Seventeen Imagines III

#58 "His Beneficiary"

"I wanted you to inherit all of my money after I die. To do that, it's either I'll adopt you as my daughter or you'll marry me."

A weird handsome young stranger asked me a ridiculous offer. And of course, I wasn't insane to accept it.

The next day, while I was on my way home, I witnessed a commotion against my neighbors and some government looking official workers. They were shouting at each other about this and that. So I approached them quietly on the side.

"We're living here for almost 20 years?!" One civilian shouted.

"We know. But what should I do? The owner of this land wanted for everyone to move out. At the first place, this land isn't yours! We will give all of you one week to leave or else we will demolish your houses by force!"

A bag of apples slipped from my hand. I can't believe that my 23 years of living in this area will end next week. As what the mister has said, no one here has the rights to claim this land. Everyone was aware of that, even I. It is just we are all worried about our future that made them shout a plead.

Are we going to end up living at the street?

It's been five days since we've been warned to leave our house. But until now, I haven't find a place to stay. My plan was to borrow money from my friends so I can rent a small apartment for mom and I. However, as soon as I uttered the word 'money', I only received this one answer: 'I'm sorry.'

My job as saleslady in mall only covered our essential expenses like food, water and electricity. Mom couldn't work because she's a person with disability. Sure, she gets financial support from government every month but it is enough for her daily maintenance.

"What should I do? I am at loss in options," I sighed, walking at the bridge's side. My eyes caught the peaceful river, flowing without sounds. I heard this river is so deep.

If I'm an emotional weak person, maybe, I'll think of ending my life as my last option. Fortunately, I experienced tons of hardships ever since young. This problem shall pass soon.

"I should have accepted his offer," I blurted out of nowhere. Deep inside, it was only a joke to lessen my burden. Even if I'm serious, there's also no way to meet again that person I've encountered in the mall. It is like seeing a blue fish in the sea today, then meeting that exact fish the next day.

"Thinking about fish, I suddenly craved for sweet and sour fish fillet." About to check my wallet if I still have a budget for my desired meal, a man standing at the top of the bridge's barrel caught my attention.

He is standing there, staring intently at the river.

"Oh? That..."

Heroine in movies tends to dash forward in order to stop someone from jumping off. They used heart touching words or even pulled him down by force. But in real life, it is something you cannot do easily. Unlike any heroines, my feet freeze on the road. I couldn't breath, it felt as if my neck was choke. Then I began to tremble like I did last winter; when moving my fingers was like bending steel irons.

"H-Help..." I exhaled. "N-Need help..." Looking at my phone screen, I quickly dialled the emergency number. I put it on my ear then kept my eyes on his back.

[Hello, this is 119. What is...]

"Help! At Yangpa bridge...t-there is...!"

"Hey miss. I don't have a plan to jump," the man uttered then stepped down from the bridge's barrel.

[Hello? Miss? Are you there?]