Chereads / The Ancient Nightlighter / Chapter 3 - 2: A Whole New World

Chapter 3 - 2: A Whole New World

"A static sound rung inside my head, an inhumane-like. Somewhere inside a room, where it sounds a bit caged. Then, an ear-piercing screech from a door is discern. A man suddenly shrieked..."

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" a man screamed out of fright. Then the charcoal face mask dropped and splatted on his ramen. .

"This action series made me tremble so much, that it is not recommended for the faint-hearted such as myself, particularly if you are living alone. They got the category wrong. Perhaps, it's a horror one," he mumbled while taking the face mask of his food.

For a beauty guru, he's having a nighttime daily skin care routine while watching some Gods and time-travel kind of series available on Tenflix. Unfortunately, he just finished watching the recent episode and now he's craving for more, despite of being a bit of a scaredy-cat. However, there is a much worse thing he should be worrying about, his charcoal-flavored ramen thanks to the face mask.

The ramen is already soggy and there's no savory left already. But what's edible for a broke part-timer such as himself is always a delish.

"Sol! Solomon! SOLOMON!-" a rowdy yell circled the room escorted with a loud banging of the door. Something far more terrifying than any horror movies as if they all manifested and came to exist right at this moment seems like nearing him.

A monthly rent due.

Sol is already three months delay from his rent and it's all because he's been fired from the company he work with "being a floor manager", in other words, "He's a good ol' janitor" before, and now, a minimum wage salary from a convenience store won't be able to pay almost anything. But for a dollar worth supplies of skin care product and meals, for him, it's already sufficient. And of course, he won't give up his skin care products, well, skin care is life.

Instantly, a click from a door-opening suddenly seize his attention as the landlady is already inside. He quickly get his last bit of cash left from his savings to pay for the three-month worth of rent.

He cried to himself. "Tomorrow, Say goodbye to air-conditioned room and hello to poverty."

As soon as the lady walked in, he bowed immediately. "I'm sorry Miss pretty, you are indeed shining like a diamond and youthful as ever. Here is my monthly rent!" he apologetically handed her the money. Goodbye, sweet world. As he immaturely mourned in front of her.

She then received the money yet she returned it back to him. Sol lifts confused.

He then looked at her eyes. "Someone already paid for it." Sol recognized that tone already as if he foresee what was coming to him. On the contrary, his ego is much prideful. It runs even if starvation will meet him tomorrow.

"No ma'am. I'd rather you return it to the rightful owner and take my money. I'll move out anytime sooner already," she looked away sharing some sorrow she got while she glanced at him.

His eyes look upset and sad as he tries to stop the tear from flowing.

The landlady walked away while loneliness began to linger him right after she closed the door discreetly.

The headband was thrown out of frustration. He desire for peace after so long of feeling so latched.

No more. He wish for no more. He leave everything and decided to get some fresh air.

As he stepped outside, a cold breeze welcomed his entire system. It's not even December yet the chances favored his dramatic segment.

It's August already, soon it'll be long December. Longer nights.

He paused for a while when suddenly he recognized a light. It's the full moon above his head. It shone with luminance despite the cloudy night sky. He's fascinated.

The breeze became his chaperone as he stroll the streets with nowhere to go and no companion. Just himself on this lonely evening. He glanced down and realized he have gone outside with just wearing his shorts while covered with thin night robe.

"I hope no one saw me... this is humiliating!" he mutter then giggle.

He then take a rest by the bench with single lamp post warming both his body and heart. Feeling like he's near a person that he can lean on. But, he's alone.

He yearned that maybe, the moon will heed his anguish. Maybe, if he venture all his pain to the moon. It will listen, it won't judge, it won't make him feel chained.

Tears started to pour.

"Tomorrow... tomorrow will be a whole new world for me," he sobbed while facing down, hands gripping his hair. People ignored him and continue to walk while he still yearn for someone.

Yet, he is nowhere near to moving on...

He closed his eyes as the tears made him feel burned-out.

"I just want this moon alone to embrace me out of this misery. I don't want to be alone tonight," he mourned while he's starting to lose his consciousness.

He slept.

He felt weak. The sensation of warmth that he yearned ever since youth. He only sensed it now. It implies like the moon is the last thing he'll worship. He felt like it discerned his covet.

...

As the evening ceased, he can still feel the embrace of warmth. However, a displeasing odor struck his nose and interrupted his well-rested sleep.

And by the feel of it. His shoulder is already numb to the likes of how when someone is leaning on it. It's aching. He then opened his eyes and surprised by what fate had to offer.

A beggar?!

"AAAAAAAGH! GET AWAY FROM ME!" he screamed with disgusts while newspapers scattered on the ground. He modestly covered his "sacred" body and nose because of the stench.

But that's just the start. What's more horrendous is that, the man is covered with blood?!

Something bizarre that people with a delicate heart such as himself won't be able to handle.

"ARE YOU OKAY???! LET'S GO TO THE HOSPITAL! IS THERE SOMEWHERE HURTING??!" he bombarded the man with questions. Paranoid as he usually am, it's always the first thing one should do during this scenario. Stopping the blood. He turned frantic and began searching for wounds.

Unfortunately, "this man"...

slapped him,

so hard.

Since, he nudged a sensitive part of "this man's" body.

For one single reason that he realized how he is not a man.

Rather a woman and he unconsciously grope---

Ack!-

He briefly averted. "I'M SORRY!" and began apologizing for his hands are no longer pure.

Afterwards, the whole situation just made him blushed and flustered.

"This isn't what I expected my night will turn out," he sighed.