Happy Death System

Just another day

Five days flew by. Sarah's father, Richard, had already sorted out Sarah's transfer, and now Sarah was back in college. She'd also emptied her apartment, sold some stuff, and moved what she could to Samantha's house. Meanwhile, Samantha started working at Sarah's father's office as an executive board member. Her job was to oversee operations and set special Standard Operating Procedures for each project. But for the past five days, all she'd really done was show up, sit in project meetings, offer suggestions, sign off on the agreed-upon SOPs, and then head home.

After finishing her meeting and getting back to her office, she turned her smartphone back on. "Ding... ding... ding," she saw 30 missed calls and about 40 messages from Sophia.

"Huh, what's up? Isn't she supposed to move in tomorrow?" Samantha wondered to herself.

She immediately called Sophia. On the second ring, Sophia picked up, and it sounded like she was crying.

"What's wrong, sis?" Samantha asked.

"Samantha, I'm so sorry for calling you so many times. Did you read my messages?" Sophia asked, her voice thick with tears.

"Not yet, I just finished a meeting at the office. What's going on?" Samantha asked.

Sophia was silent for a moment, still audibly sobbing. Then she briefly spoke to Emma.

"So, Sam, it looks like I won't be moving to your place tomorrow," Sophia replied.

"Why not?" Samantha asked, standing up.

"My dad passed away this morning. I have to go back to my hometown and be with my mom. Most likely, I'll have to stay there so my mom isn't alone; I'm an only child, you see," Sophia explained.

"Thud," Samantha sank back into her chair. She rubbed her forehead and was silent for a moment. Then,

"Hello? Sam? Are you mad?" Sophia asked.

"No, sis, I'm so sorry for your loss. It's okay, really, but what about your job and Emma's school?" Samantha asked.

"My work is remote; I can work anywhere. There's a good school in my mom's town, and I think Emma will like it there," Sophia replied.

"I see," Samantha said, sounding deflated.

"I'm sorry, Sam. I know you're pregnant, but you have your friend Sarah at your house, right? I really wanted to help you through your pregnancy until you gave birth, but it seems fate had other plans," Sophia said.

"It's okay, Sophia. When are you leaving?" Samantha asked.

"This afternoon. Emma and I are getting ready now," Sophia replied.

"Alright, please be careful on your way. Call me if anything happens," Samantha said.

"Will do. You should call me and Emma often too, okay?" Sophia replied.

"Of course, sis, don't worry. I might even visit sometime; just let me know the address," Samantha replied.

"I'll be waiting. If I ever come back to this city, I'll definitely contact you," Sophia said.

"Okay, sis, see you again," Samantha replied.

"Yeah, you have to stay healthy, okay? Call me when you're about to give birth," Sophia said.

"Okay, sis, thank you for all your help so far," Samantha replied.

"I should be thanking you. Alright, I have to go now. See you later," Sophia said.

"Yeah, sis," Samantha replied.

"Oh, wait a minute, Emma wants to talk," Sophia added.

Sophia's voice could be heard handing the phone to Emma, and then Emma's little breaths before she spoke.

"Hello, Sis Samantha," Emma said.

"Hello, Emma," Samantha replied.

"Emma's going to Grandma's house now, okay? You call Emma often, okay?" Emma said.

"Yes, of course, Emma," Samantha replied with a sad smile.

"Emma's putting her clothes in Emma's bag to take with Emma now," Emma said.

"Hehe, pack neatly, okay? Just like you helped Sis at Samuel's apartment yesterday," Samantha said.

"Of course, Sis! Gotta go now, okay? Don't be sad if Emma's not there. If you're sad, Emma will be mad," Emma said.

"Okay, I won't be sad. I'll always pray for you, Emma," Samantha replied, smiling.

"Okay then, gotta go now, Sis. Emma still has to tidy up Emma's clothes," Emma said.

"Yeah, bye-bye, see you again," Samantha said.

"Yeah, bye-bye," Emma replied.

The call ended. Samantha looked at her smartphone screen, which still showed Sophia and Emma's photo in her chat app. Then she opened her chat with Sarah and told her that Sophia and Emma wouldn't be moving in tomorrow. She relayed everything she'd just heard through the messages to Sarah. After that, she stood up and walked out of her office to go to hospital, even though she was secretly sad that Sophia and Emma wouldn't be moving in tomorrow.

While in the elevator, she looked at her smartphone again and checked the university website to see the application status she'd submitted a few days prior, hoping it would lift her spirits.

"Why haven't I heard back from the university yet? Could it be that I didn't get accepted?" Samantha wondered.

[Would you like me to help, sir?]

"No. Last time you helped me, I died and ended up pregnant, so...no thanks," Samantha replied.

[Tch.]

"Huh... you just 'chuckled'? You did 'chuckled' did you!" Samantha yelled in her head.

[I just wanted to say, the form you submitted to the university doesn't match what you've been doing these last five days. I can help cancel it and change it if you want.]

"Hmm, that's true. Back then, I didn't know what I wanted, but now I can say I have a job, and it's better if I go into a faculty that fits what I'm doing now," Samantha replied.

[Alright, I'll change your form to the business faculty.]

"Hey, wait... not yet... I have to..."

"Ding," a notification popped up on Samantha's smartphone. She checked it, and it was an email. When she opened it, it was a receipt for submitting her application to the business faculty.

"Grrr... I told you to wait!" Samantha fumed.

[It's too late, sir. Glad I could help.]

Samantha couldn't do anything else since the form was already submitted and immediately reviewed by the university.

"Oh my God, why don't you ever listen?" Samantha asked.

[I am only providing the best for you, sir.]

"Whatever," Samantha replied.

"Ding," the elevator opened. Samantha stepped out, crossed the lobby, then exited and handed her card to the valet. She waited in front of the lobby. Soon after, her car pulled up, a valet got out and immediately ran to hand Samantha her keys. After that, Samantha drove to the hospital where she first woke up in her first life, to get her pregnancy checked.

She waited patiently in the waiting area right in front of the obstetrician's office at the hospital.

"Oh, sis!"

Samantha turned, and her eyes widened when she saw Melissa and Derek standing in the hallway. Derek seemed to look away when he saw Samantha, and Melissa looked confused seeing Samantha sitting in the waiting room for an OB-GYN. Samantha immediately stood up.

"Hey, why are you two here?" she asked, surprised.

"Yeah, sis, we're here to ask about Samuel's body, which has been missing for the past eight days. What are you doing here, sis?" Melissa asked.

"Oh crap, what am I supposed to say? 'Hey, your pregnancy moved to me, so now I'm getting checked'... no way I can say that," Samantha muttered to herself. "I-I'm waiting for a friend," Samantha replied.

"Oh, okay. Well, we'll excuse ourselves then, sis. We're going to the hospital director's office," Melissa said.

But as Melissa turned to leave, Samantha suddenly chased after her, grabbed Melissa's shoulder, and whispered,

"Hey, who's the guy who got you pregnant? What's his name?" Samantha asked.

"Oh no... Derek's here, sis, don't let him hear. His name is Maxwell... Maxwell West. Okay, sis, gotta go," Melissa replied.

Samantha released Melissa's shoulder, and Melissa immediately ran to catch up with Derek. Samantha stood stunned.

"Maxwell West... wait... my neighbor?! Oh my God... Melissa got pregnant by him? That means he lied to Melissa. He doesn't have a family and lives with his mom. That bastard, he's a real deadbeat. Wait, so he's my baby-daddy? I can't accept this, please don't make this baby's face like him, I'm begging You," Samantha muttered to herself.

[Okay, I can do that.]

"Huh ?"