The constant tapping noises when the droplets of water hit the window of the car was soothing to my ears. Those very sounds kept me entertained throughout the whole car ride. Some people might find it quite depressing, some might even relate it to a painful memory, but to me, it was a joyful experience. Maybe I was just a boring person, but I really think there was something very whimsical about the rain.

The car ride to the city was a very peaceful and quiet one. Save for my dad’s questions about if I’m getting bored or hungry. I just answered him with my signature shaking of the head instead of answering with words. It’s not that I don’t like speaking with him, but if I could get the message across to him with just a slight gesture, then that would be good enough for me.

Large buildings enter my view as we finally arrived at Lokwind. I really didn’t like how everything was so tall that I needed to look up and strain my neck, but my dad needed to go here for his new job. I really don’t know what he does, but I think he dealt with motorized vehicles or something. Whenever I asked him about it, he’d just reply with ‘Show me your girlfriend first, before I show you what I do’ while laughing like he found the question to be rather funny. So, after pestering him a few more times and getting the same exact results, I just gave up and moved along.

“We’re here!” He sounded very excited. I can’t understand the way he thinks sometimes. He’s often fired from his work and we need to relocate most of the time just to accommodate his new ‘job’. This was the second one this year, and we’re only in May. I hope that he stays longer in this one… hopefully.

I mean, moving from one place to the other since birth wasn’t really a good experience for a growing child, and it only grew in frequency as the years passed by. Especially when this one was the sixteenth or seventeenth one. I don’t know if that was correct, but I think I've lost count already.

The apartment building was very… traditional would be a nice way to put it. But, it was quite old, with the outer paint of the building fading, and it was made out of wood. In addition, the wooden floor was making creaking noises whenever I stepped on it. Making you feel like the building was about to collapse any second now.

Can this kind of place even last long enough in the city? Who would even want to stay in this run-down apartment? That may be too harsh of an assessment, but at least the decorations and furniture’s were fancy and looked new. Sort of...

“Sit there on the sofa, while I go and ‘discuss’ our rent with the landlord” He said with a mischievous smile. He then heads towards the unassuming man that was standing behind the counter. Ah, poor landlord, doesn’t even know that he’s going to get ripped off.

After twenty minutes of bantering, laughing, and haggling, we finally went towards our room on the third floor. Contrary to the shabby looking outer appearance of the outer building, our new dwelling looked very nice.

The wooden floor wasn’t making any sounds at all when I walked inside. Moreover, a large window shows the city in full view. There were two separate bedrooms for the both of us, and a bathroom with some decent stuff. The kitchen was right next to the living room, where a table top counter was dividing the two. I take back everything that I said before. I would want to stay here.

“Rei, why don’t you go and take a look around, while I get our stuff from the car” He said.

I would have rejected his suggestion right out of the bat and started reading some of my fantasy books that I brought along, but that wouldn’t be good for me. I was going to live here (for now) and I sure would love to know the place better.

I nodded and got my umbrella from the car. I open it and drape the shaft over my shoulders to support it while I explored the vicinity. It was very nice walking around when it was raining, because there weren’t a lot of people outside. The sounds of water hitting the ground keeps the hustle and bustle outside of the buildings to a minimum.

There were a lot of shops that were unfamiliar to me. One particular establishment had a painted cat with a teacup right next to it on their doors. Must be a café or something? Otherwise, it might be a shop catering to cats by making them drink tea or coffee... I don’t know, people are getting weirder and weirder each year.

I spend my time walking around the place and looking inside through the see through glass windows, intrigued by what was happening inside some of them. Some of the people who were outside noticed my odd behavior and stared at me curiously.

“!” With my embarrassment rising each second, I ran away, going farther into the city.

“Haaa… haaa…” After a few minutes of running, I finally got tired.

I thought that it would be enough of a distance from the people who saw me. Their stares were anxiety inducing, and I didn’t want to be right under their prying eyes any longer. It’s uncomfortable to say the least.

I don’t know when ‘this’ problem all started, but it just happened and now I’m stuck with it. There was even one severe case a few years back. When I saw people staring at me because I tripped on the stairs, I got nauseous from it. My breathing grew hoarse, my heart started to palpitate, and I fainted. Next thing I knew, I was staring at the white ceiling of the local hospital. That was the only time that it happened though.

After calming down and when the rain let up, I started walking around again. Taking in the sights and making sure that I didn’t attract any attention while I did so. It was fun and all, but there was one problem.

