Home. A place that is so foreign yet familiar. I stared out of the window. Maybe, this is my place to be. Although the concept of home is confusing, a place to live should be okay.
Right?
….
“Am I speaking to Miss Akira Addison?”
The broken clock on the wall was ticking. 6:45 . The sky was iridescent as the sun dipped in the horizon. A girl was sitting on the floor, holding various bills in one hand and a lantern in the other; trying to find the right one with the right deadline.
“16 May… 14 January…. June….. august … Ah!”
‘ Got it ’. The girl picked up a bill that had Jungle Serenade Loan written on it.
“Hello? Is anyone currently on the phone?” The voice from the other side of the telephone asked.
“ Yes, I am Akira Addison”. The girl said. The name that her parents had thrown at her when she was born before abandoning her at her aunt's house.
“I am calling from the jungle serenade bank. Miss, are you aware of the fact that your loan was due at least 3 months ago?”
The girl glanced at the bill. ‘15 March' she thought. The unfortunate day on which she was born.
Tick-Tock
'Darling, it's just a little birthday loan; it'll be paid back in a flash and you will not even realise it' . Her aunt had said on her 17th birthday.
Tick-Tock
‘Yeah. A birthday loan that she had been trying to pay for after her aunt had simply vanished with a note that had her aunt's bank account details written on it' She bitterly thought.
“Yes. I am aware of it.” She replied.
“Miss, then I have to regretfully inform you that if you don't pay the sum within four days , we will be forced to shut down your bank account” The voice stated.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Akira considered her options and then replied. “ I'm sure that if you do try to speak to the bank it can spa-”
Beep-
And the line was cut from the other side. Akira held her head in her hands. She glanced at the calendar from the corner of her eyes. It was 15 May. Three months. A loan that was doubled by the weight of time and she had to repay it in four days.
She looked at the walls around her. They didn't have the warmth that a home would have. After all, it was a house not a home.
Tick-Tock
“Aunty Bell ! Am I going to school for real?” Akira asked, with a small bag and a big smile that made it seem as if she was smiling from one ear to another.
Her aunt, who was sorting out her stationeries for her, looked at the nine year old Akira with a fond smile and soft eyes that spoke more emotions than words. “Yes, baby, you're going to school, like you should've before.”
Tick-Tock
‘But, what use was the time that had already passed? What were the memories that were nothing but pure pretenance, what was the use of her life if it was not even worthy of being entertaining to anyone or a secret to be kept?-’
Ding - Dong
The soft chime of the doorbell pulled Akira out of her vivid thoughts. She looked over to the mirror and looked at her appearance. Haggard face, eye bags that stretched on her face, as if whispering reminders of the mess that she has become.
Ding - Dong
The bell rang. Akira recovered herself and went to open the door. She opened the door and there she saw her old acquaintance, Tae-Hwa.
“Sorry for coming on short notice, Akira. I just needed help for something really quick and then I remembered you” Tae-Hwa scratched the back of her neck and smiled sheepishly.
“Just come inside, Tae-Hwa-ssi” Akira murmured. She was tired.
They went inside the house. Akira guided Tae-Hwa to the couch and she sat on a chair that was placed opposite to the couch.
Tae-Hwa grinned and continued. “So…. you know, I kinda am homeless at the moment so-”
“WHAT!?”
Akira was shocked. After all, Tae-Hwa - that girl Tae-Hwa - who stood tall and wore pride like her personal fragrance. The Tae-Hwa that was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. The Tae-Hwa that would always be in the spotlight. The same Tae-Hwa had just stated that she had nothing.
Tick - Tick
A 16 year old Akira sat in the audience's chair as she watched her principal give awards to different students, an award that she could only dream of, the whisper in the back of her mind reminded. On the stage, a brightly smiling Tae-Hwa accepted the award of honours and gave her speech.
Tick-Tock
“-And that is why we should be roommates. And don't worry, I'm not unemployed, I will pay the rent. And if you're worried about the amount,-”
“Roommates?”
“-I can pay up to 15 dollars and cover the electricity charges.”
Akira could feel her eyes widening as the words left Tae-Hwa's mouth.
Tick-Tock
Akira was sitting on the floor, crying and calling anyone. Anyone that would listen. She was desperate. Trembling, her hands dialed the number of her old friend, Tae-Hwa.
“Hello, Akira, why did you call me at such a late hour?”
“Please….” Her voice was trembling- hoarse, due to the amount of calls that she had made. The date on the calendar and the faint sound of a birthday melody in the distance, were the only indications of a presence in the house.
“Are you okay, Akira?”
“I'm - I need help. My aunt didn't mention the loan. I need help. Please.” Akira's mind was far too muddled to understand. She spoke the familiar words that she had repeatedly said many times.
“Don't worry, Akira, I'm still with you, don't worry. I will come to help you, okay?”
Afterwards, her mind was exhausted beyond comprehension and she did not quite recollect the conversation that she had afterwards. She did vaguely remember telling Tae-Hwa her address. That was it.
Tick-Tock
Tae-Hwa looked at Akira with pleading eyes. Akira felt warm in her chest. She knew too well the reason for Tae-Hwa's persistence in becoming her new roommate.
“Okay. But no late night movie marathons, all right?”
Tae-Hwa had her head dropped in agony. If she had ears, they would flop. Akira chuckled at her imagination inwardly.
After some time, Tae-Hwa regained herself. “Okay, landlord”
Akira laughed
and Tae-Hwa laughed with her. At this moment, Akira felt she now had found her anchor, her peace, her home
.....
?r d|d $he?
