Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive, stayin' alive!

***

CHAPTER 3:

BUBBLE ROLL

I clutched the teacup offered by the Principal as if it were the only branch to hold onto. Despite the pesky clouds constantly interrupting, I never once took my eyes off her. Each word she uttered felt like a butterfly I was trying to catch with my gaze. However, my stellar achievement in grabbing those letters wasn't helpful. Since the Principal seated me on the velvet chair in front of her desk, I hadn't understood even half of what she had been saying.

I was at the Dorm. I had already figured that much out. But the real fun began after accepting this delightful fact. According to the Principal, the Dorm was a bridge between life and death. It was a home, a refuge, a second chance for souls who, despite being dead, couldn't quite make it to the other side. I was one of those incompetent souls. I had been in an accident and died, but my stubborn soul had refused to move on to the beyond.

"There must be something tying you to the world," the Principal explained. "An unfinished dream, a regret, a lesson to be learned..."

Of course, a million things tied me to the world. I had just gotten into university and was in the same program as Dav. We would study together, graduate together, and build a life together. I had the perfect future ahead of me.

"So..." I said, my voice trembling. "What about Dav? I mean, Davon... The guy who was in the accident with me... Is he... Is he here, too?"

"Oh, no, not at all," said the Principal cheerfully. "He miraculously survived the accident. It appears he's been blessed by some divine luck."

Anyone who knew Dav even a little would know he didn't possess an ounce of divine luck. Dav detested unearned gains and beggars alike. But I pushed that truth aside. There was only one thing that mattered: My boyfriend had survived, he was alive, he was okay. I took a deep breath. Then, my second breath got stuck in my chest. Yes, Dav had survived, but I hadn't. He was alive, but I was here. Everything was over. I was over. I turned to the Principal in horror.

"If I'm already dead, how can I possibly get a second chance? What's the point of my soul coming here?"

The Principal chuckled and waved her hand in the air. "Oh, dear Olive, death occurs when the soul leaves the body. Humans think they die when their physical bodies stop functioning. Yes, you've died, your soul has left your body, but your physical body is still alive and currently in a coma. You can see it as an empty shell, waiting for your soul to return. If your soul chooses to go back, it'll re-enter that body, and you'll continue living your life."

Anxiously, I asked, "But what if my soul chooses not to return?"

The Principal smiled compassionately. "Then your soul will transition to the afterlife and begin its eternal life there. Your life functions will cease because the ties holding your body in slumber will have been severed."

And then I would truly die.

For a moment, I panicked unbelievably. I had imagined myself drifting alone into the unknown. But then, a light bulb went off in my head, causing me to lean forward eagerly in my seat.

"So, you're saying it's my choice whether I cross over to the other side? I can return to my life if I want to, right?"

"Yes, precisely," the Principal said gleefully. "That's why the Dorm is where souls find their second chances."

This newfound knowledge made my heart pound with excitement. I leaned forward a bit more and set the cup down on the table. "So, what exactly do I need to do? How do I return? What steps should I follow? Should I find mistakes to correct? Do I need to do good deeds? How will I find the way back? Are there guides to help me? The methods you apply..."

As I fired off my questions like a shotgun, the Principal patiently waited. When she realized my interrogation was endless, she raised both hands and laughed, stopping me. "Sweet Olive, I understand your excitement, but you'll soon see that patience is the biggest lesson you'll learn here at the Dorm. Please don't rush. You'll have plenty of time to discover the answers to all these questions."

What?

Unable to resist, I stood up. "Plenty of time? How much is plenty? How long do I have to spend here? What will happen to my life in the meantime? My family doesn't even know if I'll return. What if they pull the plug? What if I have nobody to return to? What if they forget me? What if they don't wait for me? What if Dav doesn't wait for me?"

The Principal also stood up. Unlike my hysteria, she continued to smile calmly. Perhaps she was accustomed to seeing souls lose their minds in panic. When she came before me, she took my hands in hers and held them tightly.

"The second thing you'll learn here is to stop worrying about things you can't control," she said. "You'll learn to go with the flow and live in the moment. The Dorm will provide you with everything you need, as and when you need it. And when the time is right, you'll choose the right path and leave here. Not a moment too soon, not a moment too late."

What I heard didn't please me; it infuriated me. I felt like I was reading some random self-development book. The words were flowery but hollow. I despised things I couldn't control. My entire life had been spent meticulously planning and working hard. So now, knowing I had a chance to return to my life, would I sit back and wait for the right moment to come?

As if she heard my thoughts, the Principal said, "Of course, that doesn't mean you'll be wasting your days here at the Dorm."

Suddenly, she pulled me towards the opposite wall, and my feet tangled together. We stood in front of a wooden cabinet nestled between the shelves. On the door, there were symbols like those on gambling machines and a lever. The Principal slid the buttons up and down, adjusting them to the symbols of clover, heart, wave, and lightning bolt, then pulled the lever down.

