After spending my time playing online games with my friends, I think it's time for us to meet in our real world. The four of us became close friends through online games, all part of the Educated Unemployed Without a Life organization. It's a mock organization we created to entertain ourselves. We are college graduates, but it's hard to find jobs in our own country.

"See you tomorrow in front of the minimarket near the station," said Dahlan in our group message.

"Yes. See you tomorrow!" I replied. The others quickly responded, and I turned off my phone and put it in my pocket.

I opened my bedroom door and found a plate of food covered with a plastic lid. "Thank you, Mom. But I can't eat it because I haven't been able to repay your kindness."

I stepped out of my room and quietly ate the food while crying. After finishing it, I placed the plate outside the door, hurried to shower, and went out to get some fresh air.

Through the window on the second floor, I climbed out and down the stairs I had set up to go down. I looked at my phone again and decided to take a walk before returning. Since I was feeling good, I decided to add a bit of exercise.

What's wrong with improving myself, right? I ran around my residential complex for forty-five minutes and then returned home. After stretching, I decided to start running.

"Thomas? It's unusual for you to exercise in the afternoon," greeted Kuti, my next-door neighbor. "In that case, I'll join you, taking my dog for a walk too."

Feeling awkward talking to a girl, I could only nod, letting Kuti join me. My heart beat fast, not just because I had been exercising, but also because now there was a very beautiful neighbor girl beside me.

We finally decided to leave the complex and walk in the park. To break the awkward silence, I decided to find a topic to talk about. "So Kuti, are you off work today?"

"Work? I haven't started working yet. You know how hard it is to find a job in this country. Anyway, I'm grateful I can help my mom at home," Kuti replied. "What about you?"

"The same," I replied with a smile. "But I enjoy it like this. I think I'll borrow money from the bank and start a small business."

"Hire me later, okay?" said Kuti with a smile.

Ah yes, her smile is so sweet, and I've always dreamed of having her. But right now, I can't have her because I'm too scared to express my feelings. As it got later, we decided to go home.

When I got home, I climbed up the stairs outside the window to the second floor without my parents knowing. Unexpectedly, my mom was waiting for me there.

"You went out with Kuti? It's okay, Thomas. You can go out. Thank you for wanting to leave your room," my mom said proudly. "So what do you want for dinner tonight?"

"Anything you cook, Mom. I-I want to shower first," I replied, grabbing a towel from my room and heading to the second-floor bathroom.

For the first time, I heard my mom say something like that. I felt at ease because she didn't feel like I was a burden in her home. After the shower, I helped my mom cook in the kitchen. "I really will change!"