The Land Of The Living

At a young age, the girl who calls herself a woman learned how society can be discriminating, how life can be cruel for the maiden saw how no one cares whether you die or starve. There were eyes looking at her with pity, but none were reaching out to help. It hurts her to live without experiencing teenage life.

Envy and jealousy sprouting in the woman's eyes however there wasn't much of a choice. Her, working is for her benefit, for their benefit so they can live and pass tomorrow.

The girl's eyes hover over the students that were laughing and talking to each other, wishing she was at their position, to be laid back. The store's door opening every second, customers flooding in and out while she was there cleaning the mess over and over again. Droplets of rain against the store's window as she sighed out of exhaustion, her day was about to end. A sense of relief washes her tired figure as she remembers her little boy, waiting for her at their home, her lips curled upwards at the thought.

When her shift was done, she changed back into her comfortable clothes, opening the door of the store to go home, crisp cold breeze greeted her lungs, as the wind hits her face and the rain pours out, signaling her to open her umbrella. Walking to the wet and slippery floor, her flip-flops did no good for the water went in her feet but she didn't mind, it was a reminder for her that she was living.

After a few minutes she was already standing in front of their gate, a sigh of delight escaped her lips as she head in without hesitation, after all, it was her home. Her thought earlier became real, seeing the little boy waiting for her outside their house, his little fingers fidgeting with his face looking down to his feet. It was adorable and the woman couldn't help but let her lips curl upwards, her dimple crinkles while showing her perfectly aligned pearls.

"Everett!"

The boy ran as fast as he can with little feet, colliding into the woman's leg, the boy hugged her like there's no tomorrow, joy radiating off the boy, making the woman hug back, lifting the boy off the ground, her arms supporting the boy's body. She kissed him so sweetly, making the little boy giggle. "I miss you too, my little boy!"

They went inside their home, meeting her auntie that was carrying a pot of soup, it's smell lingering in the household, making the woman's stomach grumble, carefully she set the boy down on the wooden floor. "You must be hungry! Come, let's eat." the woman chuckled a little before going over to her auntie, hugging her with all the love she can give before they've all settled down in the hard ground, facing the small table.

"So how's work?"

"Same as it ever was."

The old woman looked over the girl and it was clear in the old woman's eyes that the girl was exhausted from all the work. Her eyes have bags underneath it, her hair's all messed up, her face was just worn-out. Her auntie knew that she was physically and mentally exhausted, drained out, and seeing the girl in a state she should not be in breaks the old woman's heart.

"I told you to let your body rest. Can't you see how worn-out you look?"

"I do rest, auntie I just need some sleep."

"I told you to look for a cheap school." The girl's face turned into a frown as she looks to her auntie straight in the eyes, she was saying through her eyes no

"That's what a young girl like you needs, to study."

"If I study what would happen to you and Ethan? You'll overwork yourself again. You know that." Of course, the girl wants to study again, if given a chance. Opportunities come and go in one's life, she knew that but rather than the opportunity, it's the decision that counts for decision allows the opportunity to come.

To study makes her feel normal, like a free and laid back teenager with no worries, she may not have a big circle of friends but it wasn't a problem, after all, she went to school to study, not to have friends and she, being wise made it to the top but being wise doesn't just apply in school, it applies in real life. And this is the cruel reality.

She saw how studying made her auntie's life suffer, working three jobs every day, doing everything she can while she was enjoying her life so she made it the opposite. A sad smile pronounced the lady's lips, shaking her head. She stood up, taking everyone's plate and going over to the sink, while adjusting her navy blue long sleeve, however, she was stopped by her auntie, initiating that she would take her work. The old woman signaled the lady to rest and the lady gladly obliged for she was indeed tired.

"Let's go, my little boy." She waited for the boy to grab her hand which he did, going over to the other room, which is their bedroom. She set him down at the edge of the bed.

"I'm going to take a shower first, wait for me okay?"

The boy nodded, smiling from ear to ear, beaming his adorable face which she giggled at, she took some of her clothes in the wardrobe, then she moseyed to their small bathroom, when she was in, she removed all her dirty clothes and sat down in the cold and wet floor of the shower room. Her knees were curled up, hiding her face in her knees as she felt the warm water against her back.

The girl came out of the bathroom, her hair was up in the soft fabric, her body relaxed at the shower and she felt clean with her new fresh clothes that were hugging her body, in her right hand were the grimy clothes which she threw on the laundry basket as she made her way back to their bedroom.

Once she was in she was greeted by the little boy that was laying on the soft mattress sleeping so peacefully, she crawled in the foam, hugging the little boy and softy petting his head until she felt herself fading away in the peaceful sleep she needed.

