SMOKE SPIRIT

5: ~Everything~

My head was heavy, but I managed to open my eyes as I heard the ominous voice of my phone ringtone. I twisted and turned lazily, grabbing it from somewhere beside me on the bed. My eyes were still hazy. I looked at the caller ID from behind half-lidded eyes. I closed them tightly, and when I reopened them, the majority of haziness was gone. The caller ID read Greeni, one of the residents of this city. I no longer have any connection with them, and for almost ten years, I never had, but I guess Jonathan already told her about my arrival here. I slid it towards left, hanging up the call and placing it on my chest as I stared up at the painting.

They were never there when we used to visit Uncle. In these ten years, he changed this house a lot. He changed the majority of the interior into green and golden contrast, which looked good but still, the gloominess lingered here.Last night flashed in front of me in one go like a movie, vivid and fresh. I closed my eyes as sharp pain burst in my head, making me whine in pain. I sat on my place, my phone falling onto my lap as its screen lit up, and I saw several missed calls from Greeni and then a bundle of messages. I don't want to talk to anyone right now. Greeni possesses a kind of personality that only wit drips out of her. I can't be around such insensitive people right now. They will for sure ask me about my parents' death, which is one of the chapters of my life I don't want to revise. However, they made me the hardest chapter of my life, Alinora memorized to me.

I removed the duvet over me, my phone flung away with the covers as I draped my leg off the bed and wore the slippers placed side by side there.I decided to do my morning routine and head down to do my breakfast even though I knew it wasn't the time for breakfast. After doing my morning routine, I went downstairs. The house was eerie like always. I saw the maid from last night passing by. She looked at me, smiled, bowed her head a little, and went towards the other side of the foyer.

I made my way to the kitchen and saw two maids already there. One of them acknowledged my presence and bowed her head. She was a new face, her apron tightly tied, her hair proper in a braid.

"I'm sorry, but I'm hungry. Is there anything?" I said, fidgeting with my blue off-shoulder sweater. She nodded warmly and gestured towards the kitchen island, far from the main kitchen.

I paced towards it, looking around. The green interior was captivating, almost mesmerizing me. Two of the maids started serving breakfast. I waited patiently. My phone buzzed, and I removed it from my jeans shorts and looked at the caller ID reading Jonathan.

I attended the call, placing it against my ear. "How is your first day going till now?" he asked in a soft tone.

"Great, you've changed it a lot," I said, digging my fork into the pancake and then taking a bite from it.

"Yeah, someone did," he said in a deep pensive voice. I didn't pay attention before he spoke again.

"Greeni will pick you at 7, wear something good. They are going clubbing," he paused and I already felt exhausted. "But, Uncle," I whined. "And you are going with them," he sternly stated and cut the call.

I know he wants me to socialize and meet people, but they are not my kind of people, and I don't know how to deal with them. He threw my head back in annoyance. I finished my breakfast and looked at my phone. It's already 3:30.

********

I stumbled into the foyer of this lavish manor, the click of my heels against the tiled floor mingled with the hollow clink of the almost empty bottle of alcohol I clutched in one hand. The grandeur of the surroundings seemed to mock me, the opulence of this mansion contrasting sharply with the turmoil within.