Short, Light, Free

“Have you heard of this story? The devil’s just around this street corner. That’s what people have been saying. They also said that if you pass through this street corner and sit down on a certain long bench while feeling any negative emotions, like anger, frustration, or grief, he will appear. If you’re willing to give up something in exchange for a wish, he will grant it,” a random man told me with a smile as he approached.

“Is that right, sir?” I asked patronizingly, returning his smile.

“Call me Chalker. If you don’t mind me saying, you look very upset. Are you feeling alright, friend?” Chalker was still wearing his smile, talking to me as if he was just catching up with an old friend.

“I’m fine, I’m fine. I was just about to leave,” I responded, somewhat guarded. The sky was darkening, and judging by his tattered clothes, Chalker was most likely a beggar and the bench I was sitting on was probably his bed for the night.

“Wanna listen to my story before you leave?” Chalker asked, and without waiting for my answer, he sat down beside me.

I looked at the hair-raising smile on his face, apprehensive of what he would do next. “The devil you mentioned… what’s the story about?”

“About a deal with the devil, of course! Listen to me as I share,” Chalker said, his smile deepening.

He started narrating.

…

It happened ten years ago. I came to this corner feeling dispirited. I was eighteen, only had a few dollars in my pocket and no one to rely on. I sat down, exactly where you’re seated now if my memory serves me right, and the devil appeared.

The prideful devil spoke to me, “Are you willing to give up something in exchange for another?”

The devil talked a lot more but I don’t remember what he said. You must know that it’s not because I have a weak memory, but rather, it was simply because I’m not interested in the affairs of other people.

Furthermore, I was thirsty, starving and frightened by the proud devil at that point. I replied weakly, “I want unlimited money. What do you want from me?”

The devil answered, “Your smile. You will have endless cash but you can never smile again! How about that?”

“Sure. What’s the point of smiling? It can’t fill my tummy. I accept the exchange,” I agreed firmly.

…

“Aren’t you smiling very freely right now?” I interrupted, unconvinced.

“Hasn’t anyone taught you that it’s rude to break off someone else’s story?” Chalker chided, that creepy smile still on his face.

“Sorry!” I apologized instantly.

…

I left the corner in joy after receiving a pouch from the devil. It was like a bottomless bag of cash but I couldn’t smile.

I started using the money to indulge in scrumptious meals and stay in the most luxurious hotels. I lived extravagantly since there was no limit to my means. Of course, with it came more friends that followed me around every day. I explained that I was the boss of a mining company and have accumulated an infinite amount of money. I even told them that I couldn’t smile properly because of a mining injury.

Everyone quickly started calling me Boss Chalk. I spent my days whoring around and gambling in luxurious brothels. I would pay whoever was willing to entertain me with generous amounts.

Time flew by. Once, I went to the toilet after drinking too much and overheard a conversation between a hostess and my friend. With a cigarette in his hand, he said this, “It’s so difficult to deal with that fool with facial paralysis.”

The woman nodded and laughed. “Exactly. His face doesn’t change. Whenever I try to please him, I can’t even tell if he’s feeling happy. How nauseating.”

From that day onward, I started paying more attention to my surroundings and realized that every single one of my friends was cursing me behind my back. To think I’ve been showering them with so much money every day!

I tried different ways to open my mouth and smile but it was impossible. Indignant, I swore never to give any of my friends a single cent again.

Just like that, my friends left, one by one. Eventually, I found my distressed self back at this corner.

The devil looked at me with his usual, arrogant smile. It was humiliating but I could only beg for my smile back and was willing to pay any price.

He mockingly repeated the words I’d previously said. “Sure. What’s the point of smiling? It can’t fill my tummy. I accept the exchange!”

I was ashamed but could only blindly plead with him.

The devil looked at me. “I can return you your smile but on the same condition – an exchange. You can get your smile back but you’ll never leave this corner ever again. You will assume the devil’s job and continue making deals with people.”

The prideful devil had obtained his freedom. That’s right, he’s free, and I got my smile back.

This is my story.

…

Speechless, I stared at Chalker.

“Tell me, kid. What do you want?” Chalker smiled his strange smile.

“Me? I want the person I’m fond of to like me back!” I spoke loudly.

“How about exchanging your tears for love? You won’t be able to cry, how’s that sound?”

“Sure. Crying only makes me weak and weaklings don’t get love, only sympathy,” I agreed without any hesitation.

“Hope you won’t be disappointed.” Chalker grinned excitedly, making me feel uncomfortable.

I walked away from that street corner with a lipstick in my hand.

A lipstick that I have gotten in exchange for my tears.

I gave it to the person I liked.

The lipstick was very effective.

We got married and had a child.

We led a happy life, or so I thought.

I worked hard for money but it wasn’t enough to satisfy my lover.

And my child looked nothing like me.

Whenever she cried about how I wasn’t earning enough to support the family, I was always expressionless.

I couldn’t cry.

Because of that, she called me a cold, heartless monster.

Another discovery.

She would blatantly throw amorous glances at every man that walked by.

The number of men she’d slept with far exceeded my imagination.

Later on, I found out that the devil confiscated my tears, not in exchange for a lipstick that could make someone love me.

It was a lipstick that could turn someone licentious.

Dejected, I returned to that street corner and sat down on that long bench.

I would give anything to get my tears back because this was absolutely unbearable. I wanted to cry to my heart’s content.

Yet, Chalker only smiled and repeated the words I’ve said before, just like the conceited devil he’d described to me before.