Instantly, the cabinet began to tremble, and a lilac light rose from its beams. I stepped back in fear. The Principal, however, watched the show she had orchestrated with admiration. After a few minutes of shaking like a broken washing machine, the cabinet shook one last time, the doors opened on their own, and the Principal clapped her hands excitedly. I was stunned by what I saw, forgetting my anger.

"Look at this!" exclaimed the Principal excitedly, reaching for the backpack in the middle of the empty cabinet. "It's a design just for you."

It was a purple school backpack with daisies on it. I was ready to argue that this was not a design for me, but I helplessly followed her to the table as she unpacked its contents. There was a purple book, a purple pen, a purple notebook, a purple Walkman, purple headphones, a keychain with purple flowers, and finally, a piece of bubble tape gum, also purple...

"Ta-daa!" exclaimed the Principal, spreading her arms wide and gesturing towards the items on the table. "Everything you'll need during your stay is right here." I stared blankly at her. "This is for your studies," she said, picking up a thick book. "You'll find all the necessary information according to your daily schedule. A notebook for jotting down personal insights. Since music is food for the soul, a Walkman... You'll see that the cassette inside refreshes itself according to your mood. And, of course, bubble tape gum because who doesn't love gum?" She laughed.

"Wait, wait a minute!" I interrupted. "What are you talking about with these lessons?"

She smiled proudly. "We implement a full-time education program in all the dormitories where young souls stay."

Every time I spoke, my head got even more confused. I should stop asking questions. Still, I couldn't help myself. "What do you mean by dormitories for young souls? Are there other dorms, too?"

I had amused the Principal. "Of course, there are other dorms, Olive. Surely, we can't fit the entire afterlife into one dormitory, can we?"

Can they?

"So... So are you saying that out of all these dorms, I ended up in one filled with my peers, and now I have to attend classes with them?"

"Exactly!" confirmed the Principal.

Her joy didn't seem to detect the worry in my voice. She probably didn't know that I had worked for years to eliminate high school and the teenagers in it. I hadn't socialized much, but it didn't matter. As Dav had said, when the time came, we would reap the rewards of our efforts, and the others would pay for their laziness. But now I was dead. That time would never come. Just when I was about to enjoy my freedom, I found myself in another school, among teenage souls.

No, this wasn't a second chance. I was literally in hell.

"Don't worry," said the Principal, misinterpreting my concern. "The lessons are tailored to the needs of each soul. Plus, your soulmate will also be with you in class."

"My soulmate?"

"Your soulmate!" repeated the Principal. "The soul who will accompany you on your journey... You won't believe how beneficial complementary souls are for development. Tomorrow morning, you'll find the name of the soul you've matched in your mailbox."

"But... but how... how will you choose them?" I stammered. I already had a soulmate, and he was far away.

"Don't worry about that," said the Principal. "The Dorm will choose the perfect match for you. Sleeping in your room tonight will be enough to get to know you."

I had opened my mouth for more questions, plenty of objections, and crazy rebellions when something purplish and fluffy flew in through the window. It circled the room with its large wings, then gently landed on the arm the Principal extended. If I disregarded its color, I think it was... an eagle.

"Perfect timing," said the Principal, patting the bird's head. "We were just about to finish."

No, we weren't, I wanted to say. But the Principal turned back to the table, not caring about my open mouth. She took out the egg-shaped Tamagotchi dangling from the corner of the bag and handed it to me. It was a toy popular in the 90s, where you feed and raise virtual animals. I knew it because my sister had it, though I never owned one.

"This is yours, Olive," said the Principal. "Although there will be many souls around you, the Dorm can sometimes make you feel lonely. So, everyone here has a companion. You'll choose what yours will be. Whenever you feel ready..."

I looked at the toy in my hand, then at the woman before me. Surely, someone was seriously making fun of me on a cosmic level. I was in an otherworldly hidden camera prank. But the real game had yet to start.

"Now," said the Principal. "Since we've finished the introductory phase, we can settle you into your new home. Pack up your bag. Your new life awaits."

***

Now you know what the Dorm is and why Olive is there:)

Ms. Principal will be one of my favorite characters. I want to hear how she makes you feel. Leave an emoji for the Principal here! 💜🧁🎀

And for those old enough to remember Tamagotchis, I want to know what your favorite animal is 🐅 For those not old enough, go and google it right away. You can't ignore such a fantastic invention:))))

Next up, we have friends, enemies, and soulmates. You may not know yet, but I love stirring things up as a writer. It will be fantastic for our antisocial girl Olive to meet the other souls. Make sure not to miss it!

Lots of kisses and love till the next episode!

EC.