I'd like to think that I am one of the best painters in the world but somehow the only thing I am good at, is being an almost homeless painter. My parents were right, perhaps I should not have studied art.
Today is my dear friend Nikolai's birthday, but alas for I am penniless so I cannot buy him a present but then again he is far too grown up for presents.
I make my way to the cafe near his apartment to talk about some upcoming projects, he is rather a busy man but I hope I could get his help. I need a job or I will end up in the streets or worse yet move in with my parents.
They seem to be at all times nagging me about when I'll bring home a girl, typical parents.
As I am about to cross the road I see Nikolai waving at me, I rush towards him, "were we not supposed to be discussing about you helping me stay off the streets Niki?" He does not love it when I call him Niki but I think it is funny to call a 6 foot tall man some silly names.
"Well about that, plans have changed Hans"
"I forgot I have a lecture at the university today and I simply cannot afford to miss out on it." Of course he has a lecture at the most prestigious university in the entirety of Germany.
Nikolai is one of those people who seem to not know what they're doing in life but yet somehow they manage just fine. It is one of the things I envy about him.
"Alright Niki, just don't bail on me next time okay?"
"Xavian when have I ever bailed on you on purpose?" He says while smirking at me like an idiot. I roll my eyes and tell him to piss off because I am a bit pissed that he won't help with the rent but then again that's not what friends are for. "Just help me figure this one out Niki, just this once" I say this ever so desperately so that maybe he understands the severity of the situation.
He pats on my shoulder and gives me the usual smug smile, "Xavi do not worry, I have got your back and plus I owe you this one".
He and I met while I was teaching art at the university of arts in Hamburg, he was a student of mine but later he concluded he would rather do politics than the arts and I got fired from my job so that was lovely too.
I am an average man, 6 foot tall, brown hair and grey eyes. One day I had this perfect job and was renounced by my peers but suddenly I find myself in this dark empty hole that has become my life. I never got to be a normal person, I had complicated parents and now I'm this complicated person. A stern looking and incredibly aggressive man for a father and a histrionic woman for a mother, I never stood a chance.
"I wonder what I'll eat today for dinner" I ponders to myself while sitting on the cafe table empty handed.
I look over at the other table, there is this desolate looking woman sitting alone, she's slurping her coffee while looking over at me. I cannot help but feel curious as to why she's staring at me, so I go over to her table.
"Is there something on my face or are you just admiring my beauty? I cockily joke.
"Get over yourself" she scoffs softly, making it unclear what she said.
"I am sorry lady but I can't hear you, speak up" I smirk at her, making the shy woman angry. "You look like your mom breastfed you for far too long and that is the result as to why you look a fucking Neanderthal" She screams loud and clear, almost everyone in the cafe turns around to look at us.
Okay now I am lost for words, how do I respond to such violation? I apt to just looking at lady, baffled and deeply embarrassed.
"Well just so you know my mother stopped breastfeeding me when I was 6 months old" I cringe after saying that, there's no going back from what I just said.
"I do not care and I did not even ask, so go away" she replies, with a mean look on her face.
"You sound funny, where are you from?" Trying to do damage control, I try to change the subject but to no avail, the strange looking woman stomps her foot and leaves the cafe murmuring whilst looking at me like I chewed up her favorite toy.
I never seem to catch a break do I?
I look around inside the café for someone else to talk to. First it was Niki bailing on me and now some stupid looking woman insults me. Perhaps my beauty overwhelmed her and she ran away because she knew she could never have me. I should stop feeding into my delusions that anyone who stares at me is in love with me.
I have got to sort out this homelessness problem or else I will be moving in with my unbearably boring parents. What kind of a 25 year old would crash at their parents house? Certainly not me so I better get it together. Hamburg is a big city, I mean how hard could it be to find a job?
We will see.