The house was empty as I got home from school. I stare at the white telephone beside me as I sat down on the white cozy couch in our living room, hoping that my parents would call me.
Usually, my parents are always there as I got home And if they do leave the house, It's either they call me, or they'd leave a note just to let me know. But this time, They didn't and it makes me feel a bit sad. Especially today, when I fainted at school due to so-called-anemia. Do they care about their daughter passing out. . .?
My father works at home most of the time-well, he's a writer. No. Should I say cartoonist? Truth be told, he's a mangaka, aka. Author/creator/Artist of a manga. A horror manga to be specific. No wonder where my fetish for spooky stuff came from, right? And as for my mother, She's a normal housewife. My father had his books a very good image in the market. Well, For some sort of reasons I do not know, Those horror mangas he wrote are selling well. Maybe weirdos like me that has fetish for this stuff are a lot more than I could ever imagine.
But still, I know that there would always be a point in time where his books. . . would eventually stop selling. It's not that I am ashamed of my father's job. . . but let's face it-writers don't have a really good future. Who the hell buys mangas like those with those prices when you can just read it online right?
I was almost half asleep when the telephone suddenly rang. It startled me for a bit and made me wide awake.
"H-Hello. . .?" I rubbed my eyes and answered the phone.
"Aia, It's me. Sorry we didn't call you. How are you? You fainted right? Did you see the small paper bag at the dining table? It's your medicine so drink it 'kay?" My mom sounded really concerned over the phone. Whenever she's like that, she talks really, really fast.
"Mom, calm down. I'm fine. I'll drink the medicine later. Uhm. Mom? where are you?"
"I'm with your dad. Remember your dad's boss? He-invited-us-over -in-a-part- in-a-reaaaaaaally high-end hotel-We're-going-to-stay-here-for-2-nights-so--" My mom tend to talk super fast when she's excited. Let's just say, faster when she's talking while she's concerned. To top it off, My mom gets really excited over. . . costly stuff.
"Wait. Mom. Calm down. talk slowly, and explain it to me."
My mom let loose a long sigh.
"Aia. . . Me and your dad we'll be staying in a hotel for 2 nights because we were invited by his boss. So take care of the house? okay?"
"Ok mom. Sure thing." I tried to sound mature and responsible enough.
"And darling, One last thing. . . "
"What's it mom?"
"Can you do your dad. . . a favor?"
"Uhm . . . What is it?"
"Your Dad's son, Ren. He'll be migrating in our country and. Today is his flight. . . And. . ."
". . .What mom?"
"His father is with us, and as for the moment, he can not go and fetch him. . . And Ren doesn't have keys for their house. . . So. . . He'll be staying in our house. As of the moment until Sunday afternoon. I've already tidied up the empty room next to yours. He can use that. Can you. . . take care of him?"
No. This can't be. I'm not used to keeping up with strangers. Ren? I haven't even met him once and He'll spend two nights with me in this single house alone? no.
"Ok.. . " In the end, I can't say no to my mother.
"He's the same age as you, So we are sure you can go along well with each other. He's korean, But he can speak English well, too. You'll be fine. If ever He asked you a . . . favor. Please Aia. . . do it. He's the son of your Dad's boss after all. But then if you ever feel dizzy again. Lock in your room and sleep. okay?"
