Its Sunday,
It was her happy day among them all, it's her day off.
Sunday is the day; when she doesn't have to go to work and meet all the staff from that department.
***Well; I am not a workaholic person and I don't really like being around people.
As she just love being at home cuddling with her favourite big totoro plush doll and reading some books.
***Best feeling ever
Home; is where she can be herself; to which she doesn't need to pretend to be someone else.
Unlike when she's at work, the first thing that she did is to focused on her concentration and strengthening her mind set; as without it she would definitely became so unmotivated.
People always says; the reason of why most people quitting their job are probably not because of the works itself but because of the people themselves; and she would definitely can relate to it.
However when she's at home; there are no other things that she could do except for watching movies, writing and reading.
Ara loves to read every types of book ever since she was in elementary school, Reading does helps her practicing her imagination by letting the words describe a certain image and then manipulates the picture in her mind.
As for movies, sometimes it teaches her to understand more about the characteristic of human expression or reaction.
Besides that; it also helps her to elaborate those expressions into words and inspired her to write a story.
As a person who really loves to read and write, those two things are the only way that she could be able to forget her own sadness and concerns, by meaning in that way she could healed her broken heart and bind up her wounds.
Furthermore; it stopped her from overthinking of everything.
***Overthinking is surely exhausting
Apart from that, she managed to write some novel and stories of her own and she has completed almost most of them and yet some of them are still far from the end.
And sadly, none of them haven't been read by someone since she doesn't have any friends neither someone very close to her to read.
Thus, she just kept it all to herself.
At first she thought of starting to write again but then suddenly it all goes away when she saw her unfinished reports and literally just ruined her mood as if all of her determinations of writing were suddenly vanished.
She spent her whole day at home working on her reports, she pushed her self to overcame her own insecurities to be the first one to calls her clients and makes a few deals with them.
***Why is it so hard for me to speak with people?
***Its kind of exhausting for me even just standing together along with them
***Why?
***Maybe its because I don't like them
***Am I really hates people that much?
She shook her head.
***No, okay now Ara stop thinking about that and get over with it, just call them and get your job done okay!
She then took a deep breath before calling them all.
She did her very best to get her reports done so that he will stop nagging.
***Not seeing him for the rest of my life will absolutely one of my wishes too.
Ara lived alone in a small apartment near by the company where she works for almost 5 years now.
She is basically an independent woman.
Ever since she moved out from that house which was too far away from the city; she rarely cooked at home, as she mostly bought a ready-made and home-delivered meals only.
In that matter; she knew her mother would definitely be furious if she finds it out.
As far as she remember of her mother, she had always reminded her that no matter how busy she was, she shouldn't skip her meals.
***I miss her so much.
She keeps remembering her mother would probably cooked more than 5 different dishes for her so that she could eat a proper meal every single day right after school.
But now it was all became part of her good memories of her mother and would cherished those moments inside of her mind and her heart.
15 years ago, her father left them and decided to have a family with another woman, and because of that it really made a huge impact to their family; as it totally ruined her trusts and her references especially when it comes to her love life.
Moreover, her two brothers also abandoned them without even saying goodbye.
Over the years since that happened, the first thing that she heard from her previous landlord instead of her own brothers that they were both already got married and having their own family.
They did the unthinkable decision when they left her mother and sister behind as if they have no meaning to their life whatsoever.
But strangely for some reason they were still been forgiven by her mother and always waiting for them to come back and start anew as a big family just like her mother really wanted.
But they never came back even the day when her mother passed away; her mother had always believes that they will come back at least on her funeral day but sadly, they never did.
And Ara only found it out later when the landlord told her that they really did coming back to that house and visited their deceased mother place just after she moved out from that house few years ago.
***And that could never changed anything the fact that they abondoned me and my mother for years
***Why now? why not when she was still alive
***Its unforgivable
After she was being left completely alone again; feeling devastated and frustrated just then she has decided to never considered them as her family ever again.
******************************************
Ara needs to finish her report before tomorrow or else she will be his target for releasing his anger for months.
***If that happen; trust me I'm so done.
It took almost 3 hours to called all her clients and it was really stressed her out.
She felt like her energy has been sucked up; she felt light-headed from looking at the laptop screen for too long and simultaneously cause her having a breathing difficulties as if she's out of air.
"I need to get some air" She struggled with it, she was breathing heavily.
She knows that its time to take a break, as she opened her bedroom's sliding glass door immediately.
But then, while she's enjoying her break time then all of sudden her phone rang on her bedside table; Ara grabbed her phone as her gaze then snagged on that shiny device.
Her hard expression suddenly showed up, she obviously saw something she doesn't quite like it; and it was indeed a text message from Mr.Mirami.
(From: Chief Mirami,
I have a meeting tomorrow morning and I might be a bit late so don't ever thinking of pretending that you forget about it because by the time I came back, the first thing that I want to see is your report on my desk)
At first, she just ignore his message completely. She doesn't feel like of being connected with anybody especially from him on her day off.
But then another text message just popped out on her phone screen
***Its him again.
(From: Chief Mirami,
Did you hurt your fingers, huh?, Why is it so hard for you to reply my text?, Make sure you do your job properly and give me your report tomorrow morning is that understood?)
