Disrepair

Chapter 3

It's a quiet morning in an otherwise busy and chaotic city. With the weekend now here, most are at their homes enjoying time with their families. A teenage girl, almost in her twenties, enjoys a short walk around her area. She had stopped by a small cafe for breakfast, and was on her way home. Her phone rings in her pocket, the caller ID showing it's from her mom. She accepts the call with the press of a button.

"Hey mom, what is it?" the girl asks, somewhat annoyed.

"That's not a proper way to greet your mother" she responds, hearing her daughter's tone. "Your friends and cousins are coming over, it's been a few years since you last saw them. I was calling to ask if you could come by."

"Sorry mom, but no. I already told you that I'm not coming back home, okay? Leave me alone" she says.

"Wait, Sai-" her mom replies, but she's cut off as the call ends.

Sai wasn't always so insistent on being left alone, rather for her whole life until she graduated, she was always close with her family. Family gatherings were always fun for her, she got to spend time with so many that she hasn't gotten to see for a long time. Her parents and siblings call her from time to time, wanting to meet with her and bring her back home since they all miss her.

But Sai, she's always wanted independence. When graduation came along for her, she had a conversation with her parents. They tried pressuring her into college, and when Sai ignored them, they turned to her siblings to convince her to go. In the end, they all pushed Sai away. She found an apartment across the city, which she now shares with a roommate, and she moved out when she was 18 and a half.

She arrives home after her walk now, taking off her shoes by the door. Standing in her room by the mirror and dresser, she can't help but ask herself what went wrong. She looks at an old photo of herself, one taken when she was 16 or 17, and quite happy at home. Her brown hair hanging down past her shoulders, bright smile, wearing a shirt that was gifted to her by a friend. Looking at herself in the mirror, she can't help but sigh, but not of frustration or anger.

"I guess I've grown up, haven't I?" she asks herself.

She gets a brush from the dresser and starts to fix up her hair, which she had dyed to a lighter green. She couldn't go around town looking like a tennis ball however, so she added some groups of purple, which lead down in front of her ears, and a few segments along her bangs and the back of her head. It's a look she chose after moving out, wanting to distance herself from her old appearance and her family. She sticks a silver pin in her hair, when she hears a knock at the door. Opening it, she finds her roommate with someone else at her side.

"Hey Cassandra, what's up?" Sai asks.

"I was wondering if you could, well, maybe stay in your room here for a while?" Cassandra asks, unsure of how to word her request.

"Is it another one of those days?" Sai asks.

"Yes" Cassandra answers. "Well, I'll leave you to your evening then, hope we don't disturb you too much."

"No, no, it's fine. I've got my headphones, you know. Have fun" Sai says, shutting the door.

She plugs herself in and starts listening to music, when her time for dinner comes she gets something delivered, which she splits and sets some aside for Cassandra. Not sure what to do, the rest of her night passes with mild boredom. Morning comes and Sai wakes up quickly, she comes down the hall and knocks on Cassandra's door.

"Is that you Sai-Sai?" she asks tiredly.

"Yeah. I'm going out for a bit, I made sure all my dishes from yesterday are cleaned up. You've got the place to yourself for a bit. See you later, okay?" Sai asks.