"Okay, honey, Mom will be right back in three days, okay? Take care."
"Sure thing, Mom. Bye."
"And don't forget to treat your professor well."
"Absolutely, Mom."
"Oh, and... you should stay safe. Call the police if you see the robber again, okay, baby?"
"Got it, Mom. You don't have to worry."
"And... I'm sorry I couldn't be with you even this time. This is something important; my promotion depends on it, that's why…"
"Mom, you already apologized. Get going, okay?"
"Maybe should I really cancel the..."
"No! I mean, you don't have to, Mom."
"Fine. Don't forget to eat three meals a day, yaaa?"
"Yup, yup. You're getting delayed, Mom."
"Oh dear, yes, yes. (kiss) I'm really going this time. Bye-bye."
"Bye, Mom."
Sighhh... why does she make goodbyes too long every single time? he grumbled to himself as he slumped tiredly onto his bed.
"That just shows how much your mother loves you," said Norman, rotating in William's chair with an amusing look on his face.
"Why are you still in my house?" William asked, a hint of annoyance in his tone.
"Me?" Norman feigned innocence.
"Yeah, you. Who else do we have here? Anyway, can you please get out of my house as early as possible?"
"Boy, that's not a good way to talk to adults. Show some respect."
"Hey, don't change the topic now. Get going."
[Ha, he didn't fall for my diversion] thought Norman. "Boy, where do you expect me to go?"
"Go wherever. Who cares."
"Don't you feel guilty chasing away a person in the midst of the night in this strange world?"
"Don't even give me this sympathy crap. Your face tells it all. And here, take this." William said, thrusting a stack of paper towards Norman.
"What's this... Thin sheet of material?"
"Thin sheet, you say... haha... right, you are from a different world, but you might not know here, this paper is everything. It decides your fate. From birth to death, money talks here, alright."
"Oh! So this is this world's currency, hmm?"
"Yeah, so take it and stay in some hotel or something. It will last for at least 3 days in an average kind of hotel."
Sighh! Norman received the currency with a reluctant gaze. He didn't know anyone besides William and his mom. He was doubtful if he would meet any more kind people who wouldn't be after his life.
Just as William wanted to send off Norman... "AAAaa!! (grumble, grumbleeee)" all William heard was stomach noises.
"What now…??"
"Hmm (cough... COUGH… UMM... CAN.COUGH... UMM... can I have some food? Well, I am not taking it for granted or something."
"Fine, fine, I have some prepared for dinner. Don't complain about anything about this world's food. It's the last thing I want to hear from you. Understand."
"Ha, thank you, boy. I'll sure come to repay you back."
[As if you could. How will you even do that? Even the clothes, food, and shelter were due to my help. Where are you going to find money to repay me back? Anyway, I am just going to treat this as charity. Yup, charity is it. Definitely that.] William consoled himself for the money loss caused by Norman.
They had a silent dinner time, all because William gave Norman a strict glare not to open his mouth. Or else all the piled-up stress would pour out of his mouth as curses for Norman.
Soon, William sent off Norman with a farewell, shut his door, and fell over to sleep. He would forget everything that happened as a nightmare and an awkward one at that. Little did he know that this nightmare was going to change his whole life.