Approach of an Otherworldly Person

AOP Chapter 3

“The reason why I kept on standing after so many times of stumbling. Mother and Father, I promised to get us out of this hell.”

Yoronea got up from her position and went to her father, who had called her earlier.

“What is it, father?”

Calling her father's attention, who’s currently talking, but no one can be found inside the room he’s in, other than himself. Yoronea didn’t mind it, as if she was used to it after so many years. Drew turns his attention to his daughter.

“What do you want to eat? Though we don’t have food right now, I will just borrow it from Merriam's store.”

“But wouldn’t it make Mother mad again? She just said that we should stop borrowing from stores because she hasn't paid the other debts yet.”

Drew only laughed at his daughter as if she had said something hilarious.

“You dumb kid, if we do not borrow food in stores, we don't have anything to eat. Would you like to starve to death? Don’t worry, I will have work soon. We can pay our debt.”

Yoronea suddenly became alarmed about her father going back to work, scenarios flashing before her eyes. She couldn’t handle what could happen to her father if he went back to the workplace, where he would become worse than what Drew is in right now. But she just laughed at her father, masking the anxiety within.

“Whatever, if Mother gets mad again she will definitely not stop shouting.”

She left her father, who came back to talk to himself and went to her room. Lately, her mother had become more stressed about the nonstop stacking of debt from multiple stores and people to sustain their living while her father wasn’t working.

Yoronea is currently studying at a college university but classes have been suspended lately and she couldn’t do anything but to stay in their house while trying to find some part-time jobs. The good thing is that the university she’s at doesn’t need to pay any tuition or miscellaneous fees, and she successfully became a scholar of their city, but the money that should’ve been given to scholars hasn’t yet been distributed, even though the second semester has yet to end.

Yoronea, not knowing what to do anymore, goes out of her room to check for her father but, nowhere to be found. She probably goes to the store to borrow something to eat. Her mother works in an ordinary factory from morning to evening even with little pay, but her mother doesn’t retire because that’s the only way for them to at least pay, little by little, all the bills and debts they have.

Not finding anyone, Yoronea went to her sister who was babysitting the child of her mother's friend who was also close to their house. Her sister was given that job one time when her mother’s friend saw her being friendly to children, with the thought of being paid.

Her sister agreed. The high schooler Katelyn, who's Yoronea’s sister, still agreed to take the job because of the money, with so many things that she wants to buy for herself, she doesn't mind babysitting while tutoring kids. But still, being a child, Katelyn is still not aware of the state of their family with financial issues.

Even with Yoronea’s advice that Katelyn should at least give some money to her mother, Katelyn doesn’t give in. With her being thick headed, Yoronea gave up and just focused on finding some part-time jobs till her classes continued to at least give her mother something to ponder about.

“Where’s the kid you’re babysitting? Why are you outside?”

Her sister's sudden appearance startled Katelyn.

“The kid was sleeping and I’m just resting for a bit before I tutor.”

Yoronea just nodded at her before sitting beside her.

“What are you doing here? Where’s father?”

Asked by Katelyn while her eyes were focusing on her phone.

“He went to borrow some food. I told you to at least give us a small amount to buy us something to eat.”

Katelyn just scoffed at her while standing up, taking away her phone.

“I have so many things I want to buy that I still haven't bought. Never mind, I’ll just go now to tutor.”

Yoronea just scoffed back at her and went back to their house.

‘What a selfish brat.’

-

When she came back to their house, her father had just finished cooking, so she just sat there and ate silently. Not knowing what to do after that, she decided to continue finding part-time work within their city. After eating, she takes a quick shower and gets dressed just enough to be presentable.

“I’ll go now, father.”

Drew stopped talking to no one and gazed at his daughter.

“Where are you going? Never mind, be sure to be back before your mother or you will be screwed.”

Yoronea just nodded even without her father seeing that she was now moving out of their house. Nothing specific to go to, she planned to stroll around their city hoping to finally get lucky. Starting on the market would be better as it has many stalls wherein hiring for a helper can be seen. On the way. Yoronea heard her sister's frustrated voice and a child's crying. She didn't bother to look at what was going on as it was just a normal scene you always see or hear when there's so many kids.

The usual heat in mid February hits the walking Yoronea, who forgot to bring an umbrella, but didn't mind as it didn't feel burning, unlike the heat when it was peak summer. Thinking that she didn't have a specific location to go to, Yoronea didn't bother to ride in any vehicle, especially since she didn't have enough money with her.

She lets herself indulge in the scenery around her within their municipality. It may have so many people that it causes pollution around them. The good thing is that they aren't cutting down trees within their neighborhood. That's why the air is still fresh, unlike on the highway. Feeling that she hadn't left anything after checking her things once again, Yoronea continued her walking at a pace where she enjoyed the path that it led to.

-