His oppression

The Acquaintance

Chapter Four: THE ACQUAINTANCE

A week went by so quickly and things have been running smoothly. By running smoothly, I meant that what my daily routine consisted of proceeded without any further more distractions from the creepy doll and the strange figure in my apartment. I guess the police had done their job fairly, I managed to keep myself together.

At long last, it was the weekend once more. Diana wouldn’t stop pestering me at work, asking a bunch of questions people close to one another inquires about. But you see, we’re not close and it was making me quite uncomfortable that she was too nosy about personal things that I made evident that I was not a fan of telling just anyone. But the girl was dense as hell and looked past that.

I’m well aware we’ve been working together for the past few months since she landed the job but from the very start, I really don’t talk to her unless it’s about work. It’s apparent that Diane was very, very sociable who has a huge circle of friends who sometimes fetch her from work and they go out for a drink or just a night out. She’s not sensitive, she’d asked me before to come with them- it’s me who didn’t want to be bothered but deep inside- like the very bottom of my inside, I wanted to go to one.

However, I can acknowledge why now she’d really push it. I just accepted the help she presented. That’s the only thing I’ve actually got down to since then.

Suppose I could try to make friends now- sorry, acquaintances then later friends. I’m not sure that’s how it works but as I said, I can try my best to cooperate.

I spent the evening last night cleaning and making sure that everything was neat and tidy. It was exciting, to say the least, I’ve never had anyone over before unless they’re grandpa, grandma, and my parents. They’re the only people who wanted to take initiative at least thrice a month so see how I’m doing.

They’ve seen how I’ve situated, gave their remarks but wanted me to push independence to my very core. And I respect how they’re raising me. Grandma was the most concerned but left me to my own business anyway.

Before I knew it, there was enthusiastic knocking on the door so I almost stumbled on my foot to get to it. Opening the door, I mustered the friendliest smile I could.

“Hey! I bought some caffeine; thought you might like one.”

Caffeine? She might be onto something and I’m not going to complain. I love me some coffee to recharge myself every morning.

“Thanks, Diane. I appreciate it. Come inside. It’s small, so I apologise in advance.” I let my guest inside my home, simply taking a glimpse at what her reaction would be.

“No! Don’t apologise for that! Your apartment is so cozy, I would love to live in this place.”

My eyebrow raised at her statement. “A-are you blind or something? You do know what neighbourhood I live at, right?”

She nodded her head and smiled. “I won’t judge you for that, Aria. If that’s what you’re thinking. It’s pretty admirable though. You’re brave enough to live here.”

“That’s not something to be admired about.”

I was pretty offended, to put it mildly, but I wasn’t going to say it- I wasn’t going to be frank with my feelings, not anymore. It pushes people away.

“It is! Especially when you’re living alone.”

Her eyes wandered around as a stupid grin was plastered on her face. “It’s great, you’ve really made it your own.”

“I wasn’t going to live with my ceiling falling apart, you know. I had to.” I smiled to myself.

Yeah, I do feel proud of everything I’ve done to make the apartment habitable.

She beamed in my direction before noticing the pile of boxes that were obvious since they were crowding the kitchen floor.

“Are those the things we’re going to move?”

“Yeah, I have my car, don’t worry. Did you take a car to get here too?” I just asked, approaching the boxes so we could get to the storage space early.

She shook her head with a shy smile. “I took the bus. My sister’s borrowing my car for the time being.”

“We’re taking my car then,” I concluded, taking one box. “Could you get the other? Thank you.”

“No problem!” she saluted her fingers before taking the other large box. It had completely towered over her small figure and that made me chuckle.

She also attempted to bring the coffee along with her but of course, if she couldn’t see what was in front of her, she’s going to eventually trip and the coffee will spill. Poor coffee.

“How about you carry this?” I put down the box I was previously carrying before getting the smaller one and taking the other box from her. “I just don’t want you to trip.”

“Oh my, thank you for your concern.” she giggled like a little child and I couldn’t help myself once more, I softly chuckled at that.

If having company around my age felt like this, then I might have really missed out on potential friendships when I was a kid. Huh, who would have known that I’d actually regret things from my past? That’s a start for me. A solid start, I might say.

Is this a step that I’m becoming a different person compared to what I know I am? Should I be glad I’m changing?

