"Let's start by applying for IDs," Officer Yan said and took out his ID proof. "See," he showed Inaya.
"Yan Johan?" Inaya read it out loudly. "That's you name?" She asked. Officer Yan nodded, suppressing a smile. "Ooooooohhh, you are 24 years old," she said with so much of a surprise. "Young, young," she giggled.
"Older than you anyway," Officer Yan corrected. "Ok, come back to the topic. Next, listen carefully," Yan warned her.
"Yes, sir," Inaya concentrated.
"You can call me Johan," Officer Yan corrected Inaya.
"Johan sir," Inaya said.
"No sir, just Johan," he corrected again.
"Okay," Inaya replied, smiling a little.
"Next, once you get the IDs, register yourself for the various exams. The high-school board exams. And then for college. Put your magic to good use. Use the skill to study and write. Get your certificates yourself, than forging them. Once you get them, find a job, anything you like," Johan advised her.
"I can get any job I want?" Inaya was confused.
"Based on the degree or on your skills, whatever you are good at," he told her.
"What am I goof at?" Inaya asked.
"You have to find that yourself," Johan laughed.
"I know how to cook. I can do it and never get tired," she said.
"Then you may pursue a degree in such a field, or get a license to open a small snack bar or restaurant," Johan gave ideas.
"Are we serious about this?" Inaya, after taking a few minutes to think, asked this question to Johan.
"Do I look like I'm joking to you?" Johan asked, moving his face closer to Inaya. The two locked their eyes. Inaya turned away quickly, unable to hold the gaze.
"No. I will think about it," Inaya said, trying not to look at Johan again, who kept gazing at her.
Johan smiled. Inaya corrected her ponytail and got up from the table. "I have to leave for the work now. In the letter it's mentioned, next week I have to serve in picking up plastic waste," Inaya said.
"You have to," Johan got up, placed his IDs back in his wallet. "Did you try using your skills?" He wanted to know.
"No. How do I even know if I have powers or not?" Inaya could not resist her frustration.
"You have to try when you are alone," Johan scolded.
"I am never alone," she argued back. "Should I harm or scare someone when I don't even know what I'm capable of?"
"It's high time you find a place to stay," Johan shook his head.
"Where?" Inaya asked. "Where is the money for that?" Inaya now was annoyed.
"At least a studio or even 1RK should do," Johan kept saying it, giving it a serious thought.
Inaya stood folding her arms against her chest and rolled her eyes.
"Seriously, a girl should have her own privacy. You staying at Saunas, that is nit a great idea. There are rules for them to not let the guests stay for long," Inaya sat down again, thinking seriously for the first time. "If they identify, you will get into trouble soon. You have to find a home," Johan urged her. "But before that," Johan smiled at Inaya. "Here,take this," he said and placed a box wrapped in a gift paper.
"What is this," Inaya looked confused. She had only experienced shocks, never surprises.
"Something you need the most," Johan could not stop smiling. "Open it, now."
Inaya with full of doubts, carefully opened the wrapper without tearing it, and opened the box.
"Oh my! Is this not a phone?" Inaya asked with a wave of happiness in her eyes.
"Yes. You can call it that," Johan said casually.
Inaya smiled and looked at Johan. She remained silent for two minutes, looking at him.
"What?" He asked smiling back.
Inaya shook her head. "Thank you," she said from the bottom of her heart. "I don't know what else to say," she said. "I really don't know," she looked down at the phone again. "But I have to burden you again. I don't know how to use this," she sighed and looked at Inaya.
"Hahaha..." Johan laughed out loudly. "Don't think like that. Don't ever say it. It's nothing burdening. This is my gift to you. To the new beginnings of your journey," he said. "Let's go out for dinner some day," he added in between.
"Thank you," Inaya said again.
*******
*******
A few more weeks passed. Inaya learned how to use her phone. "Should I start applying for things?" She wasn't sure whether she is feeling scared or whether she is feeling lazy.
She was between the two. Afraid to make a new step and too comfortable in the current state of living. "Let's see, let's get one more job, make money, and then think of getting a home," she decided.
Inaya was walking down the footpath, holding her bag, when she felt someone following her. The footsteps stopped when she stopped.
Inaya slowly turns back. "Oh stop," but before she could say anything, someone dragged her and forced her into a nearby cafe.
"Let me go," she tried to jerk the man's hands off her.