After a week in the hospital, I could go home. It felt like the longest week; the food I fed was okay compared to what I always eat. My mom had picked me up, visited me three times while I was in the hospital, and lectured me about missing work because she couldn't do everything alone.
Nothing to do with how my recovery was. It was all about her. Jia sat in the back of the car; she had that annoying barbie doll with her. It doesn't look like she even cared whether I was there. Breaking the silence in the car, "Jia, how was school?" She ignored me.
Mom's hair looked a mess, and she had dark marks under her eyes. It was slightly swollen; I could tell she had been crying.
While my mom was driving, I saw Jiang about to drive past us with his convertible BMW M8. He had two other women in the car.
This guy has everything, I thought to myself. I wish I also had a wealthy daddy who could buy me everything.
"I am dropping you and your sister off at home. I am pulling a double shift."
"Mom, it's the weekend? Since when do you work a double shift on the weekend?"
"Since I have to pay the bloody bills around here," she snapped.
She was tired; I could tell by the annoyance in her tone. I wish I had a better mom situation. I then remembered the chain Maka gave me.
I was wearing it around my neck, but it wasn't there. "Mom, where is the chain on my neck?"
"I have it in my bag. What's so special about that thing? It's not worth a dime."
Always about money, I thought to myself. "So what time will you be home tonight, mom?"
"When I get home," she answered, sounding sarcastic.
I wanted to tell her I knew she was tired and that I would finish school, get a decent and take care of her, but she would ignore me and brush it off.
We arrived at the house.
Mom just took off without saying a word. Jia was in her own world, and her face was buried in the table. That's when I realized I had forgotten something. "Mom," I waved, she looked up, and I could tell she was annoyed. She reversed with speed, "what, Kai?"
"The chain, please?"
"You called me back for that chain? Do you know I will be late because of you? Dammit, Kai, you need to grow up."
She reached into her handbag, grabbed the chain, and threw it on the ground. I was surprised she did that. What doesn't she care about me?
Does she hate did I do something?
She then took off with speed. I looked down and reached for it. The green stone on the chain seems brighter than previously. I take the chain in my hand and slide it into my pocket.
Jia was standing at the front door, waiting for me to lock it open.
"Jia," I said softly, "do you even see what's happening around you?" Are you human? I thought to myself, "you never speak. You are always bossing around, and it's like nothing in life bothers you."
Maybe I should be more like her, I thought for a moment. Opening the door, as I expected, I saw the house was a mess.
I had pains here and there but was booked off for three days and had prescription painkillers. Like life is not messed up enough, I thought, first that asshole making my life hard at school, then Jia at home, and my moment in a constant foul mood.
Jia walked to the kitchen and sat at the table with her head buried in her tablet. She looked up at me for the first time and said, "food."
"Yes, Jia, can I please first get settled in," she ignored my response, then took her tablet and went to the living room.
"Yes, my queen, I shall bring your food," I remarked sarcastically.
On the kitchen floor was a small stone. It appeared like a diamond. I removed the chain from my pocket and noticed the pendant was missing that stone. I then pushed it into the hole.
Damn, this fits perfectly; maybe it fell out the day I left for school. I did not think much of it, and there was too much to do. I started tidying up, and the table was packed with bowls, side plates with cups, and the sink was full of dishes.
Looking at all this made me tired. All I wanted to do was throw myself on the bed, hide my face from this world, and mysteriously disappear. It's not like anyone would notice I am gone. At times I question why I was born, life can't suck more than it does now.
My thoughts all went downhill, and nothing positive came out. I slowly removed the band on my hands and saw the wound was healing.
It was painful, the knife went through the tissue of my skin, and my fingers could barely move. I walked over to get a glass of water. I took two stilpane and one ibuprofen.
The doctor advertised using the hand as little as possible but trying to move my fingers. I looked down at my hand as if my fingers were going to start moving magically.
Nothing is happening. I concentrated even harder on it, but still no movement, "Dammit, Jiang," I cursed.
Jia, I remembered, she wanted food. The three-by-nine square meter kitchen had a single cardboard with everything, even stale bread. I opened the cardboard and saw a can of sardines.
I closely inspected the sardines checking for the expiry date, just as I thought it expired tomorrow. All that was left in the cupboard was sugar tea, coffee, and powdered milk.
I scratched around, searching for bread, and couldn't find any. What does Mom expect us to eat?
I mumbled. Jia walked to the kitchen and looked up at me, "I am hungry."
"I know you are, Jia. I am getting you something to eat."
She went back into the lounge. I started to feel sorry for my little sister. Yes, we were poor, our house was falling apart, we got tons of notices to pay up the rent, the red notice has been given, that's the final warning before they have the sheriff put us out of the apartment.
Maybe that is why mom was stressing. The money she got was enough to buy food but not pay bills. That's maybe why she has been so on edge. I had started to stress I might be homeless soon, and what about my sister?
Family stays family, so I had to come up with a plan. I found a few eggs and onions and scrambled them together. Jia looked up at me, "thank you."
She never says thank you to anything, so this was music to my ears.
I went to the fridge and poured her favorite juice. Then I proceeded back into the kitchen. My mom was tired and stressed, so I tried my little best to do the dishes and cleanup; it took me a bit longer than usual.
Actually much longer than usual.
I went upstairs and entered my room. When looking in the mirror for a moment, I thought I saw something which appeared to be a wolf. I rubbed my eyes and wiped my glasses, but there was nothing.
I removed my shirt. What happened? A week ago, I had this muscled body, and now I looked like a 13-year-old. I removed the chain from my pocket and looked at it.
Could it be this? The room suddenly became cold when I felt a slight prick to the back of my neck. I turned around, but there was no one. I placed the palm of my hand over my neck; my palm had red on it.
I walked over to the mirror and looked. It looked like something had stung me. The cold breeze had eased, and I felt a prick on my arm as the air became dry.
I looked around, but there was nothing. A whisper came to my ear, "Hello, Kai."
I turned around, and there Maka stood. She stared at me, then slightly tilted her head, exposing her neck. My mouth became dry, and my heart started beating faster.
I closed my eyes and exhaled. It felt like millions of spikes shot through my pores, and a sensational feeling of complete relaxation overcame me. I had the urge to place my lips on her neck. Moving forward, Maka closed her eyes, gently placing her hand on my chest.
She breathed in. Maka opened her eyes; it was a glow of redness as she tightened her hand on my chest and scratched her nails over my chest, "don't be afraid," she whispered.
I placed my lips on her neck, which was sweet and satisfying. I had this sudden urge to bite her in the neck.
I could hear her heartbeat like a drum. I sank teeth into her neck as she gripped my chest; digging her nails into my flesh was sensationally satisfying, the first taste of slow cast iron saturating an eternal thirst, unbeknownst to the mortal eye. A thirst that could only be quenched by the darkened essence running from her veins.