AZRAEL

CHAPTER 2: THE NEW LIFE

My dad and I started packing our things. I only have three bags, and he got one. I already sell my stuff online to have money because I am zero now. My watches, rings, clothes, two laptops, and cell phones are gone. We moved to the slum area somewhere in Manila. The rent was cheap, but the apartment needed to be in better condition. It looks like one blow and it will collapse. The apartment was on the second floor, which is good because it is much more relaxed. Even though I don't have a fan, the natural wind is nice. The apartment was made of a low material with only one toilet, one bedroom, and a mini living room with a mini sink. I think that is a kitchen. That's it: no table and chairs or anything. Once you open the door between the two mini windows, it will go directly to the toilet, but that is fine instead of nothing. I don't want to sleep on the street anyway, and I don't want my dad to sleep on the road. He is too old for that. He might not take the cold and the pollution. I looked at the ceiling to check if there was any leak, but good thing there Was none. There's water at the sink and inside the toilet. The drain is not clogged, and there are four and four-light bulb sockets. One is outside the house, and one bright light is in the living room. It is enough to light the whole apartment since the apartment is small. PERFECT! I will start my new life in this place with my dad since I don't have a choice now.

"This is the only apartment for rent left, and all are occupied," The landlady said, and she looked at me, waiting for my reply.

"Don't worry; it's safe here... I am locking the gate at night, and my husband is a barangay chairman here, so no one dares to mess us up," She said, trying to convince me to rent the tiny apartment.

"Okay, I will take this," I said, and she smiled at me and said, "You need to pay one month's deposit two months in advance; all in all, it would be P7,500."

"I will give you the payment later. I will just sort my things out," I said, and she nodded.

"Okay, I am just next door if you need me. We are neighbours," The landlady said and left.

I am renting the second apartment on the second floor. I am curious to know how many tenants are renting now, but I need to make a big adjustment. I looked at the three bags I had and started sorting my things. The good thing is the previous renter left a mini cabinet. I put our bags there, took a blanket, and put it on the floor in the mini bedroom so my dad could rest and sleep. I know the floor is cold, but I have nothing to do because we don't have a bed. My money was not enough to buy a new mattress for us, and I didn't even know where to get money or how to start my new life. I plan to start a small business with my current money and begin finding a new job. Even I don't know where to find a job. I have a cell phone, but I don't have the internet to browse online. Tomorrow, I will start walking around to familiarize myself with the place; I can find a job by walking around. I took my wallet inside my bag to pay the rent. I count what I got.

I know my money is not enough to survive for the whole year, but I don't have a choice but to pay the rent, or my dad and I will sleep on the street.

"I will just go to the landlady and pay the rent," I said to daddy. He didn't answer, but he smiled and nodded.

I went out, closed the door, and went to the landlady living next door. It is only ten steps away from my apartment. I knocked on the door, and she immediately opened it. I know she is waiting for my payment because she smiles when she sees me.

"Here's my advance payment and my deposit," I said and handed her the money I was holding.

"Wait," she immediately took the old notebook and black ballpen. She wrote my name and date and then received the money before writing the word 'paid' and letting me sign it.

"Thank you, I hope you enjoy your stay in our place," She said with a smile. The landlady is an older woman, and I guess she is probably already seventy-eight years old. She looks friendly and kind. She is living a simple life with her husband and her cats. Her house is the same as ours; they have a second floor. I guess it's their bedroom.