"What the fuck"
I looked at the door which i swear was never there and got closer to inspect it.
It had some weird carvings on it. The light color of the patterns—or—designs in contrast to the dark colour of the door with round ball on the side of it with intricate patterns.
'There's a doorknob... That's weird. Who uses doorknobs these days? It's so impractical.'
After a few minutes of inspecting the door, i heard something shut.
'..what?'
I looked around the room and saw a shadow, from the slightly open door, in the corridor moving slowly to my room.
'Is it an intruder? But i swear i locked the front gate... Oh shit, its coming here.'
I quickly picked up whatever came into my hand and stood near my door, waiting to strike the intruder down.
As the door opened, i quickly slammed down only for the person to catch it with their hands.
"..."
"..."
The person had pale skin and was a bit taller than me with very dark brown fluffy hair which covered his eyes, and a weird shaped earing in his right ear.
"...xybahs?"
Before I could continue observing him any longer, the strange language took my attention.
"..what?"
"Byakxhu?"
"I don't.. I don't understand what you're saying..."
The person looked at me for a few seconds and dropped the writing board from his hands.
'Oh.. I had picked up the writing board...'
He stepped into the room and stood infront of me.
"Hyakbe?"
"I told you. I don't know what you're saying."
"Hola?"
"That's Spanish, and I don't know how to speak it either."
"Namaste?"
"That's Hindi."
I looked at him, dumbfoundedly and went to grab my phone from my pocket to call the police and let them deal with it seeing he hasn't killed me yet and is trying to talk. But the person panicked and dropped the food—'how did I not see it earlier?'—onto the floor and grabbed my hand.
"What are you doing?!"
"I'm sorry! How do I talk to you? I don't know your language!"
"You do. Now Let.Me.Go."
He dropped my hand and backed away a few steps. My hand started to throb from his grip but i quickly changed my expression and in a more threatening tone asked,
"So? Who are you? And what the hell are you doing here."
The person seemed to fidget for a few more seconds before saying,
"My name is Kai Atticus and I'm from Valtoria. I mean no harm! I just wanted some food so I came here. I'm very sorry for disturbing you!"
"I don't recall giving you permission to enter my house and allowing you to take my food for free."
He seemed to be shocked (?) and stuttered from possibly trying to come up with an explanation.
"I- I... I'm sorry..."
"That's not going to cut it."
Seeing him wilt like a flower, i sighed loudly which makes him still.
'i don't have time to deal with shit.'
"Let me give you two options: you either pay for the food and scram or I'll call the police and report you for trespassing and stealing. Choose wisely."
At least he seemed to consider the options.
"I'll pay but... I can't leave."
"Why not?"
"I...uhhh.. I've been kicked out..."
"..."
Even though I couldn't see his eyes, I knew he was looking at me guiltily.
"So what? It's not my problem. You barged in and messed with my stuff. Now either leave with your own two legs or get dragged out by the police."
'Am I being cold? Yes. Do i care? No.'
"...Please? Can I stay here.. I'll leave as soon as I get myself settled here! I mean —not here here! But like someplace else. I promise!"
I looked at him with the most exasperated look.
'Haah, so let me get this straight. He wants me to let him live here for free?! I didn't leave that neighborhood with security to come here and live in a sketchy part of town just to let someone who's from who knows where live here for free! I'm not doing charity work.'
Even though I said nothing, the tension in the atmosphere would've given my disapproval away as he tried to reason with me.
"I uhh I can cook! I can clean! I'll wash your clothes! I'll uhh I can..."
He looked around the room and he seemed to still for a moment.
"I can get rid of that door for you!" He pointed at the mysterious door in my room.
"... So you know how this door got here?" I finally asked, and folded my arms.
'If he can get rid of it, it'll be great. I don't want the landlord screaming in my ear or worse, increasing my rent.'
"Yes! I uh.." He looked sheepish and rubbed his neck.
"I kinda opened the door to this place."
I looked at him and gave up.
'i can't deal with this right now. I don't care anymore. I'm getting late for my job... Oh shit my job!'
I quickly opened my closet only to find it empty.
'i haven't unpacked my stuff yet. Fuck.'
I rummaged through the boxes in my room and then the boxes in the living room.
'Where are my clothes?!'
"Is something.. wrong?"
