“Yes! This is it! My life as a bachelor at its fullest!”

Bench is 25 yrs. old, fair-skinned, 5'9" and is working in the Business Process Outsourcing industry as a Manager. He spends most of his time watching movies, traveling, listening to music, and indulging in his craving for sweets.

He completed paying his condominium unit's down payment a month ago and was notified by his agent that he can go ahead and inspect his unit. It was located inside a gated community offering a relaxed environment yet a stone's throw away from Southern Metro's business district. He was very excited. It was his first venture. He opted to skip the routinary visits to his favorite coffee shops, fancy dinner on weekends, and to-die-for mall-wide sales to save, invest, and to have something he can finally call his own.

Twipp! Twipp! his resounding and customized phone notification chimed.

"I'm on my way, will be there before 10 am, see you at the admin office", he replied to his agent.

He was dressed in a white polo and a pair of gray trousers. A pair of black Steve

Madden shoes complemented his style. A silver Technomarine watch accessorized his looks - neat, simple yet classy.

“Welcome to Country Lodge Living - West Pennsylvania Homes”, an artistically - crafted signage made of antiquated and expensive wood read as his black sedan passed by the entrance. The admin office looked elegant with few pieces of chandeliers, designer accent chairs, and glass tables. He decided to check the vicinity. The aquamarine water in the massive pool right outside the office was inviting. Small pine trees were perfectly planted on the sides of the jogging path along with other bushes, adding color and texture to a well-envisaged landscape. The inside of the secured village was spacious and refreshing. Bench was pleased. The place has exceeded his overall expectations. His soon-to-be home gave him an extraordinary impression.

"Aww! Damn it!" He shouted as he tripped on his way back to the lounge.

He didn't notice a small rock, slightly embossed on the ground. He felt a bit of pain in his left toe. Out of the perfect greenery, something caught his attention. He bent a bit, focused his vision, and scratched his fingertip to a familiar thick liquid on a stone. He smelled it and he backed off a little, realizing what it was. He was certain. It was blood...

Something else was out there, he started to feel uneasy as if something or someone was guiding him to notice it. He vaguely saw it through his peripheral view.

He turned to his left and he felt a sudden chill as the object unfolded its clear form, slightly protruded from the soil...was a thumb!

"Sir Bench! There you are. I got the keys! Let's check your unit", his agent said.

He was looking pale initially but got back to reality almost in an instant when he saw his joyous agent waving few meters away like a long, lost comrade. He was hesitant at first, he turned very slowly to check the same spot and was appalled to have found it empty. To his disbelief, even the thick liquid on his fingertip was gone. He shook the ghastly picture off his head and followed his agent.

Minutes passed and he entered the door of his pad. The deal he paid for came with an installed air-conditioning unit, built-in kitchen cabinets, and a silver range hood. They perfectly matched an elegant white metal glass kitchen backsplash and gray granite countertop that a recommended contractor has completed a few days ago.

His condo unit looked vibrant, modern, and cozy. He checked the veranda and was in awe of the view. From his vantage point, he can see the jogging path and pocket gardens to name a few. He pictured himself enjoying an aromatic cup of espresso in the morning while observing the relaxing view and random people.

He noticed his agent, Charles who seemed to be overly energetic. He smirked. Sometimes he thought that his agent sees him as a pot of gold. He tried to offer him another property, right after he finished paying his pad's down payment. He even mentioned that he also has an affiliation with a company offering funeral and crematorial services. “Really?” he recalled asking himself, trying very hard to keep his composure. He was an inch away from yelling and giving him a well-deserved uppercut. "Be patient", he told himself.

Charles got him a good deal after all. Had it not been due to his recurring and irritating messages, he may have declined this opportunity just like many others in the past.

He got his set of keys, the home owner's manual and list of other stuff, schedule of orientation, and turnover of his unit. He signed the paper works and thanked Charles. At that moment, everything was back to normal. He felt blissful. This unit will soon be his "safe" haven.