Afterlife Department

Special World, Caribbean Sea. 

"Hey, hey. Did you hear? They said you can see a mermaid in this area of the sea." A woman said as she stared at the deep blue sea that seemed endless before them. Not a single land can be seen from the distance. Only the sound of the cruise ship's engine and the chatter and laughter of the passengers can be heard, together with the sound of the waves occasionally crashing against the hull of the ship. 

"Haha. Are you nuts?" the man dressed in a high-end suit standing beside her laughed. "Did the seawater get to your head?" he asked her. 

"Geez! You're such a bummer!" the woman said as she pouted her red lips. She crossed her fair and slender arms across her plump chest which can be seen due to her low neckline. Her waist is thin, making the man wanted to wrap his arm around her waist and pull her to his embrace.. 

In the dark and vast sea, a luxurious ship was sailing. The lights from the giant ship is reflected against the surface of the deep and cold water. The ship consists of wealthy businessmen, politicians, aristocrats and other famous people. Everything on the ship screams extravagance – from the suits and dresses of the guests, to their shoes and accessories, even up to the bows of the passing waiters hang on their neck. Wealth is reflected in the clear and shining floor, in which the chandelier is illuminating. The chattering voices coming from the ship are echoing in the sea, but are drowned by the sea breeze and the sound of the waves. 

"Your and your wife's wedding anniversary is coming up, right?" a middle-aged man asked his friend. 

"Yes, yes." 

"Be sure to remember inviting me. My wife and I will prepare you two a big gift." 

"Sure, thank you." 

"Oh, my gosh! Isn't he that popular idol?!" a girl wearing a cocktail dress asked her friend as they stared at the young man that just passed by. "What was his name again?" she asked. 

"Luo Ying." Her friend answered before her eyes fell on a person in the direction of the kitchen. "But, isn't he more handsome?" she asked. 

"Who?" the girl asked before she looked at the direction where her friend is looking at. 

From the kitchen, a young man with a fair skin, hazel brown eyes came out carrying a tray on his hand. His wavy brown hair was brushed up, showing his prominent forehead and nose, along with his deep brown eyes and handsome brows. He walked with a courteous smile on his red lips. 

Some guests can't help but gasp in admiration when they laid their eyes on the gorgeous waiter. His uniform can't hide his built and charisma. 

"Look at Howee!" a waiter standing in front of the door of the kitchen said as they watched Huo Ling served the guests. "Such a handsome face… I won't be surprised if he can hook a patron!" he said.

"Gerald. How many times have you said this?" Albert sighed as he shook his head in dismay. "Howee doesn't sleep with anyone. He's professional in his job." He told him. 

"Tsk!" Gerald said as he marched inside the kitchen to pick up the food given to him by one of the sous chef – Ronald. "What're you looking at?!" he snarled at him. 

Ronald immediately shrank back and ran back to the kitchen, almost bumping against a sous chef. 

"Gerald…" Albert called him in a reprimanding tone. 

"Whatever!" Gerald rolled his eyes before he walked towards the crowd and mixed in. 

Albert sighed as he held his forehead. He can feel Gerald is jealous of Howee's appearance. With Howee's attractiveness that is mixed of the West and East, he is really good-looking. Wherever he'd go, people would have their sight drawn to him. 

"God already has given Howee's appearance. What's Gerald being sour about it?" he muttered before he turned when he heard Ronald's mosquito-like voice calling him. He kindly smiled at him before he took the plate Ronald gave him and placed it on his tray. "I hope you can bear with Gerald's temper a little longer. The cruise will end tomorrow." He told him. 

"T-t-thank you…" Ronald answered with his heavy accent before he returned inside the kitchen after the head chef Michel called him. 

Albert sadly smiled as he looked at Ronald's back when he hurried to Michel's side. Then, he adjusted his uniform's collar before he walked towards the crowd. His figure then was drowned by the large number of high-class people. 

"What did you say?!" a voice hissed. The voice sounded like he was suppressing his anger. It was the Japanese accent. 

Albert turned and saw two Japanese were talking – one the boss and the other is the subordinate. The boss looked angry as he glared at the other with his teeth gnashed and he had an impatient but also anxious expression. Meanwhile, his subordinate was stammering as he answered in their language. 

Albert understood only the basic greetings in Japanese, thus he didn't know what did the Japanese subordinate told his boss before the two of them hurriedly left. 

"Hello, handsome." A woman called. 

Albert turned and gave her a polite smile. "What can I do for you, madam?" he asked.

"Give us a couple of drinks." She answered. 

"Certainly." Albert answered and maintained an appropriate distance from them before he served them drinks and then left. He heard them giggled as his back faced them. He didn't dare try to think what could their laughter mean.

"Oh, my god. That young man is really handsome." Someone exclaimed. 

Albert turned and, sure enough, saw Howee was being surrounded by a large crowd. They were laughing while looking at him in admiration. Albert turned just in time to see Gerald glaring imperceptibly at Howee after he left the vicinity and return to the kitchen after he had served the guests drink and then refill his tray.

"You really have a nice voice. Can you sing?" a female guest asked Howee again. 

The female's voice is somewhat loud when he asked him out of excitement earlier, thus they attracted the nearby guests. The female is a very famous actress, and also the only daughter of a high-ranking politician. Her name is Jury Pete. Thus, the other guests who wanted to make connections with her father through her, and other hidden intentions, gathered around them. 

Howee politely smiled. He was about to speak when they felt a strong vibration of the floor followed by the ship's violent shake! 

"AAAH!" the women shrieked as they fell on the floor while the men immediately looked for something to grab on to stabilize themselves. 

"What's happening - ?!" the guests started to ask one another after the ship turned stable once again. Their escort immediately helped them up. 

"What was that just now - ?!" they asked as they looked around before they looked outside the window, directly looking at the dark sky and lightless sea. 

"Thank you." Howee was woken up from his daze by Jury Pete's voice. 

Howee turned to her and saw his hand holding her arm. "You're welcome." He answered and released her arm. He excused himself before he walked outside to breathe the fresh air. He took a deep breath, and his hair that was brushed up using the gel is now loosely covering his wide forehead that was beaded by slight sweat. 

He was about to return to the kitchen when the ship began to violently shake again! He fell and his chest hit the floor hard. He groaned in pain. However, before he could react, he felt his body slipped to the side where the ship had tilted! "AH!" he cried when his back was hit. He heard something rolling towards him and felt something hit his head. 

"AAAAH!" he heard the screams from inside before he had lost consciousness. The lights of the ship started to die down. Not long after and the ship was covered in darkness. 

Hurts… it hurts… he thought as his eyelids twitched when he tried to open his eyes. However, he felt his body is being crushed by a great pressure. Cold… so cold – he thought and tried to move his fingers, only to feel his movements felt slow. I'm underwater? He immediately thought. As if a confirmation, he felt the water entered his nostrils and he immediately coughed. However, more water just entered his body. 

He finally opened his eyes. Instead of darkness, he saw light from the surface. He wanted to swim towards the water's surface, but his body doesn't permit him to. He is drowning. He knew, on the surface is the rescue team, but he can't swim towards them to save himself. He's going to die. 

Suddenly, something blocked his sight from the light. He raised his head. It was a person. Due to the light behind the person, he can vaguely see his appearance. 

Black suit, a very handsome but bloodless face. This is the man he saw back in the ship earlier after the first violent shaking of the ship. The man is very high-profiled, yet no one was throwing a glance at him as if they can't see him. Only he can see him. 

He didn't think anymore as he poured all his strength on his arms to pull the man towards him and kissed him.