She literally couldn't hide her annoyance because of his never ending ordered.
To be honest; she's quite a bad tempered herself.
And yet she can't help it but to express it with a silent action as her hand clutching her phone very tightly and simply didn't realized that she was actually making a creaked sound in her grip.
"Ah...my phone!"
Luckily she didn't break it.
Because of her feeling angered inside, she almost forgot to reply his text, as she took a deep breath and then started typing.
(Ara:
Yes sir)
And she resumed her work without pausing.
After an hour later,
Her report has finally done, but before that she needs to do some final check as it was really important to prevent any more errors.
After checking it for the second time, she was so happy and satisfied with her works; she then put it immediately inside her bag just in case if she forgot it later.
"Now, it's time for some pay off for my hard working" she babbled.
She heading towards the kitchen, heats a pot of water on the stove, since she broke her electric kettle just two days ago.
When the water boils, she turns the stove off then grabbed a small box out of her kitchen cabinet.
It was a box of coffee bean bags that she bought from her favourite café.
However to grind it, she has a complete set of a coffee grinder, she bought it about two years ago at a yard sale in her neighbourhood with a very cheap price.
Ara really loves coffee as much as she loves chocolate, she can also makes a good cup of cappuccino or hot Americano just like a professional barista and she's quite proud of herself because of that.
She'd learned it from YouTube and it was absolutely worth it for her as a coffee lover person.
Other than that she also has a strange OCD personality; to which she likes to used only a plain black colour furniture and appliances.
She's pouring directly into her black coffee mug, as she was enjoying the aroma of coffee and wishing that she could share this coffee fragrance that been lingering inside her kitchen with her mother.
***She loves coffee as much as I do
She brought her coffee to the balcony then leaning her back against the wall and enjoying her coffee while seeing such a wonderful view.
She just mesmerized by looking at the colours of the sky that turned into orange and purple, the beauty of sun set.
She somewhat really made a good job for choosing such a strategically place; the fact that her balcony is actually facing straight away to the small lake nearby the city.
It makes an absolutely huge spectacular view as the clear water from the lake itself making a stunning reflection from the beautify sunset.
"Its beautiful" she said in awe.
"Time is surely flies so fast" she whispered before taking a sip.
She's actually quite upset; spent her day off working on her report, instead of spend it with something more fun and enjoyable.
Naturally, days off which was very desirable for relaxing and having fun and yet this is reality that most of us must have the inevitable things that happened on our daily life including on our days off; there is no exception, of course.
Then again another notification just popped out but now it was on her laptop screen and saying;
(You have got an email from Netflix:
One new movie added today).
***************************************************
The sunlight passes through her window blind that slowly illuminates her bedroom space, waking her up from those dazzling nature light that gushing right into her eyes; instead of that annoying alarm sound from her phone which has been ringing for the last ten minutes already and she literally just ignored it.
She stretching lazily as her hand grabbed her phone to check the time, and yet keeps ignoring that alarm sound without turns it off, and just slid it underneath her pillow.
"5 minutes more" she groaned lazily; doesn't want to leave her comfy bed and get back to sleep.
From 5 to 15 minutes, she still lying down on her bed not wanting to open her eyes and yet her mind was already awakes, rather than getting up from her bed but she just slowly changing her sleep position; sleeping on her stomach while her head facing to one side as her arms just comfortably wrapped behind the pillow.
***I don't want to go to work today
She slightly opened her eyes while her body still facing down and just blankly staring at her greyish brown wall.
***Seriously I really don't wanna go
She grunted, forcing herself to get up and immediately get ready for a bath.
She goes to work a bit early as she was planned to buy a cup of hot chocolate at the "Warm Your Heart with Cocoa café" just across the street nearby to her workplace.
'Warm Your Heart with Cocoa Cafe'; are probably selling one of the most well known delicious and classic hot chocolate drinks in town just perfectly fit like its name.
Ara became one of their regular customers for the passed few years now, and the reason why she chose that café among of all famous café nearby is because of their hot chocolate have an amazing texture and it was exactly the way she loves it.
And also the same café where she actually bought her favourite delicious and super aromatic prominent coffee bean as well.
While on her way to her office, for some reason she keeps looking behind her back when all of sudden she got the feeling as if someone following her or stalking her.
***Why does it feels like I'm not alone!
***Someone might come to work early than me
She then stopped in the middle of the hallway tried to check her surrounding area but did not see anything unusual except for that flickering light inside the store room on her left side, it was always been like that for the past few days already, besides every office door were closed as usual.
She then braced herself and tried to speak up,
"Hello, Is there anyone here?"
"Look, if you have anything to say you can just come over here and talk to me"
"....."
But there's no response at all and pretty much no one's were around at the time except for herself, so she just assumed that maybe it was only in her imaginations.
***maybe it was because of that movie last night
Ara was slapping her right cheek lightly then shook her head and kept telling herself;
"Yeap, It was that movie"
She took a few deep breath to calm herself down.
She slurped her hot chocolates, and then walked away.
"That was weird" She said while heading towards Mr.Mirami's office instead of her office.
