Array
(
[text] =>
A/N: 14.10.20
It’s been a while, homies! But I’m back!!! Hidee is finally back on Wattpad 😎
Who’s ready for this new story?
IMPORTANT ADVICE FOR READERS:
For those of you who skipped the prologue, don’t 🥴🥴🥴
It’ll help you understand the book much differently! Highly recommend 👌
🌻🌻🌻
Graduation wasn’t like in the movies.
The ceremony was nowhere near as perfect or glorious as they portrayed it on screen. The cap throwing tradition wasn’t as fun as we’d hope. We took them off and threw them as high up into the air as we could before they came flying back down like a group of angry crows swooping down to attack us. Plenty got hit in the face, and I was more than certain that one or two of the students would end up with a black eye. Who knew graduation could be so dangerous?
Students and families were crying, but their tears weren’t dribbling off their chins like metaphorical raindrops. No, they were ugly crying. Snot and mucus trailed down their faces as they rubbed their bloodshot eyes. Girls had streaks of mascara stretched down their faces, and it only made it worse when they tried to rub it away.
They stopped crying whenever someone came up to them with a camera in their faces. They would dab away their tears and put on a terrifying smile for the camera. Once their picture was taken, they’d continue bawling like it was the end of the world. Maybe to some, it was the end of the world. High school was over, and we were going to become ‘real adults’.
I wasn’t particularly close to anyone in my school, but I knew that I’d miss a lot of them. Like the cafeteria lady with the hairy mole on her chin. I think I’ll miss her the most, she was always nice to me and made Russian jokes that I never understood. I assumed they were jokes because she would start laughing hysterically by herself, so I’d laugh along with her. I’m going to miss her snort-laughs.
I applied to a university far away from my hometown. I lived in a small town that no one really new. I wanted to move to a bigger city.
The thought of going somewhere populated by so many people terrified me, but it also felt reassuring. My hometown was so small, everyone knew each other. But in a big city where important people have important things to do and important people to meet, it was easy to blend in and become part of the crowd. And the idea of being anonymous intrigued me. Some people wanted to become famous, others wanted to be rich; I wanted to be a nobody.
Though, I would like to make a friend in the Big City. My doctors and therapists told me that it could help me. They said friendship was a medicine that couldn’t be bought; the most valuable cure that could solve problems that chemicals and pills never could.
During the summer, I traveled to Europe on my own to get away from my hometown. There was something about seeing new places and meeting new people that changes you. It reminds you that there is so much in the world to discover, too much for one person to see in a lifetime. No one can discover the mysteries of our Earth in the span of a lifetime.
I thought about all the amazing things I saw during my trip as I drove out of my hometown to the Big City, and thought how great it would be if I could one day travel with a friend.
After a four hour drive, I made it to the apartment where I’d live for the next few months. It was located close to my university, which is why I chose it. I parked my car beside a jet black motorcycle and took out my luggage. I turned towards the building that looked like it could collapse at any moment and smiled at my new temporary home.
“You must be Conan!” Exclaimed a voice. A short, stubby man, with salt and pepper hair, walked up to me. He wore a baggy sweater and cargo pants. He must be the landlord. The man gave out his hand, but I offered him a small wave instead.
“Hello,” I smiled. “My name is Conan.”
“Greg,” he nodded, awkwardly lowering his hand to the side. I hoped that he didn’t take it the wrong way. “I’m the owner of this apartment, the one you exchanged emails with you a few weeks ago. I’m here to show you your room.”
“That’s very nice of you,” I smiled.
“It’s kind of my job,” he chuckled, scratching his beard. I blinked, not knowing what to say back.
“That’s very nice of you,” I repeated with a smile. He blinked, stared, and masked his confusion with a stiff smile.
“Sure,” he nodded. “Is that your car over there?”
“Yes, that’s mine.”
“You can park there today, but you might want to avoid parking in that same spot beside that black motorcycle.”
“Why?”
“He gets protective over his motorcycle and likes to keep two empty spaces on each side just in case. He’s a spoiled brat if you ask me, arrogant too. Anyway here, lemme help you with your bags.”
Greg spoke about a he as if I knew he was referring too. I didn’t, but I nodded as if I did.
“It’s okay, I can carry them.”
“You’re so small, I’m scared you might break your back.”
Before I could protest, Greg picked up my bags and walked into the building. I followed him in, admiring the dirty walls that began to peel and the old decorations covered in dust. There was a strange smell too as if someone had died in here and forgot to clean the body. I stopped in my steps with wide eyes. There was a chalk outline that formed the shape of a body on the floor.
“Greg, did someone die here?” I asked, pointing at it. Greg looked at the yellow tape and let out a nervous chuckle.
“Oh, this? This is just a decoration we did for Halloween last year and forgot to remove it. We’ll get that fixed ASAP, no worries. Anyway,” he said, quickly ushering past the outline of the body. Before I could ask any more questions, he spoke first. “This is a small residence. There are five floors in total, and you live on the fourth.”
He nodded towards the elevator but headed towards the stairs.
“The elevator is broken, but we’ll get that repaired ASAP, no worries. You don’t mind using the stairs for a few days, do you?”
“No, it’s okay. I like walking.”
“Your luggage isn’t as heavy as I thought it’d be. Is this all you brought with you?”
“I don’t have a lot of belongings,” I murmured.
We walked up to the fourth floor. Greg opened the door with a rusty gold key which he then handed to me. He gave me a tour of my new home, but it was so small that you could see everything without moving. It wasn’t very big, but it had the essentials, and I loved it for that.
“Oh, and we’re having some problems with the pipes,” Greg said when he showed me the bathroom. “You might not have hot water for a couple of days, but we’ll get that repaired ASAP, no worries.”
I nodded. I think Greg was used to reassuring newcomers because his voice took a mechanical tone as if he had memorized his words by script. “This doesn’t work, but we’ll repair it ASAP, no worries.”
“Here, I’ll leave the key for you on the counter,” Greg said. “If you need any help or face any problems concerning your room or the building, just give me a call, you have my number.”
I nodded and thanked him.
“Goodbye, Greg,” I said, waving at him. His brows furrowed, looking perplexed.
“Uh, yes, goodbye, Conan.” He gave me one last glance before leaving.
I began unpacking my things and cleaning up the house. Greg was right, I didn’t bring much with me. Some clothes, shoes, hygienical utensils, and my journals. I carefully hid my journals under my clothes in the drawer, except for the most recent one, which I hid under my pillow so it would be easier for me to reach. I always liked writing before going to bed.
When I was done, I took a shower and yelped when the cold water poured over my head. Greg was right, the pipes were broken and there was no hot water. I felt like I was hyperventilating, gasping, and yelping as I tried to wash as quickly as I could.
After that, I put on a fresh pair of clothes, but I could still feel goosebumps under the thin fabric. I headed to my room to find warmer clothes, but the doorbell rang, followed by an impatient knock. It sounded more like banging.
Did Greg forget something?
I unlocked the door and opened it, surprised to see not Greg, but a tall boy with tousled black hair and eyes that looked just as dark. His body loomed over mine, casting a shadow that made day seem like night. His chiseled jaw tightened when his gaze met mine.
Whoever he was, he didn’t seem happy.
🌻🌻🌻
A/N: Random question (I missed doing these), have classes/work started for you guys? How are you managing? I hope everyone is safe and healthy. Take care of yourselves 💕
I’ll see you in the next chapter 😉
P.s: Don’t forget to leave a vote!!!
P.p.s: don’t be afraid to tell me your thoughts on the prologue and chapter 1 🍂🍂
[text_hash] => a4f33e9a
)