10 Landlady

She looks at me from up and down then walks off.

I am already not a fan of her attitude.

She gives me chills. But how am I going to work like this every day? This dress exposes my whole body.

Nathan leans closer to me and ties a random shirt around my waist.

Uhm... thank you. I said, a bit soft, trying to cover my body with my hands.

"Let's go" He grabs my wrist tight and forces me to walk with him.

Where are you going to take me? I am confused. When I saw the sign saying "men changing room," my heart started pounding hard.

"Ew, stop! What are you doing? I don't want to go in there!" I free myself from him.

"There's nobody inside. Trust me, okay."

I don't know if I should trust a stranger that I met in two days. I hesitate and do it because he told me to do so. I close my eyes and open them straight away when I stepped inside.

He was right. There is no single soul here.

He walks me to the lockers. "Here you go, put this on. It's the same one you're wearing right now. No need to thank me" he looks the other and puts his chin in the air feeling proud of himself.

Awh, thank you, that's sweet of you. I pat him on the shoulder.

BUT HOW THE HELL DO YOU HAVE A WOMEN'S SKIRT IN YOUR BAG? I look furious at him.

ARE YOU A PERVERT OR SOMETHING? I point my fingers into his face.

"No, no and again, no. It is not what you're thinking of," He moves my hand gently away.

Then what is it then, explain yourself?

"I have a sister who works here too. She asked me to get new skirts for her.

It looks like you haven't met her yet. I think she's working today...her name is Rose" he scratches her head innocently.

Oh, okay then. You scared me at first, but now I am good. Anyways thanks for your help, gentleman. I do a plie for him.

I need to get changed and go to work now. I sped up my walk before I get into trouble for being in the men changing room.

When I got into the changing room, I saw Samanta standing there smoking. She looks at me dirty and then rolls her eyes at me.

Why did you do that to me earlier? I really couldn't stand her. She moves closer to me, then blows the smoke into my face, which made me cough up like a dying lamb.

"I was testing you. want some cigarettes?" She reaches her whole packet at me. I shake my head. NO thanks.

I am still coughing. Why would she do this?

Are you even allowed to smoke here inside? I ask her.

I know this kind of girls. She's 'I am the bad bitch' type, I say in my mind.

"Didn't you read the signs in this building? It says 'no smoking allowed, but I don't care and still do it. And you're going to shut your mouth about this, or else something worse will happen!" She smiles fake at me and then puts off the cigarette.

She takes bubblegum out of her bag and blows it a few times to take the smell out from the smoking. Like who is so dumb to do that nowadays? She can spray herself with perfume or something.

I got myself ready and went serving the customers. It was somehow easy but busy today.

"GET ME A WHISKEY, WAITRESS!" one of the people screamed in the restaurant. The whole crowd started staring at him. He's very drunk and wants more? What a waste he is.

Since I was the only server at the moment, I walked to him. As soon that I came near him, an unpleasant smell came into my nose. The smell of not having a shower for weeks, or not changing your clothes. That's also how he looked like, every unhygienic.

"WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT? DO YOU ALSO THINK THAT I DON'T BELONG HERE LIKE THE OTHER GIRL?" This man is so loud, he turned all the eyes in my direction.

Sorry sir, you need to be a little bit quiet. I try to make him calm down.

"YOU DONT TELL ME WHAT TO DO. YOU'RE JUST A PIECE OF A SHIT THAT NEED MONEY. RIGHT?

I breathe in and out, not to get mad.

Can this day get any worse?

"HERE SOME MONEY BEGGAR" he threw some money in my face. The crowd began staring and whispering.

Obviously, they are rich and don't care about these kinds of things.

I became red and wanted to slap him in the face, even if I got fired. I would never let this loser walk over me.

"ALICE! Come with me right now." Nathan took my hand and dragged me with him.

"Sir. If you are going to act like this then please get out of here and go somewhere else. What you are doing is called harassing, and I will call the police if you do that one more time."

"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS FOR A PLACE? I WILL NEVER COME HERE AGAIN! YOU SON OF BASTARDS REALLY THINK THAT YOU CAN EMBARRASS ME? I CAN MAKE YOUR STUPID BAR GO OUT OF BUSINESS!" and with that, the man walks away.

Nathan looks at me.

"Listen to me! This place is not safe for people like us. These rich bastard do whatever they want and still gets their butts clean. Don't ever just stand there but walk away in that kind of situations. Do you get me?"

I nodded my head yes politely.

That was a crazy day. I needed this fresh air after working like a mad person. When I arrived at my house, I see a lady walking around in front of the door. When she noticed me, she walks towards me.

"So where is my payment? Don't let me guess that you don't even have it? Your parents are rich. I can't believe you still didn't give me the rent for this month."

Sorry, I don't have that much money right now, but I promise you that I will give you when I receive my monthly payment. I just started my new job today.

"Do you know that I like you a lot? That is why I am patient with you, but if you don't give it to me on time, what shall I do then? I need to make a living myself, and many people want to buy this house.

I am sorry, but I can't help you.

I want you to leave this house empty by tomorrow. Otherwise, I will get your things out myself.." She left me standing there crying.

What am I going to do now? Where can I go?

What will my dad do if he comes to know that our house is getting sold tomorrow? Where do I even start?

No, I can't tell him anything.

If he comes to know what mom did and what happened today, he will be angry and be disappointed in mom.

I don't want his last memories of mom to be memories full of regret.

I want his last few days to be peaceful and full of happiness. I hope I can at least give him that.

Shaking, I call Mia.

"Hey, Alice. How was the interview? Did you get the job?"

I begin to cry. I can't hold it anymore.

"Alice, why are you crying? Is everything is okay?

Why is everything soo unfair?

Why is this happening to my father and me? What did we ever do?

"What happened? They didn't give you the position?

It's oke. I can find a different job for you."

I got the job. It is not about that.

"Then what happened, girl? Why are you crying instead of celebrating?

You got the job."

I came home after finishing work. The lady that owns the house came and told me to get out of the house tomorrow because I couldn't pay her the rent yet. You know that my mother took all the money because I chose dad over her.

How does she expect me to choose her when dad is in such a situation that he can't even care for himself.

He is not the strong man anymore that would do anything for me. My heart just can't give me to leave him. After all, he did for me, the least he deserves is that I stay by his side and help him through this journey.

"I know, girl. I know how your father is. I would help you, but you know no one else is allowed in the student room.

Oh! Why don't you call Ryan? I know for sure that he will help you," says Mia to Alice.

I am embarrassed to ask him for help. I already burdened him when he was in the hospital. I don't want to be a burden to him.

"Girl, you know he is your friend, and he will help you. The least that is on his mind is that you would be a burden to him.

I mean it! Go and call him, girl. I feel sad that I can't help you in this situation, but this is the best I can do for you. Do you want to sleep on the streets forever?"

No, you know how scared I am of the dark. I say to her.

"How can I forget that? She laughs me out.

Anyways you should call him now before it is too late."

Okay, I will call him now.

Bye babes. Thank you for being with me through this.

"WE PROMISED NO THANKYOUS BETWEEN FRIENDS! Really, this is the least I can do for you. I am rooting for you, girll. YOU CAN DO THIS!" she says

I smile, and we say our goodbyes.

I type in Ryans phone number and call him.

SHIT! It is ringing.

I don't even know what to say to him.

"Hello, Alice. Why are you calling so late? Did something happen?"

How does he always know when something happened to me?

Hey Ryan, I would like to ask for help.