Stay Junlin | h.jl✓

•NINE•

"You don't have to go if you're not ready", Nicole said while folding her laundry. It was after supper and we were sitting in her room talking. Her sister and brother in law were taking care of the new born, their affection for the baby was so strong that Nicole felt slightly forgotten.

"But...I can't stay here forever...and I feel like the longer I wait, the more the argument will escalate", I said.

"Or...if you wait a while, they'll probably forget about it".

"I don't know", I shrugged.

"So...you made a new friend today? Junlin", she said with a smile.

"Well...yes, but it's really nothing", I shrugged.

"Nothing? Oh come on, out of all the people he chose to sit and talk with you!", she said with excitement in her voice.

"No...we sat and talk because we have met before", I said.

Nicole playfully dropped the jeans she was about to fold then looked at me with her hand on her waist, "you've met him before?! When?! How?!", she said then sat down next to me.

I chuckled, "well the day you had to leave to see your sister and new niece...he had forgotten something and came back to take it...so we talked", I nodded.

"Wow! The Junlin talked to you...actually held a conversation with you then obviously wanted to see more of you? That's extraordinary", she said.

"Why? You're making it such a big deal", I teased.

"Well as a fan of his band Teens in Times, I know it’s amazing because they don’t usually talk with fans…for obvious reasons".

"Oh...well he seemed okay with me, we actually had a pretty good talk", I nodded.

"Do you have his number?", she asked.

"Well no but he has mine...which he'll probably trying calling tonight and gosh...it's at the apartment".

"Oh no....well that won't be nice".

"But that's not the reason I want to go...all my books are there...and I can't miss a day of study, I've got a fixed study time table because of my schedule".

"Oh...you know what? I'll lend you money to replace the chicken and the pasta you burned...in that way it will be settled", Nicole said with a smile.

I smiled back at her. We only knew each other as workmates and yet she was being so kind to me. I was really finding a friend in her and it had been long since I had a friend. I couldn't make any friends at my college because I never spent much time on the campus, I was too busy. Nicole was becoming my friend.

"Oh Nicole! Thank you so much!", I said then gave her a hug.

"It's okay Medrin, don't mention it", she said while patting my back, "well if you're planning to go back, let's make it tomorrow, it's already 19:30".

"I can't", I shook my head, "I have to submit my essays tomorrow morning...that's the deadline", I said.

"I understand", Nicole nodded, "guess you have to go, I'll help you get ready...and please, call me when you arrive", she said.

"I sure will Nicole, don't worry about it".

______

The taxi stopped right outside the apartment building. I paid the driver then opened the door. I stepped out slowly, not knowing what awaited me , I was nervous. I walked through the corridor and saw the door to my apartment, number 9.

I turned the handle slowly, after the door was open ajar I peeped in, there was nothing but silence, it seemed no one was there, I walked in and took off the coat Nicole lent to me then hanged it on the rack. It was cold outside but the apartment was warm.

I walked across the room and noticed how untidy the place was, usually it was Jane Li and I cleaned up the place. I walked to the kitchen, dirty plates were laying all over the sink and counter, Shirley and Laurie did not bother to clean up. I opened the oven, it wasn't even cleaned after the burning accident. I decided to start cleaning up and organizing. I started with cleaning the dishes, the oven and the counter. After that I cleaned the living room and dining room.

I found my phone on the couch, I pressed the screen and there were several missed calls and messages from a new number, it was definitely Junlin. I put my phone in the pocket, I would attend to it later, I had to transfer my essays into my laptop. I found my flash disc where my laptop was, but the laptop was nowhere to be seen! I started looking around, up and down but I didn't find it. It had to be Shirley and Laurie! With tears in my eyes, I decided to look in their rooms.

The first room I walked in was Shirley's. Her bed was not made and there were shoes laying everywhere, on the wall were posters of basketball athletes, but I had no time to scrutinize her room. I started searching for my laptop.

There was a study table in her room with a compartment hollow big enough to accommodate my laptop, I tried to open it with one hand since the other was holding the flash. I realized it was too tough, I placed the flash in my other pocket and forced open the compartment, to my disappointment, there was nothing but bits if paper in.

I was devastated. Suddenly I was violently grabbed by my shoulder and pulled backwards. I fell hard on my back, I looked back and saw Shirley looking over me, "What the heck are you doing in my room?!", she yelled. She then pulled me up to my feet and slammed me to the wall, "what were you doing in my stuff?! Trying to steal from me?!".

I gulped then gathered courage, "my laptop....where's my laptop?", I asked with more tears falling from my eyes.

"Your laptop?!", she laughed, "it's nice and safe with who I sold it too".

"Shirley! I want my laptop back!", I shouted. At this point it was as if all the fear had disappeared. My desperation to have my laptop back surpassed my fear. I recalled how much I worked to buy it, working overtime, skipping food budgets and buying it in instalments, it had barely been a month since clearing the balance, now it was gone.

More tears flooded my face, I did not realize much of what I was doing, I raised my hand and struck her cheek! Yes! I gave her a slap! After realizing what I had done, I popped my eyes then dropped to my knees as she put her hand on her cheek, surprised as much as I was. Now I knew I was in bigger trouble.

"I'm sorry Shirley...I'm sorry...I just....", before I could finish talking, I was violently pulled to my knees by the back of my tee shirt. Shirley gave me a violent look then grabbed my neck. She then tightened her grip and I started to feel a lot of pain and found myself gasping for air. I had to escape, I bit one of her arms as hard as I could then I took off running.