"Arriving in Taurus district of the Capital. Please remain seated until landing," the static radio announced.
The next moment, the elevator shook and the radio sounded again.
"We have arrived. Please depart the booth."
I elbowed Phuong, who was sleeping on my shoulder.
"Ow!"
"Get up. We're here," I groaned, pushing her away.
I got up, stretching my limbs before grabbing her and walking out with our nonexistent stuff.
"Aye, let go!"
"We have a job to do," I shot back, pulling us out of the elevator into the crowd.
I gripped Phuong's wrist tighter as we pushed our way through the horde. It was stuffy, so very stuffy, and claustrophobic that I couldn't breathe sometimes. Everyone was in a long hallway, the shining metal exit sign hanging at the end as if mocking us. Despite being squished beyond human limits, I gritted my teeth and pulled Phuong with me out of the crowd, along with her cursing and complaints.
After escaping that nightmare, Phuong leaned on a wall, gasping for breath as if she just escaped from drowning, which was fair. It may have not been in water, but being squished in a sea of people is its own personal hell. I'm surprised I even made it out alive. I took deep breaths, letting my lungs feel the gift of oxygen before scanning the area.
It was similar to the structure of the station we were at before, but looked, richer somehow. The white marble floors had more shine to them, everything looked cleaner, and why does everything smell like cinnamon?
It was then I noticed a cart selling cinnamon rolls in the station.
I retract my statement. I now know why this place smells like cinnamon.
The next moment, I heard a cry of hunger. I turned to Phuong, holding the pouch of coins I've been keeping with judgment.
Woman. We are poor as fuck right now, we cannot keep spending money on food. You'd think growing up in a capitalist society would make her more conscious about money.
She turned to me, looking me up and down.
"You hungry?"
I glared, "You're one to talk."
She glared back, "Says the one who ate one croissant for breakfast."
"I wasn't hungry. Besides, you'd be complaining a lot more if you didn't eat enough," I retorted.
Suddenly, another growl came, and I looked down at my own stomach with utter betrayal.
I never thought I'd see the day that my own body would betray me.
I looked at Phuong, who was using my own judgment against me. I stared back at her, before listening to my intrusive thoughts and leaving her right there.
"Wha- Hey! Wait!" she shouted, running after me.
Due to my training, I was able walked a good distance away, but after a few moments, I slowed down for her to catch up. I'd rather not file another missing report.
As expected, she quickly caught up, elbowing me in the arm. I frowned and elbowed back.
"Ow!" she yelped, rubbing her arm.
I didn't bother to mock her. Looking through my file, I found a map of the city on the other side of the folder. I turned to Phuong, who somehow remembered to bring her file with her. I glanced at it, seeing no map on either side of the folder. I guess they realized Phuong's inability to know where the fuck she's going.
I'm not surprised; it's painfully obvious.
Despite mẹ and I's constant advice, she never changes. And with further inspection, it seems to have gotten worse since we got here. All the more reason to find a way to go back as soon as possible. Who knows, maybe when we go back home, it'll reverse the bad influence on her.
While we walked through the less suffocating crowd, I grabbed onto Phuong's hand, making sure she didn't wander off while we were here. But then, she stopped. I turned back, looking at her before following her line of sight. She was staring at the cinnamon roll cart I spotted earlier. She turned to me, holding out her other hand.
"Hey, can you give me some money?"
I raised a brow, glancing at the mostly empty pouch in my pocket. I glanced at the stall, noticing a sign leaning against the cart.
1 roll = 5 silver
Five silver coins?! I call rip-off!
I turned back to Phuong, decisively answering her.
"No."
She pouted, "Come on, it's just five coins."
"Five silver coins. We have two gold coins left, until we start getting paid, we are not spending anything," I argued.
"But this is a necessary purchase," she shot back.
"No it's not."
"But you're hungry."
"I'm fine."
"Liar."
"I'm not-"
Just as the shouting started, what could only be described as the worst timing in the universe, my stomach had decided that it was a good time to whine. We stopped shouting at each other, letting my body cry for sustenance. Phuong stared at my stomach, then at my blank face.
"So can we-"
"No."
"I fucking hate you."
"Yes, yes, you make that very clear," I rolled my eyes, pulling her away and towing her whining with her.
After following multiple signs, almost suffocating to death via crowds, and Phuon telling me to eat something. I ended up having to promise to eat better to get her to stop.
The reason why she worries about food still baffles me.
Once we finally stepped out of the station, we were met with complete darkness. I could barely see my hand, let alone anything in front of me. I gripped Phuong's hand, turning to her direction. Even though I couldn't see her, I could feel her grip tighten.
I glared into the darkness. I suppose standing here isn't the worst outcome.
Just as I was about to accept my fate to stand here for the rest of eternity, a lantern was shoved in my face.
"Hey," a voice in the darkness said.
I turned towards the direction of the voice, the lantern being retracted to reveal Emily's face illuminated in the warm lantern light. In the light, she looked up at me, a smile now on her face.
"Welcome to the Capital of Maril, fellow coworkers, hope you enjoy your stay."
A/N
Welcome to the Capital dear readers. A place where the only true light is the woman of the stars.