Currently, the girl is in the kitchen, cooking some breakfast for her loved ones, it was only six o'clock in the morning but she needed to get up early for her work starts at seven. When she was done, she made her way to the sink, washed the utensils she used, and wrote a letter for her sleeping auntie, reminding her that she was at work.

She moseyed to the bedroom, kissed her little brother's forehead, and headed to work. Her job was not that far from home, just a little walk was needed and it was also good for her since it's considered as exercise. When she arrived at the cafe, there were already workers inside which she was happy for since she needed not to wait outside.

Entering the cafe, she quickly changed into her designated uniform. After just a few minutes customers were already rushing in for the cafe she was working in was famous for its good service and coffee.

In just a span the cafe was full, the line was long and the cafe was once again busy. When the clock hits two, the woman changed back into her clothes, saying goodbye to her coworkers and moving on with her next job which is a waiter at a local restaurant, arriving there she was greeted by Joe, the only guy in the city she calls a friend.

When Joe saw the girl, his face beamed and the corners of his lips reached his ears. The guy's enthusiasm never seems to fail her, she waved at him happily which he copied, she giggled at the act and went over to him. Joe Lokos was the type of guy who can make you laugh even when he's not trying, he's an easygoing guy that can be trusted and true to his words. The man's age wasn't far from her age, he was 3 years older than her and at a young age, the man already owned his local restaurant that was named after their family's surname: LOKOS

His height was towering over her, with his curly brown hair resting at his scalp and his pointed nose that was between his gorgeous ocean eyes. "Rett! I miss you...why were you not here yesterday?" The man pouted at her which made her reach her hands to his hair, petting him to calm him down for it always seems to work.

"It's my day off yesterday, dummy."

Joe likes her petting his hair, how her soft hands made contact with his curly hair, and how she ran her fingers to it, it was just perfect. Joe purred in delight and nodded to her statement, just so she can know that he was not ignoring her.

The girl giggled once again, he reminded her of her little boy, he loves it when she plays with his hair and it became a habit. Removing her hand from his hair, she made her way to the back room and changed her clothes.

Leaving Joe without the warmth he needed for his hair, it's been a while since they've been friends but seeing her for the first time was an unforgettable moment for him. He liked her ever since, she was perfect, and knowing her more made him love her more.

She was just so perfect, she was caring, loving, hard-working, smart, funny, for him she was the definition of perfect but the man knew that the woman he likes was not interested in him the same way for he saw how she looks at him without even a bit of romance plus she told him that she wasn't ready, she rather focuses on making her loved one's content.

But Joe was willing to wait, he'll wait until she's ready and when she does, he'll confess and support her in every way he can. He'll even let himself be responsible for her beloved brother. The man was cut in his thought when he saw the woman's hand waving in front of his face.

The man copied her, to which she replied with a huff. The girl knew he was going to tease her, he always does. She turned her back on him, knowing exactly what was about to happen.

Time went like a blur and without her realizing, it was already dark which means her shift was done and it was time for her to go home, making her way to the door, once opened she was greeted by dark clouds that covered the sky, droplets of rain pouring out to the dusty ground and the chilly air that pass through her making her whole body shiver in cold.

It was dense of her to forget her umbrella but she did and it left her no choice but to make a run but even before she can, a hand on her shoulder stopped her. Joe was holding his umbrella in his hand, signaling the woman to get in, once she was the man spoke.

"I'll bring you home." The woman nodded at his statement and they moseyed together in the rain, her feet were wet due to her flip-flops which he noticed.

"Ride in my back."

"Pardon?"

"Piggyback ride?" They both stopped, she stared at him for a while before she burst into laughter when she saw that he was not laughing, that's where she realized that he was dead serious. "I...are you serious?"

"Yeah, your feet are getting wet so..."

"It's okay, I'm used to it." The man shook his head, gave her the umbrella, and let his body formed into a crouching position, waiting for the woman to climb up. The woman though was left shocked for she had not expected the man to be serious, his back was facing her, her hand holding the umbrella as she stares at his back.

And being in the middle of a street means there are people everywhere that are watching. The girl was not used to such contact but she didn't want to leave the guy she calls her friend hanging so she hops on.

Joe blushed as he supports her body by carrying her legs in his arms, he felt her arm around his neck while her other was holding the umbrella. As the man blushed, the woman's face was flushed as well. It's her first time experiencing such an act.

When they've arrived they've said their goodbyes and she entered her home. When she entered, she was welcomed by her auntie's happy figure, her face was full of joy as if she had won the lottery.

"You're going to school!"