Chapter 6: Homeless

It's been a month since the accident happened. Flores' home suddenly feels an empty place now. Isabella can't still totally move on from the fact that her parents died, yet another big problem added to her pile.

After the burial of her parents', she needs to set aside her grieving so she can find a way to find a solution to their problem. There's no even a little money that's left over by her parents' except the savings that she managed to keep, but it's not even enough to sustain someone's life in a year.

Beside that she tried her best to find a job, she even begged to some business persons to accept her no matter how small the salary is, to support Nerissa's education and also for them to survive on their own, since they doesn't have any relatives to help them at all. But there are none that will take a person without any qualifications.

"Oh my gosh, Isabella! We don't have anything to eat again?"

"What should we do now? Look, I am studying. I am walking kilometres away here because you can't even give me some cent for my car's fair. I don't want to die too early!" Nerissa exclaimed while she's putting a cuticle on her feet's nails.

"Nerissa, I am really doing my best to find a job, but I guess it's not working out. Most of them want someone who's already a degree holder," Isabella responded while wiping the sweat on her forehead, as her hand almost get hurt by the hot water heater. Nerissa rolled her eyes as she's done with her nails, so she put her hands together and sighed.

"Are you really sure that Mom and Dad didn't give have any secret savings, even at the bank?" Nerissa asked her.

"Nerissa, I already make sure the answer for that. Sadly, Mom and Dad didn't have any savings. So, just also pray that I can find a work as soon as possible."

"Then, what should we do? Am I going to stop studying?" Isabella dried her hand and walked towards Nerissa.

"No, Nerissa. I still want you to continue going to school. Besides that's what Mom and Dad wants. So, even you are the only one who can finish studying, then at least you can have a good life and also help me." Nerissa laughed sarcastically.

"Your mind's already in the future, Isabella.Don't you even think that what you hoping is already like a wishful thinking? Yes, Mom and Dad wants that, but where are they now? They're not breathing, they are already dead." Isabella's shoulder droops down and a bitter feeling crept up into her chest, but she still has to smile through that emotion. She's already prepared for this. It's true that her parents are not around anymore, but she won't give up trying everything. She held Nerissa's hand.

"Whatever happens, we will stay in each other's side, okay?" Nerissa stared at her. She the smiled bitterly and just nodded.

The next two days, Isabella just do her routine, but at the end she just goes home tired and hopeless. She thought that finding a work will be the most hard problem she needs to face not until...

"What do you mean? My mother and father own this house, you can't just kick out us here," Isabella said to the landlord. She didn't aware about this. No one from her parents' told her that they sell this house.

"I'm sorry dear, but it's actually been sold months ago, your mother and father just begged us not to get rid of it from their life, because according to them, they're going to pay us back in just some period of time, but since they're already dead, we are sure that both of you aren't capable of handling this kind of responsibility, so I have no choice but to evict you." The man replied calmly with his back turned toward Isabella.

"Sir, please! I am begging you. Me and my sister need this house. You know, we barely manage to live on our own now..."

"But the house belongs to us already, young lady. We can do whatever we want with it." The landlord said sternly and Isabella had nothing to say. Her eyes watered.

"By the way, I am going back here later. Make sure that you'll get your personal things with you. If I'm back here and you are still here, then I have no choice but to call the police."

And with that he walked out of the door. Isabella cried silently. Her heart feels like it was shattered into millions of pieces. This house is full of memories of her parents'. She doesn't want to leave here, but she also know that she have no choice right now, but to start packing their things.

The time came, Isabella with her baggages is waiting for Nerissa in front of their house. She still didn't know how she'll explain to Nerissa about what had happened. She stood up immediately when she already saw her sister.

"Nerissa!" With a furrowed brows Nerissa run towards her.

"What happened? W-Why you are here outside? And..." Isabella quickly hugged Nerissa, as she tell her everything. Nerissa release Isabella from their embrace.

"W-What? It can't be, Isabella. We can't afford to keep living like this! Where should we go now? I didn't even see myself leaving as a beggar." Nerissa also started to cry because of frustrations.

"Listen, Nerissa... Just calm down first."

"No! How could I calm down Isabella? We are doomed now. How about my study? My dream? I didn't ask for a life like this!" Nerissa sobbed uncontrollably.

"I-I'm sorry, Nerissa. B-But I promise you that we will get through this." Isabella caressed Nerissa's head, but Nerissa just walked out.

"Arghh!" Isabella control herself from crying. She put all their baggages despite feeling weak and follow Nerissa.

They just keep on walking. Even asking almost all the strangers if they can help them, but the next day arrive without getting any kind of help.

"Do you have extra money there?" Isabella dig in her pocket and get all that she can touch there.

"Here..." Isabella opened her palm which had 100 coins.

"Ten coins? That can only buy one bread and water, Isabella." Nerissa said, disappointed. Isabella still handed the money towards Nerissa.

"Just buy something that can sustain your hunger, Nerissa. I'll be fine, besides I am not hungry yet," she lied, just to ease her sister worry a bit.

They just decided to sit for a while. Nerissa's eating the food she brought, not even bothering to ask Isabella if she wants also.

"Psh! This food doesn't really have even a little good taste," she says after swallowing all the food.Isabella looks at her sister who just throws the last piece of bread in her mouth. Then she takes another sip of water and took an exhausted sighed.

"What if, I'll just wait you here for a while. And you'll find at least a safe place where we can stay this night?" Nerissa suggested.

"But Nerissa, isn't going to be fast if it's the two of us who'll find somewhere to stay in?" Nerissa almost shout at Isabella, yet she tried to hide her annoyance, and pouted her lips instead.

"Isabella... I-I already feel dizzy for walking all day. It's like in just a minute, if we continue walking around, I will pass by. So, can you please just let me rest for a while here?" she asked, and Isabella just nodded. She understand Nerissa, and she doesn't want to force her to walk all the day long like this.

"Alright. Then, just stay here and get some rest." Nerissa nodded slowly, while leaning against the wall. And Isabella started to look around to find a place for them to sleep, but then as she stepped her feet again, she suddenly feel like it's getting heavier than usual, which made her fall on her knees, and before everything turned black, she could still visualize a man hurriedly running towards her.