But before he could close the door, he heard the girl talking to herself.
"Did he came in and out from the weird guy's room? Phew, good thing that weird guy already left and a handsome tenant replaced him." She sounded happy with that.
After slowly closing the door, Pierce sighed. Obviously hurt with her words. Of course, that weird guy and him were one. Though his appearance looked better and became more attractive, he was still that weird guy.
The system clicked its tongue. ["Hey young man, don't be feel so beat up with her words. You cannot get rid of them as there are numerous number of them in every world. They are those people who doesn't have good eyes for people, often make bad judgments. They only judge a person by appearance and status at the mean time, without considering what they can do or they could be in the future. You should know, a jade can be uncovered from an ugly stone."] It paused for a bit, only to cough, as if hinting for more reminders.
["If you are shaken by those nonsense, we should then stop this. What's the point? Let's all forget what you said, that you have some perseverance in you. *Sigh* If I could just transfer to~"]
Pierce cut the system off. "Nah, stop sulking old man. After years of enduring, hearing those hurtful words, then I will just back down? Of course not."
He took a deep breath and added, with a slightly sad tone, "I just felt sad that they didn't want the old me so bad. But I will try my best to change, not because I want to be accepted. I will do it for myself."
Pierce added with a firmer sound of voice, "For several years I kept on hearing those set of hurtful words, I've long realized, I don't have the control of either their thoughts or actions, but I could control mine. Therefore I should focus on myself first."
["Good. That's good to hear. I like that spirit. By the way, I have heard from the girl that she will cook something and give it to you tomorrow. What a crazy girl. If I were you, I will abandon this place tonight. I could not bear to live with that girl.]
Pierce chuckled after hearing the system's tone. "Don't worry, I also want to leave this place for the better."
["Oh, I also heard, she will ask the landlord for your name. What a troublesome girl indeed. Surely, you wouldn't be able to live here peacefully. I suggest you find a new place right away. A new place, for a fresh new start."]
Pierce chuckled as he could imagine the system strongly shaking its head. It seemed like the system was more concerned than him.
He really agreed with the system though. He wanted to leave this place too as it is the place that the past Finn often cried his heart out in pain. He could only remember unwanted memories from this place. Another reason why he wanted to leave this place, aside from being so shabby and old, he didn't want to be called as Finn again. However, the landlord was one of those people who called him that. The system's suggestion was just plausible. Therefore, it was decided, he would leave this place as soon as possible.
He pouted after considering some things, "But, as if it would be that easy, I don't have family or friends to ask for some available place. Well, I could go look to some websites and compare."
After submerging into a deep thought regarding his next move, Pierce remembered helping an auntie on the road who was on a rental business. She even gave him her calling card.
Pierce quickly got up to find her calling card on his small side table. He found it right away. The only problem was, he didn't have a phone.
"I don't have a phone to call her. I have to go downstairs to make a call."
["Wait kid, what is a phone?"] The system curiously asked.
"It is something used for distance communication old man. Other than that, it has a lot other functions too."
["Does everyone have that? Is it expensive?"]
"Yes and kinda yes." Pierce was somewhat annoyed. The system was the one urging him so bad to leave the place but it was now holding him up with its questions.
["Then you should buy one. Now, I understand why your communication skills is so pity, you don't have that."]
"Remember, I don't have any friends or family to call or send a text message to, why would I buy one?"
["That was before, but you will have many friends sooner, if not, you will have subordinates under you. And in the last world I am in, communication is a very valuable factor that could help things work out well. Don't be stingy as you have money. That old woman gave you a handful."]
"Okay, I will buy one tomorrow. I can use the telephone downstairs for now."
["No, you must buy now. We have a lot of work tomorrow. We will be very busy."]
Pierce sighed as a sign that he surrendered. "Fine. Malls are still open at this hour. I better go now."
["Tell me how it works, understood?!"] Even if it was asking for a favor, it was still trying to sound so righteous. What a bossy one.