“?” It was already dark outside, and I didn’t know where I currently was. I had a phone a few years back, but I lost it and didn’t ask for a replacement. Since… well, I didn’t really need one.

I didn’t make any close friends that I needed to stay in touch with back then. Because, when you’re moving around from city to city a few times each year, you really can’t make any, much less when I get anxious from meeting new people. I don’t even speak using words with people anymore if the situation doesn't demand it, and just use gestures to get everything across like with my dad. As I might just embarrass myself from speaking with them.

I was reluctant to ask the people that were passing by, but I really wanted to go home now. So, I did.

"Hah... " I slowly breathe in and out a few times before I steeled myself and headed towards one person that was walking down the street.

“E-excuse me” I said, and a person wearing a suit stopped walking when I went in front of him.

“What is it?” He seemed annoyed by my sudden interruption as he scowls at me.

Should I not have asked him? Maybe someone else would be better… No! I'll finish what I started! Or something along those lines.

“U-uhmm, d-do you know where…”

...

Hmm, now that I think about it… I really didn’t know what the apartment building is called, or even the name of the street that it was in.

...

Why didn’t I ask before I left? Maybe I really do need a phone for emergencies like this.

“U-uh… nothing. Excuse me!” I ran away from the man while he disgruntledly said ‘Fucking teenagers. Is this some kind of joke?’. I’m sorry… I’ll try to apologize the next time we meet.

With nothing else to do, I started roaming the streets again. Trying to figure out where the apartment building was. However, even after two hours of aimlessly walking from one street to the other, I couldn’t find it.

Well, this wasn’t a good start for my first day. I only just arrived and I’m already lost. While I was walking down the street and thinking how much a new phone would cost, I heard some loud noises inside an alley.

“?” With my curiosity peeked, I peered inside and I saw five people. One of them was being kicked or punched by the other four. Even though it was rather dark, I can still see that he was already bleeding in some parts of his head and body.

What do I do now… should I call for help? But, it isn’t any of my business, and I might get dragged into some unnecessary trouble.

Two of them pulled up the person that was being beaten, so that he was standing up while they were holding him in place. Even with his bloody face and black eye, he was still staring at them as if everything was under his control. Which it obviously wasn’t from what I was seeing.

“Argh!” One of them took the cigarette that he was smoking and shoved it into his face, with the lighted tobacco rod making contact with his skin. It seared his left cheek and leaving a small burnt circle on it when he pulled it away. I then notice one of them bringing out a knife that was hidden inside of his pocket.

I… need to help him.

I came to that decision because I don’t think these guys would just stop at that.

My legs were quivering at the sight, but if I don’t move now, then he might get stabbed… or killed.

With my heart racing and sweat dripping down my neck. I gritted my teeth and moved towards them. The noise that I made as I entered the alley surprised the four of them. We stared at each other for a few seconds before I shattered the status quo.

“Officers, over here!” I shouted for the very first time in quite a while.

The four of them showed frantic expressions and immediately fled. Dropping the man on the ground while they kicked him for one last time.

After they left, I quickly ran towards the beaten man and checked if he was still okay. To my surprise, he grabbed my arm and looked at me with a glare. Did I do something wrong?

“Yo-…” He was saying something, but he didn’t get to finish it because he fainted.

I panicked, as I didn’t know what to do. Is it okay if I move him? Maybe his injuries might get worse if I did… but I can’t just leave him here. What if those people come back and finish what they were doing?

Contemplating for about a minute, I decided that I should first drag him out of the alley and get some help from the people that were nearby. With my meager strength, I put both of my hands under his armpits and pulled him out, which was a struggle. I don’t understand why he was so heavy when the man was very skinny. He looked like he was having some kind of illness, with how pale his complexion was.

Leaning him against the wall, I ran towards a nearby restaurant. I mustered up everything that I had so that I won’t stutter, and asked the receptionist there to call for an ambulance. He was skeptical at first, but when I showed him the man who was covered in blood, he quickly took the phone and called for help. A few minutes later, an ambulance came and drove the man towards the nearest hospital.

As I see the vehicle moving away, I breathed in a sigh of relief. That was the second most intense thing that I experienced in my life. I just hope that something like it doesn’t happen again. My heart can’t take it.

“Ah…” Oh, yeah. I totally forgot about my own problem. What direction was I headed to again? Did I come from that street or the other one?

“I sense that you have a problem, boy” Someone interrupted me as I was trying to remember from where I came and what direction I should take next.

“?” I looked to my side and saw that there was a woman covered from top to bottom with some exotic clothing.

“Come and keep me company while I read your fortune” She said in an entrancing voice.

