Boy Meets Ai

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Now

Bang Bang Bang!

Seiko and Oaklee were both startled by the heavy knocking on the front door. The young man checked his peephole, it was his landlord. Mr. Fitz. He cracked the door open, keeping the chain latched. The man before him was potbellied, around the same height, with abundant body hair. He wore a fake gold chain around his neck and his balding head shone with the reflection of the green incandescent bulbs. Seiko could smell the scent of onion and cheap cologne wafting from Fitz.

"I just transferred the credits to your account." Seiko said, staring at the floor.

The landlord eyed him up and down.

"Dis baely cuvuhs last mont." Fitz said as he scratched his chin. "Youse still owes me tree months, or did you forget about that?"

The young man's eyebrow's furrowed in confusion. Fitz was trying to scam him? I wasn't that surprising though. "I'm only one month behind though."

Fitz snorted and pushed his fat face into the door crevice.

"Did I hear youse correctly? You seyin I'm wrong? We could always just void ya contract now if youse would like. We both know I'm in mah rights to evict youse now. You're a lousy tenant. Always late, making up bullshit why youse cant pay while you just play dem games all day like some kinda lazy bum."

Seiko was repulsed by the man's body odor. He retreated into his apartment slightly. Seiko didn't want to challenge him further, but still, he felt his face grow hot and his fists clench.

"I'll give ya one more month to get me my money. But da interest is goin up again." Fitz laughed and then walked away. His stench lingered just like his words.

Seiko slammed the door shut. Overwhelmed with pent up anger, he punched the wood. hard. How many more beatings did the world plan on dishing out today? He sunk to the ground, trying to suppress his urge to break everything in the vicinity. With everything that happened, he thought he might be making some progress, but he was even further in the hole.

"Hey! This place is already crappy enough. Don't go smashing it too!" Oaklee chimed in, appearing back in holographic form.

As he looked up at her, she could see how hopeless he looked. Seiko just shook his head. He'd killed himself trying to come up with the money to pay Fitz. How was he supposed to make triple that in a month? Oaklee approached the young man, kneeling down beside him.

"You don't look so good there. Are you gonna barf?"

Seiko scoffed. "I'm fine. Let's go, we got more work to do." He made his way back to his desk and slipped on the headset. Oaklee stared at him as he brushed past. She quickly scanned the records for the door cam and her suspicions had been confirmed. This boy hadn't left his apartment in weeks. Judging by the last delivery, he hadn't eaten in days. Oaklee had never seen a person live like that. She followed after him.

"You got it boss. Let's get paid."