No Angels

.chapter ten.

For the next few weeks, Ravi was constantly popping in and out of my life. It was a normal thing for me to be alone in the mornings, only to come back from work to find Ravi lounging by the sofa, curled up with a book, or playing chess by himself - even watching random dramas on TV.

It became comforting after a while. When you lived alone, you realized how lonely it got when all of your days were filled with stoic silence.

Ravi was annoying, I had to admit, and desperately clingy, but he was the only thing that made returning home worth the long wait.

He shone a light on my tiny shred of darkness, and for the first time in months, I felt genuinely happy.

Like I had a friend I could count on, someone who'd be there for me forever.

And the best part? I had him all to myself.

* * *

Prior to unpopular belief - aka Kaitlyn's opinion - I did have a job, although I considered it volunteer work, since it didn't really pay much.

I worked at the Pearl S. Buck Foundation, an organization that helps to find homes for orphaned children. Pearl S. Buck, the lady who founded the movement, was my idol.

I like working with kids.

There's something about it that just makes me feel happy.

Sure, they're annoying at times.

But being the reason for hundreds of smiling faces...that was something I'd die over and over again to see.

Whenever I worked with kids, their smiles seemed to give me hope.

They see something in me that nobody else saw - maybe a glint of faith. They were the only ones who didn't view me as a complete and utter failure.

Pearl S. Buck was a train ride away from my place, which was oddly convenient.

It seemed like the only life I had outside of my apartment was the Han River and the orphanage. Oh, and the supermarket.

Not that I minded.

It was a quiet life.

"Where are we going?"

I jumped a little, startled.

Ravi peeked in at me through the dirty, stained glass window.

I blinked.

This was new.

Usually, he either appeared in my apartment, or when I was alone, or when I was feeling extremely stressed.

He didn't usually appear outside of train windows.

Ravi grinned at me and waved. The next thing I knew, he was seated by my side, wearing the black pullover that seemed to hug his figure, and ripped jeans.

His hair was particularly messy today - maybe from the wind outside.

He looked perfect, as usual.

"We're going to work," I said cheerfully.

"You have a job?"

I closed my eyes and leaned my head back against the seat.

"Don't ignore me - I thought you were, you know, a hobbit."

I rubbed my temple. "Can't this hobbit have a job?"

"It's weird. You should be home. Doing hobbit stuff."

"I'm not even short, Ravi," I said, immediately regretting the words as soon as they came out of my mouth.

Ravi launched into a lengthy explanation about why I would've been the perfect person to be cast as Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit - something I tried my best to not listen to.