It's raining.
Usually, people find somewhere to avoid it, or use umbrellas and raincoats when traversing at the streets. It's already 12 midnight, so the ever-bustling city street is a quiet sanctuary for me. The sound of raindrops was veiling my whimper.
Pitter-patter. I stared at the sky. My chest was throbbing, my eyes were aching. Did I do something wrong for me to experience this pain? Or was it my past life that did the wrongdoing? I wanted to close my eyes but when darkness envelops my vision, that scene keeps on popping up.
Our heated conversation still lingered in my mind.
"Why would I stick with you when you can't even satisfy my needs!"
"As if doing that won't ruin our lives! You know, right? We're still struggling! We're still saving for our future, and yet you let yourself be tempted because of your damn lust!?"
To think that he'd do such a thing.
I tried to wipe off my tears. I know it's not going to help since I was still under the rain. It's a desperate plea of mine. I want to wipe off the sorrow but to no avail. I took a quick glance at the apartment he was staying in before I took off.
___
"I'm...home."
Drenched, I welcomed myself in an empty house. There were no lights turned on aside from the kitchen. Did I forgot to turn it off? Not that it matters. I went to the bathroom to undress but paused mid-action. I looked at myself in front of the mirror.
Were my looks not enough? I think it was decent. Black hair that reaches my elbow, light brown eyes, slightly tanned skin--the same features my mother praised a lot. Perhaps she was lying just to boost my confidence.
"What am I doing? I even got my mother involved in my stupid thoughts."
After drying myself and changing into my casual clothes, I sat down in the living room and grabbed a novel lying on the floor. I think I bought it last week. If I recall, it was about a girl who got stabbed in the back by her best friend, abandoned by her boyfriend, and degraded into a brat meant for the streets. It's an awful creation, and it was ridiculed by the public. This book was among few of its last copies.
"To think I would relate to the protagonist", I chuckled as I flipped through the pages before closing it. "But there's no way I would let myself become a prostitute."
I lied down on the cold floor, my limbs spread wide like a starfish, and sighed. It was supposed to be my rest day, but so many things happened, one of which was a dose of bitter reality.
"But, on the bright side, I escaped that womanizer," I murmured as I lift my left arm and acted as if I was grabbing at the empty space. "I should thoroughly 'purify' this place", I continued as I was thinking of the things I need to dispose. Some of devilish man's possessions were here, after all.
___
"Marcus!"
"Oh, Melissa! How are you?"
Melissa smiled vibrantly and spoke in a teasing voice. "I'm alive and well. How about you hon? Want me to brighten your day?"
The man, Marcus Svika, is Tessah's ex-boyfriend. He abandoned her after a feud stemmed from his urges, not that he's loyal in the first place. She was actually designated as "Loyal Dog" in his saved contacts. Melissa Frestelse, his real girlfriend, was smiling as she grabbed his collar and kissed him on the cheek.
"Can't show our intimacy in public, right? But now that that woman is out of our way, I don't have anything to worry now!"
"That's right. No one will judge us now. Well, I can just spread some rumors about her if she dares complain. Oh, why not I tell my father now?"
"Now that would be a blast!"
___
Sighing for the umpteenth time, I put my phone away.
"Pretty sure this is Marcus' doing."
I was fired from my job. Well, it's not really sudden. His father is among the higher-ups, so, I'll just shrug this off my system.
"So, what now?"
Mumbling, I searched for a new job in the meantime.
"Well, at least I got some money now that I received my severance pay."
I passed all the needed credentials minus my work experience in that place. I should take my breakfast instead of dwelling on what's in the past.
Fried eggs and rice. Yes, this is life.
I received a call from my former colleagues, saying things like, "It'll be ten times as hard without you!" and "Please recommend me to your new workplace so that I could file an immediate resignation and transfer there!" among others. Well, scouting jobs is my priority for now, but I'll take note of their requests once I settled.
"Now that I'm done eating, should we see the news?"
Oh? A new museum? That's lovely. I'll definitely visit.
___
At the museum featured in the news, several people were thrilled to see bones of animals from the bygone era. Aside from those, artifacts, pottery, paintings that depict the peaceful scenery were displayed in a neat and majestic fashion. The museum itself is grand in scale.
A man in a suit was mesmerized by the mammoth display.
He enjoyed watching things of the past. A place like a museum is his sanctuary. His duty as an esteemed member of society gives him a near-infinite tasks so taking a breather now and then is a necessity.
His phone vibrated in his pocket. He picked it up, and was notified of an emergency meeting, and that his presence is a must. He immediately frowned after discussing things with the person in line.
The call ended after a brief while. The person shoved his phone back to his pocket dejectedly.
"Sigh, that old man could handle that on his own, why me too?"
He could only grumble as he walks away.