These streets

~Ariel~

I tried to balance the takeouts and Honey in my arms as I scurried down the street, looking for a dry spot to escape the heavy rain.

Honey let out a whimper and I sighed. She must be very cold. I finally sighted a spot and ran over to it without hesitation.

I dropped Honey carefully and balanced the takeouts. She whimpered again and I looked at her.

"Don't act like you were used as an umbrella. You were the one in my jacket and I see you perfectly dry" I glared and she whimpered again, nudging my feet.

I settled on the floor and carried her in my arms. I stared at the empty street with a sigh.

"How do we go home now? I used all my money on food" I lamented. I gave Honey her treats and picked one of the takeouts to eat.

As I ate, my eyes wondered to the billboard. As expected, her face was on it with a plastic smile. She had one of those flavoured creams in her hands.

"Mi Rae. She gets prettier every day" I smiled. I admired her a lot. She was so classy and polished.

"Kim? Is that you?" I heard a voice yell amist the downpour. I frowned as I turned to see Mrs Rose drenched in the rain.

Aishh! I should have known she would be worried. I got up and quickly helped her to our little shade.

"You didn't have to look for me. I can take care of myself really. You could get sick" I said. She rolled her eyes.

"It's almost ten pm and you are still out here, don't you know how dangerous it is?".

"I'm sorry. Have some food?" I offered and she shook her head.

"You don't have to spend your money feeding me, Kim. I'm fine".

"I am not feeding you. I am hungry as well and I can't possibly finish two takeouts. It's only polite to offer it to the person next to me instead of throwing it away" I replied and she smiled.

"There you go again with your word play, trying to confuse me". She took it from me and I smiled happily.

Mrs Rose has been with me for almost eight years. She is homeless just like I was few months ago.

There isn't much a difference though. I stay in an abandoned building, with a leaking roof. The owner could decide to visit one day and evict me. It's not nice to have a stray on your property.

Mrs Rose sleeps in the homeless shelter. Don't get your hopes high. By homeless shelter, I mean a shack you share with fifteen people at a very outrageous price.

You can't leave your property there and return with the hope to find it. No bathrooms or toilets. Just a place to sleep at night.

How did I end up on these streets? Here's my life story. When I was five, my parents and I were going to spend the holidays in Hong Kong. Somehow, I got on the wrong flight and ended up alone in Seoul with no parents.

Honey is the only thing I have left of them and that was probably sixteen years ago. How did I survive? Don't ask, I don't know as well.

I was relieved when the rain subsided. My room would be flooded but it's better than staying out here in the cold.

"Let's go home?" I asked Mrs Rose but her gaze was trained somewhere else. I followed the stare and stiffened at the sight of the local goons.

They were about six of them, drunk and rambling. It was then I realized how dangerous this part of town was.

I suddenly wished the rain hadn't stopped. Maybe they would still be in the pub, drinking their lives away.

We stayed in place, hoping they wouldn't pay much attention as they staggered ahead.

This was a very dangerous spot and somehow, the goons seemed to armed always. No one ran into them without getting trouble whether they were drunk or sober.

They acted more like assassins than robbers. They would never leave without drawing blood.

One of them glanced our way and I lost my breath. Mrs Rose pulled me from behind almost immediately.

I couldn't breathe. My chest tightened so much that it forced a gasp out of my lips.

"Kim? Are you okay?" Mrs Rose asked worriedly. I couldn't reply. I let out another gasp as I tried to breathe. It suddenly felt hot.

"Kim? Kim?".

I couldn't move. The pain was fading and her voice too.

"Goodness! She's not blinking" Mrs Rose panicked voice was the last thing I heard.

I woke up with a slight headache. I tried to open my eyes but my head played like a thousand drums. Did I call this slight?. I was gravely mistaken.

After many failed attempts, I got myself to sit up. What happened and why does my head hurt so much?.

The door flew open and Mrs Rose entered with a small bag. Her eyes lit up the minute she saw me.

"Oh Kim! Thank goodness you're awake. I was scared for a moment there" She said engulfing me in a tight hug. That was when I recalled everything.

I had one of my stupid episodes infront of her. I felt so embarrassed. I must have scared the poor woman to death.

"Biane" I muttered and she pulled away.

"I got you medicine. I can't assure you they'll work cause I got it from a pretty cheap store. And I told them you were in some form of shock. Thinking of it now, it might as well be fake." She frowned as she examined the bag and her doubts.

"I am alright. It just happens sometimes but not often, I promise" I assured her. Then I began to wonder how I got home. Mrs Rose obviously brought me back. Oh Kim!

"I honestly didn't mean to trouble you. I'm sorry" I apologised again. She chuckled and pinched my cheek.

"It is alright. You would have done same for me so I don't mind. Get some rest, it is quite early" She said.

