Chapter 1

 Ramon had just moved away from Rochester to a small countryside. He had planned on keeping a low profile until he was able to finish his studies. His father Andreas had just been sent to prison for assault. 

 Ramon remembered how Andreas had been a constant bully to him and his mother who was an addict smoker. It was in the past now and he was free to live his life however he saw fit. 

 Ramon made sure his mother was not going to be a problem for him he made sure she was sent to the monastery to be a nun. 

 He looked at the radio cassette in his hands as he plugged in his earpiece listening to his favorite music. 

 Many people on the bus looked at him and wondered how old-fashioned he was but the truth was that Ramon care less. All he wanted was just to be alone without being a burden to anyone. He heard a ring on his phone and quickly browsed through his phone. 

 [ RAMON SIGH ]

 It is another message from one of his father's debtors. Ramon had believed it was a message from Kingsland University. The most popular and well-equipped school for learning. It was the fifth time he had been rejected by the school. He saw that the message was just another reminder of his father's debt 

 Andreas was not only a woman beater but also a gambler. He owed many of the neighbors money and Ramon had to leave since he couldn't pay the loans. He hoped to start a new life for himself in Mendon.

 A picturesque town about 20 minutes southeast of Rochester, known for its rolling hills and farmland.

 Getting on the bus, he looked around and smiled, the view was nice and everywhere looked calm. He looked at his phone and walked towards the tracker he was looking at. Ramon stood in front of a furnished apartment and rang the doorbell. A middle-aged man walked out of the house and looked at him. 

 "Who are you, please?" 

 "I sent a reservation for the house down the road. Ah! My name is Ramon," he said with a smile 

 The man moved closer to have a good look at him. "Are you going to be staying alone?" he asked seeing that he was just a teenager 

 Ramon smiled "I am going to be fine living alone. Besides, my parents are out of the country." he lied 

 "Very well, give me some minutes to change my clothes. Would you like to see the house?" 

 Ramon nodded and the man showed him to a seat. 

 After some minutes, the man came out and together they walked down the street. Ramon was fascinated with what he was seeing. "Are you planning on staying for a long time?" the old man asked Ramon as he showed him around the old tattered house.

 "I planned on getting a scholarship at Kingsland University. I need some space to myself to study. I came here to do that." 

 "Kingsland, eh!. The school is one of a kind not to talk of the rich and spoilt brat that goes over there to study. "The old man said taking a seat. He touched his back and looked at Ramon " Are you taking the house?" 

 Ramon nodded and immediately transferred the money to him. He carefully looked through the house and saw that it needed some remaking. Having decided to have the house remodeled, Roman walked down the street to get himself some house-making materials. 

 As he walked into the shop, he picked a few things he would be needing and his eyes caught a guy stealing from the store. Minding his business he said nothing but continued shopping. Once he was done, he walked up to the front of the cashier for his materials to be ringed up.

 "That would be a total of $34, sir." the young lady looked at Ramon and smiled. 

 "I haven't seen your face around here before. Are you new?" she asked, her gaze focused on the monitor before.

 "Yes, I just moved," Ramon replied enjoying the conversation. Packing her things, he walked out of the store and met the young guys in front of his power bike. Ramon walked past him and the guy drove closer to him with his bike making it lol like he was going to ram Ramon through. 

 [ RAMON SIGH ] 

 "What do you want?" he asked dropping down the nylon he was carrying. " Why didn't you say anything? you know I stole from the store didn't you?" Xavier looked at him.

 "And?" Thomas replied coldly making Xavier looked surprised. Ramon looked at him closely and remembered he had seen his face. " Steal a nation and you would considered a thief. I dont see how stealing just some mere garbage makes you a thief." Ramon walked away leaving Xavier staring at him oddly. The aura around Thomas felt so cold that Xavier could see goose bumps coming out of his body.

 "What is that?" Xavier said getting on his power bike as he zoomed into the busy street. 

 Ramon got home and immediately started to clean out the dirty and tidy up the play. He remembered his encounter with Xavier and wondered why a rich man son would be stealing from a mere stall. Ramon tried to take his mind off it. It has been long he had seen his mother. A part of him wanted to go back and pay her a visit but Ramon thought not seeing her was for the best. 

 The house was soon dressed into a modest one with every furniture out in place. Ramon made sure to furnish the living room first. The old wooden floors were polished and covered with a simple, yet elegant rug he had found in a thrift shop.

 He set up a second-hand sofa and a coffee table, placing a few books and a lamp on it. The walls were bare, but he planned to add some art later, once he had settled in.

 Next, he moved on to the kitchen, ensuring that it was clean and functional. He stocked the pantry with basic groceries and cooking supplies, eager to start cooking his own meals. It was a small victory, but it felt like a significant step towards independence.

 Being alone was what Ramon had always dreamt of. Away from his father's bully and away from his drunken mother. 

 As he finished tidying up the bedroom, hanging curtains and making the bed with fresh sheets, he couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. The house might not be perfect, but it was his, and it symbolized a new beginning.

 Ramon took a moment to rest, lying down on his newly made bed. He pulled out his radio cassette and put on his favorite tape, letting the familiar music fill the room. Despite the day's hard work, he felt a rare sense of peace.

 The peace was short-lived, however, as his phone buzzed with another message. Expecting another unwelcome reminder of his father's debts, he sighed and picked it up.