Lacquered Tattoo

Chapter One

January 15.

Today is the first day of the rest of my life. I couldn’t stress enough how happy and excited I am at this moment. There was a mixture of nervousness and glee, of fear and thrill. I just know that everything is about to change.

This right here is the moment I have been waiting for for quite some time now. Blood, sweat, tears had been poured and sacrificed just to get where I am but apart from the prospect of new opportunities and growth, one thing I revel in was the feeling of an empty slate.

It had been too long that I had been in the comfort of my previous life, stagnant and unmoving, safe and stable but somehow trapped. Right now, though the future was uncertain, I couldn’t have been more grateful for the change.

It wasn’t just in the cool winter weather, the biting frozen air numbing the exposed skin of my cheeks. I pulled my coat closer to my chest and shivered with a stupid grin on my face. My backpack was heavy on my shoulders, but I couldn’t stop my body from bouncing as I descended the steps of the plane. I hope this silly action goes unnoticed by others; it would’ve been embarrassing.

There would be a transportation waiting for me at the arrivals as I have been informed, that would take me to my accommodation. It wasn’t my first time flying but because of my nerves, it would seem like I’m a flight virgin, lost and had to look for signs and directions onto baggage and immigration.

I’m afraid people would think I’m hiding something because I might be acting so suspicious right now but really, I’m just that excited. I guess I just have a weird way of expressing it, another humiliating thing I don’t want to get called out for.

I took my phone out of the inner pocket of my jeans, checking for wi-fi connection. I’m certain it was available since every public place seemed to have one nowadays. I’m just not sure how fast it would be. I promised my aunt I’d contact her once I landed.

Note to self: buy a sim card and credits first thing when I arrived at my place.

The unpacking could wait, I could get settled in while I spoke to my aunt. I miss her already and my guilt of leaving her at home was still there, though it has ebbed quite a bit. She was just as thrilled as I was for this new life I was about to embark on.

She knew about how I was feeling like I was in a rut and how I needed to be in a new environment. Still, she asked why I couldn’t just look for another job instead of moving countries.

I guess I have quite the extreme way of treating things. It’s either a zero or a ten, there was no in between.

Varied muted colours of greys both dark and light blurred past me in the car. The driver was a polite older man probably in his fifties who was, surprisingly, not a talker. Most drivers I had been in a cab on or even uber always initiated conversation and it wasn’t like I hate it, but I loved just keeping to myself if possible. It was nice to have small talk, but I appreciate my driver right now for allowing me to my thoughts.

I would like to take in these first few minutes into myself and stow them to memory.

The soft music playing on my ears makes me feel like I was in a music video and another embarrassing smile formed in my lips. I didn’t try to cover it though, knowing that the driver was concentrating more on the road to mind me.

He was even nice enough to wait for me as I stopped by a shop to buy a sim card.

“Thank you,” I said to him as he handed me the keys to my apartment and then helped me with my luggage.

There were only two of them aside of my backpack, that I brought with me. The rest of my stuff will arrive through package. My aunt and I mailed it two weeks before my flight in the hopes that they’d arrive here the same time as I would so fingers crossed, they’d be here soon.

I only have the essentials with me, mostly winter clothes and a few pairs of shoes. The rest including my priced books have yet to come. I brought my k****e, but it wasn’t the same as having my favourite physical books with me. I also have my original documents, of course, and my portfolio. I have a digital copy of it on my laptop, but I wanted to have it with me on hand just in case it was needed.

In three days, I would be starting my new job and I want to be prepared for everything. There was just so many ways anything could go wrong, and I’ve always been anal about many things. Not everything has to be perfect but being close to it makes me feel more confident.

Aside from that, I also planned on looking for a part time work. School hours end early, and I always have extra time to spare in the afternoon that I could spare an hour or two working. I will absolutely help me plant my feet more firmly as I’m starting out.

I rang my aunt just as I turned the knob of the door, entering the cozy little studio for the first time. I felt chills run up my spine.

This is my new home.