With slumped shoulders I dragged my feet along the runied parts of the country side, making my way back to our ice cream bar as I thought about the new job I landed myself at Hills Academy- Wenie's school. I recalled Mr. Wilson's words an couldn't help but smile at my self in mockery.
"If you're thinking I already have someone to do it then know that I already have someone doing whatever work you think I'll give you now, there are no vacancies, but you're lucky I fired the cleaner yesterday. I've had enough of that dimwit, so count your blessings!"
Count my blessings? More like count my curses! What a joke!
My mom and sister wouldn't have agreed to this if even the slightest wind blew any news of it into their ears but I can't just sit and do nothing while Wenie stop school at such an early age, infact.. I don't even plan on letting her stop at all because after the crisis we went through I was only able to complete college last two years and haven't made any step to further my studies to the university level, being broke of course is the main reason but apart from that, there is also another reason, I have no intention of thinking about right now.
If I can't make it then I'm going to make sure my sister won't have same fate, it's going to be hard but.. when has it ever been easy? Well, it was initially.. but not anymore.
The sun was warm, it's rays not crazy hot on the skin so I decided to faff about and enjoy the scenery.. scenery of... bushes and farms, randomly plucking leafs and flowers, jumping up to see if I could touch a branch of a tree I know too well that even a person twice my height won't even be able to touch.
This went on and I didn't even realize I've started giggling to myself until I spotted a silhouette which seemed familiar and upon getting a closer look color vanished from my face and my smile froze, this.. this face, one that may haunt me until God knows when I'll be able to forget the pain... the hurt. I took a turn immediately before I got spotted, the last thing I want now was another encounter with this person my life was already in enough jeopardy caused by knowing this person, why on earth is he here???!!!!
I took a shorter route and changed my destination to home, I hastened my footsteps with an expression that can't be painted, I was almost on my heels when I saw someone but was already too late and crashed into the person, the impact sent me staggering back three steps.
"Are you blind?" I recognized that voice, it was Alfred
"Jena?!" Finally looking at the person who abruptly bumped into her she exclaimed.
"Alfred I'm sorry but we need to leave" I said to her dragging her wrist to start moving.
"Why in such a haste? This is no good way to greet your friend aft-"
"And why did you suddenly appear out of nowhere? You've not been around for a while, no?" I eyed her
"Well, unlike a certain someone who sulks all day I've got things to do and places to be" she said matter of factly.
I said nothing else and moved ahead with her trailing lazily behind
She's always have places to be, only coming around enough times for me not to think she is lost, the fact is I don't exactly know Alfred, I don't even know her real name. We attended same college, I didn't know her then just spotted her in school a few random times, later she got transferred to another school in the city. She wasn't around when the incident that left my whole existence in shambles happened in college during my last year.
A year after graduation on a random day I was on my way back from Mr. Wilson's office only for a crazy person to drive a run down truck speedily past me, not even avoiding potholes and splashed water on me, I had gone to pay the little money we got for Wenie's fees and the man had annoyed my ass off, I was already irritated by the principal and wasn't going to have anymore shit.
I picked up a little heavy stone and threw it at the trunk spitting cuss words at the damned driver who screeched to a halt immediately after driving a little farther from where I stood. I was waiting for probably a drunk man to step out only for me to here a light and tender voice instead.
"That wasn't very nice you know"
Perplexed, I crossed over to the other side of the road and went up to the trunk.
It turned out Alfred was the crazy driver
"It wasn't nice you say? And the dirty water on me is what's nice instead?" I retorted in annoyance.
"I'm sorry, just that I need to be somewhere now and had to swindle this.." she hit the truck slightly twice "old big baby here, a pretty thief won't let herself get caught right? and besides my car got burnt" she said smiling.
I wasn't in the mood to ask what she meant by her car got burnt or about swindling the trunk "do I know you?" I asked her studying her features closely, her brown wavy hair was dyed a bright green at it tips looking quite abstract and beautiful at the same time with a wild glint, it's length reached all the way to her mid back. She had a sharp almond eyes with orbs a hazel shade glistering with nothing but mischief, a straight nose, full lips painted in the brightest shade of pink. Such a combination in just one face.
"Yes you do, we attended same college at some" she replied and I finally remembered.
I gave a small smile and walked off not wanting to pursue the matter anymore.
"See you around Jena!" She said a little loudly for me to here and drove off in a little more cordinated way.
I was surprised she knew my name so I turned to look at her, the trunk was already on the move and my eyes went back to where she was standing few minutes ago, I spotted a shiny substance on the floor and my feet was already moving towards it, I picked up what turned out to be a custom silver ring with the name 'Alfred' engraved on it, staring at it for a few seconds, I slipped it into my pocket and left.
Since that day, it's either she's at our bar to get ice cream, or me randomly seeing her waving and yelling my name with a smile on my way, she kept approaching me trying to be friends but I wasn't having any of it, I didn't even reply her a word at all. She wanted to be my best friend but I vehemently refused, she didn't give up either, she knew I could use a friend and that something was wrong with me so she was determined not to let my cold facade stop her, she was always there whenever I'm out of it.
Yes it was a facade because I actually like her, I was just scared from past events but I eventually let her in. I called her one day by the name written on the ring and she was taken aback, very surprised I actually said something to her and the name I called her.
"Is your name not Alfred?" I asked as I finally brought out the ring and placed it in her palm. She was yet again shocked to see the ring.
"No, but I won't tell you not to call me that, I love the name" she smiled "thanks for keeping this"
"You're one hell of a stubborn person" I said as I hugged her.
Since then we were friends, nothing else I know about her and I've not asked. She lives with an old woman but she's not always around. Whatever she's up to, I know it's not something bad, I've known her enough to know this so I'm not bothered.
"What are you thinking about Jena?" Alfred tapped me
"How I got to know your crazy ass" I said and she rolled her eyes
"You mean the day you were blessed by heavens with a precious gift like me?"
I scoffed "flatter yourself all you want".
"We're home, I'm sleeping over at yours today Jena"
"Can I even say no?" She didn't even ask, she straight out told me she would pass the night here.
We got to my room, I was preparing to take a bath when she asked "why did you look like you've seen a ghost earlier? Or maybe..you're the.. ghost?" She arched a brow, eyeing me from head to toe and back up.
"It's nothing, I just met some unpleasant pests" I said recalling the incident earlier and my face contorted.
"When has pests ever been pleasant?"
"Jena are you okay?" Alfred noticed my displeasure and asked with worry etching over her face.
"Yes I'm fine" I took a deep breath to get my act together "and what do you mean by, I'm the ghost?"
Noticing that I don't want to dwell further on the question she moved with a shrug bringing a mirror to my face.
When I stared at the mirror, whatever looked back at me made me shriek and scream out in shock.
Who. In. The. F*cking. Hell. Is. This??!!!!
Alfred had a whose fault is it smirk on her face.
She was right, I'm the human ghost!!