Once we got to the car and put the things at the back and in the trunk of the car, I drove off, a bit giddy inside. A habit of mine when I’m anxious, my fingers tap every single thing I could get my hands on and in this instance, it was the steering wheel. Diane’s seemingly comfortable as she took sips of her coffee, wincing when it was too hot for her. But the smile on her face never left- she looked really content. 

I, on the other hand, was thinking of subjects I can bring up so we could engage in a conversation. But before I could open my mouth, Diane started talking.

“Have you gone out with anyone before?” she asked, her eyes wandering toward my direction.

That question was the least expected so I thought hard even though the answer was quite obvious.

“A-ah, haha, no.”

Darn it, I had a different response, why did that come out?

“Aw, how come?” she asked, her eyes started glimmering as if she was really curious. “You’re pretty.”

I started pounding on my chest with my fist the second I heard that. Compliments weren’t my forte and when they’re given out of the blue, just expect me to get embarrassed or actually do embarrassing things.

“I-I don’t... I think it’s my personality that’s a turn-off.” I simply replied, trying to calm myself down.

“So what? You’re just a little antisocial?--”

Little?

“-- but that doesn’t make your personality bad.”

“No, I like to think that I’m apathetic?” I wasn’t sure myself if I even said the right term for it. “I just don’t care about people.”

“What I think is that you just haven’t found someone that you can care for, that’s why right now you’re Miss-I’m-So-Apathetic,” she remarked with a sarcastic tone.

Usually, I get pissed by people mocking me but that one, I had to laugh at. Honestly, I’d give her props.

“Okay, then tell me what it’s like to date? I’m sure you’ve gone out with a few men before? Um or women?”

That question alone strikes me as hypocritical. Telling her that I was apathetic, but still wary that I might get her s****l orientation wrong, doesn’t make sense, isn’t it? Maybe I’m wrong about myself too.

Or am I being too cautious about impressing her?

She chuckled softly. “Men, I haven’t tried with a woman before but I’m sure it will be fun. Some dates were successful, some were not, as you can see.”

I nodded my head, understanding what she was trying to tell. “Ever had a serious boyfriend?”

“Back in high school, maybe. We lasted for 4 years, started in freshman year, but then one day, he woke up, told me he didn’t love me anymore. That the spark he felt for me before just completely disappeared.” I could tell that the grip on her coffee was becoming slightly… tighter. “I couldn’t say anything, I just let him leave. It hurt but that made me realise something- your love for someone might fade away but you can always go back to the start to recapture that wonderful feeling again.”

I knew she was serious talking about all that stuff; of course, it was her experience, her pain but I couldn’t help it. I really wanted to gag. Too much of this sort of thing can make me vomit. I just had to hold that reaction in because it was insensitive, isn’t it? I just sighed it away.

“Wait, does that mean?--”

“Yeah, we’re kind of seeing each other again after so many years. It’s a really nice feeling to be able to bond with him after a while. We’re starting over again.”

Nodding my head, my brain just couldn’t come up with anything so I could reply to that.

“That’s great,” I answered, smiling a bit.

“So, don’t give up just yet! You never know a guy or a woman can keep up with your personality!” she stated, her fist in the air like she was preaching. “Believe in yourself.”

“Ah- hahahaha, thank you.”

That was so awkward.

After a few minutes, I finally parked the car. The parking looked deserted and it really gave off an uncanny vibe. I guess it’s because it’s still early in the morning for people to be up. And it’s the weekend, I shouldn’t really be thinking any different about this.

Diane managed to carry the boxes without stumbling on her feet up to the storage space. I lifted the gate up and almost choked the clouds of dust that greeted me. Opening the lights, I sighed a little.

To be frank, it’s like a garbage dump. Smells like one too.

“Oh wow~ so many things in here. You can sell them!” Diane suggested as she looked around.

I thought she’d be the type of girl to not want to be in any places that are filthy and reeked of trash. But she was handling things like there was no dirt on them.

“Look at this, Aria!” she held up a very… peculiar leather box.

A very familiar one at that.

My breath caught up in my lungs and my heart started beating faster the moment I realised what that box was- what it contained.

I was ready to run out of there but my legs refused to coordinate with what my brain was trying to say.

“That’s a handsome doll.”

That was it. I wanted to faint right there and then when I saw the doll- the very doll that had been causing me trouble.