasmine's eyes lit up in anticipation, and she clicked on it without hesitation.

The screen darkened, and the familiar logo of 'Nouveau Studio' appeared in the middle. Following that, a title flashed on the screen: 'Suicide.'

"Such tittle?"

Seeing such a title, Jasmine was stunned for a moment. However, before she could ponder its underlying meaning, the screen changed.

This time, the scene displayed the rooftop of a school. At the edge of the railings, a young man in a school uniform could be seen closing his eyes, as if contemplating life.

The dimly lit rooftop provided a stark contrast to the bustling city below, giving the scene a solemn feel.

The absence of background noise made the occasional sound of passing vehicles more noticeable, adding a touch of realism to the setting.

The whole picture looked like a scene from a serious movie—at least that's what Jasmine thought—until a voice broke the solemn atmosphere all of a sudden.

"Eyy? Yo jumping or not?" This time, a young man asked impatiently from behind.

A young man, sporting a red bandana on his head, an oversized uniform folded in a silly manner, and a gold chain around his neck, added a touch of eccentricity to his ensemble.

"Huh? Who are you, thinking you can stop me?" The guy, initially serious, turned and asked the intruder, clearly amused by the sudden interruption.

"Yo, I'm Jack, straight up claimin' this turf. You wanna bounce, find another block 'cause you're messin' with my beauty nap!" Jack, the intruder's tone was a fusion of nonchalant and funky, laced with a hint of impatience.

"Oh, I'm Edgar... by the way, Did you just say for me to jump somewhere else?"

Edgar, the young man at the edge of the railings, looked at Jack with a knowing expression, hinting at an awareness of Jack's intentions and playing along with a sense of clever understanding.

"Obviously? This is my turf, ain't nobody gonna roll in here and mess with my vibe!" Jack shot back, a fierce edge to his voice, clearly angered by Edgar's expression.

"I see, see. I know where this goin', you wanted to use reverse psychology, don't you?" Edgar responded with a knowing tone. He vigilantly stepped back until his back touched the railings, maintaining his guard in the situation.

Jack was taken aback, staring at the young man as if he couldn't believe what he had just heard. He shook his head slightly, baffled by the unexpected response.

The audacity and confidence of the person in front of him left Jack momentarily lost for words.

"I understand, I appreciate your concern, but my resolve is strong. No one can stop me."

"You fucin shithead really think I'm here to stop you!?" Jake scoffed angrily and scolded. "Nah, man, I got better things to do than mess with your drama."

"Hehe, okay, okay, the acting's okay, the lines sound like some Hollywood stuff... But it ain't change anything, you hear me? It ain't change Anything!" Edgar said with a playful grin, underscoring 'It ain't gonna change anything' comically while wagging his finger.

"Pffft! HAHAHA, Oh, good!"

Jasmine couldn't help it and burst into laughter.

"This routine is just way too messy!"

The plot began on a serious and somber note, evoking a sense of gravity and tension. Unexpectedly, an eccentric character made an entrance, disrupting the solemnity and injecting humor into the scene.

The smooth shift effortlessly transformed the atmosphere from a thriller to a comedy, maintaining a seamless and coherent flow..

The banter between the characters further amplified the comedic element, prompting genuine laughter from Jasmine.

The way Edgar insisted the other stopped him from jumping and Jack angrily denied it, swearing in every line to show he didn't care if he jumps or not, made the scene extremely comical!

On the screen, the banter continued for a while until Jack couldn't stand it anymore and stopped talking.

Edgar thought that Jack was upset because his attempts to intervene had failed. So, he thanked Jack and expressed his appreciation, then started sharing his own backstory.

At this point, the comical sounds were removed, and the close-up on Edgar's eyes and expression made the scene extremely melancholic.

However, before the narration of the story progressed, a SpongeBob transition popped on the screen: *One Eternity Later*.

"... You see, my life is a comedy~" Edgar spread his arms wide, embracing the theatricality of the moment, and raised his head to the sky.

The scene, for a brief period, seemed to transcend time, capturing a sense of timeless storytelling. Even Jasmine, caught up in the performance, was moved by the display of raw emotions and artistry.

"... 40 minutes!" At this moment, Jack couldn't help it anymore and trembled involuntarily.

"40 minutes what?" Edgar asked in doubt, seeking clarity on Jack's cryptic remark.

"That's how long I been waitin' since you rolled in, and you still ain't taken that jump!" Jack exclaimed, the impatience crystal clear in his tone, dripping with a gangsta vibe.

"... That... I'm simply savoring the last moment of life!" Edgar replied, maintaining a calm and contemplative demeanor, attempting to explain his perspective amidst the growing tension.

"26 minutes!"

"Eh?"

"That's how long I waited to hear your story! You get me!?"

"What?"

"I wasted my precious fu*cking hour of beauty sleep waiting for you to jump and listening to your lame-ass tale about your ex and your dead dog! Dammit!" Jack retorted in a gansta tone, his impatience and frustration evident.

"PFFT.. HAHAHA"

Jasmine paused the video for a moment and burst into laughter as realization dawned on her.

"Oh sh*t! So all that backstory, that theatrical gesture, was all about his ex and dog?"

Jasmine couldn't help it; the twist was so unexpected, it left her thoroughly amused.

The stark contrast between the initial theatricality and the ordinary truth was comedic gold. It was a brilliant twist that caught her off guard and had her laughing at the ingenious storytelling.

"Hey, my dog is Justin! He's my best friend! Also, don't call him stupid! He's the smartest dog! He can fetch my slippers from far!"

"Yea, yea, he got hit by a truck when you threw your slippers."

"B-but it's the truck's fault..."

"I don't care, jus' jump and go with yo dog named after that singer already?"

"You... How did you know that? Are you a stalker!?"

"Damn! Are yo' still not gonna jump!? Go with it already so I can have peace!" Jack exclaimed, frustration dripping from every word.

"HAHAHAHAHA! this is really funny.";

Jasmine paused again, waited for a while to calm down and then played it.

On the screen, the tension escalated as Edgar hesitated at the edge of the railing, torn between fear and the desire for a leap.

He looked back, hoping for intervention, but found Jack casually munching on popcorn, indifferent to the unfolding drama. This unexpected apathy stunned Edgar, intensifying the surreal nature of the situation.

The contrast between Edgar's struggle and Jack's nonchalant attitude emphasized the gravity of the moment. Jasmine felt a hint of laughter but stopped, sensing the climax approaching.

"I'm jumping!"

"Go on."

"You... Fine, it's real this time!"

Edgar took a deep breath, ran towards the railing to jump, and then the screen turned black.

For a moment, Jasmine wondered if it was the end, but soon, the screen changed once more.

The darkness dissipated, and Edgar slowly regained consciousness. He found himself lying down, and as his vision cleared, a nurse stood before him.

"Am I in heaven?" he asked, still a bit dazed, taking in the surreal moment.

"No, you're in the school clinic. Someone found you had fainted on the rooftop a while ago and brought you here," the nurse explained matter-of-factly.

"..."

The End.