Her head and mouth were covered in cloth, so I couldn’t see much, but her dress was quite revealing. Like, ‘almost showing some inappropriate parts’ revealing. As much as I would like for my fortune to be read by a con artist, or staying and listening to her voice, I really needed to go home.

I shake my head and move on, but she laughs when I tried to do so. Did I do something that she’d find funny?

“Boy, I can tell you of a way to go to where you wished to be” Her voice was so captivating... maybe I should stay for just a few minutes. And she did say that she can tell me how to get home.

With my mind made up, I go in front of her and squat down. Now that I take a good look with the light from the streetlights. Her skin is quite tanned, and her ruby red eyes were looking at me as if I was an animal caught in its trap.

It was alluring.

“With the way you are right now, I think reading your palm would be enough” She said, as she extends her hand and opens her palm. Likely asking me to put my hand on top of it. I was somewhat shy at having some stranger touch my hand, but I listened and did what she wanted me to do anyway.

She then began to inspect my open palm.

“Interesting… I see… Oh…” She muttered.

I was curious, but I really didn’t believe in the whole fortune telling bit. Some fortunetellers might just say some general stuff about something or someone, and the person being read would be amazed on how they got that right. Hook, line, and sinker, let the flow of money come in. Most people didn’t know a fraud when it was already happening in front of them. And this was clearly one of them.

“You have a problem with interacting with people. Most of the time, it hinders you from doing what you need or want to do” She said.

…

It was obviously a lucky guess… but it couldn’t be. It was way too specific, that I’d doubt she would use it to guess on the first try. In other words, she was in the same ballpark.

“Do you want to able to have a proper conversation with people again?” She asked.

I honestly wanted to, but I doubt that it would be that easy when the thought of something going wrong weighs heavily on my mind. I had tried a bunch of times to get over it back then, and all of them ended up with me embarrassing myself or running away. Therefore, I just took the closest thing to what I can get to that. Reading books and novels all day long. It kept me preoccupied back in school and at home. And it might not be the best way to handle my situation, but it was still a way.

“Yes” I didn’t even know why I said it. I'm dubious that she could give me some wise words that would suddenly help me out.

“Then keep me entertained” She giggles, and flicks my forehead with her slender finger. Why would she suddenly do that? Some kind of teasing?

After she did that, I heard a loud honking from behind me. I looked back to see that it was my dad driving his car, looking at me with a worried expression.

“Looks like someone really enjoyed taking a walk. But please, tell me next time if you’re planning to come home late. Alright?” He said with a stern voice.

If I knew that this was going to happen, then I would have. It’s still mostly my fault though, so I apologized.

Getting in the car, I looked back at the woman, but she was already gone. It was very mysterious and spooky that she would disappear like tha-… Nope, she was walking on the sidewalk and waving at me when we passed by her.

With that all over, I finally had dinner with my dad at the restaurant that was close to the apartment. I also asked him about the apartment buildings name and the street that it was on. You know, just to make sure nothing like this ever happens again.

"Testing, testing… one, two, three"

“?” I looked at my dad while he was eating. Did he just talk while shoving some meat into his mouth? No? Must be my imagination then.

"Eat your vegetables too. For a growing young man, you surely don’t want to lack in any vitamins and minerals"

…

Now, I definitely heard someone talking to me. I looked around to see if there was anyone nearby, but there were only a few people inside the restaurant. And we were at the farthest corner, a few tables away from the nearest customer.

“Hah, who would be stupid enough to believe that bullshit?” I got side tracked from my train of thought when one patron of the restaurant said something aloud.

I looked towards the TV that he was watching and saw the headline ‘Undead March: The dead are walking among us’. I agree with the man. How can something so stupid like zombies exist in real life. I then ignored it and once again continued eating. However, my dad interrupted me too.

“So, how was your little adventure? Any interesting thing that happened? Made friends, found a pretty girl, met the President, saw an alien?” He asked.

There was, but… I shake my head, indicating that there wasn’t really anything of note.

With that conversation over, I finished eating my plate of fish. Leaving only the asparagus untouched. I really didn’t like the taste of it, and I don’t think I ever will. It was the same for broccoli, I don’t know why, but I hate it too.

After we finished eating, we headed back to our flat and I immediately hit the sack. Today was a very tiring one, and I need all the energy that I could muster for tomorrow. As much as I wanted to just read my books and do stuff inside the apartment. Education is still very important to get by in life. Or that's what most adults would say.

I just hope that I don’t mess things up on my first day at school tomorrow.