Kae's POV:
I threw my purse on the floor the moment I got into my apartment. I noticed an unsorted pile of mail on the table as I grossed over it.
"Bills, bills, and more bills," I breathed out deeply as I separated them. Electricity, rent, internet – all past their due date. My landlord, Mr. Brooks, was going to have a field day.
A rather obnoxious knock came on the door as soon as I was done going through the mail. I was guessing who it might be even before I looked at the letter.
"Kae, open up! We have to talk," said Mr. Brooks, making himself heard through the wood barrier.
I paused when I realized that I was in for it. I slowly tilted the door open as I tried to keep my composure.
"Hi, Mr. Jenkins. What's up?" I asked, smiling calmly.
"What's up?" He snorted. "I'll tell you what's up. You're late on rent! You owe me a month's rent and I swear I'll throw you out if you don't pay my money," he fumed.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Brooks. I have been working onMr. Brooks snorted. "Again! You've been saying that for weeks now, Kae! I am not being a philanthropist here. All I need is my rent. Weren't you the one who told me last week you'd have it ready today by ten o'clock?" He asked.
I swallowed, nodding. "Well, would you look at that? It's ten minutes after ten, and you haven't paid up. I'll be back next week, and I want my money ready, or it won't be nice!" He warned.
I merely nodded my head and could already feel a knot rising in my stomach. "I understand, Mr. Brooks. I will try to get the money."
"I don't care how you do it. Just get my money," he scowled and left.
I sighed immediately as he left and closed the door. How was I going to pay for my rent? I was completely jobless with no work in sight.
I shook my head to clear my mind in an attempt to focus on what was happening.
"Kae, you have to get a job and fast," I muttered.
I looked around, strolled towards my laptop, and browsed for jobs online. The hours elapsed, and my eyes grew tired, but I did not surrender.
By evening, I began thinking of my boyfriend, Axel, even though he wasn't particularly supportive of my dreams. We had been dating for two years, and I guessed life was beautiful for the two of us. I then tried to call Axel, but his number didn't even ring and went straight to voicemail.
I knitted my brows together, wondering where he might be. I even tried to reach out to my best friend, Diane, but my call went directly to her voicemail.
"Hey, Diane, it's Kae. I need to talk to you. I think I might have relationship problems. Call me back sometime, please."
I put the phone down on the table. Where was everyone?
Suddenly, I thought it would be best to take a chance and visit Axel at his house. Maybe he had something more important to do and didn't have time to take my call. I took my keys and walked out of the house.
When I got to Axel's place, I saw his car had been parked a few meters away. Taking my time, I knocked on the door and entered the room. There was no answer. I knocked again, harder this time, and the door opened slightly.
"Axel," I said softly.
"Axel," I called again.
I moved down the corridor, searching for him. A part of me wondered if perhaps he was even around. Was he injured? Why was the house so damn quiet?
As I continued walking, I noticed a shifting shadow.
"What's that?" I mumbled. A bloated voice came to greet me from the living room. Was it moaning? The tears rolled down my cheeks, and my tummy churned like never before.
Gently, I tore myself to one side, and what I saw made me shudder. Axel lay naked on the couch with Diane on her knees above him. They were kissing, grinding against each other, completely lost in the moment and hardly noticing my existence.
"Axel!" I called, and he finally noticed me. Diane must have felt my presence and turned to me. With a horrible shock, she got off him with a gulp.
I wanted to throw up. I couldn't breathe anymore, could not think. And I was frozen there, unable to move or believe it.
Axel turned to me, screaming, "Kae, wait!"
But I had already fled from the house and didn't rest until I reached my own apartment and threw myself down on the floor to cry until I could cry no longer.
It was a daze for the rest of the day. I cried, angry at everything as I threw things. I was an emotional wreck.
Slowly, I began to calm down hours later. I had to block his number and all of his social media accounts. The very thought of seeing his face or reading his texts would be too much for me. But I couldn't bring myself to block him no matter how hard I tried.
Two days later, I saw Axel's post on Instagram. He was smiling, and he had his arm around Diane. The caption read, "New chapter, new love."
It felt insulted all over again. I blocked him from everything and took a deep breath.
Days passed, and I started to pick up my pieces. I applied for many jobs, but when no one wanted to hire me, I lost hope.
I sat at my computer, scrolling through job postings like a scrolling robot, until I heard a knock on the door. I really didn't want it to be Mr. Brooks again so soon; I was not ready for more confrontation. I looked out the peephole. It was a mail carrier with a certified letter.
I opened the door and took the letter from the mailman. "Sign here, please."
I signed for the letter, feeling a sense of fear. "What now?" I thought.
I opened the letter, and my heart literally sank.
It was an eviction notice. I had only a week to pay the rent I owed or leave the apartment.
I immediately felt like puking from the stress.
I fell into the doorframe, the letter shaking in my hand. How was I supposed to come up with that kind of money? No work, no savings . . . nothing.
Without warning, tears began to pour down my face. I felt deserted and desolate, a complete and utter loss.
As I stood there crying, I realized how my life was crumbling around me; firstly, Axel cheating on me with Diane, then being unemployed, and now this notice was just too much.
I was just about to sink to the floor when there was a loud banging on the front door. The kind of authoritative banging that made it clear you had to answer it.
"Kae, open up! We need to talk." Axel demanded through the door.
"Axel?" I questioned in a low whisper. Why was he here?
I felt a surge of anger and something else deeper, more powerful. "Leave me alone, Axel! Just go away!"
Axel did not leave. He kept beating on the door, his voice going through me like lightning.
"Kae, please. Hear me out! I'm so sorry, alright? I shouldn't have ever cheated on you. Please, Kae!"
I swallowed the lump in my throat and shook my head even though he couldn't see it by then. "No, Axel. Just let me go."
But Axel's pleas were becoming more and more frantic now. "Kae, don't! Please, I'm sorry, I am… I just… Kae, please…! Don't do this to me! Don't shut me out! Kae… Kae, I love you!"
He shouted louder and with an urgency, sending a shiver down my spine. What would he be capable of doing?
I moved back a couple of paces from the door, my heart pounding in fear. But then I heard the doorknob slowly turning…