Love Nest

The beginning of bad luck. I was walking home, to my apartment It has been a week since I went home, my part time jobs had been piling up. customers kept screaming at me for not knowing my own job, and that I don't do things right. I even got thrown trash at the door It's been a week of hard labor, from my convenient store part time, delivery part time, construction part time, to garbage boy part time. I have been living like this since my first year in highschool, I dropped out a few times and even took tests just to skip levels. My parents couldn't take care of me as they were busy with my siblings And now I'm finally a College student. Finally after years of hard work, going to College at the age of 23 My family has always been poor, so I took it upon myself to strive in life. Some of my siblings didn't even get to experience college life as they married young. Some didn't get married, true but ended up pregnant or had somebody else pregnant in the end. I do wish for them to experience it someday too walking my way towards the rundown apartment building, my body in a hunch as I walked I kept reminding myself of my dreams and wishes of the future. My siblings are finally going to college after I have enough saved. Working hard for every single one of them was my driving force sighs kept me company, as every step earns a breath of resignation fantasies of seeing our eldest brother and eldest sister finishing college with their certificate, then the twins. My little sister and finally my diligent younger brothers that's in High School finally reaching the 3rd floor and onto my door step, I glanced at the running water streaming from some place unknown It was the rainy season, people scrambling about. I could still hear people walking, the sound of heels hitting the pavement. the sound of the roof being drilled by the rain drops The rusty apartment door jammed like any other time it did, ever since I got here and rented the apartment the door always had to be pried open. mostly with sheer strength and a swing was enough but oddly today.... this time... something doesn't feel right. I felt like today needed more strength... more force Lifting my left feet at the wall, and both hands on the door handle, I tried to pull ones, twice, and finally I swung the door open but what greeted me wasn't the usual gloomy room devoid of light, heavy atmosphere, and loneliness creeping in every time I see my room what came before me today was a surge of water mucking my tired state pushing me back from where I stood hitting the safety wall of the 3rd floor, wet and pissed. people were now peeking their heads outside their doors. Confused, bewildered, shocked and some even had their jaws dropped. One of the lucky people that saw the whole thing til the end I could only smile out of sheer frustration, trembling hands "?!@!?!&" and curses ~~~ The next day I.... didn't get a wink of sleep... I am now at the top of the apartment building, where mattresses are hung and clothes are dried Still wet from the wave of mockery, the landlord told me to sleep here as I... unfortunately didn't have many close companions... ahem friends if you may *what a sad life* I dissed myself. mocking my own pathetic state sigh "time to go to work" I mumbled everything was good during the day as I did my usual routine untill it wasn't -construction site- my feet are getting wobbly, I can feel my breath, hot. I am practically panting as I walk with a pushcart at hand. I felt like I was 15 again. weak and inexperienced I pushed and pushed but literally getting nowhere, I belatedly noticed that I was... getting dizzy "Hey kid, what's with the slow pace?" Someone patted my arm as per usual but the force this time seemed to be 10 times in my current condition In my current condition this was torture and then... I collapsed in my shout down state I could still faintly hear someone shouting "don't bully the kid!" still in their playful tone. Until I hit the ground but when I heard that, I still had the energy to get pissed I unconsciously realized, I was still a kid at heart ~~~ When I woke up I was still at the construction site, carefully laid down on the hammock. Two trees steady under my weight, branches swaying along with the wind Lifting my hand to my forehead I could feel a cooling patch at the top of my head normally I would have gotten up as soon as I woke up to help the others, but right now. Tiredness washed over me, I couldn't find it in me to fight it, this resignation- this feeling of defeat I was clearly... exhausted suddenly I thought about the team, working right outside *I feel bad for them but grateful in the end. I need to repay them someday somehow* I was about to close my eyes again and succumb to guilt and self-pity when- "Oh hey, you're awake!" it was Jason, the manager and the one that shouted not to bully me "M- Manager" I tried to get up but got hit instead "you shouldn't get up, kid" he sid firmly "you could have told me you had a shitty ass fever" clear frustration coated his voice. his tone "I don't think I'm strict enough to just let a young diligent fella like yourself work to the bone with a whooping 49°C fever" "I'm sorry sir" he breathed out a sigh, undoubtedly resigned I couldn't meet his eyes, as I didn't want to see his disappointment "... you'll be going to college soon... Things could have happened" he sounded worried "You, I could only see my son in you. And I'm doing this to be a somewhat bearable adult to you. Don't take my words horribly" "I... understand sir" The manager has always been kind. But he wasn't always like this at first He treated me like any other adult working here, even when I was still only just 15. But during our work, some things are said, and experiences are shared Through that hearts open, horizons widen and he became my first teacher in life "Here kid, take this" The manager tossed me something, a flier? "? what's this sir?” I asked tilting my head, confused "My cousin's son is a gamer, game addict if you may. He's not a bad kid. Anyway, my cousin recently told me about his son's shared housing. If you want a temporary place to stay, you can always contact that number" He pointed at the flier in my land With wide eyes a light heart Putting his construction hat in place he smiled at me as I looked at him with awe and gratitude "Thank you, manager!" I said to him as he walked out, waving his hand to me still with his cheeky smile on I am truly grateful, with my spirits up, my heart light. It was my first time feeling light And it was also a first for me to wish that this light hearted feeling never disappear ~~~ The addicting kindness may have been dream-like but don't you think it's too cruel? The kindness and positive outcome of that day might have clogged my mentality as I couldn't predict nor anticipate the possible warnings surrounding me for the misfortunes that had yet to come. Distracted by my gratefulness, I couldn't feel the black twisted fate that was drawing near ~~~ "And who the hell is this?" a guy with a tired face loomed over me, He was tall, very tall. If I wasn't a bit tall myself, it could have been quite intimidating "spitting on a new person you see is it?" I replied He smiled in disbelief "I sense a jackass when I see one" he bent to my eye level "that just means you're a jackass yourself" ~ That was the day I met HIM the biggest misfortune in my life and also the biggest jackass that I'd hate for the rest of all eternity To Be Continued