I wanted to lie back but I suddenly remembered I had a job. I quickly glanced at the clock beside my bed. My eyes widened as I sprang to my feet.

"9am?! I thought...ahhhhhh..." I groaned as the pain in my head hit me.

"You need to rest, Kim. You've not fully recovered yet" Mrs Rose pleaded.

I was already at the bathroom door. I didn't pay much attention to her as I took off my clothes and dashed in. I showered and dressed as quickly as I could.

"Would you atleast slow down to eat breakfast?" She groaned but I was too busy pulling on my only pair of decent shoes.

"I'll see you when I get back" I said quickly, pecking her. I didn't wait to hear her reply as I ran out of the building, down the street.

'Please don't fire me. Please don't fire me' I prayed silently as I got to the pizzeria.

"Kim? Oh how relieved I am to see you! I thought we would never finish making the deliveries today but here you are" The manager went on speaking the minute he sighted me.

I didn't object. I did not want to be fired. I greeted some of my co-workers and proceeded to pick my license.

"Hurry up! We don't have time" Our manager yelled and I quickly stacked a few pizza boxes to carry. I loaded it in the companies truck.

I rushed back in to pack the remaining boxes.

"I thought you wouldn't come in today considering you've never been late" Lina, my coworker spoke beside me.

"I didn't mean to. I overslept, sorry" I apologized. She was my senior colleague and I didn't want trouble.

"I don't see why you're apologising to me. The manager deserves that explanation" She shrugged. I bit my lip.

"He didn't seem to mind earlier, when I came in" I said quietly.

"Because he was too occupied but that doesn't give you any right to be insolent. You didn't even sign the time sheet and trust me, he'll address it when it's time for your paycheck" She scoffed.

"But I didn't mean to. Okay, I will apologise but can I atleast make this delivery first?" I asked.

"What's the point? You still someone to read the addresses for you to record on your phone because you're dumb enough to not know how to read" She stated.

Her statement didn't fail to attract eyes on me. I bit my lip and looked down in embarrassment. Everyone knew I couldn't but she didn't have to spell it out.

It wasn't like I couldn't read everything. I get the easy words right. The big words are a little complicated to understand.

But that didn't mean I couldn't read addresses. I wouldn't be employed if I couldn't.

"That's enough, Lina. You don't bully people in my presence. Kim, get to work and Lina, I want in my office".

I was glad he came to my rescue but I feared Lina would be in trouble for that.

"Yes sir" I mumbles, scurrying out. I loaded the truck and picked out the address book. I wonder why we have so many orders today.

The first set of deliveries were quite easy. However the mansion before me didn't seem like it would be easy.

The security cameras were very visible and as soon as I got to the gate, it slid open. My jaw dropped as I looked around.

Paradise on Earth. Poverty is really not good. How could someone build something this magnificent without money?. It looked like something out of a dream.

I wandered a bit, dazed by the beauty. Who lives here?. I didn't realize how far I wandered until I came upon a pool area.

The giggling and splashing of water snapped me out of my little trance. Three girls and a boy. There was plenty of wine and cigarette packs on the table.

What if they didn't make the order? How would I explain my presence? They probably smelled my anxiety cause their heads whipped to face me at once.

"Who are you??" Was the first question.

"Delivery girl" I replied quickly, pointing to the three boxes of pepperoni pizza.

"So Domino now sends rags to deliver pizza" one of the girls said with distaste. My jaw dropped.

"But this is our uni...." I tried explaining but the guy guy cut me off.

"Bring that over here".

I sighed in relief and walked over to him while the girls watched me like a hawk.

"Uhm.....sign here. You're Mister Jung Woo right?" I asked and he rolled his eyes before snatching the sheet from me.

He signed it and I quickly took it, hoping to leave as soon as possible. Halfway through my escape, I heard him yell.

"Hey, hold on....this isn't what I ordered". Huh? I was pretty sure I didn't mix it up.

I walked back to him. He gave a smile I couldn't understand. I stared at the pizza.

"What is wrong, sir? It is pepperoni with...." A slice of pizza landed in my face and I gasped. The girls giggled.

"I just thought I should offer you a slice. It'll be rude not to considering how pale and thin you look. You probably haven't tasted it before" He shrugged like it was normal.

I got the slice off my face in agitation. Who does he think he is?. I'm not even thin!

"That was so cool, Woo. Give her more, she's staring" One said. I quickly averted my eyes and turned to leave.

Their laughter trailed behind me as I scurried away. They might think it's funny to just make a joke out of everyone simply because they're rich.

I scoffed and walked out of the gate to the truck. I switched on the radio and grinned as my favourite song played.

Slay by Li Shugar.

I won't let some rich brats ruin my mood.