Chapter 2

At her front was her belongings thrown out recklessly on the ground scattered, beside it was a letter to vacate the building.

She already knew it would happen as she has been behind on rent for the past 2 years. Just that she didn't expect it to be today, not when her day was long.

Ariel's trembling hands dug in her bag to reach for her phone with the intention to plead with her landlord. She dialed the number countless of times but no one picks.

She reached for one of her pillows for a comfy sit. ‘Sigh' She exhaled sharply and shut her eyes closed.

The faint sound of cars blaring from afar mingled with the rhythm of her heart, as she lost herself in the wilderness of her thoughts.

Amidst her chaos with her thoughts, Her phone buzzed, interrupting her.

She opened her tired eyes and stole a glance at the screen which revealed her bestie's name, a beacon of hope in her darkness. She swiped to answer the call.

“Girl what's up, are you good, just wanna check up before I go to bed.” Anya uttered from the other end of the call, but her questions were not answered as Ariel kept quiet, not responding.

The thought of how to respond to the questions wored her, in no time she started howling in silence.

“Hello….Ariel are you listening?” Anya asked in doubt. Only the sound of the busy city was all she could hear.

Ariel didn't answer as she continued sobbing in silence. Each sobs were punctuated with soft, mournful sniffs.

Anya heard the sniffs and she immediately understood why she wasn't responding.

“Girl, are you crying, what is the matter, talk to me I'm worried.” Anya exclaimed at the other end of the phone.

Finally Ariel broke her silence. “I'm homeless now.” She whispered, her voice wavy and fainty.

She hates to trouble people with her own calamity, but no choice this night, she wouldn't want this chance to escape.

“I'm on my way, we'll figure this out together. I will be there in 10 minutes, hang tight!” Anya blurted and hung up.

Few minutes later Anya arrived at Ariel's place.

On Anya's arrival she met Ariel sitting on the floor weeping profusely.

“C'mon girl worriless, you can stay with me for the meantime. I have an empty room at my place. We can live together.” Anya suggested as she patted her back for ease.

Ariel's eyes teared up again, a smile slowly curved on her lips. Tears of joy yeah.

“I love you Anya. You're the best thing that has ever happened to me.” Ariel exclaimed as she hugged Anya tightly. Her tone full of excitement.

“C'mon let's pack your things and leave. It's getting late.”

————

It was a rainy Friday morning, the sky was as cloudy as a watercolour painting, smudged with gray.

A refreshing smell from the rain flooded Ariel's room where she laid down on her bed in slumber.

Her day off at work is what she always loves to enjoy in bed.

Knock knock knock

A knock sounded from the outside of Ariel's room.

“Hmmm…. come in.” Ariel mumbled, not wanting to open her tired eyes.

“Good morning Girl, how was your night, did you sleep well? Anya bombarded her with questions as she entered.

“Yeah…and you?” Ariel asked as she sprung up her body to sit up.

“Same here…..I came to discuss something with you.” Anya said and straddled on Ariel's bed.

“Okay what is it?”

“How about you consider taking another job…..a high paying job. I know for a fact that you have your degree. So……” Anya suggested.

‘Sigh’

Ariel sighed deeply, stroke her fingers through her messy hair as she blew the strands covering her face. Covered her face with her palms.

“The business card you were given by some random guy yesterday at the store, how about we check if you can be offered a position in their company?” Anya asked. Her tone was empathic yet calm.

“Are you sure?” She whispered, staring at Anya for validation.

“I'm not sure…….but you should try first, put the card in use girl, you never know what benefit you could gain for doing so.”

‘Sigh’ Ariel sighed again, got down from her bed and went straight to her drawer.

She brought out the card, JC was embroidered on the card as a logo, alongside its full meaning, Johny Corps. Below it was a telephone number and an email address.

“Are you sure about this?” Ariel asked her in a doubtful tone, staring intently at her friend.

“You never can tell, you don't know until you try.” Anya remarked, wanting her friend to give a trial.

“Okay, I'm gonna email them now.” Ariel said as she went straight to her laptop.

“No, don't email, call….. c'mon it won't bite.” Anya suggested, tilted her head one side, blinking like a kid who wants to be pampered.

“Okay…” Ariel responded as she jacked around to pick her phone.

“What am I going to say if they pick?”. Ariel blurted, staring at her friend like she should come help her.

“Just say you were given this card yesterday at a store you where you work.” Anya responded.

“Okay.”

She called the contact, ringing profusely but no one answered. Then she ended the call.

“No one picks.” Ariel murmured. Her tone was one of disappointment.

“You didn't even wait for lon–” Anya's statement was interrupted by a buzz from Ariel's phone.

They both widened their eyes in shock. Their mouth agape.

“Pick up!” Anya exclaimed. Her tone full of excitement.

Ariel swiped to answer the call. “Hello,” she said.

“I see you have no time to waste, I will send you the address.”

A masculine voice sounded from the other end. Calm yet intimidating.

Ariel was left with no chance to respond as the call ended. Both Ariel and Anya were still in awe from the goosebumps giving voice they heard.

They were snapped back to reality by the alarm of a message from Ariel's phone. Ariel glanced at the screen.

“An address and time. It's a restaurant” Ariel said as she stared coldly at her friend.

“What time?” Anya asked.

“2 o'clock.” Ariel responded as she rubbed her palms on her laps. Clicking her knees with her fingers.

“Am I to dress formally or casually?” Ariel asked, rubbing her palms together.

Anya could feel the anxiousness in her tone.

“I prefer you dress formally since you will be going with your CV. Girl, pull yourself together you've got this. Good, you have enough time to prepare your CV. I will go select a perfect outfit for you.” Anya said and left the room.

Ariel got up and headed straight to her laptop to prepare her CV.

Hours passed, she was done with her CV, dressed up in a brown button down shirt, paired with a cream pant.

Styled her blonde hair in a ponytail, and locked her outfit with a black low heeled shoe. And yes, she wouldn't go anywhere without her favourite floral cologne.

“Girl, 1:30pm hurry up, don't be late.” Anya shouted from the outside of Ariel's room.

“I'm done heading out now!.”

“Wow you look stunning I must commend, bye break a leg!” Anya commented.

“Bye sweetie.” Ariel waved and left.

She rushed down the street and stopped a taxi. “Casa Petra.”

“Come in Miss” The man said.

Ariel entered and settled. Suddenly a call buzzed from her phone. A stare at the screen revealed Mrs Garrett. Ariel swiped to pick the call.

“Hello Mrs Garr–”

“Good day Ma'am your son collapsed!” The woman shouted from the other end. Her tone was wavy and terrific.

Ariel calm expression turned horror, her palms became sweaty, her breathe became faster than usual.

“What happened to Max, where is he!?” Ariel asked in a furious tone. Her blood went cold, her heart sank in sorrow.

“Hospital Ma'am, please show up your presence is needed.”

“Which hospital?” Ariel asked. Her tone was sharp and sorrowful. Her last trace of sanity and constant reminder to stay happy, had been admitted in hospital.

“Sant Joan hospital” The woman responded and hung up.

“Mr please turn back, take me to Sant Joan!”