Odd Jobs

Chapter 5 - The Story of Mikaela

TW // heavy homophobia, F slur

Mika finished his can of Monster Energy as he stared at his laptop. Sunday evening, and back at the dorm room. With no study work, what else should he be doing other than play Minecraft? Yuu wouldn't arrive for another two hours, and he didn't feel like going out to eat by himself. So, he had opened a new hardcore world and just finished building his house. He stood up and grabbed the can, ready to throw it in the trash. He threw it in, noticing it was the third in a span of five hours.

"... Maybe I do have a problem.", he muttered. He walked back over to the small desk, and closed his game. He grabbed his phone and left the room, desperately fighting the urge to open a new can of the sugary energy drinks. A walk should do him well. As he waited for the elevator, he dug his earphones out of his pocket. The door opened. Oh how he wished he'd stayed in with that fourth can.

"...Mika.", she said.

"Akane."

"How have you been?"

"I don't see how that's any of your business."

"I just want to know how you're holding up, Mika... I don't know what you told Yuu, but he-"

"But he what? Why does it matter what he does?" Mika felt the puddle in his stomach grow more acidic as he grew angrier.

"I just think it's coincidental how he stopped talking to me after going after you on Monday."

"I don't control him, Yuu can do what he wants."

"But what did you tell him?" Mika frowned.

"I lied about what happened, if that makes you happy." Akane nodded.

"I'm glad. Mika, I... I wanted to apologise." He scoffed. "I mean it."

"Yeah? Well you should have thought about that before ruining my life.", Mika said as he pushed past her, trying to get to the elevator.

"You know there is no way I could have known they would react like that!"

"I WAS HOMELESS, AKANE!", Mika snapped at her. "I lost my family because you couldn't be bothered to lie about why we broke up. A simple sorry won't fix that." Thankfully, the elevator doors closed after that. He started feeling nauseous again, but managed to suck it up for now.

After a few minutes, Mika was finally off campus. A good 20 minute walk later, he found himself at a small river in the forest. It was his own little safe space. Whenever he felt uneasy, he would go here to sit with his feet in the water or watch the stars. His conversation with Akane lingered in the back of his mind, as he closed his eyes. He soon found himself drifting off to sleep.

"Mika, you're late.", his father spoke as 17 year old Mika entered the kitchen.

"Sorry, dad. I had a nasty fight with Akane..."

"Did the two of you break up?", his mother asked. He nodded. "Why?"

"We kind of just... drifted away from eachother." Mika felt a nasty glare coat his figure. He looked at his parents with a puzzled looks.

"Stop lying to us, Mikaela." Oh. We're using the full name. They were pissed.

"I'm not lying! What would I be lying about?"

"You didn't break up with Akane because you drifted apart. You did because you...", his father started.

"Because I what?" His mother sobbed. "Mom? Dad? What's going on? What happened?", his voice trembled.