The first thing that she did when she entering his office; she put her report on his table and turned the light on before she left.
She somewhat feeling anxious while waiting for him.
Another more reason was that she needs to be there when he came, and that's because he usually wants his subordinates should be the one who supposed to wait for him and not the other way around because he hates waiting.
Sometime he can be so bossy and she always annoyed by his arrogance.
About 30 minutes later, she heard someone opening the door and she knows that was from his office just by the sound of his coughing sound.
Without waste of time she immediately trotted towards his office.
"So did you get your reports done?" That's the first thing he asked right after he sat down.
"Yes sir and it's here" she answered, as her hand slightly pointing out to the file just right in front of him.
"Good, so let see" he said with a sigh then read through every pages of her reports.
"Hayane-san" his suddenly calls out her name.
"Did you do this by yourself?" asked Mr. Mirami with hard expression on his face.
Just seeing him with confusion expression really putting her in anxious states; she even forgot how to breathe like her soul just left her body.
In her mind, she keeps thinking that she looks so angry and disappointed, again.
But then she instantly answers, "Yes" with her eyes closed.
***Please just no more humiliations again
She just standing still in front of him with her hands on the side like a mannequin.
Ara rarely showing any reaction or expression during at work because she did not want to let anyone knows that she's actually weak and have a fragile heart.
She slightly glanced at him and unexpectedly there's a smile just appeared on his face as he read through her report.
"This is actually pretty good, I'm quite impressed by your work Hayane-san' praised Mr.Mirami.
Hearing those words from him really makes her flattered.
Ever since she worked in there; this is actually the first time she ever got praised by someone in that department.
***Did he just said that to me?
That really made her feel a lot better and it does feels like she just earned something big for herself; like there's someone who's finally acknowledged her for her hard working.
***How can I'm not feeling proud of myself after what I have been through.
He then closed her file as he looked back at her and his smiles even got wider..
"Good job hayane-san you did very well" He continued.
"Just keep up the good work okay, you can go now" he's surprisingly complimenting her.
She then gets back to her office, she was absolutely overjoyed but did not show any emotion when he said it earlier.
She sat down on her black super comfy chair while her eyes just staring blankly at the ceiling right above her.
She couldn't help herself but keeps recalling those words over and over again and it just makes her relief and somewhat happy.
Despite of being mistreated by the staff in there only just because of her position but she still managed to put her emotion and her personal feelings aside.
Even how many times she wanted to give up and resign but in spite of that she still faced through that hardship and stayed.
"Well done ara, this is something that you must be proud of yourself" she said it to herself and patting her own right shoulder at the same time.
***************************************************
New Year just a couple weeks away;
Some of the staff are probably making a plan for their vacation with their families and some of them were already on a vacation.
Meanwhile, Ara has never thought of going on a vacation not even once in her life.
Furthermore, it will cost a lot of money beside she needs to save more for her future's expense.
For some reason that was also an opportunity to have a little pleasure time for her to works while during on their vacation.
Been thinking that it is going to be just her alone with her hot chocolate, no distractions, super quiet with air condition cooling air and most importantly is fully paid salary.
***During this time I could be at peace while doing my job.
"Let's make a drink shall we" She hummed softly to herself as she grabbed that empty cup with her.
But when she's about to walks towards the pantry room just across to her office then out of nowhere a small gust of wind suddenly blowing across her face and strangely just circled around her body and somehow whispered something in her mind.
Not just that there's something just flew over towards her with a flapping sound along with it and finally landing down to the ground just right in front of her.
Its a paper, a postcard to be exact.
"Woah....what was that?" she quavered, her legs started to feels wobbly after being hit by that strong wind earlier.
***Just where was that coming from?
***I'm basically inside the building so how does that really happened?
"What's this?" She picked that postcard up and soon realized that it was a picture of a pond with a view of evergreen mountains.
***Woahh!!! its beautiful
Those stunning view just mesmerized her eyes. Her lips parted while looking at it; for her it was one of the most beautiful pictures of nature she has ever seen in her life.
***This is beautiful, who owned this postcard?
She then glanced around and didn't see anyone, assumingly that the postcard wasn't belongs to anybody since it looks pretty torn up and old so she guesses it nothing wrong if she just keep it to herself.
***Well, I guess I can keep it then.
Few days after that strange event occurred, she couldn't help but keeps thinking about the picture in that postcard the whole time.
It felt like something just calling her and drawn her into it.
She tried to ignore it but it always comes across her mind. Somehow it does feels like she got attached to that picture or maybe to that place.
She realized that maybe she needs to go there and see it with her own eyes.
She even tried to find more information about that place from google map, YouTube, from a Japanese map and even uploading a picture to the media social to get some more details about the history of that place.
***There's got to be some sort of story or details about that place somewhere on google that I can check
A week has passed and still no one seems to know where exactly that place or name is; but not until a person left a comment telling her that he knows that place as he claimed himself that he'd actually been there before.
"This place actually exists!!... its near to Shimanto-Kochi..."
Up until now she was convinced there's something that really wants her to go there.
She needs to finds out what was exactly going on over there.
Then without hesitated, she just decided.
"I'm going."