Fángzi (House)

Chapter 3

Tao was sleeping when he suddenly woke up from the noises of clanking pans. His grogginess flew away thinking that a hobo might break-in his house. Or worst, a thief. Tao grabbed a basketball bat underneath his bed, where he kept it for safety reason - for a situation like this - turned the door knob and baby-stepping climbing down the stairs. His heartbeat beat faster as he got nearer to the kitchen. Seems like the thief was still there. He thought.

Making himself ready to strike everything on his way, Tao gulped. A step before he reached the kitchen, the ruckus stopped. Tao jumped into the kitchen with bat ready to beat.

"Stop what you do or I hit you!" his voice echoed in the house. He breathed hard and fast, swinging his bat in every direction as he still didn't see the culprit. "Show yourself!" Tao shouted again. Silence.

Tao was in the verge of tears when he heard a faint laugh from nowhere inside the kitchen followed by a deep voice saying "Off you go. This place is mine",

The laughter became clearer every time Tao blinked his eyes and then he saw it. A dark shadow, probably as tall as him. His vision fogged before Tao collapsed on the floor.

*

Tao woke up in the next morning, lying down on the kitchen floor with baseball bat wrapped in his right hand. He tried to regain his composure and memories about last night.

Kitchen - laugh - shadow.

Arghh! Head hurt as fuck! His face scrunched as he took a look at his kitchen. Pans all over the floor. Knives scattered on the counter. Drawers opened. I need to report this thing. He sighed, running to his bedroom to dress up and going to the nearest police station.

**

"I am talking the truth sir. I still haven't cleaned the mess in my kitchen. You can see it for yourself", Tao said. Trying his best to convince the officer.

"Well, let's go to your house then. I will observe and record any information to help you sir", won't let the citizen disappointed was his first rule in his work.

"S-shall we go now, officer?" Tao asked again. Probably afraid that the same thief came into his house when he was away.

**

"Here it is, sir", Tao rushed to the kitchen, wanting to show the officer the mess that was done only to find himself shocked.

"Tsk. What is this sir? Are you joking with me?" the officer raised his eyebrow towards Tao. "It is clean"

"B-but I swear it was not like this when I left the house just now. Please believe me", Tao secretly hoping that the officer trusted him.

Watching as Tao's face changed, the officer gave out his name card to Tao. "Contact me if something like this happened again"

Tao half-heartedly took the card and watching the officer walked out from his house. His emotions all over the place. Angry. Ashamed. Sad. Everything was mixed up. He then slumped into the sofa in front of the television, took his phone to save the officer's number. Officer Park Chanyeol.

***

It was nearly dusk when Tao woke up and found himself in front of the television after the officer named Park Chanyeol left him with his name card. I fell asleep. He got up from his seat and heading to his room. Not after long he stepped in, the smell of roses invaded his nostrills, the smell that he likes. The smell that he adores every time he took his bath. Rose-scented soap.

It was then he comprehended that his rose-aroma soap was run-out and he currently using sakura-scented soap. Tao hit his back to the wardrobe in the next minute, fully shocked as he heard water pouring. Water. Shower.

There is someone in the bathroom.

He was about to call Officer Park before thinking that he should make sure of this thing or Officer Park will think he was stupid. And crazy.

He searched anything in his room that can be used as a weapon to defend himself. Rummaging on his make-up table. He found this. A vase. Tao couldn't think something more realistic in his condition right now. He just woke up and smelling rose-aroma in his room and then sound of water splashing out from the shower a moment after. It was too much for Tao's hazy mind to catch up.

The door creaked a little, enough for Tao to look inside the bathroom. He was disappointed as the only thing that he can see was the sink and his huge mirror since the steam was filling the room densely. The scent of roses was thicker inside the bathroom, clarify the fact that someone is using his bathroom right now but he can't find any logic proof with the roses.

He pushed the door slowly, not wanting to attract the attention of any soul that taking was their bath. The grip of his hand on the vase tightened, ready to attack anytime by now. He roughly planned on what will he do if this guy here came and attacked him, where will he hit if this guy here hit him on the stomach, on the face, and how will he tie this guy here and waited until Officer Park came and took this home breaker to jail. He planned it all in his mind.

Can't bother to wait anymore, Tao hold his breath and going ambush anybody in the bathroom. "Who's there?!" He shouted after he kicked the bathroom door open. The smell of roses filled his nose, as he draws on the steam into his lungs. "Who's there?! Show yourself before I call the police!" he threatened. As his eyes searching for a hint of human in the bathroom, his back facing the sink -shower, bath tub, toilet -

Nothing.

The vase in his hand fell down and scattered. What kind of sorcery is this? Tao jumped frightfully, body now facing the mirror. He can feel his bare feet bleeding down there, unconsciously stepping on the glasses as he heard a scream. A woman screams. Behind his back. Tao speechless as words scribbled on the mirror, easier to be witnessed considering that the smog were still opaque from the hot water pouring in the shower cube.

Off you go. This place is mine.