8 Shut Up!!

CHAPTER 8

Shut Up!!

I wake up to a blinding white light. My pupils adjust. I'm in a hospital room. Everything is blurry… I hear a female nurse speaking to my left.

"Oh, you're finally awake. Hello? Can you hear me?"

I look to my left and see blonde hair, blue eyes… "?!!" It's Mitsuko?!

It can't be. My arms feel like 45-pound noodles as I rub my eyelids. It's really her. She's wearing her school uniform. Why is she here?

"You passed out on stage. Didn't I warn you that you were going to embarrass yourself?"

I must be dreaming. I lick my lips. I'm dying of thirst. Mitsuko hands me a cold water bottle. I drink the whole thing, heaving for breath as I finish.

"I thought you might never wake up. Whatever, not like I care. Honestly, there's so many other things I would rather be doing right now. What a waste of time. At least tomorrow is the weekend…"

Tomorrow, the weekend? My eyes become wide. "What day is it?"

Mitsuko irritably raises her eyebrow. "Friday. I just said tomorrow's the weekend. Are you always this dense?… No, you're pretty dumb at school too. I have no idea how you get good grades."

My jaw drops. I look at my hands. My head is foggy. My body is sore. I can't help it… The emotions burst out like a water bottle shot with a bullet.

"Huh?" Mitsuko stands up as the tears leak from my eyes.

"Hey… What the hell… Are you… I was just joking…" Mitsuko backs away.

I can't stop crying. I missed my last day to pay my rent. I'm going to be evicted from my pod. I don't have the strength to speak.

Mitsuko leaves. A nurse returns and explains everything to me. Mitsuko listens as if she's absorbing the information as well. I passed out at the tournament and hit my head on the floor. I've been asleep for two days. Apparently it was due to malnourishment from not eating, the copious amounts of caffeine in my blood, sleep deprivation and adrenaline.

"You need to take better care of yourself, Mr. Hazuki… I'll ask the doctor if you're clear to leave. Is there anything I can get for you?"

I shake my head. I dry my eyes, finally maintaining control of my tears. The nurse pats me on the back and exits the room. Mitsuko looks uncomfortable near the door.

"Hey… Loser…" Mitsuko says, almost whispering.

I look up at her with my puffy red eyes. I'm ready for whatever insults she has to give me.

"Why… Why are you crying like that? Is it… Was it something I said?"

I feel totally vulnerable. Mitsuko is seeing me at my worst. I give in. I figure there's nothing left.

"I was supposed to pay my rent yesterday with the gold I won at the tournament. Convert it into credits. I can't even do that right. It's like you said. I'm worthless… I don't deserve to—"

"Shut up."

I look up at Mitsuko. She's gritting her teeth with a furious countenance.

I stammer, "It-it's true… I-I shouldn't of even—"

Mitsuko slams her palms on my hospital bed, making me flinch. "I said, shut up!"

Her eyes bore into my soul. Her face is close to mine. I can smell her peachy perfume. It fills my head with trails of heat. "Stupid. That's what you are," she says, a hint of apprehension in her voice. She diverts her eyes from mine and whispers, "Worthless. Nothing…"

She turns her back to me and crosses her arms. I'm so confused, but I obey her command. Shut up. I think of how I'm going to end it tonight.

The nurse comes in. "Mr. Hazuki, Dr. Chakwas has cleared you to leave. Of course, you are free to stay if you feel—"

"No, that's ok. I'm good to go." I should avoid racking up any extra hospital bills. I struggle to stand up. My legs are shaking. I realize I'm in a hospital gown with the rear exposed… My whole body turns red as I grab the blanket and cover myself. Mitsuko looks appalled by my behavior. She shuts her eyes, her eyebrow twitching…

Mitsuko painfully sighs. She grabs a stack of my clothes and tosses it to me. "Hurry up, Jin. Let's go." Mitsuko walks outside the room.

I clothe myself and wobble to the door. Mitsuko is impatiently waiting for me in the bright hallway. She nudges her neck, telling me to follow. I can't keep up with her.

She slows down. "What, you want me to hold your hand? Hurry up…"

"You don't have to stay—"

Mitsuko stops. "Shut up."

She looks scary, even with her lustrous blonde hair and beaming blue eyes, I can't help but to obey. We walk outside the hospital in silence. My pod is toward the east. I start walking.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"I should see if the pod district will accept a late payment…"

Mitsuko scoffs. "You know they don't do that."

I knew that, but what choice do I have? All my personal belongings were confiscated by the government; relinquished due to lack of payment. I have to complete the paperwork online to get my things back. There was nothing I could do without a Zenith. I didn't want to tell her that I planned on sleeping outside until I found new living arrangements. Or I might off myself. Unsure. She seems able to read my thoughts.

"Fuck… Come on. Follow me."

"Where are we—"

Mitsuko squints her eyes at me, telepathically telling me to keep quiet. I purse my lips together and follow my school bully through the city.