Instruction (not) Included

Little Mess Called Holy

My hair goes everywhere as the wind blows. Wind that brings water, as if telling us that we should get back inside our apartment if we don't want to get ourselves all wet. I glanced over at Lis who's still waiting in vain for her cousin, Holy. She's supposed to be spending the night with us after some kind of crazy concert she loves to attend. But it was almost thirty minutes past twelve, and she was no where in sight. I'm slightly worried about Holy too, but the smell of the wet soil is starting to bother me.

I glance over at Lis, a look of concern hasn't been leaving her face for the last thirty minutes.
"Ten minutes. And if she's not showing up we're going up," she said, giving me an apologetic smile.
"Okay, I'm getting some hot chocolate. You want some?" i said getting up. She doesn't.
I don't really want hot chocolate neither, and I should be saving up. But it's getting cold and my drinks are long gone. The tank top underneath my jacket and my sweatpants are not really working on keeping my body heat.  Stepping up into the convenience store I was welcome by the blasting air conditioner. I sigh, my bed would be much comfier than this convenience store's bench.

I end up purchasing a hot green tea latte and some chewy candy. The sugars are going to kick in in any moment, to hell with that. Hopefully it'll keep me up for the next ten minutes. Lis is still trying to call Holy when i'm back that only adds in her agitation more than actually calming her. There are times when i envy her because she gets everything all figured out. and there are times like this when I feel such a pity for her. Being the oldest among all of her cousins and siblings she kind of has to give a good example. Especially when it comes to Holy, she kinds of have to make sure Holy is okay. As okay as Holy can be okay.

Holy does show up. at 2.30 am, all wet and messy and annoy the hell out of both of us. We both sleep on the couch, just in case Holy decided to show up and she does. There's a look of relief in Lis's eyes once she realised it's Holy, but hidden among her frustration. For over the last one hour the rain has dropped the temperature, and getting woken up in the middle of a cold night definitely not a nice surprise for two sleep-deprived person.

"Lis! I'm really late, am I?" the sing-song voice of Holy reaches my ear before I see her petite figure.

A sudden brightness because Lis turning on the lamp has me pulling my bed cover over my head. Letting out a groan, I glanced over to see Lis handing Holy a clean towel, and told her to go straight away to the bathroom, because she's making water splashed everywhere in our apartment. I don't feel like moving to my room just yet so i turn on the TV and surfing through a bunch of movies. Lis plops down next to me with a cup of hot vanilla latté, her current favourite.

"I really don't feel like mopping the floor tonight. That girl." she mutters.

Holy comes back squeezing between us on the couch, all laugh and chatters. Trying to tell us about the concert she just watched. From the little that I was actually listening it looks like everything was her favourite part. As annoyed I am with her, she's kind of cute. Holy has a perfect resemblance of little girl on a sugar rush. Except that Holy parties a lot, and gets into troubles a lot more.

I used to be like that too, I think to myself. All cheerful, getting into fun troubles, the kind of troubles that involves curfew, girl friends and certain sophomore or senior guys. And it feels like ages ago. I feel like going back.

Neither me nor Lis want to go to our room, so the three of us decided to all scrunched up on our couch, binge-watching old comedy series until we fall asleep.

I get woken up by Lis's alarm, she's a nursery student and most of the time she has morning class. My neck hurts from sleeping on the couch, I decided to wake up. Holy mumbles something, but goes to sleep right away. Lis is already using the bathroom, so I'm cleaning up my room while waiting for my turn. I don't have a class until later this afternoon today, but I do have an appointment for work interview.

I have borrowed Lis's white shirt becauae mine has a chocolate stain to it, and decides on the last minute that my black pant will match better than my navy skirt. Lis also added some red scarf to brighten up my look.

When I finish showering Lis is sitting in the kitchen scribbling something on her large notebook. Next to her is a cup of hot ginger tea that she makes every morning. Holy is still half asleep but now the TV is on playing some bear cartoons.
"You're heading out soon?" Lis asks, as I'm checking kitchen counter for a clean cup.
"I still got some time left, I'll hang around for a bit,"
"Wanna get breakfast together?"
"I should be saving up, Lis. I haven't even gotten my job yet,"
"It's on me. I feel bad that you have to stay up late when you have a job interview today. I'll be ready in five," she jumped from the stoll and rush to her room.

I could really use a nice breakfast before interview. I goes to the living room to watch the TV to kill time. Holy is already drifting back to sleep with the TV on. I turn it of and checking myself in the mirror one more time.

The busy road from my window really reminds me that I need this part-time job. It may not make tons of money, but I need something to get by. What happens next I'll worry when next is happen. Everyone wants to be a billionaire, but I got to start somewhere. Even if I have to start small.

My thoughts used to drawn me, and not in a good way. I guess even until now they still do sometimes. But, not as bad, not as long, not as consuming. Like a gnawing fear and frustration. I glanced over my reflection once again. No time for that now. I have breakfast with Lis, and an awesome job interview that I'm gonna get.

Huh, really.

We leave after making sure that Holy will fix the mess she made last night, mopping the floor and all that. I'm not really sure that she will, knowing Holy but we'll leave her to that.

The street is busy as per usual, but we get to the our favourite place with no real fuss. and the line is not even that long. I have much spare time before my interview, a nice hot banana milk, and a good maple syrup to my freshly made waffle. The weather is nice, not really sunny since heavy rain fell last night, and some puddle on the street. But overall is a good morning, maybe I'll get this job too.