"You have to pay for the amount you promised last month, Ms. Iris. She is terminally ill, and we have to take care of her. Your mother is getting critical, and a promissory note wouldn't do some magic today," the nurse explained.
Noelle doesn't know what's wrong with her ears. She rushed to the hospital from her part-time job ending around 10 pm to check on her mother's condition. Noelle expected to hear about the bills.
She'd receive her salary next month. Still, it wouldn't cover the medical bills Noelle needed to pay.
She has to eat, ride a bus, and buy soap to get rid of her stinky smell.
"Do you know any… nursing home I can deliver my mother in? I heard it's free," her hoarse voice was hopeful. She didn't even have a penny to buy some water from the convenience store. Noelle felt hopeless with her life.
"Before you deliver her to the nursing home, the doctor should approve your decision, Ms. Iris. Your mother is still critical, and we have to monitor her as best as we could," the nurse explained.
Noelle's face contorted of hurt, and sighed. She's lost in the midst of a maze with no certainty of escape.
The nurse knew what her pain was like. Noelle isn't faking it.
"I can give you an allowance of two weeks, and I'll talk to the finance department about it. I know how hard it is to maintain and search for part-time jobs at different stores, and the money is scarce at this time of period."
Noelle looked up at the nurse. The mist is forming in her eyelids already, and she wanted to cry right now and then. The nurse smiled sadly, "Your mother is a strong fighter, Ms. Iris. You should do so, too. I can only give you that time to find some money to compensate half of the amount you needed to pay. You can do that."
Noelle shortly nodded, believe she could have the money by that time, but in reality, it isn't. Money is the ultimate teller of fate. If everybody lost a grasp from the money, they're out of life. Noelle pointed down at her shoulder, and pertained, "I'm going home. Take care of my mother for a while."
She was beyond exhausted. Nothing ever goes her way. Noelle prayed every night for the money, and she pretended to be positive each second, but it wasn't what happened. Noelle sighed deeply, felt the ache of her shoulders burying in her muscles. It wasn't until she rode the bus did the pain washed down to her tips.
She has been up since 4 in the morning, working to different part-time jobs and stores she's allowed into. Noelle wanted to throw up, rest on bed, and deal with all the problems in her dreams, so that if she woke up, it's not the first thing that bothers her until the end of the day.
The bus drove smoothly, and the lights passed like gloomy stars. Noelle was grateful her mother was still alive, because if she gave up quickly in life, where would she go?
When she pressed the buzzer of the bus, Noelle gave the cents she had for the day and took off. Heading down the convenience store, Noelle sighed, puffing out the icy breath piling up inside her mouth.
She went inside and brought an alcohol. Noelle didn't hesitate to ask the cashier if she has an available glass, and they offered her one. Sitting down on a bench outside the store, a tear fell from her eye. Noelle was glad her mother couldn't see it. She was too tired of life to even cry, but her eyes betrayed her.
Noelle poured down the alcohol to the glass, and hurriedly gulped it. The burning sensation inside her throat was good. Noelle felt in peace rushing the shots in her mouth. She doesn't care about getting drunk. She lost the purpose of her life, anyway.
Noelle finished the last drops of her alcohol and squint her eyes through the glass. She clicked her tongue, pushed the seat back, and was about to stand up when her vision rotated. Noelle caught off-guard, held the edges of the table, and was about to run to the door when suddenly, a man appeared at her side.
Blake, who happened to pass by the convenience store to search for a woman, dashed to hold her by the waist, and swung her away from the table's edge. Noelle didn't know who it was, but his masculine scent lingered in her nose. She voluntarily placed her hands to his shoulders.
Blake was surprised to see her beet-red cheeks.
Holding her tightly by the waist, Blake's face was close to Noelle. Her breath reeked of alcohol. Observing the table and realizing she gobbled down one bottle of alcohol, he smirked.
"Just the right woman for the job," Blake whispered. Noelle raised her eyebrows, hearing his muffled voice. She wanted to form the words, but her body was deteriorating. Noelle slipped off from his arms, fell down to the seat, but Blake padded his arms as pillows.
Noelle was wasted. Her alcohol intolerance was too low.
Blake chuckled, looking around the people who stared at the woman who collapsed, but he assured that it's alright. He was close to laughing, but he had to control it. This innocent woman just found its way to his cage. Blake touched Noelle's cheek, and pursed his lips.
"What should I do with you, poor woman?" Blake whispered helplessly.
…
The heat met Noelle's leg, and it stimulate a flinch towards her body. She grunted, hugging the comforter towards her head. Noelle lay in her side, raised her legs to the pillow, and tried to go back to sleep, but a sudden ringing emerged in between her eyes. Her ears joined, too.
Noelle held both sides of her head, sat upright, and closed her eyes tightly.
"Uh… it hurts…" Noelle whispered furiously. She pinched the bridge of her nose, relaxing her headache. Noelle sighed, opened her eyes slowly, and the first object to meet her vision was… a black, thick comforter… that she doesn't own.
Noelle realized what's wrong and got startled, disentangling herself from the sheets. Looking around the room, Noelle's jaw dropped right away. It isn't her house nor even close to her bedroom's interior. She couldn't breathe smoothly, and covered her mouth.
Where is she?
Swinging her foot at the edge, tripping down a bedside table, close to smashing the lamp, Noelle held it, and placed it courteously back to the spot. Noelle's heart was racing, and her body was trembling in fear. Did she hook up with someone last night and be able to land on a man's room?
Is this even a man's room? Noelle didn't know.
She held both sides of her head, pulled the strands of her hair, and checked her clothes. Noelle was too stunned to speak when she noticed it wasn't hers. She sniffed it in, and her body went rigid. Her shoulders sulked down, shook her head, and mumbled, "You're doomed, Noelle."
Running to the blinds, Noelle checked the outside premises, and she isn't even familiar of the place. She turned to the drawers, and opened them one-by-one, but Noelle didn't see anything but man's stuff. She hoped that it isn't own by a man. This is so crazy!
Noelle gave up from finding clues of who own the room and why her clothes were stripped off. She tried to remember what happened last night, but her memory was blurred. Noelle knuckled her fists in the middle of the room, and bit her bottom lip intensely. Nothing… came out.
She groaned, helplessly turned to the door, and knew it was her last resort. Noelle tucked in her hair similar to a bird's nest behind her ear. Puffing her cheeks, she mumbled, "It's a woman, Noelle. You will get out of here alive, okay? You should calm down."
Running with bare heels, Noelle opened the door hastily, and saw a tall and handsome man, holding a tray with a meal. His knuckle rose in midair, a gesture of knocking, but he was unable to do it. Blake raised his eyebrows, staring at Noelle's almond eyes. He was about to stutter some words when Noelle suddenly closed the door, holding her chest, and fell to the hardwood tiles.
She covered her mouth, squirming, squealing, but muffled.
"Is this true? Did I just knot myself to a one-night stand?" Noelle hushed.