I whipped my head towards the voice only to find the intruder (?) standing on the door way, fidgeting.
'Y'know what? Fuck it. He tried to steal my stuff first.'
I pointed at him and said, "Strip."
"H-huh?"
Some time later, I sat in a bus wearing some not so fancy looking but passable clothes, clearly different from the usual interview formal wear.
'He's probably naked right now.'
I looked outside and saw a naked man being chased by police holding two no —fou—five bottles of booze.
"..."
'Nah, he'll be fine. He's wearing shorts. Plus I told him he can just take my clothes from the boxes...
But i wonder where he got that booze from, i might need some for myself after this interview.'
I knew for a fact that I'll fail miserably at this interview, i mean, i was already 8 minutes late. Whatever. I should be more worried about Kai. I'll need to have a talk with him after coming back.
I sighed loudly and looked around the bus.
'Hm... Not many people right now. It must be slack hours. Lucky me.'
"Good morning sir. May know where you're headed?"
I looked up to see two men dressed in all black clothes with gold accessories looming over me.
"No. You may not."
The two men looked taken aback. They gave each other a brief glance and the other guy asked,
"I'm afraid i don't know how to get to the City Centre. May I know which bus I should take?"
"..."
'Haaah, i can't deal with this today.'
"I don't know if you noticed sir, but you are already in a bus."
"Does this bus go to the City Centre?"
I pointed to the ticket checker sitting at the back seat of the bus,
"Ask him."
"..."
They looked at me for a few seconds and left.
"Dumbass." I murmured under my breath.
I stood outside the company, my clothes were a mess, and I could see my soul already halfway across the sky.
'I don't want to think about it anymore. I'm done.'
The interview went as well as one could expect after being a whole 18 minutes late, wearing a simple clothes and looking ragged like you just came from running a marathon.
'i want to sleep.'
I reached the bus stop and just sat at the seat. An old woman wearing a sky blue dress with a dirty white apron came to me and gave me a flower.
"Whats wrong little one? Why are you looking so down? It's a lovely weather!"
Her voice was unexpectedly chirpier and soft.
'What's the weather have to do with my mood?' i scoffed internally but didn't want to turn down the old woman. It's not everyday someone gives you a flower to cheer you up.
"Thank you for the flower but I don't need it. It's just, my day is going as bad as it can."
"That's not good, why don't you hang out with your friends huh? Talk to family or take a break. It might help."
I smiled at her.
" Thank you truly, but I'm afraid i have neither of those."
She seemed taken aback.
" Oh I'm sorry sweetheart. Here, have this."
She placed a different flower into my hand—
'A Pink Gerbera...' i realised belatedly.
"..."
"Do you know, Gerbera has different meaning in different cultures. The Egyptians believe that they represent a closeness to nature and devotion to the sun, which is why they're so loved as spring and summer flowers. But, the Celts think that they can help reduce the stress of everyday life."
I held the flower carefully, and brought it to my lips.
" Thank you."
" No problem, Sweetheart. Things will get better don't worry."
I smiled and with the most sincere voice i could make said,
"I hope you have a wonderful day Ma'am."
She smiled and patted my head.
"Now now, that's more like it! That's the face you should be making."
She turned around and slowly left.
I looked at her figure till she disappeared but still continued looking there.
"I'm back."
I entered the house and closed the door.
"Welcome back!~"
Kai said loudly from another room.
I sighed, took off my shoes and went into the room and held out a small box of pastries.
"I uhhh, here. Sorry for being a jerk today. Even though you did kinda break into my house and steal stuff, I shouldn't have stripped you."
" No worries! I was the one intruding. And I kinda deserved that."
I looked around and found him bundled up in a blanket.
"..."
I sighed and placed the box in front of him.
" Here, I'll grab some spoons. Then I'll look for my clothes so you cane take back yours."
I saw him move around like a snail and get closer to the pastries.
"Is that pastries?"
He sounded so awed. I felt my ears burn, i quickly turned around and left.
" Stupid intruder."
I mumbled and heard a loud snort come from the room.
Somewhere in the room, sat a Pink Gerbera flower in a tall glass with water.
-------- 𝐸𝓃𝒹 𝑜𝒻 𝒸𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓇 --------
Pink Gerbera Flowers symbolise grace and gentility. They're usually sent as get well soon flowers to anyone feeling under the weather to remind them of their strength.