Submission

CHAPTER : 6

When I used to live with my family I always used to find myself very lonely. I did not have any friends who I could trust enough to tell everything. I did try once, and it ended up very badly. Foolish of me to think that empathy lacked in so many but fear so frequent and lively. Fear of getting tangled up into other's mess and end up in an unfortunate situation. Or perhaps they just didn't want to bother with me or never liked me really. Was I dreaming? Imagined a friend that never really existed?

After moving out of my parent's house, or rather running away, I thought things will be better, and I will be able to open up, but boy was I wrong. I guess I would have stayed alone for the rest of my life if I haven't met Liza at the club where I worked that day. Life after my family was harsh and strikingly different but welcome nonetheless. With no place to live, I tried to find a place to work where I could somehow live as well, if not provided by the owner then sneakily at least. And that's how I ended up at a club after being rejected by so many. At a club, it's hard for the owner to deny the need for female staff because that's what lures in all the wrong people, men. Especially at the shitty bar I worked at.

Bad things happen at places like that club. One of such similar incidents crossed Liza's and my path.

But today, sitting here with this total stranger, I can't help but feel that I made a new friend. Ivan is nothing if not cocky. He is a jerk I know but understanding at the same time. When he asked about my family I felt uncomfortable, but perhaps something on my face gave it away because he changed the subject to coffee immediately. Yes, it's a really short amount of time to assess or judge somebody and their true colours, but I didn't want to be cold towards him without any reason. I have been on the receiving end of such behaviour and I can't wish for someone else to go through the same.

We were sitting in the living room in front of the small fireplace talking about small things and how the weather was just going berserk, when I heard a car pulling into the driveway. The crunch of the gravel underneath the tires, the car door being shut, and the ring of the doorbell announced that Ivan's anonymous friend has arrived. I was getting up from the sofa slowly, suddenly feeling a little awkward while Ivan was quick on his feet and already at the door, greeting his friend.

I smiled to myself at how Ivan has already made himself feel at home.

Our living room was quite large with a lot of open space for sofas and chairs to sit here and there. To the opposite of the living room was the study. The front door was between the study and the living room and the bedrooms were upstairs. The kitchen was at the back where the backdoor was situated. To be honest we lucked out big time with this house. The seller, a very old woman with a generous heart took kindness upon us and sold it such a cheap price that we couldn't believe it. She was the last one left in the family with no heirs to pass this house to. So that's where we get in. She cared more about the buyers who'll be living in the house and taking care of it than the numbers on a cheque which both Liza and I didn't have much of.

The men in front of my porch exchanged a few quiet words which I could barely hear. I still couldn't see this stranger who was on the other side of the wall of the living room. Feet shuffling towards my direction made it clear that they were walking towards me, and so I tried to fix my black leggings and light pink full-sleeved dress shirt. Not much to look presentable, but it'll have to do.

When Ivan entered the room with his friend I froze and stood as still as I could because who I saw could not possibly be standing in front of me right now.

It was none other than my music teacher.

Mr. Dimitri Nevada.