'As if you can use it.'
["I can hear you, really stupid."]
Pierce clicked his tongue. "Are you so forgetful? You said it yourself that you already read my memories." He said with a hint of sarcasm.
"A few years ago, I used a cellphone, you can study from that. Besides, I'm not good at explaining and you knew that too."
["What a disrespectful host. You still doubt my abilities kid? I'll show you when you get to Level 1, it will blow your mind away. For now, hurry and buy that one called phone!"]
Pierce chose to be in silence. He couldn't irk the system more, taking into consideration that it could utter more unpleasant words the more annoyed it was.
He wanted to say in his mind, 'what do I expect from an old system? It was forgetful, indeed.' but he choose to brush it off and then secretly laughed it all for himself.
---
"Ma'am can you show me an affordable phone? I only want a phone who has the basic features. For browsing and calling and the likes."
"Can you tell me how much is your allocated budget sir?" The sale's lady smiled sweetly at him while tucking the strands of her hair to her ears.
Pierce was forced to smiled a bit awkwardly. He really got to be used to the change in people's approach to him. He then decided to answer her since he already considered it before coming at the shop.
"No more than $100 miss please."
"This would be the best phone for you dear customer."
She handed him the phone. It looked great in color black with a premium look, slick and very handy. The size was not to long or big, just right for Pierce's hand.
While Pierce was checking the phone out, the sale's lady uttered, "By the way, do you have your sim card with you? I can attached it for you, sir."
"Ah, I still have to buy one later." He pressed his lips forcing a smile, being tied with the situation.
The woman pouted. "Too bad. Then, I will just give you mine."
She got herself a piece of paper and wrote numbers on it.
"Here." She gave it to him while wearing a sweet smile with her pair of red lips.
Pierce also received it with a smile, a stiff one though. This was just quite too sudden and unusual for him. He didn't know how to properly decline.
Come to think of it, after his appearance became better and presentable, he began smiling frequently yet forcefully again. Adding up his incredulous smiles with the system, he did it quite a number already.
For him, engaging a talk with adults and elderlies would be a lot better rather than his peers or young adults. He was a lot comfortable with the former and found the latter just too complex to understand, he couldn't keep up.
After getting the paper work done, he quickly rushed out of the place. He wanted to save himself from embarrassment as the girl was quite aggressive at some point.
"Phew~." He took a long breath, feeling exhausted just from buying himself a phone.
While holding the phone, he took a good look and grip at it since it was quite a long time after he got a new one again.
After finishing setting up his phone, he decided to call the auntie.
When the call was answered he coughed before saying, "Hello, good evening."
[Yes, good evening. Who's this?]
"I'm sorry if I might have disturb you. I am the young man whom you've given your calling card earlier today ma'am."
[Oh? You're that handsome young man? What can I do for you?]
Pierce pinched his nose, a little embarrassed. "Ah... yes." He paused.
Then added, "Ma'am, you said you're into rental business. I just wanted to inquire if there is an available boarding space in your end?"
[Oh, you're in luck, yes, there is. It is suited for one person. Are you interested?]
He sighed in relief. "Yes, I am interested."
[Alright, I'll text you the address. When would you like to come check it?]
"If I could, I want to come the day after tomorrow?"
[Of course. I'll gladly tour you around. I guess, I'll see you next day then?]
He shyly chuckled. "Ah yes. Thank you, ma'am. Goodbye."
The auntie sounded so nice. Earlier today, when he saw her, she had a warm and motherly demeanor on her. She was unlikely to be a crude woman. Basing from it alone, he already had the feeling of being in good hands. He kinda expect to be live in a friendly or at least peaceful neighborhood.
Suddenly, the system made its presence known again. ["Now that it is already settled. Teach me about this phone thing."]
Pierced couldn't help but roll his eyes. The system might be helpful but also a pain in a lot of ways sometimes.