CHAPTER 4

☘️Rachel☘️|

The Next Day|: Already settled down and putting my things in order, I decided to take the trash out.

Honestly, this was way difficult than I expected. Cleaning my own home, was something I regarded as stressful. I was always used to people doing things for me, so doing this things myself, was hectic.

Today is another day, I will have to go look for a job around. I don't know how ordinary people do these things but I wanna give it a trial. Like for example, I already have my curriculum vitae in check and I wrote to a few companies.

I haven't gotten any response yet, but I was hopeful.

My friend zoe stays in Bronx and now that I get to stay alone, I could have visitors without any problem or restrictions.I settled down on a couch, keeping the trash bag in between my legs so that I wouldn't forget to take it out in a jiffy.

I picked up my phone laying on the cushion, hoping that her cellphone number was still available as it has been a while since we last spoke.I dialed her number, luckily it rang for a while.

I sighed, she wasn't picking. Yeah, it's been long and she would be probably thinking about who owns the number.I redialed and finally, she picked.

"Hello zoe",I said."Hello?. Sorry, who am I onto?", she asked.I chuckled."C'mon slippers butt, don't tell me you have forgotten me too soon", I said.She squealed in excitement, laughing out loud and in a manner that I had to drop my phone on the table because it was too loud.I giggled.Zoe Hornet, a childhood friend and a very goofy person.

Our fathers were the pioneers of modern gangster cooperatives and although they were friends, there was a limit.Zoe and I bonded real quick the first day we met. I remembered how it all happened.Mother was busy combing my hair in my room that hot afternoon while father was having a visitor (her father) in the living room. I was enjoying the frosty cupcake Uncle Ryan bought for me.

"Rachi, you should be nice to our visitors and don't go having issues with them", mother said."We have a visitor?", I asked."Mmhmm, and she's pretty young, about your age. Her name is Zoe", mother replied.I frowned."I don't want a friend whose name is Zoe ,sounds like the devil", I said.

Mother laughed. When she was done, she dropped the comb on the table in front of me."Rae... we all need friends, you know. Great friendships can last a lifetime and can be passed on to the next generation. Though, there are some friends we shouldn't have...",I sat on a chair, staring at the vanity mirror. Watching her reflection and admiring my mother. As always, she is beautiful. Tall, slim thick and with an amazing dark skin, typical of Hornet people.

Her white sleeveless short gown made her skin pop out and her long black straightened hair shone and it had a silky look,"... those type of friend are what we call betrayers. They betray without hesitation. They come as pretenders, only to learn about us and then one day, they mess you up", she said, stroking my left shoulder gently.I turned around to look at her,"So how do I know a bad friend from a good one?", I asked.She smiled, lifting my chin with a finger.

"A good friend is one who sees you the same way he or she sees herself and accept you as her own blood. A bad one will always regard you as a competition and with selfishness mixed with greed, they will try to put you out. Be sure to differentiate the two", she said, kissing me on the lips.

I sighed, I missed mother."Are you there, rachel?",she asked.I jolted, picking up my phone immediately."I'm here. How have you been?", I asked."I am good. Where are you? Are you back in the states? This is not a foreign number", she asked."Yes, m am in Bronx City. Can we see?",i asked."Of course, Of course! When i'm done, we should see in the evening", she said.

"Okey Dokey,I would be stocking the refrigerator with drinks and other chewables. We have a lot of catching up to do", I said."Now that's what I am talking about. Rachel! We are getting drunk tonight!!",she squealed.I laughed, shaking my head."Spot on! I will send you the address and oh, don't let anyone know I am in Bronx yet. I kinda like keeping it on a low for now", I said.

"Alrighty then, see you later", she said."Indeed", I replied, cutting the call.I smiled, staring at the my phone. Zoe will definitely get it popping in the house.

That silly girl, oh well...I picked up the trash, getting up from the couch and then walking to the exit door. I opened it, stepping outside. I was about closing the door behind me, when a man stepped out of the door opposite mine. He was busy typing something into his phone.I glanced to see who it was.

I flinched.

"Mr Jake?!",He shot his head up to look at me. He furrowed his brows,"Rachel?."Is this a dream or something?.What is Jake doing here?!!.

Wait!... is he my next door neighbor?!!!."Are you the new neighbor?. I heard someone moving in yesterday. I was too tired to check as work was a bit hectic.",He said.He was wearing a deep purple shirt with the sleeves folded up to this elbows. The shirt was buttoned but some was left out at the top, giving you a glimpse of his chest and I could tell, it was well developed.Also wearing a light gray pair of chino trousers, with a black leather belt around his waist as the shirt was bloused and tucked in over a pair of black cap toe brogues with black plain socks and he was holding a black leather laptop bag.His hair was styled into the bro flow and his wavy hair was smooth and silky.

Jake has a stunning appearance, I could tell that behind those clothes he was wearing, he was a big guy. The shirt sleeves hugged his biceps and I marveled at the size of it. I noticed he had big hands and if I am not mistaken, it could wrap around my tiny waistline. He looked like someone who could fight in a ring and though his face had this subtle look, he had this gangster aura around him.