Simula sa Gitna

Sarah my love, are you still there?

Do a post-mortem of your new tenant. You might be late.

Thank you, love.

Love, sorry, I still can't bear watching it.

It's okay. It's not yet time.

But, hurry! They might dock points from you again!

Oh, shit!

Okay love, wait a bit.

BEGIN IN THE MIDDLE

NO SHIT???

Is this one dead?

Stupid! We can't all die twice here! Rotten meat?!

Sir!

Has the Chief Reviewer seen him?

Ah, this one got away.

Sir?

He's dead asleep.

Sir! Please wake up!

What are you doing, sir!

You can't be here!

Sir!

You see?

Who are you?

Is that you?

Me?

Isn't St. Peter a dude?

So my wavy bangs and lashes aren't doing it.

Sir, I think you're talking about someone else.

This is just the halfway point. Not quite heaven yet.

Okay.

Then which way to heaven?

Sorry, sir.

Getting to heaven is a long process.

If you can get there.

Wait, I'll look for the one who fetched you.

I don't understand.

What just happened?

I'm sorry, Missy, I'm sorry.

I hope you make it!

I'm sorry, Missy.

I'm sorry.

I feel you, sir.

I was the same when I arrived.

Actually, I had it worse because I totally lost it.

But just like on Earth, I can assure you

that things will get better.

I'm not saying this will all just disappear.

But it will get better.

Thank you.

Before I forget. Your Guide!

Wait for him here. He will take you to the Reviewer.

Actually, when you get to his office,

ask for orange juice right away.

What? Why?

You'll see.

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF REVIEWER

Can I have some?

ELIAS A. IGAT CHIEF REVIEWER

Thirsty much?

Still feels guilty, Chief.

His girlfriend is in a coma. He was the one driving.

Wait.

I heard you.

You were whispering, but I heard you.

-Sorry, sir. -No, I heard you again!

It's my ear!

I can hear!

From my right ear!

I've had a ruptured eardrum for years!

I can hear again!

Here in the Middle, there are no diseases. No deafness, Alzheimer's, cancer.

You will recover your health.

Wow!

Candy, how many points does he have?

According to my records, as of time of death, 147 718.

Only?! Wait.

But we donated one million to the construction of the Church in Iligan!

Well, we're not sure if that actually went to the Church.

Carlo!

But, perhaps he has minus points!

This is good to go.

Carlo, here's his points tracker. Please call his guardian.

Okay.

Here's your manual, remote,

and key to your room.

Sorry.

Andrew, she will be your guardian.

-Sarah. -Oh, sorry.

Hi.

Hi, sir.

You know each other?

Okay, then. Give him the tour!

Look out for the elevators. Only one is working.

The other is still under maintenance.

Let's go, sir.

Wait.

I think I've seen you somewhere.

From earlier, sir?

No, somewhere else.

-Are you from... -Oh, no, sir.

-Let's go, sir. -Wait, are you sure?

-I'm certain I've seen you. -We'll go ahead.

If this is not urgent...

Depends if you don't consider the evaluation urgent.

Boss?

Yes, ma'am?

This is Building 4869 of the Middle.

That's the gate where new arrivals come in.

Where you and your Guide passed through.

That long line goes to the baggage counter,

where you drop your bags.

The rumors are true,

you can't take your possessions with you after you die.

That one in the middle talking to a bunch of people,

is Ms. Candy, the Chief Guardian. But I call her Mama Candy.

She assigns our wards to us, and we report to her

if you get additional or minus points.

The length of your stay here depends on the number of points you have.

Sister Mercy!

Good day!

How many more points do you need?

Just 45!

-Forty-five? -Praise the Lord!

You're something else. Good luck, Sister!

If you want to shorten your stay, you can also earn points.

Just be good.

But if you get minus points, you may end up in the Basement.

The lake of fire!

So, yeah.

Hey, how about you? You earn points too?

How many more do you need?

Uhm, a lot. Like a ton, sir. Let's go?

Why? Were you a mean girl on Earth?

And you, sir? How long will you be here for?

They said 40 days.

Forty... That fast?!

So you were a good boy.

Wait, miss.

Are you from QC?

Did you go to Ateneo also?

Because I swear you look really familiar.

If that sort of line worked on Earth, it won't here.

No, miss. It's not a pickup line.

-For real. I thought... -Do you see that, sir?

That's the way to heaven.

Get enough points, and that's your ticket to heaven.

Hi!

GREETINGS! WELCOME TO HEAVEN'S WAITING

This is for special announcements.

This is where they post the names of those who will be going up.

They do it every night.

They also announce it over the PA.

So, that sums up our tour, sir. I can now bring you to your room.

But bear with us, sir. We only have electric fans here.

You seem like an AC kind of guy.

Sorry. This way.

This way.

Fucking cunt!

-Sorry, sir. I shouldn't have said that. -No, it's okay.

I was stunned. I really don't...

Hey, does it...

Does it happen on every floor?

Yeah.

That's how we roll here in the Middle.

Uhm, yeah.

Fucking shit!

Bet that got you?!

-A little. -Our style.

-Yeah, style. -You'll get used to it.

What's up with that?

Come on, go up. Don't embarrass me.

You look really familiar.

-Are you sure you're not from QC? -It's none of your business, sir.

Damn maintenance department.

There.

Sorry, sir.

We're almost there.

Why is it going so fast?

Is this normal?

No, sir. This is bizarre.

-Oh my god! Whoa! -It's too fast!

I don't want to die!

Ma'am, we are doing everything to make things better for our residents.

Yes, ma'am! We'll be ready in a month!

Of course, ma'am!