“Hey, I’m telling you, start walking while fixing my shoelace, I’m right behind you.”

  “Hmm, you keep fixing your shoelace, I’m going. I don’t need anyone’s help,”I snapped angrily.

  I turned on the phone’s flashlight and started walking on the dirt road. Mayoki started following behind, walking in a way that brushed against me slightly.

  “Why are you walking so close? It’s scary… who told you to take this house on rent?” I asked, trembling a little.

  Mayoki squinted her eyes in fear, walking carefully. Words didn’t appear on her face;

  “I came close just to show you the way. So that you don’t go the wrong way, I need to walk near you in places like this. Otherwise, who knows where anyone might get lost,” she said.

  “Yes… I understand, You’re walking near me to show the way, or for some other reason—I can tell by your face,” I muttered.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  After walking like this for 10–15 minutes, I saw something in the distance that looked like a house. We hurried there.

  “Yes, we’re near the house. Here it is. But it looks so old… from outside? It almost looks haunted, Mayoki,” I said.

  Mayoki looked at me with annoyed eyes and pulled a sarcastic smile at the corner of her lips.

  “Did you expect a palace for five thousand taka? This is what we get, and it’s already a lot. Someone letting us rent a whole house for five thousand taka—that’s already generous,” she said.

  “So what do we do now? We’re here. We need to talk to the landlord, but it’s late. Check the time,” I said.

  “The phone’s with you. How am I supposed to see it? You check it,” she said.

  “Oh right, the phone’s with you. Fear made me forget. Wait… let me see. It’s 10:40 pm. If we call the landlord now, he won’t come. So what do we do?” I asked.

  Mayoki thought for a moment. “Let me think. What can we do… wait, I have an idea. Give me the phone, I’ll call the landlord. He will come,” she said with a small smile.

  “But why would he come? What will you tell him, or threaten him again?” I asked, a little tense.

  “No, I won’t say any of that. I’ll just tell him what needs to be said. Now give me the phone,” she said.

  I handed her the phone.

  “Alright, fine. Here’s the phone—let’s see how you call him,” I said.

  Mayoki took it and said, “Wait here a bit. I’ll call him and be back immediately.”

  “Who? Where will you go? Call the landlord here or leave me alone?” I asked, fearful.

  “I need network to call, right? And I’m not going anywhere. There’s jungle all around. Just wait. Once I get signal, I’ll call and come back.”

  Mayoki held the phone up to find a network. After a while, she suddenly stopped and shouted, “Hiroshike, I’ve got signal! Wait a bit, I’m calling now.”

  “Alright, call quickly, or the network might disappear.”